How to Root the T-Mobile Galaxy S3 AFTER JellyBean update

So, I found myself wanting a change to my phone after a friend rooted his phone and put CynaogenMod 10 on it.  It was so lightning quick that I was really jealous.  I tried a few different tutorials but to no avail.  It turns out that there are a few different things that you have to do in order to root it AFTER the Samsung Jelly Bean update.  Here we go:

1. Make sure you have installed the updated Samsung drivers here (There is usually just one driver for all Samsung devices, but you need the updated ones that support the Galaxy S3)
2. Download Odin here (Odin is a program that will push the modified recovery software to your phone)
3. Download ClockworkMod Recovery here (custom recovery software that will allow you to give you root access and put a custom version of Android on it)
4. Download the Superuser app for Android here
5. Unzip Odin and double click the Odin3 v3.04 file
6. Put the superuser zip in the root of the sd card
7. Turn off your phone
8. Once the phone is off, HOLD Volume Up + Home Button + Power Button until you see a warning that you are in download mode.  Press Volume Up to continue.
9. Plug phone into computer via USB; You should see a message in Odin on the left lower corner saying Added
10. Uncheck the Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time
11. Click PDA and find the downloaded Recovery .tar file
12. Click Start.
13. After it says Successful, unplug the phone and take out the battery.  
14. Put battery back in, and then HOLD Volume Down + Home Button + Power Button until you see some blue letters on the top of the phone screen.
15. Now use the volume buttons to select install zip from sd card, then press the power button to select it
16. now find the superuser zip and select it, and then confirm it
17. now go back to the main screen of the recovery software and reboot

That should do it.  Cheers.

How to do a 'hover' with Webdriver in Java....

I had a crazy time trying to recreate our hover functionality, and was having troubles.  But then I found this code:


Element item = webDriver.findElement(By.id("superman");
Actions builder = new Actions(webDriver);    
builder.clickAndHold(item);


It works like a charm!

LDS Scriptures and General Conference on Nook & Nook Simple Touch

I recently purchased a Nook Simple Touch (which can be found here) and am adoring it!  But, I will wait to do a full review after I own it for about a month. 

I couldn't really find a straightforward article on how to put the LDS Scriptures, General Conference, or the manuals on the device, so I thought I would share my research. 

First of all, it's important to note that the Nook does its best work with EPUB files.  So, if you want you find something for the Nook, the best way to do it is by getting a copy with in Adobe's EPUB format.  The scriptures/conference/manuals can be found at this link in epub format: http://lds.org/manual/epub?lang=eng

Second, I have found that the best way to transfer the files over with Windows or Mac (untested) is via a program called Calibre (can be downloaded at http://calibre-ebook.com/).  It's a pretty straightforward process, and they have a great tutorial there on how to do it: you just drag your epub files over to the library list in the application and then they are added to your available library.  Then you plug in your Nook to said computer and it will automatically recognize it on its listed device page.  Right click on the epub book, and send it to your device, which should be labeled as 'NOOK'. 

Let me know if you have any questions in the comments. 

Cheers.

Review: Anonymous

When I first heard of this film, I really wanted to see it.  I adore Shakespeare and I adore well done period pieces.  But, when the reviews came out as being more or less lackluster, I held off.  So, 3 weeks after its release I finally saw it.
The story is absolutely enthralling.  I deliberately decided to ignore any historical inaccuracies (there were plenty) because that seems to be the common concensus as to why critics were so divided on the film.  It really was well thought out and even brilliant at times with how they incorporated many of the plays with the manipulating of the mob mentality of Elizabethan London. 
The acting was hit and miss.  But, when it was a hit, it was a HIT.  Rhys Ifans--best known for his comedic performance in Notting Hill as the bumbling, half-naked roommate of Hugh Grant's character,--delivers a grand slam of a performance.  As does most of the nobility roles.  The Ben Johnson character seemed very forced to me, although his delivery in one of the many climaxes of the movie was very moving. 
The music was really quite good, although it felt out of place at parts.
The directing felt a little jumbled and less than polished.  Right off I could offer a number of suggestions that I feel would have helped the film remarkably.  But, I also give props to Roland Emerich (best known for Independence Day) for putting together such a great drama in his first try; as I understand it, this was his first foray into a non-action genre.
Over I give it a 4.25/5.  Like I said, brilliant in so many ways, but less than polished in others.

Cheers.

Why I use a five star system...

So, it has baffled many a people (myself included) why many film critics use a 4-star rating system instead of a 5-star one.  Michael Medved, Roger Ebert, etc. all use quad-star system.  As it turns out, the precedent for using a non-4-star ratings was brought on by the advent of the internet.  Sites like IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes/Flixter have broken convention with their rating systems.  And I guess the reason that I use a 5-star system is because I rate every film I see on Rotten Tomatoes/Flixter, and that is the method they provide.  So, in case you were wondering, this is why I use the 5-star rating system.  Cheers.

Xbox 360 HDMI 720p problem (solution)

Well, I've joined the HDTV revolution, finally.  I know, I'm late in the game.  But this is mostly due my wife and I being extremely frugal.  So, I bought a 720p Westinghouse 22 inch, floor model.  It's pretty nice but in hooking up my XBox 360 to it via an HDMI cable it would have approx 1 second of music and picture and then turn blank.  The controller would sometimes work and sometimes wouldn't.  So, after researching for about a half hour I found out that microsoft is ridiculous (I should've suspected this from the beginning).  Turns out that whenever you connect an HDMI cable to it, it automatically goes to 1080p output, which of course was too much for my television to handle thus causing my symptoms. 

There are is one solution to fix this, but a few ways to go about it.  What you need to do is to go into the system settings/console settings/HDTV settings and switch it to whatever resolution is necessary (whether it be 1080i or 720p, etc.).  The first way to change this is to go in blind; there are a few tutorials out there of how to do this, but they didn't work for me, so I will give my own:

1. Turn on console VIA the controller
2. Wait approx 30 seconds
3. push the 'X' middle button on the controller ONCE
4. Wait another 10 seconds to let it fully come up
5. Push RIGHT (2) times
6. Push DOWN (3) times
7. Push A (1) time
8. Wait another 5 seconds
9. Push A (3) times
10. Push UP (1) time for 1080i, UP (2) times for 720p, or UP (3) times for 480p
11. Press A (1) time

This should produce the result you want. 

Of course the EASIEST solution is to find a 1080p television that you can use (there are several where I work), connect your XBOX to it, and then change the settings to whatever you need it to be.  I tested it and it saves your setting even when turn it off and unplug it.  I am now playing as Batman in HD bliss.

Another note is that you can't get to the HDTV settings VIA a yellow AV cable being connected.  So, Microsoft MAKES you do this blindly. 

Anyways,
Cheers

AMAZING