Category Archives: Technology

Ubuntu phone – really the end

My expectations for the sale of my (second) Ubuntu phone were low. I paid around £170 for it a year ago, so was pretty surprised when it sold for almost the same amount. 

A bloke called Arthur bought it. I think he might be Dutch, although I’m not certain of that. He has an unusual sense of humour and reading his messages via eBay actually made me laugh. The phone seems to be going to a good home. 

However, I must confess to feelings of guilt as to the price Arthur has paid for the phone. Yes, it’s a thing of beauty, but he paid too much. And, so, I’ve refunded twenty quid. 

Also, I now have a most delicious bottle of Tucher.

I feel better now. 

Wallpaper

A very long time ago, I took a picture of my second in comnand and cartoon-ised it to make a wallpaper picture for my iPhone 4. I made two versions, one grey and one purple. While I preferred the purple, I used the grey one because it worked better with the small screen. 

I’ve used it since, on a couple of phones, but it didn’t quite work. However, for some reason, it seems to work with my new phone. 

And the purple version too.

Birthday

I took this picture of the Ubuntu home page last night with the intention of posting it straight away. 

Unfortunately, though, I needed to download Linux to help me to sort out a Windows computer, a process which is proving to be painful. So, this anniversary slipped my mind. 

Mr Torvalds did pretty well. 

iPod

A couple of years ago, I (nervously) replaced the battery of my old 4th generation iPod. 

Sadly, while the transplant was a success, the hard drive failed a few months later. Bashing the iPod (advice from the internet) brought the device back to life, but only for a little while. After which the iPod was consigned to the drawer of cables. 

Of late, I’ve been considering a new one. But I read a useful instructable  a few days ago. Which then led to the discovery that modifying old iPods is becoming popular. 

I have now purchased some bits and pieces. Naturally, should the project fail, I may not mention my old iPod again. 

Ubuntu Phone

I’m writing this with my first Ubuntu phone, a BQ Aquaris 4.5. I’m not actually using Ubuntu though, since there’s no WordPress app for the phone. I switched the phone to Android when I bought the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu phone, a much better spec and a lot faster. 

A few weeks ago, I switched to the Aquaris because it runs pretty fast with Android and, mainly, because I miss the applications that come as standard on Android or IOS. But I now miss the beauty of Ubuntu and the MX4. 

So i’ve had to make a tough decision. Android or Ubuntu (IOS wasn’t an option because I’ve been there and wouldn’t go back). As gorgeous as it is, Ubuntu just doesn’t yet deliver what people need in a phone nowadays. It’s a joy to use, but the lack of apps is an issue. 

Android it is then. The Aquaris will soon be binned, replaced by a newly ordered Meizu M3 mini. It’s a small phone (I wanted a 5″ pocket sized phone), but a good spec and silly price. 

I went for another Meizu because they produce pretty capable phones and because I love my Ubuntu phone’s build. I may now sell the MX4 on eBay or keep it as a SIM-less device/spare. 

CCTV

Years ago, I used to have a webcam in a window, looking out onto the street. I used a cool little program to take regular pictures and post them to this page (or at least a previous version). 

A recent broken window made me think that I need to reintroduce a camera to the house. 

And so I ordered a CCTV set-up while we were away. While installation is still in progress, I’m impressed with the ease with which I’ve gotten it up and running. 

I’m now up to three of four cameras, although there’s capacity for eight. 

There’s a reasonable 1TB hard drive for recording and connection to our router for web access. And there’s even an app for smartphones. 

Pretty good for only £140. 

Resurrection

Finally, someone’s managed to resurrect a deceased Nabaztag, with the addition of independence via an implanted Raspberry Pi. 

I may need to attempt this project. 

Blood pressure

After last Saturday’s scare at my asthma check-up, my second in command has purchased a blood pressure device. I tested said device at various times yesterday, then again this morning. I decided that it would be wise to record my blood pressure at intervals before my appointment with my GP. Determined to avoid medication, I wanted to show that I have some form of white coat syndrome. I’ve also made some pretty severe dietary changes, even though I already had a decently healthy diet.

My first day’s readings are strange, varying quite madly at different times of day, from borderline mild hypertension to dead. I may have not used the device correctly for the latter. Thinking positively, my blood pressure isn’t (well, in one day) consistently excessively high.

I shall continue using the device, perhaps conducting a test involving beer.

Rabbit surgery

I’m one of several thousand people left with a deceased Nabaztag, or even worse, the newer Karotz, after the respective servers were turned off.

Help was at hand, sadly not for Karotz owners, when someone kindly developed a Raspberry Pi solution; in effect, a Nabaztag can run as intended from such a device. I tried it, with success. Until my cheap eBay phone charger, that is. Said device exploded, as mentioned at the time, leaving me with a dead Pi and, discovered several hours later, a very dead TV.

Anyway, while on my way to work this morning, I came across a blog which appears to have a Nabaztag\Raspberry Pi\Apple vintage focus.

image

Notice the header? Although the Nabaztag has been deceased for some time now, this blog still uses it in both name and graphic.

Better still,the author has attempted to integrate a Raspberry Pi within a Nabaztag II. OK, so it may not have worked, but it makes one wonder if there’s a less ambitious way to achieve the result. Unfortunately, my French isn’t great, so I’m not 100â„… certain what went wrong. I shall investigate.