The BIOS and BIOS configuration are stored in non-volatile memory (a Flash memory chip). If you badly configure the BIOS, like I did, you can lock out access to USB and even stop the tablet from booting.
(If you are able to launch Windows it is possible to flash a new BIOS with a Windows utility – search the Chuwi support forum for details.)
Its been some time since I packaged any software for distribution. You can’t beat learning by doing to blow out the cobwebs and since this was intended for others to use I had to do it as correctly as I could. So these packages conform to Debian standards and are digitally signed by me.
Eventually sorted it all out and was able to make both 32 and 64-bit packages….
Guiding your mount is pretty much essential for long exposure photography. lin_guider is one of the best solutions for using a guiding camera available to Linux machines.
Out-of-the-box Distro Astro has Gnome Desktop Sharing installed. This is great for remote access to your astro-laptop to control telescope, mount and camera from the warmth of your house. (Of course, you need to have booted the astro-laptop and logged in as a user before the remote access can work and you need to arrange it so the laptop is in range of your Wifi network!). Continue reading Distro Astro – remote access with VNC→
The Chuwi Hi8 is a very nice 8 inch display dual-boot Windows 10 and Android 4.4 tablet.
This is an Intel Atom based tablet and its performance is sort of mid-range for a 2016 Android device and low-end for a Windows 10 device. Its been on the market for some time and there is a newer Hi8 Pro which has some extra features so the Hi8 can be bought for a very good price these days.
There are a number of reviews around so I wont say too much about features and performance…
For the price it is surprisingly well made and fun to use,
The display is fantastic but reflective. It comes fitted with a screen protector which is a good thing because the glass will scratch if you are not careful.
In common with most cheap tablets the sound from the speaker is very poor (but sound using headphones is very good).
Its HD display is very nice for watching youtube and netflix, performance is not a problem.
Battery life is ok for 3-4hrs of use.
You will need a 16Gb or larger SD card if you want to upgrade Windows 10 to the latest fixes (I recommend you buy a Class-10 32 or 64 GB SD card).
You will run out of storage space in Android and Windows if you don’t fit an SD card.
there is an LED backlight that is intended for PWM (pulse width modulation) control using the LCD_BKL line (connected to PB2/PWM0 of the Allwinner A10). This is pin 36 of the LCD connector for the Olimex LIME.
The Infrared Module that I chose was a TruOpto part HRM138BB5100 available from Rapid (PN: 55-0902).
Output for the IR module showing the NEC protocol structure.
I chose it for operating at 3.3V. The circuit is ridiculously simple, a total of 4 components and a small bit of veroboard. I followed the manufacturers recommendations: Continue reading Infrared Module Circuit for IR Module→
My IR module was designed for use with an embedded Linux system. I chose the Olimex A10-OLinuXino-LIME as it looked powerful and a good starting point for an Internet Radio project that I wanted to do.
