Sorry, the OpenID server couldn't be found

I have never been able to successfully sign-up for an new website using OpenID. This time, I logged in to OpenID, and tried to sign-up, but I still receive the message:

" Sorry, the OpenID server couldn't be found "

Does anyone know if there is a known work-around to this issue?

MacBook firmware Update 1.2 and Java Update 1

The following releases were available for update for my MacBook:

• MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.2 1.6 MB
• Java for Mac OX X 10.5 Update 1 1.0 57.5 MB

According to Apple, it fixes several issues to improve the stability of the MacBook. After the firmware is installed, the Boot ROM version will be: MB31.008E.B02

FakeSteve - Fake Steve Jobs - The Ballmer - Yang Picture

This is the original blog from The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs AKA Daniel Lyons that contains the Steve Ballmer - Jerry Yang dog picture. The blog is entitled: Yahoo: Borg deal is "frosting on a double-layer suck cake."

read more | digg story

OpenDNS Servers - not reliable - April 2008

Last year, the Bell South or AT&T DNS Servers went down so I switched to OpenDNS. Today, I noticed that several websites were not found on the OpenDNS servers so I switched back to the AT&T DNS servers. The AT&T DNS servers appeared to be much faster than before. I think the OpenDNS servers are better used as backup DNS servers.

It's really nice to have an Apple iPhone so that I can use Edge to test access to the website.

OPENDNS
https://www.opendns.com/start
208.67.222.222
208.67.220.220

iPhone Proximity Sensor broken

Since the last iPhone firmware update, the proximity sensor on my phone appears to be broken or non-operational. When speaking to someone on my iPhone, the screen goes blank and I am not able to get back to the iPhone Phone screen. Today, I called AppleCare Support, and they recommended a System Restore

However, I would not recommend performing a system restore unless you have time to go to your local Apple Store or to send your iPhone for service. When I tried a system restore, I was not able to restore it. I have my original iPhone from last June, the iPhone Launch Weekend.

An FYI - if you believe your proximity sensor is broken, check your sensor without the case. It is possible an old case might be causing the problem.

-- snip --
Iphone screen wil not wake from sleep after phone call

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You know how when you take a phone call in iphone mode, and you bring the receiver to your ear and the screen magically goes blank? I assume this function was designed to reduce heat against one's ear) Well, after I take calls lately my screen has not been magically turning back on?????

The phone doesnt completely shut down, I can still hear calls and everything. But the screen will not wake until I press the sleep button twice and it will then return to screen save and require the slideer function to return home.

This is rather annoying. I havent trid a restore yet, as Id prefer not to, but Im sure thats what they will do at the store.

If I try a restore and it keeps doing it I definitely take it back to apple store right?

Anyone else getting this error?

iTunes 7.6.2.9

I just installed the iTunes 7.6.2.9 update on my Windows XP PC. I have not noticed any problems with my iTunes or my iPhone. There was no iPhone update yet (1.1.4 is the most recent version). I can't seem to locate of list of any features or bugs that this update fixed.

It's Time to Cancel T-Mobile HotSpot

Today I was at Starbucks and I was able to log-in to AT&T wi-fi with my AT&T DSL account number. What that means is that it is now time to cancel my T-Mobile $40 per month month-to-month account that has since been discounted to $19.95.

T-Mobile HotSpot Contact Info

T-Mobile HotSpot Customer Service is available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Send us an email

Call us at 877.822.SPOT (7768)

Customer Relations
P.O. Box 37380
Albuquerque, NM 87176-7380

Sorry, the OpenID server couldn't be found

OpenID

This is the most common user experience when trying to user OpenID.

T-Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot - It's time to cancel!

By the end of the year, I can finally cancel my T-Mobile Wi-Fi wireless account!

AT&T Wifi - AT&T Wi-fi Signup - AT&T
http://www.att.com/gen/general?pid=5949

AT&T Wireless Free Wi-Fi at Starbucks Info
http://www.starbucks.com/retail/wireless.asp

Starbucks Register Your Card for Free Wi-fi
https://www.starbucks.com/customer/login.asp

Get a Starbucks Card Now! - Wi-Fi will be free if you use your card!
https://www.starbucks.com/card/default.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1

The many conveniences of Wi-Fi There are a number of complimentary and paid Wi-Fi options, whether you need to check your email, download files for your next meeting, or just surf the Web in coffeehouse comfort.

Complimentary Wi-Fi for Starbucks customers When you register your Starbucks Card and use it at least once a month, you'll receive two consecutive hours a day of complimentary Wi-Fi, courtesy of AT&T. Complimentary Wi-Fi for AT&T DSL customers AT&Ts more than 12 million DSL customers already qualify for free Wi-Fi at their neighborhood Starbucks. Competitive pricing for paid Wi-Fi All other customers can receive two consecutive hours of Wi-Fi access for $3.99.

-- snip --

More Than 12 Million AT&T, Starbucks Customers to Get Free Wi-Fi Access for a Rich In-Store Experience

New Offering Includes Two Hours of Free Wi-Fi Service Per Day for Starbucks Card Holders Beginning this Spring

All 100,000 U.S.-Based Starbucks Partners to Receive Free Wi-Fi at Starbucks Stores

Seattle, Washington, San Antonio, Texas, February 11, 2008

AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) and Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced plans to deliver AT&T Wi-Fi^SM service at more than 7,000 company-operated Starbucks locations across the United States. The initiative brings together two of the most recognizable global brands to create a powerful and convenient online experience for consumers and business customers. Starbucks and AT&T will offer a mix of free and paid Wi-Fi offerings at Starbucks stores to meet the needs of both frequent and occasional Starbucks Wi-Fi customers.

The initiative further expands the AT&T Wi-Fi network, already the largest in the United States, to more than 17,000 U.S. hot spots and more than 70,000 globally.

Beginning this spring, Starbucks Card holders can enjoy up to two hours of free Wi-Fi service per day at Starbucks locations offering Wi-Fi access, while more than 12 million qualifying AT&T broadband and AT&T U-verse^SM Internet customers will have unlimited free access to the Wi-Fi service. In addition, more than 5 million of AT&T's remote access services business customers will be able to access Wi-Fi service at Starbucks locations. AT&T will soon extend the benefits of Wi-Fi at Starbucks to its wireless customers.

"People want to stay connected to their world 24/7, and Wi-Fi hot spots, broadband and wireless make that mobility possible," said Rick Welday, AT&T chief marketing officer, Consumer. "Laptops and smartphones give us the online mobility we crave, and now millions of AT&T and Starbucks customers will get Internet access free from the comfort of their neighborhood Starbucks."

"This is what our customers have been waiting for — free Starbucks-quality Wi-Fi," said Chris Bruzzo, chief technology officer, Starbucks Coffee Company. "Through our new partnership with AT&T, we also welcome their millions of current customers who can now come in and enjoy free Wi-Fi as part of their daily Starbucks Experience."

As an added benefit for the more than 100,000 Starbucks partners in the U.S., all Starbucks partners will receive free AT&T Wi-Fi accounts allowing them to use the network in Starbucks company-operated locations offering Wi-Fi access.

"Our new relationship with AT&T gives us the opportunity to expand and enhance the range of digital entertainment experiences for our customers as well as our partners, including the continued rollout of the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks," said Ken Lombard, president, Starbucks Entertainment.

In addition to the free Wi-Fi access for qualifying AT&T customers and any Starbucks Card holder, customers will be able to purchase tiered access to the AT&T Wi-Fi network at Starbucks at attractive price points. For a two-hour period, customers will pay just $3.99 per session. Monthly membership will also be available for $19.99 per month, and will include access to any of AT&T's 70,000 hot spots in 89 countries around the world.

AT&T business customers who subscribe to remote access services can also enjoy unlimited, flat-rate access plans at any Starbucks location offering Wi-Fi service or at other AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots.

Additionally, AT&T is providing Starbucks an enterprise-class network with increased bandwidth and redundancy. AT&T's underlying network technologies will enable a wide range of business applications and help Starbucks stores operate more efficiently.

"Delivering networking capabilities to help a world-class company such as Starbucks achieve greater business velocity is what we do," said Welday. "Our work with Starbucks is collaborative innovation at its finest."

The availability of AT&T Wi-Fi service at Starbucks will take place on a market-by-market basis with store implementation beginning this spring and completed by the end of the year.

iTunes 7.6.2 - Installing

On April 2, 2008, Apple released the iTunes 7.6.2 update. The fix contains some iTunes update fixes "to improve stability and performance". The fix does not include any iPhone firmware updates. The current version of the iPhone Software update is still 1.1.4.

It's a 66.19 MB update.

T-Mobile Hotspot down - what to do

I've been a loyal T-Mobile hotspot or T-mobile wireless hotspot user for several years and every so often, I arrive at a Borders or a Starbucks T-mobile hotspot to find their t-mobile hotspot wireless access down or impaired. When this occurs, I usually try the connection on both my Apple iPhone wireless connection and my laptop to ensure it's a tmobile hotspot failure.

Here's my advice.

Rather than calling T-mobile hotspot customer service, go to another Starbucks. Their system will not allow their technicians to reboot and their system rarely detects a system impairment. In addition, the local Starbucks manager does not have the workflow or the authority to call to report the t-mobile hotspot failure.

I hope that this experience is different once they switch to AT&T wireless data. However, if you do spend the time to report the error to T-mobile customer service, make sure that you ask the technician for a credit ($20.00). Your Starbucks Manager may also give you a coupon for a free coffee of your choice. But for the hour you spent on the phone, it's probably not worth it!

I'm going to think about buying that AT&T 3G wireless card. I wish AT&T had a bundled plan for our iPhone wireless calls, access to their 3G and wi-fi networked!

Apple Leopard 10.5.2 fixes Windows Networking issues

I just installed Apple's Leopard 10.5.2 and it finally fixed my Windows networking issues!

Prior to installing this release, from a Windows PC, I could not longer view my Apple Mac computers when I clicked View workgroup computers. After installing Apple OS X 10.5.2 (Leopard) I can now view them. Using Leopard, I never had a problem viewing any Windows PCs from my iMac or MacBook, but I was unable to find a work-around for this issue. Finally, Apple has fixed the problem!

iPhone 1.14 - new 1.1.4 iPhone release

It's a 162.1 MB upgrade that is reported to address the following:

1. Boosts cell strength affecting some users
2. Improves Edge reception
3. Bluetooth issues
4. SMS Ordering Bugs
5. Problems sending mail (I have seen this one, a message gets stuck)
6. Possibly supports a new SDK!

Wii Firmware 3.2 - faster?

Today I heard that Nintendo made available Wii Firmware 3.2. I understand it makes the Wii faster. There are no new features in this release.

iTunes 7.6.1 - new release for iTunes only, no iPhone update

I downloaded and installed this release today. The release did not contain a software update for the iPhone.

-- snip iphoneatlas.com --
Apple has released iTunes 7.6.1, a minor update to the music playback, purchase and synchronization tool that “includes several bug fixes and improves compatibility with Apple TV software version 2.0.”

The new release is available through Software Update, or as a standalone download.

Disable Edge - iPhone - Disable Data Roaming

iPhone - Disable International Data Roaming – Edge

If you are traveling abroad and do no not want disable Edge so that you can avoid data roaming charges, here are instructions:

1. Settings > General
2. Network > Data roaming
3. OFF (When abroad, turning off Data roaming may avoid roaming charges when using email, web browsing and other data services.)

It works if you never see the [E] to the right of the AT&T logo.

When you return to the United States, make sure you re-enable it.

800-560-9448 is a Deceptive Mailer

Today I found another great use for Google. My mother received a post card from Gayle Clary of The Annuity Service Center as follows:

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NOTICE

Dear Annuity Holder:

This notice is to inform you that you may have an annuity that has reached the end of the its surrender period.

Please contact Gayle Clary in the Annuity Service Center to discuss your options.

(800) 560-9448

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This mailing from 800-560-9448 is deceptive. The Illinois Attorney General's Office has filed a lawsuit in August of 2006, but this company continues its practice of deceptive mailings.

Luckily, when I googled the phone number 800-560-9448, it provided me with this useful information. Now, I'd like to see Google remove this company's website from their index.

iPod touch Upgrade $19.99 - This Upgrade Should Be Free!

I just found out that it's going to cost $19.99 to upgrade my iPod touch. As far as I know, this is the first time Apple has charged for a iPod upgrade. Here are the reasons why I think Apple should not charge for this upgrade:

+ It's free for iPhone users
+ They should have disclosed it to iTouch buyers when many of them were deciding between the iPhone and the iTouch.
+ These features should have been in the iTouch when released.

iPhone Update 1.1.3 and iTunes 7.6

My daughter called today from college to let me know that a new iPhone 1.1.3 update is out. She said it had some great new features.

View the Apple iPhone 1.1.3 Update Video

Here is a summary of the iPhone 1.1.3 Features

• Enhanced Maps
• New Location Button - Find your location automatically
• Drop Pin - You can
  
• Display Real Time Traffic Information
• Hybrid View -- Street names on top of satellite imagery
  
• Customize Home Screens
• Add Icons to the home screen for websites or iPhone Applications/Games.
• To customize - Tap or hold icon for 1 second until they wiggle.
• Supports up to 9 home screens
  
• Scroll between home screens
• SMS
• Send SMS messages to more than one recipent
• Stores SMS groups via history
• Gmail
  
• Gmail folders are now supported.
• iMap support to gmail.
  
• iPhone Movies
• Rent movies
• Movie chapters allow navigation.
  

AT&T DNS Server Outage - Bellsouth DNS issue

The AT&T DNS Servers in Miami, Florida were down this evening. When you call their tech support phone number: 1-888-321-2375, they don't even answer. Here is my solution to get your DSL service back up and running.

1. Go to https://www.opendns.com/start

2. Go to your router at http://192.168.1.254 (2Wire)
(Your setting may vary depending on the router that you have)

3. Use the OpenDNS server settings.

I tried this and it worked!

Do you think I can get a credit on my bill?