How do I disable a Axim (or any PPC's) microphone?

[Jonathon Watkins]

Quick question guys (and gals). Is there any way to disable the microphone on a PPC so it won’t record? I am looking for both destructive and non-destructive methods. Taping over the microphone hole just won’t do it. Any ideas it there is any part of the OS I can safely remove or is there a third party software to do it?

I need to use the PPC in an environment where recording is not allowed. Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks! :P

[PetiteFlower]

Um....just don't push the record button? It doesn't record unless you tell it to. And the mic and record buttons are subtle enough that someone might not even notice they are there unless they're already familiar with Axims....

[b3trio]

Quick answer:

Start > Settings > Buttons, and map the record button to "None". Now the only thing that will happen when you press the record button is it will turn on your Axim when it is off.

[Rirath]

Makes sense... simply telling them "I promise not to" probably wouldn't do it in that case. Erm... wish I had some ideas for ya. Perhaps something kinda small hardening clay to jab down in there? :?

[Jonathon Watkins]

Thanks guys. You're right that saying "I promise not to record" won't cut it. :wink: The recording NEEDs to be DISABLED or the person won't be allowed to have it on site.

I like the idea of what you say b3trio - but it's rather hard to explain to security and is too easy to reverse.

I tried experimenting with putting BlueTak down the hole and taping it up, but some sound can still be heard when recording. :?

Any more idea?

[spursdude]

I suppose you could carry something pokey with you (like a long-tipped pen) and just jab it into your microphone any time they look at you...

Although if you ever want to use it again, you may want to seek other methods.

I haven't tried this, but perhaps you can disable it with PHM Device Manager (http://www.phm.lu/Products/PocketPC/devmgmt.asp)? But then again, if you can disable it that easily, you can enable it just as easily.

[dean_shan]

If worse comes to worse you could just open the case and cut the wire that connects the mic to the board. I'd try out some of the other less drastic first.

[GoldKey]

I need to use the PPC in an environment where recording is not allowed. Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks! :P


I assume you are going into a courtroom. Are they actually testing the device to see if it records? I am would be suprised and impressed if they knew to check a ppc and knew what to check for. But if you mapped the record button to another application and moved any icons for the recorder, all but the most PPC literate inspector would think it could not record.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Hmmmm - so short of physically opening the unit up myself and cutting the wires/traces - there is no way of 'really' disabling the recording functionality?

There may well be checks on the device and I have to assume they know what they are doing. I am not going to be caught doing something wrong. (i.e. I will not risk doing something that is not good enough).

But then again, if you can disable it that easily, you can enable it just as easily.

That's the whole problem and I’m not sure I can see a way out of it. :? I can re-map the recording button, put BlueTack in the mic hole, tape it up and move the icon to a hidden sub folder, but will it be enough? I don’t know.

[Janak Parekh]

Yeah, it really sounds to me that disconnecting the microphone from the mainboard, or better yet, removing the microphone entirely and giving it to someone else would be the best bet.

Of course, you'll void the warranty on your Axim if you do so. :(

--janak

[PetiteFlower]

re-mapping the button might be enough...you can show them that nothing happens when you press the record button.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

re-mapping the button might be enough...you can show them that nothing happens when you press the record button.
Right. That would be my suggestion. Unless they know PPCs inside out, they'll probably be satisfied with that "demonstration".

Technically, they're probably only held liable for checking (to the best of their abilities) that the record feature "doesn't work".

[PetiteFlower]

Plus I don't think they would actually ask you to break your machine!

[Rirath]

No, instead they'd probably ask you not to bring your machine. I think you folks may be being a bit naive. It's like promising not to take photos of a top secret airplane when you've got a camera strapped to your neck. Nothing short of a broken lense would do, and even then that's just being hopeful.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

No, instead they'd probably ask you not to bring your machine. I think you folks may be being a bit naive.
Well, I think I think you're being a bit presumptuous.

Even if he were to cut his wires. Exactly what kind of demonstration could he give that would prove he couldn't re-enable it? You and I may know, but how's security personnel (w/o PPC knowledge) to know? Flip it the other way, how are they to know for sure that something could be re-enabled (in the case of the remapped button)?

If you're going to take the argument that "they'd probably ask you not to bring your machine", then I say they'll probably say that regardless of what you do with the device.

The question is -- do they have a pictured list of devices that are simply not allowed (which would include the PPC)? If no, then they'll have to make a judgement call on a PPC (in which a remapped button is no more convincing than cut wires IMO). If they do have such a list and the PPC is on it, it won't matter what you did with the device, they'll flat out refuse it.

[TheBacklash]

Ekkie. Your right.

If they know that a PPC can record "if" the user wants to, it don't matter what you do to it they will just simply not allow it there. Beyond physical damage, and done in front of them, I doubt you can prove to them that it can't record. If I "say" I cut the wires... where's the proof?

I would simply re-map the record button to none, and ask ahead of time if its ok. Assuming its something like a courtroom... I would take it in ahead of time and show them I have disabled the record button and ask if thats enough. maybe put tape over the mic hole to show them your willing to prove its not easy to make it record.
But once your in there, just don't be fiddling with the tape or withthe PPC as much. If your typing thats one thing... but needless tapping might draw suspicion.

[Jonathon Watkins]

The problem is that the situation is kind of ambiguous. I am getting slightly different answers depending on who I ask. I take your point Rirath about not being allowed a device at all. It may come to that. I kind of have to prove a negative as ekkie pointed out – that the device can’t do something. The fact is, as TheBacklash pointed out, I can’t PROVE it won’t record, unless I cut the wires in front of them. :( Even then, wires can be re-soldered. (I’m definitely not going down that route BTW – there is no way of knowing what wire/trace to cut and it may wreck the Axim). :?

They know that a PPC can usually record sound, so the best bet may be to re-map the record button to none, put BlueTack in the mic hole & put tape over it and sign a statement that the user will not use it to record. If they are being hard-line and narrow minded then the Axim stays behind. Such is life. :!:

[Rirath]

Ekkie, I agree man. Like I said, it's just being hopeful. Nothing wrong with that.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Any ideas on how I can move icons from the 'Settings' options? I want to be able to move the micrphone settings out of the way (i.e. move it out of settings so it can't be used).

[Pony99CA]

No, instead they'd probably ask you not to bring your machine. I think you folks may be being a bit naive.
Well, I think I think you're being a bit presumptuous.

He may be, but I tend to agree with him here. If they aren't sure about the device, they'll probably play it safe and not allow it. Of course, that said, all you need to do to prove your laptop works to get on an airplane is to turn it on. What would prevent putting plastic explosive in the second battery bay or something?


Even if he were to cut his wires. Exactly what kind of demonstration could he give that would prove he couldn't re-enable it? You and I may know, but how's security personnel (w/o PPC knowledge) to know?

Show them how to record a sound, let them "record" something, then play it back and show that nothing was recorded. Of course, they could still say that you might have just disabled the speaker. :-)

Steve

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

If they aren't sure about the device, they'll probably play it safe and not allow it. Of course, that said, all you need to do to prove your laptop works to get on an airplane is to turn it on. What would prevent putting plastic explosive in the second battery bay or something?
Ummm, that was my point exactly. Their decision is quite independent of what you do with the device, so why take extreme actions?


Even if he were to cut his wires. Exactly what kind of demonstration could he give that would prove he couldn't re-enable it? You and I may know, but how's security personnel (w/o PPC knowledge) to know?
Show them how to record a sound, let them "record" something, then play it back and show that nothing was recorded. Of course, they could still say that you might have just disabled the speaker. :-)
Again... my point exactly. So I ask again, is there any reason that something more drastic than a button-remapping be done?

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Any ideas on how I can move icons from the 'Settings' options? I want to be able to move the micrphone settings out of the way (i.e. move it out of settings so it can't be used).
Good question... this would probably have to be done through some sort of hack I would imagine.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Well, I'm open to any sort of hack that will do this. It's amazing how paranoid companies can be about their R&D labs. :roll: :lol: