Nokia announces new Mobile (N900) that runs on linux (Maemo)

We have always had linux for mobile devices. But use of linux as mobile OS has mostly been limited to enthusiasts who like to fiddle around with technology and somehow it has not been able to break into the mainstream mobile market.



But all that is going to change with Nokia, one of the largest mobile companies in the world, announcing their forthcoming release of N900 which runs on linux based Maemo platform. It not only has the capabilities of supporting the normal smartphone features but also utilizes the limited resources available in mobiles optimally (which comes naturally to linux :P). It has all the regular linux desktop features including multiple desktops. Just go through the N900 feature set and you will get an idea about its capabilities. And although it already has so many apps made for it ,as it is an Open Source you can expect regular improvements and loads of free apps as it catches on in popularity.


Another aspect of this release, which excites me the most is that finally linux will be used by common people who usually get scared hearing the name of linux (although unknowingly they use it very often, maybe directly or indirectly). Even though linux for PCs have become more user friendly over the years and still most people have the misconception that it isn't like that and is meant only for geeks.

So lets wait and watch the impact of this release.

Opera Unite: a Web server on the Web browser

There has been quite a history of browser wars. Till sometime back each browser claimed to change the way you browse the web and claimed their superiority for the same. Now they claim that they will change the way you are a part of the web. Opera recently announced their plans for Opera 10 , their upcoming version , and they have introduced a new technology which they call Opera Unite.

Opera Unite is a web server on the web browser. It allows you to take control of what you share online. Opera Unite allows you to easily share your data: photos, music, notes and other files. You can even run chat rooms and host entire Web sites with Opera Unite. It puts the power of a Web server in your browser, giving you greater privacy and flexibility than other online services. Opera Unite services can be accessed from any modern browser, including mobile browsers. This video showcases their vision.



As it is a fully fledged web server integrated to your browser ,you can do all kinds of things like hosting websites, host chat rooms, share files, etc. 
from your very own computer. Read the following opera labs blog to find out more.

The Web is changing and changing fast !

HOW TO make a GSM data card (like Airtel, Vodafone data cards) work in linux

It all started when one of my friends Prakhar who has an Airtel data card wanted to shift entirely from windows to linux... but the only problem was that the data card wasn't working... we tried to make it work , tried googling to figure out on how to make it work but it was of no use..we could not get all d useful info in one place where the whole process was given to install it on linux.. then we went to our champ friend LYNUS (something is there in the same i guess)for help... he worked for around 2-3 hrs and figured out everything and made it to work.... :)

LYNUS at work- click here to download one of his projects

The process:

plugin the datacard and type : ls /dev/ttyUSB*
check if the following files are listed
/dev/ttyUSB0 /dev/ttyUSB1 /dev/ttyUSB2 /dev/ttyUSB3
if not then

Download the file : huaweiAktBbo.c
(http://www.kanoistika.sk/bobovsky/archiv/umts/huaweiAktBbo.c)
type lsusb and check the output ...

It should b something like this:

rishi@rishi-laptop:/proc$ lsusb
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 0000:0000
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 12d1:1001 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. E620 USB Modem
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

line number 5 shows the vendor ID is 0x12d1 and product ID is 0x1001

now open the c file and search for
vendor = 0x12d1;
product = 0x1003;
and replace dem with your values...
vendor = 0x12d1;
product = 0x1001;
in my case

The libusb-dev package is required to compile the c file..
to install it Ubuntu or Debian users Type:
sudo apt-get install libusb-dev

Compile:
gcc huaweiAktBbo.c -o huaweiAktBbo -lusb
Run:
sudo huaweiAktBbo

Download the GUI from betavine:
https://forge.betavine.net/frs/?group_id=12&release_id=116
pick your choice from the list whichever is applicable for you and download the software..

chmod +x vodafone-mobile-connect-card-driver-for-linux-2.0.beta2-ubuntu-installer.run
./vodafone-mobile-connect-card-driver-for-linux-2.0.beta2-ubuntu-installer.run
On running the setup it might get stuck for a while downloading dependencies ... so get a cup of coffee and get back...if it is still not done then wait ..if dere is a message Installation complete den everthing is fyn..

once the software is installed then run it from the applications--> internet --> vodafone ...
a windows will pop up listing the devices found ..press ok if your device is listed ....den make a new profile ...

give a profile name... username and password (if it is not to authenticate your account den give some random values)...choose your connection type and authentication mode and den give the APN... for example , for airtel india users it is airtelgprs.com... check it with your service provider...
its done.. now connect and enjoy....


yoyo...happy surfing... :)