Hardinfo tells what your Linux-box has eaten

Hardinfo is a handy tool which inspects your hardware and reports both in graphical and command line mode.

Install Hardinfo in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS:

• sudo apt-get install hardinfo

Run Hardinfo:

• hardinfo &

If no graphical user interface is available you can run Hardinfo from command line:

• hardinfo -r -f html > report.html

Report can be seen for example via text-only www-browser Lynx which you can install by typing:

• sudo apt-get install lynx

Open Lynx:

• lynx

Letter g stands for Go. So choose g, type in report.html and push enter:

• g

There you have it!

Hardinfo graphical user interface

Hardinfo report opened in Lynx-browser

How to install Ino - a command line Linux toolkit for working with Arduino hardware

Ino - an old PC with one USB 1.1 port is enough for your Arduino!
Ino is a command line toolkit for working with Arduino hardware. You can install it on Linux and use CLI (Command Line Interface) to compile and transmit code over to your Arduino hardware. Text editor is up to you. There are many editors to choose from; vi, vim, pico, nano etc.

Setup
First off, install python pip package manager. I'm using Ubuntu Linux 14.0.4 LTS:

• sudo apt-get install python-pip

After that, go on with Ino install:

• sudo pip install ino

I suggest you install the command tree which is needed later (if you decide to read quickstart):

• sudo apt-get install tree

Finally, check out if Ino is there:

• which ino

How to go on? Click the following link: http://inotool.org/quickstart 

Old school mounting of a USB stick in Debian

Picture this:

• an old Pentium PC, strong enough to run the latest Debian 8
• no GUI (Graphical User Interface)
• no automount of a USB stick

Let's try the "old school". Use the following commands:

• grep "SCSI removable disk" /var/log/messages
• can you find [sda] or [sdb]? I got [sdb].
• mkdir  ~/myflashdrive
• i.e. create a folder in your home directory
• su
• mount -t vfat -o rw,users /dev/sdb1  ~/myflashdrive
• exit

Now you can enter ~/myflashdrive. cd to the directory you created earlier.

When not needing the stick anymore move away from the folder ~/myflashdrive

• cd ~

Unmount your USB stick:

• su
• umount ~/myflashdrive

Formatting a floppy (360 KB) in an ancient PC

Watch out! You are about to read how to format an ancient floppy disk. Make a U-turn now or go on reading. You have been warned ;D !

I need an operating system for my old PCs. There are many of them up in my fathers attic waiting for a restart!

First thing to do was to get those floppies. How lucky I was when a gentle person donated me a box with 10 unused BASF floppies inside! Yippee!

Next those floppies needed some formatting. Again, Mr. Fortuna appeared making my task easy. An old 286 PC, which I own, already had MS-DOS 6 inside! All I needed to do was to start formatting. Off I went and typed in the following command: format a: /F:360. That's it!

Now I have the floppies ready for the next round. There is a free version of DOS available. And the name is... FreeDOS! What's best, ready made floppy images can be downloaded here: http://jorisvr.nl/freedos.html . I guess an application called rawrite can do the trick and write those images on floppies. Not 100 % sure though.

You do remember those days of DOS, don't you! Hmm, some 30 years ago. I couldn't afford a PC back then, though. However there was Commodore 64 with an external floppy drive which was familiar for me. So stay tuned for more (vintage) information and keep on reading my blog.

PS One of my friends hinted me my 5,25" drive in 286 PC is 1.2 MB compatible. So when formatting floppies in 360 KB size the resulted floppies might be incompatible or at not that good. We'll see...

Place Linux inside Dropbox and run it from there

You can easily run CLI (Command Line) driven (i.e. no graphical Interface) Linux which is placed in Dropbox. No matter whether you are using Windows, OS X or Linux. So, let's get started.

• First off, get yourself Dropbox account. After that install Dropbox on your Desktop. You can find install packages on Dropbox site.
• Download a small Linux distribution called Levinux. Zip-package is about 20 MB in size.
• Extract Levinux and place it in Dropbox.
• Now, depending on which operating system you are using you can start your Levinux. How?
• If using Linux like me, open terminal, change to the directory where Levinux is and type in the following command: ./LinuxLevinux.sh. After that Levinux fires up.
• In case you have Windows all you nned to do is double-click a file WindowsLevinux.vbs. (I haven't tested that though!)
• OS X? I suggest you look at the video on YouTube. Running Levinux on OS X should be pretty straight forward. I have no access to that operating system at the moment.

Let Levinux boot. Choose number two (look at the screen capture below).

• Login: tc
• Password: foo

From now on you can start to study Linux commands. There are plenty of them. Find your favourite Linux guide on the Internet. It's never too late to migrate to Linux!

But wait! There is more! Levinux is also a small web server. You can place your HTML-pages inside a folder called htdocs and use your favourite web browser to preview them. How? SSH Levinux and transfer desired files to folder htdocs. Yes, i can understand that. But how do I do it? I'll tell you later. Stay tuned for more!

DVB-T stick on Linux still rocks!

Many national TV stations in Finland are available both via internet and DVB-T networks. Every now and then IP network of my Internet operator is down for, God knows, what reason. In those cases DVB-T stick makes my day.

When choosing a DVB-T stick for Linux, pay attention to the name of the manufacturer and the model of the stick. Google around before you buy anything. Try to find information which hints whether your stick works on Linux "out-of-the-box". What does that mean? Some sticks are so well supported Linux already includes the driver needed. That way the stick is automatically recognized. Attach the stick, open terminal and on command line type in the following command:

dmesg

In the end of the messages generated by dmesg you'll find if Linux sees your DVB-T stick. If you look at the photos below you see see two very well supported DVB-T sticks. Many Linux distributions support them. There is another useful command:

lsusb

The command above lists all USB devices of your PC. If lsusb tells you DVB-T stick is there chances are you'll be watching TV in no time!

There are many DVB-T clients to choose from. One of the easiest IMO is Kaffeine which finds the channels and shows subtitles (in Finland). Not all apps do the same! Setup Kaffeine in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS:

sudo apt-get install kaffeine

It took some time for me to figure out how to make Kaffeine look for TV channels. Once it was done I had reached my goal. I can enjoy TV series and don't need to worry if internet is down.

What if you are living in an area which has a cable TV connections only? No problem. Find a DVB-C or hybrid stick (DVB-T + DVB-C). They might cost a little more than DVB-T sticks. Try dmesg and lsusb commands the same way as with DVB-T sticks.

Anysee E30 and Cinergy Terratec T2

are supported out-of-the-box on Ubuntu Linux

Indoor antenna

No extra power supply needed - USB2 is enough

Kaffeine finds channels and shows

subtitles in Finnish

RemixOSforPC - run windowed Android on an x86 PC

Are you fancing how Android and Chromium OS combined will look like? No need to do that anymore! Download RemixOSforPC, write the ISO-image on at least 8 GB USB 3 stick and boot your PC. As a result a windowed Android will show up on your screen. If nothing happens, don't get bothered, you are using alpha software!

My Dell Latitude E6420 did it's duty quite well. With USB 2 only it took some time before the Desktop was there. After that everything worked nicely. Bear in mind only limited set of software was available. No Play store as default (available via XDA). No download links for extra software. Not all hardware is supported. Besides, no setup on hard disk at the moment, USB stick only.

RemixOSforPC has very little to do with Google. It's a Chinese project as far as I know. If you are feeling brave, give RemixOSforPC a go!

KEEP IN MIND YOU ARE USING THIS SOFTWARE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Dell Latitude E6420 running RemixOSforPC Alpha

Download your favourite flavour of Ubuntu for Raspberry Pi 2 - torrent only

If you are looking for an operating system for your Raspberry Pi 2 take a look at Ubuntu Pi Flavour Maker. There are five different Ubuntu-based community driven distributions to choose from. Click your favourite flavour of Ubuntu below and save the torrent file on your hard disk:

• Ubuntu Server Minimal 15.10.1
• Ubuntu Server Standard 15.10.1
• Lubuntu 15.10.1
• Xubuntu 15.10.1
• Ubuntu MATE 15.10.1

Next you need to download the install image via torrent network. Install Transmission (on Ubuntu):

sudo apt-get install transmission

Fire up Transmission, click open and choose torrent file. Your xz-compressed image starts to download.

To prepare a bootable USB stick use your favourite graphical app or command line (see those three lines below):

sudo apt-get install gddrescue
unxz ubuntu-minimal-15.10.1-server-armhf-raspberry-pi-2.img.xz
sudo ddrescue -d -D --force ubuntu-minimal-15.10.1-server-armhf-raspberry-pi-2.img /dev/sdx

(Do not write sdx but the real address of your SD-card; sda, sdb etc.)

On Windows, use 7-zip and  Win32DiskImager.

Year 2016 - when SBCs got tinier and more powerful

Everyone sees the future from one's own angle. For me year 2016 will show how tiny and powerful Single Board Computers can get! There is an example which shows the way to other rivals - Raspberry Pi Zero.

Although not the fastest Zero proved how quickly things are going forward. Only four years ago Raspi was first introduced. Now, Zero is one third of the size of the original Raspi. They both offer the same hardware specs. Looking forward to see some very nice surprises during the year 2016!

Original Raspberry Pi b

Other people's blogs really are invaluable - got my CuBox Pro up and running!

It has happened so many times other people have saved me and my time! Let me tell what happened this afternoon.

I had received two old CuBoxes (first introduced 2011). There were several ready-made images available on the Internet. I downloaded some of them and burned them on SD cards. None of them worked. Were both CuBoxes broken?

Off I went and found Michael's web page at: https://jeltsch.org/CuBox . Suddenly, all my problems went away. Solved! By others! Certainly not by me!

Michael had written how to get CuBox up and running! In addition there was an image available at his site! Perfect! I had downloaded wrong images which were meant for another model of CuBox. The manufacturers web site was not that informative anymore. I guess that's because of the old model of CuBox I had.

This goes to show not all contents of the net is crap. Without the instructions from Michael... I'd really had been, eh, pissed off!

XFCE4 Desktop on Ubuntu 14.04 LTS

4 years uptime ahead with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS!

CuBoxes and 1 euro coin side by side

Nokia will start phone business the first of January 2016

Microsoft purchased Nokia Lumia phones some time ago. Thank God Nokia got rid of those not-so-well-working Lumias. The deal between Microsoft and Nokia is coming to end. Nokia is allowed to start phone business of their own again January 1st 2016. It's time for Nokia look forward and take their share of the global phone business.

It won't ever be the same as it used to be. No phone factories in Finland, no new jobs. Nokia will be manufacturing their new phones in far east i.e. China, South Korea. That is disappointing. However, there are others making it big for example in Europe. Take a look at Raspberry Pi. Those tiny well-selling computers are made in Wales (I guess?). Raspies are inexpensive and popular. They are selling very well. This goes to show it's possible to succeed even though manufacturing is European. Adafruit Industries is another example. An enterprise situated in Manhattan, New York, USA is selling electronics which the experts said was not possible because of the Chinese domination.

Nokia will probably choose Android as their platform for mobile phones. Android is free (of charge), widely supported and very popular around the world. But will Nokia succeed with their new phones? There are, as we all know, so many other brands out there. I guess Nokia will face some hard times when trying to access the global phone market again. It won't be easy. My hint is: Nokia, why not introduce 360 camera embedded in your Android phone? That way you'll beat others in no time.

KingRoot lets you root Nexus 4 (and many other phones) in no time

There are situations when you need to root* your phone in order to install for example MultiROM Manager etc. These are the steps I took with my Nexus 4:

• In Settings/About tap Build Number seven times to enable Developer mode.
• Allow Debugging in Developer settings.
• Allow External Sources in Security settings.
• Download KingRoot root tool apk-package from http://www.kingroot.net/ .
• Install KingRoot apk, fire up KingRoot, follow on-screen instructions to root your phone.
• Your phone is rooted!

*rooting according to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooting_(Android_OS)

WARNING! YOU ARE ROOTING YOUR PHONE/TABLET AT YOUR OWN RISK!

Microsoft opens an app store called "Microsoft Apps" inside Google Play store

Microsoft has opened an app store called "Microsoft Apps" inside Google Play store. This way - Microsoft seems to think - it's easier for Android users to find apps made for Android by Microsoft. All apps are in one place, not here and there in Play store.

Android users might not be that interested in Microsoft apps since there are many alternative apps to choose from. However derived Android ROMs with no access to Play store would benefit from Microsoft apps if that option was available. It remains to be seen if Microsoft will launch a store outside Google Play store.

How to test OwnCloud in your wifi network

Want to test cloud of your own in your wifi network? It's easier than ever! Take the following steps:

• Download Collabora CODE OwnCloud which is unsupported, Development version of Collabora CloudSuite‘s commercial on-line component:
• https://collaboraoffice.com/CODE-VM/codevm.x86_64-0.9.1.vmdk.bz2
• Unzip the ready made VirtualBox image (VMware might work as well? Not sure though)
• Start Virtualbox and import vmdk-file
• Make sure you choose Bridged Adapter in VirtualBox to make OwnCloud visible in your wifi network
• Run the imported vmdk in Virtualbox
• Login: root Password: skew25.kiwis
• When logging in, the address of your OwnCloud server is echoed on screen - Try the address in your mobile/web browser!
• Mine is http://192.168.0.38/owncloud/
• OwnCloud asks you to login
• Login: admin, Password: admin

Choose Bridged Adapter

Browse files with your phone

Raspberry Pi Zero likes OTG USB and miniHDMI to HDMI cables

A new raspberry Pi is out! The latest Raspi is tiny yet powerful enough to run Desktop Linux (= Raspbian). 1 GHz ARM processor and 512 MB RAM memory for only 5 American dollars!

If you happen to own an older Raspi then you know which cables are needed. Zero has different interfaces so you'd better start to dig your shelves! Those old ones won't fit! Find at least these two cables:

1. If you are going to connect Zero with a monitor you need a miniHDMI to HDMI cable. They are not expensive. You can find them easily on the Internet. However Nokia once used miniHDMI to HDMI in their smart phone era (hoping Nokia will strike back soon!). Visit your local flea market!
2. OTG (On The Go) USB cable (microUSB to female USB-A) let's you to use USB hub. I'd suggest USB 2.0 hub with own power (to keep Zero alive!). OTGs are also very common and found everywhere. You might even have one at home? I got one when I bought Windows laptop which also works as a tablet.

Networking is not an issue. If you own a wifi dongle which works in an older Raspi then off you go and attach dongle to your USB hub.

Sorry, still no photo as I don't own a Raspberry Pi Zero just yet!

Raspbian Jessie Lite - the official headless Linux for Raspberry Pi

If you need a quick, tiny and headless Linux for Raspberry Pi try Raspbian Jessie Lite. No graphical user interface, command line only. In addition Lite in an official distribution supported by Raspberry Pi foundation.

Links:

• https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/
• https://downloads.raspberrypi.org/raspbian_lite_latest

An older Raspberry Pi and Lite - perfect match!

Downgrading Nexus 7 Wifi (2012) tablet from Android 5.x to 4.4

Downgrading Nexus tablet from Android 5.x to 4.4 couldn't be easier.

• Download pre-made image from Google; https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images
• Extract the image
• Keep down Power+VolDown to enter recovery mode
• Attach tablet to your PC via USB
• Make sure you have adb-tools -package installed in Linux
• Become a superuser; sudo su and cd to Android 4.4 directory
• type in the following command, ./flash-all.sh

That's it!

I hope from now on my "old" Nexus 7 Wifi (2012) is quicker and more responsive. Android 5.x was a bit too much.

Android 5 was too heavy

Replace K-plussa bonus card with an app (beta for Android)

If you live in Finland you must have seen those K-plussa bonus cards. You have to carry card in your wallet and show it (via NFC technology) when buying something.

Yesterday I decided to download beta version of K-plussa card app for Android. Take a look. It's in the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.plussa.plussacard

Off I went and tried newly installed app. I placed my phone side by side with NFC-based device in the nearest K-market. And indeed I got my bonus. If your phone doesn't do anything move phone a little bit so that NFC circuit (of your phone) is in the right position.

I guess the only downside is K-plussa card app is always there in the background of the memory of your phone. And NFC is also always on draining your battery (?).

I'm happy with K-plussa card app. One plastic card less in my wallet!

Raspberry Pi Zero is out!

A new Raspberry Pi Zero has been introduced. It's three times smaller than Raspi 2. When looking at the performance Zero has 1 GHz one core ARM processor and 512 MB RAM memory.

At the moment I have no idea how much Zero is going to cost. They are saying it's very inexpensive costing only 5 $ (excluding taxes?). However when Zero is shipped to Finland where I live the price will be... wild guess is 20-30 €?

No photo available, sorry!

Retro! vol 2

IBM XT booted! Two floppies (?) with IBM DOS 3.3 inside. Still have to find out if my PC has a hard disk inside. I've found floppy drives A: and B: . Forgot to try C: . Keyboard has those åäö-hats which are important for people like me living in Finland.

In the next issue: applications, floppies, which DOS runs on PC with 512 KB RAM?