Kindle Fire CM11

Amazon finally allows prime video streaming on a standard android device! I'm pumped!

That means that I can run CM11 M10 on my first generation Kindle Fire with impunity!

I might still be a little restricted with the Kindle lending library, but most of those books aren't that great. It was the streaming video keeping me on MoDaCo.

Part of the problem with that setup was that it looked like the stock carousel rom, was still a little locked down. Also, it couldn't run Chrome. Also, also, it would crash sometimes because I had an old dual boot FireFireFire bootloader and TWRP recovery on there that would wakelock my battery into oblivion.

So now, it's a fresh start, I redid the thing right. From the ground up! It's awesome so far!

Though I did have to sideload an older version of Chrome due to some recently developed bug.

Windows Home Server 2011 and Windows 8

Getting my windows 8.1 laptop to backup to the WHS11 computer was a puzzle.  It turns out that the solution is a two parter:

1. Apply this hotfix to the Windows Home Server 2011: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2781272/en-us

2. Enable all ".NET Framework 3.5" options in the "Turn Windows Features On or Off" on the client PC

Probably restart everything and tada!  Enjoy all the things!  Because "all the things" is a catchy phrase right now.

Old Manuals

I have some old stereo manuals laying around that I don't want to waste the time scanning if no one needs them. But I'll post their names below. Send me a message if you would like a scanned copy.

Model 71/6A Sold State Stereo Amplifier

Getting Acquainted With Receiver Servicing - Lesson Number Four

Fisher Announces Model FM-200 FM Tuner

The Fisher 202-R Service Manual

Heathkit Assembly Manual - Model AJ-14

Raspberry Pi

I tried the Raspberry Pi, and it's neat. It would be good for a homebrew controller. But do you know what it's not good at? Being a computer.

Holy smokes, the thing can't run a Web browser. Maybe someday when X desktop can be accelerated through the GPU. But until then, no thank you.

I figured it would be under-speced android phone slow. Nope, it's Pentium I slow.

Handbrake subtitles

Had trouble getting the foreign audio subtitles to come out on a movie using handbrake. What I finally got working was to do the foreign audio scan, burn in. It worked with forced on and off, but not with default checked.

The handbrake subtitle documentation hasn't changed in years, so it's versions behind.

Justin's Law: Wire and Cable

If the chance of a snag is 50% or greater, it will snag 100% of the time.

Google Reader Again

Everyone is making a big deal about Google Currents disappearing. But Google Newsstand has an RSS reader built in, AND it's primed to take over your reader feeds. Enable them and you're ready to go.

Cyanogenmod

I can't believe all the negative comments about CM these days. Especially CM11. Sure, sure not every device is supported. That's why I dropped LG and HTC phones to go with a Nexus 4. I'm looking forward to flashing the M2 release when I get a chance.

But come on, almost every custom ROM is based at least partly on CM!

And the complaints about spyware and CM being in Google's pocket. Well, yup, Android is Google's baby. So it makes sense that the developers who make the best, most stable custom ROM out there (in my opinion) would have a relationship with Google.

CM is hands down, bar none, the best custom ROM. Everything works. I don't know how many other rooms I've tried on multiple phones, and it's always the same story: sms doesn't work, 3D doesn't work, texts don't receive, wifi doesn't work, 4G doesn't work, on and on. Sure, maybe it's not bleeding edge, but most enhancements are cosmetic right now anyway. I need my phone to work! Every time! That's why the original Windows smartphones were so locked down. It's for safety and reliability.

Spyware? Please. There is only the illusion of security on electronic systems. If you want security, drop off the grid. Besides, why does anyone put anything on the Internet if not to have it looked at?

This post included.