Wanna do some anonymous web browsing when at a local hotspot?  Have NO idea how to setup a VPN for your home to use that connection?  Well, ItsHidden.com has a great service that allows you to use a FREE VPN for total anonymous surfing.  Seriously.  It's not only compatible with Windows XP/Vista, it will work with Linux and Mac (with some work) and your iPhone!

So, here's what you need to do:

Step 1)  Go to ItsHidden.com and signup for a free account. 

Step 2)  Bust out that iPhone and go to "SETTINGS" > "GENERAL" > "NETWORK" > "VPN"

Step 3)  Before proceeding, make sure you have a decent signal if on Edge or 3g.  If not, you should connect to Wifi.

Step 4)  Tap "Add VPN Configuration..."

Step 5)  Select "PPTP" and then type in the following:

DESCRIPTION:  ItsHidden

SERVER:  vpn.itshidden.com

Account:  username

RSA SecurID:  OFF

Password:  duh, your password (case sensitive people)

Encryption Level:  I have mine set to Auto, it didn't work with Maximum or None for me.  YMMV!

Send All Traffic:  ON

Proxy:  Off

Tap "SAVE"

Step 6)  Turn that VPN connection On and you'll see the status go from Connecting, Starting, Authenticating, and then Connected.  Once Connected you'll see a logo in the top left by your Carrier that will have VPN in a blue box.  You are now connected.  Congratulations, you are now browsing safely and anonymously!  YAY! 

LINK

I still want a Nokia N95 so bad and now that I can run Windows 3.1 on it, I want it EVEN MORE!

LINK

FYI, Tekbru.com (aka me, Sammy) will be streaming LIVE from the 9th Annual Strong Beer Festival this Saturday, Feb 28, 2009, from 2PM to 6PM (if I'm still standing).  You can either view the live streaming event here (click the Read More link at the bottom to see it) or you can visit my Qik page and see it there (as well as other videos I have posted).  Please engage me in comments and Live Chat during the fest.

If you live in the Phoenix Metro Area, BUY TICKETS AND COME OUT!!!  It will be a blast!  I will have my new Canon G10 out with me along with my Jailbroken 3g iPhone with Qik.  Come out, find me, and get on my Qik stream.

Here are the details:

9th Annual Strong Beer Festival
http://www.azbrewguild.com/strongbeer2009.php

Saturday February 28, 2009
2pm - 6pm

Mesa Amphitheater
201 N Center St
Mesa, AZ 85211

Headliner Band: 2 Tone Lizard Kings

VIP Entry at 1PM for $40.00 (Online only purchase)
General Entry at 2PM for $30 ($40 day of if available)

Admission will be limited to avoid overcrowding (Sammy says buy your shit early online!)

Designated drivers tickets $10 at door only, no online purchase.

Purchase tickets here:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/52997

After the jump, you can see the live streaming video from the event.  AND!  If you remember, last year we were at the event.  Watch the video below!

Wow, where have I BEEN?!  I have been super busy with so much lately that Tekbru.com had to take a back seat.  I'm really sorry about that but I am hoping to get back into the swing of things this upcoming quarter with a lot of new stories, reviews, how-to's, and much much more!  I am in the process of buying a house so until I have a steady work area, nothing but short little posts can be expected.

A couple of things:  1) I was supposed to move to New York, that didn't happen, 2) I thought about moving to Florida, that didn't happen either, 3) I don't have an actual work area to do my reviews from so those won't be happening for a little while (at least not video reviews), 4) I have a couple new toys (for example my Aspire One and a Western Digital WD TV HD and a Roku Netflix box), 5) I jailbroke my 3g iPhone!

My Alexa rating dropped SOOOO much in the past couple months and it's going to be rough trying to bring it back up again.  For those of you who still check this site and use it as a tool, thank you!  For those of you who click the couple ads on the left, THANK YOU!!!  For those of you who still email me and leave comments on my YouTube page, OMG, THANK YOU!!!!  I promise to bring back some glory to Tekbru.com.  Just sit tight...

So, I have been testing out the Shure SE102MPA and the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 4vi earphones for the iPhone for the better part of a month.  They are both AMAZING earphones but there is, without a doubt, a clear winner.

Which pair won?  Well, wouldn't you like to know right now.  I'm not gonna tell you just yet.  Here's the plan, tomorrow, there will be a complete review of the Ultimate Ears Super.fi 4vi and a complete review of the Shure SE102MPA earphones.  Thursday, Thanksgiving (at least for us in America), I will post the FIGHT!

A little info on these two bad boys...  They are both designed SPECIFICALLY for the iPhone (3G).  They both are considered high-end earphones.  They both are over $99 in price.  They both are noise isolation earphones (they plug your ear blocking external sounds).  They both come with fit kit.  AND?!  Well, wait till the reviews go live...hahaha...

While I am not the biggest fan of the latest version of the iPhone 3G Defender Case by Otterbox, it still is the only case I am aware of that provides the 3 layers of protection for your phone.  The case I reviewed (which is sitting next to me sans the iPhone) came in all black.  Otterbox just released two new colors, all white and a black and yellow version.  Same price too.  The all white case also has an all white holster.  The black and yellow case has an all black holster.  Plus, I received a coupon code you can use to save an extra $5 off your order.  The coupon code is IPHONECOLORS and it expires 11/14/08.  So you better get on it if you want this case.

http://www.otterbox.com/iphone-cases/iphone-3g-defender-case/

So, my favorite craftsy case maker, Valentine Arts, is now making cases for your glorious iPhone.  By the looks of it, your iPhone OG (original gangsta, lol), and the 3G should fit just fine.  Since it is pouch style, you should be able to fit other cell phones in there too.  For the price of $10, you cannot beat it.

Be sure to visit the Valentine Arts Etsy store to pick one up.  The holidays are fast approaching!

LINK

So, I got the 3g iPhone.  I got the Otterbox Defender case.  And?  Well, it's not as awesome as I had expected it to be... Still the best case I have used but not as good in some ways as the original Defender case for the first iPhone.  So, let me start with what's new...  You can now access the silent switch!  No more having to have a "silent ringtone" to silence your iPhone.  The holster allows for the iPhone to be placed in on it's side and used as a stand for watching movies (dual purpose is sometimes good).  The construction is different in terms that the back no longer has a cutout for the Otterbox logo, instead it's imprinted in the silicon casing.

Now, let me address each of these new features more in depth...  One, the silent switch access.  As I see and now use this feature a lot, I start to wonder, "Why didn't Otterbox do this the first time around?"  I have no answer.  It's weird, it just doesn't make any sense.  Basically it's like the silicon flap for the dock connector or the earphone jack.  It covers that area really well preventing dust and debris from getting in (THIS IS NOT A WATERPROOF CASE!!!).  It is super easy to access the silent switch in a pinch and it's a welcome feature to this case.  NOTE: All the ports are accessible through the flaps but to give you fair warning, the dock connector area is a tight fit with some 3rd party cables.  If the 3rd party cable is not in almost identical dimensions as the Apple original dock connector, it will not fit! 

Two, the holster...  I hate this holster.  I think it is TERRIBLE!  I have a hard time sliding my iPhone in and pulling it out is a chore to say the least.  Sometimes, when I slide it in, the silicone case gets snagged and it forces me to pull the iPhone out, fix the silicon casing along the sides of the screen, then I have to concentrate on putting in the holster without causing damage or stretching to the silicon case again.  It's abso-freaking-lutely rediculous.  The last holster was amazing.  It did it's job...  It kept my iPhone in place.  It had a nice deep well for the base of the iPhone to sit in and it had two arms to guide the iPhone in smoothly every time.  Could I use it as a stand to watch movies?  No...  Sometimes people sacrifice one thing because another is more important.  In the case of the 3g Defender case, I would prefer having a better holster that is easier to get my iPhone in and out of then to have a holster that is not as strong and serves as a cheap stand.

Three, the new case in general.  Otterbox, why must you still have that Apple logo cutout there?  It makes no sense!  Why!?  I just don't get it...  The new silicon case doesn't seem to fit the new hardshell very well.  A friend of mine also owns this case and he noticed this as well.  This must be a design flaw as opposed to a manufacturing flaw.  What I'm trying to say is that on both of our cases, the silicon doesn't seem to be flush throughout the case with the edges of the screen.  Is it because of the contour back?  I'm not sure.  But in comparison to the previous Defender case, it is noticeable and annoying (mostly because I'm rather OCD).  The previous Defender case also had little tabs that stuck out around the case to fit inside the matched slits in the hard case.  On the 3g Defender case, it seems to be missing from the sides that are closest to the screen.  Finally, the hard shell seems to be of a much thinner and the plastic seems flimsier/cheaper than the original Defender case.  Is this to keep costs down?  I'm not sure but I don't like it.  (In case you haven't noticed, this entire review is comparing this case to the previous generation case.  Why?  There is nothing else to compare it to currently on the market)

So, what is the benefit of the 3g Defender case?  Well, I still have yet to find a more durable and rugged case.  I still am unable to find something that is able to perform as well as the Otterbox line of cases.  And!  Otterbox, in my honest opinion, has the BEST customer service and warranties in the business.  Every time I have called or had email correspondence with someone at Otterbox it has been positive and pleasant.

Ok...  so now that you have heard me rant about the product, where is the video or the photos?!  Well, my MacBook Pro is no longer.  I am saving my pennies to get the latest but I am currently using a PC to do all this sooooooo the video will come later.  Hopefully sooner than later though.

Pros: Still the best case to protect your goods, innovative clip (although not the best), silent switch is accessible, excellent customer service and lifetime warranty, your iPhone WILL BE PROTECTED!!!

Cons: Plastic inner shell feels a little cheaper, I think the push to get this case out quickly compromised the design of the holster and outer silicon skin, still a hole to see the Apple logo (makes no sense to me at least), I wish another holster design was offered

Score: 6/10

Overall: The score I gave is comparing it to the original Defender case.  If the holster was better, the plastic inner shell was thicker (or felt more durable), and if the silicon skin fit better with more tabs to lock into the case, this current generation Defender case would be much better.  Otterbox, please lose the hole for the Apple logo already!

Price: $49.95 available from Otterbox.com

Read more for more stock pictures (again, my pictures and a video will hopefully soon follow)

TheSixtyOne.com is based on points and it's hard to explain so I would suggest checking out their FAQ page.  Essentially you show your love for a track by spending points to bump it up.  As you spend points, you make points and then get to different levels and it's just fun.  Check out TheSixtyOne.com for yourself, sign up, it'll be fun.  I promise!

thesixtyone.com

OH!!!  And you can embed your own "radio" anywhere!!!  I included it on this page.  There are two radios, one from my first account, Falafeljack, and the other is a Tekbru account.  They are located above the ads (click those ads because this site is ad supported, lol).