Hey, it is a pitty that the site got hammered so fast the whole concept looks really interesting. I once was thinking about building a TV Screen to DMX512 convertor to do something like this.
... anyway for interests sake I would just like to mention that fluroscent lighting can be dimmed these days. Most people don't know this. To me it is strange that there is so much talk about LEDs and their dynamic effects when fluros offer a much cheaper alternative for slow colour changing applications.
The easiest way to hack it would be to open one up and find out the controller it uses for the LCD display. This is done by reading the chip names off the PCB and typeing them into google. eg.
HD44780 filetype:pdf
(generally pdf search gets straight to the datasheet if your lucky:)
By the looks of things it is ALPHANUMERIC so hacking should be fairly easy as font's etc probably don't need to be handled (unless you want specialised characters).
Once you have the datasheet you need to find the LCD controller i/o lines that need interfacing then interface them with your PC (Parallel port perhaps)- you will also need to cut/isolate the PCB tracks from the existing controller so the i/o lines don't disagree.
Alternatively you could interace the LCD to a microcontroller/RS232 interface and use this to transform commands over the pc serial port to commands for the LCDs i/o lines.
Read up on the HD44780 lcd stuff done for linux to get a head start on interfacing LCDs with Linux.
In this day and age why don't we just start looking for a better solution rather than trying to outlaw these transmitters.
Surely some sort of RFID tag could be fitted to emergency vehicles that would allow for traffic signal control without extraordinary costs. Retrofitting this new technology to the pre-existing traffic intersection control probably wouldn't be too hard either.
Additionally this technology could be used to inform regular vehicles that there is an emergency vehicle in the area. (Provided vehicles were fitted with a suitable receiver.)
"Islam as it is today needs to be ended." jcrash "Radical Muslims are the #1 international problem right now."jcrash
Can't say that I support these comments.
Isn't the aids epidemic a bigger problem? Isn't the way the world is looking to solve problems with acts of violence a bigger problem?
Isn't terrorism a bigger problem?
Isnt' the proliferation of WMDs a bigger problem?
Isn't the continual distruction and raping of our natural respources a bigger problem?
Isn't ignorance a bigger problem?
What was the deal with that article? Where were the screen shots? The 1st thing i wanted to do when i saw this article was to see how the games looked - what a dissapointment.
I don't want to read an article describing how it looks, how it works. ffs show me!
If you test a device like that you need to show:
-screenshots
-shots of the overall device (chassis etc..)
then describe what is going on.
Really what a waste of time. /didn't waste time rtfa
Linux needs to rule the locked down computer stylings of the corporate desktop before it will have any chance of shaking up the home desktop market.
I remember the days when apples were easy and dos* was hard. The only reason my mum got a x86 was because that is what she used at work. These days Windows is easy and Linux is hard, but things are changing real quick.
Oppertunities like this are a great way for new users to be exposed to Linux. Lets just hope the exposure that telstra gives its employees is good one.
Never know, one of these days my mum may go out and buy one of these new 'linux' computers like the one that she uses at work.
This really reminds me of the whole netscape / IE thing, except this time they are taking on the IM side of things.
Honestly i have to say that MSN messenger is a great tool. The new additions it has added make total sense,
video conferencing, audio conversation, games.... to me these are totally great things to implement and make a whole lot of sense.
Hey wait a second... video, audio, games,, all through MSN? Is there some sort of trend here? Do MS have plans to continue pushing content onto MSN exclusive setup? If they do to me this is really really dangerous, think about the critical mass they will be able to pull in no time at all. MSN will continue to ship with windblows, no doubt about that.
Perhaps I am subscribing to a conspiracy theory here, but to me it makes sense. MS has pulled stuff like this in the past and will continue to pull stuff like this in the future. Unless they keep dominating, shareholders get angry.
To me the only way this will go away would be to make a better, open alternative, at the moment there isn't.
There is still a lack of a good adobe produced pdf viewer. XPDF is ok, but not as pollised as the latest adobe pdf offerings for windows.
General web browsing pluggin support is still weak; especially when lots of streaming video is in some sort of MS format these days. I want to be able to go to lame ass sites like foxnews.com and watch the video- not miss out! (side note - please no responses about downloading the file 1st- it should just work the way it can in windows.)
Cutting and pasting has improved heaps lately but it still has a little way to go.
I suppose the question should be - what part of linux makes you embarrased when your friends pop around? - you know, you do something on the desktop with them looking over your shoulder only only to get burned when it doesn't work - i hate when this happens, and as it stands it still happens way to often.
Corporate penetration is one thing, but before linux can be taken seriously by Bozo Joe, stuff like this needs to be sorted out.
Windows beats linux for one reason
The Windows Clipboard Kicks Ass over Linux.
I can cut just about anything from one program to another using windows- Linux only seems to like doing it with text. Sure I know there are some exceptions, but hey - the exceptions should be cases where the program can't do it.
People want to be able to copy from mozilla to gimp to OO without having to save to intermediate files. You know the CTRL C/X/V thing:)
I think someone should create a distro which only uses programs that support seamless cutting and pasting images between programs- if the program doesn't support this cutting / pasting - don't include it in this distro.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big linux fan, but i still use windows to do my Universtiy Lab reports as it takes 1/2 the time.
Lexmark is a somewhat owned by IBM. I still can't get my printer to go under Gentoo as the only drivers that come for the printer are RPM based binaries (rely on LPD not CUPS). My point is that we don't want a situation where many manufactures claim linux support when they only really provide RPM based distro support- I never knew a tgz and a detailed readme were so hard to organise! Clearly from my interactions with Lexmark they seem to not take RPM based distros very seriously, and, as lexmark has close ties with IBM, could this be a sign of things to come with other hardware manufacturers?
Is the CUPS standard really all that hard to keep up with?
If you use linux and want a inkjet printer - Don't go for a Lexmark z25. Despite the fact that they have a Linux peguin on the box they only support some RPM based distros. Namely Redhat (up to 7.2) Mandrake and Suse.
I was given a Lexmark z25 for my birthday, my parents thought the penguin on the box was a good indication that it would work.
I run gentoo linux at home, a great distro, that supports both cups and LPrng. Unfortunately the z25 driver wants LPD - who in hell uses LPD these days?
I read somewhere that Lexmark is owned by IBM. For me this is a concern - does this mean that IBM have a view that the only linux distros worth writing drivers for are RPM based distros ?
Why didn't lexmark release a cups based driver i don't know. Another great problem for the driver is the documentation that comes with it is really not helpful. They provide no clues on what file does what on the install.
My z25 is a paperweight and has been for about a month now.
Don't get the z25 on principal - even if you are on a RPM distro - they have little regard for the non-rpm distro users out there!!
BTW another sneaky trick they do is put the driver on their install page in a tar.gz - I got my hopes up when i saw this!
Why don't these people realise that if the remote can't be thrown safely it will not sell?
Who wants a remote that is worth a heap of cash that breaks after a few missed living room passes?
Who wants a remote that can't be fixed with some electrical tape and a few slaps?
I certainally don't!
Slashdot Mirror
Hey, it is a pitty that the site got hammered so fast the whole concept looks really interesting. I once was thinking about building a TV Screen to DMX512 convertor to do something like this.
... anyway for interests sake I would just like to mention that fluroscent lighting can be dimmed these days. Most people don't know this. To me it is strange that there is so much talk about LEDs and their dynamic effects when fluros offer a much cheaper alternative for slow colour changing applications.
Heh, just realised it is a VFD not a LCD :)
:)
Same goes with all i have said just s/LCD/VFD/ where appropriate - the controllers behind either are similar (just the PSU requirements differ
The easiest way to hack it would be to open one up and find out the controller it uses for the LCD display. This is done by reading the chip names off the PCB and typeing them into google. eg.
:)
HD44780 filetype:pdf
(generally pdf search gets straight to the datasheet if your lucky
By the looks of things it is ALPHANUMERIC so hacking should be fairly easy as font's etc probably don't need to be handled (unless you want specialised characters).
Once you have the datasheet you need to find the LCD controller i/o lines that need interfacing then interface them with your PC (Parallel port perhaps)- you will also need to cut/isolate the PCB tracks from the existing controller so the i/o lines don't disagree.
Alternatively you could interace the LCD to a microcontroller/RS232 interface and use this to transform commands over the pc serial port to commands for the LCDs i/o lines.
Read up on the HD44780 lcd stuff done for linux to get a head start on interfacing LCDs with Linux.
That is the most silly looking thing that I have seen in quite a while.
/ducks
God you must look like a bit of a kook crusing round on one.
I can just imagine the local Poindexter being beaten up for riding such a device.
I wonder if it has a firedire / UBS interface too?
In this day and age why don't we just start looking for a better solution rather than trying to outlaw these transmitters.
Surely some sort of RFID tag could be fitted to emergency vehicles that would allow for traffic signal control without extraordinary costs. Retrofitting this new technology to the pre-existing traffic intersection control probably wouldn't be too hard either.
Additionally this technology could be used to inform regular vehicles that there is an emergency vehicle in the area. (Provided vehicles were fitted with a suitable receiver.)
"Islam as it is today needs to be ended." jcrash
"Radical Muslims are the #1 international problem right now."jcrash
Can't say that I support these comments.
Isn't the aids epidemic a bigger problem?
Isn't the way the world is looking to solve problems with acts of violence a bigger problem?
Isn't terrorism a bigger problem?
Isnt' the proliferation of WMDs a bigger problem?
Isn't the continual distruction and raping of our natural respources a bigger problem?
Isn't ignorance a bigger problem?
Just a thought, but perhaps this could help winex out a bit with porting this title to Linux.
It would be cool to perhaps get some coverage of this game on Linux, afterall this is one of those killer apps(games).
What was the deal with that article? Where were the screen shots? The 1st thing i wanted to do when i saw this article was to see how the games looked - what a dissapointment.
/didn't waste time rtfa
I don't want to read an article describing how it looks, how it works. ffs show me!
If you test a device like that you need to show: -screenshots -shots of the overall device (chassis etc..) then describe what is going on.
Really what a waste of time.
Yet another important step for linux.
Linux needs to rule the locked down computer stylings of the corporate desktop before it will have any chance of shaking up the home desktop market.
I remember the days when apples were easy and dos* was hard. The only reason my mum got a x86 was because that is what she used at work. These days Windows is easy and Linux is hard, but things are changing real quick.
Oppertunities like this are a great way for new users to be exposed to Linux. Lets just hope the exposure that telstra gives its employees is good one.
Never know, one of these days my mum may go out and buy one of these new 'linux' computers like the one that she uses at work.
This really reminds me of the whole netscape / IE thing, except this time they are taking on the IM side of things.
Honestly i have to say that MSN messenger is a great tool. The new additions it has added make total sense,
video conferencing, audio conversation, games.... to me these are totally great things to implement and make a whole lot of sense.
Hey wait a second... video, audio, games,, all through MSN? Is there some sort of trend here? Do MS have plans to continue pushing content onto MSN exclusive setup? If they do to me this is really really dangerous, think about the critical mass they will be able to pull in no time at all. MSN will continue to ship with windblows, no doubt about that.
Perhaps I am subscribing to a conspiracy theory here, but to me it makes sense. MS has pulled stuff like this in the past and will continue to pull stuff like this in the future. Unless they keep dominating, shareholders get angry.
To me the only way this will go away would be to make a better, open alternative, at the moment there isn't.
There is still a lack of a good adobe produced pdf viewer. XPDF is ok, but not as pollised as the latest adobe pdf offerings for windows. General web browsing pluggin support is still weak; especially when lots of streaming video is in some sort of MS format these days. I want to be able to go to lame ass sites like foxnews.com and watch the video- not miss out! (side note - please no responses about downloading the file 1st- it should just work the way it can in windows.) Cutting and pasting has improved heaps lately but it still has a little way to go. I suppose the question should be - what part of linux makes you embarrased when your friends pop around? - you know, you do something on the desktop with them looking over your shoulder only only to get burned when it doesn't work - i hate when this happens, and as it stands it still happens way to often. Corporate penetration is one thing, but before linux can be taken seriously by Bozo Joe, stuff like this needs to be sorted out.
got a scope for free? Tell me if you can get hold of any more... what a score!
Windows beats linux for one reason The Windows Clipboard Kicks Ass over Linux. I can cut just about anything from one program to another using windows- Linux only seems to like doing it with text. Sure I know there are some exceptions, but hey - the exceptions should be cases where the program can't do it. People want to be able to copy from mozilla to gimp to OO without having to save to intermediate files. You know the CTRL C/X/V thing :)
I think someone should create a distro which only uses programs that support seamless cutting and pasting images between programs- if the program doesn't support this cutting / pasting - don't include it in this distro.
Don't get me wrong, I am a big linux fan, but i still use windows to do my Universtiy Lab reports as it takes 1/2 the time.
Lexmark is a somewhat owned by IBM. I still can't get my printer to go under Gentoo as the only drivers that come for the printer are RPM based binaries (rely on LPD not CUPS). My point is that we don't want a situation where many manufactures claim linux support when they only really provide RPM based distro support- I never knew a tgz and a detailed readme were so hard to organise! Clearly from my interactions with Lexmark they seem to not take RPM based distros very seriously, and, as lexmark has close ties with IBM, could this be a sign of things to come with other hardware manufacturers? Is the CUPS standard really all that hard to keep up with?
If you use linux and want a inkjet printer - Don't go for a Lexmark z25. Despite the fact that they have a Linux peguin on the box they only support some RPM based distros. Namely Redhat (up to 7.2) Mandrake and Suse. I was given a Lexmark z25 for my birthday, my parents thought the penguin on the box was a good indication that it would work. I run gentoo linux at home, a great distro, that supports both cups and LPrng. Unfortunately the z25 driver wants LPD - who in hell uses LPD these days? I read somewhere that Lexmark is owned by IBM. For me this is a concern - does this mean that IBM have a view that the only linux distros worth writing drivers for are RPM based distros ? Why didn't lexmark release a cups based driver i don't know. Another great problem for the driver is the documentation that comes with it is really not helpful. They provide no clues on what file does what on the install. My z25 is a paperweight and has been for about a month now. Don't get the z25 on principal - even if you are on a RPM distro - they have little regard for the non-rpm distro users out there!! BTW another sneaky trick they do is put the driver on their install page in a tar.gz - I got my hopes up when i saw this!
Why don't these people realise that if the remote can't be thrown safely it will not sell? Who wants a remote that is worth a heap of cash that breaks after a few missed living room passes? Who wants a remote that can't be fixed with some electrical tape and a few slaps? I certainally don't!