Archive for category linux

Gumstix Overo Fire == nerdy gadget lust

Posted by Chris Custine in ActiveMQ, Apache, Java, OSGi, ServiceMix, gadgets, linux on April 6th, 2009

I have been waiting a while for Gumstix to release a more powerful Overo board with the OMAP 3530 chip, and it looks like the waiting is over.  There are three new boards, but the one making me all hot and bothered is the Overo Fire.  For those not aware, the OMAP 3530 is a system on chip (SoC)where the CPU, RAM, 3D video and all the other goodies sit on a single chip.  The pics on the main web site above don’t do it justice, so here is a pic of the thing next to a AA battery.

So here is my plan…  I’m going to get Android running on this thing ASAP.  I think most of this work has been done already because the similarly spec’d BeagleBoard already has Android running on it.  I am hopeful that the patches are already documented somewhere but it wouldn’t be the first time I have hacked some Linux kernel and driver code.  The end goal is to have a sort of home hub or all in one remote console device with a touch screen LCD, VOIP speakerphone, all in one IR remote, , etc.  Bonus points if I can get ServiceMix or ActiveMQ involved somewhere along the line.  I think an OSGi API for the IR and home page would be rather sweet as well, don’t you?  I will post more in the next week or two once I get my feet back on the ground.  Too excited to think rationally right now  ;-)

The possibilities are endless, and I promise to open source everything under the Apache Software License where possible.  Should be a fun project, if anyone is interested in helping out let me know.

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I finally bought a Mac

Posted by Chris Custine in linux, mac on June 2nd, 2008

15-inch MacBook Pro showing display.People who know me will realize what a sensational topic this is. I have sworn for years not to ever own a Mac. The reasons are complicated, but it was mostly because I am a total Linux geek and I am really just too busy to worry about changing this aspect of my daily work life. Even worse, I am still a Fedora nerd and have never even used Ubuntu, Suse, or any other Linux distro. So that should give you some idea of my loyalty (or unwillingness to fart with learning a new OS).

Lately I have realized that the very thing that has caused me to stay with Linux (not enough time to worry about changing) has become my very reason for switching. Lately I just don’t have enough time to monkey with certain Linux applications for graphics, diagrams, presentations and a myriad of other things that I am starting to use more and more. So Linux will still be an important part of my development and testing workflow, but its only a matter of time before I will probably use it less and less. I haven’t given up on desktop Linux, but right now I need more polished and usable apps to satisfy my requirements and if I actually have to pay for them, then so be it.

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