a gthing science project

Posted by Sam at November 29th, 2006

Today’s package from UPS completes my collection of parts that will be required for my car computer install. I already had the mac mini, and today I got the screen, the custom bezel, the power supply, and an adapter cable I need. I will just need a few more little things from the hardware store to complete the install.

Screen and bezel:

Getting the screen to fit in the bezel required taking it all apart, so I decided to plug it in and test it first. There’s no going back if I get it all done and the screen is broken. While I was testing it, I also installed the required drivers for the monitor.

Once I was done there it was a simple matter of taking the monitor all apart. Here are the guts:

The screen fits rather nicely if I do say so myself.

Yea, the screen fits, but not so much the PCB. I had to put it in there at a weird angle to get it to work.

All done - time to test it again!

After I got it completed, I had to do some tinkering to get the computer to show the correct resolution. In the picture above, things are a bit stretched. The monitor actually supports resolutions of up to 1024×768, but scales them to it’s native resolution. By setting the computer to the native resolution, I get the best possible picture.

Here is a video of the final interface:

Posted by Sam at November 28th, 2006

I was sure to bring my camera home for Thanksgiving. My plan was to make a cool/fun/awesome trip log. It wasn’t until we were driving home, however, that I finally purchased batteries for my camera and started taking pictures. This happened in the most awesome town on earth - Parachute Colorado.

Brikon drove to Utah for Thanksgiving, while we drove to Colorado. We left on different days, so did not pass each-other. But on the way back, we passed one another at Parachute. We decided to stop and get lunch. We ate two-day old gas station pizza. It was delicious.

Dan spent some time with the long loved
classic Area 51. Yes, he is playing both players
and was actually surprisingly good at it.

Parachute’s mascot is apparently a cardinal of some
sort. I assume the GV stands for “Grand Valley” which
is what the town used to be called.

This wasn’t the only cowboy in Parchute, but this was
the only cowboy made of wood.

The Robbery is an exciting tale of a robbery
committed near Parachute. It is presumably
the town’s only crime. Ever.

Unfortunately to find out the ending to the
robbery, you have to hike like 20 miles.

Brian might be a really real robber guy.

The blue jean team.

Brikon, Dan, and Ian standing around at
Parchute’s famous “rest area.” Notice the
table in the background - the one with
the canopy shaped like a - you guessed it -
parachute.

I have learned from Wikipedia that the name Parachute comes from the fact that 3 rivers intersect at the base of a nearby mountain. The rivers, along with the mountain itself, make a giant parachute.

Posted by Sam at November 28th, 2006

I started cleaning my room tonight. As usual, I got about halfway done before I was suddenly really interested in doing something else that I have been procrastinating.

I wanted to do a big picture on my wall above my bed. So here it is.

Posted by Sam at November 27th, 2006

I was eagerly awaiting the release of the Blackberry Pearl on Cingular so I could hop on the RIM bandwagon. You see, the Treo 650 is a really crappy phone. It’s a great paperweight, and even runs some programs that are pretty cool marginally well - but one thing it does not do well is function as a phone. By the way, if anyone wants a 650, mine is for sale.

Note: I need to come up with a good nickname for the Treo 650. Something that captures it’s craptasticness. I was thinking of “Treo Shits-Fifty” or something. Ideas welcome.

While I was waiting for the Pearl to come out, Cingular released the Samsung Blackjack - which they have been pushing as the new smartphone to have. This competes directly with the Motorola Q in form factor and function. I would never buy a Motorola Q, though, because they are the Microsoft of the cellphone world. Ironically, in the cell phone world Microsoft is not the Microsoft.

I didn’t even give the Blackjack a second glance originally, because I was set on the pearl. I love the pearl’s form factor. Then I found out that the Blackjack supports 3G (high speed data), which perked my interest. I’m upgrading my phone mainly because the Treo sucks, but I also want something that will provide a good Internet connection for my car computer.

The other thing I can appreciate about the BlackJack is that it had a good reputation for call quality. I also checked it’s radiation output and it ranks really well - probably in the 10 lowest radiation emitting phones. This is a stark contrast to the Treo, which was in the worst 10 for a while but has slipped to 12 or so as Motorola has continued to come out with ever more 4-lettered cancer-emitting cellular devices. Radiation is not something a lot of people talk about when looking at new phones, but I think it’s important enough to factor into the decision.

First impressions of the Blackjack:

Form Factor - While not perfect, it’s much better than the Treo. The scroll wheel is nice, and the screen looks good. I kept touching the screen expecting it to accept my input, but it doesn’t have a touch screen.

WM5 is obviously a much more mature operating system than Palm OS. Palm OS hasn’t changed much since my first palm pilot over 10 years ago. They really are stuck in the past. Windows Mobile functions a lot better, supports things like multi-tasking, and seems to run pretty quickly even on slow processors. The fact that you never really exit applications is a bit weird, but hasn’t caused any problems.

The bluetooth is severely limited. It really sucks because with the bluetooth implemented properly, this would have been almost the perfect phone. So far I haven’t found any solution for tethering the device to my computer (I have a Mac - apparently you can do it on a PC) over bluetooth (have to use USB), and I have found no solution for placing phone calls over my computer. This would be a deal breaker, except that Cingular offers no other 3g phones that aren’t flip phones - and one thing I won’t ever buy is a lame flip-phone. Hate me all you want, but flip phones are retarded.

The other thing I noticed right away is that there is no LED apart from the main screen. On the Treo this functioned as a way to let you know you had missed a call or had a text message (missing calls is common on the Treo, since it either won’t receive them at all, resets when you try to answer the phone, or just freezes altogether). On the Blackjack, you have to turn on the screen to see if you’ve missed something - so I guess you just have to get used to checking it every once in a while.

Also strange on the Blackjack is the arrangement of the keys. For dialing, the keys are all seperated for some reason - possibly to avoid patent infringement with Palm. Each of the keys next to the number still functions as the number it is next to, though. Also, typing any numbers involving periods (like an IP address) is really annoying because every time you want a period you have to switch the mode of the keyboard, then switch it back to continue typing numbers.

Samsung did obtain patents from RIM allowing them to use a similar key setup to the Blackberry phones. The Blackjack also has a jog wheel, which I think it a first for a WM5 smartphone. Typing fast seems to be impossible as the phone’s error correction makes it miss keystrokes is typed in too fast. The Treo wins here, with flawless typing correction.

Data - The high speed data is incredible. At home, with the Blackjack tethered to my notebook, I was pulling down about 850 kbps. It felt nearly as fast if not as fast as my broadband cable connection (In reality it’s about 1/3rd as fast). I could browse to youtube and watch videos without any delay. Videos would buffer faster than they could play. I also tried sending a file to a friend over IM and got about 90 kbps. Not bad at all. It has convinced me to stick with a 3g phone.

Cingular is a little trixy and signed me up for an unlimited data plan that costs twice as much as the unlimited plan I was already on, but hopefully I can get them to revert it back. They lied and said I needed it for the rebate, but that’s not true according to the rebate form.

WM5 looks like it offers a lot of options for customization. The home screen itself is an XML file, so anyone can write their own. I think it will offer me enough “play factor” to keep me entertained with it for a while.

Camera - The camera is pretty decent actually. A lot of people have complained that it doesn’t take clear pictures, but I haven’t had any problems. There is a really weird “frames” option that offers some, well … strange frames - especially for a business-centric smartphone.

Overall it’s been a great phone so far. Vastly superior to the Treo 650. If the bluetooth was implemented properly it would be a sure win. If I can’t come up with a reasonable solution within my 30 day trial period I might be returning it to try something else.

Posted by Sam at November 21st, 2006

So I placed two orders on Friday afternoon. I purchased the same shipping on both of them - the standard 3 to 5 day ground service. One package is coming from Apple and is shipping via FedEx, and one is coming from MP3Car.com and has shipped via UPS.

I’ve never really liked UPS. I mean, I like getting packages, and I like it anytime anyone is at my door handing me something I have been coveting for the last several days. But UPS just seems played out - with their brown trucks and little shorts, always running around all fast and making people sign their names.

FedEx, on the other hand, seems much more modern. They have white trucks with a red and blue logo. they use modern styling, and their people are friendly. Oh, and one more thing, they actually tend to deliver the package you sent. According to my shipping widgets, I have 0 days left until I receive my order from Apple, and 8 days left before I receive my other order.

8 DAYS?!?!!! I could be dead by then! WWIII could be in full swing and I could be drafted away fighting communists/terrorists/children with guns in some foreign god-forsaken hell-hole in 8 days! I don’t even understand how it could be so slow - like I mean physically how can they make it so slow? I could drive to the east coast, pick up my package, and drive back and I would have it much quicker than 8 days.

It reminds me of a skit on the classic cartoon Tailspin. For some reason or another, Kit had to send in some letter and Baloo screwed something up so they didn’t have enough money to send it. He ended up using 23rd class mail to send the letter. I showed the process of the letter going through 23rd class, where only really old people in walkers handled your mail and they flew in an old sputtering biplane to deliver it.

In a race between FedEx and UPS, not only would FedEx win, they would win, quite literally before UPS even started. I will get my package from Apple tomorrow, but according to UPS my package from MP3CAR hasn’t even left the state yet.

Now UPS isn’t ALL bad - I mean there are worse shipping methods - like say, the United States Postal service. I once had my dad OVERNIGHT me a check (yes, OVERNIGHT at great cost to himself). I didn’t see the check for something like 8 months. I actually got it when I was at home later that year and the post office called asking if we wanted it. No, we don’t want it. We just wanted to give you thirty dollars to hold onto it for us for nearly a year! Thanks!

Have you seen castaway? Tom Hanks worked for FedEx and was on the verge of death before he was willing to open other people’s packages. This kind of care and consideration exemplifies their business practices in general, I believe. Now that’s a company I can trust.

Oh ya, and DHL is okay too - although Jake will tell you something different.

Posted by Sam at November 17th, 2006

I got my new car on Tuesday. It’s a 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX and it’s freakin’ sweat. Check her out.

Ya, so I’ve been racing around for the past few days and ended up going through a whole tank of gas in the fist day (I was driving without plates too - I got to the DMV about 10 seconds too late to get them the first day).

Today I ordered everything I need to install a computer in my car. I got a Mac Mini and a 7″ touch screen display that will be installed in my dash in place of the stereo. With the first phase I’ll be able to listen to music, watch movies (or pictures), wardrive (via a hacked wrt54g router in the trunk running as a kismet drone), access the internet over my phone or available signals, access car statistics, logs, and virtual gauges, have access to real-time 3d navigation, and of course play games (passengers only!). I’ll also have a cell transmitter which will be constantly updating my location to a server (like JakeJack) so I’ll have live feeds of where I am at all times available to the general public, and a good way to find my car if it ever gets stolen.

The security part will be fun. I can remote trigger a security system to take pictures of the driver, the surrounding area, the GPS location, and other data and upload them to a server. With a little work I could even remote disable the car and lock the doors. I could even have everything recording in a five minute loop in case of an accident or something as evidence (to be used when so needed). This is all part of phase two of the project. Since I already have a simple alarm I’m going to do the fun stuff first.

So all the parts should be arriving mid-next week (probably while I’m gone to Colorado, unfortunately) and I’ll be spending a day or two getting it all wired up. I will be updating here with progress on my mobile command center.

Posted by Sam at November 14th, 2006

I got a new bed tonight. It was delivered by the bed fairy all the way from IKEA in California. Before it came to me, it made stops all over California - stayed on several beaches, partied it up in some mad clubs, and even got a hangover from drinking too much.

I had my friend the bed fairy pick up the bed for me because IKEA wanted $200 to ship the dang thing. Considering the bed itself only cost $120, this didn’t seem like a very awesome option. I don’t pay $200 for anything unless it is tangible (unless compelled by law). Delivery from a friend who just happened to be taking a trip out to California was free. That means a considerable savings.

One thing I learned it that IKEA furniture is cheap, and by cheap I mean inexpensive. But it’s not as cheap as they say. A $120 bed actually costs $170 because they charge you for separate pieces that you need, and even for some mythical pieces that don’t exist. I’m not complaining, because it’s still a dang cheap bed, and paying a bit extra means nothing when I saved $200 on shipping.

So here it is, in all it’s glory.

So yes, it does look sorta like a prison bed. That headboard is perfect for handcuffs too (note to self). But this bed is intended to provide one important function and one important function only.

You see, before I had a regular little frame, on top of which sat a box spring and then my mattress. You can see from the photos that I have a hardwood floor. This means that every time I sat up in bed, I would slowly slide out from the wall, ending up laying almost flat again - with a huge gap in-between the wall and my bed. This was contributed to not only by the fact that my frame had wheels, but also the fact that the mattress would easily slide on top of the box spring.

So I needed a headboard, and this one was cheap.

I got rid of the box-spring altogether and now only have a mattress, sitting upon some magic pieces of wood that are made of gold. I can sit up in bed now and lean back to my hearts content, my bed is not going anywhere. I’m sitting in it now, in fact.

Dave came over tonight for help fixing his computer. The power connector on the motherboard was shot (this is an HP laptop, so you know - it’s to be expected). Since I’ve fixed several in my day, I showed him how to fix it (letting him do it himself). It was getting late, so the half completed project is sprawled across the kitchen table to be completed later.

This doesn’t bother me at all, in fact - the view has not changed over the last month as I had the EXACT SAME PROBLEM with another HP laptop that I was fixing. It remained taken apart on our table for a really long time as I was waiting for a part to come in.

So barring any unforeseen acts of god, a flip-flopping seller, or the complete destruction of Earth, I should be getting my new car tomorrow. I am going to hold off on telling you what it is (for those of you who don’t already know) just in case one of the above 3 mentioned things happen and I end up disappointed, alone, and carless (owning a Mazda Protege is the same as being carless).

By the way, I am selling my 2000 Mazda Protege. If anyone is interested I’m only asking $2800 (it books at $3800). It’s in pretty decent condition considering it had to constantly withstand the sheer force of my awesomeness. If anyone wants it, or if you know anyone who wants it, please let me know. You can email me at sam [at] gthing dawt net. Here is is on KSL cars if you want more info.

Posted by Sam at November 13th, 2006

The usual method for changing a program’s icon in OS X is outlined here. Unfortunately sometimes this method doesn’t work because the icon image you are trying to use actually has a generic image icon in it’s info box instead of the image itself, such as seen in the two boxes on the right in this image (click for full view):

So I made a little program based on a script I found here that will fix the preview icon for any image. Just double click on iconifier, point it to your image, and voila, the image in the upper left of the info box will match the actual preview image found down below.

This might be entirely unnecessary, and there might be any easier way to do this - but this is all I could figure out right now.

Download: Iconifier.app (13k)

Posted by Sam at November 12th, 2006

I found this live recording of an old powerless song. I think some people liked this song, but it got scraped because Danny and Oli both didn’t like it. We haven’t played it in probably a year and a half and Danny and Oli talk about how much they hate it every time I bring it up.

So, here is the only known recording of a song called “Jersey Woman.”

By the way, if you don’t have it already you should use a firefox plugin called greasemonkey which allows you to run custom scripts on pages. With the inline mp3 player script you will get a little play button next to any direct mp3 link (like the one above) and you can stream it right from the page instead of downloading it.

Posted by Sam at November 9th, 2006

Imagine for a moment that someone grabs your hand and arm. While holding your arm still, they begin to twist your hand. Pretty soon it becomes very painful. It then goes to beyond painful. You then begin to hear tendons tearing, cartilage popping and bones smacking against one another.

Do you have the noise in your head? The horrific sound of your hand being twisted off?

That is exactly the sound I heard tonight as I shook this guy’s hand. I had just met with him about buying his car and was shaking his hand to leave. Right at the end of the shake his wrist just let out this horrible blood curdling short series of pops. He was just turning into his house and shutting the door. As it shut I heard him breath in sharply like he was in pain.

Before I knew it the door was shut and I was on my way. I wish I would have reacted faster and asked him if his wrist was okay or if I had just ripped his hand off. I can’t get that sound out of my head. I just keep thinking of my own wrist and the mechanics of what would need to happen to make it reproduce those noises.

Wow.

And yes, I’m buying a new car - I found the one I want tonight (not wrist guy’s). Details forthcoming.