Default iOS Restrictions Passcode; and what to do if you've changed it but forgotten your code.

With the release of – I think – iOS 10, Apple enabled 'Restrictions' by default. This is the section of iOS where parental controls etc. are. That wouldn't normally be an issue for most people, but if you need to send your device for repair, or are going to sell it, you'll want to erase all content and settings, and to do this you'll need that passcode (which is separate to your normal device passcode). Not exceptionally well documented is the fact that the default restrictions passcode is: 1234 If that doesn't work, and you've forgotten what...

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Atari 8-bit SIO2SD

The SIO2SD device for the Atari 8-bit range is a fantastic piece of kit, allowing you to run software from an SD device on your Atari. It's difficult for a new user to pick up though, so I put together some instructions to try and make things simpler: File structure: Place the Loader file in the root of the SD card, ensuring it is called: sio2sd.xex Create a folder called ATARI that contains all of your files in whatever directories you wish. Loader Instructions (v3.5): ARROWS/JOYSTICK: select directory/file (.xex) or disk image (.atr) RETURN/FIRE:...

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Outlining Text in Adobe Acrobat X (or Higher)

Thanks to Best Font Forward for this tutorial: Outlining Text in Adobe Acrobat X (or Higher) This article describes how to outline text in Adobe Acrobat X. An older article has information about outlining text in Acrobat versions 7, 8, and 9. 16 April 2013: It looks like Adobe broke this feature with an update to Acrobat. Fortunately, a trick that worked in prior versions still works, but it adds a couple of small steps to the procedure....

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A warning about videogames and your kids

I originally researched and wrote this article on the dangers of videogames and online gaming / social media for my child's school to distribute. I was concerned about some of the language and behaviour I was seeing as a result of gaming (online and offline), and social media use at such young ages. I've never allowed my son to use social media, and from the moment I became aware of the bullying and abuse that was happening he has been banned from online play indefinitely.  Unfortunately, the school wouldn't distribute this document as it...

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Getting Illustrator vectors in to Mac Powerpoint and keeping them editable

UPDATED 31/07/17 for Office Mac 2016.  Original method from Kerry Clark in this article. How to Get Illustrator Vectors Into Mac PowerPoint I always run into this problem. Someone wants a map or design in Microsoft PowerPoint®. But it has to be editable. No problem if I build it in PowerPoint. But, I don't work that way. It's way harder than it needs to be. I prefer to work in a program that's built for vector-based image building. Go ahead and build your file in Illustrator. Export your art as an EMF (enhanced metafile). If you...

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Using a PS2 Eye Toy camera as a mic on Mac OS X

Recently I was trying to find a way of using a PS3 USB Eye camera as a webcam on my Mac running OS X 10.10 (Yosemite). Unfortunately, the Mac doesn't recognise it, and the only drivers that existed courtesy of Macam don't work on Yosemite. This made me remember I also had a PS2 Eye Toy USB camera lurking in a drawer, so thought I'd try that. Again, no joy on the webcam, but as a side effect when I tried it in Skype it CAN be recognised and used as a USB microphone. I'm fairly certain it's very low-tech, and doesn't have noise cancelling or...

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Hacking Philips Hotel Televisions

First off, thanks to Rowan for the original guide on how to do this over at http://www.rownet.co.uk/hacking-philips-hotel-televisions/ I'm just replicating it here as another source on the interwebs, and to add a little information from my own personal experience that may help others. When I powered on the TV in the room when I arrived, the channel was set to 'CARD-CVBS'. After trying out the steps below (which were required, I should add)...

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