Ricochet wireless modems offer a 28.8kbps connection, and can be used in peer-to-peer mode *without* requiring a service provider (Metricom will never tell you this of course). Range is a couple of miles. They operate like regular modems in every sense: serial connection, AT command set.
Each modem has a "modem number" on the back and you just "ATDTXXXX-YYYY" to dial another Ricochet modem. The other side even sends the "RING" string, and you use "ATA" to answer. Totally transparent to whatever application you are using. These are truly wireless modems.
Although they are tough to get (either through ebay, or Metricom with a 1 year signup), they are the most amazing devices. I have two, and they cost me about $120 a piece. They are pretty funny to use with TI calculators and a Graphlink.
I've gotten several blue screens of death when using VMware. Then I reboot the virtual machine, and Windows begins a scandisk. Just like the real thing! At least when it's in a virtual machine like this you can just minimize it and do something else.
Nope, just web research. I would buy the service if Powertel would let me (they will not, since I'm not a resident of their home area). The national plan would allow me to use their rate plan even from within Pacific Bell territory. Now, if only I knew someone from Georgia who could get me a SIM...
The *G*lobal *S*tandard for *M*obile communications is the phone standard that most of the world uses. Thankfully, it is available in the USA (although strangely on a frequency that no other continent uses for GSM). The GSM system is by far the best implementation of a cellular network, and I highly recommend that you go with it. Some highlights:
1) First of all, it's a world standard, and you know how we love standards here at Slashdot. Nonstandard networks include AT&T or Verizon (a bizzare TDMA hack) and Sprint PCS, which is a new system entirely (although they get kudos for doing something new, CDMA). In fact, there is no central corporation with GSM, only an alliance of providers and manufacturers which decide on the standards.
2) GSM isn't a just digital radio transmission protocol like TDMA or CDMA. It's quite unfair to compare "the big three" as GSM, TDMA, and CDMA. That makes no sense at all. Heck, GSM uses TDMA for its radio transmission. In reality, GSM is an entire cellular phone system, from the phones you use, to the radio towers, the whole bit. Everything about it is part of the standard.
3) GSM was built with wireless data in mind, which is why it has always supported voice, data, and SMS (short messaging service, two way paging) in its network. Every other USA service is just now catching up (read: hacking it in).
4) GSM separates owner and phone by utilizing a SIM card, which identifies you and your provider. This means that you don't even have to notify your provider when you buy a new phone. Just pop in the chip and off you go. I have several GSM phones, and I just stick the chip in the one I wish to use that day. Hmm, do I want the sweet Nokia 8890? Or the terminal-in-my-pocket Nokia 9000?
By the way, amidst the fragmented USA cellular phone market as it is, 1900MHz was assigned as the GSM frequency. This means that for a GSM phone to work here, it must support that frequency. However, some phones do both. The Nokia 8890 or the Ericsson i888 work just about everywhere in the world. And they both have IR ports for your laptops/Psions/Palms. Fun stuff indeed.
When you decide to go with GSM (and I'm sure you will), be sure to choose Powertel. From my research, they have the best value for data minutes in the USA. 600 minutes of voice (or data, no extra charge) anywhere in the USA to anywhere in the USA for $65/mo. Not bad! =)
Telnet / Email is actually very useful if you have a PDA with a keybaord. I use a Psion Revo, which is the smallest keyboard-based PDA (about the size of a palm VII). It only has one port: Infrared. Works quite happily with my Nokia 8890.
I would definitely recommend KDE's Konqueror. It's more standards compliant than Netscape (just from experience, and from reading the specs at konqueror.org).
Full HTML4.0 compliance
Full ECMAscript 262 support (Javascript)
Java applets
Full CSS1 and partial CSS2 compliance
Full SSL support (with openSSL)
This is definitely the browser to use if you're on a unix system. It's great for those that want an open source browser that is lightweight (no email/news clients, as there are other KDE apps for that).
Of course, with today's standards of high-end 3D, anything else looks way less detailed. The interesting part is that the low detail never affected the story. What about FF4? It didn't have near as good of graphics as FF6, yet it was just as immersive. And then the gameboy FF's? Our minds would interpolate the extras, much like we do when reading a book.
I saw quite a few posts from people wondering why in the world anyone would want Linux on a PDA -- the main reason being the interface. You can't run shell commands using graffiti. Hacking in vi? Forget it.
But what about Psion? Has everyone forgotten about the Psion handhelds? They have *keyboards*. And the Revo model isn't much bigger than a Palm VII. Now that is a PDA I can imagine Linux on. So does Linux belong on a PDA? Well, if you have one with a keyboard then maybe. Although I've never heard of anyone putting Linux on a Psion, it seems like a much better target to shoot for than any Palm style handheld.
Of course, the Psions already have a pretty good OS on them. All you really need to use is the Telnet program and then you can remotely access a Linux machine anyway. I actually like it better this way, since I can start remote tasks and then disconnect my Psion from the 'net (all via my Nokia 8890). Remote Linux is the way to go. It turns your PDA into the power of whatever server you connected to.
Of course, this only applies to PDA's with a *keyboard* and a *telnet* application. Frankly, I don't understand why the Psions are never mentioned here on Slashdot. With all the hype about Unix here, you'd think everyone would be using a Psion by now. Try rebuilding a kernel from your Palm toy.
Konqueror was created to replace KFM, and I'm pretty sure they at least used KFM as a reference. It rendered web pages decently, but not much else. Now KDE has Konqueror which boasts everything you'd expect a web browser to do: HTML 4.0, CSS1&2, Java/Javascript, and SSL. What was once a wishlist in May is a reality now.
And I do believe you're right in that the KDE developers have not recieved as much attention. Think about how many news items we have seen about Mozilla or Nautilus in the last few months. When was the last time we heard about Konqueror? I just did a Slashdot search and saw a news item for it dated back in May (its *only* news item).
I think the only reason it has no attention is because it's a KDE app. You generally only hear about the "whole package" of KDE, and nothing about its individual apps. This is unfortunate because Konqueror *really* stands out. The people who normally complain that Mozilla is too bulky should definitely try out Konqueror. It does everything necessary, yet is faster and lighter. I was impressed with the no-hassle SSL. It just utilizes OpenSSL if you have it installed. In fact, this is the first time I've ever been able to get a browser besides Netscape to use SSL.
Embedding Mozilla into Konqueror seems strange at first, since Konqueror does a fine job of it's own. However, wouldn't it be neat to be able to choose a render engine? Imagine a case where the KHTML widget renders a page not quite like you wanted it to. Flip over to Mozilla rendering to give yourself a second shot! =) Hey, there's a first for everything.
DirectX 5.2 I think. It came with a book I bought called "Inside DirectX" by Microsoft Press. I believe they give it out for free at the DirectX website though.
I just spent about 3 hours making a port of one of my old DOS games to Linux. That's 3 hours from opening the SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer) documentation, to compiling the final build of the game. I wish I could say the same about DirectX. That system is terrible! It took me a week to make the same port for Windows using DirectX (which was quite a hack).
Developing in Linux is a joy. Gcc, Makefiles, etc. It's no different than when I worked with Unix or with DJGPP for DOS. VC++ is like a trip to another world. Must have a GUI frontend? Kdevelop is very good. I am not much of a GUI programmer (I can barely make a KDE or Windows program), but I've heard nothing but good about Trolltech's QT system. I cannot say the same about MFC or Win32.
You think Windows is not a huge mob of code? I'd worry more about the stability of my Windows programs than my Linux programs. Win32 is just such a mess! It's the type of architecture where you are afraid of the API.
If I must make a Windows port, SDL and QT thankfully support Windows. But I will develop in Linux.
-Justin
BTW if anyone wants to try out the game, check out http://www.affinix.com/~justin/munchman-1.0.tar.gz I think it's pretty cool still, even though I made the original DOS version in 1997.
GPS units calculate your location based on the position of satellites. They don't ever send data to a satellite. Each satellite beams down its current location in the circle orbit, and the GPS unit calculates how far away each satellite is by analyzing the time difference between pulses.
Get 3 signals and you're set. So don't worry, GPS isn't like big brother or anything. *You* are finding out where *you* are. You transmit nothing.
As for MSN's thing, transmitting back is quite a feat. I also wonder how fast their uplink really is. Just look at Iridium and Globalstar. Iridium could transmit 2400bps (although they went out of business) and the newer Globalstar can transmit 9600bps. I don't think MSN's thing is going to upload fast at all.
I'd think that the slashdot community would be more interested in a Psion, since they have keyboards. Currently I use a Psion Revo with a Nokia 8890 for 'net access. Considering the Revo is the smallest PDA with a keyboard, it's a great way to have a mobile Linux terminal. Telnet anyone? Try that with Palm graffiti.
With my Revo and 8890, I have Telnet/FTP/WWW/ICQ/IRC in my pocket. The Revo is pretty good offline too (word processor, etc).
The Psion Revo is super small. If you have room for a Palm VII in your pocket, then you definitely have room for a Revo. And it uses an IR port to communicate with a GSM (Global Standard) cell phone, rather than a proprietary wireless network.
More people should know about the Psion PDA's. It's too bad they aren't as popular in the USA, but that's mainly because GSM isn't the standard here (it is in Europe). The Revo makes good use of the GSM network. Not only for PPP connections, but it can send/recv text messages.
I'm telling you, if you're into Linux and remote stuff, you *want* a Psion.
Slashdot Mirror
Ricochet wireless modems offer a 28.8kbps connection, and can be used in peer-to-peer mode *without* requiring a service provider (Metricom will never tell you this of course). Range is a couple of miles. They operate like regular modems in every sense: serial connection, AT command set.
Each modem has a "modem number" on the back and you just "ATDTXXXX-YYYY" to dial another Ricochet modem. The other side even sends the "RING" string, and you use "ATA" to answer. Totally transparent to whatever application you are using. These are truly wireless modems.
Although they are tough to get (either through ebay, or Metricom with a 1 year signup), they are the most amazing devices. I have two, and they cost me about $120 a piece. They are pretty funny to use with TI calculators and a Graphlink.
-Justin
I've gotten several blue screens of death when using VMware. Then I reboot the virtual machine, and Windows begins a scandisk. Just like the real thing! At least when it's in a virtual machine like this you can just minimize it and do something else.
-Justin
Nope, just web research. I would buy the service if Powertel would let me (they will not, since I'm not a resident of their home area). The national plan would allow me to use their rate plan even from within Pacific Bell territory. Now, if only I knew someone from Georgia who could get me a SIM...
-Justin
The *G*lobal *S*tandard for *M*obile communications is the phone standard that most of the world uses. Thankfully, it is available in the USA (although strangely on a frequency that no other continent uses for GSM). The GSM system is by far the best implementation of a cellular network, and I highly recommend that you go with it. Some highlights:
1) First of all, it's a world standard, and you know how we love standards here at Slashdot. Nonstandard networks include AT&T or Verizon (a bizzare TDMA hack) and Sprint PCS, which is a new system entirely (although they get kudos for doing something new, CDMA). In fact, there is no central corporation with GSM, only an alliance of providers and manufacturers which decide on the standards.
2) GSM isn't a just digital radio transmission protocol like TDMA or CDMA. It's quite unfair to compare "the big three" as GSM, TDMA, and CDMA. That makes no sense at all. Heck, GSM uses TDMA for its radio transmission. In reality, GSM is an entire cellular phone system, from the phones you use, to the radio towers, the whole bit. Everything about it is part of the standard.
3) GSM was built with wireless data in mind, which is why it has always supported voice, data, and SMS (short messaging service, two way paging) in its network. Every other USA service is just now catching up (read: hacking it in).
4) GSM separates owner and phone by utilizing a SIM card, which identifies you and your provider. This means that you don't even have to notify your provider when you buy a new phone. Just pop in the chip and off you go. I have several GSM phones, and I just stick the chip in the one I wish to use that day. Hmm, do I want the sweet Nokia 8890? Or the terminal-in-my-pocket Nokia 9000?
By the way, amidst the fragmented USA cellular phone market as it is, 1900MHz was assigned as the GSM frequency. This means that for a GSM phone to work here, it must support that frequency. However, some phones do both. The Nokia 8890 or the Ericsson i888 work just about everywhere in the world. And they both have IR ports for your laptops/Psions/Palms. Fun stuff indeed.
When you decide to go with GSM (and I'm sure you will), be sure to choose Powertel. From my research, they have the best value for data minutes in the USA. 600 minutes of voice (or data, no extra charge) anywhere in the USA to anywhere in the USA for $65/mo. Not bad! =)
-Justin
Telnet / Email is actually very useful if you have a PDA with a keybaord. I use a Psion Revo, which is the smallest keyboard-based PDA (about the size of a palm VII). It only has one port: Infrared. Works quite happily with my Nokia 8890.
-Justin
Full HTML4.0 compliance
Full ECMAscript 262 support (Javascript)
Java applets
Full CSS1 and partial CSS2 compliance
Full SSL support (with openSSL)
This is definitely the browser to use if you're on a unix system. It's great for those that want an open source browser that is lightweight (no email/news clients, as there are other KDE apps for that).
-Justin
Of course, with today's standards of high-end 3D, anything else looks way less detailed. The interesting part is that the low detail never affected the story. What about FF4? It didn't have near as good of graphics as FF6, yet it was just as immersive. And then the gameboy FF's? Our minds would interpolate the extras, much like we do when reading a book.
-Justin
I saw quite a few posts from people wondering why in the world anyone would want Linux on a PDA -- the main reason being the interface. You can't run shell commands using graffiti. Hacking in vi? Forget it.
But what about Psion? Has everyone forgotten about the Psion handhelds? They have *keyboards*. And the Revo model isn't much bigger than a Palm VII. Now that is a PDA I can imagine Linux on. So does Linux belong on a PDA? Well, if you have one with a keyboard then maybe. Although I've never heard of anyone putting Linux on a Psion, it seems like a much better target to shoot for than any Palm style handheld.
Of course, the Psions already have a pretty good OS on them. All you really need to use is the Telnet program and then you can remotely access a Linux machine anyway. I actually like it better this way, since I can start remote tasks and then disconnect my Psion from the 'net (all via my Nokia 8890). Remote Linux is the way to go. It turns your PDA into the power of whatever server you connected to.
Of course, this only applies to PDA's with a *keyboard* and a *telnet* application. Frankly, I don't understand why the Psions are never mentioned here on Slashdot. With all the hype about Unix here, you'd think everyone would be using a Psion by now. Try rebuilding a kernel from your Palm toy.
Konqueror was created to replace KFM, and I'm pretty sure they at least used KFM as a reference. It rendered web pages decently, but not much else. Now KDE has Konqueror which boasts everything you'd expect a web browser to do: HTML 4.0, CSS1&2, Java/Javascript, and SSL. What was once a wishlist in May is a reality now.
And I do believe you're right in that the KDE developers have not recieved as much attention. Think about how many news items we have seen about Mozilla or Nautilus in the last few months. When was the last time we heard about Konqueror? I just did a Slashdot search and saw a news item for it dated back in May (its *only* news item).
I think the only reason it has no attention is because it's a KDE app. You generally only hear about the "whole package" of KDE, and nothing about its individual apps. This is unfortunate because Konqueror *really* stands out. The people who normally complain that Mozilla is too bulky should definitely try out Konqueror. It does everything necessary, yet is faster and lighter. I was impressed with the no-hassle SSL. It just utilizes OpenSSL if you have it installed. In fact, this is the first time I've ever been able to get a browser besides Netscape to use SSL.
Embedding Mozilla into Konqueror seems strange at first, since Konqueror does a fine job of it's own. However, wouldn't it be neat to be able to choose a render engine? Imagine a case where the KHTML widget renders a page not quite like you wanted it to. Flip over to Mozilla rendering to give yourself a second shot! =) Hey, there's a first for everything.
-Justin
DirectX 5.2 I think. It came with a book I bought called "Inside DirectX" by Microsoft Press. I believe they give it out for free at the DirectX website though.
-Justin
I just spent about 3 hours making a port of one of my old DOS games to Linux. That's 3 hours from opening the SDL (Simple DirectMedia Layer) documentation, to compiling the final build of the game. I wish I could say the same about DirectX. That system is terrible! It took me a week to make the same port for Windows using DirectX (which was quite a hack).
z
Developing in Linux is a joy. Gcc, Makefiles, etc. It's no different than when I worked with Unix or with DJGPP for DOS. VC++ is like a trip to another world. Must have a GUI frontend? Kdevelop is very good. I am not much of a GUI programmer (I can barely make a KDE or Windows program), but I've heard nothing but good about Trolltech's QT system. I cannot say the same about MFC or Win32.
You think Windows is not a huge mob of code? I'd worry more about the stability of my Windows programs than my Linux programs. Win32 is just such a mess! It's the type of architecture where you are afraid of the API.
If I must make a Windows port, SDL and QT thankfully support Windows. But I will develop in Linux.
-Justin
BTW if anyone wants to try out the game, check out http://www.affinix.com/~justin/munchman-1.0.tar.g
I think it's pretty cool still, even though I made the original DOS version in 1997.
GPS units calculate your location based on the position of satellites. They don't ever send data to a satellite. Each satellite beams down its current location in the circle orbit, and the GPS unit calculates how far away each satellite is by analyzing the time difference between pulses.
Get 3 signals and you're set. So don't worry, GPS isn't like big brother or anything. *You* are finding out where *you* are. You transmit nothing.
As for MSN's thing, transmitting back is quite a feat. I also wonder how fast their uplink really is. Just look at Iridium and Globalstar. Iridium could transmit 2400bps (although they went out of business) and the newer Globalstar can transmit 9600bps. I don't think MSN's thing is going to upload fast at all.
-Justin
I'd think that the slashdot community would be more interested in a Psion, since they have keyboards. Currently I use a Psion Revo with a Nokia 8890 for 'net access. Considering the Revo is the smallest PDA with a keyboard, it's a great way to have a mobile Linux terminal. Telnet anyone? Try that with Palm graffiti.
With my Revo and 8890, I have Telnet/FTP/WWW/ICQ/IRC in my pocket. The Revo is pretty good offline too (word processor, etc).
The Psion Revo is super small. If you have room for a Palm VII in your pocket, then you definitely have room for a Revo. And it uses an IR port to communicate with a GSM (Global Standard) cell phone, rather than a proprietary wireless network.
More people should know about the Psion PDA's. It's too bad they aren't as popular in the USA, but that's mainly because GSM isn't the standard here (it is in Europe). The Revo makes good use of the GSM network. Not only for PPP connections, but it can send/recv text messages.
I'm telling you, if you're into Linux and remote stuff, you *want* a Psion.
-Justin