President pays last respects to late Mandela

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is currently in South Africa paid his last respects to the remains of former South African President late Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last afternoon. External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris is also in the picture. Photo courtesy: Government of South Africa

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is currently in South Africa paid his last respects to the remains of the former South African President late Nelson Mandela at the Union Buildings in Pretoria last afternoon, states a press release from the Presidential Spokesman and International Media Unit.

The release added: The Union Buildings are the official seat of the South African government.

It is where Mr. Mandela was sworn in as the country's first black President in 1994. President Rajapaksa also attended the State Memorial Service for the late President at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday.

Why Is Bluetooth Called Bluetooth ?

When two devices need to talk to each other, they
need to have a handshake on various parameters
before the conversation starts. The first agreement
is on the medium – will they use wires, or talk over
some wireless signal? Bluetooth is one such wireless signal (protocol)
over which two (or more) devices communicate
over.

Strange name though isn’t it – are the bluetooth
waves invisible but blue and shaped like teeth?
Wrong! There is absolutely no relation between the name
and the meaning.

The Bluetooth protocol was created by Ericsson
(pre-Sony Ericsson) which is a major Swedish
telecommunication company. They named it after
the Danish viking king, Harald Blåtand. As legend goes, Blåtandhad
the blessed ability to bring people negotiate with each other, and
cometo talking terms. So skilled was he, that he was able to unite Denmark
and Norway together! The literal translation of Blåtand means blue-tooth, hence
the name Bluetooth for the protocol. It does precisely what Blåtand did – lets
two wireless device to communicate with each
other!

The Bluetooth symbol has HaraldBlåtand’sinitials inscribed into it (in Runic).
The two lines stickingout of the back of the B
actually represent a Runic H – thats
H for Harald .The B for Bluetooth also stands for

HOW TO SOLVE LOW MEMORY ISSUE WITH TECNO N3 AND P3

This tutorial is divided in to two parts:
1. Partitioning your sd card with clockworkmod and;
2. Linking your apps with link2sd.

Before you can carry out steps in this tutorial your Tecno n3 or p3 has to be rooted!
Requirement are:

1. A pc or laptop and a compactible or your original usb cable to backup your data.
2. Your rooted Tecno N3 & Tecno P3.
3. Clockworkmod recovery.
4. A PC or laptop.
5. Your brain and this tutorial.

For rooting Tecno N3 click here here & Tecno P3 click here.

How to install Clockworkmod recovery click here.

Note:Before carrying out the procedures below you have to back up all your data or files especially the folder ".android_secure" on your memory card to your pc as you will definately loss them all during partitioning.

Procedures
1. Switch or turn your phone off.
2. Hold volume on  button and switch or power on your phone without letting go of the volume on betton untill (10-15 secs) recovery mode loads up.
3. Clockworkmod recovery will load up in 4 portions of the screen with pink and green text (Don't get confused and move to the next step).
4. Now enable back button by pressing Vol up, vol down, vol up button quickly and if this does not work just press random vol up and down button till it is enabled but this will make you use your initiative for the next step.
5. Now press the vol down button (5 times) till it gets to "install zip from sd card" on the 3rd & 4th portion of the screen and press the power button to select.
6. Scroll down using the vol down button once to get to "apply /sdcard/update.zip" and press the power button to select.
7. Scroll down by pressing the vol down button (7 times) till it gets to "Yes - Install /sdcard/update" 3rd & 4th portion of the screen and press the power button to select.
9. Clockworkmod recovery will appear in a single screen with a black background and text in blue.
10. Scroll down with the vol down button to advance and select with the power button.
11. Scroll down with the vol down button to "Partition SD Card" and select with the power button.
12. Scroll down and select "1024M" as your Ext Size i.e "EXT4=1024MB" for "APPS2SD" and select "256M" as swap Size but you can reduce the size of the second partition "EXT4" to "512MB" if your memory card is less than "8GB", you don't intend to install too many apps or you want to save storage space for movies, hands or others.
13. Wait till partition is done.
14. Connect your phone to your pc or laptop and restore your data.

LINKING YOUR APPS WITH LINK2SD

1. Download and install Link2SD.
2. Launch or open Link2SD and grant Link2SD Superuser access.
3. Select "ext" as the file system of the second permission.
4. Link2SD will prompt you to reboot your phone.
5. Reboot your phone.
6. launch or open Link2SD and tap on the filter icon i.e funnel icon and select "user".
7. Tap on the first or left soft panel and select "multi-select".
8. Select all the apps you want to link excluding superuser, Link2SD, system apps and any other app you don't want to link.
9. select "Action", "Create link" and then on the next screen select Link "application file", "Link dalvik-cache file", and "link library files". You can also tap on details to verify apps you linking.
10. Select "OK".
11. Link2SD will move all the apps you selected to the second partition of your SD card and craete a link connecting your internal memory to the second partition.
12. Tap "OK" when done.
13. Tap on the first or left soft panel, select settings and select Auto link, Auto link notifications, Relink lib & dex files at boot, Fast Scroll and then then select the three boxes in Auto link settings.
14. You can check your phone partition and memory card details by Taping on the first or left soft panel and select "Storage Info"  to verify changes.
Congratulations your applications are now linked to your partitioned space.

NOTE:Anytime you get low memory message usually after a reboot just launch or open Link2SD, filter linked apps, multi-select and relink apps or you can just reboot your phone.

Warning: DO not link any system app, Link2SD, Superuser and maybe your launcher app if it is is not the system's default that is used as default.

This tutorial was written originally by I based on my own first hand experience but inspired by the work of others. I commend the effort of those who ported ClockworkMOD Recovery to Tecno N3 & P3 and just like matter knowledge can be transformed into different forms.
I welcome suggestions and observations and will be pleased to get your feedback.
Thanks.

HOW TO USE MTN BIS TO BROWSE ON ANY ANDROID PHONE

The method posted below is not new. As a matter of fact it was the primary method used before blackberry's access point "blackberry.net" started connecting directly on mtn  months ago.

Remember your phone must be rooted but if not "UDP" is your only a relable option. You have to subscribe or have a running "MTN BIS" subscription.

To subscribe for MTN BIS"  you will need to have a minimum account balance of N1500. Text "BCM" or "BIS" to "21600" cost N1000 or N1500 respectively without quotes.

Create a new access point settings using "Blackberry.net" as your apn and every other thing should be the same as your default MTN access point settings or you can change the default apn i.e "web.gprs.mtnnigeria.net" to "blackberry.net" without quotes as a precaution.

To use mtn bis on your android phone you will have to carry out the procedures below to get DroidVPN running.

Procedures

1. Download and install tune.ko installer, DroidVPN and Superuser.

2. Download and install busybox (optional).

3. Register or create an account @ http://driodvpn.com/

4. Goto your Mail box and retrieve your DroidVPN's password.

5. Launch or open DroidVPN.

6. Tap on the first or left soft panel and select Account login details.

7. Input your DroidVPN's username and password and select "save my login details".

8. Tap on the first or left soft panel, select settings, click on "Connection protocol" and select "ICMP" or you can choose "UDP" and input "500' as preferred port without quotes.

9. Scroll down and tap BusyBox Path and select "/system/xbin".

10. Go back or tap the third or right soft panel.

11. Tap on the connection or power icon or button on the screen.

12. Start surfing once DroidVPN connects successfully.


NOTE: Using this method has it's limitations. Examples of such include limited bandwidth of 100MB daily, May not connect after disconnection, will not connect if the network is down. Well all this limitations will be lifted if you purchase a license and become a paid user. Always ensure that your connectioin profile with blackberry.net apn is selected.

Using iOS 7 to Optimize iPhone Security

Using iOS 7 to optimize iPhone security
The latest iOS upgrade has brought with it new and unique ways to secure the iPhone. TechRepublic reported that although much of operating system has remained the same, updates to its design and improvements to workplace integration makes it a worthwhile change. Additionally, Apple's passcode features have improved with a new alphanumeric password option.
Managing an iPhone with iOS 7
The bring your own device (BYOD) model for workplace integration has taken off, with more businesses allowing their employees to utilize smartphones, tablets and laptops, in place of their company-provided tools. As if in response to this trend, Apple released iOS 7 with features that enhance the functionality of the iPhone in an office setting.

According to TechRepublic, features such as AirDrop make sharing photos and documents fast and simple by connecting employees to one another, enabling a collaborative workplace environment for those who are utilizing this technology. Additionally, the source reported that Apple has also improved its overall app security by enabling a data protection function automatically, preserving any information transferred across these third-party app providers.

Another new resource that speaks to the iPhone's updated security is the single sign-on (SSO) capability that will allow end-users to set a password once across applications that contain sensitive information. This option is especially useful for businesses that hope to safeguard the data employees might be accessing through the cloud because it can prevent code sharing.
The first step is securing the phone itself
None of the above options are innately secure, however. According to Tom's Guide, it's essential that end-users with a mind for safety make optimal use of their iPhone's built-in security feature - the passcode.

The source reported that it's one of the easiest ways to prevent accidentally or intentional breaches of data. Additionally, the upgrades to the iOS 7 platform have provided end-users with new options for creating and maintaining security. Traditionally, the lock screen was protected by a 4-digit passcode. Now, after Apple's latest upgrade, it is possible to set alphanumeric protection, utilizing ten or more upper- and lower-case characters and numbers.

Tom's Guide noted that the 4-digit PIN code has 10,000 combinations, which is difficult to hack but not impossible. With the newest option, it is much more challenging for individuals to break through this defense. In addition to this new safety measure, the iOS 7 upgrade enables users to program how often the device will ask for authentication. Rather than the traditional method, which asked for authentication every time the screen was opened, the iPhone can be set so that it will lock on a timed interval instead.
Does it really matter?
According to Security Watch, mobile devices have become a major part of the lives of users everywhere. The source referenced a study by Sprint that reported how frequently smartphones are accessed on a daily basis, and the one unifying factor is the risk associated with information exposure.

Because of the ability to access the Internet on the go, data security has become a constant concern that responsible individuals are having to overcome. Additionally, without utilizing passcodes and other features meant to preserve the integrity of stored information, issues with privacy are growing.

In order to preserve what Security Watch calls "our most personal computers," it's important that smartphones are protected with verification features that are built into their operating systems. Additionally, it is possible to reinforce these safety precautions with password management software, which can provide an extra layer of defense against unwanted access.

Spider Silk: The Super Material of the Future

Today's scientists and researchers are more advanced than they have ever been before thanks to the use of highly effective traditional research methods combined with the speed and efficiency afforded by modern day technology. Case in point, one recent discovery in the material science realm, spider silk, has given scientists, medical professionals, the military, and business thinkers alike a reason for excitement because it has proven to be one of the most revolutionary materials science has seen in a long time. Spider silk, which many are calling the "new super material of the future", is over five times stronger than steel, ten times stronger than kevlar, and yet more elastic than a rubber band. It's potential uses span from the automobile, medical, military and construction industry. You can find out more about this amazing new material in this infographic, "Spider Silk: The Super Material of the Future", including what ways you might see this material show up next.

Mandela the secret weapon in 1995 World Cup Rugby final

WELLINGTON, Dec 7, 2013: For South Africans, winning the 1995 Rugby World Cup final marked the emergence of the “Rainbow Nation” - for New Zealanders, it was the day Nelson Mandela single-handedly outpsyched the mighty All Blacks.

The Jonah Lomu-inspired New Zealanders were red-hot favourites going into the decider, breezing through the group stages and humiliating England in the semi-finals.

In contrast, the Springboks scraped through on the back of an unconvincing 19-15 semi-final win over France, raising fears they would be blown away in the final at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park.

Then Mandela, in one of the most audacious political gambles of his career, appeared before the mostly white crowd of 62,000 wearing a Springbok jersey to shake the players’ hands before kick-off.The-then All Blacks coach Laurie Mains said the entire stadium was electrified at the sight of South Africa’s first black president sporting a garment that was indelibly associated with the apartheid regime.“We had no idea it was going to happen,” Mains told AFP, just months before Mandela died aged 95 after a long illness.“When Nelson Mandela appeared from under the grandstand with a Springbok jersey on, the crowd literally erupted.

“It was the most awesome experience I’ve had at a rugby stadium. Clearly it was a huge boost, not just to the crowd but to the Springbok team.” Lomu, who was named player of the tournament, said it was intimidating to meet Mandela decked out in his opponents’ colours.“It felt like the pressure was all on us because they had Nelson Mandela on their side,” he recalled ahead of the 2007 World Cup.

“They had all their country finally united after years of fighting ... that one day they all came together.” At the time, Mandela had been president for barely a year and many whites still regarded him as a terrorist over his support for armed struggle against apartheid.

He also risked alienating black supporters, for whom rugby union, and the Springbok jersey in particular, had long been a hated symbol of white supremacy. But on June 24, 1995, the gamble paid off and the chant of “Nelson, Nelson” reverberated around the stands while millions more watched television screens transfixed.

It was around that moment - immortalised in the 2009 movie “Invictus”, starring Morgan Freeman as Mandela - that Mains began to believe his team was not taking part in just a simple rugby game.

“It was very much more than that,” he said.“It was incredibly intense. The All Blacks may well have felt like they were taking on the whole world.

“The atmosphere in that ground could not possibly be repeated, ever, because you’d never again get such a great moment in history and such a great man creating that moment.” To their credit, the All Blacks maintained their composure to keep the scores level after 80 minutes but succumbed to a Joel Stransky drop-goal deep into extra-time.Mandela then took to the field again, this time to present the William Webb Ellis trophy to Springbok skipper Francois Pienaar.

The defeat spelled the end of Mains’ international coaching career, but he says he still feels proud to have been on the sidelines as history was being made.“Put the rugby aside, put the result aside for the moment - I feel deeply honoured and humbled that I was part of such a great occasion in world sport,” he said.

Nor does he bear any ill will to Mandela, the Springboks’ secret weapon on the day, whom he subsequently met when he returned to Johannesburg to coach Super rugby in 2000-2001.“The balance and compassion that that man showed after what he had been through is an example for all leaders in the world,” he said.

“My everlasting impression of Nelson Mandela is that if we could have a few more of him, then the world would be a much better place to live in.”
Mandela gave new meaning to Sports

During the many years I spent in Southern Africa, in Zambia in particular, Sports was a leveller at all levels. The then President of Zambia, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, for whom I had the privilege of serving, would reschedule a cabinet meeting to be able to watch a golf tournament or a soccer game of his choice. Many heads of State in Africa would give Soccer pride of place in their priorities. But Nelson Mandela took this affinity to an entirely new level.

The passing of Nelson Mandela brings to mind ‘Invictus’, the 2009 film produced by Clint Eastwood, where the epic story of Nelson Mandela and the Rugby World Cup is enacted. This was a watershed film of a true story. Here Mandela, having been imprisoned for 27 years for his fight against apartheid, is released. On becoming President of South Africa, he turns to the Rugby World Cup event that his new administration hosted and uses the game and its message to reject revenge, forgives his oppressors and finds hope of national unity in an unlikely place - the rugby field!

Morgan Freeman, who was an Oscar nominee for portraying Mandela, and Matt Damon (nominee for best supporting actor) bring to life the ethos of the Mandela message that inspired the underdog South African Team to win the World Cup in the wake of protests by the black community that Rugby was a white man’s preserve.

Through the intervention of Mandela, the universal language of sports was translated elegantly to bring new meaning to the fighting spirit of rugby.