Sign-in error for name@gmail.com on Android device [SOLVED!]

All of a sudden logging in to my Google Play account was giving an error and I seemed to be locked out!  Bad situation to be in – I couldn’t upgrade any of my apps – and I needed to do an upgrade because WhatsApp had expired – with error “This version of WhatsApp is too old – you need to upgrade”… OK, but I first needed to solve the error “Sign-in error for name@gmail.com”.

I Googled a bit, then a lot more but nothing worked - then I decided to try something out – I changed the language of my account – I noticed that it wasn’t set to anything.  I logged in to my Google account, then clicked “Account” and saw the “Default languages”: 


I changed it from “Select a language…” to English (United States):
 
Then I tried to login on my Android phone and to my absolute amazement I was logged in :)  No error, just logged in.
I could then switch to the WhatsApp upgrade warning message and update to the latest version – problem solved!
This is one of those out of the blue, accidental fixes that somehow worked… I was amazed and I hope this helps someone out there – please let me know by adding a comment.

Checking your CellC data balance on your iPad with iOS6

Some people are battling to check their data balance on their CellC data account from their iPad… I use to use the iPad’s menu:
Settings->MobileData->SimApps->ProductsServices menu option… but for some reason - I think iOS 6.0 came along – then that stopped working. 

Here are various options that you can use:
1) put the SIM into a phone (you will need to purchase a MicroSIM adapter) and call the balance check *101#
2) from another Internet connection: go to http://cellc.co.za/my-account and request your password via email, then go to:
MyAccount->Dashboard-> UsageInformation for a listing of usage and remaining data
3) put the SIM into a phone (you will need to purchase a MicroSIM adapter) and SMS the word "balance" to 14302
4) If you have iOS5: then use the iPad’s menu system: Settings->MobileData->SimApps->ProductsServices->BalanceEnquiry->Accept

Note: You can also read your SMSs (and voice mails) using the MyCellC->MyTools portal.  Register here: https://www.cellc.co.za/mytools/login

  

Thanks to this forum for the information: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/469242-Checking-data-balance-on-CellC-prepaid

Telkom ADSL speed upgrades… but you have to call to get it

Seems like the current Telkom ADSL speed increases don’t “just happen”… you need to call them to actually get the speed increase – well, that’s what I had to do.

Here are the steps that are involved:
1) Check whether you are in fact still at the old, slower speeds by using MyBroadBand’s speed test [use the “South African” option]: http://speedtest.mybroadband.co.za
2) Check that your line speed has been increased at the exchange http://www.telkom.co.za/checkadsl by entering your telephone number:
3) Then call 10210 (a toll free number if you are calling from a Telkom land line)
4) Navigate the voice menus to the DSL technical guys
5) Ask your friendly Telkom contact centre agent to increase your line speed – you will lose Internet connection and when it comes back you will have a faster connection to the Internet! :)
6) Check your speed again… much faster :) :
 
Thanks to Michal Mierzwa who commented on this article on MyBroadband: New Telkom ADSL speed upgrades start