[Win7] Upgrade Error in Android SDK for Windows

Recently I got an error on trying to upgrade my Android SDK, claming that I would not be able to access an URL. I was looking around the Internet and got the information that I should first upgrade the Eclipse Plugin. OK!

Upgrading AVT:
1. In Eclipse go to Help
2. Install New Software ---> Add
3. inside Add Repository write the Name: ADT and Location: https://dl-ssl.google.com/android/eclipse/
4. after loading you should get Developer Tools and NDK Plugins
5. check both if you want to use the Native Developer Kit (NDK) in the future or check Developer Tool only
6. click Next
7. Finish and Restart Eclipse

Source: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14869929/update-android-sdk-tool-to-22-0-4latest-version-from-22-0-1

Ok, that got my Plugin to the latest version. But I still could not upgrade to the latest SDK. And thats when I found out that you need to start the SDK Manager as Administrator (right click, run as Administator) - and voilá: Upgrade successfully.

Source: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4771895/android-sdk-manager-not-installing-components

[Win7] Asus EEEPC 1015PN: Getting Optimus working (again) on Windows 7 Pro

Optimus is a really nice concept: Having installed an low-power Intel GMA3150 next to an "high-end" (compared to the Intel ;)) NVIDIA ION2 with 512 MB RAM (and CUDA!) is very nice - switching between both cards on the fly depending on the application - awesome. But getting it to work can be quite painful. I had to reinstall the drivers on my EEE PC and got it wrong. And now that it is working, I just want to write it down. Just in case, you never know ;)!

1.) Get Windows 7 Pro or better installed
2.) Get all the Updates on your system
3.) Install and start the GraphicsSwitch for Windows 7 from Asus for your EEEPC 1015PN
4.) Choose Optimus Mode and reboot your system.
5.) Install the Intel Driver. Latest and working version is the GMA3150 15.12.75.50.7.2230
You can download that here: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=19494&lang=eng&wapkw=gma+3150 After that, reboot!
6.) Install the Nvidia Driver. Latest and working version (for me) is the Verde 301.42 driver. You get that here: http://www.nvidia.com/download/driverResults.aspx/44972/en-us - Could be that a newer version does work to, but thats what I came up with after trying a lot of different versions. After installing, reboot.
7.) You should be done. Right-click on your Desktop, choose NVIDIA Systemsettings. In these settings you can enable two cool options from the "Desktop" menu:
a.) "Start with graphics processor to context menu" - with right click on an Application you can choose to start that program with your highend gpu
b.) "Show Actitivy Symbol in Infobar" - that does show you whenever the GPU is working on something. And if that symbol does not show up some boots later - well, that mostly says that some update broke your Optimus Setup.

But by now, I think you know how to get that up and running again! 🙂

elektor Live 2013

You can find my slides from the elektor Live 2013, Raspberry Pi 101 Workshop here: elektor_RPi_2013_Maas.pdf [ 6,1 MB ]

The handout or "cheat-sheet" can be downloaded here: elektor_RPi_2013_Maas_Cheat_Sheet.pdf [ 0,4 MB ]

... and finally, you find the Sourcecode of the Sample Projects here: elektor_RPi_2013_Maas_Sourcecode.zip [ 0,03 MB ]

Videorecording of the talk can be found here

[Google Music] Or: How do I get all my music online?

I appreciate art and I love music. And I just can't get enough of it: I really love to listen to my collection on "near all devices": On the Netbook while doing work at the University, on the Tablet while sitting on the couch or on my Phone - while running or commuting. That said, there is always the little and persistent problem of synchronizing data.

Google solved that problem by starting "Google Music": You can upload 20.000 Songs from your collection and listen to them - again and again - for free. Awesome!

But before you rush out and start getting your uplink glowing - let me share  two "words of advice":

1.) Clean your collection and tags. Yeah, you saw that comming and you hate it. Everyone does. But it is the only way to get fun out of your collection. Don't try to upload and correct that stuff later. It just won't work and will frustrate you. So do yourself a favor and work out that little errors and problems. Get in some cover pictures, too. MP3tag ( http://www.mp3tag.de/ ) was my tool of choice and works awesome. While using the latest WinAMP to convert Audiofiles from foreign Formats to MP3 - and to look for "a little too strange songs" via the Autotagger - you will get these files ordered in reasonable time.

2.) Your only way to upload your music to Google is by using the Music Manager Tool. It seems straight forward and easy - but it is kind of buggy. Look out for "not uploaded" files by checking files from your HDD against your Google Music Account. Music Manager tends to "overlook" files and can't be pushed to upload certain missing files by adding another folder with the same, missing files. The only thing that is working out is browising to C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Google\MusicManager and deleting the files there [Win 7 Path]. Especially the Database / db File. After restarting Music Manager, the tool will reindex your files and upload missing ones. If "Johnfail" wouldn't had found this Workaround, I would still be sitting ducks. Here is the original post: http://johnfail.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/more-google-music-upload-failure/

Thanks a lot :)!

Other than that - enjoy your music! 🙂

[RaspPi] Build Raspberry Pi Kernel 3.10 / NEXT for Debian Wheezy / Raspbian with eGalax Touchscreen Support on Ubuntu 12.04

This is about building the latest Kernel / 3.10 for RPi. Bleeding Edge.
# Preperations
sudo apt-get install git libncurses5 libncurses5-dev qt4-dev-tools qt4-qmake pkg-config build-essential gcc-arm-linux-gnueabi bc
# NEEDS BC!!!!

# Clone Stuff
mkdir rpi_kernel_10
cd rpi_kernel_10
git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/tools.git
git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/linux.git
cd ~/rpi_kernel_10/linux/.git
git branch -a
cd ~/rpi_kernel_10/linux
git checkout -t -b rpi-3.10.y remotes/origin/rpi-3.10.y
git pull
cd ~/rpi_kernel_10
git clone https://github.com/raspberrypi/firmware.git
cd ~/rpi_kernel_10/firmware/.git
git branch -a
cd ~/rpi_kernel_10/firmware
git checkout -t -b next remotes/origin/next
git pull
cd ~/rpi_kernel_10

# Make Kernel
cd linux
make mrproper
mkdir ../kernel
# Kernel Types
# find . -name *bcmrpi*config -print
# ./arch/arm/configs/bcmrpi_emergency_defconfig
# ./arch/arm/configs/bcmrpi_defconfig
# ./arch/arm/configs/bcmrpi_cutdown_defconfig
make O=../kernel/ ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=/usr/bin/arm-linux-gnueabi- bcmrpi_defconfig
make O=../kernel/ ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=/usr/bin/arm-linux-gnueabi- menuconfig #xconfig
#Device Drivers->Input Device Support->TouchScreens->USB Touchscreen Driver (Build it into or as module, check if eGalax here!)
make O=../kernel/ ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=/usr/bin/arm-linux-gnueabi- -k -j3
cd ../
cd tools/mkimage
./imagetool-uncompressed.py ../../kernel/arch/arm/boot/Image
cd ../../

# Make Modules
cd kernel
mkdir ../modules/
make modules_install ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=/usr/bin/arm-linux-gnueabi- INSTALL_MOD_PATH=../modules/
# Install Kernel on existing RPi SD Card / Raspbian
# mount sdcard in your Ubuntu (I made an folder sdb1 for boot partiton and sdb2 for the root partition)
cd ~
mkdir sdb1 sdb2
mount /dev/sdb1 sdb1
mount /dev/sdb2 sdb2

# boot partition
#replace /sdb1/boot/bootcode.bin with rpi_kernel_10/firmware/boot/bootcode.bin
sudo rm ~/sdb1/bootcode.bin
cp ~/rpi_kernel_10/firmware/boot/bootcode.bin ~/sdb1/
#replace /sdb1/boot/kernel.img with the previously created kernel image
sudo rm ~/sdb1/kernel.img
cp ~/rpi_kernel_10/tools/mkimage/kernel.img ~/sdb1/
#replace /sdb1/boot/start.elf with rpi_kernel_10/firmware/boot/start.elf
sudo rm ~/sdb1/start.elf
cp ~/rpi_kernel_10/firmware/boot/start.elf ~/sdb1/

# root partition
#replace /sdb2/lib/firmware with <modules_builded_above_folder>/lib/firmware
sudo rm -rf ~/sdb2/lib/firmware/
sudo cp -a ~/rpi_kernel_10/modules/lib/firmware/ ~/sdb2/lib/
#replace /sdb2/lib/modules with <modules_builded_above_folder>/lib/modules
sudo rm -rf ~/sdb2/lib/modules/
sudo cp -a ~/rpi_kernel_10/modules/lib/modules/ ~/sdb2/lib/
#replace /sdb2/opt/vc with firmware-next/hardfp/opt/vc/
sudo rm -rf ~/sdb2/opt/vc
sudo cp -a ~/rpi_kernel_10/firmware/hardfp/opt/vc/ ~/sdb2/opt/

# sync usb mount
sync

# Unmount sdcard
cd ~
umount sdb1
umount sdb2
# Boot Pi and calibrate Touchscreen
# This stuff happens on the Pi!
# Preperations
sudo apt-get install libx11-dev libxext-dev libxi-dev x11proto-input-dev

# Install Tool / xinput_calibrator
cd ~
wget http://github.com/downloads/tias/xinput_calibrator/xinput_calibrator-0.7.5.tar.gz
tar -xvzf xinput_calibrator-0.7.5.tar.gz
cd xinput_calibrator-0.7.5
./configure
make
sudo make install

# Calibrate (in Xserver, so open Terminal while beeing in Graphical User Mode)
xinput_calibrator

It will give output like this:
Calibrating EVDEV driver for "eGalax Inc. USB TouchController" id=8
current calibration values (from XInput): min_x=1938, max_x=114 and min_y=1745, max_y=341

Doing dynamic recalibration:
Setting new calibration data: 121, 1917, 317, 1741
--> Making the calibration permanent <--
copy the snippet below into '/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/99-calibration.conf'
Section "InputClass"
Identifier "calibration"
MatchProduct "eGalax Inc. USB TouchController"
Option "Calibration" "121 1917 317 1741"
Option "SwapAxes" "1"
EndSection

Use the Output after "--> Making the calibration permanent <--
copy the snippet below into '/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/99-calibration.conf'"
And copy the part after that into following file:

sudo mkdir /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d
sudo vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/01-input.conf

After that, save, exit and reboot.
That should conclude your newly "Custom baked Kernel" and your EGalax Touchscreen Support.

Thanks a lot to http://engineering-diy.blogspot.de/2013/01/adding-7inch-display-with-touchscreen.html

Raspberry Pi Kernel Compile


and http://karuppuswamy.com/wordpress/2013/01/17/how-to-get-evtouch-touch-screen-kit-working-in-linux/
from which I learnt and borrowed most of the stuff and tips and rewrote this How To with minor changes
Upgrade
cd linux
make mrproper
git pull
cd ../tools
git pull
cd ../firmware
git pull

[Win] Update DeltaCopy

In terms of backups, I still love Rsync / DeltaCopy. Rsync is an awesome protocol, as it does only transmit data changes. So it is extremly useful if you are running on an slow dataconnection and try to backup big data chunks or files you are working on. It does save time as well.

The problem: DeltaCopy (which was developed by Synametrics) is not supported anymore and has been replaced by their (non free) tool Syncrify. (And no, the free Personal Edition does not count as a useable alternative!). Problem with DeltaCopy would be the really old Version of the used rsync Part. But don't worry, it is really easy to update that one (and that will resolve many problems including the ones experienced with special character filenames etc).

Martin Edenhauser has got one of the latest versions of rsync for windows as download on his blog: http://it-em.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=54cms/front_content.php - just go there, grab the 3.0.9 (or other latest version) and unzip it into your C:\Program Files\Synametrics\DeltaCopy folder, overwriting the old files. (And don't forget to do it on the Server Side as well, if you are using the DeltaCopy Server as well !)

Thanks Martin for your great work!

[Ubuntu 12.04] EEE PC 1015 PN with Ubuntu 12.04 LTS

I could not help myself but felt the need to have at least one real "Dual Boot" system (not VMWare Stuff) - so I setup my Asus EEE PC 1015 PN with the Ubuntu 12.04 LTS according to mtrons excellent Tutorial ( https://sites.google.com/site/mtrons/howtos/eeepc-1015pn ) which worked out right out of the box.

But - as I haid some trouble with the old Broadcom Wifi/BT Card in Windows 7, I went for an Intel 6250 AGN/WiMax Card. I do not use WiMax and would love an BT option - but the price point of that card on ebay finally got me to press the "Buy now" button. I thought "Well, it is an Intel Card - that should work quite well and stop throwing me out of the University Wifi with no chance but doing an hard reboot of the Laptop to solve the problem" - yeah - it really did. BUT - somehow, after some time and updates to the Ubuntu System, I lost connectivity: Network Manager was nagging for the password all the time - without a reason. Finally I found the solution on this website: http://askubuntu.com/questions/104651/how-do-i-get-wireless-working-on-an-asus-notebook-u56e - with some changes.

From Kernel > 3.1 on, the wifi driver is not called iwlagn but iwlwifi, so your changes would go in that way:

sudo /etc/modprobe.d/iwl.conf

and add these options to the file. First does deactivate the not existing BT Module on the card, second does disable N networks, which could avoid other problems:

options iwlagn bt_coex_active=0
options iwlagn 11n_disable=1

Reboot and you are done

 

Another problem was the Optimus system: The Dual GPU Option of the system, packing an Intel GMA as well as an Nvidia ION Graphics on the board, with the choice of changing between both on the fly. That *did* work according to mtrons guide, BUT after an kernel upgrade - the acpi_call module did not work anymore - and with that the optimus tool. Help to that problem could be found here: http://hybrid-graphics-linux.tuxfamily.org/index.php?title=Acpi_call with the following changes:

cd /usr/src/acpi_call-1.1.1/
# got an newer version of acpi_call
sudo dkms add -m acpi_call -v 1.1.1
# did throw an error as the module already existed
sudo dkms build -m acpi_call -v 1.1.1
# rebuild the module
sudo dkms install -m acpi_call -v 1.1.1
# reinstalled it to the kernel
sudo modprobe acpi_call
# reload module
modinfo acpi_call
# show some infos

And thats it!

I am quite happy with the performance of Ubuntu on the system and I will keep it a while. I also tried the latest Debian, but was not that satisfied with it :/! So long!