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Hi All,

  My intentions for this blog were to write about those pesky issues we run in to and to provide easy to follow solutions.  Hopefully this blog has done just that and has assisted you in some way.  I'm going to continue to write helpful articles, but have moved on to a new web address.  It will basically be more or less the same, but in a prettier package.  I'll be slowly moving most of the posts from this blog over to the new one.  So if you want to check click on the image below.

Hope to continue to help those in need to solve to most annoying issues we run in to.

Apple Watch Bands: 3rd Party Milanese Loop in Silver and Space Gray

If you are in the market for a new band for your Apple Watch and  are looking to get the Milanese Loop then you should take a look at the offerings from Moko.  With a starting price of $24.99, it is a great deal compared to the $149 offering from Apple.  They also offer a variety of colors to to match the Apple Watch you have.

Moko Milanese Loop



The Moko brand is one of the more popular and well reviewed choices for 3rd Party Apple Watch bands on Amazon.  One of the best things about the loops they offer are the variety of colors you can get that Apple does not have.  So if you have the Space Grey Stainless Steel Watch they offer a Milanese Loop in that color to match.

MoKo Milanese Loop Stainless Steel Bracelet for Apple Watch 38mm - Silver

MoKo Milanese Loop Stainless Steel Bracelet for Apple Watch 42mm - Silver

MoKo Milanese Loop Stainless Steel Bracelet for Apple Watch 38mm - Space Gray

MoKo Milanese Loop Stainless Steel Bracelet for Apple Watch 42mm - Space Gray

Actual Images:

Sports Aluminium Apple  Watch w/Silver Milanese Loop

Sports Gray Aluminium Apple Watch w/SG Milanese Loop

Nexus 6p sRGB Mode Comparison

I recently received my Nexus 6p after preordering it and have been putting it through it's paces.  I did notice right out the box that the screen was quite saturated compared to my iPhone 6.  This seems to be due to the AMOLED display, and oversaturation is just a byproduct of AMOLED displays.  But there is a hidden option within the Developer Tools which allows you to set the phone to sRGB mode.  I decided to give this a try and see what the results would look like.  Turning this option on does tend to wash out the colors.  I have included pictures below where you can find a comparison between the sRGB mode being on/off and compared to an iPhone 6.

Best Cases to Show Off Your Rose Gold iPhone

2015, new iPhone, new color, Rose Gold.  Here are some of the best cases that I have come across to display the new Rose Gold iPhone.

Manufacture: Spigen
Model: Neo Hybrid EX
Retail: $34.99
Link: http://www.spigen.com/collections/iphone-6s/products/iphone-6s-case-neo-hybrid-ex?variant=5259966017
Comments: Clear case to really show off the Rose Gold color.

Manufacture: Spigen
Model: Ultra Hybrid
Retail: $24.99
Link: http://www.spigen.com/collections/iphone-6s/products/iphone-6s-case-ultra-hybrid?variant=5259886913
Comments:  Slightly different from the one pictured above, transparent all around.

Manufacture: Spigen
Model: Style Armor
Retail: $29.99
Link: http://www.spigen.com/collections/iphone-6s/products/iphone-6s-case-style-armor?variant=6302247873
Comments: Case matches the Rose Gold color but doesn't truly display the back of the iPhone.

Manufacture: Spigen
Model: Thin Fit
Retail: $14.99
Link: http://www.spigen.com/collections/iphone-6s/products/iphone-6s-case-thin-fit?variant=6352983041
Comments: Similar to the one above except fully Rose Gold.

Manufacture: Spigen
Model: Tough Armor
Retail: $34.99
Link: http://www.spigen.com/collections/iphone-6s/products/iphone-6s-case-tough-armor?variant=5904808705
Comments: Adds protection in exchange for color visibility.  Case does match the Rose Gold color.

Manufacture: Ringke
Model: FUSION

Retail: $10.99

Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010QYKIBK?tag=macrumors-20&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Comments: Clear TPU case with port covers.

How to Determine Which A9 Chip Is In Your iPhone

*UPDATE*  Apple has given a statement to TechCrunch saying that the actual difference is around 2-3% based on internal testing.  This difference can vary between all iPhones, with the same parts, regardless of chip.  Also worth noting, the app listed below has apparently been removed from the AppStore.

If you haven't heard by now there is some drama building up regarding which A9 chip in the new iPhones is better.  This year it was dual sourced from both TSMC and Samsung.  Early reports suggested that the Samsung chip would be the superior chip due to the smaller size and, well, Samsung.

Recently stories have been circulating that the TSMC A9 chip is actually the superior chip.  Although bigger in size, it is apparently more efficient and has the potential to increase battery life by up to 20% (still being tested).  But if you are curious as to which A9 chip is in your iPhone you can head over to the AppStore and download Lirum Device Info Lite.  Once downloaded, open the app and compare the Model number to the ones listed below:

N66AP (6s plus) or N71AP (6s) - Samsung chip
N66MAP (6s plus) or N71MAP (6s) - TSMC chip

It has been reported that if you have a 6s you have a higher chance of having the TSMC while the 6s+ has a higher chance of having the Samsung chip.

iPhone 6s/6s+ Insurance Options

You just picked up the latest tech from Apple and now you want to add some insurance just in case an accident occurs.  The devices are costly themselves and can be costly to repair or replace so let's talk about some of the options you have when it comes to getting insurance for your new iPhone.

Applecare+ Insurance
-----------------------------------
Apple offers it's own insurance that covers your phone for 2 accidental incidents and extends your mechanical warranty by an additional year.  The bad news is that this year the price jumped from $99 to $129 for the insurance plan and the deductible jumped from $79 to $99.  They do not cover loss and theft, but they probably provide one of the better services since you are dealing with the source.

If you decide to use Apple's Upgrade Program which they introduced this year then Applecare+ is already included in the monthly cost of the device.

Initial Cost: $129 (2 years)
Deductible: $99 per claim (max 2)

Pros:
+ Great support w/Apple
+ Cheaper than carrier insurance

Cons:
- Price increase this year on the warranty and deductible, $129 and $99 respectively.
- Covers only up to 2 accidental incidents
- Theft/Loss not included

Carrier Insurance
-----------------------------------
Let's be honest here, the insurance plans offered by the carrier's are quite expensive compared to other options that are available.  The benefit they offer over the competition is that they cover theft and loss.  But if you don't plan on losing your phone or if theft is not an issue (knock on wood) I would look elsewhere.  The image at the end of the article doesn't include T-Mobile.  T-Mobile costs $8 per month ($192/year) for the insurance, limited to 2 accidental incidents per 12 months, with a $175 deductible.

Initial Cost: $192+ (over 24 months and depends on carrier)
Deductible: $175+ per claim (depends on carrier)

Pros:
+ Theft/Loss included

Cons:
- Most expensive option
- High deductible
- Carrier repair limitations

Squaretrade Insurance
-----------------------------------
Squaretrade is very popular and has been around for quite a while.  They are by far one of the most well known insurance providers and are quite affordable.  A 2 year plan starts at $99 and a 3 year starts at $129, both one time payments.  They also offer a monthly plan which is $8 a month.  The great news is that the deductible is only $75 per claim.

Initial Cost: $99 (2 years)
Deductible: $75 per claim

Pros:
+ Affordable
+ Cheapest option listed

Cons:
- Theft/Loss not included

ProtectYourBubble Insurance
-----------------------------------
I recently came across a new insurance provider which is similar to Squaretrade.  It is the same provider that is used by T-Mobile.  The cost to insure the first device is $5.99, second device is $4.99, and then it is $3.99 for every device after that.  So if you want to insure more than one device then this might be a better option.  The deductible is also $75 per claim for smartphones.

Initial Cost: $144 (1 device/2 years)
Deductible: $75 per claim (unlimited claims)

Pros:
+ Affordable
+ More devices insured, cost per item decreases.

Cons:
- Theft/Loss not included

*T-Mobile is $8 per month ($192/year), 2 accidental incidents per 12 months, with a $175 deductible and covers Loss & Theft protection.

Plex Media Server "You do not have permission to access this server" Fix Ubuntu

So I recently changed my password as suggested by Plex after their forums were hacked.  While I was able to successfully change it, when I went to go watch something on my Roku I encountered the following message:

"You do not have permission to access this server"

Well obviously that is annoying, because even with the correct password I was still encountering this message.  Well apparently in order to fix it you have to edit a preferences.xml file on the server.  As I am running my Plex server on a Ubuntu machine the steps below are how I was able to resolve the issue.

First go ahead SSH to your server and stop the Plex service:

sudo service plexmediaserver stop

Next navigate to the preferences.xml file which should be located here:

cd /var/lib/plexmediaserver/Library/Application\ Support/Plex\ Media\ Server/

It's best to make a backup of the file just incase something goes haywire.

sudo cp preferences.xml.backup

You'll then want to edit the preferences.xml file with your preferred editor:

sudo nano preferences.xml

Now we want to look for the following and delete it:

allowedNetworks="127.0.0.1/255.255.255.255"

Once this segment is deleted save the changes.  Now it's time to start your Plex server again:

sudo service plexmediaserver start

Once it is finished loading you should be able to connect to your Plex Media Server through your Roku device.

Should you get a white or black iPhone 6/6+?

My smartphone journey began with iOS, then I spent a few years with Android, but have been thinking about going back to iOS with the release of the iPhone 6/6+.  I couldn't decide which color, black or white, I wanted so I decide to do a little research and compare them on my own.

Black
Pros:
Clean front when device is off
Speaker/front facing camera/proximity sensor not visible
Bezels "disappear" when viewing media

Cons:
Fingerprints are more visible on the bezel
Reflections are easier to see along the bezel
Applications don't look as good with black
Only comes in Space Gray

White
Pros:
White bezels gives a cleaner look
Applications seem to look better with the white bezels
Fingerprint sensor has a colored ring surrounding it making it look more premium
Two toned look when the screen is off looks good
Comes in Silver or Gold

Cons:
Speaker/front facing camera/proximity sensor visible
White bezel might be distracting when viewing videos
White bezels may project more light reflection

Hackintosh Multibeast Settings for GA-Z87MX-D3

So you've finally completed the OS X install and have successfully booted to the desktop  but not sure what Multibeast settings to use with your GA-Z87MX-D3H to complete your installation.  The images within this post should offer the help you're looking for.

Where to get Gigabyte BIOS betas?

I've seen this question asked many times on multiple forums and thought I'd just keep it simple in this post.  If you are looking for beta BIOS's for Gigabyte boards you can get them over at Tweaktown.

As they are beta's it is a try at your own risk situation.

Hackintosh: How to Remove Persistent Boot Flags

If you are encountering an issue where your system is continuing to boot, for example, in to safe mode even though the boot.plist file in the Extra's folder is free of -x and the Chimera boot window is free of additional boot flags, this is how you can fix it.

In OS X open Terminal

Then type:
sudo nvram -d boot-args

You'll have to type confirm by typing your password but that's all there is too it.  Hopefully you are no longer experiencing any random boot flags occurring when booting your Hackintosh.

AotD: AntennaPod - A Free Open Source Podcast Manager for Android

One of the first apps I missed when switching over to Android from iOS was a podcast manager.  There are quite a few for Android, one that I come across a lot is Pocket Casts ($4), but I was looking for a free alternative.  I recently stumbled across AntennaPod and has gotten the job done so far.

It's easy to use, looks good, and best of all it is free.  It is in beta so you stumbled across a few bugs but so far it has been solid for me.  They might charge in the future when the work out all of the bugs, but for now it is free so go grab it.

AotD: Grooveshark - Free Music Streaming App on Android

UPDATE: Since Grooveshark has shut down this service no longer works.

For those that don't know, Grooveshark is one of the many free music streaming websites available similar to Rio and Spotify.  Unlike those mentioned, you do not have to pay when you want to stream to your mobile device.

The problem with Grooveshark was there are no longer native applications on the Google Play Store or the iTunes AppStore. While you can use the mobile browser to listen to music via HTML5 the experience is slightly laggy and not as fluid as you would find on a native application. Luckily someone was nice enough to create a native application for users on Android and it looks amazing.  You'll need to allow the ability to install downloaded APK's.  Click the image to take you to more images and the APK file.

Thanks to Bejan Kanga for his hard work.

AotD: Weatherlove - A Free Clean & Simple Weather App for Android

Weatherlove is a clean and simple Android app yet delivers the information you need.  It is beautifully done and offers many customization options including icons and a few themes.  There are various widget sizes and includes the option to display the temperature in the status bar along with providing 3 days worth of forecast in the notification menu.  My pesonal favorite widget would probably be for the lockscreen allowing you to display the weather in the style of Cyanogenmod.

So if you are looking for a new weather app that is clean, simple, and informative, with a ton of customization options, I would highly recommend checking out Weatherlove.

Alternatives to eBay for Selling/Buying Electronics

If you tend to keep up with technology you might find yourself with extra electronics.  Well, don't let them sit and gather dust, sell them sooner rather than later to get the most out of them.

eBay used to be the go to place when trying to sell anything and everything but the fees they charge are outrageous and can add up quick.  Fortunately for us there are other options.

Craigslist is a great way to sell/buy your electronics locally.  It is free to post your items and there are no fees that you need to consider.  Since it's mostly cash only transactions it is best to meet in public places when doing the exchange.  The downside to buying locally is that you have to make sure what you are buying is legit as there are no returns.

Amazon is another option if you are looking for a broader audience like eBay with less fees.  There are still fees that you have to consider but they are not nearly as high as they are on eBay since eBay gets you on eBay fees and Paypal fees.  The fee calculation depends on various factors but you'll most likely end up making more money.  The downside is that not as many people check Amazon, but it would still be worthwhile to sell.  The positive when buying is that Paypal is not required and you can just use a standard credit card.

Swappa is newer and probably the least known website for selling/buying electronics.  There are no fees to post as a seller nor are there fees when you sell your item.  The price that you post your item includes a $10 surcharge that the buyer pays.  When selling your phone you'll have to input your IMEI number which they'll check to determine if it is whitelisted.  That is probably the best part about Swappa is that you can have confidence that the item you are buying is legit and is not blacklisted.

If there are any other options that you know of feel free to comment below.  I know Craigslist and Amazon were pretty obvious to most, but Swappa might be new to a few.

Expired. PID on Steam for FREE

Check this out.  All you have to do is sign up for a newsletter and you'll get PID on Steam at the cost of $0.  I don't know if the game is any good, but it's usually $10 and it's free so why not.  Be quick as keys are limited.

http://giveaways.bundlestars.com

Enjoy!!

PID Steam Link

Time Machine on Ubuntu Server OS Status Error

If you are trying to set up Time Machine on an Ubuntu Server but are receiving an OS Status Error check to make sure the folder that you set up on your server for Time Machine does not include any spaces.  It would be best to use underscores (Time_Machine_Backup) or another option would be to use camel case (TimeMachineBackup).  But apparently spaces can cause issues within a folder name.

Hopefully this fixes your error.

How to Return to Stock 4.4 on Nexus 4

After many searches and trying to follow multiple guides I was unable to find a working guide on how to return my custom rom'ed Nexus 4 back to stock.  But, I finally came across an extremely easy way to return to stock 4.4 on my Nexus 4 with very little effort.

*As of writing this stock 4.4 does not include the latest updates.

There is a nice toolkit which basically does everything for you.  All you have to do is place the phone in fastboot mode and follow the onscreen instructions.  FYI, it will erase all your data. 

Nexus 4 Toolkit:
Mac / Windows

I accomplished my restore on a Mac but the method is probably very similar on Windows.  The toolkit includes everything including the stock 4.4 rom.  I was able to install 4.4 and restore the bootloader to a locked state with this toolkit, but restoring the bootloader is not necessary and you can opt out after the initial restore.

Again, all you have to do is the following:

1. Download the toolkit, extract it, and then run the tool (green android icon).

2. Unplug your Nexus 4 from your computer (if it is plugged in), power it off (if it is on), and then power it back on while holding the Volume down and Power buttons at the same time.  If successful you will see the following screen:

3. Plug in your phone and continue with the toolkit instructions.

If you are receiving the "waiting for device" message, try plugging the usb cable into a 2.0 port rather than a 3.0 port.  This was the fix for me.

4. Once it is done with the initial restore you can choose to lock the bootloader by following the additional onscreen toolkit instructions.  If not, you can unplug your phone which should now be on stock 4.4.

Hope this helps.

How to Fix WIndows 7 Wake Issues

Recently my Windows 7 machine wouldn't wake up from sleep no matter what I did so I had to always power it down which was extremely annoying.  After some browsing I stumbled upon a fix which so far has been working.  Basically there is an option to allow a USB device to wake the computer, which is off by default and might be the culprit.  Here's how you change that setting.

Start > Right Click My Computer > Properties.

Select Device Manager on the left hand side.

Expand Human Interface Devices.

Right Click on HID-compliant consumer control device/HID-compliant device > Properties and select the Power Management tab.

Check Allow this device to wake the computer and select OK.

Do this for all of the HID-compliant consumer control device/HID-compliant device located in the Human Interface devices section.

Hopefully you will no longer have an issue with your Windows 7 machine not waking up from sleep.