Monday, October 25, 2010
My attempts to write a driver for my touchscreen
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Where is the OBD Port in Fiat Linea. Illustrated Guide
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OPen the fuse box Right next to steering column |
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The connector highlighted is the Std OBD II connector |
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Another View |
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Configuring Soundgraph FingerVU 706 on Ubuntu 10.04
Due to paucity of time and most importantly patience, the guide is written in 'Cut the crap out' style.
Before one proceeds ahead it is important that your system is updated and has latest updates installed.
sudo aptitude update
sudo aptitude upgrade
Once you have achieved this, it is time to get new kernel updates
cd ~/Desktop
mkdir new_kernel
cd new_kernel
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.34-lucid/linux-headers-2.6.34-020634_2.6.34-020634_all.deb
dpkg -i linux-headers-2.6.34-020634_2.6.34-020634_all.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.34-lucid/linux-headers-2.6.34-020634-generic_2.6.34-020634_i386.deb
dpkg -i linux-headers-2.6.34-020634-generic_2.6.34-020634_i386.deb
wget http://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v2.6.34-lucid/linux-image-2.6.34-020634-generic_2.6.34-020634_i386.deb
dpkg -i linux-image-2.6.34-020634-generic_2.6.34-020634_i386.deb
In next step we shall install dependencies and compile latest package from the git core
sudo apt-get -y install libusb-dev xorg-dev xserver-xorg-video-displaylink git-core
cd ~/Desktop
mkdir libdlo
cd libdlo
wget http://people.freedesktop.org/~berniet/libdlo-0.1.2.tar.gz
tar -xzpf libdlo-0.1.2.tar.gz
cd libdlo-0.1.2
./configure
sudo make install
Now is time to edit /etc/gdm/Init/Default file. Insert following lines of code in the file where the gdmwhich() function ends
XRANDR=`gdmwhich xrandr`
if [ "x$XRANDR" != "x" ] ; then
$XRANDR -o 0
fi
Now comes the most tricky and important step of rewriting your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file.
Most importantly backup your existing xorg.conf file so that you can recover from a crash
sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.orig
Once this is achieved, I suggest that you replace contents from /etc/X11/xorg.conf file with this
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "touchscreen"
Screen 0 "DisplayLinkScreen" 0 0
EndSection
Section "Files"
ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
ModulePath "/usr/local/lib/xorg/modules"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "DisplayLinkDevice"
Driver "displaylink"
Option "fbdev" "/dev/fb0
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "DisplayLinkMonitor"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "DisplayLinkScreen"
Device "DisplayLinkDevice"
Monitor "DisplayLinkMonitor"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Connect your monitor and reboot your PC. You should be able to see the GDM greeter on your usb display. If you have reached till here, you are doing fine. In case gdm crashes, it is most probably due to two reasons firstly junk characters pasted or wrong frame-buffer device path.
Presently /dev/fb0 works for me. If you suspect this change this to /dev/fb1. You can find the framebuffer devices installed by simply doing
ls /dev/fb*
.Assuming that you are on track till here. Drop to another virtual console. We shall revert back to our original file which we have backed up and backup the existing configuration
cd /etc/X11/
sudo mv xorg.conf xorg.conf.fingervu706
sudo cp xorg.conf.orig xorg.conf
sudo service gdm stop
sudo service gdm start
Now you shall have a black screen on your USB monitor and gnome desktop on VGA/DVI display
Following steps need a bit of trial and error and understanding of
xorg.conf
file directives. I am posting contents of three files. My original
xorg.conf.orig
fileFingerVU config file
xorg.conf.fingervu706
and lastly and most importantly, my working merged
xorg.conf
file merging directives from both the files abovexorg.conf.orig
############ Original Video Settings ###########
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
DefaultDepth 16
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Default Device"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection
xorg.conf.fingervu706
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "touchscreen"
Screen 0 "DisplayLinkScreen" 0 0
EndSection
Section "Files"
ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
ModulePath "/usr/local/lib/xorg/modules"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "DisplayLinkDevice"
Driver "displaylink"
Option "fbdev" "/dev/fb0
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "DisplayLinkMonitor"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "DisplayLinkScreen"
Device "DisplayLinkDevice"
Monitor "DisplayLinkMonitor"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Merged and working xorg.conf file
############ Original Video Settings ###########
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
DefaultDepth 16
EndSection
Section "Module"
Load "glx"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Default Device"
Driver "nvidia"
Option "NoLogo" "True"
EndSection
################################################
Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "DualDisplay"
Screen 0 "DisplayLinkScreen" 0 0
Screen 1 "Default Screen" LeftOf "DisplayLinkScreen"
EndSection
Section "Files"
ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
ModulePath "/usr/local/lib/xorg/modules"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "DisplayLinkDevice"
Driver "displaylink"
Option "fbdev" "/dev/fb0
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "DisplayLinkMonitor"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "DisplayLinkScreen"
Device "DisplayLinkDevice"
Monitor "DisplayLinkMonitor"
SubSection "Display"
Depth 16
Modes "800x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection
Some Pictures of my rig
References and Thanks to
http://karuppuswamy.com/wordpress/2010/07/19/how-to-get-lilliput-displaylink-based-usb-monitor-um-70-17e902a9-working-in-ubuntu-linux/
http://libdlo.freedesktop.org/wiki/
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-1493143.html
http://mulchman.org/blog/?tag=displaylink
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Illustrated Guide to Syncing Blackberry on Ubuntu Karmic
The reason why i decided to write this post was the lack of a complete and comprehensive guide on achieving syncing of Blackberry on Ubuntu.
This article is not intended for Uber geeks but instead for dummies like me. I have tried to make the article as illustrative and self explanatory as possible.
Requirements : An internet connected (only for installing required software packages) Linux Box running Ubuntu 9.04 (Karmic Koala) , Blackberry (8400g in my case) and a working data cable. I assume that the user has got atleast some working level knowledge of linux in general and is not bamboozled by terms like Synaptic, Evolution, Terminal, sudo et al
Step 1: Installing necessary Packages.
Use Synaptic and install following software packages.
multisync0.90 , barrybackup-gui, barry-util,libbarry0,opensync-plugin-barry,opensync-plugin-evolution,multisync-tools
Alternatively you can install them from command line
sudo aptitude install multisync0.90 barrybackup-gui barry-util libbarry0 opensync-plugin-barry opensync-plugin-evolution multisync-tools
Step 2: Connecting Blackberry
Connect blackberry to your computer using the compatible data cable and fire up terminal. We will check whether the computer detects the device or not. Note down the device pin. sudo btool -l
Step 3: Backing up the Blackberry
Fire up your terminal and execute the barrybackup . Once opened it will prompt you for entering your device name. Enter the device name and Click Ok
Step 4: Configuring Multisync for Syncing Contacts
Open Application->Accessories->Multisync-gui
The initial screen is blank. Click Add to create a new sync group. I have named the group as Blackberry-Contacts. Click Edit to add members to this group. Remember to add Evolution plugin first and then the Barry plugin. Not vice versa. My setup is erroneous
Once you have finished you will have two members on the left hand side pane. evo2-sync and barry sync. Click on evo2-sync member and we shall configure its properties. Select address book of your choice. I have made a blank address book in Evolution and named it as blackberry. Select No Calendar and No To-do as this group will sync only contacts.
Click on barry-sync member and on the right hand side pane you will see a text pane enumerating some setting. Don't worry. just scroll down to the place where it says Device pin and update your device pin there. The default device pin reads 204ad4e8 . Update the pin. There are 2 more digits ahead 1 0 change them and make them 0 and 1. The 1 is enable and 0 is disable. The first 1 is for calendar syncing and the second 1 is for contact syncing. So since we are only going to sync contacts and not calendar we amend the setting to 0 and 1
So the final line reads as thus Device 3009efe3 1 0. Don't worry about the save option the file is saved auto-magically. Close the Window
Now you will see following window. I am repeating again. My setup was erroneous. If you have followed the steps properly you will see the evo2-sync member above the barry-sync. In case you land up in a situation just like me. Just Remove and configure again. Its simple.
Step 5: Syncing Contacts
Click Refresh and you are done. The sync process will start . It takes a couple of minutes
Viola!! Your contacts are synced.
Step 6: Configuring Multisync for Syncing Calendar.
The steps for configuring Multisync-gui are similar to those we took for contacts . Make a new group Blackberry-Contacts. Add evo2-sync member first and barry-sync member next. Click on evo2-sync member and we shall configure its properties. Select Calendar of your choice, select local calendars preferably at first. Select No Address Book and No To-do as this group will sync only calendar.
Click on barry-sync member and on the right hand side pane you will see a text pane enumerating some setting. Don't worry. just scroll down to the place where it says Device pin and update your device pin there. The default device pin reads 204ad4e8 . Update the pin. There are 2 more digits ahead 1 0 change them and make them 1 and 0. The 1 is enable and 0 is disable. The first 1 is for calendar syncing and the second 1 is for contact syncing. So since we are only going to sync calendar and not contacts we amend the setting to 1 and 0. My Setting is wrong
Close the windows and you are ready to sync the calendar now
Step 7: Syncing Calendar
Click refresh and your calendars are being synced. Following screen shots illustrate the process.
Thats all…..time you have to sync… Just connect your phone and fire up Multisync-gui and click refresh.
Hope this guide was useful.