Month: May 2006

Modding My Moto: Things to do to your Razr V3

On my trip to Europe earlier this month, I picked up a Razr V3 that had been abandoned by one of my colleagues in the UK. Sitting in a drawer, it looked so lonely and abandoned.
It probably wishes it had stayed there.
Since I got it, I have been exploring all of the sites and boards that discuss the various hacks that people have performed on this magnificent piece of technology. Short of some of the advanced procedures (still trying to figure out how to convert the bluetooth into a directed energy weapon), this is not the same phone I received two weeks ago.
I have flashed the firmware (twice), switched on the Autoupdate feature for the Time/Date, and removed all of the Vodafone specific branding that came with the device.
I now understand how you can become heavily involved in phone modding. This device, which is a simple V3 that you see everywhere, is more powerful than my first 386. I can cruise the Web using Opera Mini, check directions using Google Mini-Maps, and use it as a modem if I am ever stuck for a connection somewhere.
I also have the Motorola Phone Tools software installed, so I can control my phone over USB.
A lot of what I have learned and done over the last three days is definitely in a “grey zone” as far as Motorola is concerned. However, given the number of people doing this, Motorola should open up their tools and let people know how to make the mods they want.
In fact, I would love to see Motorola should run a contest to see who can build the coolest Flash pack for the V3 that can be used by anyone. That would build intense customer interest and would make the V3 even more of a geek toy than it is now.
It is the single coolest gadget I have ever owned. It even outranks the Treo and the Zen Micro.
For those of you out there into the risk of turning your slek and sexy phone into a brick, I suggest Motox or MotoModders as places to start.
Long live MotoModding.
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How I spent my Memorial Day

Memorial Day was going to be a very quiet and relaxing day, hanging around the house, tinkering in the garden, nothing special.

Then, after cleaning up a mess in the basement, Samantha went out the basement bulkhead, and one of the doors came off it’s hinges. Which should be no surprise when they looked like this.

Warped Basement Doors - May 29, 2006

We knew that this was going to be a project for this year, but it became a necessity today. So off to Home Depot for some plywood and supplies, and then three hours of sanding and caulking and priming. The base work is mostly done, all that has to be done is more primer on the new doors, paint them with a good green paint (preferably marine enamel), and re-attach them.

This is what they called “unscheduled maintenance”.

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Where am I?

I have been recovering from travelling, working like a dog for the man, and trying to fit in some time with my family. Been a long couple of months around here, and we have to start ramping up soon for the three-week adventure back to the Homeland, aka Canada.

I have also developed a new addiction, but that is for another post…

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Rotating technology through Europe

When I got to the London office, I started talking about how I had an addiction to sexy GSM phones, and showed off my collection. I then noted that the Motorola Razr seems to be a pretty hot commodity these days in London. My colleagues laughed, and one of them pulled his old Razr out of a drawer, effectively saying that it was so last year.

Since the Razr was unlocked, I asked if he was doing anything with it. So, I am now the proud owner of a first-series black Razr, a London office cast-off.

Seems that all of Europe wants a Sony-Ericsson W-series or the Nokia N-series.

Razrs are so old school.

When I arrived in Germany with my Treo 600 now relegated to backup position by the Razr, one of my German colleagues was bemoaning the fact that any PDA phone was horrendously expensive. I then offered him up the Treo 600, which I had adopted from its previous owner. After a hard reset, he spent the rest of the day fiddling with it, and grinning maniacally.

Sometimes technology just finds its way to the right place.

Hamburg: An extra bonus night!

Looks like I get an extra bonus night in Hamburg, as high winds at Heathrow have delayed a number flights and I will miss my Boston departure.

So I am back at my hotel in Hamburg.

Hamburg. Having never been to any non-english-speaking city before, I was mightily impressed by the way the people of Hamburg treated someone who has no German skills at all. They were friendly to a fault, and went out of their way to ensure that I was not lost or abandoned at any time.

As a city, Hamburg is under major re-construction. New infrastructure in the central core and other major construction projects seem to be the theme for this trip.

Anyway, I am tired, hungry and have expensive and flaky wireless right now, so more updates later.

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London: Some final thoughts

I am at Heathrow, and my 20:10 BST flight has become a 22:55 BST flight, meaning I will get into Hamburg at around 01:00 CEST tomorrow.

Gives me some time to write my final impressions of London.

London is a very busy world city. For a small town boy, I think I did remarkably well in it. I used the Tube on my own for the first time this trip and realized just how well the system works.

However, the lasting impression I will have is of diesel. The smell of diesel permeates London. In the office, the hotel, the trains, the cabs, the client offices. Everywhere there is diesel. For someone who is sensitive to strong smells, this is a living hell. I know that it was clouded over and the weather did a lot to accentuate the smell, but I can smell it still here at the airport.

Other than that, the city is a grand dame, unrivalled anywhere. Old and new seamlessly blend, creating a flowing organic place to walk.

I walked along Carnaby Street and Savile Row in the same day.

I saw Glasgow and Edinburgh, as a visiting businessman, not a tourist.

In London, you will hear most of the major languages, within 5 minutes, on the same street.

It is a wonderful and frightening place.

It is complex and simple.

It is like a fine whiskey: repulsive to some, loved by some, and definitely an acquired taste for most.

Off to Hamburg.

UPDATE: Flight now set to depart at 21:15 BST

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London: The animals are so sad

I went to the London Zoo this morning. I shouldn’t have.

It was an old style zoo. It is clear that they are trying to refurbish some of the exhibits, but there is far too much concrete and steel to make me feel that the animals are at home.

The lowlight? A sloth bear who was trying to escape, trying to hide. He curled up against a steel door to the inside enclosure, as if to say, “let me in! Get me away from the people!”.

The day will likely look up from there.

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