Olivier's Blog

BART cushioned seats

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 14:39:17 -0400

Interesting use of one of my Flickr photo in a quite disgusting article: 2nd Avenue Sagas: In praise of hard plastic seats.

You should go read the article, as it points out why plastic seats are indeed the way to go in subways. I'm wondering if the seats in the AMT trains suffer from the same contamination.

Snowshoeing

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 15:31:29 -0500

It's snowing, the river is frozen, time to go snowshoeing:

It's a GPS Christmas

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 11:57:09 -0500

What happens when you receive a good handheld GPS unit for Christmas and you have to travel a lot to see the family?

Guess what... Google is not up to date about certain streets... And guess what... OpenStreetMap is :)

Dell LCD Display

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:26:01 -0400

Dell LCD Display control from shell.

#!/bin/bash

# Max length the LCD can accept. Typically 62
MAXLENGTH=62

# Read from first argument if present, else take first line of stdin
if [ $# -lt 1 ]; then
	read INPUT
	INPUT=$(echo $INPUT | tr -d [:cntrl:])
else
	INPUT=$(echo $1 | tr -d [:cntrl:])
fi

# Check if we respected the max length after removing control chars
if [ ${#INPUT} -gt $MAXLENGTH ]; then
	echo "Cannot use more than $MAXLENGTH characters"
	exit 1
fi

# Split by bytes and encode them as hex strings (0xff)
BYTES=$(echo -n $INPUT | od --width=1 -v -t x1 | grep " " |
	awk '{print $2}' | awk '{print "0x"$1}')

# Encode length of string as hex digit also
LENGTH=$(printf "0x%x" ${#INPUT})

# Go through all bytes, grouping them by chunk of 16 bytes
i=3
CMD="0x0 0x0 $LENGTH"
LINES=()
for BYTE in $BYTES; do
	# Chunk ready, append it to array and reset counters
	if [ $i -gt 16 ]; then
		LINES[${#LINES[*]}]="$CMD"
		CMD=$(printf "0x%x" ${#LINES[*]})
		i=1
	fi

	# Push byte on accumulator
	CMD="$CMD $BYTE"
	let i+=1
done

# Put last chunk into array
LINES[${#LINES[*]}]="$CMD"

# Tell BMC text to print on LCD, chunk by chunk
for i in "${LINES[@]}"; do
	/usr/bin/ipmitool raw 0x6 0x58 0xc1 $i > /dev/null
done

# Tell BMC to output our User String on LCD
/usr/bin/ipmitool raw 0x6 0x58 0xc2 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 0x0 > /dev/null

Update VMware tools before reboot

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:54:25 -0400

I have searched the web and couldn't think of a simpler way to do this.

When you upgrade your kernel, all modules that were installed by the VMware tools will be missing in the new /lib/modules directory. To reinstall those, you need to reboot first and then re-run the VMware tools. Problems arise if you need the modules prior to the next reboot (ie: if you are doing weird pvscsi on root partition for example).

Out of the box, the VMware tools cannot regenerate modules and initrd for a kernel different than the running one. If you are upgrading the same distribution to a different patch level (RHEL 5 system to a bugfix kernel), chances are that the same modules will work, you just have to install them at the new location.

Tricking the VMware tools software into installing some place else works very well in that case.

This snippet is very RedHat specific, but could be adjusted for any distro. Main points include the uname hack, running a depmod and rebuilding initrd image.

It is important to note that the tools do run depmod, but not specifying a kernel version, hence defaulting to the running kernel.



# Get latest kernel installed

VERSION="$(rpm -qa kernel | sort -r | head -n 1 | sed 's/kernel-//')"



# uname hack (because VMware Tools are stupid)

mv /bin/uname{,.orig} &&

cat > /bin/uname << EOF &&

#!/bin/sh

exec /bin/uname.orig "\$@" | sed 's/2.6.[^ ]*/${VERSION}/'

EOF

chmod 0755 /bin/uname



# Launch VMware Tools install

/usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl -d



# Remove our uname hack

mv /bin/uname{.orig,}



# Redo what VMware missed

depmod -a $VERSION

mkinitrd -f /boot/initrd-$VERSION.img $VERSION

Tested on RHEL 5.4 upgrading to a security fix kernel, works like a charm.

1.0.3 on AppStore

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:16:26 -0500

Following this last entry on 1.0.3, I've just received news from Apple that the new version of AMT Mobile should hit the App Store within a couple of minutes.

I hope you all enjoy the complete train schedule on you iPhone or iPod touch :)

AMT Mobile in the medias

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:22:07 -0500

AMT Mobile is part of an article about mobile apps in this month's Jobboom magazine.

You can see the full article on their website. Magazine is also available in Quebec for free.

News on 1.0.3

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:41:42 -0500

Nous vous remercions pour vos commentaires et nous en tiendrons compte pour améliorer nos processus à l'avenir. Nous procéderons à une nouvelle révision de votre application dans les plus brefs délais.

Let's hope it will be quick.

No 1.0.3 I guess...

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:13:20 -0500

Monsieur,

Nous regrettons de ne pas pouvoir ajouter l'application AMT Mobile à l'App Store en raison d'une erreur qui produit un arrêt de lapplication sur iPhone 3GS OS 3.1.2

Pour reproduire le plantage de l'application :

Lancez l'application
Sélectionnez Trains
Sélectionnez Montréal/Deux-Montagnes
Sélectionnez Deux-Montagnes
Ajoutez Vers Montréal comme favori
Sélectionnez Stations
Sélectionnez Grand-Moulin
Ajoutez Vers Montréal et Vers Deux-Montagnes comme favoris
Sélectionnez Stations
Sélectionnez Favoris
Sélectionnez Modifier
Sélectionnez l'option de suppression pour Grand-Moulin vers Deux-Montagnes
Sélectionnez Supprimer
Sélectionnez l'option de suppression pour Grand-Moulin vers Montréal
Sélectionnez Supprimer
Sélectionnez l'option de suppression pour Deux-Montagnes vers Montréal
Sélectionnez Supprimer

L'application se plante.

Vous trouverez ci-joint des fichiers «crash log» aux fins d'examen. Vous trouverez de l'information sur le contenu des crash log à l'adresse suivante :
developer.apple.com/iphone/library/technotes/tn2008/tn2151.html

Nous vous prions de résoudre ce problème et de télécharger la version corrigée sur iTunes Connect pour que nous puissions terminer lévaluation de votre application.

Si vous avez besoin d'aide supplémentaire pour résoudre ce problème, le service de soutien technique aux développeurs est à votre disposition. Nos techniciens offrent un service personnalisé et sont en mesure de répondre à toute question portant sur le codage et la programmation. Nous vous prions d'inclure dans toute demande une description détaillée des étapes pour reproduire le problème, des instantanés d'écran, ainsi que tout fichier pertinent.

I have corrected the bug, which was present since the first release of the application! Too bad this never showed up in the crash logs Apple provides (they are always empty...) Oh well.

Submitted the corrected binary. Worst case scenario: going to take 2 weeks for an answer.

1.0.3 new features

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:18:32 -0400

Version 1.0.3 of AMT Mobile has been submitted to Apple, it should hit the App Store within a couple of days (hopefully).

In this version, the most requested feature has been added in the station view. You can now consult the full schedule of every line in both directions. After selecting a departure time (which selects a specific train number), you can see all the stops across the line and their associated time at every station. Schedules are available for weekdays, as well as Sundays and Saturdays for lines that operate on weekends.

Of course, you can still see the next departures first, so you can catch a train right away. However, to prepare your trip in advance, click on "Complete schedule" (or "Horaire complet") at the bottom of a station view. You can of course reach that view from clicking one of your favorites, or going through the list of all the stations by lines.

You can click on the left image to zoom in and observe the feature.

AMT Mobile 1.0.2

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:04:39 -0400

Good news of the week, AMT Mobile 1.0.2 is now available on the App Store.

This minor release fixes the Info-Train panel to use the new shiny (and less functionnal) AMT website.

New version AMT Mobile

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:31:11 -0400

Well, a new version of AMT Mobile will soon be finished. Once submitted, it should hit the App Store in a couple of weeks. The next version will bring even more features and ease of use.

In the meantime, a new domain is now available, the whole project will be available through www.amtmobile.ca

AMT Mobile Launched

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:18:00 -0400

Didn't take long, AMT Mobile is available on the App Store.

I have created a small landing page with the application details. I will add support and FAQ soon to that page, as well as the French version of course.

AMT Mobile

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:38:59 -0400

After a lenghty process, AMT Mobile will hit the Apple Store in the next hours.

If you take the train in the Montreal region and you want something to track the schedules, or even know when the train is out of service (believe me.. this happens quite frequently), go grab a copy, it's just 99¢

Am I working for the AMT? No.. Do they know about this iPhone App? No.. Why did I do this? Because I was bored back in March and some people were insisting on me putting this on the App Store.

By the way, between the time I submitted the App and the actual launch date, someone has released a global public transportation mobile app. I think it's something like YUL Mobile or something (not to name it!). Of course, my app is better, faster, more efficient and saves the environment, but feel free to try both, I'll read the comments and improve as necessary.

Lucky day 7

nospam@example.com (Olivier Hill) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 03:46:10 -0400

7th day in Wien and since this number has a strong religious meaning, what a perfect day to go see inside Stephansdom cathedral, the katacomb and the rest.

But first, let's go visit a museum. We decide to go at the Natural history museum, since they are supposed to have specimens of dinosaurs. When we get there, we quickly realize that it is closed on Thursdays. We can go to the building on the other side, which is the Kunsthistorisches Museum (or Museum of Arts).

Once entered, we can appreciate the architecture of the building. Looking above, we can see a large painting on the ceiling.

First exhibition, coins from around the world. We go through rooms, seeing different coins from different time spans. Last room we enter, we come accross a enormous coin, from the Canadian Royal Mint. This pure gold coin, is at the moment the largest coin ever made. Worth over $2M, it weights 100kg. Not very practical if you want to use it and carry it in your pocket though.

Next rooms, paintings from the 15th to 17th century. Not being very informed (or educated?), we quickly look at all the paintings, mostly religious or related to suffering (plague, wars, etc.)

Last rooms, artefacts from Egypt, pyramids, etc. Very interesting indeed. It is amazing looking at all those little hieroglyphs, not just on tablets but everywhere. They even had a mummified crocodile, which is odd at first looking at the shape.

Museum tour is over, getting back outside, it is still raining. We decide to take the subway to go to Stephansdom. Basically, this means taking the U1 after streetcar #2 (sorry, no U2).

Inside the cathedral, the humidity is strong, making it very cold and wet. Except for some plasma TVs on walls, original architecture has been preserved. Not much light inside, but just enough is coming from the outside through the large windows. Having looked around, we wait for the next Katacomb tour to begin.

30 minutes later, the guide arrives. Unfortunately, we won't be able to take pictures downstairs. Too bad, the visit is still worth it.

Going underground, we didn't really know what was there. We then learn that the katacombs contain graves of thousands of people. In each rooms, we can see piles of bones. In certain rooms, piles represent a certain era with the Black Death. Bodies were not burned as it would have destroyed the after-life of the victims. We are even told that at a certain point, the cathedral had to be closed due to the smell. Creepy.

Out of the katacombs, we head back to the hotel, and take a shower... just to be sure we're not infested. No really, we went for dinner instead.

Now time for the Sesame Street Moment: nicht verfügbar. It means not available. We had a hard time understanding what was wrong with the TV at the hotel, every button we used gave that message on the screen. It seems the hotel was doing a remote update of the system and it failed. Back to normal now.