FIXD is a scam

Posted by Admin on October 20, 2025
WTF? / Comments Off on FIXD is a scam

I saw an ad on social media for a bluetooth OBD2 scanner, for $20.  The app was wrapped with a nice GUI and it seemed like a good deal.

until…

They tried to charge me $100 for an “annual subscription” for access to the premium content.  Here’s the rub: I didn’t see any warnings about a subscription, they didn’t mention it in any of the ads, and it was VERY difficult to cancel and request a refund.  The only way to find the cancellation link was via Google, and even after making the request, they took me through three more “are you sure” pages before finally accepting the cancelation and sending me a confirmation email.

Here is the link by the way: https://app.fixdapp.com/products/subscriptions/cancel

At the end of the day, anyone who knows enough to use an OBD2 scanner and DIY some basic repairs will probably also know enough to google search codes and fixes.  So in reality this FIXD nonsense is really not necessary.  They’re probably trying to appeal to the layperson.  And by their own admission, they have over 3 million customers, which means 3 million people were hit with an unexpected $100 charge. Not a bad business model.

Do yourself a favor, go to Amazon and run a search for an OBD2 scanner.  You can find one for about $30 that will connect to your phone and won’t try to sucker you out of your money.

 

More Clear App Stuff

Posted by Admin on January 06, 2025
Personal / Comments Off on More Clear App Stuff

Clear App ScreenshotI’ve encountered the CLEAR App sync problems a few times in the past several weeks, which prompted me to search for new ideas.  I found a bunch of info here at Clear’s support page.

Synopsis:

  • The new clear version 2.0 is iPhone only, for now
  • There is no new iPad or MACos version, for now
  • There is no sync version for the clear 2.0
  • The old CLEAR sync is dated… outdated, even, and unreliable.  They dropped it because it needs a complete rewrite.

Editorial:

  • DON’T update Clear on your phone from 1.x to 2 or you’ll lose the ability to sync with other devices!!

Continue reading…

Path for iPhone / iPad backups on OSX Monterey

Posted by Admin on October 30, 2023
IT / Comments Off on Path for iPhone / iPad backups on OSX Monterey

The path for your iPhone / iPad backups on OSX Monterey (and presumably others) is:
~Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup

You won’t be able cd into that path using terminal because (I believe) the directory is protected.  Even with SUDO I hit a wall.  Instead, use finder. (I know, right?)  Open finder, then Go -> Go To Folder -> then paste that link.  Your device backups will be burried in apple’s classic gibberish UUID folders and filenames.

Mess with your data and backups at your own risk!!

Clear App sync problems

Posted by Admin on June 15, 2022
IT / Comments Off on Clear App sync problems

Clear App Screenshot

Jan 6, 2025 UPDATE.

Original Post – June 15, 2022:

Clear is a “To-Do” list management app by RealMacSoftware.  Based on what I found searching around on the net (here), it looks like they sold the app to some other developer and then support was non-existent for a variety of reasons, COVID being one of them.  I don’t know the details, nor do I care.  But I sure would love an app update that would resolve a problem I’ve encountered more than once:  a device randomly stops syncing.

After some research and a fair amount of hacking at it (as a once-upon-a-time UNIX admin), I think I figured out how to fix it.

Let me be perfectly clear, I realize that I’m probably pushing the App more than the average user, by having my lists sync between two phones, a tablet, a laptop and a desktop.  Still, it can be particularly frustrating when one device randomly stops syncing, because somehow that’s the device I end up needing more than any other.

Continue reading…

How to disable the sound on an LG Microwave (model LMC2075)

Posted by Admin on May 10, 2021
Personal / Comments Off on How to disable the sound on an LG Microwave (model LMC2075)

I recently got a new LG microwave because my GE Profile started misbehaving and eventually died.  For the record, every GE Profile kitchen appliance I bought has failed, and that rant is for another post.

How to disable the annoying tones: hold down “Stop” and “Timer” for a few seconds.  The display will say “OFF”.  You will now have silence.  If you want to turn on the sound, use the same key combination and the display will say “ON”.

I appreciate the honest salespeople at PC Richard and Home Depot, who explained that all consumer grade microwaves will fail in about 5-6 years, so get the service contract. Lesson learned, these appliances are now consumables, and won’t last 18 years like the durable microwave my parents bought when I was a kid.  OK.  So time to buy something cheap.  I found this LG on sale for $199.

The electronic melody when it starts and stops is SO ANNOYING that it quickly became an issue in my home.  We wanted to punt this thing.  I went searching for how-to videos, and found several, but nobody had a video for this particular model.  I was inspired by this guy’s video, with a similar microwave.  After watching it, I tried a few key combinations, and after some quick trial and error, I found it: hold down the “Stop” and “Timer” buttons for a few seconds.  That will toggle the sound on and off.

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