When I drop close to $400.00 on a “mobile” digital media player I expect it to last a long time. Two years just ain’t enough. Well, that is just what happened. Just about two years after my purchase of the iPod the thing just crapped out on me. I really considered not going with the iPod at the time since there was at least one other unit which had great reviews but iTunes sold me. The fact that I did not have to commit to a monthly fee and that I could purchase individual tunes was key. Today, we find at least another service providing the same namely Walmart which sells their tunes for 88 cents and which seems for at least the music I listen (Jazz/World Fusion Guitar oriented) to have a comparable selection as iTunes. Also I bumped into a press release about Microsoft starting their own pay per song service which is great for the consumer. One thing MS has is pull and that has to mean better selection for the consumer. In anycase, it turns out that I don’t buy a whole lot. In the last two years it seems that I have accumulated about 150 purchased tunes from iTunes. In the same two years I probably have purchased about six CDs. Yet, I listen to music especially this past years for approx 30 hours per week.

Anyhow, now that my iPod is defunct, what am I to do? Drop more money on Apple after they let me down? No freakin way. Now, I get to study the issue and go for quality . Do the Research. The result is that I am going to give iAudio a chance. Specifically, I have purchased the iAudio X5L which has an unbelievable 35 hours of audio play , less if you watch video, supports Linux? What? Yes. Here are its features, all for the same price as the comparable iPod although not really comparable iAudio blows the iPod in features. The audio and general build quality are ranked as excellent. I guess I’m still mad about the demise of my iPod which must be why I took the time to copy and format the features list below. I have also inserted my comments where appropriate. I want people to know. There are also a number of reviews. One of the most comprehensive can be found here.

Features:

X5, with its super-compact slim design is not only convenient to carry, but also stylish with a high-quality aluminium external finish on most of the unit.

iAUDIO comes equipped with a 160 x 128 dot, 260,000 color TFT-LCD, which allows you to check the general operation status of the device with one glance.

It’s possible to convert various video files to MPEG4 up to 15 FPS using JetAudio. The transcoded video file can be played back on iAUDIO X5.

You can import photos taken from a digital camera to iAUDIO, and view them from iAUDIO using the USB Host feature of iAUDIO X5. (*Certain digital cameras are not supported.)

You can view both text and image files on iAUDIO X5. You can view text files while listening to music. There is apparently support for a scrollable lyrics display feature.

With the super huge storage capacity, this 20GB product can save approximately 5,000 songs (MP3 files — 4 MB each). iAUDIO X5 is capable of recognizing up to 2,000 folders and 10,000 files. The new models come with 30GB.

A super power saving circuit is used to provide a long playback time. A continuous playback of up to 14 hours is possible after a full charge. (based on the company’s test environment). Up to 35 hours with the X5L model.

It supports MP3, OGG, WMA, WAV files, as well as FLAC (a lossless compressed codec). The first player in Korea to support this format, and only the second in the world!

Create your own iAUDIO ! You can create your own logo or download logos from our web site. You can also set your own picture as wallpaper. Cute, I’ll probably have a picture of my dog there.

With the built-in, high-fidelity microphone, iAUDIO can record voice at the level of dedicated voice recorders.You can record important meetings or lectures using this feature. My composition/music mentor suggested I record our lessons , this will be a great feature for me.

iAUDIO provides direct encoding by which you can record output from an external audio device at a 1:1 ratio. This means that you can connect the recording terminal and the output terminal of an external audio device with a bi-directional stereo cable for recording. Using this feature, you can receive the direct input from audio devices such as a walkman, MD (mini disk), old LP phonograph, or TV, and record them with iAUDIO. Hmm, maybe I can rescue my investment of tunes in some proprietary format which can only run on specific hardware. Note, I do mean investment I have already paid for these.

Listen to FM radio and record it by pressing a button, instantly. Play them back on iAUDIO, or save to your computer. Also has a preset feature which allows you to save your preferred radio stations as channel numbers. Maybe a good way to scan for new artists although most of the Jazz fusion stuff seems to be lame and watered down soul-less.

iAUDIO is automatically recognised as a removable disk when you connect it to your PC via the USB cable. You no longer need a separate USB drive with small storage any more. There is support for Mac and Linux.

Discover true, rich bass sound.iAUDIO is the only mp3 player that provides exquisite sound with world-renowned U.S. BBE Sound System for the first time in the world. BBE Sound System is known for its true sound reproduction and clarity.It is only available with iAUDIO. No other mp3 player can be compared! BBE, has been used in the recording industry for quite a while now. Many moons ago I had purchased a unit which I used on vocals and guitar.

Create your own world with high-quality EQ JetEffect.iAUDIO U2 can create up to 1.2 trillion different sounds with a total of six top-of-the-line sound effects (5 Band EQ, BBE, Mach3Bass, MP Enhance, 3D Surround and Pan).

Whether it’s Rock or Jazz, Easy Listening or Classical, you will enjoy rich sound from the most delicate to the most powerful.

Superb Cresyn headphones are a standard accessory with iAUDIO U2.Cresyn is one of the leading brand in sound reproduction. With this light, top-quality headset, you wouldn’t want to take them off! I’ll probably invest in Senheizzer or Sony high quality ear buds.

You can enjoy your music and read lyrics at the same time! New Lyric Display Feature provides you with lyrics on wide color LCD

iAUDIO X5 support Clock feature to do View Clock, Alarm, FM radio recording and more through this.

Support USB 2.0 interface to transfer your 700Mbytes movie files within few seconds! Max speed is 480Mbps.

Scan through your music folder while listening. X5’s intelligent control is designed for your convenience. Command-oriented navigation window and popup-type menu window make organizing simple! X5 allows you to spend less time in hassle and more time in enjoying your favorite music.

Create and edit playlists directly on the X5. Organize your songs any way you like. Random and other playback modes available.Also user can edit playlist while playing. Add or delete.

Supports M3U playlist that mostly used in PC. Can playback by storing music files each different folder into the list

Display mode, Auto off and Sleep function are included with the iAUDIO X5.

You can use the firmware upgrade feature to improve product performance. We support user’s requests and suggestions by continuously providing firmware on a non-periodic basis.

Up to 12 minutes of anti-shock. Enjoy your music while running or driving.

The custom made leather case fits perfectly to your X5 to protect and make your X5 look even more attractive. (Optional Accessory)

Easy to manage iAUDIO X5 through JetShell, which is upgraded and it’s compatible with removable disk. JetShell can do CD ripping, File convert and music playback.

JetShell, the file transfer software included in the iAUDIO package, allows you to convert music to MP3 files easily and rapidly. Now you convert and upload your favorite music from Audio CDs to iAUDIO.

Also included in the package is JetAudio, the most popular integrated multimedia player software in the world. Also, a simple video conversion for X5 is possible using the JetAudio conversion tools without need for any additional program.

Use Mac or Linux? No problem!! iAUDIO X5 is available to be used on Mac or Linux OS.

All functions are easy to controlled by 6 line wide LCD remote controller and it include indigo blue backlight. (Optional Accessory)

Stylish designed cradle has 3 main functions. File and data transfer and fast recharge thru USB interface, direct encoding thru line-in port, external speaker output thru line-out port. (Optional Accessory).

Ever since I purchased my Garmin StreetPilot I have been built an obsession for all that is GPS. I even contemplated buying a Satellite phone , one can pick one up in eBay for a reasonable amount as well as pre-paid cards. Why? Just for those times when you are hiking in the middle of nowhere upstate New York and your cell phone goes blind. Just what happened last time we went upstate , no emergency it was just a little disconcerting to not be able to get in contact with a human being in case we were mauled by some bear. Anyhow, I did not buy the satellite phone, I’ll do that after we buy the Hummer H2 which goes very well with Satellite phones and GPS systems, which I agreed to only buy after we buy a place in the Poconos which we have not really started saving for yet. Of course in between all that is my next guitar which I will definitely get for my birthday next year. In the meanwhile I purchased another GPS unit from Garmin , the Etrex Vista C, great for hiking. One can download topographical maps as well as maps which include hiking trails, city maps. It also does cool things as tracking your path so that you can backtrack etc and lots more.

I guess one of the reasons why GPS stuff is fascinating to me is because I spent approx 4 years working among other things on a VisualWorks GIS application for a utility company. I would like to somehow add doing something with GPS and VisualWorks to my pet project list but that list keeps getting longer. Bruce Badger wrote a driver to his Magellan GPS unit a while back. Actually demoed it at NYC Smalltalk. Garmin also has an SDK which can be wrapped. JUN has API for doing topo stuff so it maps well to GIS. Smalltalk MT if recall correctly has a GIS framework available. I used and extended AppliedReasoning’s GeoSynchrony ( I may be hazy on the name) but they are no more last I heard and that and their graphics package sank with the ship.

Previous Article in Series

Today I decided to look into using a minimal desktop manager and only start my VisualWorks application. I therefore changed my $HOME/.vnc/xstartup to look like:

!/bin/sh

# Uncomment the following two lines for normal desktop:
#unset SESSION_MANAGER
#exec /etc/X11/xinit/xinitrc
[ -x /etc/vnc/xstartup ] && exec /etc/vnc/xstartup
[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources
setroot -solid grey
/home/visualworks/scripts/startVWVirgin7_3_1.sh &
xterm -geometry 80×24+10+10 -ls -title “$VNCDESKTOP Desktop” &

twm &

Unfortunately, I found that the window title bars and the desktop manager’s menus were not being setup.

After some struggle I discovered that for some reason starting the vnc desktop i.e.

$ > vncserver :3

after logging in as the user wishing to establish the vnc desktop would cause the problem. Instead if one logs in as root and then does an “su” to log into the user’s account in question, then running the above command will set things correctly. Mind you, one gets a warning about not being able to “lock root’s xauthority” file but it will eventually come back with a successfully established vnc desktop.

For some reason the xterm does not start however one can spawn a new one via the desktop manager’s menu.

Perhaps a more Linux / VNC savvy reader can explain the whys. Typically, if using for example a gnome desktop there are no issues at all with the user’s desktop owner actually issuing the desktop instantiation command. BTW, I also made sure that the twm startup files (usr/X11R6/lib/X11/twm/system.twmrc by default or just .twmrc if under the user’s home directory) specified window borders (ClientBorderWidth “10” ) and even included one under my home directory but again to no avail.

At least the above workaround gets me back on track to what is most important i.e. development using VisualWorks Smalltalk. Hope this helps any other Smalltalker contemplating getting on the same boat with TightVNC or VNC for that matter.

Next Article in Series

Lately I have been struggling with configuring TightVNC both at work and at home. TightVNC is a spin on VNC (Virtual Network Computing). Think of remote desktops , terminal services etc. The scope included making things work with VisualWorks and making things work in both Linux and Windows. After some pain I found out that there are three ways of using TightVNC:

1. Like terminal services
2. Like a remote desktop ( remote control)
3. Like this private X space you can setup for yourself

Like Terminal Services

If one setups VNC as a xinetd service then the result is that VNC will behave like Windows terminal services. By this I mean that every time one attempts to connect the user is prompted with the Linux desktop’s login screen. These sessions are not “shareable” i.e. their is only one active user which is the user that logged in. Info on how to setup VNC as a “xinetd” service can be found here. On Windows I did not find a way of using TightVNC in a terminal services type of way. Instead, when one connects to a Windows box using TightVNC one is actually on the current Windows desktop i.e. under “remote control” or remote desktop mode.

Like a Remote Desktop

The default when hooking up to a Linux TightVNC server is not to hook up to what is called “display 0” i.e. the current X console running on the box in question. Therefore this means that one cannot right off use TightVNC to support “customer service” scenarios. In our case that works out fine, our users are on Windows PCs and the servers are either on Windows or Linux. So for us TightVNC’s primary purpose will be to connect to TightVNC servers running under Linux. However, if one has to connect to the user’s console i.e. if running Linux then that is apparently possible.

Like this private X space you can setup for yourself

This is to me that most useful mode. Effectively, one setup a private X console/desktop where one can spawn applications. When one exits the TightVNC viewer said private desktop does not go away. Therefore when one reconnects one still has access to the spawned applications. Since said apps are running in an X desktop one then can deploy headful apps with all the necessary GUI based tools which can include partial to full development environments. I know of three companies deploying their Smalltalk apps in such fashion. I also deploy the NYC Smalltalk wiki under VNC. It works great. The capability to debug production issues is greatly enhanced using this strategy.

Security

Neither TightVNC nor VNC are inherently secured. However, one can use SSH tunneling to secure VNC. More information can be found on www.realvnc.com faq. I also saw a readme file on how to use Stunnel to do the same. Also one can use a minimal desktop such as TWM and only spawn the desired applications. TWM just provides the necessary window and user input support i.e. there are no admin tools available such as those found in a Gnome desktop for example. Additionally, the desktop exposed can be under a specific user with very specific rights etc. The TightVNC session does use password authentication and of course one can add authentication at the app level as well.

Other Issues

I thought I had issues with running VisualWorks 7.3.1 from a Linux based TightVNC server. Happy to report that is not the case. Well, I did have a problem with certain images going into a free fall upon startup i.e. they would not get past the splash screen and would just start gobbing up all memory. To be honest I don’t have all my facts worked out. My current theory, is that base virgin images extracted via the Gnome Archive manager somehow become corrupted in such a way that starting them in a VNC session throws them into a loop. Once I replaced the faulty image with the base virgin image that is provided with the VisualWorks installation things just worked fine. BTW, for those who live in Windows most of the time , be aware that there are a couple of extra steps to do in Linux to make an image usable. Read the install.pdf.

Conclusion

I am now quite happy. Connecting to the office in New Jersey from my home in Forest Hills, NYC works quite well. A tad slower but even browsing and working with the development tools feels like almost there. Now, I don’t know how it would work out if I had to connect to the Netherlands but for now VNC is doing everything that I expected it to do and more and it works very well with VisualWorks. I don’t know if TightVNC is really any better than RealVNC but don’t really care either way, at least for now.

They say that boys like toys and I am no exception. There are two toys that I still find myself talking and smiling about. Those are my Alienware Area 51 notebook and VmWare a virtual computing environment.

I was first turned on to Alienware notebooks by Dave Anderson of Smalltalk MT. Dave in into “desktop replacements” because one he needs to be mobile but also because he helps his clients develop simulation systems (un-mentionable government agencies) as well as computer games. I actually witnessed one of those games in action and it was very impressive. This was a full-blown motion picture with story line type of game. The graphics were just amazing. I myself used Smalltalk MT to integrate DirectMusic into a VisualWork’s music ed application I was developing for a client. VisualWorks can of course wrap C/C++ libraries but often it is convenient to create a C library that provides a facade into a large C subsystem such as DirectX. Smalltalk MT is great for this. I then used VisualWork’s DLLCC (C wrapping framework) and wrapped the Smalltalk MT created dll. Smalltalk MT essentially allows one to code in Smalltalk and generate true native dlls, exes, Com and ActiveX components. I often say that Smaltalk MT is the best C/C++ development environment in the planet but that is of course because I get to code in Smalltalk . Seriously, the upside there is that one gets the productivity of Smalltalk but gets to deliver highly optimized Windows components when it actually matters to do so.

The main reason that I love my Alienware is that I get to be mobile and yet do what requires a full blown desktop, all in a stunningly looking notebook that is built like a Mercedes. I have already mentioned some of what I do above. Other applications include hard-disk recording for example which I use for my guitar practice and composing.

Another reason why my Alienware is really handy is to run multiple VwWare vm instances. VmWare allows one to essentially host multiple guest computing environments within a host environment. For example one can have multiple versions of Windows running at the same time co-running with Linux vms. This greatly facilitates simulating enterprise applications which operate over a heterogenous network. At my current gig, I am re-architecting a financial client server application that directly engages an Oracle database into an n-tier distributed system that is fault tolerant , provides for load balancing and is independant of RDMS vendor (well at least the major rdms will be pluggable). We will be using VisualWork’s Opentalk st-st messaging, load balancing , snmp capabilities (currently in preview) as well as MQ integration. GLORP ( a TopLink re-incarnation by the one of the original architects) will provide for database pluggability, other technologies such as stunnel, LDAP, Samba , xml/https are in the mix. Get the picture ? The capability to recreate most of this in one notebook.provides for some real productivity gains..