Version of Directv now that works on nvidia shield

address: https://www.mediafire.com/file/mna0w9xnxfgynq0/DirecTVNow_2.0.13.04106_modified.apk/file and click download

I first disabled location services (shield doesn't have gps, but can get location from wifi/ip address).  I then sideloaded the app, signed into it, it asked to enable location services, I then turned on the wifi locationing and it began to work!

More good info on Directv now on the nvidia shield can be found here:

https://forums.att.com/t5/DIRECTV-NOW-Installation/Why-is-there-no-Directv-NOW-APP-for-the-Nvidia-Shield/td-p/5647767

How to quickly launch apps side loaded on nvidia shield

Use an app called sideload launcher available on the shield's playstore

Loading packages on octave for Chrome Crostini

I installed octave on my chromebook..but was having trouble installing packages.  I had to install this first from within a terminal window in crostini:

• sudo apt-get install liboctave-dev

It took a while to install, but this allows octave to call mkoctfile command that compiles packages.
Once I installed this, I was able to install the control toolbox in octave by:

1) Find the package you want and download the package from here:
https://octave.sourceforge.io/packages.php    for instance,  control-3.1.0.tar.gz

2) The actual octave install command is this pkg install control-3.1.0.tar.gz

3) Once this was installed, I could install the signal package signal-1.4.0.tar.gz

sudo apt-get install liboctave-dev

Having trouble installing Qustodio on your Mac? Do this

Unfortunately, you CAN NOT use System Integrity Protection (SIP) on your Mac if you want to use Qustodio.  In other words, SIP must be disabled to use Qustodio. As soon as you turn SIP back on, Qustodio will  report that it is not running/not protecting the system.
If you are ok with this, follow these procedures:

Before you can properly install Qustodio on your macbook, you must disable System Integrity Protection by following the procedure below. 

1) Restart your Mac.

2) Before OS X starts up, hold down Command-R and keep it held down until you see an     Apple icon and a progress bar. Release. This boots you into Recovery.

3) From the Utilities menu, select Terminal.

4) At the prompt type exactly the following and then press Return: csrutil disable

5) Terminal should display a message that SIP was disabled.

6) From the menu, select Restart.


If you ever need to re-enable SIP, follow the same steps as above, but using csrutil enable instead.

Enable Dev channel

Type the following into chrome browser address bar:
chrome://flags/#enable-experimental-crostini-ui

reboot

Go into chrome settings, look for linux (Beta) below "Play store" in settings, enable it. 
Click install
Reboot

The following website talks about installing various windowing systems in crostini
http://linuxiumcomau.blogspot.com/2018/07/introduction-to-crostini-part-1-hp.html


Follow this procedure to add virtualbox to your setup on crostini

• apt install virtualbox

Oracle Virtualbox third-party repository

1. Add virtualbox.list to /etc/apt/sources.list.d

   deb http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/debian stretch contrib

2. Add Oracle VirtualBox public key:

   wget https://www.virtualbox.org/download/oracle_vbox_2016.asc
   sudo apt-key add oracle_vbox_2016.asc

3. Install virtualbox-5.2

   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install virtualbox-5.2

Complete instructions on the VirtualBox Wiki

VirtualBox can now be started. To not load the VirtualBox modules at system startup, edit /etc/default/virtualbox and set LOAD_VBOXDRV_MODULE to 0.

Android apps on samsung chromebook plus

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-get-android-apps-on-a-chromebook/

Debian Linux from within Chrome OS on chromebook plus

In my previous post I explained how to dual boot linux/Chrome OS on a chromebook plus.  Just recently, I learned that Google has implemented a method of running arbitrary code within virtual machines on Chrome OS.  More specifically, Google has implemented a virtual machine that supports the Debian operating system.  More details on this functionality can be found here:

https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/containers_and_vms.md

It is relatively simple to enable this functionality that will give you a terminal window that accesses a Debian virtual machine.  The top level steps are:

1) Change to the developer channel in chrome - this can be accomplished by going into Chrome OS settings, going into "About Chrome os (click three lines upper left)", detailed build info, the click change channel.  More details can be found here (same link as above):

https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromiumos/docs/+/master/containers_and_vms.md

and here:
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1086915?hl=en

2) Open a chrome tab and go to chrome://flags/#enable-experimental-crostini-ui find Experimental Crostini option and select Enabled from the drop down then reboot


3)  Your system will download an OS update.  Mine took several minutes before it actually downloaded and installed the update so be patient.  Once it has downloaded and installed, reboot. Once rebooted , open your Settings and you will see a new Linux (Beta) section above the Google Play Store section.   Click Turn On.

4)   The native Chrome OS terminal window app will now be accessible in your app drawer.  The Debian virtual machine (VM) is now loaded  and running.  It took my system quite a few minutes before the terminal window, after clicking the icon, to come up for the first time.

Once loaded, I tested the VM by installing octave by running the following commands from within the new terminal window :

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install octave


If you have problems, here are some other descriptions of the process:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Crostini/comments/8t7yjp/how_i_made_crostini_terminal_on_my_cb_work/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Crostini/comments/8o1u2o/chromebook_plus_linux_beta_quick_how_to/

https://9to5google.com/2018/06/03/how-to-enable-linux-apps-beta-chrome-os-android-basics/

Default samba config file example

https://git.samba.org/samba.git/?p=samba.git;a=blob_plain;f=examples/smb.conf.default;hb=HEAD

If having problems with loading packages in archlinux, try updating system by these commands

pacman -Syy
pacman -Syu

invalid or corrupted package (PGP signature) on archlinux

Answer is originally from this page:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=68497

List master key

 pacman-key --list-sigs Master

Found system build is [unknown]

[root@alarm pacman.d]# pacman-key --list-sigs 
/etc/pacman.d/gnupg/pubring.gpg
-------------------------------
pub   rsa2048 2018-07-03 [SC]
      FD785384A109FD5D1EE05C5991C14EDA20BECC7D
uid           [ultimate] Pacman Keyring Master Key 
sig 3        91C14EDA20BECC7D 2018-07-03  Pacman Keyring Master Key 

pub   rsa4096 2014-01-18 [SC]
      68B3537F39A313B3E574D06777193F152BDBE6A6
uid           [ unknown] Arch Linux ARM Build System 
sig          1BB89C0602367449 2018-01-16  [User ID not found]
sig          BF7EEF7A9C6B5765 2014-01-18  [User ID not found]
sig          BC704E86B823CD25 2014-01-18  [User ID not found]
sig          B55C5315DCD9EE1A 2014-01-18  [User ID not found]
sig 2        AB4311039017FB32 2017-09-25  [User ID not found]
sig 3        77193F152BDBE6A6 2014-01-18  Arch Linux ARM Build System 
sub   rsa4096 2014-01-18 [E]
sig          1BB89C0602367449 2018-01-16  [User ID not found]
 

Fixed by running :

pacman-key --lsign-key 68B3537F39A313B3E574D06777193F152BDBE6A6 

root@alarm pacman.d]# pacman-key --lsign-key 68B3537F39A313B3E574D06777193F152BDBE6A6
  -> Locally signing key 68B3537F39A313B3E574D06777193F152BDBE6A6...
==> Updating trust database...
gpg: marginals needed: 3  completes needed: 1  trust model: pgp
gpg: depth: 0  valid:   1  signed:   1  trust: 0-, 0q, 0n, 0m, 0f, 1u
gpg: depth: 1  valid:   1  signed:   0  trust: 1-, 0q, 0n, 0m, 0f, 0u 

Installing onto archlinux a package that you downloaded

I downloaded a package to /root/Download directory and installed it

into archlinux by typing the following in a terminal 

# pacman -U /root/Download/packagename.tar.gz 

Loading python3 on Archlinux

sudo pacman -S python3

sudo pacman -S tk

But  loading tk would not work correctly..don't know why.

Had to download individual files from http://mirror.lug.udel.edu/pub/archlinuxarm/aarch64/extra/
I did this by editing the pacman mirrorlist and adding the above url to the mirrorlist
The mirror list is located here: /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

The files I installed were:
tk-8.6.8-2-aarch64.pkg.tar.xz
tcl-8.6.8-2-aarch64.pkg.tar.xz'

Ran into some bug when trying to run idle in command line (e.g.>> idle)

This fixed it

Looks like a Archlinux bug affecting TK gui applications. Clearing out the X resources fixes the problem:
$ xrdb -load /dev/null
$ xrdb -query

Startings of booting linux on Samsung chromebook plus

0) Back up chromebook plus
1) This procedure will erase the entire hard drive, so you have been warned!
2) Go into recovery mode by turning off chromebook, hold the esc key and the refresh key at the same time (7/8 circle with an arrow)
3) A prompt will pop up, type ctrl-d at the prompt - it will boot into developer mode

Now enable booting from an external microsd card:

1. After booting into developer mode, hold Ctrl and Alt and poke the T key. This will open up the crosh shell.
2. Type shell to get into a bash shell.
3. Type sudo su to become root.
4. Then type this to enable USB booting:

   crossystem dev_boot_usb=1 dev_boot_signed_only=0

5. Reboot the system to allow the change to take effect

Your chromebook plus can now either boot into chrome by typing ctrl-d at the first prompt upon startup, or it can boot into linux (installed onto a microsd) by typing ctr-u.  You will not be able to boot into linux until you install linux onto the microsd.

Here are some instructions, that need modifications because chromebook plus is not like other chromebooks:

https://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv8/rockchip/samsung-chromebook-plus

First off, the microsd mount point in the shell within chrome browser is: /dev/mmcblk1p1

I found this by typing the following command into the chrome browser and waiting about 20 seconds: chrome://system/, then scroll down to disk usage, and then click expand - this should list the mount points for all the system drives

Ebay selling nightmare - DO NOT SELL ON EBAY! IT MAY COST YOU!

I listed an old hp computer on ebay.  It had a problem where every once in a while, the touch screen would stop responding.  Sometimes it was difficult to get it working again, by moving your fingers over the screen while it was booting up.  I listed the device for sale, saying in the listing that the touch screen does not work properly, in that it stops responding sometimes.  I listed it as "as is" in the advertisement and marked it as no returns.

A buyer bought it.  I booted the device up one last time before shipping it to the customer. Everything was working fine, including the touch screen.  I shipped it to the buyer.  The buyer received it and after a day, sent me an email and a return notice that the device will not boot.  I emailed him that he needs to hold the power button for more than 5 seconds before it will boot.  He said nothing happened.  I said did you plug it in and try holding the power button?  He said yes, and that nothing happened.

I believe the seller bought the product, received it, broke it or now doesn't want to keep it, so he simply said it won't boot.  Ebay withdrew the money from my paypal account AND the buyer still has the tablet!  I am currently out $140 (money, tablet)!

Let me get this straight, I have been an Ebay seller since 1998, with 100% positive feedback since then, and they are believing the buyer over me! Ebay is forcing me to accept a return on a device that I sold as is, marked as no returns, and checked it working perfectly  when I shipped it!  They are also making me pay for shipping both ways!!

Ebay used to be a great place to sell and buy items.  Now, it is loaded with scammers and dishonest people!  Please be careful of the people you are buying from and selling to on Ebay!  Also, watch out for Ebay itself!  It says "you are covered" by their insurance policies, when in actuality, they take it out of the seller's hide!

I will never sell on Ebay again.

Working on running windows on Samsung chromebook plus

Put chromebook plus into developer mode:
0) Warning this erases the entire chromebook drive!
1) Shut off chromebook
2) Go into recovery mode by pressing and and tap power
3) Hold control and push D after it comes up
4) This takes a while for system to get set up (~15 minutes)


To get into root shell on chromebook
1) all at the same time
2) type shell
3) type sudo
4) type sudo crossystem dev_boot_usb=1 dev_boot_signed_only=0


Good video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK0YXJPPU-k

Python 3 on Android

I have found the app Pydroid3 on the google play store to work well.  It has several libraries, a library/python install tool called pip and one can down load matplotlib and use Pyqt5 to perform plotting.  See this for more info:

https://becominghuman.ai/pydroid-the-best-ide-for-android-a3822f980525

Running a window manager other than the default in gnuroot debian for android

First off, I'm not a unix expert...I get by.... and actually prefer microsoft windows (Please dont flame) !  All the linux desktop environments (other than Apple's) feel like they are from the 1970s.  That said, my whole motivation for running gnuroot on android is to use octave on android and be able to see the octave main window, the editor, and some plot windows all at the same time.  Now on to make it work:

I installed gnuroot debian off of the google playstore onto my android machine:

Select the app and run it.  This is what you should get:

Notice something:

1) There is a little xterm icon in the upper right that starts a vnc X windows session - we will use this later.

update the package by typing in the window:

apt-get update


Then, in the terminal window install xterm, synaptic by typing:

apt-get install xterm synaptic

then install:

apt-get install lxde

Back to the little icon: In the teradyne gnuroot window there is a little icon that shows "xterm" click this it will start a vnc session. Once you click it, it will tell you what port number the vnc X session is active on.  This is important because you will need to set the DISPLAY environment variable to this port number in order to see the new X Desktop (instead of the default).


Then set the DISPLAY environment variable ( It was important to get the 51 number correct! I got it from the main teradyne terminal window that came up..it showed 51):


export DISPLAY:51 PULSE_SERVER=tcp:127.0.0.1:4712
startlxde &

This should start the lxde window manager in the vnc window
(Most of the information is a variation on the information here:
https://www.xda-developers.com/guide-installing-and-running-a-gnulinux-environment-on-any-android-device/ )

By the way, you can also see that I have installed octave, emacs using apt-get install octave

Turn off auto importing or connected email accounts in google gmail

Open the Gmail account you've been importing to.
In the top right, click Settings Settings and then Settings.
Click the Accounts and Import tab.
In the "Check mail from other accounts" section, click delete next to the account you want to stop getting emails from.

Transferring video files, movies to ipad

Here is a method to transfer pretty much any video file to your ipad and play it:

1) Load "handbrake" video converter onto your pc:
https://handbrake.fr/

2) Load the file onto your pc you want to put onto you ipad (upload)
3) Open up handbrake, click on single video file, select the file you would like to upload, click open
4) On the right presets pane on handbrake under devices select your desired resolution (lower res =smaller file=save space on ipad) e.g. Apple 540p30 Surround
5) Enter a destination path and name e.g. c:\temp\mymovie
6) Make sure in the middle of the window it says under output settings: container, mp4
7)  Click start encoding
8) After it is encoded, Plug your ipad into your pc with a usb cable, open Itunes on your pc
9) Click on home videos on left menu bar (upper left)
10) Drag the file you just made from the window explorer to the itunes home movies pane
11) Once is makes a link to the file, right click it
12) Under the menu there should be a menu item named "add to device"
13) It should start syncing to your device

14) On your ipad open "videos" app and your video should be there to play


I hope you find this helpful!  Wow Apple, that is pretty involved!

Battery issue with Neato robot vacuum - fix by using only one replacement battery

For a few months I have been having trouble with my Neato vacuum saying there was a battery problem.  I finally bit the bullet and bought new batteries on amazon for it.  I put the new batteries in and it did not fix the problem.  I then put one battery in and used an old battery and it seems that the neato is now charging correctly.