Dave’s Happy Place

I don’t understand why the password for the mythtv MySQL database user is reset whenever the MythTV package is updated in Ubuntu (and it’s derivatives like Kubuntu).

When this happens the Xbox Media Center (XBMC) fails to connect to the database. It’s somehow related to the password authentication mechanism that the MySQL libraries use on the XBox within XBMC.

Here are the instructions from one of my older posts to get the XBMC MythTV script to be able to connect to the MythTV database again. These steps are performed on the MythTV server.

1. Login to MySQL as the root user - mysql -u root -p
2. SET PASSWORD for mythtv = OLD_PASSWORD('mythtv');

Use the appropriate password for the mythtv user - the default is mythtv.

I finally decided to update the iPhone from 1.0.2 to 1.1.1. I’ll still be a version behind as version 1.1.2 was released by Apple earlier in November.

The update process was reasonably straight forward. No problems like Ryan Maxwell of Red Ink Scribbles had - Dreaded 1.1.1 Update. I found and used a different method though. There are lots of upgrade methods to choose from, but the one used below seemed to be the easiest. You don’t even need any software on your computer.

1. Virginze the 1.0.2 phone - How to virginize an unlocked phone before update to 1.1.1
2. Upgrade to 1.1.1 - How should I upgrade or restore my phone? Be careful not to let iTunes do the upgrade automatically as it will use 1.1.2 instead of 1.1.1.
3. Activate and unlock the SIM - http://iphone.unlock.no
4. Apply New Zealand specific tweaks
   • Open Installer and add the XK72 repository - http://xk72.com/iphone/repos/
   • Open the Tweaks (XK72) category and install all non 1.0.2 packages - Caller ID update (1.1.1), NZ Phone Formats (1.1.1) and NZDT 2007 update.
   • Update: Open Settings > General > International > Region Format and choose New Zealand
   • Open the Unlocking Tools category and install Edge Settings fix
   • Open Settings > General > Network > Edge and set the APN to direct.vodafone.net.nz
   • Go to Phone and manually dial *5005*86*707#. This will change the Voicemail button so it calls 707 rather than not doing anything.
5. Apply SMS Patch - Open Installer and then open the Unlocking Tools category and install SMS Fix

Allow about an hour to get through everything. Leave a comment if you have any questions.

The ridiculously expensive Wi-Fi internet access at the hotel in Wellington is also ridiculously slow now that it’s reached after hours time.

That’s the problem with Wi-Fi, the more people on an access point, the slower it gets. I almost contemplated not writing this post because it would be too painful.

$25 for 12 hours to get eventually get a connection that slows to less than modem connection speeds is terrible. Bring on free wired internet in hotel rooms!

How can it possibly cost $25 for 12 hours access to the internet when you are staying at a hotel that charges upwards of $200 a night? That’s just ridiculous!

I’m staying in a hotel in Wellington for a conference. The hotel probably services mainly business guests so I would have thought that internet access would be free of charge. Just throttle the wireless connection speed or cap it somehow to prevent problems with people trying to download the latest episode of Heroes via bittorrent.

The hotel is also in a Telecom Wi-Fi hotspot. That service only charges $10 an hour (charged on a per second basis) for non XTRA customers. Woohoo, sign me up Scotty, NOT!

It only costs me $39.95 a month for “as fast as you can eat” access with a 5Gb limit at home. That XTRA hourly rate is a complete rip-off, as is the rate the hotel charges.