Last week at the 2nd London Raspberry Jam, I met with Sukkin Pang of SK Pang electronics, who showed me his latest project, a portable Raspberry Pi.
The parts list required to make the Pi portable consist of a Raspberry Pi, and the following:
Car reverse LCD monitor – ebay
Mini wireless keyboard – Amazon
USB Power Pack – Amazon
Laser cut base – SK Pang Electronics
Sukkin told me the whole thing was very cheap and he plans to build one with a bigger screen if he can find a screen cheap enough to make it worthwhile.
It uses standard off the shelf hardware. The LCD is a low cost TFT monitor used in car reverse camera. The monitor has a video input but the supply is 12v. This needs to be modify to accept 5v from the batter pack. The battery pack is a standard portable USB charger.
The screen is small and isn’t the easiest to read, but frankly that isn’t the point of the project. Sukkin has proven that it can be done and I am certain he will make the next version even better.
Have a closer look at it below:
And here is Sukkin with his creation:
So what do you think of it? And what have you done with your Raspberry Pi? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Brian has also released version 2.11 of My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 taking that out of beta as well.
Windows Home Server 2011
My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 operates as database back-end for My Movies clients in multi-zone environments.
The My Movies for Windows Media Center or My Movies Collection Management products can be downloaded and installed on client PC’s to maintain movies in the database on My Movies for Windows Home Sever 2011.
My Movies may not be pre-installed on commercial products, nor in any way redistributed or provided to end-users by installers that is not part of our installer program.
Click here to view the full change log.
Before installing a pre release version, you must make a backup of your database using the Collection Management program. There are no guarantee that a pre release version functions as expected, and it should therefore only be used for evaluation purposes. The database backup ensures that you can revert back to the latest stable version.
Brian has just released My Movies for Windows Media Center version 4.03 taking it out of beta.
Here is the change log:
Added: If a directory contains a “Trailer” or “Trailers” subfolder, the trailer will automatically be loaded from this directory. If there are multiple trailers, all are played as part of a playlist.
Added: Option to add directly to a category from the movie details page.
Added: PowerDVD 12 added to external players.
Added: Data service API function to retrieve data in external applications.
Added: Feature table dialog for users with less than 2500 points.
Added: Meta-data storage for JRiver MediaCenter (500 points required).
Added: New Media Player Classic Home Cinema edition with updated path.
Added: Option in “Movies” settings section in WMC to hide offline play options on playback if there are online play options.
Added: When you change episode paths, it now checks if other paths are changed as well.
Added: Sort saving for title list in the Collection Management dialog
Added: Box sets are now contributed to the online service, and can be added as full boxes from service. Please pay attention to new guidelines for contributing Box Sets: /how-to/written-documentation.aspx?Page=Contributing%20Box%20Sets.
Added: Automatic refresh rate changing (Requires 2500 points). Please read details on http://kb.mymovies.dk/KnowledgebaseArticle50076.aspx. We would like your inputs on how this works on your setup.
Added: Meta-data storage for MediaBrowser (Requires 500 points).
Added: Option to log in with Facebook.
Added: Backdrop fade in time configuration added to Windows Media Center settings.
Added: The system will now check media info for titles where the information for some reason could not be read at the time the title was added or edited
Added: Show digital copy information in HTML preview.
Added: Image contribution number on banners, posters and backdrops of TV Series.
Added: GetTitlePlayOptionsForDune API call.
Added: Data service command to start Windows Media Center.
Added: TIFF besides TIF as cover file option.
Added: Remote Server API functions for Windows Media Center music control.
Change: Ignore “Trailers” and “Trailer” directories in folder monitoring.
Change: The remote server is now prepared to be open for third parties.
Change: Online collection link to new URL.
Change: Changed Server and Standalone installations on Windows 8 to be based on SQL Server 2008 R2 rather than SQL Server 2005, which have compatibility issues.
Change: Internal replacement of menu and toolbar components.
Change: Event handling functionality now requires 2500 points or integrator license.
Change: Added functionality for folder monitoring to recreate watchers if they get lost due to host reboots.
Change: Some internal component parts where replaced with others for the UI in Collection Management.
Change: Different handler for DVP-CS777ES disc changer.
Change: Filter limitation removed from Collection Management, and now only applied in Windows Media Center.
Change: All titles are no counted, even box set container titles.
Change: Better handling of database upgrades, so that later versions does not need all clients to be upgraded when server is upgraded.
Change: Do not include series/box container title in Media Center option deprecated, is now always true.
Change: “Is Box Set” checkbox removed, and box sets moved up under global data rather than personal data, as preparation for upcoming box set functionality.
Change: Show digital copy in HTML preview.
Change: Media Center Background service updated to later API version
Update: Database package to iOS 1.80 and above.
Update: Remote Server API updates, including setting API key in configuration.
Fix: Error was generated when pressing OK in export to android without a target destination.
Fix: Minor error generated when selection change in title list hit a title without a media type.
Fix: Issue with ignore file check that could go down one folder too many, causing a delay in import on some setups.
Fix: Issue that could cause slow import times on Windows Embedded.
Fix: Search did not function properly on TV Series in non-English languages.
Fix: Issues with folder monitoring when running against a My Movies server as standalone.
Fix: Installer issue on Windows 8.
Fix: Dune issue that could cause an empty playback on local drives.
Fix: DVD chapters structure was not set in the order specified by the PTTs on the disc.
Fix: Blu-ray’s without AACS was not identified as valid Blu-ray’s.
Fix: Special sized DVD’s did not copy correct with AnyDVD.
Fix: There was a problem with categories loading when browsing a local drive.
Fix: There was a problem with the 3D Blu-ray icon.
Fix: RS-232 changer could load disc in wrong changer.
Fix: Increased waiting time for RS232 changer, solving a problem where it would not play a requested disc.
Fix: Title synchronization could fail in some situations due to an invalid date.
Fix: Attempt to clean memory better when building Dune index.
Fix: Changed how directory content was checked for being in use. It could cause media info to not be read on some files transferred to another server.
Fix: An issue with an already open database connection when updating backdrops.
Fix: Issue could occur with HD DVD file structure playback if different players were set for HD DVD and Blu-ray file structure.
Fix: An error could occur saying that you do not have player capable of playing Blu-ray or HD DVD file structure, even when you have.
Fix: The sort title box was not limited to 100 characters as it should be.
Fix: Minor fixes to better handle non-AACS Blu-ray’s.
Fix: TV Series on Discs did not always have their episode coupled to owned episodes.
Fix: Double click on an episode on the season listing under a disc title now jumps to the right episode.
Fix: “Online titles” option did not include titles of type Online (Folder Content).
Fix: Issue with TV Series on DVD and category list.
Fix: SageTV properties file could continue to be stored by folder monitoring.
Here is how they describe themselves on their website:
No mass production or overseas workforce. WaterField bags are designed and made in San Francisco, where rent is high, labor is expensive and competition is intense. We wouldn’t go anywhere else!
In a nutshell, WaterField products are ridiculously well-made, fastidiously designed, have more personality than you can shake a stick at, and are so “user-friendly”, that you can actually operate them with one arm tied behind your back. This turns out to be a huge benefit for high-frequency travellers; the busy, laptop-carrying, cell phone-obsessed commuting types; or the dual diaper/carrying bag parents.
Here is how Waterfield Designs describe the CitySlicker MacBook Air case:
More than meets the eye. You’ll find superior protection for your MacBook Air or 15″ MacBook Pro with Retina Display in the dime-thin, compact CitySlicker. Three layers protection—impact-resistant plastic + high grade neoprene + padded liner—keep the laptop safe and snug. Multiple pockets for essential accessories are smartly sewn and hidden under the rugged leather flap that snaps into place. A classic look.
Dual-leather flap comes in distressed, naturally-tanned Black, Chocolate or Grizzly leather. Options: handle, D-rings, or strap.
A Closer Look
The CitySlicker comes in a variety of different colours, I went for the Black and I didn’t go for any of the options this time as I didn’t think I would need them.
The back of the case has a zip along the top so that you can store some papers inside.
There are a number of different sized pockets under the flap and they work well for different things, including business cards, flash drives, etc.
The front flap snaps into place using two fasteners which are very easy to open and close.
There is a small label inside the pocket of the bag and one on the outside.
Using the CitySlicker
Sliding in my MacBook Air was simple. It felt very snug, and most importantly it felt safe!
Opening and closing the flap was simple, as I mentioned earlier.
Final Thoughts
This is a great case, actually it’s a brilliant case. It looks really stylish and professional.
It is also very durable. I have been using the case for around 2 months now and in that time I have taken it on two transatlantic trips, carried it around the manic show floor at E3 in LA, had it with me when I sped round the track in a Mustang with Ford in Detroit and most recently I took it with me into London when I visited the Olympic Park on the eve of the 2012 Olympics.
The case is very well made and very hard wearing, but without being heavy.
The case has taken a battering during that time either in my bag or being carried on it’s own and not once have I been worried about my Air inside. In fact, the case hardly has a mark on it and still looks like it is brand new.
This is the case I will be using for the foreseeable future, so thank you Waterfield Designs for making a fantastic case!
Available in three sizes (two for MacBook Air’s and one for the MacBook Pro with Retina display):
11″ CitySlicker MacBook Air Case – $129
/ 12.75″ x 8.75″ x 1″ – 1.2 lb
13″ CitySlicker MacBook Air Case – $139
/ 13.5″ x 10″ x 1.5″ – 1.5 lb
15″ CitySlicker MacBook Pro Retina Display Case – $149
/ 15″ x 11.5″ x 1.3″ – 1.8 lb
There are also additional options that come with the case, and they come with an additional cost.
As you can see above, price wise, the CitySlicker isn’t a cheap case, but then to be honest it doesn’t look, or feel cheap. This case could last you a very long time, so it is certainly worth considering the investment.
So if keeping your MacBook Air safe and secure is important to you, and you also want to look good, then you should certainly take a look at the CitySlicker. This is yet another example of fantastic workmanship from Waterfield Designs, and I for one am looking forward to seeing what they come up with next.
The Parallels Mobile app has been updated to version 3.2.550.2998.
Access and use your Mac applications and Windows programs running in Parallels Desktop for Mac while you’re on the go. Parallels Mobile is all new! (Access to Mac applications requires Parallels Desktop 7.)
Parallels Mobile allows you to remotely access all the applications on your Mac – both Mac applications and Windows programs – from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.
Parallels Mobile lets you:
– Use any of your Windows applications, from Internet Explorer to Outlook
– Remotely start, stop any of your applications.
– Stay connected via WiFi or 3G networks
– Control your Mac just like you control Windows (Parallels Desktop 7 only)
– Play back music and audio files remotely – see and hear Flash video on your iPad or iPhone (Parallels Desktop 7 only)
– Copy and paste text between your mobile device and Windows programs (Parallels Desktop 7 only)
What’s New in Version 3.2.550.2998
– Bug fixes and performance enhancements.
– Stability improvements.
Samsung, Worldwide Olympic Partner in the wireless communications equipment category, today launched the latest initiative of its Everyone’s Olympic Games campaign by unveiling the Samsung London 2012 Predictor app, providing informative and entertaining Olympic Games content on Android devices, including Samsung’s Olympic Games phone the Galaxy S III.
The new app features a competitive element where friends can challenge each other using Facebook by predicting medal winners in Olympic Games events. The Samsung London 2012 Predictor app contains key information on athletes and teams including their previous performances and career accolades, meaning participants can make an informed judgement when making their predictions on which teams and athletes will enjoy a podium finish. Medal notifications are delivered instantly when an event finishes so those taking part can keep up to date with who got their prediction right and who was left languishing in last place.
I spent the afternoon and evening yesterday in the Olympic Park, but more on that very soon!
Apple has released version 6 of it’s Safari browser.
Safari contains new features, including:
Smart Search Field. Safari now has one field for typing both searches and web addresses.
Offline Reading List. Safari saves entire webpages in your Reading List so you can catch up on your reading even when you don’t have an internet connection.
Do Not Track. Safari can send the websites you visit a request not to track you online.
Password pane. Manage your saved website logins with the new Password pane.
Baidu. The leading Chinese search engine Baidu is now a built-in option for Chinese users.
Have you updated yet? Tell us what you think by leaving a comment below.
The official Twitter app for the iPhone and iPad has been updated to version 4.3.1.
What’s New in Version 4.3.1
– Numerous accessibility improvements
– Fixed crasher affecting some users when launching app
– Fixed issue with ambient notifications becoming stuck when sending Tweets or Direct Messages
– Fixed issue with layout of Connect tab
The Google Earth app for iOS has been updated to version 7.0.0 bringing new 3D imagery.
Hold the world in the palm of your hand. With Google Earth for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, you can fly to far corners of the planet with just the swipe of a finger. Explore the same global satellite and aerial imagery available in the desktop version of Google Earth, including high-resolution imagery for over half of the world’s population and a third of the world’s land mass.
With Google Earth, you can:
• Navigate the world with a swipe of your finger
• Swipe with two fingers to adjust your view to see mountainous terrain
• Show the Panoramio layer and browse the millions of geo-located photos from around the world
• View geo-located Wikipedia articles
• Use the Location feature to fly to your current location
• Search for cities, places, and business around the globe with Google Local Search
What’s New in Version 7.0.0
• Tour guide: Explore places you never thought to search for with new tours of your favorite cities, historic landmarks and natural wonders.
• 3D imagery: Take flight above entire cities in 3D. Get started with Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, Geneva or Rome and look for new additions in the coming weeks. Available for iPhone 4S and iPad 2 or later.
Apple has released an update to its standalone app for listening to and subscribing to podcasts.
Features:
• Enjoy all of your audio and video podcasts in a single app
• Explore hundreds of thousands of podcasts including shows in over 40 languages
• Try the innovative new Top Stations feature to find new podcast series in a variety of topics, including arts, business, comedy, music, news, sports, and more.
• Browse by Audio or Video podcasts, or see what’s most popular in Top Charts
• Tap subscribe for your favorites and automatically receive new episodes for free as they become available
• Stream episodes or download to listen while offline
• Skip forward and back using simple playback controls
• Turn on Sleep Timer to automatically stop playing a podcast while listening in bed
• Share your favorite episodes with friends using Twitter, Messages and Mail
• Optionally sync your favorite episodes from iTunes on your Mac or PC
• Sync your episode playback for seamless transition between devices
hat’s New in Version 1.0.1
Podcasts 1.0.1 provides a number of improvements, including:
• Significant improvements to performance and stability
• Podcasts in your library now show the number of unplayed episodes
• Top Stations now show the podcast title if artwork is missing
• Playback speed is now remembered when playing the next episode
• Fix for a problem where the Subscribe button is inactive
• Resolution of an issue where Top Stations artwork may not appear
At the start of December we reviewed PressReader, an app for iOS devices to read newspapers and publications. PressReader has just been updated to version 3.1.2.
What is PressReader?
PressReader is a free application that enables you to download your favourite publications to your PC, Mac, tablet, mobile device or eReader allowing you to read them even when you’re offline.
Enjoy your favorite daily read from a selection of more than 2,000 newspapers and magazines from 95 countries in 51 languages with PressReader!
With every article, advertisement, crossword puzzle and cartoon presented in its original context, PressReader offers many of the same rich user interface and intuitive interactive features PressDisplay.com users have come to love.
And with the added convenience of being able to hold your favorite publication directly in your hands and read it from cover to cover just the way you would in-print, PressReader makes reading full-content digital replicas an absolute delight with features such as:
Flipping pages like you’re reading a real publication
The ability to pan, zoom or rotate pages, articles and photos
Navigating publications using thumbnails or table of contents
Opening full articles in easy-to-read text views
Listening to publications using on-demand audio
Searching online across titles and selecting the titles you wish to download
What’s New in Version 3.1.2
Single-article text view is now full-screen and with updated style similar to smart flow.
Sky have just updated its dedicated Sky Sports app for the iPad, bringing with it an Olympics section.
What’s New in Version 3.1
– Support of an Olympics section
– Support of a Cycling section
– Minor bug fixes
It’s free for customers who have access to the Sky Sports News channel as part of their monthly subscription, otherwise it will cost you £4.99 a month.
I just spent the afternoon and evening in the Olympic village with Acer, but more of that soon!
Microsoft announced a new beta for XBOX Live, and they opened and closed sign-ups already. Read on for details.
Microsoft announced a new beta program for XBOX LIve,, and opened up registrations. The program appears to be full, but keep checking back to see if they admit more testers. Here is the blog post:
2012 Xbox LIVE Update Public Beta Now Available
With our work on the updated dashboard underway, we’re ready to announce an open call for all Xbox LIVE subscribers to participate in the 2012 Xbox LIVE Update Public Beta.
We need members of our valued community to help us fine-tune this early build of Xbox LIVE. What do you love? What would you like to see improved?
Numbers are limited, so sign up today. If you’re selected as a tester, an update will be pushed to your console once the public beta kicks off. The update will contain select dashboard features, including:
Internet Explorer for Xbox
Personalized dashboard recommendations
Enhanced category search and discovery features
Note: A console in the program is expected to remain fully compatible with standard retail consoles not in the program.
If you would like to participate, please register for the 2012 Xbox LIVE Update Public Beta here.
You will be required to agree to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for confidentiality reasons.
We also ask that you fill out a brief 5-minute survey at the end of the beta, to let us know what you think.
The 2012 Xbox LIVE Update Public Beta is a great opportunity to help the Xbox team by providing early feedback to make Xbox even better.
Thanks for your participation and enjoy!
I missed signing up, so here’s hoping that they add testers.
Raxco announced today that version 12.5 of their PerfectDisk product will support Windows 8. Read on for details.
Raxco announced today on their blog that their defrag tool PerfectDisk will support Windows 8 as of version 12.5, and that version will be released before October 26th, the Windows 8 general availability date. First, a little about Raxco and PerfectDisk:
A Commitment to Superior Technology and Customer Support
For over 30 years Raxco Software has developed award-winning defragmentation solutions and performance utilities that improve hard drive and server performance, simplify system administration and help our customers work more efficiently –at home and at the office.
Raxco has consistently been the first to support and receive certification on the latest Windows versions, including Windows 7, Vista, Windows Server 2008, and more. PerfectDisk’s innovations, such as the patented OptiWrite fragmentation prevention, patented SMARTPlacement optimization, Virtual Aware defragmentation for VMware’s vSphere/ESX Server and Microsoft’s Hyper-V, total free space consolidation, large drive support, Active Directory integration, single-pass defrag, and proactive enterprise console alerting and warning, continue to set the bar for the defrag market. PerfectDisk – The Smarter Way to Defrag
Our PerfectDisk products provide innovative defragmentation features and a host of customizable administration tools, making PerfectDisk the industry’s leading defragmenting solution. Plus, all of our products are certified for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista.
A wide range of solutions cover the defragmentation requirements for desktops, laptops, servers, Exchange servers, Windows Home Server, and virtualilzation solutions from VMware, Microsoft and any Windows-based host system.
Meeting the Needs of Customers Worldwide
We serve a broad range of customers around the world through a network of international resellers and distributors in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, Latin America, South Africa, and the Pacific Rim. Over 25,000 companies worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies and leading government agencies, rely on PerfectDisk products to optimize their computer systems and networks, and manage enterprise-wide defragmentation with our systems administration tools.
Microsoft will make Windows 8 generally available on October 26th, 2012. We will deliver a service pack prior to that date for PerfectDisk 12.5 client components that will support Windows 8.
We are currently running Windows 8 in our labs here with the latest, unreleased PerfectDisk. Many PerfectDisk users are running PerfectDisk 12.5 today on Windows 8 without any problems, and this is generally expected behavior. However, we are not yet, in the current build, guaranteeing compatibility and therefore our stance today is that Windows 8 is not officially supported. For a point of reference, there are a few behind-the-scene tasks that occur on both Raxco’s and Microsoft’s side that are being done to bring us to full compatibility.
We look forward to delivering PerfectDisk 12.5 Service Pack 5, with full Windows 8 support, in the coming weeks.
This is good news, and we appreciate Raxco keeping us up to date on PerfectDisk and Windows 8 compatibility. As we hear more news, we’ll bring it to you.
