MacBook Air and Windows 8 Freezing

For the last couple of days, I've been trying to install and run Windows 8 on my MacBook Air. I use the word "trying" deliberately.

Windows would install just fine, so no problems there. It would also begin booting, but part way through the start up process (sometimes before the login screen, at login, or just slightly after) it would freeze. Not BSOD or an extended pause. It would just become unresponsive.

Initially I thought the install media had corrupted, so I recreated the install media with the Boot Camp Assistant. This was unsuccessful in resolving the freezing issue.After reading many articles linked from discussions.apple.com, another solution kept cropping up. Enabling a boot entry called disabledynamictick with the following command and rebooting;
bcdedit /set disabledynamictick yes
While initially promising, this was also unsuccessful.Other articles recommended some rather extreme measures in the search for stability. Potential solutions such as the installation of Hyper-V and experimental Intel video drivers. While hopeful, I couldn't begin the installation of Hyper-V or even an updated driver. There simply wasn't enough time between power on and freeze to be able to install a new driver, let alone Hyper-V.

Turns out, the solution was simpler than any of that.
The Power Plan!
By default, Windows 8 uses the Balanced power plan. Changing this to High Performance has (seeming) resolved the freezing issue.
Admittedly, because of the non-deterministic time to freeze, it did take three attempts to change the power plan.
With an uptime of 2 hours so far, as compared to the previous record of just under a minute, I would consider the issue resolved.

Ikea Hacked Monitor Stand

Materials:
1 x Capita Leg 16cm
1 x Ekby Järpen 119x29cm


Description:
I wanted a stand for my monitor, speakers and lamp. To fit all this, it needed to be at least 990mm wide. Not being able to find one that suited, I built one!
The inspiration came from this similar hack; http://www.ikeahackers.net/2012/01/12-monitor-stand.html.
The Capita Legs were new (costing $25). But the Ekby was found in the IKEA As Is section for $9! The materials totalled $34.

Sling Bag Upgrade

So after trying to fit my insulin kit, iPad and wallet in my small sling bag, I've decided to get something more suitable. Ideally, I want to get a sling bag suitable for holding an iPad, insulin kit, wallet and leatherman. Additionally, I would want have room for my DSLR (with an attached lens), an additional lens and one spare battery.

So far my research has yielded the  following three;

http://www.kata-bags.com/3n1-11-for-dslr-w-mid-range-zoom-lens-1-2-lenses-flash

The Kata 3N1-11 has the option of being left or right sling, as well as a backpack and its "X Position" (where the backpack straps cross across the chest). The DSLR compartment is very flexible in its configuration, and can be accessed from both sides. Reviews say that the laptop slot will technically fit an iPad, but that it is very snug. The top compartment is apparently roomy, but I think I would have trouble fitting anything other than my insulin kit.

http://goincase.com/products/detail/dslr-sling-pack-cl58058
The Incase DSLR Sling Pack is exactly what it says on the tin. A sling pack for DSLRs. And an iPad or Macbook Air. Only having a right hand sling does seem like a limitation at first, but it does mean the construction would be more solidly built around not having to support inverting it.

http://www.crumpler.com/AU/Camera-Bags/Camera-Backpacks/Enthusiast.html

With the Enthusiast, it feels like Crumpler built an amazing shoulder strap design, then attached a bag to it. The strap can also be reversed for left or right sholder mounting. The DSLR compartment is very simular to the Kata in its layout and ambidextrous access options.

At the moment, I'm leaning towards either the Incase or the Crumpler, motivated mostly by the thicker shoulder strap. But the Kata does have a more versatile set of strap configuration options.

Virgin MMS on Android

From http://ausdroid.net/apns/#virgin;

Virgin

Virgin – Internet & MMS

• Name: Virgin Internet
• APN: VirginInternet
• Proxy: 202.139.83.152
• Port: 8070
• Username:
• Password:
• Server:
• MMSC: http://mms.virginvibe.com.au:8002/
• MMS Proxy: 202.139.83.152
• MMS Port: 8070
• MCC: 505
• MNC: 02
• APN Type: default,supl

Google Apps Transition

Nelyx.net migration complete!

Google Help has a great many articles on completing the transfer, but not a single page that refers to all of these help articles. The blog linked below was a massive help, not just for the individual articles, but for the matrix at the end. It became a checklist for data I wanted to migrate. :)

http://travistubbs.net/series/google-apps-transition

Or straight to the matrix.
http://travistubbs.net/migration-migraines-the-google-apps-transition-services-matrix

Thanks to Mr Tubbs for documenting all this information in one place. :)

PSA: Conficker

Fuck you Conficker. Fuck you with a rake.
That is all.

Car2PC Text?

Installation of the Car2PC adapter went flawlessly.
There was a little bit of an issue removing my Ipod adapter (plugged into the EX port too) as the plug had been in there for over two years. But after a bit of fiddling, it came free, allowing me to plug in the headunit end of the Car2PC.

Success!

I ran Winamp on the EeePC, with the HUmp3 plugin that was supplied with the Car2PC, and I got sound from the car speakers!

More Success!

However, try as i may, initially, I could not control Winamp with the headunit controls. Next track and previous track did nothing. :(
I ran the grom_console application (also supplied with the Car2PC) to verify the commands coming out of the headunit. And sure enough, the headunit buttons were sending the expected signals ("NT", "PT", etc) but Winamp was not responsing to them.
Further research was required.

After a couple of days of reading the mp3car.com forums, I came across a reference to a piece of software called RoadRunner that can use the headunit via the Car2PC as a control source aswell as a text output. Turns out, RoadRunner is now called RideRunner (due to copyright) and is still available for download for free. Brilliant!

I installed RoadRunner on my EeePC along with Winamp, and set the configuration as per the documentation to support the car2PC. Then at 11pm, I wandered down to my car, plugged it in, and tested it.
I could load music into winamp, and then use the steering wheel buttons and the headunit buttons to control it.

Actual success this time!

Still not text though. Whats wrong? Is there a misconfiguration in the applications? Is there a problem with the Car2PC? Sadly, no. Everything is working as expected.
Further research led me to discover that the EX port on the MX5's headunit does not in fact support track information text being sent to it. Very frowney. :(

EeeCarPC

So, the most important component for the carPC, is obviously the PC. :P
I already have the arduinos for interfacing with the locks/windows/roof, the Car2PC for playing music and sending commands from the dash and steering wheel, a USB GPS receiver somewhere in a drawer.

My requirements are pretty typical of a car computer;

1. Can run .NET 2.0 applications (limits me to x86 running Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7)


2. Small and light


3. Low power consumption and low heat


4. Solid state disk (either a CF card, USB Flash, or an actual SSD)


5. Runs from 12v


6. At least 2 USB port(s) and an audio out

Some others things are on the Would-Like-To-Have list include;

1. Its own battery separate from the vehicles


2. Wifi (to remotely upload new music and software, and download telemetry data)


3. Bluetooth (to allow my phone to communicate with it for more complex in car controls)

The first requirement rules out anything not x86, sadly. Something based on an ARM would be perfect from a low power and no-moving-parts perspective. But, alas, no .NET.
I considered putting a Mini-ITX board in a small case, giving it a 4G CF card to boot from, a PCI wifi card a 12v power supply and 12V UPS battery. But the costs for this very quickly added up to nearly $1,000. I figured there had to be a cheaper alternative. After much searching for the ideal embedded type x86 platform, it finally occurred to me;

A netbook!

Specifically, an Asus EeePC 701SD. The tiny screen and keyboard shouldn't be a problem at all, given that its going to live primarily with the lid closed in my car. It meets all the required requirements, and many of the optionals, and was only $327 from JB-HiFi!
Winnah!

Now comes the task of installing Windows XP on it, and then slimming it down so it boots in seconds.

Car2PC Adapter

Last week, I ordered a Car2PC adapter from InDashPC (link). The shipping time was quoted at between 7 and 10 working days.
I thought I had a week or so to get the rest of the components in order...
Alas no.

The Car2PC adapter I ordered arrived about a week ahead of schedule. :D

From Car2PC Delivered

The Car2PC adapter provides a USB and stereo interface to the head unit in the MX-5 (many other vehicles are supported, in case anyone's interested). The USB connection is actually a serial to USB adapter, so no special drivers are required to control it. Just open the serial port, then read and write data as required!

Given this, the adapter provides three functions;

1. Plays the audio from the PC's headphone jack as an auxiliary input stream (on my head unit, this is "EX" or External CD)


2. Send head unit button presses to the PC via the serial connection (in my MX-5, this even includes the buttons on the steering wheel!)


3. Send audio track information from the PC to the head unit to be displayed on the text side of the head units LCD.

Installation seems easy enough.

1. Remove the head unit


2. Plug the adapter into the CD Changer port


3. Re-install the head unit.

Done!

Unfortunately, it's not actually that easy.

Thankfully, after many hours of reading forums and blogs, I came across an an excellent set of instructions provided on the www.MX-5.com forums (link).

That's one of the most difficult items to acquire and install taken care of.
Provided the rest of the components arrive, I know what I'll be doing this weekend. :D

Arduinos!

I ordered a couple of Ardiuno Duemilenove's to use in upcoming home and car automation projects. It took a little over two weeks, but they finally arrived!
The arduinos are microcontrollers based around an 8-bit Atmel RISC CPU.

From New Arduinos

They are so cute!

After about an hour of learning, I now have a the necessary sketch uploaded and a companion .NET application that turns the on board LED on and off. To put it another way, I have produced a SPST switch. But this is so much cooler! :D

For those interested, I ordered these two from Little Bird Electronics .

Couch Photos

As promised, couch photos.

Indeed, they are most comfortable. :D

Thank you Ebay.

Camera!

So, I bit the bullet and bought a camera.
I was going to save up for a DSLR, but after talking to some photography friends, they all suggested I get a cheap little point and shoot camera that I can keep in my pocket.
So after a few days of browsing reviews and online catalogues, I decided to buy a Canon IXUS. I had some umart store credit left over from a previous purchase, and that just about covered the cost of a Canon IXUS 85IS.
I have to say, I'm impressed with the camera already. 10Mpx, 3x zoom, macro support. The only drawback, and this is going to sound crazy, its a little too small.

As with any device I purchase, one of the considerations is whether or not it can be improved with third party modifications. In this case, YES!

Many Canon point'n'shoot cameras are supported by the Canon Hackers Development Kit (link). Because the IXUS85 is such a new camera, the firmware is still in beta. Oh well, occasional crashes are a small price to pay for total control over ISO, lens aperture and shutter speed. It also supports a custom remote shutter that plugs into the USB port, helping with making long exposure shots very stable.

Having used it for a while now, I would like there to be a way of running the camera from an external power source (either a bigger battery, or a mains transformer) an to be able to charge the battery from USB.

All in all though, I'm very impressed with both the IXUS85 and CHDK.

New Sofa

So, after months of searching, I finally found an ebay sofa I like.
A three seater and two recliners in an ash blue microsuede. :D
Pics soon.

New favicon?

The red G was good. The blue g, also good.

I don't like Google's new favicon. I really don't like it.

But this new one is just a mash of colours that made me check and retype the URL because it was just so different. 

Part of me hoped it was a typo or even a domain hijacking.

< /rant>

Car has passed its assessment!

So I had my car assessed by AAMI today. And, of course, it passed with flying colours. :D

The repairs were awarded to one of my preferred panel repairers, which is awesome.

Repair costs have come to a little over $4,000.

And in two weeks, my little baby will be good as new.

OMGWTFMX5

I went to the skidpan on Sunday! I had a lot of fun.

Learned how to catch my car a lot better. And I'm becoming more confident with using the throttle to control where the rear of the car is pointing.

Thats the good news.


The bad news now... Totally separate to the skidpan (opposite side of the city) I was involved in a car accident. And it happened thusly;

I was following Scott to a car wash at Chermside. There was a lane closure on Lutwyche Rd just outside the Officeworks. I was in the rightmost lane, traveling at 40kmh just like the sign told me. I was passing some cars that were at a stop because of the construction. The first I noticed a problem was when my car shifted a foot to the right. Not the usual kind of turning shift… more an unnatural jarring. A sensation I’m not familiar with. I came to a stop, and after a few seconds I realised “someone’s hit me”. I looked around, noticing that none of the cars around me are moving. Except the one with its front corner in my passenger door. 
We pull into the Officeworks, and begin talking about what happened. I pointed out the damage, stating that you’ve hit me. She tried to assure me that I was speeding, and she didn’t see me, and because of that, she’s not at fault. After this conversation, she refused to provide any insurance details until her husband showed up. Scott had circled around, parked nearby, and was taking photos of the damage on both cars, and the location of the accident.
Her husband shows up, and informs me that he owns a panel shop, and will happily fix any damage for free. I point out that my car is a year old, and I’m going through insurance. None too happy with this, he tells me how there’s going to be a lot of paperwork for me to go through, which I agree with, but am totally fine with. He then explains that because I’ll have an excess to pay. I explain that I wont have to pay anything because I’m not at fault. He then informed me that because they don’t have any excess to pay either, no one will have to pay anything. I’m not sure I believe them. After finally getting her details, and giving mine, they leave.
I then spend the next 30 minutes on the phone to AAMI explaining what happened, and working out the best course of action to get my little car all better.

On Monday, I got a few quotes on getting it all fixed. The average was approximately $5,000. This includes a new door skin, potentially a new rear wheel, respraying the front corner panel, the side skirt, the rear corner panel and the new door. So much damage for such a little mistake.

Dopey Southern Time

I'll never understand Daylight Savings Time. I never will.

If you wanted to get up earlier, then just get up earlier!

The implications on software are just stupid.

http://www.microsoft.com/australia/athome/daylightsaving/default.aspx

GRRR!

Something need doing?

Sunday afternoon, I was bored and going a bit stir crazy, so I decided to go to work. No the most brilliant idea, but definately very productive.

I was there for nearly three hours, and got loads of work done. 4 bugs resolved, 3 reports published, 2 tests set up, and a special modification request... in a pear tree. All in three hours.

This wouldnt normally be a problem. However, these were all things I wanted to do on Monday. So I get in to work today, and I feel like I have nothing to do. I did, but my internal task list had all the monday tasks completed.

I felt rather unproductive today. Tomorrow should be better though. I have a task list to complete tomorrow. :D

Hair Calculus?

I've been meaning to get my hair cut for weeks. My usual indicator is "long enough to see", and that was met at least a fortnight ago. Another, more annoying indicator is "touching my ears" and that had been met too... so it was time!

I got my haircut on the weekend! Not something exciting on its own, I know. It wasn't the haircut itself I found particularly noteworthy, but the barber cutting it.

The barber I usually see wasn't in, so I sat down with a barber I was not familiar with. Not a very talkative lad, he just asked "What do you want done today?". "Short back and sides, blade two, and about a third taken off the top." was my request. And off he went! Buzz buzz, snip snip. I was feeling much better without the hair touching my ears. :D

Then I noticed that the top was getting particularly short. "Looks like you're taking off a little more than a third." I said. And totally without sarcasm, he replied;

"Mate, I'm a hairdresser, not a mathematician."

I loved this response. I loved it so much that I didn't even care about the incredibly short haircut I had received. But that got me thinking about where else I could say "I'm a not a mathematician". Here are some I came up with;

• "Sir, are you aware you were doing 95 in a 60 zone?" "Officer, I'm a motorist, not a mathematician."
• "This applicatin took twice as long to deliver as originally promised!" "Look, I'm a developer, not a mathematician."

So, the lesson here is 'If you make a mistake, its cause you aren't a mathematician.'  :D

Back to the blogging!

Its been a while since I've blogged.

I had great plans for when I started blogging... I was going to post something useful every day (well, maybe not something useful every day, but one or the other atleast). But I havent got into the habit of blogging yet.

So, I ask all of you, poke me so I write something. It'll become habit soon enough, but i just need a gentle push.