Microdia Webcam sn9c20x driver for Ubuntu!

Microdia webcam kernel driver project

There is a Microdia project working on an Open Source driver by reverse engeneering (usb sniffing mainly) and some little documentation.
The project has a google group : http://groups.google.com/group/microdia and a launchpad PPA : https://launchpad.net/~nickel62metal/+archive.

You can add:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/nickel62metal/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/nickel62metal/ubuntu intrepid main

And then install by:
sudo apt-get install microdia-dkms

You can follow the development via git-web : http://repo.or.cz/w/microdia.git

If you want to test the driver (still in development, use at your own risks):

You need to install git first:
sudo apt-get install git-core gitk git-gui git-doc curl

Then clone the "microdia" repository:
git clone http://repo.or.cz/r/microdia.git

Then build the driver:
cd microdia
make

Now load some necessary modules before the microdia driver:
sudo modprobe videodev
sudo modprobe compat-ioctl32

Finally, load the microdia driver (rmmod to unload it):
sudo insmod microdia.ko

You can test the webcam with Ekiga, or mplayer:
mplayer -fps 30 tv://

Do the following so you don't have to insmod everytime you wish to use your webcam after a restart:
sudo cp microdia.ko /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/media/video/usbvideo/
sudo depmod -a

Keep in mind that the driver name has changed and it is now called sn9c20x.ko

Problems with Totem Youtube H264 Plugin in Ubuntu?

This forum post really help me fix the problem I was having trying to play Youtube videos with Totem and the Youtube plugin. I needed to download the Totem Youtube H264 plug and a file from this forum post and install that but it worked perfectly afterwards!

Backing up your Ubuntu machine!

Great article on how to back up your Ubuntu machine.

http://maketecheasier.com/backup-ubuntu-with-remastersys/2008/12/22

Missing my family on my birthday.

  Right now I’m really missing my kids and my fiancee, i wish i could be at home with them right now instead of being at work but I still have 4.5 hours to go before I’m on my way home to my loving family. Hope to see you guys soon.

Something to think about.

Albert Einstein once said:

“There are only two ways to life your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

Which one are you?

Verizon Wireless Sucks!

  I’ve been a customer of Verizon Wireless for a very long time now and I’ve had the same calling plan for a number of years, my contract has run out about 2 years ago and I’ve been looking into a better calling plan. Currently I pay $49.95 for 1000 minutes with the usual Unlimited In calling and Unlimited Nights and Weekends and I have my fiancée's phone added to my calling plan for an added $20/month. This has worked well for me in the past but recently I found that we have been going over our allotted minutes so i figured it was time to look into a higher minute calling plan.

 

  I went the to Verizon Wireless homepage and took a look around. I was disappointed in the choices they have for calling plans, a 1350 minute plan costs $90 but that is for a single user, if I wanted my fiancee’s phone on the same plan i have to get a family plan which gives me a 1400 minute plan at a cost of $139.99. I can’t believe cell phone plans have gone up in price so much. Sprint has an unlimited everything plan for $99.99 but VZW charges $129.99 for something similar. T-Mobile has an unlimited family plan for $149.95 but VZW has theirs for $199.99 and another $99.99 per phone line, T-Mobile charges $49.95 more per line.

  Verizon really needs to start lower prices and stop being the a-hole who is the last to change prices. I was considering staying with Verizon but after seeing the prices T-Mobile offers I’m seriously considering switching to T-Mobile or possibly MobiPCS which offers unlimited plans around $50 (lower if you want just voice). So seriously Verizon, you suck.

So very sad

I also seen this posted to Digg and it nearly crushed my heart, I feel this guy’s pain as I have kids around the same age as his. I personally detest alcohol and the people that abuse it then make a conscious choice to drive, these people make me want to take a baseball bat to their face then break their hands into as many pieces as possible. I wish Josh Jahn all the luck in the world and I hope his family is in a better place.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-dui-deathsnov12,0,1585608.story