The case of the missing “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” setting on a jailbroken iPhone 3GS

4. August 2009 by Monkk.

Well, here is an interesting little story that was passed on to me from a friend with a jail-broken iPhone. Complete with screen-shots (nice touch)

So it seems, in the Settings application, the item for “Mail, Contacts, and Calendars” was missing. And upon closer examination, so was the Push settings, and likely anything new with the 3.0 OS update. Here is a screenshot of the Settings app in it’s “confused” state (it does look a little off doesn’t it ) :

Well after some digging, and let me tell you it’s not that easy to come up with a search term for this… Suffice it to say, someone forgot something… Not sure if it’s the theme’s fault (see, jail-broken iPhones let you stack on themes to make your phone look just the way you like it. Unfortunately, it’s not without it’s drawbacks and this is likely why Apple has not provided a way for you to do this… Though I find it odd as I could easily see a $1.99 theme in the App store…) At any rate, if you are using Winterboard, and if you are running themes and reading this, you likely are, there is a setting to dis-able themes for anything except the Springboard (which is the main app launcher for the iPhone).

In the Settings application, choose the Winterboard settings and enable “SpringBoard Only” :

And as if by magic, the Settings application will look normal again:

The side effect it, ONLY the Springboard is themed (main screen) all the apps, do not benefit from the theme if it provides replacement Dialer or Lock screens (etc…) So the beautiful:

Again becomes the mundane:

Fortunately, the settings retain their values, you just can’t get to ‘em so you can go ahead and make whatever changes you needed to make and then re-enabling theming for all apps again. It’s annoying and lame… It’s really too bad so much time has to be wasted circumventing apple to be able to do what we want with the devices we paid for.

Update (2009-08-04 9:17 AM): The “Winterboard Settings” item is added to the Settings App by installing the “WinterBoard Settings” package via Cydia or Icy:

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AT&T Uverse is AWFUL!

20. December 2008 by Monkk.

Ok ya got me, awful is nowhere near strong enough a word but it’ll have to do. Why? Ok here we go:

1) If you have a TV it MUST have a set top box otherwise you’d better have an air antennae or the tv is useless. $5.00 a month per set top box.

2) 4 Incoming TV streams. So you can watch different channels on 4 TV’s. if you have 5 simultaneous viewers on 5 TV’s, one of them must watch what someone else is watching or they can watch a DVR recorded show (if ya spring for the extra money for a DVR set top box.). Ok, sounds a little constraining but that’s a lot of TV to watch at once right? Oh you forgot about the DVR didn’t you. If the DVR is recording two different programs at the same time, there goes 2 of your streams leaving you 2 streams left to watch on your remaining TVs.

3) If you opt to pay the additional $10 a month for HD programming, 2 of your 4 channels are HD, the other 2 are SD. So if you happen to DVR those two programs in HD (and why the hell wouldn’t you???) well you’ve still only got 2 channels left, but they are SD so enjoy watching that SD on your HD TV ya paid all that money for.

4) Only 1 DVR per house-hold. You can watch recorded shows from the DVR on any of your TV’s but you can only schedule recordings from the DVR Tv (or the web based interface (which is only available to the primary account holders login on their site, so sorry spouse, roommate, or children, better ask the account holder to do it for ya…))

5) The 2Wire DSL modem / wire-less router combo. OK the device itself isn’t awful for your average web-surfing person, but I have a swell D-Link wireless router that I purchased because it has all the features I require. It did work behind the 2Wire one, but has no way to disable the router or route all traffic to the real router so it effectively crippled some features (automatic DYNDNS updates, UPNP firewall, etc)

6) Understaffed installers and incompetent customer service personnel. I’m sure there are a few who actually know how to do their job, but I have no empirical evidence of that. The woman I spoke with to order my service got the number of TV’s wrong (3 instead of 4, I realize there only one away but its a pretty important detail…) So of course when the installer gets there, he only has 3 for me. 6 hours later he leaves after drilling 2 holes and running cable to 2 rooms 10 feet from each other (….) and tells me I can schedule another box to be delivered. Which I do, of course the 1st appointment available is 3 weeks out. So I tell them to cancel the service, and magically they can drop it off 2 days out. So I take the day off work and wait for my 8:00 am - 10:-00 am appointment. 10:15 rolls around and the installer says he’s running late and won’t be there until between 10:00 and 12:00. 12:30 rolls around and I call them as I’ve heard NOTHING and he’s running late and says he won’t be there until between 12:00 and 2:00. 2:15 rolls around and surprise, he won’t bet there until between 2:00 and 4:00. So at 4:30 I call them to see where the hell he is and of course customer service says no installer has been assigned to do anything and they can schedule one (…wait for it…) in 3 weeks.

So, thankfully, I never cancelled my Time Warner service as I suspected AT&T Uverse was incompetent and lo and behold, they are. So I re-wired my cable in 15 minutes (6 freaking hours it took the moron to wire in the Uverse) and I have reliable service again.

On the positive side, the set top box UI is way better then Time Warners, but that ain’t any reason to keep the service.

Clusterfuck is far more an appropriate term. I suggest you stay FAR FAR AWAY from this garbage. Asta la vista baby, you can suck it!

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Buh-Bye Republicans

5. November 2008 by Monkk.

Come back in 2 years and regulate the senate 4tw

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Understanding Palin

13. October 2008 by Monkk.

Came across this in an email and it sums it up pretty well :-)  (Click on the image to get a larger, more read-able image)

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Yup, I got down-sized :-(

2. July 2008 by Monkk.

 

John Minadeo

Summary

Experienced application developer that has been working in software development  for the past 11 years with a strong focus on database and backend architecture and data transformations in Microsoft centric environments and strong familiarity with their languages and tools.

 

Skills

Can display proficiency with the following skills and in the following areas:

 

Industries: Insurance (Auto), Healthcare, Financial, Internet Development, General Software Development Contracting, B2B / B2C Web Site Development and back-end interfacing

 

Languages: C#, C/C++, VB (6 and .NET), Python, Perl, PHP, Java, JavaScript

 

Technologies: XML, XSL/T, HTML, ASP / ASP.NET, Web Services, COM / DCOM, Java Server Pages / Java Servlets, Relational Database Design, Firewalls / Network Security, Webtrends Reporting Package, PayPal Payment Integration

 

Development Methodologies: Object Orientated Design and Development, Test Driven Design, Agile Development, Waterfall Project Planning, Metrics Reporting

 

Source Control: Merant PVCS, CVS, Subversion, Visual Source Safe

 

Tools: MS Visual Studio (5, 6, 2003, 2005, 2008), Beyond Compare, Tortoise SVN, ReSharper

 

Back-ends: Active Directory / LDAP, MQ Server, DB2

 

Server Configuration: SQL Server 6.5, 7.0, 2000, 2005, RADIUS, IIS (3, 4, 5, 6) Web Server, Apache Web Server, MS VPN / DHCP, Exchange Server, NameD (DNS Server), Sendmail (Mail Server), Windows Network Administration, MS Certificate Server

 

Operating Systems: Windows 3.1/95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista, Linux (Ubuntu, SuSE)

 

·         Enthusiastic personality, Career motivated, Team player, Over 11 years of technical experience.

 

Experience

2008 – Present                Insurance.com http://www.insurance.com                      

                                            Solon, OH

Application Developer IV

Hired to fill a senior level developer position in the expanding Communication business unit. Primary responsibilities include design and implementation of various forms of customer contact primarily email. Maintained and enhanced the stand alone custom email queuing and sending services written in C#. Also maintained the email content testing system for use by the QA department. Additional responsibilities included enhancing the Quoting Interview application to support and modify queuing logic for the various customer contact types. All development used formal development procedures such as design documentation and implementation plans, design and code reviews, and included the creation of new and maintaining of existing application unit tests using the Nunit testing framework. Also aided in the development of stored procedures and data structures to accommodate new functionality to the system.

 

2003 – 2007                     Progressive Insurance http://www.progressive.com     

                                            Mayfield Village, OH

Application Developer Lead

Originally hired in to the Server Based Rating Platform Team to design, develop, and maintain applications and on-line services to facilitate the quoting and selling of vehicle insurance, primarily in the agent channel of business. Application development used C++ with the standard template library as well as some windows COM components. Created and maintained tools to support the creation and testing of internal applications. Participated in creating the new motorcycle product for use with Progressive’s Comparison Rater initiative piloted with Harley-Davidson/Buell in Florida, then deployed for all quoting states. I also functioned as the group liaison to the internal Tools Team to influence design and development as well as training and support for the maintenance of existing and the creation of new support tools. Joined the internal Agency Tools Team in late 2005 where I developed and maintained various tools to support IT tasks throughout the Agency Channel using C# for both Windows Forms and ASP.NET web services and intranet sites. Additionally, I helped with platform infrastructure development such as optimizing our in-house rule engine and converting the C++ code-base from Visual Studio 2003 to Visual Studio 2005 in preparation for moving to a new server operating system environment. Currently I am the Technical Lead on the Automated Testing application development using C# Windows Forms with a ASP.NET application for viewing division wide test results to support our 70+ in-house Quality Assurance analysts and testers, as well as consult to the Progressive Enterprise Tools Team on automated testing efforts for use company wide. Completed the following in-house training sessions for Progressive’s Application Developers: Conducting Reviews, Targeted Selection, OO Principles, Software Development Methodology, Estimating, Claims Overview, QA for Developers, and Introduction to Insurance. Development consists of primarily C# / ASP.NET (using C#) as well as some legacy application maintenance on older C++ applications.

 

 

2003 – 2003                     Cobb Community Collaborative http://www.cobbcollaborative.com            Marietta, GA

Consultant

Converted existing site to a database driven website to ease future maintenance. Developed Microsoft Access database to fit the client’s lower budget grant-based not-for-profit environment.. Added a web enabled calendar to hi-light community events that can be maintained by the Collaborative and their associates. Provided training for their employees on maintaining the database as well as updating their site with Microsoft FrontPage and Macromedia DreamWeaver. Recommended new site host and migrated site to the new host.

 

 

2002 – 2003                     Spellbuddy.com http://www.spellbuddy.com                 

                                            Canton, GA

Consultant

Designed and developed XML based website to showcase the client’s products. The site features an easily maintained news system, secure software delivery system, customizable user forums, as well as xml driven emailing subsystem. Database design in a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 environment. Produced in-house Visual Basic 6 and C#.NET tools to update content as well as aid in development of XML systems. Additionally wrote data import and export tools in C# .NET.

 

2002 – 2003                     DrTango, Inc. http://www.drtango.com                             

                                            Roswell, GA

Web Application Developer

Developed XML based replacement for the general payment server involving MS SQL Server 2000, in a load balanced clustered environment. Participated in the process to add multiple language capabilities to the flagship product. Documented existing procedures and internally developed components. Participated in switching T1 providers for both the site connectivity and the VoIP phone system. Participated in the design and implementation of the network after a second remote site was added. Administered multiple MS SQL Servers, and load balanced IIS clusters as well as internal development IIS servers. Created documentation for developer’s of the application as well as documented the various components that make up the application. Re-Developed HTML Newsletter mailer in C# .NET.

 

1996– 2002                      NetForce Development, Inc. http://www.nforce.com  (no longer in business)

                                            Beachwood, OH

Senior Systems Analyst

The company was relatively small (15-18 employees) and most of my duties were that of a Senior Systems Analyst, though technical policy also fell on my shoulders.

 

Active Server Pages scripting for websites including pulling data from and storing data to databases, NT network administration (installs/setups, configuration, Exchange Server, SQL Server, MSDNS, IIS, MTS), Custom applications using Visual Basic 5 and 6, Server Side Com component creation for use under IIS in VB and within administrative scripts. I also lead development efforts for Client Systems Analysis and Database Design. Aside from development, I also performed the following duties: Project Management,  tutoring junior programmers, Security policy, Backup policy, Corporate Email Usage policy, devised / documented  / implemented and trained staff in Programming standards and Best practices. I advised management in Company growth planning, procedures for client problem call tracking, virus scans, client contact tracking, backups, technology research and selection plans for adoption into production environments, and wrote client technical proposals.

 

Some projects I lead the development at used Project Plan and Timeline creation, deliverable schedule, and team member coordination as well as documentation for all stages of the development cycle. And  include E-Commerce site for the Sewing Machine division of the international company Husqvarna Viking (http://ordering.husqvarnaviking.com/). An E-Commerce site which links authorized HV resellers and their customers to products available directly from Husqvarna. Integrated online sales with an AS400 at the Cleveland headquarters for order fulfillment. Initial project only made sewing machine embroidery files available for purchase and download. I was also the Team Lead on “Phase 2″ which added selling of traditional shipping products.

 

Team Lead during onsite project at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cardiology Department to develop a Clinical Study Tracking and Reporting System for internal and subscription use. Using a 3-Tier Architecture model and COM / DCOM on the Microsoft Windows platform.

 

Team Lead on in house development for commercial release of OLLA (OnLine Learning Academy (http://www.olla.net)). A Department of Defense funded research project of Lockheed Martin. My company took rights to the source, and repaired for production in D.O.D. schools. The Resource Center was redeveloped into a subscription type service for schools providing Internet resources ranked by curriculum. Also developed backend prototype for the “phase 2″ system suited to Enterprise Education / Training and College level education. Exposed data services through COM objects in the form of an API.

 

Team Lead on Extranet for Crystal Internet Venture Fund. A internal website for clients authenticated to their network to view status of venture capital considerations currently pending.

 

 

1994–1996                       Cyberspace Construction Company                                       Cleveland, OH

Programmer

Conversion of data and databases from DB2 to MS Access and flat files using the C programming language. Additionally automated routine repetitive (such as newsgroup processing, email sending) tasks with scripts and programs.

 

Education

1999                                                    Develop Mentor                                                          Torrance, CA

“Building Distributed Applications Using Visual Basic and COM”

1994 - 1996                             Electronic Technical Institute                                              Cleveland, OH

Associates Degree in Electronic Engineering

1993 - 1994                               Cleveland State University                                               Cleveland, OH

1 year of core college education with an un-named major.

 

Interests

·         Music (both listening and playing). I play guitar, bass, drum machines, and a little keyboard.)

·         Computer games development.

·         Reading.

 

Recommendations available upon request.

References available upon request.

Posted in Personal | Print | 2 Comments »

An unfortunate turn of events

27. June 2008 by Monkk.

So, apparently my company will be downsizing, with IT taking the brunt of the cuts…  By rough estimation, it’ll end up being around 20%. Doing the math that ends up being 3.5 developers. I am the 4th newest, but the most recent fills a singular specific job that’s not going away, and my gut says he’s safe. Which puts me at #3  

My company is pretty choosy about the hiring process and it’s personnel, and truly, there is no chaff at all to cut. It seems that the only logical choice would in that scenario would be people with the least amount of connectedness which to me suggests “Last In, First Out” (pardon the programmer humor)

At any rate, a great bunch of guys and a very viable company, I hope they do well and that I continue my employ.

Cross your fingers for me folks, I’ll know July 2nd.

–Regards!

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Looking for you Laura Glancz

7. June 2008 by Monkk.

When you lived in Macedonia (could have been Medina, started with an M :-(  )Ohio, you were dating a friend of mine named Barry D. This would have been early 90’s. After you guys broke up you vanished. I can’t find any sort of trace of you anywhere, should you happen to ever come across this, you should get in touch with me. It’s John M. and I can be reached here or via email: coder at monkk dot com

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The search has ended!

12. December 2007 by Monkk.

Well my friends, I have rejoined the ranks of the employed once again! A little spot called Insurance.com. I have to say I’m incredibly excited to start! The guys I interviewed with were awesome and I have a long time friend (26 years (whoa, I feel old lol )) has been working there for 7 years and I probably owe him everything I have for sparking my love for computers, plus he’s a freakin’ genius so I get to absorb his smartness, heheh!

At any rate, I think it will be a great fit, as I am coming out of a large auto insurance company in northeast Ohio, and into, what I think, is the natural progression of selling insurance via comparative rating. Which is a big phrase for giving the consumer options without making them go to 16 insurance web sites and give their information again and again and again. And the development staff is much smaller which I think gives the people doing the work an incredible sense of involvement and ownership which you just do not get in companies with multiple divisions of 300+ IT staff.

I want to thank all my friends who were so supportive, and Insurance.com for giving me an opportunity. thank you all so very much!

Regards!

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A p0x upon teh job search!

1. December 2007 by Monkk.

Well folks, as a friend recently pointed out, I need to post something all ready. So here’s the skinny, as some of you may or may not know, I have most recently been employed by a  large auto-insurance company in North East Ohio. Well due to a relatively flat insurance market over the past few years, and some less then innovative IT leadership, a decently large re-organization has been undertaken by the company, and in doing so they have decided to eliminate around 250 positions from the Business side (Business Analysts, Product Managers) and a corresponding 250 poistions from the IT side as well. I’m sure it looked good on paper, and to be honest I do believe it was required to truly change direction which is what is needed. At any rate I among with a large number of my breatren had our jobs eliminated on Nov. 15th (Happy Holidays folks!)

So, to make a short story long, I am in search of a job and hence the less frequent updates. My apologies, if any of you wanted to put me on your pay-roll, I promise to get back to more frequent rants

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