Windows Insiders - puppets on a string

According to Microsoft Windows Insiders are allowed to continue testing of Windows 10 Preview as long as they like. After the RTM-version of Windows 10 is published Preview is no longer there. However Insiders will take part in continuous testing of Windows 10. In a way there will always be a preview version available.

I feel like I'm a puppet on a string. Microsoft gets all the information and in turn my PC is running an OS with a lot of bugs. In addition the next Windows (after Windows 10) will be charged monthtly like Office 365. Insiders are the ones that Microsoft needs to get through their testing cycles what comes to the future versions of Windows. I feel bad. I don't want to pay for Windows every month and don't want to test that sort of software.

My prediction is there will be less Windows users in the future than there is now. People have less money to spend and they don't want pay for Windows every month. Selling operating systems WAS a good business for a while, not anymore.

How to run Android on Geeksphone Peak

Geeksphone Peak's original idea was to run Firefox OS. It seems Geeksphone is not supporting Peak anymore. I'm not 100% sure about that though.

So I decided to install Android on Geeksphone Peak. Many people have done it before and now was my turn.

• I had my Ubuntu-based PC ready-made for flashing. This means tools like adb and fastboot were already installed before I started.
• The phone needed to be in Debugging Mode.
• In order to get to recovery mode one has to keep down VolUp, VolDown and On/Off buttons at the same time. 
• The files needed are found here.
• Once files were unzipped, Terminal app with superuser privileges were needed.
• The commands which flash Android on Geeksphone Peak:
• fastboot flash boot boot.img
• fasboot flash system system.img
• fastboot flash userdata userdata.img
• fasboot reboot

After booting Android 4.0.4 started. My Peak feels much faster than with Firefox OS inside. Sorry to say but both Firefox OS and Android on Geeksphone Peak are dead ends. I am not able to update neither OS. I guess there is a problem with the hardware which is not modern enough. However, I'm glad there are two (older) operating systems to choose from (Firefox OS 2.2 and Android 4.0.4).

 

GP Peak and Android 4.0.4 

Summertime - and the Internet-living is easy?

Many people in Finland will soon leave for their summer cottages. 4 weeks vacation is about to start. Ok, you might not expect to find an indoors lavatory or running water when entering the countryside. However one thing must work the same way as at home. What's that? Sauna? No doubt! I have *the Internet* in mind.

So how to get commected? One has to decide how to receive and send information over 3G/4G -networks AND how to share connection with other family while staying in the countryside. Let's see the options:

• Share your mobile phone connection (most phones support this)
• Not very handy as your mobile phone phone is not sitting on the table all the time
• batteries will soon get empty
• Share 3G/4G -modem with others
• Not very handy either. I find it difficult to share my connection in Windows. Besides an extra SIM-card is needed.
• A bit old-fashioned
• Buy a modem with proper antennas
• Better but not perfect. Electricity is still needed.

This goes to show how dependent we are on Internet connection. My conclusion is: try to re-event your family. Especially in Finland where summers are light and winters dark it's time to enjoy outdoors sports etc. There is enough time to use Internet during the winter.

Will iOS 9 support iPhone 4S and iPad Mini (1st gen)?

On June 8th at 10 am PDT Apple will keep it's annual summerly keynote. iPhone-, iPad- or MacBook-owners: you can see it live here. In case you are using a PC, try one of those live blogs. If you miss the event you still can read for example Google news to keep yourself updated.

My concern is iOS9. Will it become available for my iPhone 4S and iPad Mini (1st gen)? In case it does is it a stripped down version of iOS for older devices? In addition my daughter has an iPad 2. Will it be completely left out? So stay tuned for more information!

iPad 2

Windows 10 reservation update (KB3035583) not there? Try this!

Microsoft claims Windows 10 is worth reserving beforehand. That way - according to Microsoft - you can avoid "traffic jams" when Windows 10 becomes available. Hmm, if they let Windows 10 loose on July 29th how can one get the image beforehand? I don't get it. Will Microsoft send an encrypted 3 GB update to my Windows 8.1 tablet? That remains to see...

Ok, I want to give Windows 10 a go. My Windows 7 already received a reservation update but my Windows 8.1 tablet didn't. You can manually install the update and force your Windows 8.1 to show you the reservation. Follow these steps:

1. Uninstall any existing KB3035583 and restart PC

2. Download kb3035583 cab file

x86:

http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/updt/2015/05/windows8.1-kb3035583-x86_dc717b43d95c7fd7c12fee2f13e0b17a412e41ee.cab

x64:

http://download.windowsupdate.com/d/msdownload/update/software/updt/2015/05/windows8.1-kb3035583-x64_569671257f46c76e5f5d2f53b1c35500447ad302.cab

3. Copy cab file to C:\temp

4. Open command prompt with administrator rights

5. Copy and paste the following commands in command prompt

x86:

DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:c:\temp\windows8.1-kb3035583-x86_dc717b43d95c7fd7c12fee2f13e0b17a412e41ee.cab

x64:

DISM /Online /Add-Package /PackagePath:c:\temp\windows8.1-kb3035583-x64_569671257f46c76e5f5d2f53b1c35500447ad302.cab

6. After the cab file installed the Windows 10 icon will pop up on taskbar. If not restart your PC and hope for the best!

Click the Windows-icon and make a reservation of Windows 10

LibreOffice with Writer2ePub -extension let's you create EPUBs of your own

LibreOffice is able to create e-books (EPUB)

Do you need to save your document in EPUB -file type? No problem. All you need is LibreOffice and an extension called Writer2ePub.

Setting up Writer2ePub -extension

• Make sure you have LibreOffice installed
• Download the extension writer2epub.oxt and place it on Desktop
• Open LibreOffice Writer -> Tools -> Extension Manager -> Add
• Find writer2epub.oxt and double click extension
• Accept license

Close LibreOffice Writer and open it again. Take a look at upper left corner where there are three new buttons.

Creation of an EPUB -file

Let's create an EPUB -file. Write something or paste some text from for example Wikipedia to LibreOffice Writer. Save your document as LibreOffice default file type .odt. After saving click the EPUB-button to the left . There are many fields to be filled and many options to choose from. You can leave fields empty when testing Writer2ePub. Finally click Ok. You'll get a window telling export is done.

How to open EPUB in a reader app

You can open your newly created EPUB-file in Windows and Mac with Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) which is a free app for DRM-secured (and all sort of) EPUBs. If you are using Linux there are many apps to choose from. Find an app that suits your needs. If you have mobile phone and/or tablet - why not give a go?! In those cases try BlueFire Reader (iOS and Android).

Extension manager takes care of Writer2ePub -extension

Click Add and find your extension

Three new buttons, use the one on 

the left to create an EPUB -file

Type in some information concerning your book

Export is done!

FBReader is not the best reader - there

are many readers available for Linux

Made up my mind - Windows 10 arriving on top of my Windows 7 free of charge later this summer

I have a seat in the front row! Windows 10 is arriving July 29th. And guess what? I will update my Windows 7 as soon as Microsoft starts to deliver the image of Windows 10. I already made a reservation!

You see, I have to experience all this. Then it's possible to tell what happened and how it went. Hmm, Windows 10 on top of Windows 7? Will that work and if it will how fast and reliably? We'll see!

Below you can see the steps (in Finnish) I took only a while ago. My copy of Windows 10 will arrive in the end of July... well, hope it will! Please Microsoft, don't screw it up this time!

Microsoft added a new icon in Windows 7 which tells you how to get Windows 10

Windows 10 will officially arrive in the end of July 2015. Before that you can book your copy of Microsoft's new operating system if you want.

Take a look at the lower right corner of your Windows 7. There it is. A Windows icon which takes you to a window telling you can receive a free of charge update of Windows 10. You can start booking Windows 10 right away. In addition Microsoft is saying you already know how to use Windows 10. This is something never happened with Windows 8.

Microsoft's booking app reveals Windows 10 will be installed on top of my existing Windows 7. Now how wise is that? Up until now I've always setup my Windows on an empty hard disk.

An icon tells Windows 10 is waiting...

In Finnish...

It's telling you already know how to use Windows 10

LibreOffice Viewer for Android - learn how to edit your files

In addition to viewing it's also possible to edit files with LibreOffice Viewer for Android. Here's how you do it:

1. Download LibreOffice Viewer for Android. It's available at Google Play store.
2. When you open LibreOffice Viewer you notice there is no Graphical User Interface. All you can see are folders. See pictures below.
3. Open your computer and LibreOffice Writer. Create a text file with extension .odt. Move .odt to your tablet or smart phone.
4. Find the folder which has .odt inside. LibreOffice Viewer shows you the contents of the .odt file.
5. If you want to edit your .odt file tap upper right corner with three dots. Choose Settings. See picture below.
6. Choose Experimental Mode. After that you have a simple menu with basic functions like Bold, Italic, Underline. See picture below.

No GUI, only folders

Upper right corner let's you

access Settings

Experimental Mode at your own risk

Simple menu with basic functions 

How to generate an animated GIF of your own and post it to Facebook

Facebook accepts all sort pics and videos. Animated GIFs are a bit tricky. Follow these steps and publish moving GIFs of your own.

1. Download LICEcap (for Windows, Mac OS X versio is here).
2. Find your favourite video and fast forward to a scene you want to record as an animated GIF. Pause your video.
3. Place LICEcap-app window on top of your video player (see picture below). Make sure LICEcap-window is smaller than the window of your video player.
4. Click Record in LICEcap and save your GIF.
5. Be quick and click Play (in your video player) and Stop (in LICEcap) when you are done. Keep in mind animated GIFs made out of video are huge in size. Try to keep your GIF as small as possible.
6. You can preview your newly generated GIF in your web browser if you want.
7. Copy your animated GIF to Dropbox, OneDrive etc. Make your GIF publicly available and find the public address of your GIF.
8. Copy the public address to Facebook. Make sure your address ends in .gif. For example: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3636008/animated_gif/alpakat.gif

Microsoft Movie Creator beta

Microsoft Movie Creator beta for Windows Phone 8.1 is a super easy video editor. First shoot then choose your video clips or pictures, type in some text and add some free music. All this is saved as an MP4-file in camera roll on your phone. Let's hope the final version will stay free of charge as well. 

Rpix86 - emulate Intel 486 PC on Raspberry Pi

The first very own PC I ever bought was a 486 clone back in the beginning of the 1990's. With only 4 MB RAM it was able to run MS-DOS 5 and Windows 3.1. Those were the days!

I began to dream of 486 PC again. The problem is my original 486 is dead and gone. Now what? The answer is Raspberry Pi with rpix86 -emulator.

One of my Raspberry Pis only has 256 MB RAM. Now there we have suitable hardware for running Raspbian Linux (in console mode) and rpix86 -emulator on top. Off I went and downloaded Raspbian, burned it on an SD card and booted my Raspi.

The most entertaining part was downloading and installing of rpix86 -emulator.

First off I downloaded rpix86 with wget:

wget http://rpix86.patrickaalto.com/rpix86.zip

After that zip-package was extracted:

unzip rpix86.zip

Then I typed in the following command which started ripix86-emulator:

./rpix86

Rpix86 suggested it needed to download 4DOS.COM. Yes sir! Go ahead! After that I got DOS 5 running in front of me! Thank you Patrick Aalto!

I'm planning on running Word 5.5 for DOS on top of Raspbian and rpix86. Microsoft has made Word 5.5 for DOS publicly accessible for anyone. Besides it's free software (well, free of charge only...). There is the RTF-option when saving files in Word 5.5 for DOS. So it's easy to export text files and send them forward (with the help from Raspbian).

No heat, no fans!

Nowadays my oldest Raspi is also my 486 PC!

Unruly Windows 7/8.1 users are taken in hand by Microsoft?

Are you going to use Windows 7 until 2020 (that's when the support period ends) ? Are you happy with your Windows 8.1? Too bad if you are! Microsoft wants you to update to free of charge Windows 10.

Windows 10 unveil will happen in the end of summer 2015. You'll have 12 months to decide whether upgrade (for free) or not. Why such a hurry? Well, Microsoft wants to play the game with different rules in the future. You and your Windows are part of that game. The alternatives are:

1. You are going to upgrade to Windows 10 for free. After that you can visit Windows Store, download and buy apps. Your Windows 10 might turn to something else in a year or two. The next Windows is coming. It's called... Windows. No number. It's plain Windows which updates all the time. You are supposed to pay for those updates more frequently than today. You can't go back to Windows 7 or 8.1.
2. You are going to stick to Windows 7 or 8.1. Ok, you are able to receive security updates until 2020. After that you have to:
1. Either buy a new PC (with frequently updating Windows)
2. Install Linux on your PC and wipe out Windows 7 or 8.1 

But! You don't want to do anything. You just want to use Windows 7 or 8.1. You want Microsoft to leave you alone! Hah! Soon your Windows 7 or 8.1 will start frequent nagging. It'll go on and on. In addition Windows 10 files are automatically downloaded in your PC. They are there waiting for your decision. All you need to do is to confirm that you want to upgrade.

In my opinion all this will be a disaster, either way. For us home users and for Microsoft and it's share owners. My advice is: migrate to Linux.

What will happen to my files when Windows 8.1 is updated to Windows 10?

Microsoft has told it's possible to update from Windows 7 or 8.1 to Windows 10 for free. My Acer Iconia W510 is already waiting for a bigger update which is going to take place later this year. I hope to receive my copy of Windows 10 in the second half of 2015.

Those were the good news. The downside is there is absolutely no mention how this update is done! Will Windows 10 install wipe out all my files? Or will Windows 10 sit on top of Windows 8.1?

My Acer Iconia W510 has a very limited hard disk with only 32 GB of space for files. At the moment with Windows 8.1 installed there is no room for Windows 10 image. I guess this is the situation many users have. Not too many people know how much free disk they have. And this leads to a situation where no updates are done. Simply put there is too little knowing among people.

Microsoft, will you keep my files in safe after Windows 10 update and if so, will my Acer run as quick as possible?

CHIP from Next Thing - too little too late

Raspberry Pi and Arduino Uno are names many people know. Arduino Uno (micro controller) is already ten and Raspi three years old. Those devices have been around for ages!

Year 2016 will bring us CHIP from Next Thing - a single-board-computer (SBC) similar to Raspberry Pi.

CHIP is aimed at makers and hackers. However Next Thing is saying you can use CHIP daily as your primary computer.

These are the specs of CHIP:

• 1 GHz processor
• 512 MB RAM
• 4 GB internal storage
• Built-in wifi anf bluetooth
• Composite output (VGA and HDMI via external adapter)
• Price 9 $ (before taxes?)
• About the same size as Raspi
• Able to run Linux

I think CHIP has too little to offer. Besides it's too late. How come?

• CHIP is not able to run Linux fast enough in graphics mode. There is too little RAM memory available. I can guarantee you it's not fun to run Raspbian and LXDE window manager on the 1st generation Raspberry Pi with only 256 or 512 MB RAM. You'll be disappointed when doing the same on CHIP.
• Makers already purchased their devices (Raspis and Arduinos...). Next Thing is thinking like Microsoft...
• There is nothing new with CHIP. Although cheap some sort of new approach would have been needed; smaller size or more powerful hardware than Raspi has.
• Composite output only?

My verdict: CHIP, you are welcome. Next Thing, re-write Linux so that Desktop use is smooth.

Running Word 5.5 for DOS on DOSBox

Microsoft has made Word 5.5 for DOS publicly available (Free! Legal!).  I guess this happened many years ago. You can download your copy here.

There is no 8086-based PC running in our apartment at the moment (check the link if in doubt). However DOSBox is available for Windows, Mac, Linux and even for OS/2! So I decided to give Word 5.5 for DOS a go. Follow these steps:

Phase 1

• Open Command Line in Windows
• Create a folder
• Download and extract Word for DOS
• Wd55_ben.exe a self-extracting package

Phase 2

• Download and install DOSBox
• In DOSBox mount your newly created folder with the following command:
• mount D c:\your_folder_name_here
• Move to your folder, find setup.exe and install Word 5.5 for DOS
• type in the following commands:
• D: and enter
• DIR and enter

Phase 3

• Move to folder where Word is installed
• It's a sub folder of your original folder
• Find WORD.EXE and execute it

Characters with dots (åäö) are available,

needed in Finland...

You can save files as RTF

Word 2016 Preview is able to open RTF created in Word 5.5

Raspbian updated - Ubuntu Mate available for Raspi2

An updated version of Raspbian (2015-05-05) is here: https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/. This version runs on both Raspberry Pi 1 and 2.

In addition you can download Ubuntu Mate for Raspberry Pi 2 here: https://ubuntu-mate.org/raspberry-pi/ .

Get Microsoft Office 2016 Preview - see screenshots here!

Microsoft Office 2016 Preview is now publicly available. There are 32- and 64-bit versions to choose from. You can run Windows 2016 on Windows 7 or later.

• Windows users start here: https://products.office.com/en-us/office-2016-preview
• Looking for Mac version of Office 2016 Preview? There is one! See my earlier blogpost: http://sakarinkurssit.blogspot.fi/2015/03/microsoft-office-2016-preview-for-mac.html . 

Word 2016 Preview

Excel 2016 Preview

PowerPoint 2016 Preview

20 years ago Netscape-browser opened my eyes

In the beginning of the 90's PC really was personal - just me and my computer. There was no connection to anywhere. No networks. However I didn't miss them (because I didn't know what they were offering).

It all changed in 1994 when I received my first email address. How nice! I was really excited! But there was no-one I could send email. Not that many people had PC at that time. I think the service was called Freenet (some memories here in Finnish) which was used via Telnet (?)...

Email was nice but the mind-blowing thing was... the web! Suddenly the whole world was in front of you. Well, back then there were less information (and rubbish) on the net. I remember when I had a chance to enter two Internet-connected PC's at the same time; one 386 and one 486. Web pages loaded so slowly I could read the whole page in front of one PC. Next, I turned to the other PC continued reading. I just had to make sure one of the PC's was loading a new page all the time.

I missed Mosaic-browser. Netscape was the king of the hill at that time - before the browser-war started against Microsoft IE. There were ~ 10 HTML-tags and with those you could write your own web page. For example background colour was not there until Netscape 1.0... if I recall.

After 20 years not that much has changed if you look at the Netscape layout below. If you'd like to give those old browsers a go (at your own risk!) you can find them here:

• http://sdfox7.com/netscape/win32.htm (32-bit)

and

• http://sdfox7.com/netscape/win16.htm (16-bit)

Screenshot license and owner: CC By 2.0 Nicolas Nova

Speccy - a Sinclair ZX Spectrum emulator for Android

Back in the eigties there were many home computers to choose from. One of my favourites was sir Clive Sinclair's ZX Spectrum which I bought in England and brought to Finland. My Spectrum only had 16 K memory while the "bigger brother" had 48 K.

Time went on. In the end of 80's PCs came around (prices dropped) and in 1992 I bought my first own 486 PC (ie Intel 486-generation processor). Not many years passed and Netscape www-browser showed up.

However I never forgot those Spectrum-times. Off I went and found Speccy - ZX Spectrum emulator which is available at Google Plat Store. It's amazing what you can do with your mobile device nowadays. So if you'd like go back in time then try Speccy on Android. Of course emulator doesn't have the same feeling compared to the original hardware. However it's easy to take Spectrum with you. Just make sure you have your phone with you!

IMO there is one big problem. Where can I download games? I'm not sure if it's legal to download games for Spectrum via torrent network. This is something which has to be solved. Before that, look at the pictures below and take your memories back to the eighties; no Internet, no mobile...

Emulator at Google Play Store

Emulator on Samsung Galaxy S4