The ‘quick and nasty’ software files are still the same as in the previous post.  Pure software test only, couldn’t resist the temptation to try it via WiFi on a stock Chumby instead of USB tethering.  As such the hardware frame is a bit too flimsy and the batteries aren’t enough to power the Chumby without brown-out resets.  These will be improved upon soon

This demonstrates the ‘touch’ (initialize) and ‘swipe’ (move/offset) control on touch screens.  Will try the DeviceMotion Javascript API on iOS 4.2 devices (iPhone 4G/iPad) if I can get my hands on that filth…

Video!

Previous Posts :-

• http://www.madox.net/blog/2010/12/19/mecanum-wheel-base/
• http://www.madox.net/blog/2010/12/24/mecanum-wheel-base-software-test/

Other than the annoying thing that I couldn’t download it using Firefox or Linux, and that you need to update using Windows and HTC Sync… its awesome.  Even though it’s a Taiwan ChungHwa ROM, there is an English option luckily

In addition to the Sense UI and its wonderful feature set, another interesting but hidden away feature is “Mobile Internet Sharing”, aka tethering!  Azilink is now redundant with this new firmware, and honestly I was getting annoyed with Azilink’s performance and constant dropping out.  On Ubuntu at least, it was ‘plug-and-play’ without any other tricks.  Awesome.

Now I’m not so jealous about all the HTC Hero’s my friends and relatives have…

Photos (pretty boring) after the break.

Go on, use your QR Reader on this

Yes, that is “Colour” not “Color” for all your Americans out there!

QR Code is one of the more widespread/popular 2D barcodes out there.  Sure there are others that are used commercially in airline/train ticketing, but none wide as much ‘reader’ support in the form of mobile phones and software.  Almost all phones in Japan are able to read QR Code, add to that Nokias and various WinMo apps.  Not to mention the wonderful ZXing open-source app that’ll work on any mobile that supports Java or Android.

One of the beautiful things about QR Code is that it can tolerate errors in the code.  Depending on the encoding used, up to 30% of data can be lost and the full content can still be retrieved.

I caught onto QR Code a few years back but the ZXing Android app reminded me of this wonderful piece of technology.  A little curious, I thought I’ll add a bit of colour to the otherwise dull and boring black/white QR Code.  Others have noted that if you have enough contrast between foreground and background, most readers will still recognise the code – but lets make every block a different colour!  Yup, it still works!  Its a lot more prettier and fancier, but a thing to note is that you should still use colours that are a high contrast to the background.  I guess I could have used a pale yellow instead of a white background to add more…but that’ll be just over doing it.

Have a play with QR Code.  There are numerous generators online if you do a search, here is the ZXing Generator link.

(Anyone want to write an extension to a generator to make random colour QR codes?)

Contents of the Parcel (Bamboo logo didn't really come with it...)

Ordered from BecexTech on monday evening, package arrived thursday – not a bad turn around time at all and price was reasonable.  The package was shipped from Hong Kong, but the original phone appears to be from Taiwan with some carrier logo on bootup and some pre-installed widgets/apps that can be quickly hidden away.  Very considerate of them to include a little Australian plug adaptor, its like $1AUD in HK, but costs like $10AUD ($50HKD) to buy one here…Wouldn’t recommend getting that case for anyone else.  Screen protector was a perfect fit and a must have.

So far so good, Android has a really smooth interface and lots of eye candy compared to my dying (dead?) WinMo phone.  The only quirk is the on-screen soft keyboard is a bit quirky, especially with the capacitive touch which forces you to use your fingers…  Maybe I need to make my own stylus.

HSDPA on Vodafone works well, though the non-intuitive APN screen confused me for a bit (Its a completely blank screen with no buttons…hint:press menu key to get the ‘add’ option).  Simply used the settings I copied from Ubuntu (vfinternet.au) and voila…assume it’ll work similarly for Virgin/Optus/Telstra, will give each a try at work tomorrow with those various SIMs.  Nice to know the Vodafone data sim allows calls in and out, because my Huawei ExpressCard died today…

Other Quick thoughts :-

• GPS lock was freakishly quick at 10 seconds on a complete cold start.
• The landscape<>portrait transition isn’t as flashy as the iPhone/TouchFlo/WinMo ones, and its really annoying if you don’t really want it to happen.
• Its smaller and lighter than the iPhone which I’ve always viewed as too cumbersome…
• There’s handwriting recognition for Chinese on this phone since it comes from Taiwan, and it works amazingly well for both Chinese characters and English letters.  Infact I found it easier to use than the on-screen soft keyboard for a while…
• The non-touchscreen keys are a godsend, makes the UI so much easier to use.
• Base install is missing a few essentials like quick methods to turn on/off wifi/gps/bluetooth etc but easily remedied through a couple of app downloads on the market.
• Android Market download/installs are a breeze…oh the fun I’ll have there!
• Youtube videos are played in landscape and the quality is noticeably reduced than on desktop.
• Looks like a multiaxis magnetometer inside…digital compass works when phone is ‘flat down’ and also ‘portrait held up’.  Oddly the Orienteer app says it doesn’t work in ‘landscape held up’???…
• Interesting settings menu’s where there were developer options for debug mode, it really is crying for me to write something for it isn’t it?
• Eeek ExtUSB connector…
• No Skype App
• No Citrix App…

I felt like a kid when I played with this phone and overall I’m a very happy camper!

A few more photos of the unpacking…

What's in the tiny box?

Oooo lots of cables...argh extUSB connector...

Google!

Just trying out the browser