Pathik Shah

Symbian has had an added security measure built into OS v9.x phones which required you to sign your Symbian applications before installing them. Only applications and games from trusted developers are pre-signed so that you can install them directly. Everything else has to be signed before installation.

To start signing your Symbian OS9 applications, you first need to get a certificate for your Symbian phone and then sign it using SignSIS.

How to get a Signing Certificate for your Symbian phone

There are two ways to get a signing certificate.

cer.opda.cn

Just go to http://cer.opda.cn/en and register as a user. Enter your IMEI and you should get a certificate in 10-12 hours.

cer.s603rd.cn

Go to http://cer.s603rd.cn and enter your IMEI and the verification code in the two boxes. The certificate should be generated in 10-12 hours. Just visit the site again and enter your IMEI again to download your certificate.

How to Sign your Symbian Applications using SignSIS

Once you have your certificate, you can sign applications using the SignSIS tool.

Download SignSIS here - http://cer.opda.cn/uploads/tools/SignSISTool.zip

Extract the files from the zip archive using WinRAR or WinZip and run SignTool.exe

In the boxes with the chinese text,

#1 Browse and select the SignSIS.exe file

#2 Select the unsigned SIS file

#3 Select the .CER certificate

#4 Select the .KEY key

#5 Browse and select the unsigned SIS file but rename it to something else. This is where the signed file will be saved.

A list of the best geek webcomics I’ve come across on ze interwebs. Some of them aren’t exactly geeky, but fun nevertheless.

1. XKCD

2. Dilbert

3. Joy of Tech

4. Geek and Poke

5. Geek Hero

6. Oatmeal

7. Doghouse Diaries

8. Ctrl + Alt + Del

9. Abstruse Goose

10. Cyanide and Happiness

11. Real Life Comics

12. Foxtrot

Leave your suggestions and recommendations in the comments.

How to Create a Bootable USB Drive For Windows XP and then Install Windows XP Using the Bootable USB Drive

Most netbooks don’t have an optical drive so to install Windows XP on them, you need to create a bootable Windows XP USB drive. Here’s how! You can also use this to install XP on your PC or Laptop if they can boot from a USB drive.

What you need -

- Windows XP Home / Professional CD/ISO
- 1 GB+ USB Drive
- USB Boot enabled Netbook / Laptop / PC

Download these three files -

PEtoUSB
BootSect
USBPrep8

Extract the files in these 3 archives in separate folders using WinRAR. Then copy the PEtoUSB executables in the USB_PREP8 folder.

Run the usb_prep8.cmd file – a command window should open. Press any key to move to the next screen. In the PEtoUSB window, select the USB drive and enable the tick on these options

- Enable Disk Format
- Quick Format
- Enable LBA

Give it a drive label and click Start.

Now minimize all the windows, open the Command Prompt – Start > Run > CMD.

Navigate to the folder with the Bootsect.exe file and run this command -

:> bootsect.exe /nt52 X:

where X: is the USB drive letter. This should write the boot sector to your USB drive. You should get a message saying – Bootcode was successfully updated on all targeted volumes. Close this window now. Also close the PEtoUSB window. The USBPREP8 window should now show you a list of options -

1. Change XP Setup Source Path

Press 1 and browse to the XP setup path. Select the CD drive if you inserted a CD or to the folder where you have the setup files saved.

2. Change Virtual Temp Drive

Press 2 and assign any unused drive letter to it like X, Y or Z.

3. Change Target USB Drive letter

Press 3 and enter your USB drive letter.

4. Make new Temp Image with XP LocalSource and copy to USB drive

Press 4 to start the process. Enter Y or Press Yes to any prompts that come next.

Your Bootable USB Drive with the Windows XP Installer is now ready.

To Install Windows XP using this bootable USB drive,

Insert the USB drive in your PC or laptop. Select the boot option as USB in the BIOS or Quick Boot settings to boot from the USB drive and the XP Installation process should start.

How to Install Android OS on your PC / Netbook / Laptop?

This tutorial will show you how to install Android 2.0 Eclair on your Asus EEE PC. It also works with most other netbooks.

Download the Android X86 port from http://www.android-x86.org/

-> Android-X86 Download Link

How to Install Android OS on your EEE PC?

After downloading the bootable android-x86 ISO, burn it to your USB drive using Win32DiskImager –  or UNetBootIn

Insert the USB drive in your netbook, set it to boot from USB drive from the BIOS options and then restart your netbook.

The installation process should start soon. You can use it as a Live USB to run Android without installing it or install Android to your harddisk.

If you choose to install it, select a partition to install it to and then format it using the EXT3 format. Choose to install the GRUB boot loader.

After the installation is complete, you can reboot your EEE PC to run the installed Android OS.

The OS is very responsive and works perfectly well, atleast with the EEE PC. Everything just works out of the box – Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Display, Mouse, Keyboard etc.

It can be used as a backup OS or just to show off a bit. It also has a makeshift version of the Android Market with a few apps compatible with the X86 platform.

How to Mod/Hack the PS3?

As far as I know (and can search), there is no working mod or hack for the Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) which will let you play downloaded games on the PS3. Geohot (the man who first hacked the iPhone is working on it, so a working mod should probably be out soon). Check his blog for updates on the hack - GeoHot PS3

But I repeat, There is no working hack or mod available for the Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) yet. The Belzar PS3 mod chip is just a rumor. It doesn’t exist.

There is a way to download game demos from the PS3 store and install / play them on your PS3 but it no longer works.

If there is any working hack that you know of,  leave a comment. Keep checking  GeoHot PS3 and PS3 Hacks for updates on the mod.