How To: Adding NFC / PayPass to iPhone

Can't wait for apps like CommBank Kaching to be released?  You can get some of the benefits of Kaching right now without waiting.  Simply follow this guide and you will be on your way to NFC goodness with your iPhone replacing your wallet.

Step 1: You will need your Commonwealth Bank Debit Mastercard with PayPass (or any other PayPass based credit or debit card), an iPhone (any sort of iPhone will do, for this example, we are using an iPhone 3GS) and a roll of clear packing tape.  Ensure you have all these things, as without any one of them, this will not work.

Step 2: Take your PayPass enabled card and place it on the back of you iPhone.

Step 3: Take the packing tape, and wrap it around both the iPhone and PayPass card.  Ensure you do this side to side, otherwise you will not be able to charge your iPhone.  You may need to have a friend assist with the taping to ensure a smooth finish on the front of the screen.

Step 4: Enjoy your iPhone with NFC.

Disclaimer:  Commonwealth Bank of Australia (here after "The Bank") does not endorse this method of NFC on iPhone.  This post was written entirely by myself, Alan Cramer, and is not the opinion nor idea of the Bank.  This post was written with humour in mind, and neither the Bank nor myself recommend doing this to your iPhone, iPod, or any other piece of equipment.  Any issues with the post are to be directed to the Author, Alan Cramer, and not the Bank.  I, Alan Cramer, highly recommend if you want to have NFC on your iPhone, to awaiting a proper method such as CommBank Kaching and iCarte case to become available.  For more information on Kaching visit http://www.commbank.com.au/kaching/

Gmail for iOS

Is there really a point to downloading a separate app to access gmail? Especially one that just loads a HTML5 page rather than actually being a native app? I'd easy say no. Why have something as inflexible as an app, when you can setup the inbuilt mail app to do much the same? Easy solution that is far greater. Turn on Google Sync for Mobile, and setup your google mail account as an exchange account. You then get mail, as well as contact backup and calendar sync between your iPhone and google.

DNS Fun

Just switched my DNS Provider from Dyn to CloudFlare.  Previously I had the DNS with EditDNS, which unfortunately got acquired by the mammoth that is Dyn, which decided to discontinue their free service.  As I use my couple of domains, on a non-commercial basis, I could not justify paying US$19.95 per domain to have a company host my DNS settings only.

I stumbled upon CloudFlare.  It seems like a good service, and best of all, it is free!  I decided to take someone's advice that I read on an online forum and copy the contents from the Dyn Advanced Settings page, paste into a new document, then upload to CloudFlare.  However whilst everything looked over in the CloudFlare control panel, I all of a sudden, could not access my site.

Seems as though, in copying, it includes an extra space after the host name.  This transposes over to CloudFlare and each entry then has this additional space after the host.  I manually deleted the space, and like magic, everything is working again.

Google+: How much can be integrated?

Been dabbling in Google+ since the release of Google Apps compatibility, and have taken it by the horns.  Issue is, most people use Facebook and not Google+.  With new social networking sites, it becomes mandatory to maintain a presence on not only the new social network, but also the old one, as the friendships you have become fragmented (ie. some people jump ship, and some stay on board).

The lack of a Google+ API, means for a lack of third party plugins that can currently be found on other social networks such as Facebook.  For example, I don't actively use Facebook, and my Facebook updates via my Twitter feed, thanks to the Twitter "Facebook App".

I am now using a tool called ManageFlitter which can be found at http://manageflitter.com/plus to update my Twitter feed whenever I post to Google+.  Thus in turn, updates Facebook.

I have also used Yahoo Mail to import my Facebook contacts and in turn, import them into Google+.  A number of those would have had an invite.  Surprised to see the number of people of Google+ anyway.

One thing I am happy with now that Google Apps have been switched onto the Google+ infrastructure, is the integration of Picasaweb into Google+.  There is also some preliminary integration with Blogger through replacement of your Blogger profile with your Google+ one, and a YouTube tab at the top right of the Google+ screen.  Would love to see heaps more integrate, and have a true one stop shop, for when you want to use Google services.

You can find me at http://gplus.to/alancramer .

@Commbank Dollarmites Colouring Book Circa 1992

With the Commonwealth Bank's 100 year birthday, I thought it would be appropriate to post a copy of a Dollarmite Colouring Book from around 1992.  I found this book in cleaning up of my branch earlier this year.  Many people will remember the original Dollarmites, and this colouring book / story book tells of how they came to help us save money.  Example of pages below and a download link to the PDF copy of the book.  Happy colouring.

Download The Colouring Book By Clicking This Link

Copyright (C) Commonwealth Bank of Australia.  Reproduced for Historical Purposes.  I do not claim any ownership of the Dollarmites characters nor the content of the pages from the book, both images above and the attached PDF book.  The content remains owned by Commonwealth Bank of Australia, and posting it to this personal blog, does not release any of the ownership of such content into the public domain.

The many hats of Bryce

Kicking back, watching telly and Mr. Bryce emerges from his room wearing a number of hats...

Ten's @TheRenovatorsTV... What's there to hate?

I don't see what the issue is. It seems that the world hates a little TV show called "The Renovators" that is currently airing on Network Ten. A lot of people are staying it is a rip off of the block. I love the concept and see it as a different show.

I mean really... Shelley Craft and Scott Cam? How can people like these guys? I find them far more annoying to watch then watching paint dry.

Just reading the network ten forums, there are nothing but complaints. One person says "how will a team of two finish a house" and another suggested they will shuffle the teams. Makes sense to me. Then first person states pretty much what about the hard work someone did with their ceiling if they are moved into another team. I say, big whoop. They should all be working together somewhat anyway, cause the winner of the show gets the profit of sale of all 6 properties. So really, why does it matter other than those in the world who have nothing better to do with their time other than whinge about a television show.

I love shows like this, and think the judges picked are a perfect bunch. What I wish ten would do, is bring back Big Brother on Eleven or something to that degree.