Gadgetic Musings

Tweaking the Sony Ericsson Urushi (Xperia Ray)

Soul_Est — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:30:31 +0000

Ever since I got the Urushi (Xperia Ray), I’ve wanted to port Android 4.0 to it. Unfortunately, having received the carrier branded variant of the phone, the phone’s bootloader is not fastboot enabled. Therefore, the bootloader is not unlockable via Sony Experia’s bootloader unlock site. I was, however able to root the device using the method found here. (Thanks again DoomLord!) I have done a bit of tweaking to the pre-installed ROM which I’ll describe below.

Automatic Light Sensor Hack:
This was rather simple.. so simple in fact that I was surprised that no one found it sooner. The hack involves two files, the hw_config.sh and als_curve.conf files in the /system/etc directory. In the hw_config.conf, find the line that looks like this:


echo 0,0,0,0 > $dev/lcd-backlight/als/params #[gain],[filter_up],[filter_
down],[offset]

and edit it to look like this:


echo 3,2,2,0 > $dev/lcd-backlight/als/params #[gain],[filter_up],[filter_down],[offset]

Then, using Terminal Emulator or another app capable of executing scripts, run hw_config.sh. *Make sure you have the backlight set to a value higher than 0 and lower than 100 or else the hack will not work!*

SD Card Read Cache Tweaking:
This one was also as simple if not more simple than the above hack. All thanks go to arcatarc for this hack (which you can find here). It requires either the use of Terminal Emulator, SD-Booster or any app capable of modifying text files with root privileges. ADB can also be used for this if you prefer to work with a full size keyboard. In Terminal Emulator, ADB, or similar go to /sys/devices/virtual/bdi/179:0/read_ahead_kb and change the value from 128 to whatever you choose. When using SD-Booster, all that needs to be done is input the value you want and tap the Apply button. I currently have the read cache set at 1152 and the the write speed has increased to 6.8 MB/s from 6.1 MB/s while the read speed has increased from 15.3 MB/s to 26.8 MB/s. This latter hack as proven to be the most useful of the two as the speed increase is clearly evident when shooting and reviewing photos.

Sony Ericsson Xperia Ray: Xperia Mini replacement?

Soul_Est — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:06:10 +0000

While looking into the Xperia Mini Pro (the reason why will be in another post), I came across the Xperia Ray which had already launched in the UK. With a form factor similar to the Xperia Mini that is currently available, albeit thinner at 9.4 mm thick, it seems that the Xperia Ray will replace the equally small yet bulkier phone. The most compelling reasons for this is the inclusion of the Exmor R for Mobile camera sensor, a front facing camera and the 3.3″ display with a resolution of 480×854, all of which the current Xperia Mini lacks. This could also be a foretelling of a Xperia Mini Pro replacement which is merely receives the more capable Exmor R for Mobile sensor and sharper display.

I will update this post once I receive further word on whether these musings are true or not.

A new Milestone in my life

Soul_Est — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:21:01 +0000

I finally got a new Motorola Milestone from the Telus store in the mall where I work. That however was on Sunday. It’s now Saturday and so far I’m truly enjoying the phone. It is heavy, solid and big especially with the OtterBox Commuter Case purchased for it. The great 3.7″ LCD screen is wonderful the look at and at a resolution of 480×854, it beats out the HTC Hero by over 2-1. The keyboard while good, has me wishing for a dedicated numerical row and a pipe symbol key combination. The camera is a great 5 MP unit that takes great pictures compared to other smartphones. It would even best a three year old Canon provided that the lens is absolutely clean. The Milestone proved to be an excellent phone when needed especially after I changed the CrystalTalk setting over to clear. Almost everything works as it should. As for my opinion on the OS, the phone is a blast to use with Android 2.0.1. Great as it is, there are issues that Motorola needs to address in the 2.1 update for Canadian Milestones on Telus:

Audio playback skips when either the GSM radio switches protocols, a text message is received or data is being transferred. http://bit.ly/d72Lbc
Failure to detect the USB cable when it’s plugged in. http://bit.ly/cd6u5A

Aside from these three bugs, the phone runs rock solid on Android 2.0.1. I use this phone in lieu of my MacBook when I’m out and about which is saying something.

The Next Computer: Growing Pains?

Soul_Est — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:17:18 +0000

Background: Andrew Is Dying
On Friday, the harddrive array in Andrew failed while I was running BackTrack 4. I then logged out of X which showed me numerous error messages when I returned to the terminal. Not good. I then ‘gracefully’ shutdown the system via the poweroff command and ended up seeing numerous errors for that as well even after I got the harddrive array running again. Alas, it was too late and the damage had been done. Upon booting back into BackTrack, I was greeted with many errors and dropped into a recovery terminal with only busybox to help me. The Windows side of the equation wasn’t any better as the entire array would stay up only long enough to get past GRUB. After that, it would flicker on and off while trying to load Windows. To add insult to injury, if I unplug the power from the 80GB harddrive, the BIOS doesn’t detect the 60GB drive which I have the OSes installed on. As such, I decided to build a new computer; one that would grow with me over the years as I need more storage capacity or new components…

Solution: The Next Computer
This idea came as I was looking into two USB DACs for use with my MacBook: the FiiO E7 (it isn’t just a DAC but that is for another post) and the NuForce uDAC. Provided that I can add an external sound card to my computer why not use the same concept for other components? I then started researching which components I would need for the project using the following criteria: power consumption, size & weight, features, style and finally price. Power consumption and size & weight is at the forefront of my decision making process since I want to cut down on the energy I consume and I do plan to travel and move in the near future. Features, style and price all speak for themselves really as I know the system I build will easily fit in those criteria. With all of this in mind, I designed The Next System around these components:

Links in the center column lead to either the component’s page on a store’s website, their own page on the manufacturer’s website or another page where information on the product can be found. Links in the right column lead to either a store’s webpage for that component or a currency conversion page.

Component	Make/Model	Price
Mainboard:	Pegatron IPX7A-ION	Varies
Processor:	Intel Atom 330	0.00
Graphics:	Nvidia ION (9400M)	0.00
Memory:	Corsair 4GB DDR2 SODIMM (2 x 2GB)	96.75
Case:	Custom made	Your choice
Sound Card:	FiiO E7	~80.00
Harddrives:	Western Digital Scorpio Blue 640GB x 4	556.00
Harddrive Enclosures:	Acomdata Tango x 4	84.56
Power Supply:	picoPSU-120 Power Supply Kit	Varies
eSATA Adapters:	Tripp Lite SATA to eSATA Cable x 4 StarTech eSATA Adapter F/F x 4	32.12 16.08
eSATA Cables:	StarTech Shielded eSATA Cable 3FT	52.28
Sub-Total:		~1,100.00

As you can see, a fully loaded system would set you back over $1,100.00 CDN. This is before you factor in monitors, a keyboard and a mouse as well as anything else that would be required when using the system. The genius of the system can be fully realized when you see that most the cost is for the soundcard, harddrives and RAM. These components can be swapped for those of a lower capacity.

I truly hope that this helps anyone who wishes to build a low-power yet high-performance system. Enjoy.

My RE252s are here!

Soul_Est — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:19:24 +0000

This morning I received a package from China Express. The HifiMAN RE252s and FiiO E3 that I’ve been waiting anxiously for had finally arrived. Naturally, I captured a few pictures of the package and its contents:

First listen of the RE252: These are by far the most enjoyable IEMs I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. The soundstage is quite expansive with the medium tips on and I truly like I am in the audience in a concert hall in theater. The separation between the instruments is amazing almost to the point where I can tell which string has been plucked or strum or which notes have been played on which instrument. I can even tell where the singer is in relation to the band or orchestra.

I’ll post a formal review when I’ve burned them in and have listened to them enough.

How much is enough?

Soul_Est — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:13:06 +0000

After reading LAPTOP Magazine’s review on the ASUS UL30A, an ultraportable that can run for nearly 10 hours on a single charge while browsing the internet over Wi-Fi, I’m beginning to wonder, “How long do we need our laptops to run?”. I decided to look at the last CULV ultraportable (released in 2009) to hold the title for longest runtime, the Acer Aspire Timeline 1810T which had a runtime of almost 9 hours (according to LAPTOP Magazine). The two systems really only differ in the capacity of their batteries with the ASUS having a two cell advantage over the Acer. And yet I ask, “How long do we really need these laptops to run?”. If one really wanted to, they could easily install a Linux distro like Arch Linux and tweak it for the highest practical battery life. In doing so, one can achieve a theoretical 12+ hour battery runtime which under heavy usage may fall to 10+ hours under heavy usage. Hardly anyone I know uses their laptop unplugged until the low battery warning comes up except for my girlfriend. Perhaps then, that it is with those people, the mobile power users, with multiple gadgets, each selected for a sole purpose or set of purposes and tweaked to their preferences, that these enduring notebooks are meant for. What do you think?

My Portable Rig

Soul_Est — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:05 +0000

I’m writing this post to coincide with the Pictures of Your Portable Rig [Part XIII] thread in the Portable Source Gear forum in the Head-Fi forums. Enjoy!

Heavy and Lo-Fi but it works!

My new Clip+ is here!

Soul_Est — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:23:58 +0000

Sorry for not posting in so long. I had copious amounts of homework and studying to do. The blog post that I had been working on during that time has been put on hold due to writer’s block. I will it this week though and try the keep a proper schedule through the months to come.

November 18 is my birthday and in celebration of that, I ordered for my enjoyment a 4GB SanDisk Sansa Clip+. I just received it this afternoon at 1:50PM and I am truly enjoying it’s tiny size and huge sound quality. All that is needed now are either the Head-Direct RE0 or the Denon AH-D1001S and an amp of some sort (later on). I feel sorry for my wallet already.

I’m Back…

Soul_Est — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:20:32 +0000

The hiatus took A LOT longer than I had planned but I’m much better off now than I was before. I’ve learned much over the past year than I’ve ever learned when working on Gadgetic Musings and now I’m ready to apply the same learning strategy to the blog. Over the next few months I will be posting my thoughts on some pretty interesting topics. The next post will be up by the end of this weekend.

Going on hiatus

Soul_Est — Thu, 22 May 2008 22:27:11 +0000

I will officially be going on a month long hiatus starting today. I was going to post up my thoughts on Skyfire browser and some of the work that I’ve been doing on my desktop workstation but that’s old news now. I’ll be back after this month having finished my final year at high school.

-Best regards,
Soul_Est