blog of Girts Niedra

Girts Niedra blogging about stuff of interest – work, life, etc.

Archive for category Gadgets

Linux and gadgets

Sep 14

Posted by Girts Niedra in Gadgets | No Comments

As the HTC Hero is Linux based, it makes me think of my other gadgets and Linux in them vs. other OSes.
I have for something like 3 times tried switching to Linux on my home PC and each time dropped back to windows, mostly because:

  • the lack of some crucial applications (Roboform, Microsoft Office in a non-emulated mode to be precise)
  • driver incompatibilities (there the situation has improved since)
  • some games

Currently I have stopped even thinking about the move as the Windows 7 is great so far (using for last 2-3 months)
Also using Windows XP on my laptop.
The matters are different with the gadgets:

  • Netgear ReadyNAS DUO 2x500GB – Linux
  • Dreambox DM7020S – Linux
  • to be HTC Hero – Linux
  • Nintendo Wii – Proprietary
  • Clarion MAP780 – Windows Mobile

The trend seems to be quite clear – the devices which require little or none / little user interface (but require stability and low licensing costs of the OS), are doing quite well with Linux.

My ex-phone list

Sep 13

Posted by Girts Niedra in Phones | 2 Comments

HTC Hero Brown
As I have just ordered a new gadget – HTC Hero (a Linux based smartphone for the gadget-ignorant), finally realized a very old task of listing the phones that were owned previously:

(could be that 1 to 3 phones are missing, but are considered to not important since don’t change the overall picture, ericsson->siemens->windows mobile->android)
Over all have to say, that the Windows Mobile has been quite satisfactory for the longest period (using the smartphone for calls and organizer mostly), but seemed more and more abandoned by Microsoft recently.
So, based on reviews of HTC Hero doing a switch, will write about impressions when I get it.
Very afraid, that I won’t have at least one program anymore that should get an analogue for Linux ASAP – Roboform on the Android platform. This is one program I can not imagine my virtual life without.
A review by GizModo @ http://gizmodo.com/5301955/htc-hero-android-phone-hands+on-with-video
(edit1 – changed to brown edition instead of the white one, as soon as found out it is available in the same internet shop)
(edit2 – some more phones when looked at the Siemens full list. How could I forget you, my precious SL45 ;) )

Clarion MAP780 / MAP680 unlock instructions / installing MioPocket

Sep 13

Posted by Girts Niedra in GPS | No Comments

Clarion MAP780
I bought the Clarion MAP780 navigation unit before some time. The navigation software used is IGO8, the current brand name being Nav’n’Go 8, made in Hungary – because I liked the product more than any other Windows PocketPC navigation I tried.
Some days ago was looking for ways to update the maps for the trip to Austria, and I run across MioPocket 3.0, an application to unlock more functionality on Windows PocketPC based navigation units. The following are the steps how I got it installed and working.
1. Connect the GPS unit to USB, there should be a removable drive in “My Computer” accessible with folders “Clarion” and “Program Files”, in between others (i.e. the internal flash card, not the SD card). I call this further “internal flash drive”
2. Backup the Clarion folder, just in case.
3. Rename the \Clarion\clarion.exe to igo8.exe.
4. Download this (it is actually Total Commander for Pocket PC, renamed to clarion.exe). Extract the files to Clarion folder in the internal flash drive
5. Download MioPocket 3.0 from here, and extract to the root of the internal flash drive.
6. Disconnect the USB cable and turn off/on the PocketPC (this is known as hard reset, just FYI).
7. Total commander should start up
8. Navigate to \SDFree\ and launch MioMap.exe from there. Select “Run MioPocket” from the application. Note – this procedure needs to be repeated each time there is a hard reset (i.e., device has been turned off/on)
9. To configure GAPI, navigate to Settings->GAPI Setup->GAPI Setup->Select Device and choose Asus R700, CE 5.0, 480×272 from the device list (Clarion is not in the list).
Note – the USB connection is not working while in MioPocket mode, so to connect I have to do a hard reset and then connect to the USB.
Note2 – the NaviExtras Toolbox allows to buy maps and upgrade software (is from the makers of Nav’n’Go), as well as to create/restore backups of the device.
This instruction set has been translated (with small additions) from the original post in this forum, by the user globular. Hope he doesn’t mind
MioPocket

Wii homebrew got really useful

Jun 7

Posted by Girts Niedra in Wii | No Comments

The Wii homewbrew scene got important/useful for all the owners of Wii by two additions:

1. BootMii, allowing to most importantly backup your Wii’s memory at a very low level, to be able to restore  if something goes terribly wrong. http://bootmii.org/

2. USBLoader – allows saving and loading of legal and “legal” Wii game discs. Set-up guide in http://www.mikeandheth.com/games/97-connect-wii-usb-hard-drive.html Really useful if you want to do any of the following:

  • backup your Wii DVDs to protect against scratches;
  • load games much faster than from DVDs;
  • other, “legal” purposes

One of the first things I did when bought a Wii (start of 2008) is installed homebrew with the Zelda hack (for description etc. http://wiibrew.org/wiki/Index.php), because I found it a quite fun hack. Actually, when installing that one I didn’t think the homebrew would get to such usable state (was thinking about a modchip back then).

Thank you homewbrew developers for all your hard work and time, it’s highly appreciatead!