It's possible to blacklist a single USB device from connecting to Linux, while allowing similar USB devices to connect. In my case, I wanted to disable my laptop's built in Bluetooth host (a USB device installed inside the laptop). However I wanted a second USB Bluetooth host, integrated as part …
Arduino vs Raspberry Pi (Part 2)
I've been a bit lax with the blog updating. In Part 1 of this post I promised Part 2 "soon" and here it is, eight weeks later. Oops.
This two-post series, aimed at embedded device beginners, explains some differences between Arduino and Raspberry Pi. In this second part we're going …
Arduino vs Raspberry Pi (Part 1)
Decisions, Decisions...
"If I can buy a Raspberry Pi so cheaply, why would I ever use an Arduino for an electronics project?"
I often hear this from people who are new to embedded programming and electronics. This post is the first of two, aimed at beginners in the embedded world …
Shenzhen Trip Part 2 - Maker Faire
This post is about last month's Shenzhen Maker Faire. It follows on from Shenzhen Trip Part 1.
Maker Faire
Shenzhen was my first Maker Faire that wasn't "Mini". Mini Maker Faires are organised externally to Make Magazine but under license, and there have been two of those in Australia - Melbourne …
Shenzhen Trip Part 1 - Hacker Camp
Earlier this month I was lucky enough to head over to Shenzhen, China, for Dangerous Prototypes' Hacker Camp and Maker Faire Shenzhen. I flew over with Jon Oxer (from Freetronics), and Mitch Davis (from Hackvana) was on our flight as well. Good Melbourne contingent!
Ian from Dangerous Prototypes has put …
Laird BL-600 modules outside Windows
I've been messing around with Bluetooth Low Energy on a few projects lately. There's some fun stuff out there, but like a lot of embedded stuff it can be a bit tricky in a non-Windows environment (I run Linux whenever I can.)
The BL-600SA
One module I've come across is …
Hacked up LED Microscope Lighting
Misappropriating discount store LEDs to improve the illumination in my microscope.
If "a poor workman blames his tools" then I am a poor workman when it comes to electronics. Every time I buy new equipment my soldering gets better - nicer soldering stations, different tips, decent magnification. Soldering under a microscope …
Sony's Open Source Smartwatch? Not yet.
"Sony Smartwatch now open-sourced"? "takes wearable tech into open-source territory"? It's a shame this is almost entirely untrue.
(Updated 21/6 with some info about the Bluetooth/FM chip.)
Image © 2013 Sony Mobile Communications
My initial excitement really cooled when I started digging around the Open Smart Watch project page …
Debian Installer for Zealz GK802 "Android TV" quad core ARM MiniPC
I've assembled a network installer image to install Debian 7.0 "Wheezy" on the GK802 "Android TV" Mini PC. This is intended for people who want to run the GK802 headless or semi-headless, for server or robotics applications.
Last update: 24 May, see details
The GK802 is a 1GHz quad …
Unlocking an encrypted rootfs over ssh with Debian wheezy (or jessie)
Problem: You have a computer running Debian 7 wheezy (also Debian 8 jessie) with an encrypted root filesystem. At startup you'd like to be able to unlock the disk over ssh, maybe because it runs headless.
There are some existing solutions to this: early-ssh worked on previous Debian versions. There …