View Kindle Books on Ubuntu Linux 10.10 (Remove Kindle DRM)

I have had an Amazon Kindle for a year or so now and enjoy reading using the device.   However, sometimes I forget to bring along the kindle and would like to read them on my Ubuntu 10.10 Laptop.

As is seemingly the trend, media distributors put DRM (Digital Right Management) onto the files in a vain attempt to stop them from being copied.   This interferes with the ability to Ubuntu to simply read these files without going through some hoops.

Here is how to do it:

Go to Amazon Website->Digital Library->Manage Kindle->Select Book for Transfer via PC
Save book file (xxxx.azw) to /tmp

Install "Calibre":
sudo apt-get install calibre

Obtain "DRM" removing software (Author Page):
http://www.datafilehost.com/download-8210f840.html (click download)
http://www.datafilehost.com/download-c263696f.html


Extract ->  /tools/Calibre_Plugins/K4MobiDeDRMxx.zip to /tmp

Open Calibre (go through wizard if youd like):
Applications-> Office -> Calibre

Add plugin:
Preferences->Plugins->(Browse for file Button)
Select: /tmp/K4MobiDeDRMxxx.zip
Click Add
Select: File Plugins
Select: Configure
Enter your Kindle Serial Number (Found in settings menu)
Click OK
Click Apply


Select Calibre->Import Book

Select your download book (xxxx.azw) file

 Title should appear in your list of books
Right-click on the book title and select "view"

Enjoy your DRM free book on Ubuntu!

MAME Simultaneous 2 thru 4 player Games

I built myself a nice 4-player Arcade cabinet at home that runs MAME with Ubuntu and just thought Id make a list of MAME Simultaneous 2 thru 4 player Games: (From various sources on the net) http://mame32.livejournal.com/12853.html http://www.0x61.com/forum/post2352293.html http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.arcade/msg/3405642328d2e007?dmode=source&hl=en

Two Player - Action
1943
Aero Fighters
Aliens vs. Predator
Arabian Magic
Armor Attack
Atari Football
Basketbrawl
Bubble Bobble
Crime City
Contra
Cotton 2
Dead Connection
Dragon Breed
Dodon Pachi
Don Doko Don
Double DragonD&D Shadow over Mystara.
D&D Tower of Doom
Elevator Action Returns
Giga Wing
Gun Bird
Joust
Karate Champ
Klax
Marble Madness
Mario Bros
Metal Slug
Millipede
N.A.R.C.
Ninja Gaiden
Ninja Kids
Penguin Brothers
Puzzle Bobble
Qix
Robocop 2
Smash TV
Space Duel
Space Invaders 2000
Space War
Tetris
The Combatribes
Time Soldiers
Two Tigers
Victory Road
Vindicator
Wizard of Wor
Xybots

Agile Carolinas Event: "War Stories from the Trenches of Scrum"

"War Stories from the Trenches of Scrum"

Join me for an open discussion on the stories of success and challenges faced over 5 years with the implementation of Scrum for a mid-sized software development company.   Click here for more info and free sign-up

When:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET)

Where:
CPCC Harris Campus
3210 CPCC West Campus Dr.
H2 Building, Room 2132
Charlotte, NC 28208
View Map

PyInsteon - An Insteon / X10 library for Python

Just published an initial version of PyInsteon on GitHub.   This Python library enables use of Home Automation protocols such as Insteon and X10 to control lighting and other devices via the SmartLabs 2412N interface.

It is a GPL open-sourced project and welcome anyone's contributions and help.  Just drop me an email.

Find the source code and library file here: https://github.com/zonyl/pyinsteon


Example:

import pyinsteon

    def x10_received(houseCode, unitCode, commandCode):
        print 'X10 Received: %s%s->%s' % (houseCode, unitCode, commandCode)

    def insteon_received(*params):
        print 'Insteon REceived:', params

    pyI = PyInsteon(TCP('192.168.0.1', 9671))
    pyI.getVersion()
    pyI.sendX10('m', '2', 'on')
    pyI.onReceivedX10(x10_received)
    pyI.onReceivedInsteon(insteon_received)
    select.select([],[],[])   

Migrated to Blogger

After several years of hosting my own Wordpress, I have decided to move it to the cloud.  Working for a SaaS (Software as a Service) company has grown on me quite a bit and am looking to move more of the services I host as well (Asterisk, Misterhouse, Apache, Gallery2, etc)

The Insteon 2412N Protocol

Just purchased an Insteon 2412N in the hopes of getting it interfaced to Misterhouse running in Linux Ubuntu.

Some links describing interfacing with the device:
Insteon Protocol Overview:
http://www.insteon.net/pdf/insteondetails.pdf

Insteon Houselinc 2:
http://www.smarthome.com/HL2/

Insteon Configuration Software (Device Manager):
http://www.insteon.net/sdk/files/dm/SetupSmarthomeDeviceManager.exe


http://www.madreporite.com/insteon/commands.htm
https://www.shiononline.com/2011/01/smartlinc-2414n-undocumented-ports-ftw/
http://www.smarthome.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7431
http://www.smarthome.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7722
http://www.smarthome.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=6298
http://www.smarthome.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5943
http://www.leftovercode.info/smartlinc_x10.html
http://www.leftovercode.info/smartlinc.html
http://wiki.smarthome.com/index.php?title=Using_Custom_Commands_in_SmartLinc_%28v2.0%2B%29
Insteon Serial Protocol:
http://www.aartech.ca/docs/2412sdevguide.pdf
Free iPhone App (For wiresharking ;) ):
http://lifelogapp.com/homecontrol/
Product Manual:
http://wiki.smarthome.com/index.php?title=2412_Manual_rev_2.0
Changing the pages on the 2412N:
https://github.com/chadwackerman/openlinc

Connect Microsoft Kinect to Ubuntu (Mouse Control)

Just purchased a used Microsoft Kinect on Ebay for $75 in hopes of integrating this as a robotic vision device. In the mean time, I got it hooked up to Ubuntu for a sort of "Minority Report" Mouse Control.

Here is what I did to get it installed with Ubuntu Meerkat 10.10:
1.  Add the PPA for Freenect from https://launchpad.net/~arne-alamut/+archive/freenect
2. Install the following:
$ sudo apt-get install freenect libncurses5-dev libglut3-dev libX11-dev libxtst-dev libxmu-dev cmake git
3. Plug in Kinect to usb port on machine (unplug/replug if it already was)
4. Test the installation
$ freenect-glview
5. Should see a depth / video feed appear on the screen confirming the usb driver works

6. To get mouse cursor working (from https://github.com/Ooblik/Kinect-Mouse):
$ mkdir ~/kinect
$ cd ~/kinect
$ git clone https://github.com/Ooblik/Kinect-Mouse.git
$ cd ~/kinect/Kinect-Mouse
$ mkdir build
$ cd build
$ cmake ..
$ make
7. Run mouse client
$ ./kmouse
8. Enjoy mouse cursor control.

*Notes: The mouse control only works at a certain depth range. The video window will show whatever is "in-range" by highlighting it in red. To "click" you need to stop moving briefly and it will auto left-click.

As much as you would like to wave your open hands in the air to recreate Tom Cruise in the movie, I find that just using a single finger tip in range is usually the best method of control. :)