Debian 12.7 Release

Debian 12.7 Release

New release of Debian 12.7 at the end of August 2024. It says there are some security improvement.

Do I need to reinstall to upgrade? No, just update will do.

Do I need to dist-upgrade? No, just update will do.

You can use apt-get, aptitude or nala or any other debian software package manager.

eg.
$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Check your version:

$ cat /etc/debian_version
12.7

ADB Enable "Drawing over other apps"

ADB Enable "Drawing over other apps"

I use ADB for these few things for now:

1. transfer file
$ adb pull /sdcard/Pictures/screenshot1.png . # download a picture from Android device to local
$ adb push screenshot2.jpg /sdcard/Pictures/. # upload to Android device

2. install apk app
$ adb install examples.apk # install apk app from local to the Android device

3. screen capture / screenshot
$ adb shell screenshot -p /sdcard/Pictures/screenshot1.png
Note: -p for png format.

4. Enable "Drawing over other app"
TimeNetSpeed app can display Internet download speed over other application. I was not able to enable it on Android TV. The error is: need "Drawing over other app" permission, but there is no such option to enable the permission.

$ adb shell appops set visnkmr.apps.timenetspeed SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow

Note: To disable $ appops set visnkmr.apps.timenetspeed SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW deny

Google To Cancel Next Pixelbook

Google abandone the chromebook hardware, but hopefully they don't abandon the Chrome OS.

The chromeOS is a good idea and good implementation. It is a Chrome browser running on Linux, it also has Android framework, so it can run Android apk app. It also has a Debian-like Linux which runs in a VM container.

Only Linux users will appreciate chromeOS.

Time Net Speed Monitor on Fire HD 8

Time Net Speed Monitor on Fire HD 8

Notice the speed meter on the top left corner?

Time Net Speed Monitor is an app to show network speed on the display. I want this app because I need to monitor the network speed while streaming video.

This app need "Display over other apps" permission. Some system (Fire OS/Android), doesn't allow the permission to be set, it can be fixed by ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

I try it on Fire HD 8 2020, Fire OS 7.x. Note: The OS version can be found on Settings > Device Options > System updates.

Install on Fire HD 8

Time Net Speed Monitor can be downloaded from Amazon. When you installer, it will ask user to enable "Display over other apps" permission.

Set "Display over other apps" permission

Fire OS > Apps and Notifications > Time NetSpeed Monitor > Advanced: Display over other apps [allow]

Set "Display over other apps" permission through ADB

The permission may be described as "Display over other apps", or "Drawing over other apps".

I was not able to set the permission in Amazon Fire TV Stick. So I use the ADB method. If you don't know how to adb to a Fire OS (or Android), please check how to ADB before continue.

$ adb shell appops set visnkmr.apps.timenetspeed SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow
OR
adb$ appops set visnkmr.apps.timenetspeed SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow

To turn off
adb$ appops set visnkmr.apps.timenetspeed SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW deny

MiTV 4K Enable Debug Mode

MiTV 4K Enable Debug Mode

Settings > About > Build version, click 7 times.
Note: The build version normally is the last info.

{ } Developer option will appear.

{ } Developer option > [x] Developer option 啓用開發者選項 [x] USB debugging USB 調試

A dialog box appear, allow the permission.

Now you can use the ADB:
$ adb connect

The ip address can be found on the network info.

Android Grant Drawing Over Other Apps

Android Grant "Drawing over other apps"

Application like SpeedMeter, Assistive Touch may report error or issue about "Drawing over other apps"

You need ADB to grant "Drawing over other apps"

1. find out the package name of the app:
$ adb shell pm list packages

For examples:
com.tuanfadbg.assistivetouchscreenrecorder
visnkmr.apps.timenetspeed

2. grant access
$ adb appops set visnkmr.apps.timenetspeed SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow

Now you should be able to enable the SpeedMeter or the Assistive Touch apps.

All Nokia Android Smartphone Will Be Updated

HMD confirms that all Nokia smartphone will be updated to the latest Android P version. Even the lower end mobile phone like Nokia 1, 2 and 2.1 which run the Android Go will be updated as well.

HMD Global is the company who own Nokia mobile.

Android Go is the lightweight Android for lower end mobile which has 1Gb ram or below.

news from hardware zone

Qualcomm bugs exposed nearly 1 billion Android devices

Qualcomm snapdragon cpu is a very popular ARM based SoC CPU used by many Android devices.

These are some of the popular mobile phone which use snapdragon:

Samsung Note 7, Snapdragon 820

OnePlus 3, Snapdragon 820

HTC 10, Snapdragon 820

Reference:

Qualcomm bugs expose nearly 1 billion Android devices to exploits, Extreme Tech.

Discover Waze 2012

Waze is a community base turn-by-turn navigation mobile apps, available on both iPhone iOS and Android platform (on few other platform as well) for free.

I have heard of this application for quite sometime. Since I am not driving that frequent recently, I never try out the application. Until I travel to Penang last weekend with some friends, it suddenly came into my mind, why don't I take this opportunity to test the application?

It works. I don't have high expectation to GPS navigation software, especially when it is free. Waze just works for the 2 days driving. My friend is driving, I am just checking is Waze providing the correct navigation instruction or not.

Is fun. Is fun to travel with Waze. Since it is a community base, users on the road report real-time situation on the road like slow traffic, road block, accident etc. Drivers can route to other road to avoid heavy traffic.

Waze link to foursquare to search for target destination name. This is the powerful of community base software that TomTom and Papago can not compete.

There are a lot of other features came with Waze, like driving with group, chat with other driver and etc., which I didn't try out one by one. Too many features just make the users confused. What I need is just a navigation software which are working, and Waze did the job and fit my needs.

For Waze is just a community base application through driving. Is a fun driving with Waze, the only drawback is it will drain your mobile battery if you do not have a car charger for your smartphones.

HTC Desire HD and Nexus S

Went to Digi shop to check out the availability of HTC Desire HD mobile phone with a friend, is out of stock.

The top range of Android phone available on the market now will be Samsung Galaxy S, HTC Desire HD and may be Nexus S.

HTC Desire HD use Snapdragon CPU, but Galaxy S and Nexus S is using ARM Cortex A8. Nexus S is manufactured by Samsung, the specification is quite close to Samsung Galaxy S.

I just check the specification of these 3 phones. I will prefer to own Nexus S, which is no sign that it will be available here anytime soon.

Why Nexus S? Super AMOLED, latest Android OS version 2.3 (Gingerbread), it even has gyroscope. It has a 1 GHz CPU which similar with iPhone 4. Both are ARM Cortex A8 base, with PowerVR GPU.

I have not much experience with Android smartphone, so don't take my preference on Nexus S seriously. I heard is available at US and UK only.

I don't really think that the hardware specs does matter, especially for software developer.