Run multiple terminals on Windows XP SP3

Since I use my Media Center as a home desktop as well as a video player/PVR, I had used this hack to allow me to log into it remotely, while it was simultaneously being used to play videos on the main display.

Microsoft limit XP systems to only one login at a time – so although you can connect remotely to an XP machine, the local user will be logged out when the remote user connects. One licence = one user for Microsoft.

For those like me who are only one user, but want to do something a bit different, this hack makes things possible. It basically replaces the DLL behind terminal services with an old one which didn’t have the restriction – plus a registry tweak to switch it on. When I installed SP3 recently, it overwrote the hack and I found myself having to reapply it – which, at first glance, seems to be working again!

Of course, you lose any security patches to that DLL. Hopefully there were no biggies…

Simple, cheap, inexpensive mobile charger battery pack?

This is it – the Maplin N62FX (their stock code). Recommended on another forum to someone who lamented the Touch Pro’s battery life; is this the Nirvana of battery chargers?

I currently have a PowerMonkey Classic battery charger. At the time, I thought it was great – you can charge it from USB, and it has tips for my HTC, iPod, etc. etc.  On the downside, the miniUSB tip sticks out almost 2 inches from the bottom of the phone, and is easy to break – I’ve gone through 3 in 5 months, despite taking care. It’s also £40, and a funny tubular shape, with 2200mAH of charge.

The Maplin charger:
- is small (about the width/height of a 10-pack of cigarettes)
- flat and slim (and half the thickness of the 10-pack)
- costs £9.99! So cheap, I bought two!
- claims to store 2000mAH
- comes with USB and even a mains charger – it has one charge in/out port, which is Mini-USB
- comes with lots of tips – although they’re quite bulky, and loose
- has a battery level indicator !!! – 4 green LEDs, which light when you press a button
- has on/off by the same button
- did I say it’s cheap?!?

So? Is it perfect?

It’s certainly convenient. I reach in my bag for both, and press the buttons to see which is charged. I connect one to my Touch Pro, which then sit neatly back-to-back, charging in my pocket. The rubberised coating helps keep them together, too. Back at home, or the hotel, I can use the one MiniUSB cable to charge my phone, then the battery (or batteries), ready for the next day.

However: if this is a 2000mAH battery, then how come it only charges my Touch Pro to 60%, when the Touch Pro is 1350mAH? ie. It should be able to charge it more than once over! So – more like 1000mAH, not 2000mAH. Lucky I bought two!

Also – the tips are a bit clunky. Although both my Touch Pro and the N62FX are mini-USB, I have a folded 30cm cable between the two. No biggie, but a tiny miniUSB-miniUSB would be nice. Can you get one anywhere on the planet? Nope. I’ve tried.

But overall: a good, honest, convenient, cheap portable battery. I love them. So get two!

Getting Microsoft Voice Command to work with HTC Touch Pro and a Jawbone New Headset

Fairly simple.

Even if it gives an ‘Unrecoverable error’ on installation, soft-restart your device, and you should see Voice Command in the settings menu, and also as an application that can be assigned to the Long-Hold Talk Button. It should have installed OK.

Now – if you, like me, have been pressing the main button on your Jawbone New / Jawbone 2….

Stop…

Read the manual….

Activate Voice Command by long-holding the Voice Assassin (rear) button for 2 seconds

You should see Voice Command activate, and hear a beep-BEEP on your headset. Say “Help”. And you’re away.