Solid, ModemManager and Plasma Applet

I talked to Sebas yesterday and we finally got plasma applet running on my notebook. I have discontinued my patch for monolithic knm and today I have finished to port my changes to plasma applet, here is the result:

I removed the "Access Technology" combox from my old patch because I need to find a better place to add it. I have also fixed some bugs in plasma applet since yesterday:

• in my notebook the window did not resize to accomodate the traffic graph when I clicked on interface details, now it does.
• the mac address were only shown for wired and wireless connections, now it works for any kind of connections which have MAC address (ppp0 for instance does not have).
• if someone selects "Show more" and plasma-desktop closes (crash or restart), next time plasma-desktop run (without logging out), it would show all wireless AP around, which is not the initial state for the widget on the right side. The initial state shows manually added or activated connections only. Now it works as expected if plasma-desktop restarts.

I plan to add separated tabs for each connection type (wired, wireless, gsm, etc), like monolithic knm does. In plasma applet there is only one details tab, which is filled with connection information as needed. If some information is not relevant (operator name for wired connection for instance) or is not available it will take space in the details window and cause plasma applet's window size to increase unnecessarily.

Another thing I want to implement is notifications. Monolithic knm already have notifications working, but it seems plasma applet does not implement them.

Solid and ModemManager (update)

This weekend I added some more info in the Mobile Broadband tab in knm:

The * indicates the current configuration and the line below it shows the actual access technology used. As you can see my operator has no 3G network here where I live. Other two operators have 3G here, I used to use of them but since they limit my speed to 128 kbps after 1 GB of data I switched to my current operator, which also limits me after 1 GB, but in 200 kbps and the bill is about $14 cheaper. "Unlimited" plans are very common here in Brazil, so I can download everything I want at 200 kbps maximum for about $33.50 (expensive but I do not have better alternatives). Usually the speed is around 100 kbps, it only reaches 230-240 kbps (modem maximum in 2G mode) after midnight (vampiristic 2G I may say hehe). The other configurations are:

I have also updated the patches and documentation in both http://reviewboard.kde.org/r/3769 and http://reviewboard.kde.org/r/3778.

Before someone from usability team criticises the screenshot above, I only did that to test my changes in solid. Knm already has some code that allowed me to add my test code so I did it. That screen will get much more ugly until I finish my changes in solid, after that I plan to move some things (like the preference technology combo box above) to a better place.

As some people asked me, my changes to solid can be used in networkmanagement plasma applet too or any oher KDE program. I hope to finish my patch to solid by Akademy date since I am going to Akademy this year.

Solid and ModemManager

Hi all,

This is my first post on planetkde. For those who do not know me, I live in Brazil (Minas Gerais state), I am also member of KDE-MG and use KDE since 1997. Although I have been using KDE (now KDE SC) for so long it was only last year I started to contribute more to KDE SC bug fixing and source code.

Last month, during Akademy-br, I started to work on implementing some features in knetworkmanager (knm). I use 3G Internet on traveling and miss some things, such as signal quality indicator (3G here in Brazil can be very unstable), statistics about speed, round-trip time (ping), and a way to force knm to use only HSDPA. Of course those things must be implemented in NetworkManager, or more recently in ModemManager, so that knm can make use of them. Some of those features are already implemented in ModemManager but to use them in knm solid, our hardware independent layer, must support them too.

I have implemented the first part of ModemManager support in solid and have some things working (signal quality indicator and network operator name to name the most important ones). The patch for solid and knm are in reviewboard.kde.org:

Adds preliminary ModemManager support to solid
Adds support to show signal quality and cellular operator name in tooltip.

For those who like screenshots, here they are:

Well, the operator " 31"  (there is a space before the 31 number) is right according to my 3G modem (Sony MD300), I have checked it using the chat command. The wierd thing is that I can scan for all networks around and only my operator has this wierd name. My cell phone picks the correct name tough (TIM MG 37).

Today I have finished to implement dbus interfaces org.freedesktop.ModemManager and org.freedesktop.ModemManager.Modem.Gsm.Network, there are several other to implement according to the specification. I think the work will be done to be included in KDE SC 4.6.0 next year, so wish me luck :-)

Sager NP7652

My new notebook/laptop has arrived yesterday, unfortunately with one stuck pixel :-((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( I have searched for ways to fix it, tried some things and it seems to be fixed now. The notebook is turned off now and I am using my old notebook (Acer Ferrari 4005). Honestly, I am with fear to turn the notebook on and see the dead pixel revived from the dead (or it would be from the living :-/). When I feel more relieved for solving this problem once and for all I will write a review/howto about how Gentoo Linux run on it. Update: as I feared when I turn the notebook on the stuck pixel is there again :-((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Update2: today I have left the notebook to be sent back to Sager to replace the LCD, I do not stand that bright/stuck pixel. Let's see if Sager support is better than their quality control.

Meu novo notebook/laptop chegou ontem, infelizmente, com um stuck pixel :-((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Fiquei um tempão procurando maneiras para corrigí-o, tentei algumas coisas e parece estar consertado agora. O notebook está desligado agora e estou usando meu antigo notebook (Acer Ferrari 4005). Honestamente, estou com medo de ligar o notebook e ver o dead pixel ressuscitado dentre os mortos (ou seria dentre os vivos :-/). Quanto estiver mais aliviado em resolver esse problema de uma vez por todas vou escrever uma avaliação/howto sobre como o Gentoo Linux roda nele. Atualização: como eu temia quanto eu ligo o notebook o stuck pixel está lá novamente :-(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Atualização 2: hoje eu dexei o notebook para ser enviado de volta para a Sager para trocar o LCD, eu não suporto aquele pixel brilhante. Vamos ver se o suporte da Sager é melhor do que o controle de qualidade deles.

Samsung i8910: HX2.11 firmware

New firmware released, there are a lot of minor changes compared to 2.02 and some big changes:

1. One of the big changes is that now the .exe formats C: and E: so you have to make a backup begore flashing it.

2. Switching from portraid to landscape is faster now.

3. Increase in heap memory, cache entries, CPU time, app framerate and other things. All that should make phone faster, we just do not know yet if that affects battery time.

4. There is a modem update too (ModemJB1.rar). Updating modem is not mandatory, but I usually do it, the order of upgraing (modem before firmware or vice-verse) does not matter.

Now the problems and warnings:

1. 3D Navigation vs changing profile in Finger Use home screen theme: in Finger Use theme you can change the profile by clicking on the date in home screen, after that you just need to click on the profile name, but if if 3D Navigation is enabled you have to press the profile name for a couple of seconds. 3D Navigation is enabled by default, you can disable it in menu -> Settings -> Personal -> Home screen -> 3D Navigation -> Disable.

2. After flashing the firmware the phone has problems to read files from E:. To solve the problem go to the file manager (menu -> Office -> File mgr.) and click on the E: drive.

3. As in all HyperX firmwares the Music Player only search for .mp3 in C:/Music and F:/Music.

4. Some people has problem with camera image sparkling under white flourescent light. It seem related to power line frequency (HX2.11 JB1 is said to have this problem in countries that use 50 Hz in their power lines).

Future modifications:

. Andy (HyperX) made some changes to improve framerate on HD video recording (1280x720i), it seems now the phone is capable of recording in constant 23.75 fps framerate.

=====
Novo firmware lançado, há uma série de pequenas alterações em comparação com a HX 2.02 e algumas grandes mudanças:

1. Uma das grandes mudanças é que agora o .exe format os drives C: e E:, então você tem que fazer um backup antes the instalar o firmware.

2. Mudar a tela de retrato para paisagem é mais rápido agora.

3. Aumento de memória heap, entradas de cache, tempo de CPU, taxa de atualização dos aplicativos dentre outras coisas. Tudo isso deve fazer do aparelho mais rápido, só não sabemos ainda se isso afeta o tempo de bateria.

4. Há uma atualização do modem também (ModemJB1.rar). A atualização do modem não é obrigatória, mas eu costumo fazê-la. A ordem de atualização (modem antes de firmware ou vice-verso) não importa.

Agora, os problemas e as advertências:

1. Navegação 3D vs mudança de perfil no tema Finger Use na tela inicial: no tema Finger Use você pode alterar o perfil clicando na data da tela inicial, depois que você só precisa clicar no nome do perfil, mas se a Navegação 3D está habilitada você tem que apertar o nome do perfil por alguns segundos. A Navegação 3D é ativada por padrão, você pode desabilitá-lo no menu -> Configurações -> Pessoal -> Tela inicial -> Navegação 3D -> Desativar.

2. Depois de atualizar o firmware, o aparelho tem problemas para ler arquivos do E:. Para resolver o problema vá no gerenciador de arquivos (Menu -> Office -> Gerenciador arquivo) e clique na unidade E:.

3. Como em todos os firmwares HyperX o tocador de música pesquisa mp3 somente no C:/Music e F:/Music.

4. Algumas pessoas tem problemas com a imagem da câmera cintilando sob luz fluorescente branca. Isso parece relacionado à freqüência de alimentação da tomada (HX2.11 JB1 parece ter esse problema em países que usam 50 Hz nas tomadas).

Futuras modificações:

. Andy (HyperX) fez algumas mudanças para melhorar a taxa de atualização nas gravações de vídeo HD (1280x720i), parece que agora o aparelho é capaz de gravar vídeo a uma taxa constante de 23,75 quadros por segundo.

Notebook cooler (2)

The Cooler Master R9-NBC-BWCB-GP has arrived today. Well, it does not cool as good I hoped, but at least it has a extra USB port, which is helpfull. Here in Minas Gerais is very hot these days, my room at afternoon is about 30 to 32 degrees Celsius. My notebook's hard drive stay at 45C in with this notebook cooler. Unfortunately the hard drive and south bridge of my notebook are in the front, where R9-NBC-BWCB-GP is less effective, so I put my notebook as above as possible so the air flux hit the hard drive, it works better this way. I am using a external keyboard, if I would use the notebook at that position and the R9-NBC-BWCB-GP on my lap I would risk let the notebook drop to the floor. I think there must be better notebook coolers out there, this one is the second I have bought and I am not satisfied yet.

O ooler Master R9-NBC-BWCB-GP chegou hoje. Bem, ele não esfria tanto quanto gostaria, mas pelo menos ele tem uma porta extra, o que é útil. Aqui em Minas Gerais está muito quente estes dias, meu quarto à tarde fica entre 30 e 32 graus Celsius. O HD do meu notebook fica em 45C com este notebook cooler. Infelizmente o disco rígido e o south bridge do meu notebook ficam na parte da frente, onde o R9-NBC-BWCB-GP é menos eficiente, então eu coloquei o notebook mais pra cima para que o fluxo de ar atinja o HD, ele funciona melhor assim. Eu usando um teclado externo, se eu usar o notebook nesta posição com o R9-NBC-BWCB-GP no colo eu arriscaria deixar o notebook cair no chão. Eu acho que deve haver notebook coolers melhores por aí, este é o segundo que eu compro e ainda não estou satisfeito.

KDE 4.4

Well, yesterday I upgraded my notebook to KDE SC 4.4, after some adjustments everything is working now. Most changes passed almost unnoticed by me, but three of them got my attention: 1. In Kopete, the Wlm plugin now notifies when there are unread e-mails and can open inbox too. That one indeed got my attention because most of it was implemented by me :-) 2. There is a battery widget in Notification plasmoid, that is great because it takes less space than the battery plasmoid and stay hidden when there is no battery connected (something I wanted for a long time). 3. Not everything are flowers (as we say in Brazil)... the notification plasmoid now has a annoying tab that get in the way if you do not enable its auto-hide feature. I do not enable it because my implementation of unread e-mail in Kopete Wlm plugin uses a permanent notification that is hidden if auto-hide is enabled. So now I have this annoying tab, I will change that in the notification plasmoid when I get more time.

Bem, ontem atualizei meu notebook para o KDE SC 4.4, depois de alguns ajustes tudo está funcionando agora. A maioria das mudanças passou despercebida por mim, mas três delas chamaram minha atenção: 1. No Kopete, o plugin Wlm agora avisa quando há e-mails não lidos e permite abrir a caixa de entrada também. Esta mudança com certeza chamou minha atenção por a maior parte dela foi implementada por mim :-) 2. Agora tem um widget de bateria no plasmoid de notificação, isso é ótimo porque ele ocupa menos espaço que o plasmoid de bateria e fica escondido quando não há bateria conectada (algo que eu queria já a muito tempo). 3. Tem tudo são flores... o plasmoid de notificação agora tem uma aba irritante que fica no caminho se você não habilitar o auto esconder. Eu não habilitado isso porque a minha implementação de e-mails não lidos no plugin Wlm do Kopete usa notificação permanente que fica escondida se o auto esconder estiver habilitado. Agora eu tenho essa aba irritante, eu vou isso no plasmoid de notificação quando eu tiver mais tempo.