Vampire Castle Preview Minor Update

I've been working this weekend on Vampire Castle so I've updated the preview version available to download.

Changes:
- Money now needed before play starts (press R button to add cash).
- Money is deducted.
- Fruit machines can now be completely wiped from memory to load another (but still only one machine available) - I love my fruit machine model component propagation :).
- A couple of wild pointers fixed.
- Bonus 4 stopper partially implemented (only climbs the trail).
- Copyrights updated.

Download (ROM image, needs Nintendo DS emulator or DS homebrew card and preferably rumble pack):
The Fruit Machine - Vampire Castle Preview NDS

Three and ZTE F102 Saga: We ... haven’t altered any functionality for Skype

UPDATE: I wrote this application as a workaround. Three it seems are changing Skype on other phones on the Three network.

This is part 3, part 2 and part 1

Edited to remove account specific info.
I followed their instructions and it downloaded the "minimise background" version and lo and behold it still doesn't work. I'll now going to follow their official complaints procedure and if that doesn't rectify it take this one to small claims for the cost of two phones.

Hi Benjamin

I’m sorry to hear you’re having problems while using Skype on your phone.

I understand your concerns about this matter because after updating the Skype application, the minimize option doesn’t work. I note that the application shuts when you minimize it. We as a network provider haven’t removed or altered any functionality for Skype. However this change may be a part of the Skype update.

To resolve this, please redownload the Skype application by using these steps:

• on your phone, go to Planet 3
• select Services
• select Social Networks
• select Social Networking Apps
• choose Select Skype and click on the download link.

Once this is done the Skype application from the Planet 3 will replace the existing Skype application on your phone. This should resolve the problem related to minimizing of the application.

If not, then please call us and we can book the phone for a software reflash to remove any settings related issue.

I’m sure this information has helped. If you still have any problem, just call us and we’ll take care of the rest. You can tell us what you thought about how we handled this by doing a quick survey – call us on 02030 941503. We’d love to hear from you, and we’ll use your feedback to help improve the way we do things.

If you have any more questions, please call on either 333 (free) from any 3 mobile phone or 0843 373 3333 (national rate) from any other phone and we’ll be happy to help.

Kind regards

Seher Ahmed
3 Customer Services

FreeKicker 1.0 Released

FreeKicker is a tiny free open source Java ME application to start Skype V4 from another phone.

You may need this application if you have friends who want to call you on your Java ME mobile (with Skype 4 installed) and it is currently not running, perhaps due to bugs or issues. Your friends just need to start FreeKicker and enter your phone number to "kick"* it. This will cause Skype on your phone to start, and if you have auto-login enabled in Skype, will connect you to the Skype network so they can call you.

* "Kick" simply refers to the act of sending Skype a text message to wake it up, as such the sender may incur a regular text message charge (unless they have free texts). See the included readme files for a more detailed explanation of how this app works.

IMPORTANT:

SKYPE AND THREE TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND AFFILIATED COMPANIES
DO NOT ENDORSE FREEKICKER OR SILENT SOFTWARE.


Requirements:
This application works on most Java enabled mobile phones but can only start the Java (not Brew) version of Skype 4, typically that installed recently in a forced upgrade on the ZTE F102 on the Three mobile network.

Downloads:
Download FreeKicker 1.0 for JavaMe/J2ME phones.
Download GPL 2 JavaME source code for FreeKicker 1.0