03.28.07
Three tech challenges
Got three “projects” going on right now. Need to get my RTC module from Sparkfun soldered to my Gumstix, need to get my Linux system talking to my Olympus DS-330 voice recorder and get kdelibs built so I can try out Amarok.
I’ve had the RTC module for a while now…just never got around to using it. Well, I cut up a standard IDE cable into a 4-wire strip…gonna use that as my power/data bus. The pads on the boards are clearly marked so it’s just a matter of cranking up the ol’ soldering iron and making it happen. It talks to the kernel using I2C so I need to build the kernel modules and install them. After that, my gumstix should be able to maintain time after power is off. [FYI: the gumstix modules don’t have a RTC so when they loose power, they loose the date/time.]
I was rummaging through a box and found my Olympus DS-330 voice recorder. This was an excellent recorder and would be nice to use it again…this time with my Linux box. For kicks, I plugged the USB cable in to my computer but the device wasn’t automatically detected. This means I need to do some research on how to connect it/configure it appropriately. What I’m not sure about is how it should function with the computer. Should it show up as a mass storage device or a USB microphone or both? With Windows, it acts as a USB mic and the recordings are access through the special software they give you. My guess…it won’t work but I’ve been wrong before.
Finally…Wil Wheaton has been harping on Amarok. Well, since I’m moving my Winders computer to the upstairs office…that’ll mean greater dependence on my Linux box in my office. And I can’t go without tunes! I want to give Amarok a spin but, damnit, wouldn’t you know it - kdelibs won’t build (I’m a Gnome-man, myself.) I already checked the Gentoo bugzilla and someone reported it. I need to track that bug because I can’t build Amarok without it. How annoying.
I’ll post updates as my projects progress.
