Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2016 October 26

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October 26[edit]

Hotmail.com is revealing my real name[edit]

For sites such as Wikipedia where I am "John of Reading", I use a separate email address [email protected]. I've configured the name "John of Reading" in my Thunderbird email client so that emails are sent with the "From" line From: John of Reading <[email protected]>.

This worked fine until fairly recently, but something has changed: Hotmail is rewriting the "From" line, replacing "John of Reading" with the name from my Microsoft Account. Recipients are seeing From: MyRealName <[email protected]>.

Two questions: Is there a way to restore the old behaviour, so that a Hotmail message is received with the intended "From" name? Is there an alternative to Hotmail that won't reveal my real name to email recipients?

-- John of Reading (talk) 07:15, 26 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]

  • For the first question I do not know. I can speculate that the change was deliberate and you cannot change it (without changing your Microsoft account name / creating a second one). Maybe hotmail got complaints of impersonation and took that measure (I am not offering an opinion on the legitimacy of the complaint or the efficiency of the change).
For the second question, you can create another email account - there are plenty of free providers like Gmail, although if it is free, you are the product - and use a false name there. For instance, I am "Abraham Lincoln" on the email address I use on every website requiring automatic registration. TigraanClick here to contact me 07:25, 26 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Can not you change the 'from' line in the setting of your hotmail account? Ruslik_Zero 20:17, 27 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Bluetooth blues[edit]

I have bought Bluetooth operated Padlock Dog & Bone™. It worked once, only once. I tried deleting and downloading again it's app (LockSmart). No success. I tried this step many a time without any success. I also tried to rebooting my smartphone (Micromax AQ5001), which is Android 5, but nothing. I contacted the manufacturer who advised me to remove the lock from Bluetooth directly and reinstall the app. But didn't help. Can anyone please tell me what may be wrong ? Please if you know something that can be fixed by making a change here or there in settings, or some other app that is known to cause this problem? I did try using someone else's phone, and it worked (though I must admit I had the chance to use that phone once only). Kindly oblige me by assisting in this problem.  Jon Ascton  (talk) 20:38, 26 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Have you confirmed that the phone can use bluetooth successfully for other purposes? Also probably can't hurt to upgrade to the latest OS your phone will support. SemanticMantis (talk) 21:33, 26 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks for answering, pal. My question - is it possible to upgrade ? Whenever I click "upgrade" option in settings, I am told "no upgradeable version available". Had it been possible, it would have been the first thing I had done. And yes, for other things BL BT does work. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 124.253.144.154 (talk) 03:26, 27 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]