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Plogging via Smart GPRS Saturday May 6, 2006

Posted by Maco in Tech Bytes, Tech Projects.
1 comment so far

I've just finished setting up the configuration to connect my Palm Tungsten T3 to my SE K700i mobile phone to use GPRS (see my previous post regarding new rates imposed by Smart for their GPRS and 3G services). I'm using my Palm T3 in making this blog via the open source blogging software – Plogit.

With my Palm as a blogging tool and also as an internet connection device, I can now publish my blogs from almost anywhere! No need to use my desktop or finding Wifi hotspots when I am mobile.

Galing noh!

Tux-ing your pod! Thursday March 16, 2006

Posted by Maco in Linux, Tech Bytes, Tech Projects.
1 comment so far

Getting bored with your Ipod? After obsessively and compulsively arranging your music database, dressing each files with picture albums and meticulously labeled it with its proper artist and album. You now realized that it’s all what your ipod can do – play music (unless you have the ipod with video).

Here is the good news, open source linux people didn’t let the number one mp3 player to survive without a hack. Yup, it’s ipod with video linux style. As long as your ipod  has a screen (sorry for shuffle users), it can play movies. Yes, you heard it right if you have the earlier generations of ipod up to the minis, ipod photo and nano you can play movies.

Now I can play movie clips on my 2 Gb Ipod Nano. Boots to Apple OS or IpodLinux.

If you want to risk your babies out you may want to check this site : http://ipodlinux.org

Please read the caveats in the website before installing linux to your pods. The Ipod linux OS is still under major development and still have a lot of promise to fulfill.

Here are some of the pics of my nano playing Black Eyed Peas’ My Humps (sorry for the low res cam!) :

ipodnano3 ipodnano2 Ipodnano

Ipod Wall Charger Using Nokia Chargers Wednesday March 15, 2006

Posted by Maco in Tech Bytes, Tech Projects.
2 comments

Wall chargers with USB outputs costs from P1500 to P2000. which is quite expensive for its purpose. For electronic hobbyists out there, here is a cheap solution of creating a charger that can be used for charging your Ipods and other USB connected devices.

Nokia charger (at least the ones used for most older cellphones) produce an output of 7.1V – 7.2V which is enough to drive the voltage regulator chip the we will be using – LM 7805 Voltage regulator chip (click link for the datasheet). The USB sources provides 5V voltage supply and supplies up to less than 1Ampere of current. The LM 7805 – 5 Volt regulator circuit can provide the same specs.

What we need :

  1. Multimeter
  2. 0.33 microFarad and 0.1 microFarad capacitors (mylar or ceramic)
  3. 7805 5-Volt regulator
  4. USB Female socket
  5. Soldering iron/gun, leads
  6. Power circuit board (PCB)
  7. Nokia cellphone charger
  8. DC socket
  9. Electrical tape (or shrink tubes)

You can buy some of electronic components in electronic shops (i.e. Alexan, Deeco or raon).

Circuit Diagram :

Circuit diagram

USB Pinouts :

USB Pin Out

Pin 1 : +5 Vcc (Connected to the red wire)

Pin 4 : Ground (Connected to the black wire)

DC Socket :

dc socket

Outer pins are the positive terminals.

Center pin is the ground.

Assembly:

  1. Assemble the circuit in the PCB according to the given circuit diagram. (Proper pinouts of 7805 chip is in the datasheet. Capacitors are non polar). Use the multimeter to verify the soldered connections. Connect the Vi source to the positive terminal of DC socket, do also with the ground.
  2. Testing the circuit. Plug the Nokia charger and plug its output to the DC socket. Using the multimeter check that the voltage between Vo and Ground is +5V.
  3. Cut/Strip the female USB plug. Connect the red wire to Vo and the black (sometimes black-white stripe) wire to the ground. Using the multimeter again, check that the output voltage of the USB plug between pins 1 and 4 is also +5V.
  4. Before plugging your Ipod, you may want to check steps 2 and 3 again.
  5. If you plug your Ipod to your new charger, it should display that your ipod is charging.

Well that’s it. Simple and inexpensive charger for your ipod and other mobile devices. Good luck to your project!