In about end of August 2006, I was tiped by mate TM about an offer going on for the new HP 4400 TabletPC at a very fair price, so I decided to sell my Motion Computing m1300 TabletPC for an upgrade.
But unluckily, I cannot sell the lovely m1300 at the price I was looking for, and the offer ends today…… so after almost 2 months of not using it (it was sent to secondhand shop for more chance of selling), it came back to my hand today.
Honest, my m1300 wasn’t that bad at all, 1GHz Centrino, 1GB RAM, 40GB HDD, a slim and light form factor, etc etc..
I was looking for upgrades like Wireless connection, Fingerpin scanner, and higher speed of Duo Core CPU on the HP4400 compare to my m1300.
Chances come, chances goes, I still like my m1300!
So intead of paying the HK$3~4K price for the upgrade, I came up with other ideas on upgrading the m1300.
There is nothing I could do on the CPU, RAM, Bus upgrade (System Speed-wise), but I think I can do the rest.
Wireless upgrade, 802.11b to 802.11g+
The m1300 came with a mini-PCI Intel 802.11b Wireless LAN card, and I remember I have a LevelOne Wireless router with 802.11g+ support sitting there doing nothing. (see earlier post about Very upset about service from LevelOne (Everbest)…. .), so I open it up, get the mini-pci card out from the LevelOne WBR3404TX, and install it on the m1300.
The process went very smooth, as there is not much skill needed on un-screwing the panel, unpluging the Intel mini-PCI card, unpluging the antenna on it (2 of them), and put the new card on.
When XP boot up, it prompts for drivers, with only “Network Controller” displaying it is hard to tell what drivers to go….
Looking at the mini-PCI card, find that a TNETW1130GVF chip was used, so by googling a little bit, I was able to find that actually many Wireless Router do use this mini-PCI module for wireless connection, and I came up with a website call SafeCom Technology listing a PCI 802.11g + Wireless card name
Drivers were obtain on the same website at their
After installion of the drivers (EXE setups), Windows was able to ID the mini-PCI 802.11g card and it ran smoothly.
Adding Bluetooth
Instead of a cheapy USB dongle which only cost like HK$29, I didn’t like the way, the USB still sticks out quite a bit, it gives a very poor using experience.
Earlier I obtain a Bluetooth CF card call by AmbiCom Inc. Wireless Bluetooth Compact Flash/PC Card (BT2000-CF) at a good price, so I stick it in, install the drivers (it uses Widcomm driver) and I have basic Bluetooth support.
Now I can pair up my Storeway Universal Bluetooth Keyboard, and my Treo650 by Bluetooth now.
Thinks sometimes great joy not only comes when “PAYING” for it, the process of “USING” and “APPLYING” them gives more fun than I can think of!
Archive for Computing
Once again, with the Motion Computing m1300.
Deleting unwanted Service in WindowsXP
I was cleanning up my XP box as too many rubbish was installed in the system by users.
Some of the entry caught my attention, some software forgot (or simply don’t care) to delete themself after un-installation…
I think it is kind of an eyesore and hard to admin the system with these Junk in the Service Panel under Administrative Tools in control panel.
Google did the job!
In command prompt:
sc delete SERVICE_NAME
where SERVICE_NAME can be found in Right-Click->Properties->General Tab->Service Name:
Google Earth, my different experience ….
Last week, mate TM got his new TabletPC and introduce me to the Google Earth.
He shows me the latest beta, and I was surprise about how well it works on a TabletPC too!
As the price was so right (FREE), I then of coz download and install it on my m1300 too!
Spend a whole night playing around with it, pin-point where l used to live in NZ and Aus…
The result was something really out of my imagination….
Once, I decided to come back to HK with R , never really spend the time to look back, as l was browsing map with Goggle Map, lots of old memories came out from the long forgot box, Good or Bad, where I used to go for a cup of lemon tea, where I used to spend time with buddies, where I first met R ….
To be honest, since I came back from NZ, I hardly get some good sleep, I have thought about it so many times, HK, maybe I am really not the ones who should be here.
the map reading really brought me back to the good old days in NZ.
Just a few word for you R, l know you may not believe it, time we spend in NZ was one of my happiest time in my life, thanks for giving me such a goodtime, I really do…
Very upset about service from LevelOne (Everbest)….
About a month ago, the Wireless Router WBR3404TX start refusing to work (disconnect Cable/Wireless connection every 1 sec), so I deciede to send it to the warranty as it is still under warranty….
The HK dealer of LevelOne products is Everbest Technologies Ltd.
The Router was sent on 16 March 2006, and they promise a 1 week reply on the status when I ask for a appox. time of services.
1 week pass, no reply, so I give them a little bit wait, 2 weeks pass, no news.
So at the thrid week, I decided to give them a call to see whats going on.
I was told the router was sent back to TW for service, which WILL be back after the easter holiday.
Ok, 4 weeks pass, still no news (I was the one who call them, they never contact me…)
So mate TN thinks that is too long to wait for a router servicing, he called a salesman who he knows, give him a little ask.
“It will be done by the end this week!” the saleman said.
5 weeks passes, I just called them AGAIN, now this time this tech sup. is saying that he has no idea when it would my router fixed, claimming that it is STILL in TW…..
When I ask for a date, “I can’t tell you when it will be avl. as a screw was missing when you sent the router in…..”
Ar ha…….so thats the treat, my problem right?? Yes, my problem, shouldn’t have choose LevelOne form Day 0!
I am very upset about the service of LevelOne! If you have a chance to select network product, DO NOT SELECT LevelOne, especially from the dealer Everbest.
Update 20060516 0141:
After a 2 month long service, I still hear NO REPLY from Everbest (not even 1 call anyway from Everbest), I was having enough of life without WiFi, well, I bought myself a netgear already, lets see how many more months I am gonna wait untill they do give me a call with some result.
Why call EverBest while it is not the best, and never was?
Update 20060518 0200:
I was contacted by staff of Everbest today in the morning about the issue of the router, which he said the serviced router is ready for pickup. (should that happen 1.5 months ago?)
I wonder was this coincidence or what, after I post update to the status of the router, and it is ready…..
well, at least I am going to get my router back.
CGI Programming with Perl from Oreilly …
Went to library with R today, while she was searching for books she need, spotted this book on the shelf, reminds me of the days of learning Perl back in AUS..
It would always be nice to read more, refresh my Perl, as some more function on this Weblog are being plan..
CGI Programming with Perl, Second Edition at www.oreilly.com
Hum……Linux on iPod Nano.
I think many of you might have seen this news online already…
Hackers has done a great job on getting the Linux running on an iPod nano.
Instead of just plain running Linux (which of coz, I think it is cool enough), it allow user to watch video on the iPod nano!
From the video preview I saw, the movie wasn’t playing very smooth, wonder was it because of the movie source, or the processing power of the iPod nano?
Hum….makes iPod nano more attractive to me…..
head here for more info!
http://www.theplaceforitall.com/linuxnano/
Debian, hum!!!
I think it is something like Love it or not for Linux…
As far as I remember it was like 1996 or 1997 I was first introduced to Linux by teach E, wasn’t such a great exp for me as I was still very young in computing, spend me weeks to get a little server up….
Read more
How do I convert Movie content to my Palm with MEncoder
How do I convert Movie content to my Palm with MEncoder
gernal infomation:
Since the releases of TCPMP, an movie Player for PalmOS, it came to a great interest of Multi-Media palyback on PalmOS base PDA.
Finding the source shouldn’t be too hard now a days with VCD/DVD, free Video content website like TV channel or Radio channels are everywhere, while converting them into smaller size, or better quality to suits the need of TCPMP on your Palm seems to be the marjor issue.
As requested from a friend on PUMB, terewong, I am now trying to make this how to.
This How to including how to convert Movie content to a Palm base Treo650 with MEncoder, a freeware Movie Convertor on Win32.
What do we need:
We will need 3 sets of files from 3 different location, they are:
WinMEncoder, Codec for MEncoder, MEncoder Win32.
– WinMEncoder 0.5.0
click to enlarge…
here (Regist and Login require)
updated
Found that hkepc now stop new user registing. so I decided to mirror the file here.
winmenc050.zip
– Codec for MEncoder Win32 
click to enlarge… main page Windows essential all codecs without free alternative, for Windows Windows all all codecs for Windows (Win32 .dll)
– MEncoder Win32 
click to enlarge… main page
for AMD base PC:
mencoder-k7-cvs-20050726.zip <3.57 mb> – Jul 26, 2005
for Pentium 3 base PC:
mencoder-p3-cvs-20050726.zip <3.63 mb> – Jul 26, 2005
for Pentium 4, Celeron and Pentium M
mencoder-p4-cvs-20050726.zip <3.57 mb> – Jul 27, 2005
Unzip all files into one single directory, up you go!
What to do
click to enlarge…
This is the main interface of WinMEncoder 040, from a great developer aka yawoo from HKEPC, thanks for his effort, MEncoder makes easy for us, expecially those who don’t wanted to see command console!
think it is quite straight forward on how to use, the UI tells itself already clearly.
click to enlarge…
a few settings is needed tho for use to optimize the use of TCPMP on our Palm.
I normally set Video codec to XVID (OpenDIVX 4, which as far as I know Kinoma, and Sony Image Convertor use the same Video Codec.)
a Video bitrate of 400kbps, which I think with the resolution of 320x2xx, it should be enough for most Palm with TCPMP. (CPU 200+) you may go lower if you need, for saving some space, or suits your need on a slower CPU.
also, I do normally do Video size of 320:3 (480:3 if you want fullscreen mode on T3/T5 etc) which means MEncoder will resize the Video on behalf of 320xwhatever it comes out to be, as many Video sources we can online may not get to a size of 320×240, is good to let MEncoder to handle it.
click to enlarge…
on Audio side, I normally do 128kbps mono, as my main source of video are capture from TV card, which it is mono anyway.
of coz, select what you like.
I used to do AAC for Audio codec, as the output can be view by Kinoma Player on your Palm, but since TCPMP is way faster than Kinoma (Free of coz), I do not do Kinoma for very long time. and due to copyright issue, AAC codec has been removed from TCPMP current build.
Batch Convert
click to enlarge…
As usual, I think the UI tells everyone how to use it!
remember to select the Encode Mode at the lower page of the UI to your selected way of convert, if you are doing batch convert, select Batch! (I always forget this step and think there was error when I first use WinMEncode)
when you are done, click Encode button!
Of coz, you have to copy or move the output to your SD/MS/CF card with your prefer way.
Enjoy!
credits
The MEncoder and the Codec for MEncoder Team.
yawoo from HKEPC.com for the cool WinMencode
Mr. Tere Wong PalmOne Treo650 Smartphone @ t E r e – t E r R i T O r Y
First posted 20050906 0748 by theo
Please do let me know if you want to mirror, translate this how to, thanks.
Updated 20051223 0140 by theo
Added mirror for winmencoder 050.
I just love programmer with humor!
This laugh me off the chair for a while.
Who said Programmer are no fun and boring? see the good one from PalmSource developer!
Stated in OS6 Cobalt Documentation system_management pg198:
Common Battery Types Constants
SysBatteryKindTag Enum
Purpose: Identify the type of battery used in a Palm Powered handheld.
Declared In: CmnBatteryTypes.h
Constants:
sysBatteryKindAlkaline = 0
Alkaline……..
sysBatteryKindFuelCell
Fuel cell.
sysBatteryKindPlutonium237
Future power source.
sysBatteryKindAntiMatter
Future power source.
sysBatteryKindLast = 0xFF
The upper limit of the battery type values.
FuelCell? Plutonium237? AntiMatter??? no wonder we are still waiting an OS6 machine!!!!
🙂
HDD001 Seagate finally RIP…….
20GB Seagate aka HDD001 finally walk to this very day.
She has just passed away yesterday about 5:00PM HKT……
Yesterday when I walk home, I saw the screen with a NTDLR missing, I know something not good happens…..
She has been with me for a very long while, I think even the old days in NZ….
It has been good days with her…. lots of fun download, devleopings…
Altho re-installation of OS, installing SDKs, config of Services are a great pain, it wouldn’t be as much pain as the lost of you.
so RIP HDD001, don’t worry, I think 20GB Seagate aka HDD002 now on debian won’t last any longer, soon joining you to the door of heaven, and I will live on strongly with laugher and joy like we used to have…
1 sec silent for HDD001………….
🙂
