Danie van der Merwe

Raspberry Pi upgrades its Camera Module with HDR, autofocus, a new lens-mounting attachment, and more

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 11:00:08 +0100

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Raspberry Pi's will soon have many more camera-based projects available to them, as the newest Camera Module from the single-board computer maker allows for autofocus, high dynamic range, lower-light photos, and more.

The Camera Module 3, starting at $25, lets you take "crisp images of objects from around 5cm out to infinity," Raspberry Pi CEO Eben Upton wrote in a blog post announcement. Standard field-of-view (FoV) camera modules cost $25, while wider-FoV models are $35 for the "more complex and expensive optical stack."

The sensor comes from Sony and uses a back-illuminated IMX708 that provides a 12-megapixel resolution, larger (1.40μm) pixels, and support for HDR.

See Raspberry Pi upgrades its Camera Module with HDR, autofocus, and more

#technology #RaspberryPi #camera

There's also a new lens-mounting attachment available for truly big photos.

technology camera RaspberryPi

All about USB-C power delivery: They're intelligent, which is why some odd cables or chargers may not work properly

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 20:43:26 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

I just spent a day or two recently going through all the standards to find a USB-C charger and matching cable to charge my old Macbook Air, instead of buying one from Apple at double the price. The thing I found out, though, was that USB-C is all dependent upon the charger as well as cable capabilities, as these communicate with the device being charged. This is why some chargers won't charge a laptop, or why some phones may only charge at low power whilst they are actually capable of fast charging.

I saw this article today, and it does a good job of trying to unpack this, along with the various step-up voltages supported. So, especially if you want to achieve the higher voltages and currents, you need to check what standards both the charger and the cable support (if you are matching with a 3rd party cable).

And then note too that some phones like the new Samsung flagships will want PPS support for fast charging. No PPS comms through the cable or from the charger, means it won't do fast charging.

It's interesting too to read about the reversal roll when a dock is plugged into the USB-C port of a laptop. And certainly all this should be borne in mind when choosing a new USB-C hub.

See All About USB-C: Power Delivery

#technology #USBC #chargers #chargingcables #power

USB-C eliminates proprietary barrel plug chargers that we’ve been using for laptops and myriads of other devices. It fights proprietary phone charger standards by explicitly making them non-c…

technology USBC #power

show all 6 comments

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 11:19:26 +0100

MKSinSA

MKSinSA@social.vivaldi.net

So, @gadgeteer, NOW you post this very informative piece AFTER I bought a hub that I almost returned cuz it doesn't charge my phone but does my Bluetooth speakers. Helpful, anyway, thanks.

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 11:30:09 +0100

Alexander Ruthol

Je5usaurus_rex@universeodon.com

@gadgeteer
It sounds like hardware companies like Apple and Samsung have figured out ways to keep selling overpriced proprietary hardware even when forced by law to have unified USB C interface.

EU should crack down on these efforts to bypass their legislation.

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:50:07 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

@MKSinSA yes the post was partly motivated by that, because I saw quite a few people complaining about their USB-C purchases. To be honest I think the labelling could be a lot better and more obvious. Resellers especially have no clue, so they are making things worse by not describing what USB-C standards are complied with. They are at least downward compatible, but the reverse is not true for cheaper devices. So we save some money and find the device is a lower spec one.

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:53:33 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

@Alexander Ruthol I think they are all conforming to standards, but the cheaper USB-C devices on the market are not clearly labelled as to what they support. So we'll compare two 45W chargers and go for the cheaper of the two, not realising that that charger only supports 5V or 9V, and our laptop is expecting it to step up to 15V or 20V. Better labelling needed all round, even Apple can say what voltage and power rating is needed by a charger (but they only expect you to buy an Apple charger).

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 13:43:13 +0100

Marc Thomas

mthx@techhub.social

@gadgeteer I need to do this research again myself. I did something similar a few years ago and ultimately decided to full send on thunderbolt 3 and a really high quality 100w power brick.

Since then, there have been some updates in tech including thunderbolt 4.

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 20:07:46 +0100

Greg A. Woods

robohack@diasp.org

Labeling. Yeah. The good thing about not calling every type of connector by the same name and also not making incompatible ones effectively mechanically and somewhat electrically identical, is that ordinary people can tell them apart, even in the dark. They might curse that they got the wrong one, but they are far less likely to damage anything.

It was Idiocracy squared for a bunch of bureaucrats to decide unilaterally "USB-C" was to be the standard with all its half-baked options and incompletely specified communications and negotiation protocols, never mind that those particular connectors are so finicky that they're often trashed enough to be unreliable within days/weeks of first use (I've had some so crappy they never worked reliably!).

Low-cost 433 MHz door/window reed sensors get open source firmware

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 20:08:56 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

It’s an unfortunate reality these days that if you see a cheap piece of consumer electronics, there’s a good chance its only cheap because it’s designed to lock you into some ecosystem where you’ll either end up paying a subscription, or worse, have your personal information sold behind your back. One of the best tools we have against these sort of anti-consumer practices is the development of open source firmware replacements that put control of the device into the hands of the community, rather than a corporation.

Now, thanks to the work of Jonathan Armstrong we have such a firmware for the 433 MHz magnetic door and window sensors that you can pick up on AliExpress for $4 USD a piece. The new firmware not only ensures you can use these sensors with a wide array of receivers, but adds a number of new features over their stock configuration.

The open source project includes some recommendations for a Sonoff bridge, flashed with Tasmota or ESPurna firmware, which allow these sensors to appear as switch entities in Home Assistant. There is also a link at the bottom to the sensor market page on AliExpress.

See Low-Cost 433 MHz Door Sensors Get Open Firmware

#technology #opensource #reedswitch #homeautomation

It’s an unfortunate reality these days that if you see a cheap piece of consumer electronics, there’s a good chance its only cheap because it’s designed to lock you into some ecos…

technology opensource reed switch homeautomation

Advanced Copy Command – Shows Progress Bar While Copying/Moving Files in Linux

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 19:44:45 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Advanced-Copy is a powerful command line program that is very much similar, but a little modified version of the original cp command and mv tools.

This modified version of the cp command adds a progress bar along with the total time taken to complete while copying large files from one location to another. This additional feature is very useful especially while copying large files, and this gives an idea to the user about the status of copy process and how long it takes to complete.

Only downside is it needs to be compiled from source (don't even see it in AUR) and then you do a BASH alias, so you can just type cp or mv to use it. On the plus side, it appears to show the total progress as well for many files being copied or moved.

An alternative may be Progress which is a more generic progress indicator for more functions than just these two, or even cp-p which is a simpler installation.

See Advanced Copy - Shows Progress While Copying Files in Linux

#technology #opensource #Linux #progress #AdvancedCopy

Advanced-Copy is a command line program that is very much similar, but a little modified version of the original cp and mv command with a progress bar.

technology Linux progress Advanced Copy opensource

How, for heart health, new Huawei Watch D beats Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch: No calibration required for Blood Pressure

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 17:17:08 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

What if you had a smartwatch that could measure your blood pressure and generate an electrocardiogram (ECG) too? A ticker for your ticker, so to speak. Well, there is one: Huawei’s new Watch D.

Someone with dangerously high blood pressure normally does not feel it. Left undetected and untreated for years, it can gradually damage blood vessels and increase the risk of a heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

Huawei’s Watch D has an inflatable strap hidden in the wristband, similar to classic wrist blood pressure monitors by manufacturers such as Omron, Boso and Beurer. According to Huawei, the margin of error for the device’s blood pressure readings is ±3 mmHg, or millimetres of mercury. A test showed the readings to be very close to those by the Boso Medicus X upper arm blood pressure monitor, which the German consumer watchdog Stiftung Warentest has rated “good”.

Unlike the Galaxy Watch 5 that has a disabled temperature sensor, the Huawei Watch D has their activated. So yes, certainly the Watch D seems to beat both Samsung and Apple as an all-rounder on heart metrics, and also appears that its result are fairly accurate (review tests will test). Both Samsung and Apple are going to have to up their game a bit now (and sell more devices).

See How new Huawei Watch D beats Apple, Samsung smartwatches on heart health

#technology #health #Huawei #heart #smartwatch

Unlike the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch, the Watch D by Huawei uses a built-in inflatable strap to measure blood pressure and a health app that can be used across different mobile devices.

technology health Huawei heart

The art of cut-throat shaving: Because real men shave with a naked blade

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 20:09:28 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

The cut-throat razor is an appealing throwback to traditional shaving. It’s heroically old school, both an objet d’art and a challenge. “It’s the apex of wet shaving,” says Robert Burton, ecommerce manager at The Executive Shaving Company, which sells a range of cut-throats. “You’re going back to a traditional type of shaving that was used for centuries before King Gillette came along with the safety razor in 1901. Ultimately it’s an open blade – there’s no protection, it’s you and your technique and the blade – there’s a challenge to that.”

And it’s not one easily mastered. The first time I tried shaving with a cut-throat, my face looked as if I’d had an accident with a lawnmower. I would have given up but for a subsequent cut-throat lesson with a traditional barber in Mayfair.

“Don’t shave with a cut-throat when you’re late for work,” says Barry Klein, managing director of Taylor of Old Bond Street, whose Jermyn Street store offers lessons. “Give yourself time.”

“When you look back at pictures of the Victorian era, most gents had a moustache for a good reason,” adds Burton. “Shaving under your nose is not easy with a cut-throat.” But, with persistence, both say a degree of proficiency is attainable.

Yes, this is certainly a skill that takes some time and patience to master. Certainly something for the bucket list of challenges. Once mastered, though, it makes traditional wet shaving even more economical and better for the environment!

See tips at The art of cut-throat shaving

#wetshaving #traditionalwetshaving #shaving

Because real men shave with a naked blade

shaving traditionalwetshaving wetshaving

PhotoPills is a $10.99 app that will help predict when the Sun, Moon, and other Celestial Objects will be in a Specific Position for Photography

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 15:44:09 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Have you ever walked through a place and thought: "It's too bad the Moon isn't RIGHT there... would have made a great photo!"? What about the Sun? And the Milky Way? Well, now you can just let your imagination fly and calculate when this specific magic moment happens in just a few seconds! It can tell you exactly when the sun/moon will rise over a distant mountain (or lake, tree, etc) as viewed from a specific location, or when magic hours will occur there.

No matter the type of photography you love: Landscape, Milky Way, Moon, Sunrise, Sunset, Architecture, Star Trails, Drone, Meteor Showers, Solar eclipse, Lunar Eclipse, Time lapse, Wedding, Portrait or Travel... PhotoPills is your photography planning app. It helps you plan your photos ahead of time… So you’re always at the right place at the right time to capture the best photo possible.

The 3D Augmented Reality views are wonderful tools to help you plan the paths of Sun, Moon and Milky Way when scouting a potential photo, film or time-lapse location. Travel and discover new places with their database of more than 10,500 Points of Interest all around the world linked into Wikipedia, including waterfalls, castles, abandoned places, monuments.

The app is available for both Android and iOS, and does seem to be a Swiss Army Knife for planning where and when to be for those great photos. I think I'm going to try this out, as it certainly can take the guesswork out of when to arrive somewhere to get the type of photo you want.

See PhotoPills | Shoot legendary photos

#technology #photography #magichour #photos #PhotoPills

Discover how to plan legendary shots in seconds, systematically and for any location on Earth.

technology photos photography PhotoPills magic hour

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 18:06:45 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

A good video at https://youtu.be/ueC7pL5pLM0 demonstrating how to align yourself on a particular date to catch a supermoon rise. An alternative, more modern UI but also simpler app, is PhotoTime.

Valencell announces a fully cuffless blood pressure monitor connects to your Android phone, and does not require calibration with a cuff

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 14:07:15 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

The new, still nameless device is supposed to focus solely on helping people recognize high blood pressure. It’s based on a technology similar to heart rate meters using PPG, or Photoplethysmography. The device shines pulses of light on the finger’s skin to measure your blood flow. Using algorithms, AI, and a ton of data from a test group of over 7,000 people, a measurement is taken. Results are displayed both on the device itself and your phone via Bluetooth.

What’s new here is that the device doesn’t have to be calibrated with a regular cuff first. It works right out of the box, though presumably, you need to enter some physical data before (age, weight, gender, and height are needed to determine the blood pressure).

Yes it's not a 24/7 wearable, but I suppose on the other hand it is portable, easy to use, does not require regular calibration (like Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5), and can be used with most Android phones.

An interesting idea may be to use this to calibre the Galaxy Watch 5, weekly or daily, and then let the watch do the 24/7 monitoring.

But we'll need to wait for its US FDA approval, and some real world test reviews, before buying it.

See This fully cuffless blood pressure monitor connects to your Android phone

#technology #health #bloodpressure #Valencell

A more comfortable way to measure blood pressure has been introduced during CES 2023

technology health bloodpressure

You Could Be Selecting Text With Your Mouse Incorrectly

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 10:53:05 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Most people position the cursor at the beginning of the text, hold the mouse button down, drag the cursor to the end, then release the button. The text is highlighted letter by letter. But this sometimes misses the first or last letter, and then you can reselect carefully, sometimes multiple times. This seems dependent on the source you are selecting from, as many will work perfectly, whilst others are a struggle.

An easier way is double, or even triple clicking and then selecting words or whole paragraphs respectively. Yes, it takes a bit of muscle memory to remember to do it every time, but I must say, it does work quite flawlessly.

See You’re Selecting Text With Your Mouse Wrong

#technology #selecttext #mouse

Selecting text is a common thing to do on a computer. Just click and drag your mouse to highlight the desired text. Couldn’t be simpler, right? There’s actually a much better way of doing this, and you’ll never go back.

technology mouse selecttext

Video demonstrating how and why those red and green LEDs measure heart rate and SpO2, and why they need to flash

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 22:14:20 +0100

Danie van der Merwe

gadgeteer@hub.netzgemeinde.eu

Smartwatches use a flashing green light to measure your heart rate and a red and infra-red light to measure your oxygen saturation. The way it works is really clever, and this video demonstrates that.

See

The bizarre flashing lights on a smartwatch

#technology #health #smartwatches #heartrate #SpO2

Get your first month of KiwiCo free: https://kiwico.com/stevemouldSmart watches use a flashing green light to measure your heart rate and a red and infarred ...

technology health smartwatch heartrate SpO2