AdhamTech.Net

There’s a surprisingly capable CPU packed away in the tiny chassis with a top clock speed of 300MHz. It’s arrived with us clocked at a slightly more modest 200MHz,but a simple jumper built in to the case enable the processor to be clocked up to either 250MHz or the full 300MHz that it’s capable of.

It’s fair to say that the Space Cube isn’t overloaded with storage space, either. Sixteen megabytes of flash memory is included on-board, and the OS - a version of Red Hat, the popular Linux operating system - runs off a 1GB CompactFlash card that slots into the side of the Space Cube. There’s also 64MB of DDR SDRAM that, admittedly, doesn’t even match up to the lowliest of netbooks - let alone a desktop PC.

The Space Cube’s chassis is, well, a marvel. It’s utterly rock solid and made of metal - we were worried it was going to be a bit of a flimsy plastic prototype - and is clearly able to withstand more than a few knocks up in orbit.

Two sides contain the majority of the ports and sockets that adorn the Cube. A single USB port can easily be used for a hub - instantly adding three or four ports for a keyboard, mouse and more. There’s a VGA output for connecting a monitor, and even a D-SUB RS232 input. And that’s not all. An Ethernet port allows for internet access, and a pair of jacks cater for speakers and headphones - proving that there’s room for a few creature comforts amid the sheer functionality of this remarkable little PC.

There are a couple more unusual ports scattered around the diminutive Space Cube, too. There’s the row of little jumpers that allow for a bit of overclocking - although Crysis may be out of reach - and a small, three-pin serial port. There’s also the all-important CompactFlash slot that allows the OS to run.

Most intriguing, though, is the Space Wire port. It may sound like a mere science fiction fantasy, but this incredibly thin socket is a crucial part of the Space Cube’s armoury. That’s because it’s a type of proprietary interface use by the ESA, NASA and JAXA when the Cube actually goes into space. It’s useful for connecting various sensors and processing units to the Space Cube, as well as the complicated-sounding Downlink Telementary Sub-Systems, which sounds like something more akin to Battlestar Galactica or Star Wars than anything used in real life. It turns out that Space Wire is also used as a common interface for linking together modules and electronics that are often designed in different institutions.

For such a small and low-powered PC, the Space Cube is actually pretty nippy when you’re navigating its own flavour of Linux. Bring up the command line and simply type ‘ls /bin’ to reveal a list of the few dozen functions that are available to use with the Space Cube. Typing ‘xclock’ reveals, well, a clock, and entering ‘xeye’ brings up a pair of comedy googly eyes that follow your cursor around the screen. We also speculate that putting a different, suitably low-power version of Linux on the CompactFlash card would allow for that

OS to be used instead of the Red Hat that’s installed here. It’s a green machine, too: when running, the Space Cube drew a miniscule 5W from the mains, putting the 36W draw of the Transtec Senyo 610 to shame.

So, what is the Space Cube actually used for? Well, the Space Cube has been developed to control the various electronics that Space Wire connects to and, as such, manage and manipulate everything that’s going on in an interstellar computer network. Pretty cool stuff, I think you’ll agree.

The Red Hat operating system is able to use many common commands that are normally found on more standard Linux PCs. FTP can be used, as well as editors such as vi. GCC is also installed, so code can be compiled into executable programs - although, obviously, the lack of power available will mean that any applications are reasonably frugal in their power demands. The rpm command is also installed, so rpm packages for other applications can also be installed.

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/

Today, SingTel releases iPhone 3G handsets. Bundled with their own plan. With some plan, you can get iPhone for SGD 0.00 (yes, free!). But, still no prepaid plans Then, I canceled my plan to go Singapore next month.

Okay, when iPhone goes to Indonesia? legally…

Source: Adham Somantrie: SingTel Releases iPhone 3G

One of the most popular communication application in computers is chatting, or realtime-communication. It is started from text based “instant” messaging. As technology evolutions, this communication application grows up. Computer goes faster and faster, internet broadband is wider and still goes wider.

The information is goes bigger, from text to voice conversation. Real time! Skype is the most popular for voice communications over the internet. Yahoo Messenger and Google Talk also sports voice communication. And, today, video communication is a standard feature for communication applications within the internet.

Yes, you will need webcams to make a “video call”. Absolutely, you can’t take your pictures without camera devices. As on voice call within computers, you need a sound controller devices (known as sound card) and set of microphone and speakers. It’s the same for video. Cameras or webcams to take your picture, and just a monitor that have good quality to showing your partner’s video.

You can use some kind of digital video cameras as webcams for video call. But, it’s so terrible. Most of them are big! It’s become a problem when you use a laptop computers. The cams is bigger than you computers. Hehehe…

Then, you can use webcams, that created specially for video communications, with a compact size. Today’s laptop and some desktop computers is equipped with built-in webcam. For example, Apple built iSight in every their Macs, except MacMini and MacPro.

But, if your computer doesn’t sports integrated camera, you can go for the webcams. The webcams, even made for Skype, most of them are can be use within another application such as Yahoo Messenger, iChat AV, and (maybe) PhotoBooth.

If today video communications are standard feature, what will be happens in tomorrow? The cost will goes cheaper by the time. Computer’s power is doubled every one and a half year, due to Moore’s Law. The bandwidth goes wider. Video conference is real now. Will holographic communication in some years in the future?

Source: Adham Somantrie: Video Communication, and Then?

I found a bug in plurk. It’s not on the plurk real website, but the mobile view version. Not a big bug, but it still annoying.

Okay, you can try.

First, go to mobile view of plurk on plurk.com/m/. Yes, you can use your desktop browser like Firefox or Internet Explorer from your PC. You don’t have to use mobile phones or other portable devices to open the mobile view.

There’s three menus under “My Timeline”: Mine, Friends and Mine, and Private. Okay, click on “mine”. It will show just your plurk and the URL is: plurk.com/m/?mode=my. There’s still no problem.

Scroll down to the bottom. You should see the page number, and “next” page link. Click.

It will open the next page that have URL plurk.com/m/?page=2. But, see the plurks! It’s not only your plurks, but your friends’ too! Can you see?

OK. Then i’ve tried to type down manually the URL, plurk.com/m/?mode=my&page=2. And, it works! Yes, next time, you should to type down manually than clicking the “next” link.

Adham Somantrie
plurk.com/user/adham

Source: AdhamSomantrie.com - Plurk’s Bug.

Nintendo Wii is the latest game console from Nintendo. Today’s popular consoles are Wii, XBOX 360, and PS3. Nintendo have released game consoles before the first version of XBOX and PlayStation. Since PlayStation 2 and XBOX era, Nintendo was “kicked out of the business”. But with the new and revolution Nintendo Wii, Nintendo is back in business.

Nintendo Wii is the fifth generation of home game console that produced by Nintendo: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), Nintendo 64 (N64), Nintendo GameCube, and Nintendo Wii. And the portable is: Game & Watch, GameBoy, GameBoy Advance, and Nintendo DS (NDS) series.

The most revolutionary on Nintendo Wii is not on the game nor the multiplayer over the network capability. But, the most phenomenal Wiimote (Wii Remote)! It’s a wireless controller device that can control 3D space.

The Wiimote is used for main controller to navigate the menus, and absolutely to play the game. Yes, it’s a 3D game controller! And, you still can use the classic “gamepad” controllers for a conservative playing

The hi-tech device is unusable if there is no application that supporting it. Not at Wii. There’s so many applications that take the advantage of the Wiimote. Especially, the sports game. And, also so many applications of the Wiimote for music purposes. It’s all just for make your day, having fun with Nintendo Wii! And, the new experience of the gaming, ever.

And, with 3rd-party support, today Wiimote have so many improvisations and custom applications. From tennis racquet to guitar and drums, from the gun to the sword and shield.

Source: AdhamSomantrie.com - Nintendo Wii: Game Console Revolution

Are you a music addict? if you’re can’t live without music, you should have a portable music player that can accompany you everywhere, and anywhere. Today, there is a lot of choice for the portable music player, and cheaper than few years ago. Yes, the most popular portable music player is Apple iPod family.

Why iPod? beside the beautiful design, the reason is the iTunes. You can sync your music easily between your Mac or Windows PC with the iPod. And the library is helping you manage your music collection. And, also the iTunes Music Store is absolutely iPod-friendly.

For mainstream use, you may be suitable with iPod Nano. Now, it plays everything with bigger screen. The capacity is 4GB, enough for your music collection on the go. And, yes, with some video that you loved. And the 8GB variant have more choices of colours. Including the latest “Pink” special edition.

Want more storage? You should try harddisk-based iPod Classic that have massive space for music and video.

Today, iPod Classic have two variants: 80GB and 160GB. It’s an extra large storage! And also, bigger screen. With this extra large storage, you can even copy all of your music and video collection from your iTunes to the iPod Classic. Imagine, your complete music and video collection, on the go! Accompany you everywhere!

And, you also can use the iPod Nano and iPod Classic for “external USB disk”. You can use these to carry your data files.

Need more than just media player?

For more capabilities, iPod Touch is the answer. Except its smaller storage capacity (compared to iPod Classic), it has the most giant-screen (3.5 inch) with multi-touch capability. Yes, you can touch the screen for the operations. Steve Jobs said, “touch your music”. And with wi-fi capability, you can connected to the internet. And, nothing is impossible with the internet: email, chat, browse, etc.

There’re another choice: iPod Shuffle and iPhone. iPod Shuffle is for someone who needs simplicity. Ultra-small sized, without display screen. Just the music. And iPhone is like the iPod Touch, but have the communication capabilities like a mobile phones.

Source: Adham Somantrie.com : Music Addict Need An iPod

Buat yang hobi chat dengan ponsel terutama yang pake ponsel qwerty ada solusi murah-meriah dari telkomsel, tapi bukan yang telkomsel flash unlimited melainkan paket-paket seperti ini

• Tarif 5.000 - Kapasitas 5 Mega - Masa Aktif 7 hari
• Tarif 20.000 - Kapasitas 30 Mega - Masa Aktif 30 hari
• Tarif 50.000 - Kapasitas 100 Mega - Masa Aktif 30 hari
• Tarif 100.000 - Kapasitas 300 Mega - Masa Aktif 30 hari

bisa liat di sini untuk jelasnya untuk aplikasi nya sendiri bisa menggunakan IM+, Slick, Nimbuzz, eBuddy, etc. Cukup banyak tergantung dari tipe ponsel anda jg apakah mendukung aplikasi tersebut.

Sebagai pengguna Mac, tentunya saya juga menggunakan iTunes untuk mengorganisir dan memainkan koleksi lagu-lagu saya. Untuk pemutar musik portabel, tentu saja iPod adalah pasangan sejati iTunes. iTunes and iPod, born to be together.

Tetapi beberapa orang mungkin lebih menyukai perangkat yang konvergen, misalnya SonyEricsson Walkman phone: ponsel, kamera, dan multimedia player dalam satu perangkat. Saya sendiri “terpaksa” menggunakan SonyEricsson W850i ini karena terlalu banyak perangkat yang mesti saya bawa: ponsel GSM, ponsel CDMA, kamera digital, dan terkadang PowerBook Nano. Tentunya akan semakin banyak jika ditambah dengan iPod. iPhone mungkin adalah solusi yang baik, tapi juga merupakan impian yang terindah untuk saat ini.

Dengan menggunakan ponsel walkman, tentunya saya harus rela kehilangan fitur sinkronisasi iTunes-iPod yang pernah saya gunakan. Ditambah dengan tidak adanya dukungan SonyEricsson kepada pengguna Mac. Untuk pengguna Windows mungkin bisa tertolong dengan aplikasi PC Suite dan aplikasi Disc2Phone. Sementara pengguna Mac? Hubungkan ponsel dengan Mac, pilih file transfer mode di ponsel, dan selebihnya gunakan Finder!

FInder? ya, melelahkan bukan?

Tetapi kini dengan perangkat lunak iTuneMyWalkman, proses sinkronisasi ponsel walkman dengan iTunes bisa lebih nikmat, walaupun tidak sebaik iPod. Maka, kepada para pengguna ponsel walkman yang menggunakan iTunes (Mac), segeralah download aplikasi ini.

Setelah mendownload, buka disk image-nya lalu salin aplikasi iTuneMyWalkman ke harddisk Anda. Lalu jalankan aplikasi tersebut.

Hal pertama yang mesti dilakukan adalah menyambungkan ponsel walkman tersebut ke Mac dengan menggunakan kabel USB yang disediakan. Jangan lupa untuk memilih file transfer mode. Atau dapat juga dengan menggunakan card reader untuk membaca kartu memori (Memory Stick PRO Duo) ponsel.

Tahap yang perlu dilakukan pertama kali sebelum melakukan sinkronisasi adalah mengkonfigurasi aplikasi tersebut. Klik tombol “Edit Preferences”.

Silakan tentukan lokasi penyimpanan, yakni lokasi folder tempat meyimpan file-file lagu. Jika menggunakan file transfer mode umumnya berada di /Volumes/PHONE CARD/Music/.

Di jendela “Preferences” ini juga terdapat beberapa opsi lain, misalnya menkonversi bitrate untuk menghemat ruang; juga ada opsi untuk menentukan playlist mana yang akan disinkronkan.

Setelah selesai mengkonfigurasi, kini Anda sudah dapat melakukan sinkronisasi dengan mengklik tombol “Synchronize Now”. Dan proses sinkronisasi akan berlangsung.

Selain itu, juga tersedia script untuk aplikasi iTunes yang akan memudahkan kita dalam melakukan sinkronisasi. Dengan skrip ini, Anda tidak perlu repot-repot membuka aplikasi iTuneMyWalkman untuk melakukan sinkronisasi. Karena akan ada menu tambahan di aplikasi iTunes seperti gambar berikut:

Untuk memasang skrip ini, cukup klik tombol “Install Scripts” yang ada di aplikasi iTuneMyWalkman. Sementara untuk membuang skrip ini, klik saja tombol “Uninstall Scripts”.

Dan tak ketinggalan, ada sebuah skrip lagi yang akan mengkonfirmasi Anda setiap Anda menghubungkan ponsel dengan Mac. Menu untuk memasang dan membuangnya ada di bagian bawah jendela aplikasi iTuneMyWalkman.

Catatan tambahan:
Aplikasi ini tidak terbatas pada penggunaan dengan ponsel walkman saja. Sebenarnya dapat berfungsi dengan MP3 player berbasis flashdisk maupun kartu memori (memory card) yang tidak menggunakan basis data tersendiri. Seperti SonyEricsson K800i, atau Creative Muvo V200 misalnya. (Tapi MuVo V200 sih terdeteksi oleh iTunes Mac walaupun tanpa fungsi sync, hehehehe).

Selain aplikasi iTuneMyWalkman, banyak aplikasi lain yang fungsinya serupa dengan aplikasi ini, misalnya SyncTunes.

Sumber: AdhamSomantrie.com

Today, blog is a lifestyle. Everybody should have it. And, I want to introduce the another free blog service provider: Thoughts.com. Yes, like another one, you can blog with this site. But, it is not just a blog provider. It also allows you to upload your photos, and then share it with your family and friends.

Do you feel that still photos are not enough? Calm down, you also can upload videos! Great! Now what? you can share your experience with the world. Yayaya, you also can limit it just for you friends or family only. It’s up to you.

Bored with traditional blogs, you may start to podcasting. You may enjoy to be a broadcaster without having to be a real radio broadcaster

Thoughts.com is more than blog service provider. It’s also a social community. Yes, your blog is dying without social life. Interaction between you and the visitors is can help to improve your blog, even “building” your blog. You and “the community” can share the post, photos, videos or even podcast. The another thing about the social, it must be a chat. You can chat with another member, just to say hi, or for a mindshare.

Another interesting point, (you must read carefully :D), every year Thoughts.com give a free vacation for the top contributors!

If you’re looking for a Free Blog Service Provider, you should try Thoughts.com unless you still wanna use traditional blog service.

gAttach! allows you to easily attach files to new messages in Gmail or Google Apps Mail. All the features available in Windows that were once only available to your desktop mail-using friends are now available to all Gmail users.

With gAttach! , you can:

• send emails directly from:
  • Windows Explorer
  • Microsoft Office
  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Windows Live Photo Gallery
  • Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • .. and many more
• automatically attach files from your PC to a new email without manually uploading each file;
• choose to suppress the annoying standard text provided by Windows (”Your attachments are ready to send..”);
• handle “mailto” email links in web pages.

Get it here