Just because new computers no longer include the venerable serial port doesn’t mean it’s dead. The Serial Port: It Just Keeps Going article tells (and I can agree to that that) in fact, the serial port is still thriving in many test instruments, industrial controls and medical devices. You’ll find RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 serial →
A business card with URL or other information coded to NFC tag is a good idea, but what to do with those smart phones that do not have NFC capabilities. One older alternative to get information read by smart phone is to use QR code or similar two dimensional bar code that can be read →
After first failed NFC experiment I started to look for some more compatible NFC tags. After some quick search on shops (I wanted to get tags quickly and not wait for long time to receive them), I found Samsung TecTiles EAD-X11SWE as the most suitable choice. They are white 25mm x 25mm NFC Tag Stickers →
Public transportation in Helsinki and cities near it (Espoo, Vantaa etc..) use a card for payments. This card is called HSL matkakortti and it is based on RFID technology. I heard that it would be possible to read those cards with NFC enabled Android phone. I was recommended to try the following useful applications: Matkakortinluku →
My new smart phone has NFC capabilities so there is time to try them. What is NFC and how do I program NFC tags? Wikipedia defines NFC: Near field communication (NFC) is a set of standards for smartphones and similar devices to establish radio communication with each other by touching them together or bringing them →
My old “smartphone” got to the end of the life beyond worth to fix. So I changed to a proper Android smart phone. Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini is Galaxy S4′s little brother is not only smaller but also much lighter than Samsung’s flagship phone. My initial feeling after few days of use is very positive. →
Stallman’s GNU at 30: The hippie OS that foresaw the rise of Apple – and is now trying to take it on article tells that GNU fans have celebrated their software movement’s thirtieth birthday – a movement that started as rebellious bits and bytes of tools, and is now a worldwide phenomena. Stallman launched the →
Tietokone magazine writes that Nokia had a number of Android projects – Microsoft was in trouble. That was the final reason for Microsoft to buy Nokia’s phone business. Nokia was running several Android projects on both Lumia models and Asha phones, reveals the New York Times and The Verge sources. So Nokia had already been →
I just wrote how to Turn a Tablet into a Signal Generator. In addition to generating signals, a tablet can be used as audio signal analysis. Typically the only way to get sound into those tablets and smart phones is through built-in microphone, which can be limiting. Here are some Android software for audio signal →
Signal generators are a handy thing to have around the lab. In recent years these lab tools have not only decreased in size but also in cost and the result has been a plethora of portable versions that now exist on the market. In addition to full equipment it is nowadays possible to use a →