Biu's 206 Garage

Bluetooth Audio (A2DP) on Ubunto

2008-12-14T22:43:00.013+08:00

Just a week ago, I make a revolution to my home computers, begin to use Ubuntu on my home notebook and say goodbye to Windows. I have used Linux system for a long time but this is just limit to the server environment. I didn't have any good impression with Linux desktop enivronment. One of the major reason was the user interface's friendliness and the look. Linux desktop is always ugly and difficult to use. However Ubuntu totally turned over my mind, it is robust stable, competent features, clean interface and easy to configure. One of the biggest concerns in this migration is to make sure all my regular tasks can still be done in the new platform. Bluetooth audio (A2DP) is supported by Ubuntu but unfortunately the configuration is not straight forward and friendly. Here by I will introduce a procedure called "pulse" copy from bluetooth linux website. I only tested this on Ubuntu 8.10 but it supposes to work on any Linux distribution.

1. Pairing your bluetooth headphone as usual uses the bluetooth utility in the notification area.

2. Create a text file ".asoundrc" in your home directory and put the following:

pcm.bluetooth {
type bluetooth
device "00:00:00:00:00:00"
}

"00:00:00:00:00:00" is your bluetooth headphone MAC address. If you don't know the address, changing your headphone to pairing mode and execute "hcitool scan" to get the address.

3. Install package "pavucontrol"

sudo apt-get install pavucontrol

4. Create a script file in the following and put the file in any convenient place. You will use this file to connect or disconnect the bluetooth connection.

#!/bin/sh

index=`pactl list | grep -B 2 'Argument: device=bluetooth' | egrep 'Module #[0-9]+' | sed 's/[^0-9]//g'`

if [ -z "$index" ]; then
echo "load bluetooth module"
pactl load-module module-alsa-sink device="bluetooth"
else
echo "unload bluetooth module: $index"
pactl unload-module $index
fi

5. Turning on your headphone and run the script to make the connection. If successful, some number should be displayed.

6. Open "PulseAudio Device Chooser", clicks the icon in the notification area to open "Volume Control". In "Output Devices" tab, you should see some bluetooth device in the list. Click the down arrow icon and checks the "Default" checkbox.

7. Open "Sound" in system menu. In "Devices" tab, changes all the playback devices to "PulseAudio Sound Server".

Congratulation, you have finished the configuration and your bluetooth headphone becomes the default output source when it is connected. You can use the script file to turn on or off the headphone connection. The current implementation has some problem if the headphone connection is closed and your application is still playing the sound, most likely your application will be frozen as well. Actually the same thing is happened with my old day's Windows system. :P

How to train up your distance running strength - part one

2008-11-14T23:15:00.006+08:00

I'm not a sport genius or expert. However if talking about running, especially the distance running, I'm proud for my current training result.

My distance running life is started by year 2002. I'm a VERY FAT guy at that time, the weight is close to 180 pounds. Do you find that I'm very fit in the facebook gadget and doubt about it?? This is normal and I think even the past of me was also difficult to believe my current achievement. For some reason (I will tell you health officially :P), I needed to pick an exercise as my long term hobby. I had considered other exercise such as badminton which is my another favor sport. But I found that running is the most efficient and simplest exercise, and it was quite suitable to me since my first priority at that time was burning the fat. What needed to equip for the running is just only a pair of shoes and my determination. Afterward, I begun my running life.

To continue in part two

Marathon becomes popular

2008-11-14T22:42:00.006+08:00

I still remembered when I asked my friend to come with me to participate marathon, they would say I was mad and considered marathon was a mission impossible task. I played Standard Chartered Marathon for 3 years now. This year is something different to the past 3 years. This time the number of friends joined the marathon is a new record. There are about 10 persons, it is a new record.

I always tell my friend that 10km marathon is nothing special. It is just a simple exercise and supposed everyone who is health can also finish the race even they are lack of exercise. Might be my talking was successfully to influence my friends, or after they attended the running practice, they also felt the marathon challenge is feasible to them. This year is the most exciting time, since I can race with many friends. Past year my record is 2 hours to finish the half marathon. Wished I can break my personal record too this year.

Peugeot RC hybrid concept car

2008-10-06T22:09:00.012+08:00

Usually hybrid car is designed for the fuel performance instead of the speed, so there is still no sport car in the market is equipped hybrid. But now Peugeot is showing a new hybrid RC concept car in Paris exhibition. RC series in Peugeot is always stand for sporty and performance. This concept car hybrid system is quite different to most of the current production cars. General hybrid system is that both the electric and combustion parts are working together. However this Peugeot's hybrid is separated transmission system. Both transmission systems are solely connected to either the front and the rear wheels. By default, when burning the gas, the car is rear wheels transmission. When turn into electric mode, the car is front wheels transmission. And this car also provides the blended mode to turning the car into all-wheels mode. Is that funny? Your car supports three transmission modes plus hybrid support.

A video of a guy photos for 17 years

2008-09-20T10:09:00.003+08:00

An awesome video, a guy spent 17 years to take two photos daily and created this video. You can see the changes of his head in 17 years. I wonder does this guy stay in the prison as his hair style was kept changing from very short to very long.

Subaru Time Lapse Rally Car Assembly

2008-08-19T22:49:00.000+08:00

Funny iPhone Application, "I Am Rich"

2008-08-10T01:21:00.003+08:00

If you want your iPhone to be more personalized, there is an ultimate solution which costs only US$999.9.

"Its function is exactly what the name implies: to alert people that you have money in the bank. I Am Rich was available for purchase from the phone's App Store for, get this, $999.99 -- the highest amount a developer can charge through the digital retailer"

Double the price of iPhone for just only a mark. GREAT!!

http://www.macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/18119/

Meet my ex!

2008-07-14T23:35:00.009+08:00

On last Saturday after a lesson I received a call from a friend. He said my ex. was smoking. Ex? Smoking? Yes, he was referring my ex. 206. haha~

So I hurry went to my friend place to see any help that can be provided. When I saw the ex, I quite surprised for everything I seen. There was some obvious scratch and paint off. The car interior appeared worn. My friend said idling nightmare was coming back again. And the last one was the most surprised, the gear head connection broke. How come it can be broken? It is made with metal and some hard plastic. My friend is so scare for the car reliability, so I helped to drive to garage. On the way I had several times couldn't shift the gear due to broken gear. This was dammit danger especially couldn't shift to right gear or failed to slow down with gear down. After the check up, we suspect the cause of smoke was not mechanical problem. The cause was just the driver didn't release the handbrake entirely so the brake pad kissed the disc all the time. Sound interesting, right?

French Parking

2008-07-09T13:52:00.002+08:00

Why french made cars are so popular in France? Why most french cars have a big lip? Take a look this video, it demonstrates how a pug agile in French parking culture.

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WE ARE THE LEAGUE CHAMPIONS

2008-05-22T13:11:00.003+08:00

We made it! We made it!! We are the LEAGUE CHAMPIONS.

Goodbye my 206

2008-05-12T19:13:00.005+08:00

Goodbye my lovely 206. This is a hard decision. Due to some personal planning, it is time to give a new owner for it. I have struggled for a long time, even the deal is going to take on coming Friday and there are still four days left. In past few days public holiday, I took the public transport and started to get used to the life without a drive. Obviously it is not easy to me and sometimes is quite inconvenience, let me want to cancel the deal. Will I get a new car? Definitely yes but will not happen in short time.

CHAMPION MANCHESTER UNITED

2008-05-12T01:44:00.006+08:00

Yeah, this is the 10 times Manchester United picking Premier League trophy. Now is just one more step, defeat Chelsea in Moscow to finish the DUAL TROPHIES mission.
Go! Go! Go! Manchester United!!

Castle Peak Hospital magic show

2008-05-04T11:59:00.003+08:00

This is a series of magic show in a volunteer function by LEO for Castle Peak Hospital patients. Even though the performer is a young kid and some mistakes in between the show, but still professional.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

My manu lost in last important game

2008-04-27T01:35:00.003+08:00

I still cannot believe the last game result, Manchester United lost to Chelsea in their home. In score table, manu is still the number one by having better goal difference than blue, but the score advantage is no more. One of major cause of the lost, in my view is the manager Ferguson holding up some major strikers like C. Ronaldo to reserve the power for next important match versus Barcelona. Why Ferguson did not plan a full team to get the victory in that important match. The suitation is much more worst now. In order to become dual champions, manu will need to WIN all the remaining matches. Dual champions road is tough. As of manu fans, I still believe manu can finish this impossible mission.

Possible end day is coming! Large Hadron Collider experiment soon

2008-04-08T23:14:00.003+08:00

This experiment is cool, but will it result black hole and absorb our earth??

Large Hadron Collider
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider

Some photos by new toy: Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18

2008-04-06T22:34:00.004+08:00

I got a new toy, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18, for replacing my ancient 300M Nikon. Below are some photos taken today in Hong Kong Trail stage 4 and Eastern Trail. I'm too busy on playing new toy. Let me make a detail review in leisure time.

Holi (the festival of colors) in Bangalore

2008-03-22T20:50:00.005+08:00

This video is taken from my Bangalore hotel. People there was playing crazily to celebrate a festival calling Holi, means the festival of colors. Because the festival is about color, everyone was colored and no matter the adult or child was freely throwing color water to everyone. Some child was even using water gun to eject color water. A nice festival letting everyone gone back to child age. I wanted to join too but poor that I needed to check out very soon. I didn't want to be colored appearance on the way to home.

Jet turbine speaker in electric super car

2008-03-15T19:14:00.006+08:00

What is the different if driving a electric car? You can get same performance as typical fueled car, even performed faster in acceleration. Electric car is zero emission and truly environmental friendly, suppose it will welcome by everyone, but car fanatic might get disappointment by the car rock silent driving experience. Because the car is running electricity so there is no exhaust system installed, missing lovely roaring exhaust sound. Clever car manufacturer Fisker has a ultimate solution, that is install speaker in car interior and exterior. Driver can choose his desired exhaust sound from formula one to jet turbine. Wow, whats a great offer!

Audi R8 vs Porsche 911 GT3, which one is faster?

2008-03-10T00:43:00.002+08:00

Funny match, at last was still won by my dream car.

The end of Pentium (i586) grade system

2008-02-29T14:25:00.003+08:00

Last Sunday I finished a big maintenance task for my home server, upgrade outdated Fedora 4 to CentOS4. My original plan is upgrade to CentOS5. Poor CentOS5 is no more support i586 architecture, the minimum entry requirement becomes i686 or above. My home server is VIA C3, likely be i686 but due to missing one of important i686 instruction and bend to i586 family. If I know this earlier, definitely I never setup my server in this hardware combo. I wonder what is my next option when CentOS4 is end of life, poor Pentium family gives up by Linux community.

Manchester United closed the gap

2008-02-24T14:59:00.003+08:00

Brilliant match, closed the gap of Arsenal.

2 hours and 1 minute

2008-02-20T21:46:00.006+08:00

My half marathon result is 2 hours and 1 minute, ranks 895. Not bad for my first try, my next year target is less than 2 hours and within top 500.

Finished my race from Standard Chartered HK Marathon 2008

2008-02-17T16:21:00.013+08:00

Just wake up from few hours sleep. Now my two legs are still tired, but not feel pain anymore as early time. The cream from Marathon souvenir is work, it relaxed my pain after applied little on tired parts. My race was finished at around 9 o'clock, spent nearly 2 hours finished 21km race, little bit faster than my expectation. Overall experience is excellent. I can split my experience into few parts:

In first 10km, it was easy job.
Before entering the tunnel, started to feel tired, but still good.
After leaving the tunnel, felt my limitation arrived.
Feeling frustration when saw the length sign, the number looked unchanged, always few kilometers left.
Cheer up again after entered Causeway Bay, with the cheering by citizens.
In last 500m, with the powerful cheering, everyone look like installed turbo.

Some more interest things include urgent guys random pee in side road, and cheering by female cleaners. They use their tools to make sound, 阿姐好野!!

Opera Mini 4: might be the BEST mobile browser

2008-02-07T00:19:00.000+08:00

The video is a Opera Mini 4 demo created by me. It is about access a stock quoting website (AAStocks.com) and checks the stock price and news.

Because I used some remote display software to stream my PPC screen to Windows for capturing this video, the video appears lag but I can say it performed amazing and smooth in my P535 WM6 phone. I can't believe such a small Java application can complete a browser task. Opera Mini 4 has two excellent features drawing my attenion. First one is proxy browsing, they call this technology as "Mini Technology". It can boost your browsing speed by compressing and preprocessing the web. The idea is very simple. They have a public proxy to cache and process every web requests. For large HTML document or image, it will compress or decrease the resolution so the download data is minimized, turn out your browsing experience is improved. This feature is quite significant slow brandwidth network like GPRS. The second feature is point and zoom. Similar to Nokia S60 browser, if the page is over sized, a full screen preview is displayed and you can click any portion to zoom in or move the cursor to scroll the page. This feature is handy for device without touch screen or lazy person who hates touch screen (such as me).

Link: http://www.operamini.com/

Tuckland, my first pair of hiking shoes

2008-02-03T20:28:00.000+08:00

Featuring Vibram sole offers high grip performance in terrible terrain. Gore-tex surface can keep water out and dry quickly. Tuckland, I only know it is coming from Spain. Before my purchase, I even didn't know anything about Tuckland. I have checked some hiking forums, look like this brand is quite famous and reliable.