Android Phone No Sound (Fixed)

 If you are experiencing no sound from any of your android applications/apps and the ringer is still working, I may have a fix for you. The issue is most likely due to your headphone jack, either via software or physically (port may be dirty and shorting the connection so the device thinks there is a headphone plugged in).

Fix 1 - Check Android Services

Go to Settings, Apps/App Info, Choose Disabled Apps (or All Apps if you don't have this option) and look for any that may be related to sound. Re-enable it and reboot the device. If that does not work or nothing is disabled that may be affecting sound, move on to fix #2.

Fix 2 - Install Headphone Disable App

Install a headphone disabling app from the app store and disable the headphone and that should work. Be sure that you trust the app and the app permissions are acceptable to you. I take no responsibility for any app you install. I tested using the iTech Solutions Apps (4th from the left below), which worked, however I did not like the permissions it required so I uninstalled it until I can find a better one.

Hope this works for you like it did for me! Comment and let me know.

Tiny USB C Gadgets

Here are four cool portable USB devices that are also very useful. I will provide a brief overview of each. If you have any devices to add, please let me know. I am always looking for cool little USB gadgets like these. However, they must be of a different function (IE. Not a SSD, Crypto wallet, DAC or Password wallet).

The first on the list is the Ledger Nano.

 This tiny device is used as a hardware crypto wallet to store bitcoin, litecoin, ethereum and other crypto currencies.

https://shop.ledger.com/products/ledger-nano-s

https://shop.ledger.com/pages/ledger-nano-x

 

Next on the list we have the Sabrent Rocket Nano SSD.

One of the smallest USB-C NVME SSD's I have ever seen. It's fast, and feels solid in the hand, well built and feels heavy.
 

https://www.sabrent.com/rocket-nano/

Then we have the Mooltipass Mini.

 Never trust your passwords to online cloud solutions, they could get hacked at any moment. Saving them on your desktop or phone is also not a good idea in case the device is infected with malware. One of the best solutions is to use a offline digital encrypted password device such as the Mooltipass Mini. You use a smart card and pin to access your credentials.

https://www.themooltipass.com/

 

Finaly the HiBy FC1

Now many of you may not know this, but the headphone controller on your phone/laptop/desktop is usually of the cheapest quality. A tiny USB C Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) device like this HiBy or Earmen will sound (results vary) leaps and bounds better than the headphone port built into your device, even with regular headphones (non Hi-Res headphones). So imagine with high-res headphones!
 

https://store.hiby.com/products/hiby-fc1
 

There are other devices I did not cover, such as the Corral AI Edge TPU shown below. If you know of other cool or useful mini USB C devices, please comment and let me know.

Hikvision NVR Streaming A Dahua NVR

View your Dahua NVR from your Hikvision NVR! Here is how to add a Dahua IP Camera connected to a Dahua NVR to a Hikvision NVR so you can view both systems from one interface. This can be useful if you have two sytems or monitoring two locations with different systems.

Login to the Hikvision NVR and go to Configuration -> Camera Management

Click Custom Protocol and fill in the following boxes:

 

Name the protocol after the camera you are adding.

Choose RTSP, Auto and Port 554.

In the stream path, enter the following: /cam/realmonitor?channel=10&subtype=1

10 in this case is the Front Door Camera, 1 is the Sub-stream. Change to 2 for the main stream.

Click OK.

Click Add, or Modify a offline camera. Enter the IP address of the Dahua NVR, Choose the protocol you created earlier, Enter the management port as port 80, enter the username and password for the Dahua NVR and click OK. 

 

Refresh the webpage and your camera should be online and viewable from the Hikvision NVR. Notice the Management Port automatically switched to 554.

Microsoft's Requires A Phone Number

 I QUIT MICROSOFT!!!

It has come to my attention that Microsoft makes it mandatory (in a sneaky way) that all accounts must have a phone number associated with it. This was the last straw for me, I had previously switched from Microsoft OS's to Linux and while it took some time to get used to, I will never go back. Microsoft is invading our privacy each and every which way they can. Windows 10 was the push I needed to ditch Windows as a OS. Now, I am ditching Microsoft and ALL their products completely!

What exactly am I talking about? Well, anyone can setup a Microsoft account for free, for a number of uses (Windows 10/PC/XBOX/Email/Cloud Storage/Etc.). Great! sign me up. But wait... After a day or up to a week or two, Microsoft will say "Your account has been locked" and you will not be able to login or use any services with that account. With a BS excuse of "We've detected some activity that violates our Microsoft Services Agreement and have locked your account." Microsoft will claim a number of vague reasons why your account was locked and will never admit that it's a complete and utter lie. Now in order to unlock your account, you need to provide Microsoft a phone number where you can receive a text with a code to be entered on the site to unlock your account.

No matter what you do, call, submit a ticket, etc. They will not accept anything in lieu of the number, not even the alternative email you provided during setup! Microsoft will claim that this is to cut down on spam and/or fake accounts. And why that is semi-reasonable, they should not force everyone to do this unless their account actually has suspicious activity. So why do they want your number? Besides the "reasons" they are telling you? Well, to track and monitor you. They can link all your accounts on their back end, with the phone number you provided for any accounts you created. If you aren't aware of all the privacy concerns around Windows 10, you should read up on that and then see why this is phone number issue is even more concerning.

But I am not here to convince you, read up on the issues I noted above and take action as you see necessary. I highly recommend that each and everyone of you file a complaint and voice your concerns to Microsoft, the Attorney General/Privacy Commissioner in your country/region and any activist/privacy groups you know of. This kind of privacy invasion cannot continue, where will it end!?!

Cheapest Video Baby Monitor

Looking for a good quality video monitor? Decent range, secure (relatively), cheap? Well, why don't you start by checking your cabinets and drawers? Can't find one or don't have one? Are you sure?

Take a second look, look at that unused Apple or Android Phone or Tablet. By installing your favorite video calling App such as Skype, WhatsApp, Facetime, etc. You can turn your old device (in combination with your current device) as a two way baby monitor! Best of all, your child can see and hear your voice when they wake up while you make your way to their bedroom/crib. But don't forget to mute your microphone while they are sleeping so they cannot hear all your noise.