I found a neat way to trick my old point-and-shoot camera to shoot raw images, and many more additional capabilities that are found in a higher end camera. It’s through the use of a firmware called CHDK.

CHDK stands for Canon Hack Development Kit. Unlike other firmwares I have encountered, this one does NOT make permanent changes on the firmware of the camera. This is so because these files are saved onto the memory card and are booted by the camera’s processor whenever the camera is turned on. If you decide to disable the firmware later, then you simply get back the old functionality using the camera’s firmware. By default this Canon firmware hack doesn’t load when the camera is turned on, but this can be configured later so that this firmware loads automatically.

an earlier image taken using the CHDK, it was not possible to shoot into the sun without CHDK

One thing I like with CHDK is that, it enables my point-and-shoot camera to shoot RAW images in addition to the JPEG files. Many times I worked with images taken with this little camera using Photoshop, and I usually get frustrated when working with JPEG files. Working in RAW images is whole lot better because I do not lose a lot of image data. Simply enabling RAW is not enough: Photoshop’s latest Camera Raw update doesn’t open plain RAW images from my particular model, and I think Photoshop wouldn’t take their sweet time to support it. The workaround for this is to enable the DNG format, which is technically a RAW file developed by Adobe that can be read in many image software programs. With that setting I could finally open that RAW file in Photoshop.

Other additional functions that I gained is that, I am able to view live histograms (RGB, blended, luminance and for each RGB channel), display the depth of field (DOF), set manual focus, continuous bracketing, set extreme shutter speeds (as little as 1/10,000 of a sec and as long as 65 seconds), and can even run scripts to automate the camera such as that time lapse, zebra mode that show underexposed or overexposed areas, ability to turn off automatic dark-fram subtraction, and plenty of other scripts that can be downloaded from the site. You can even choose to write your own scripts or modify and existing one!

I’m overwhelmed at those additional features that it will take time for me to learn and take better pictures. My camera model is Canon Powershot A480 which I easily put in my pocket or my laptop bag. So far I’m happy to carry a small camera that contains the settings of a high end DSLR. I just have to learn to take even better pictures with the new settings.

Canon PowerShot A480 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.3x Optical Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Silver)

You can download the Canon firmware hack of this particular camera model here.

If you have a not-so-old Canon camera, consider using CHDK for the additional capabilities. If you already happy with factory settings of your Canon camera, then you probably do not need this firmware. Should you decide to install this, make sure to that the firmware installed in your camera matches that one that is offered on the CHDK website.

image by Gem

Over years I had been a victim of theft, and on some occasions, I had been quite careless with my gadgets. I once lost a mobile phone on the office of my previous job, which I left on a charger on someone’s desk. I have left a scientific calculator and probably two or three mobile phones in taxis. I had been held up by a robber in a street whom I decided to turn in my mobile phone instead of risking my life. Oh, and money, sure, I had lost thousands of pesos from pickpockets on several occasions.

Either I had been so careless, or I have been unlucky. Or even both! Maybe I should start seriously considering good old services of a fortune teller for lost things!

Just days ago, I came across this open source software called Project Prey which runs discreetly at the background of my laptop. This software is used to keep track of devices: laptops, desktop and tablets that run on several operating systems – Windows, Mac, Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, Suse and Arch. Pretty useful for someone like me who keeps on losing gadgets – either by force of by carelessness. But I think this could also be of use for those who are careful with gadgets as well.

At least I have a way back to get these devices back; but that is, if the end user doesn’t know about that Project Prey. At least there is still that chance that the laptop could be returned.

Signing up with Project Prey is straightforward. You can either download the software first or just sign-up at the website. Either way you need an account with them and have a software installed in your device.

Once you have completed the signup, you will need to add devices onto the control panel. The image below shows how it looks like. The first button can be toggled to mark the device as missing. It’s is interesting to see that you can get screenshots, webcam shots and location of the missing device as well.

Probably the only time when this software will fail is, if the thief had erased everything on the hard disk or found out a way to disable this program. Project Prey is much of a software and not a firmware that runs when computer starts.

Project Prey comes free with limited features, which includes lockdown and alarm trigger, and could wipe passwords and emails, or you can upgrade to a Project Prey Pro account for $5 per month which is actually practical to do if you want a stolen or missing device back, or just want to have additional features that free account is lacking. I am using a free account for now, as I think this suffice since my laptop isn’t lost.

I highly recommend this free software. However, I can’t use Project Prey to track my lost cash.

Visit Project Prey website

image by Sean McGrath

As soon as I posted this previous week’s post How to Restrict Kid’s Access to Adult Sites, I have some few friends who suggested other “better” solutions than using Windows Live Family Safety. It is always good to have other options available and easier to use than the one I’ve suggested.

I believe there isn’t a one size that fits all. It’s best to go for the one that fits your needs. If Windows Live Family Safety, then have a look at other options below.

The vastness of information in the internet makes it easier for kids to do their homework – instead of going to the local public library or school library here there is limited information. However, the internet makes it also easier for kids to gain access from nude images to videos of those actual adult sites.

Fortunately, there are ways of restricting kids access to adult sites. I’ve setup mine which actually came with my operating system Windows 7 Ultimate – through Windows Live Essentials 2011. This program is free, but only if you have a system that satisfies the program’s system requirements.

Basically, there are three things that you need:

1. An live.com, msn.com or hotmail.com account.
2. Windows Live Essentials 2011 downloaded from the Microsoft website.
3. The computer to be configured. It should match the specific system requirements of the program.

Windows Live Essentials 2011 comes with several programs, but for this purpose you’d want to simply install one item: Family Safety. Simply choose custom setup, as seen on the following screenshot.

Uncheck all the other programs and leave Family Safety checked (unless you want some other programs installed as well).

After the installation, create a separate account for the kids. You may want to create individual Windows account for each of the kids, or just use a common account that they can access under a common username (maybe you’d want to name that common account as “kids” or something else). The account should be a standard user, not an administrator user. Use the control panel to create that account.

After creating those kiddie account(s), it’s now time to fine tune the settings so they are administered using Family Safety. Get back again into the Control Panel and click the link that says set up parental controls for any user (see image above).

On the next screen, you should be seeing a list of Windows accounts. However, before clicking one of the accounts, make sure that Windows Live Family Safety is selected at the bottom of that dialog box.

Scroll up the same dialog box and click the user account that you want to restrict. You will need to sign in using an existing live.com, hotmail.com or msn.com account or sign up for a new account instead.

Just follow the wizard and answer the prompts after that screen.

To further tweak the settings, simply go back to the Control Panel and get back to Parental Controls to fine tune the settings. There are several settings there

The settings will take in effect the next time the kids will log in using their accounts.

There are other third-party programs available in the internet such as K9 Web Protection and Net Nanny, but I still prefer this native program over those.

image by Robert Nelson

Did you know that the laptop battery needs proper maintenance to last its entire life? Laptops these days are shipped with lithium-ion batteries which needs a little babysitting to last its estimated life. Replacing a worn-out laptop battery costs more or less $100 which is quite an expensive consumable, so it is a good practice to calibrate such batteries regularly.

When I bought my Acer Aspire 4740G laptop last year, I was not even aware that the batteries that came with the device needed regular maintenance. I was probably like other people who think that batteries need no extra attention, only to come across complaining people that their laptop batteries disappoint them. Most manufacturers also don’t bother placing instructions on how to calibrate these kinds of batteries, and I’m beginning to think that this is their ploy to get their customers to purchase brand new lithium-ion batteries in a short time.

A good battery lasts for two to three years. Various factors like excessive heat and even keeping the laptop unused for several months on a very low charge could shorten the battery life.

Why is there a need for calibration?

Lithium-ion batteries often indicate inaccurate battery wear and capacity readings over time. In effect, the laptop charge doesn’t last long and indicates low battery mode even if the battery is still in good condition.

Simple steps to calibrate your laptop battery

Battery charge should last a bit longer after each calibration. Do the calibration every 30 cycles of charging and discharging, or every month, whichever comes first! Again, most instructions apply to Windows users but there is no reason not to perform calibration on Mac and other operating systems too.

image by VeloBusDriver

1. Charge the laptop up to its maximum capacity. Leave the device plugged for two hours or more.
2. Disconnect the laptop from AC power. Disable any means in the Power Options for the laptop to sleep or go into hibernation before the battery charge is depleted to. Use or leave the laptop on until the battery is depleted to 3% charge, in which the computer automatically enters hibernation.
3. Leave the laptop in hibernation state for five hours or more.
4. Charge the laptop again up to its maximum capacity.

Additional best practices

1. Lithium-ion batteries like shallow discharge than a deep discharge. Avoid getting the battery to very low levels of deep discharge (less than 10%). This could also easily wear out the battery. The deep discharge, as illustrated through the steps above, should be performed only when calibrating the battery. 40% charge is a good level to start a recharge.
2. Excessive heat from the laptop or other sources easily degrades the battery. Avoid getting the computer temperature hot. Avoid storing the laptop under heat sources such as the sun.
3. Unless performing a calibration, avoid plugging the laptop for more than eight hours on AC power. Lithium-ion battery lasts longer when it is frequently charged or discharged the right way.
4. When the laptop is expected to be unused for more than a week, make sure that the battery charge is partially charged to about 40%. Batteries discharge even when unused, and it is possible that a very low battery charge could go fully depleted – as a result, the battery will have difficulty picking up a charge anymore and will need immediate replacement. After storage, always fully charge the batteries before going through another cycle of discharge.

I think we would not have to wait too long when laptop battery technology goes maintenance-free and would last long even if these are subjected to heat, or goes fully depleted. For now we still have to religiously perform the calibrations to get the maximum life out of our batteries.

I’ve previously blogged about having a brand new shiny Acer Aspire 4740G laptop which I use for working outdoors. Whether I’m working on a coffee shop, a restaurant or drive myself to one of the few scenic places up here in Baguio, my laptop is such an indispensable tool whenever I just need to boost my creativity on a different environment. My laptop had also served many times as my backup computer.

I’m not carrying a light netbook: my notebook weighs more than two kilos which is suitable for Photoshop work, web design and some blogging activities. When I purchased it, I chose performance over battery life. I noticed that my notebook’s battery charge lasts for about three hours with normal use.

image credit to Lauri Rantala

I am sharing these tips on how to extend your laptop’s battery life. I am a 100% Windows user so I have written these tips using the Windows operating system in mind.

1. As much as possible, adjust the brightness of the laptop screen to the lowest setting. Text is difficult to read when in a bright environment, so I try to look for darker places such as coffee shops where I could easily read the screen.
2. Turn off all unnecessary applications. Check your system tray for any applications that reside in the memory and exit them. If you can confidently tweak the registry (this is not for the faint of heart), remove the applications that run on startup. Uninstall unnecessary applications. Some of these applications reside in the memory that also shortens the battery charge and makes the laptop less speedy as well.
3. Check the computer regularly for any viruses residing in the memory. Most of the time modern viruses written today slow down any laptop systems.
4. Upgrades. Don’t ignore them. Some updates help speed up applications and make efficient use of memory.
5. Turn of unnecessary services. I have been able to add 30 minutes more on my own laptop’s battery charge doing this.
6. Run a defragmentation program on the computer regularly. I do this weekly. I don’t use the built-in defragmenter that comes with Windows. There are a lot of free and paid alternative defragmenters which performs the job faster with minimal downtime.
7. Turn off or unplug unnecessary devices attached to the laptop. Wifi and Bluetooth drains the battery easily, so turn it off when not in use. Remove all unused connections and devices attached to the laptop. Even a mouse attached to the USB drains the laptop easily.
8. Avoid using the CD/DVD. Like the USB port, this mechanical device too, drains the laptop power in no time.
9. Check the power settings. For the ordinary users, they could just set the Power Options to “Power Saver” mode (in Windows 7). The Power Options in Windows 7 isn’t limited to a few settings; advanced users would be delighted in seeing the advanced options which can be further tweaked.
10. Avoid multitasking. Open one or two program at a time as needed. Minimize open tabs or windows in your browser too.
11. Hibernate is better than sleep. In my experience, Windows 7 does a very good job in restoring computer from hibernation than all its predecessors. Sleep mode consumes a bit more power which is needed by the memory, while hibernate mode simply saves memory contents into the hard disk and doesn’t consume any power at all.
12. Keep the laptop battery cool. Don’t block the ventilation slots. A hot laptop increases the battery wear that leads to a shorter life (and you’ll be needing to buy an expensive laptop battery in no time to replace the worn-out battery).
13. (If you are using lithium-ion battery in your laptop – true in many recent releases). Calibrate the laptop once in every 30 charges or one month, whichever comes first. Also, don’t discharge the laptop until its last charge (10% charge and below) – lithium-ion batteries perform better with several shallow discharges than any deep discharge and makes the laptop battery last longer.
14. Increase RAM. The more RAM, the better because this makes the system faster and more efficient. The computer will not be relying on the hard drive that much to augment the data on the RAM.
15. Sounds, screensavers and other eye candy such as the Windows Aero, consume power. Turn them off.

Although these tips help extend a battery’s life, remember that any laptop’s battery wears out in due time. Typically, these batteries last for two or three years before needing to be replaced.

NTC had already discontinued their proposal due to strong opposition from the public and will focus on ensuring that local ISPs would deliver quality services to their customers.

Before the year 2010 ended, I encountered an article at Manila Times about NTC allowing their broadband service providers to put a maximum limit to the number of data that is available to each subscriber. According to the NTC, the broadband cap is needed to address the persistent complaints from many broadband subscribers: internet is a lot slower than the subscribed speed.

According to the revised draft Memorandum Order released by the NTC, internet broadband service providers should “specify the minimum broadband connection speed and service reliability, as well as the service rates in their advertisements, flyers, brochures and service and legal agreements.” The service reliability should be 80 percent at the minimum.

With a capped internet connection, a subscriber is permitted to get a maximum amount of data within a specified amount of time. For example, a subscriber with 1 Mbps connection maybe allowed to get only 25 GB of data each month from its service provider.

Image credit to Dylan

My stand: I strongly disagree with this proposal of letting out ISPs put a cap to our broadband connections. I do not exactly understand how broadband capping solves the poor internet connection problem.

There will be a many people who will be affected by this change: online workers like me who fully rely on the internet for income, webmasters like me who need to upload and download huge amounts of data. Even the typical occasional user also gets much data from the internet – watching YouTube videos and playing games in Facebook also needs much data.

For my ISP PLDT, this could also mean that users may decide not to enjoy watching PLDT Watchpad or even upping their subscriptions to the newly launched PLDT Telepad because these also need a significant amount of data to download.

If you are like me who is against this proposal, then I suggest that you take active part in adding your signature to the online petition that is circulating around (I have just added my signature to it): No to broadband cap, yes to #betterinternet in the Philippines

I have started using Foursquare sometime three months ago and I got hooked. Since the first day, I have signed up with this site I had been happily “checking-in” to many different places here in my hometown, Baguio City.

Foursquare is a social networking site that lets a user post where he or she is located. As of writing this post, it can do cross-posting via Twitter and Facebook; Twitter shows the link to the details of the Foursquare venue while Facebook posts an accompanying map.

I think Foursquare would have been more awesome if its users are able to place comment on other people’s statuses within their website.

image credit to Vadim Lavrusik

How to Add Places on Foursquare

1. Make sure that the place is not yet listed in Foursquare. Do a search first. (insert image of the search results, desktop and mobile)
   

   Search place - mobile version

   

   Search place first -desktop version

2. Type in the venue details. Foursquare will show the confirmation message that the venue was added successfully.
   

   Add new venue - on mobile

   

   Add new venue - on desktop

3. Don’t forget to check-in using a mobile phone after adding the new place. Foursquare did NOT include a similar means of checking in the desktop version of their website. But because I carry a mobile phone with SMS and call only capabilities, I simply use the desktop to get to the mobile page just by typing www.foursquare.com/mobile
   

   Checking-in - appears only on mobile

It was different in the case of my friend, who happened to be working in Majuro, Marshall Islands. Doing the above steps should have been easy, but an error that said “Sorry we can’t find the location on a map. Can you double check the address and try again?” appeared when adding new places. I figured out that Marshall Islands, including the capital Majuro, doesn’t have much labeled structures compared to the Philippines, so I suggested that he add those new places first via Google Maps before doing the steps above. We did that and it worked!

I browsed through Foursquare’s help pages and didn’t mention anything on what to do when this kind of error comes up.

error encountered when adding venue - desktop version

error encountered when adding venue - desktop version

How to add places on Google Maps

NOTE: It’s best to work on Google Maps using a desktop and broadband internet connection.

1. Go to Google Map Maker then type in the name of the place to edit. After the map has been loaded, click Edit to load the Google Map Maker, which allows adding and editing of places. To be able to edit the place, login using Google Account. The sign-in link is located at the upper right side of the browser. Register a Google Account if you still do not have one.
   

   editing the Google map

2. Google Map Maker is straightforward. There are only five visible controls to put mark roads and put places and the point, line and shape controls allow people to classify places. Use these controls to mark the place.
   

   labeling the road and marking structures

3. Go back to Foursquare then try adding the new venue using the previous steps. Again, don’t forget to “check-in” to that place.In my experience, even if the place was added and was NOT yet approved by a moderator, I was able to add the new place in Foursquare successfully.

There is no need to repeat all the steps in adding places for future Foursquare “check-ins”.

NOTE: Thanks to Zorlone for providing camera shots of how the site looks like on his mobile phone.

The procedure also applies to those who wish to receive their Google Adsense payouts.

If you are looking for information on how to send money via Western Union, then check out this post from an OFW: How to send Money via Western Union

Long ago, I decided not to blog about my experience in getting my Google Adsense paycheck via Western Union. However, I decided to write this post because I had this one rare chance of receiving money from a friend who is working overseas.

I live in Baguio – a city that’s around five to eight hours away from the Manila, Philippines – but there are plenty of Western Union branches available to claim money. However, most of these branches close as early as 6 PM. It’s always good to make a call to your preferred branch before the closing time. Not all branches are the same.

Before going to your preferred Western Union branch, it is important to be prepared. Here are the things needed before going to any Philippine-based branch.

1. Identification card: One ID is usually enough but I often carry a bunch of IDs in my wallet just in case. Employment and school IDs with the latest photos are accepted as well as government-issued IDs like driver’s license, PRC ID, postal ID… the usual stuff. Also, Western Union employees do not care if you are under the age of 18: what matters most to them is that the ID should belong to the person receiving the money.
2. List of information: Ask the person/institution sending the money should provide this. In particular, be sure to take down the following – MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number), full name of the sender and the exact amount of money to receive. The sender pays for the send charge involved in the transfer; the only deduction to expect is the Documentary Stamp Tax (DST) which is not a huge amount.
3. Fill-out “To Receive Money” form: Use the list of information above to fill out the form.

In any outlet you are given the choice to receive the amount in Pesos or in US Dollars. I usually have the amount converted in Pesos rather than getting the US dollar amount. Some people prefer to receive the amount in US Dollars then go to their favorite money-exchangers, which, they say, gives higher exchange rates compared to Western Union’s exchange rates.

I haven’t personally tried tracking money transfers online but Western Union provides one to their customers: Western Union Money Transfer Tracking

I know, this post is long overdue. The seminar happened a few months ago. Also, I did not my own camera – so I got the pictures here from the photographers who took shots of the seminar. The RA9292 PDF is located within this post.

Last April 24, 2010, I was able to attend one of IECEP’s seminars, which was held here in Baguio City. IECEP stands for Institute of Electronic Engineers in the Philippines, an institution where one of its main goals is to keep registered electronics engineers in the Philipines keep abreast with the latest technological advancements in the field.

What is a lady programmer like me doing with these group of engineers?

IECEP seminar: Can you spot me in the picture?

If you have been poking around my site long enough or had read me through my about page, you might have read that I am an electronics engineer by profession. My past jobs earned me enough skills for me to do the job of a programmer and later, a web designer. However, this does not mean I was not able to practice pure electronics-related job throughout my career – I was once a maintenance engineer in a semiconductor company before I discovered the beauty of earning from blogs and freelancing.

For now, it seemed that the most active IECEP members are instructors: I got to meet again my former college instructors. I also saw several instructors from several universities and colleges in my place. That was expected, I thought. These instructors need to maintain their licenses to keep their jobs.

What really surprised me is that I met a former classmate: she turned out to be an instructor who is working at one of the colleges in the low lands.

The RA9292 Myths

One of the most interesting highlights of the talk was how the Philippine law known as RA9292 or “Electronics Engineering Law of 2004”. I was pleased that this was discussed (I am guessing that IECEP had been explaining this for the nth time to its members).

This Republic Act 9292 was known to have created a stir among Filipino electronics engineers. I heard various complaints in the internet and off the internet. In general I could cite these major myths that are going around:

Myth number 1: Licensed electronics and communications engineers were downgraded to electronics engineers. The name was changed to electronics engineer to reflect the ever-changing fields of electronics engineering. One of the most notable changes was that ICT (information and communications technology), aviation and maritime engineering fields were included. This change was not well defined in the previous act.

Those who finished related courses such as computer and mechatronics engineering must take the ECE board exam to be able to get the license and append the title of engineer to their full names.

Yay! I realized that I did not really got out of my field of expertise!

Myth number 2: Renewal of electronics engineering license is useless if you are into occupations that don’t need licenses. Not for long, as IECEP had already taken further steps to include electronics engineers as one of the signatories in building plans – alongside architects, civil engineers and sanitary engineers. also, there is that future plan to make electronics engineering license recognized not only in the country but on neighboring southeast asian countries as well. Soon enough, engineers working in private companies here in the Philippines need to hold licenses to be able to continue their work.

However, for those working overseas and don’t have plans to work in the Philippines soon, it’s not really practical to maintain this license. It’s best to get licensed from the chosen country of work.

Myth number 3: Don’t bother renewing your electronics engineering license – you need to sweat out CPE points for knowledge that may be unrelated to the job.

CPE point system had been implement in other courses for quite a while, and it is but normal to implement the same in electronics engineering. The purpose of this point system is to make sure that electronics engineers are updated with the technical developments in the field, not only in their field of expertise. Like as mentioned in the previous myth, it won’t be long before licensed electronics engineers becomes a requirement in any electronics engineering occupation.

Myth number 4: If you are in the IT (information technology) field, aviation, maritime and (insert the name of an electronics-related field here) fields, you don’t need to maintain the license. Not true. See myth number 1.

The “Electronics Engineering Act of 2004” is definitely an improvement over the previous RA 5734. It really defined well what electronics engineering is all about. Although I like this change, there are still some issues that IECEP must continuously look after:

1. Electronics engineering licenses are still useless except in occupations that require licensed engineers. In many private companies this is still true. I hope IECEP should take the necessary steps so that engineers hired in companies should truly be licensed engineers in the first place. These individual engineers too, should prepare and not wait and complain when they began to realize that they’d lose their jobs just because they aren’t licensed engineers.
2. As a result from item number one above, companies should let their engineers be trained for their additional CPE points. This means paid time away from their job and even paid expenses to the place of training!

newly elected IECEP officers - some of them are my former instructors

Electronics Engineers can go into self-employment!

Finally! I get paid for my signature – just like other professions. This is only true if I decide to upgrade my license to professional electronics engineer (PECE). Professional electronics engineers get to sign building plans like any other civil, geodetic and sanitary engineers: during the seminar I was able to see how those building plans look like, but the emphasis of the talk is that each PECE have to be very responsible in approving and signing their building plans, because the responsibility also falls on them.

This development is indeed great news, as it is another promising pathway for me to start a career on this area, in addition to, or as a replacement to my current job as a freelance web designing and blogger.

Download RA 9292 Electronics Engineering Act of 2004