Sitecom WL-113 wifi dongle from year 2004 still going strong

Local flea market always has something interesting to offer. This time I picked up an old wifi dongle from Sitecom.

The crucial thing is which chip dongle is using. Sitecom has Zydas's chip inside. Good! For example Debian and Ubuntu support is there. See this: https://wiki.debian.org/zd1211rw. How do you find out if dongle is recognized on Linux? Open your favourite terminal app on Linux and type "dmesg" (without quotation marks).

Next I need to test Sitecom wifi dongle on Raspberry Pi 1 and 2. I'm pretty sure Raspi 2 is able to handle Sitecom dongle. Raspi 1 is a question mark. Will there be enough power for the dongle in Raspi itself or do I need to attach a USB 2 hub with external power?

Poor man's Desktop on Android - mouse and keyboard support via OTG-cable

Poor man's Desktop: Samsung Galaxy S4, an OTG-cable (On The Go), a passive USB-hub, a mouse and a keyboard.

Make sure all devices consume as little power as possible. Keep in mind not all Android devices accept peripherals. Edit: maybe an active hub with own external power is not a bad idea...

From now on it's possible for me to write text and use for example Microsoft Office almost the same way as on a normal Windows/Linux Desktop. Well, almost...

Samsung Galaxy S4 with mouse and keyboard support

Make sure all devices consume as little power as possible

Ubuntu 15.10 beta 2 available - 16.04 will bring us Mir

Ubuntu updates in every April and October. You can download beta 2 of Ubuntu 15.10 here: http://releases.ubuntu.com/15.10/ .

Next spring will be very exiting as we'll see a very different Ubuntu 16.04. Canonical ltd is going to offer Ubuntu with Mir, a next generation display server.  Until then I will stick to 14.04 LTS.

Firefox browser in mobile mode

(Control+Shift+M) on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS

Google Hangout Air - how to setup a public live session

I had already forgotten. That's why this blog post exists ;D. So let's see how to setup a public live video session which can later be seen via YouTube.

First off, go and get Gmail account. Secondly, make a Google search with the following words: google plus. Once you find Google Plus login using your Gmail account.

Inside Google Plus look for a "little cabin" icon up left. See picture below (in Finnish only, sorry).

Choose Hangouts.

Choose Hangouts On Air and Create Hangout On Air.

Name your session and choose Share.

Choose Start.

You can invite friends by typing in their email addresses. However, this time the whole world is your friend so there no need to do that and you can pass by this option.

Wait until all gets set!

You can start broadcasting live now!

In case you are absolutely sure, choose OK. You have 8 hours live time to spend! 

You can find the address of your Live session by clicking the the Link-symbol in the down-right corner.

When you are done, choose red button to close your live session.

Afterwards, look for your live session on YouTube. It takes a while before your video shows up. How did I find my sessions? I have a YouTube channel. All my clips are stored there.

Join Apple event with Windows 10's new Edge browser

Apple September event is held today. Not only iOS or OS X users may join but Windows 10 users as well. All you need to is open the following link with Microsoft's new Edge browser (on Wednesday at 10 AM PDT 2015/09/09): http://www.apple.com/apple-events/september-2015/ .

Windows 10 on Acer W510

Paying with Bitcoin in K-market Mansku (Helsinki, Finland)

Hey Lidl, beat this!

In Helsinki, Finland there are not too many stores which accept Bitcoin. However, according to bitcoin map service from Bittiraha.fi three groceries (K-market Mansku, K-market Pietari and K-market Jätkäsaari) all handle Bitcoin. This was something I wanted to try!

Getting ready

Off I went and reactivated my bitcoin wallet which has been lying on the Internet for ages with no use at all. Ok, password was not forgotten. What a good start!

My bitcoin wallet

After re-opening my wallet I realized there was hardly any money left. There are many places in Helsinki where you can exchange euros to bitcoins. One of them is in Levykauppa äx. It's a record store in Asematunneli near railway station and subway. I've been there once and exchanged 5 euros to bitcoins. There are instructions available and the stuff of the store helps if needed. Just make sure you have some euros and bitcoin wallet with you and you remember the password of your wallet.

Levykauppa äx (Record store X), Asematunneli, Helsinki

Exchanging euros to bitcoins

in Levykauppa äx

Paying in K-market Mansku with bitcoin

I was ready to enter the grocery K-market Mansku. Since I wanted to give the cashier and myself some time to figure out how to pay with Bitcoin I chose the early morning hours with less people in the store. 

K-market Mansku is not that far away from my home

Paying with Bitcoin was easy. Cashier had a tablet with a QR-code. All I needed to do was to scan the code using my wallet and tap Send. Watch the video below. It explains (in Finnish) what happened during the transaction.

Paying with Bitcoin really is easy!

Pano2VR - converting a panorama pic into Google Cardboard VR

In short, it's possible to convert a panorama pic taken with Google Camera app into virtual reality (VR360) which is compatible with Google Cardboard. Here's how you do it:

EDIT 2015/09/06): YOU ONLY NEED TO TAKE PANORAMA OR SPHERE PICS WITH GOOGLE CAMERA APP! NO NEED TO CONVERT WITH PANO2VR ANYMORE! 

• If you happen to own an Android based mobile phone then download Google Camera app. It's available in Google Play store and it's free. In Nexus-phone Google Camera might already be there.
• Find a place where it's possible to turn around 360 degrees and you want shoot your panorama pic. I chose the option "Panorama" but I guess "Photo Sphere" is also possible (which I haven't tested it yet!).
• Taking panorama pics is easy when you know how to do it ;D. 
• Move your phone slowly from one "ball" to another. Those "balls" appear on the screen of your mobile phone.
• When done a panorama pic is generated and saved.
• Copy your newly made panorama pic from your phone to your computer. My pic was ~ 5 MB.
• Download and install an app called PANO2VR. It's available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. In addition it's free for testing. I chose the latest beta version.
• Tap Input and find your panorama pic. Then choose Convert Input.
• Choose TIFF as output (=Format) and "Convert".
• The resulted files are big. My TIFF was ~ 450 MB.
• Install Cardboard app from Google Play store to your mobile phone. 
• Copy TIFF to your Android phone.
• Find a folder called "Cardboard".
• That's the place for the TIFFs,
• Make sure you don't run out of free space in your phone! Delete TIFFs you don't need anymore!
• In Cardboard app choose "Cardboard Demos" and then "Photosphere". Your TIFF should show up.
• Place your phone inside the cardboard glasses and enjoy.

Look for Panorama in your

Google Camera app.

Open your panorama pic in PANO2VR (Input)

and then start to convert your pic (Convert input).

Choose TIFF and Convert.

Choose Cardboard Demos.

Choose Photo Sphere.

Enjoy!

Delete Windows 10 setup files - save disk space

In case you upgraded from Windows 7/8.1 to Windows 10 then there are extra files on your hard disk only wasting your hard disk space. Look for Disk Cleanup utility to delete files unneeded.

If you are sure you are NOT going back and are NEVER going to downgrade to Windows 7/8.1 then it's possible to save even more. Windows 7/8.1 recovery files are there on hard disk waiting to be deleted. Before doing anything, have some coffee and think about it. There is no coming back! Remember you delete your files at your own risk!

My Acer W4-820 only has 32 GB eMMC memory (i.e. my hard disk is 32 GB). I was able to free 7 GB of memory for other apps or files. Acer hard disk use came down from approx 25 GB to 18 GB. That's not too bad. On the other hand I can't downgrade to Windows 8.1 anymore. However, that doesn't matter. I'm pleased with Windows 10 on Acer W4-820.

Disable Windows 10 tracking - download a handy tool

Windows 10 has a feature called "Telemetry" which collects all sorts of user activity and sends it to Microsoft. And it's on by default! In addition there is a bunch of other tools which do similar tasks inside your shiny new operating system.

What can you do? A handy tool has been developed to disable all the tracking! All you need to do is download an .EXE and run it (as administrator!). You can either disable or even delete services which do tracking. Look at an animated GIF below.

Warning! You run EXE-file at your own risk!

Links:

• https://github.com/10se1ucgo/DisableWinTracking
• https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/3fn46j/i_made_my_own_userfriendly_windows_10_privacy/
• http://muropaketti.com/reddit-kayttajalta-yksinkertainen-tyokalu-windows-10n-seurantatoimintojen-poistoon (in Finnish)

Windows 10 updates via Microsoft P2P as default - disable it!

Windows 10 has arrived! You can write boot stick of your own or force your PC to begin to install Windows 10. After setup Microsoft offers mobile versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint - for free! But are there free lunches?

Did you know your Internet access is used by Microsoft. Your Windows 10 -based PC acts as a peer and sends update packages to other Windows 10 users in the neighbourhood. Windows 10 PCs create sort of global P2P network.

Only two months ago I upgraded my Internet connection at home from 10 Mbit/s to 100 Mbit/s. We are three people living under the same roof and we needed some extra speed because of all the video streams (for example YouTube).

My concern is P2P feature inside Windows 10. I don't want to hear that moaning from my daughter saying the Internet is stuck! So let's turn P2P off! It goes like this:

1. Find Windows Update in your Windows 10.
2. You should now see Advanced options.
3. Then click Choose how updates are delivered.
4. Disable Updated from more than one place.

PS Concider turning P2P back on for a while when a quick fix is published by  Microsoft.

Touch enabled mobile versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint available for Windows 10 in Store for free

In case you upgraded to Windows10 and happen to own a tablet or laptop with touch screen you can download Word, Excel and PowerPoint mobile versions in Store for free. All you need is Microsoft Account to make apps save files to Microsoft OneDrive.

So browse your new and shiny Windows 10 and enter Store-app. Type search word "mobile" (without citations) and install three essential and free of charge apps on your Windows 10.

Use search word "mobile"

Word Mobile

How did GRUB survive Windows 10 upgrade?

My Dell Latitude E6420 has two operating systems side by side. First there was Windows 7. Then came Ubuntu Linux. They both have been living in perfect harmony for many years.

Windows 10 came available this week. Off I went and upgraded (did not do a fresh install!) Windows 7 to the latest operating system from Microsoft. During the installation I thought GRUB would not be there anymore. That didn't happen. When PC booted again, GRUB was the first one to greet me.

Keep in mind my PC has so called "old school" BIOS (not UEFI). Dual-boot still works and I'm grateful for that. For example installing Linux-based mobile operating systems on my Nexus phone is IMHO so much easier via Linux. That's why dual-boot is so important for me.

Upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10

Dell Latitude E6420 upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10

Windows 10 came available earlier today (on July 29th). I wanted to see if it was possible to upgrade from Windows 7 to the latest from Microsoft - Windows 10.

The first thing to do was to force Windows 7 to download and start install of Windows 10. Read my blog to see how the trick is done.

The rest was not in my hands. Windows 10 setup program took over. There was nothing one could do but pray. It took longer than normally since there were many applications, files and folders in my Windows 7. In addition I had four accounts. Setup went on smoothly. Finally, Windows 10 was there.

Below you can see my Desktop before and after. Not very surprising? Yes, I guess it's not. However the gotcha was to find out whether Windows 10 would install on top of Windows 7 or not. Well, there you have it. I must admit I hate the idea of registry which is in poor condition. And that's what worries me now. If my Dell doesn't work as quick as it did when Windows 7 was there then I have to make a fresh install of Windows 10.

Before

After

Write Windows 10 on USB stick the official way

Microsoft is offering a tool which downloads and writes Windows 10 on USB stick. here is how:

• Point your browser here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
• Download the tool and run it as administrator.
• Follow the instructions on screen. You may choose between 32- and 64-bit versions of Windows 10. or you can pick up both of them. There are also different Windows versions available (Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro etc.).

WARNING! BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR WINDOWS 10 USB STICK! 

READ OTHER SOURCES HOW TO MAKE WINDOWS 10 SETUP ACCEPT YOUR WINDOWS 7/8.1 PRODUCT KEY!

Force your PC to download and install Windows 10

If feeling impatient force your PC to download and install Windows 10. Here is how:

• Make sure you are receiving updates automatically.
• Delete all files and folders under folder C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
• Open Command Prompt (cmd.exe) and run as administrator: wuauclt.exe /updatenow
• Download starts and leads to Windows 10 install. Be sure to back up your PC beforehand!

Remember that you are upgrading at your own risk!

Acer W4-820 upgraded from

Windows 8.1 to Windows 10

Migrating from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 went well

As soon as Windows 10 came available I forced my Acer W4-820 -tablet to download and install Windows 10 on top of Windows 8.1. You can read how anyone can make PC fetch the files needed and boot up the latest operating system from Microsoft.

What I wanted to see was the migration from one Windows to another. It was never before advised to install new operating system on top of another. Well, install went just fine and took about 45 minutes. Afterwards Windows 10 downloaded drivers and as fas as I know special software for tablet use. How do I know? Icons got bigger. Now it's easier to tap them.

So far Acer W4-820 has behaved ok (about 1-2 hours ;D). It's up to Microsoft from now on. What I've heard is Microsoft will force all of us to receive updates for Windows 10. Let's hope all those updates work well!

Näin pakotat tietokoneesi lataamaan Windows 10:n ja aloittamaan asennuksen

Windows 10 on julkaistu. Mikäli haluat ladata sen heti ja asentaa vanhemman Windows päälle (Windows 7 tai 8.1), toimi seuraavasti:

• Varmista, että käytät virallista versiota Windowsista (ei siis mitään piraatteja).
• Tyhjennä kansio C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download
• Aja seuraava komento komentokehotteessa pääkäyttäjänä: wuauclt.exe /updatenow
• Windows 10:n latauksen pitäisi alkaa ja kansio C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution\Download täyttyä. Kannattaa siirtyä tarkkailemaan Ojauspaneelin Windows Update -sovellusta. Asennus alkaa latauksen jälkeen.

Acer W4-820 -tabletti siirtymässä

Windows 8.1:stä Windows 10 -versioon.

Näin teet virallisen Windows 10 -asennustikun

Windows 10 on julkaistu. Mikäli tarvitset asennustikkua, toimi seuraavasti:

• Siirry osoitteeseen https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 .
• Lataa työkalu, jonka avulla voi luoda Windows 10:n sisältävän asennusmuistitikun.
• Varaa riittävän iso tikku. Minun tapauksessani päätin sisällyttää molemmat eli 32- ja 64-bittiset Windows 10:t tikulle ja tarvitsin tilaa 6 Gt. HUOM! Etsi tuoteavain (= product key) ennenkuin aloitat Windows 10:n asennuksen.

VAROITUS: LUE ENSIN MUISTA LÄHTEISTÄ, MITEN SÄILYTÄT VANHAN WINDOWS 7/8.1:N TUOTEAVAIMEN NIIN, ETTÄ SAAT AKTIVOITUA WINDOWS 10:N. TÄSTÄ LINKISTÄ LISÄÄ TIETOA!

ÄLÄ SIIS VÄLITTÖMÄSTI TYHJENNÄ KIINTOLEVYÄ VAAN SYÖ PURKKA JA JUO KUPPI KAHVIA!

ENNENKAIKKEA ÄLÄ TEE KOKEITA NK. TUOTANTOKONEELLASI ELI SILLÄ, JOLLA PITÄÄ PÄÄSTÄ ESIM. PANKKIIN.

Lataa työkalu ja asenna se

• Työkalun käyttö on suoraviivaista. Seuraa ao. kuvia:

Three PCs waiting for Windows 10 upgrade

At the moment there are three PCs at home waiting for Windows 10 upgrade. They are all in different situations:

• Acer Iconia W510 (touch screen device) was once delivered with Windows 8. When Windows Insider Program started, I decided to let Windows 8/8.1 go and installed Windows 10 Preview on Acer. Ending up to pre-version 10240 Acer is now waiting for the final version of Windows 10. And of course after that Acer will continue to receive (infinite?) updates so the Insider-story goes on and on...
• Dell Latitude E6420 is running Windows 7. It has many accounts and a lot of applications installed. It will be interesting to see IF Windows 10 runs smoothly on top of Windows 7. It was never advised before to do it that way...
• Acer W4-820 is my Windows 8.1 -based tablet. I want to see two things: a) how Windows 10 installs on top of Windows 8.1 b) is Windows 10 made for touch screens or not (I guess it's not)?

So, Microsoft. Let loose! Gimme that operating system! I promise to wake up early in the morning (European time) to see if you have passed me the chance to install your new software.

Windows 10 on the way - image downloaded and system accepted by Microsoft

My Windows 7 is not that far away from a major upgrade - Windows 10. There are two things I've noticed so far:

• Encrypted ~ 2,5 GB image showed up (see picture below)!
• Microsoft says my Dell Latitude E6420 and all installed apps are compatible with Windows 10 (see picture below). In addition read my earlier blog post concerning reservation update.

All set! It's up to Microsoft to decide if I'm allowed to upgrade my Windows 7 to Windows 10 already tomorrow. Let's hope for the best!

install.esd is the name of the encrypted image

Microsoft remotely tested my PC and all the apps...