What part of an android device is responsible for carrier locking? I understand that custom ROMs can sometimes be used to bypass a carrier lock, but how might I go about making such a ROM from stock?

This is complicated somewhat by the fact that the actual device I have, an Orbic Speed RC400L, isn't technically an android device; it runs busybox/linux, but its bootloader, adbd, and cellular systems seem to be android-like. I'm happy to experiment if someone can provide resources for the general android case.

I am trying to get rayhunter, but I am confused about a few things. What kind of hardware may be used? The Orbic RC400L advertises itself as being for Verizon network only, which I am not going to use. Does the rayhunter software allow it to work on arbitrary networks?

Furthermore, I don't see a good way to acquire such a device. They aren't sold locally as far as I can tell. On amazon they are available, though expensive. However, that would mean losing any form of privacy. I don't need it to be completely anonymous—someone looking at the location could probably see home and work easily enough—but better than amazon would be much preferred.

Are there any alternate devices that are known to work well in Canada? I will be keeping the device powered off most of the time anyways, (so as to hide my location) but it must be reliable when I need it.

EDIT: eSIM support is a plus, but not required

I store playlists as m3u files, but sometimes I want to play it on an external device or send it over the network. The playlist references files using absolute paths, and they have various formats (wav, flac, mp3, ogg).

I would like to convert it into a single cue/flac, as if it were an album that I just ripped from CD (though it may be longer than 80min.) It would be acceptable to create a directory full of uniform flacs with appropriately adjusted metadata, again as if ripped from CD.

I would like to avoid writing intermediates to disk unnecessarily, and I would like to avoid GUI if possible, but the only hard requirement is that it run quickly (that is to say, faster than realtime.)

Since laser printers all encode metadata into the printed image, and handwriting is unique to the writer, I was wondering if a typewriter would provide a more anonymous form of paper communication.

I expect it would be possible to determine the model of typewriter, but would it be possible to tell if two samples were made on the very same machine? Are electric typewriters better or worse than manual? (assuming the same operator) What about Selectric or Wheelwriter – would frequently swapping out the typing element help?

I would like recommendations for a set of wireless headphones. I already have a set of headphones which are of the overhead style, but those cannot be used in all situations, so I would like to get a backup set of in ear headphones. I have a budget around $150-$200, though that isn't hard and fast.

My criteria are as follows:

• Comfortable, inconspicuous
• Good passive noise isolation. Active noise cancellation is a potential asset, especially if it can distinguish speech from other sounds, but passive properties must hold up.
• Wireless, preferably with an open standard (e.g. Bluetooth)

Audio quality is not the highest concern, as I already have a set of wired headphones. I'm just looking for something to play music when I am working.

I already have a transmitter for bluetooth, if the wireless protocol is anything different I would have to buy that. Additionally, I might in the future buy an MP3 player, and some of those come with bluetooth support. If you have any specific suggestions for small MP3 players, put them also in the comments. That's definitely a more long term idea though.

Recommendations?