BlackBerry Bold + Bluetooth + Macbook = Internet Access

If you have a BlackBerry and a PC, all you need to do to use it as a tethered modem to access the internet is to install Desktop Manager, and create an Internet connection (of course, you'll need to edit the initialization string for the BlackBerry modem - google it to find out how).

Googling it for the Mac gave me many links - some more useful than others. I thought I'd put it in a succint manner here for anyone who has a BB Bold, Macbook, and whose telco provider does not charge them an arm and a leg to use their crackberry as a modem.

Ok, here goes....

• Download the modem scripts from here. You'll end up with a zip file in Downloads (or wherever you save your downloaded porno (err... i mean proggies).
• Unzip the file, and copy the BlackBerry.ccl directory into the following location :  Mac HD:Library:Modem Scripts
• Pair your BlackBerry Bold over Bluetooth (I'm assuming you know how)
• As part of the pairing process, answer yes to wanting to use it as a modem to access the internet, and select the model of the device. If you're using a Bold like me, you should select Research in Motion, BlackBerry 8800 (yes, I know the 8800 is actually the Curve, but it works for the 9000 aka Bold too)
• Open Network Preferences (under System Preferences), select Bluetooth, and enter your telco 3G/GSM data connection settings. Here are the equivalent terms :
• Telephone Number : Enter your APN  (for maxis, "unet")
  
• Account Name : Enter your username (for maxis, "maxis")
  
• Password : Enter your provided password (for maxis, "wap")

Done. Now you can connect to it by clicking Connect in the same Network Preferences location. 

What threw me for a loop was the telephone number. I used to put in *99# as the telephone number, but here it expects the APN. The APN, username and password is a generic setting for your telco. Please ask your telco if you don't know the setting. My telco is Maxis Malaysia, and the values I gave as examples will only work for Maxis Malaysia.

Good luck!

Upgrading the system disk on my Macbook

Over the weekend, I upgraded the system disk on my Macbook. It was a 250GB 5400rpm SATA drive originally. It's now a 500GB 5400rpm SATA drive! Hurrah!!!

For the curious and not-so-fainthearted (i'm kidding - it's really quite straightforward), here are the steps :

• Go out and buy a 500GB disk (or whatever size you want to upgrade to, but 500GB is pretty much the max for a 2.5" SATA disk right now). Oh yes, obviously, it has to be 2.5" with a SATA interface. You could get a 320GB one with higher speed (7200rpm), but I was worried about power consumption on my Macbook, and if i get a faster disk, it would probably mean the battery will not last as long.
• If you have another USB (SATA) drive, and if you feel comfortable removing the disk from the case, you can use that. If not, go and buy a USB enclosure for a SATA drive. They're pretty cheap now. In any case, you should put your brand new drive into a USB enclosure.
• Hook your USB case with your new drive to your Macbook
• Download SuperDuper ( http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/ ) and install it
• Run SuperDuper and use it to backup your system drive to the USB drive as a target (SuperDuper will prep it, copy the files, and then make your target drive bootable)
• When backup is completed, if you want to verify that your drive is bootable, shutdown your Mac, and boot it up whilst holding the Option key, and choosing the USB drive. After verification, you should shut down your Mac
• Remove your new drive from the USB enclosure
• Flip your Macbook over, and remove the battery cover. You will see your existing hard drive. 
• Use a screwdriver (obviously) and remove the screw holding down the mounting rail. This should be a single screw, and it's the one that's sitting the highest, round about the same level as the top of the hard drive. Remove the mounting rail.
• Remove the drive, and the SATA connection cable (gently does it now....)
• Remove the mounting screws from the original drive, and put them in the new one. There should be 4 of these, and they are little pieces sticking out the side of the drive. You'd probably need a pair of needlenose pliers for this. Place them in your new drive (duh!)
• Connect the SATA cable to your new drive, slot it into place, and replace the mounting rail. Screw it into place.
• Replace the battery cover
• Boot up your Macbook (cross your fingers first if you are superstitious)

There you go. Not difficult, even though it may look it from the details. Bear in mind, the details are a little more.... detailed.... than I would have normally written it.

Virtual Machines

So I've installed VMware Fusion in my mac. Thought I'd share what virtual machines (VMs) I've created on it. Let's see.... I have :

• MS Windows XP Pro SP3 (for connecting to work when I'm downloading stuff using bittorrent on my mac)
• MS Windows Server 2003 Enterprise (for running a software to generate some reports I need - also for work) - this'll probably get trashed soon though...
• Ubuntu Desktop 8.10 (for running my NetApp storage simulators on it)
• OpenSolaris (just wanted to see what it looked like)

Wow, I'm so proud of myself. I managed to avoid writing M$ Windoze for once!

New Aluminium Unibody Macbook

Sweet! Got a shiny new 13.3" aluminium (or aluminum for you Americans) Macbook with the 2.4GHz Intel Core2 Duo processor. Upped it to 4GBs of RAM. Software I have in it :

• Cisco VPN Client (for connecting to work)
• Microsoft Mac Office 2008 (for doing some actual work, includes Entourage for email)
• VMware Fusion (for running other OSes on my shiny new mac)
• Adium (for Instant Messaging - MSN & Yahoo - who can live without it nowadays??)
• Skype (for keeping in touch with absolute strangers)
• Picasa (for photo management)
• Seascape (for image manipulation - provides basic functionality which is all i need)
• Gimp (i don't know why - i rarely use it because i have seascape)
• Xtorrent (for downloading porno - it's great, has an integrated search tool!)
• xPad (for notes management)
• handbrake (for DVD ripping)
• miro & vlc (for playing DVDs/movies)
• caffeine (the software, not in a drink - a handy utility for keeping your mac from going to sleep)
• coconutbattery (for looking at your battery details)
• warcraft, civilization (for entertainment, what else??)

Ok, I have lots more, but I can't list everything down here....

Oops, gotta go install more apps on my mac!

Finally....

I have finally decided to get on the blogging bandwagon. This would be my corner of the world wide web for now. Tell all your friends to check out wlum.blogspot.com! I am a gadget freak, and will most probably be posting articles on... you guessed it : gadgets. (No, you don't get any prizes)

Any comments/feedback welcomed. It will very likely be read and ignored, but it would still be welcomed nonetheless.

We'll see how long I can keep this going :)