redelijkheid.com

Ever since a certain split-up, I’m in need of a decent point&shoot camera. A nice small camera to fit in my pocket for every day snapshot use, but with pro-like features. Why?, because they won’t allow you to attend a concert with a Nikon D300 and a 80-400mm lens.. (or any lens for that matter). And the camera on my Nokia N95 is not satisfactory at all…. But then again, it’s a phone.

At the moment I’m kinda interested in the Canon Powershot G9, or the Panasonic Limux DMC-LX3 (which is not available yet. The first is.. well… kinda a legend at this moment, but the second is throwing high hopes for that segment. The new Nikon P6000 lacks Mac support and uses a closed RAW format at this time, so that’s a no go (even though the integrated GPS in kinda neat).

Guess I have to wait for the first reviews of the Panasonic Lumic DMC-LX3. I hope it’s available soon.

The GiSTEQ Corporation has released a OSX compatible version of their software for managing the Phototrackr GPS unit.

I hope that more will follow, because there not that many OSX compatible devices out there. Downside is that e.g. PhotoGPSEditor DOES support RAW photos (at least Nikon’s RAW format).

The Nokia E61i is old. Well, ever since I got a Nokia N95 from my boss. So no longer a privately owned phone (with a company SIM), but a new shiny N95 :).

First impression; plastic fantastic, but a fast plastic fantastic phone. A faster CPU, HSDPA instead of ‘regular’ UMTS, and a ‘normal’ keypad instead of a QWERTY keyboard (which is not an improvement!!)

The OS (Symbian S60) is the same as the OS on the E61i, so no real surprises on that part. Even the backup with Nokia Phone Manager restored on the N95. New features were also included;

• upload images to Flickr
• nokia maps
• built-in GPS

The only real bummer is the lame Nokia Phone Manager software. That application just won’t work properly (it could also be that the crappy Windows OS is helping a hand).

Early this week, I found a new firmware for my Nokia E61i (out since October 2007). The version I had was v1.x, and this one was v2.0633.65.01 (press *#000# on your E61 to see the current firmaware version).

Updating goes through a separate application, but it should also be possible through download over the mobile network (I haven’t tried this). All you need to know is explained on the Nokia website, but there are some thing you don’t want to forget;

• Use the Nokia Datasuite to create a FULL backup of the phone, because during the upgrade the phone goes back to factory defaults.
• Have lot’s of patience (and some deodorant handy)
• Make sure the PC isn’t doing anything else that might interfere with the update.

The first attempt failed for me. Even with all the warnings (DO NOT INTERRUPT THE UPDATING PROCESS OR DISCONNECT THE PHONE!!!) I rebooted the PC and disconnected the phone. Result, the phone didn’t respond (this is where my deodorant came in). After this I restarted the upgrade process, and the phone got recognized (thankfully). After 10 minutes, the phone rebooted with the new firmware version.

First action was to restore all data and settings on the phone. Since I had some issues with my network connectivity I decided to remove the Access Points and reconfigure them…. Well, don’t. First of all, I wasn’t able to receive the configuration parameters from the mobile operator (SMS ‘ja’ to 1300), so I had to reconfigure them manually.
Their website has a step-by-step manual on configuring the E61i, but this didn’t help either.

MMS functionality remained absent, and none of the applications was able to connect to the Internet by itself. I had to initiate the connection manually before browsing the web.
E-mail was even worse. Every time I had ‘Packet Authentication’ errors. So after a day I decided to restore the Access Points from my backup, and guess what… Everything worked again.

And now for the thing that have changed (at least the ones that I’ve noticed);

• the e-mail application seems more stable
• camera and video are still crappy (the time between the snapshot sound and the actual capture is still multiple seconds)
• Idle connections are terminated. This is a bad thing (for me at least), because I had my UMTS connection open all the time, and this way I received mail throughout the day. Now I have to connect each time I want to check my e-mail.

I haven’t tried VoIP yet, but will try to do so soon (that’s what happens when you don’t pay for your own bills )

Conclusion is that the phone didn’t get better. There are some improvements, and there are some new annoyances. But my e-mail is stable at this moment.

We went to the Hoge Veluwe in Gelderland last weekend for some ’serious’ photography. This would be the first real trail for my GPS Logger (Qstarz BT1000).

At the ’start’ I switched the logger to ‘Log’, and forgot about it completely during the day. The device did its work during the day. The real challenge came at home. Linking the GPS info to the photo’s…..

The software for adding the GPS data to the photo’s was ‘GPSPhotoLinker‘ (remember that I use a Mac). Unfortunately, the software kept crashing when I tried to combine GPS data and the images. Possible reason could be the large NEF (Nikon RAW) files, because the crash happened every third image.
So the search for an alternative started, and I quickly found ‘PhotoGPSEditor‘ (also DonationWare). This tool could also manipulate NEF files.

Adding the GPS info was relatively easy with this software (GPSPhotoLinker is more intuitive IMO). After that I imported the photo’s in Adobe Lightroom, which showed the GPS data in the Metadata section of Lightroom (you can see the map location when you click on the arrow behind the GPS coordinates.

Just click on the following picture, to see when and where it was taken.

The complete set can be seen here.

A couple of weeks ago, I was pointed towards Google Maps on my Nokia e61i (I got a download link when I visited google.com on my mobile). After downloading and installing it (which was very easy), I started the application (which was hiding under Menu -> Installations -> Google Maps).

Most basic features are available on the phone app (directions, searching for restaurants etc., Zoom in and out), and there’s the possibility of positioning yourself on the map by using cellular positioning. Thankfully, this is done for you by the application. Downside is that it’s not that accurate. In my case, I could be anywhere in a 1.7 mile radius circle.

It’s also possible to use a GPS mouse (which I recently bought) for your location. The neat thing is that you can see yourself walk across the map (or drive if you’re by car). This is an excellent application.

These is one downside… Google Maps is using a constant Internet connection to update the maps, so make sure you have some sort of flat fee data service (or use wifi when available). Otherwise you might be in for a surprise when you receive your phone bill.

A while ago I started a search for a GPS Data Logger which I can use for adding GPS coordinates to my photo’s. The current status is that most of those devices are Windows only. The few that might be OSX compatible aren’t sold in the Netherlands (yet).

So I had to find an alternative. There is a sourceforge project called ‘MTK GPS Data Logger Device Control‘ which facilitates certain GPS (chipset) devices to function on multiple platforms. So my best guess would be to buy one of those ’supported’ GPS Data Loggers. Due to availability, I bought the Qstarz BT-1000. It’s a GPS mouse with navigation and logging capabilities.

First I had to make sure that the device was actually working properly, so I installed the driver and software in a Windows XP Virtual Machine. This was quite easy, and the unit seemed to work properly.
Next thing was to install the opensource program to allow communication between the GPS unit and OSX Leopard.

To get it to work on OSX you need to follow a installation manual. Something I’m not used to :). Needless to say that it took a bit longer than expected.
First of all, you’ll need the software from the sourceforge website. Second, you need SuperWaba files (free registration is required) [these files seemed to be present in the download package from sourceforge], and the USB driver. After that you need to follow the instructions in the README.txt provided in the sourceforge package. Note that the script information on the forum has been superseded by the README.txt in the downloadfile (use the provided bt747_macosX.command from the sourceforge download package instead).

Eventually, you’ll end up with a directory structure whick looks something like this:

Run the bt747_macosX.command file to start the application.

One thing I must mention is that somewhere along the lines is the mention of using TextEdit to alter (script)files. Do NOT forget to remove the formatting on the files before saving. You might end up with scriptsfiles containing some markup stuff…. And this means that you might be getting some weird error messages.

Anyway, the interface is still very simple, but you have access to lots of features. The actual manual for the application is available on Google Docs.

I’ve been looking for a GPS logger for a couple of months. A GPS logger can be used for attaching GPS information to your digital photos. This way, you can display your photos on publicly accessible maps in Flickr or Google Earth.

More and more of those GPS loggers are surfacing on the market [Sony GPS-CS1 / GPS-CS1KA, Globalsat DG-100, Qstarz BT Q-1000, GiSTEQ PhotoTrackr, WBT-201]. But they all have one problem; None of them seem to work (natively) with an Intel Mac running Leopard (source). Some of them require open-source drivers to function. The downside of that is that an update from Apple or an updated firmware in the GPS logger might cripple the functionality.

Why is it that GPS manufacturers won’t create a GPS (logger) device that simply works on both platforms. It couldn’t be that hard. Just create a GPS device that is also recognized as a external drive, containing the raw GPS data in the most common format (e.g. NMEA). This way even the Linux users are not left out.

Still, it’s not official if the latest update is bricking the iPhone. Reports are mixed on the several Apple related sites. This might mean that even less people than you might think had converted their iPhone. One would think that if thousands of people had removed the simlock, that the reports are pooring in. But they don’t (so far). Another possibility is that everyone is waiting to see what really happens.

Apple could have avoided this be making sure that everyone who buys an iPhone also gets a carrier subscription before they leave the store. But somehow this wasn’t the case. It was possible to buy the iPhone, take it home, and choose the subscription when you activate it. This leaves lot’s of room to find way around the AT&T carrier service. And this is what’s happening.

Apple (and AT&T) wouldn’t mind as much if every unlocked phone had an AT&T carrier subscription with it. Hell, they will get their (monthly) money anyway. No matter what SIM is inserted.

So, I can’t blame the users for unlocking their phones. And I can understand the measures Apple is taking, cause they might be loosing money on those unlocked phones. But they somehow let it happen by releasing unactivated phones into the wild.

Knowing the nature of the average resident of the United “I will see you in court” States this hasn’t ended yet

B.t.w., here in the Netherlands, it’s quite normal to sign a contract before you get the ’sponsored’ phone. After that they don’t care what you do with the phone. The carrier gets his money for the next (couple of) years no matter what.

Apple had scheduled a special event in London this Tuesday (September 18th). Rumors are that the European iPhone is being announced.

As you might have read, I started saving money for ‘my’ iPhone when it’s arriving here in Holland. But I’m not so sure any more.
First, my cellphone provider (KPN) isn’t mentioned (yet) among those who MIGHT sell it.
Second, the phone must be simlock free (see the first reason), because I already have a SIM, with all the goodies enabled (GPRS, UMTS, HSDPA, etc.), and it’s being ‘paid’ for by my employer.
Third, I kinda like my Nokia E61i. It’s got a keyboard. I can surf the web, and access my (private) e-mail. And ever since I got the Nokia, I haven’t watched a single movie on it, or listened to a mp3 (on the phone).

Guess I’ll be saving my money for a iPod touch. Just in case my iPod photo (20GB) goes up in smoke.

Yesterday, Apple Launch a complete new line of music players. Every player is renewed. The biggest changes are:

• a new iPod nano (fatty) met video support (4/8GB)
• 160GB iPod Classic
• iPod Touch. Basically, an iPhone without the phone part (or camera) (8/16GB)

As I might have mentioned my ‘old’ iPod Photo 20GB is acting up, so I was kinda going to buy me a new one, but which one do I want? The iPhone touch is just gorgeous, but the iPod Classic holds ton’s of music and video’s…… *sigh*.

Guess I have to let fate decide….

Well it sort of features in the new Bruce Willis action movie. The phone is visible for a couple of seconds [50 minutes into the movie].

This first picture shows the phone numbers on the businesscard. I guess he’s gonna make a call to the other characters cellphone ((202)-555 1313), but why enter ‘12′? A slip-up or is this just a typo since he’s under a lot of stress

B.t.w. mister Willis doesn’t have much to do (see calendar), and he obviously has some bluetooth device, otherwise one wouldn’t put the Bluetooth menu in the standby menu on the phone…. Other observations show that there is no cell reception and that his battery is almost empty. This does match up with the events (to come) in the movie. So they did mind the (very) small details.

Apple released the iPhone last Friday in the US. I didn’t report on this, because a) I can’t get my hands on it atm, b) there was a lot of media coverage this weekend, c) I had better things to do.

They sold over half a million phones this weekend. That’s great, BUT….

There are some elementary things missing on the phone. Things I couldn’t live with. Most of them are mentioned here.
As you might have noticed, I have a Nokia E61i at this moment. This phone was meant to be kinda temporary, since the iPhone won’t be available in Europe just yet. But if Apple won’t resolve most of those ‘issues’ there won’t be an iPhone for me.

How lame is it that you can’t use Bluetooth the way it’s meant for transferring files, ‘abusing’ it for a modem, so you can hook it up to your laptop and surf the Internet. At this moment, every other (Windows Mobile or Symbian based) phone on the market with has more functionality than the current iPhone. The only drawback on the current phones is that they’re not made by Apple.

So I’ll stick to my Nokia until they fixed those elementary functions.

Last week, I recieved my new Nokia E61i. As soon as I tried to connect to my own IMAP server (over SSL/TLS) is started nagging about the (selfsigned) SSL certificate.

The E61 has a certificate store, so I should be able to add other Root CA’s to this store, but this is where the trouble began.

The manual has a chapter on certificates, but it lacks a working explanation on “how to import third party root CA’s”. On my old iPaq, it was simply upload a DER encoded certificate, click on it, and it would install. Well this doesn’t work on the E61 (and many other Symbian-based) phones. Just ‘google’, and you’ll find lot’s of people with similar problems…

The working solution I found uses a website from which you download the certificate with the phone, but there is a catch; you need to add a MIME-type to the website containing the certificate (hence the admin rights).

This is what you need to do (on a Microsoft IIS):

• Make sure you have the certificate in DER format available. If you’re not sure on this, just open the certificate and op en the second tab. Choose ‘Copy to file..‘ and select the DER option.
• Make sure the extension of the certificate is ‘.der‘
• Upload the certificate to your webserver.
• Open the IIS Manager and open the properties on the folder (or website) where you uploaded the certificate.
• Open the ‘HTTP Headers‘ tab, and click on ‘MIME Types‘
• Add a custom MIME type.
  The Extenstion is ‘.der‘ (without the quotes, but with the point), and the MIME Type is ‘application/x-x509-ca-cert‘ (also without the quotes)
• Close all the open windows.
• Go to the URL where you can download the certificate with the built-in browser of your phone (e.g. http://www.redelijkheid.com/temp/certificate.der) .
• Your phone will recognize the file as being a certificate (the MIME type makes sure of this), and will ask you if you want to import it. While importing, the import wizard will ask for trust settings of the certificate. I just enabled both.
• After this you should be able use certificates issued by the newly imported CA without any warning.

B.t.w., this also works for self-signed certificates.

Since not everyone has a private webserver, I will try to created a webpage on which you can upload your certificate. It returns a URL which you can use with your phone browser to download, and install the certificate on your phone.

For the last two years I’ve been using a HP iPaq HX2790 for my agenda, and contacts. At the time I was quite pleased, until I started adding functionality to the device. So the time was right to start looking for something else.

Something else meant a device without any Windows Mobile Crap. Furthermore, it should combine a phone and an organizer, AND a small QWERTY keyboard. These criteria didn’t leave that many options, so I went for the Nokia E61i. A nice all-in-one device with;

• Wireless (802.11b/g)
• Bluetooth
• InfraRed
• Multiple e-mail accounts via POP3 / IMAP (as well over SSL/TLS)
• Nokia PC-Soute for Synching the device with Outlook etc.
• And lot’s more

So I’ll be trying to figure this thing out the next couple of weeks. I just hope that this device is a little more user friendly than the Windows Mobile devices.