GSM only mode

Firstly some housekeeping is in order. When I set out to create this blog I thought I'd write about everything and anything but with the focus on mobile communication. I have been passionate about mobile phones (smartphones) for quite some time. I am a huge Nokia and Symbian fan and over the years I had the privilege to own quite a number of devices.

So with the introduction out of the way and third post into my blog I start to write about mobile phones. I recently purchased a Nokia E90 communicator, mocha colour, made in Finland and all. I love this latest Nokia smartphone and I will post some thoguths on it some other day.

Today just one little tip. For those lving in non 3G areas it is advisible to set network mode to GSM only. On most S60 third edition Nokia phones you can get to it by going into: Tools->Settings->Phone->Network->Network mode and then selecting "GSM".

By default this is set to "Dual mode". The problem with that is that the phone will search for a 3G signal, thus draining the battery faster when 3G is not present.

Saint Jude

Perhaps this is an awkward place for this topic. But I do feel I need to post it in a public forum such as this blog, which is readily available to anyone on the web. I simply would like to acknowledge and thank St. Jude, the patron of desperate causes. I don't want to go into any of my personal details here, there is no need to. If I decided to bore you with my story then perhaps this post would come across as religious, pious, preachy, etc., and that is certainly not my intent. Let me just say that if you pray to St. Jude your needs will be answered. You don't need to be a Roman Catholic, or even Christian. Now you may think this stuff is for "old ladies" that spend their nights reciting the rosary or the novena to the Holy Ghost or something like that (no offence to old ladies or the Holy Ghost). But what can I tell you? Trust me I am not a devout person by any means but to St. Jude I will be forever indebted. I had a mystic-like experience (twice) that up to this point I had not shared with anyone, not even my loved ones. I don't like talking about it for the fear of being ridiculed, laughed at, or at best politely ignored. By the way, what does "devout" or "pious" mean anyway? Too often it means someone who is continually spewing predetermined prayer formulas without any deeper intellectual attachment or comprehension. That's not what this post is about. Anyway... I digress. Now on to St. Jude:

"Most holy Apostle Saint Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Make use I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help, where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need, that I may receive the consolations and help of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations and sufferings, particularly (your request) and that I may bless God with you and all the elect forever. I promise, O blessed Saint Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen."

Remember to acknowledge in writing favors received. Which is what I am doing here. For more on St. Jude click here.

Coffee break

September 3, 2007. Time 14:02. Monday the last day of the Labour Day long weekend in Canada. Today in Oakville it's warm and sunny, however one can already feel the not too distant autumn in the air: fallen leafs and the occasional cool breeze coming from the lake. We're just relaxing drinking some coffee in the town square. Four days and counting until we leave for Europe....