hax0ring the HTC Himalaya (MDA2 / XDA2)

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

uhh…the last 3 days I did almost nothing else than hexediting, flashing, dumping and thinking what to do more with the ROM Images I’ve got.

Maybe I have to explain:

I’ve got a new build of a new Operating System for my MDA2 Smartphone. The only problem is, that some genius at HTC (the manufacturer of the MDA2) decided that it might be a great idea to lock a major part of the ROM of the device. On the support side it’s great: It’s nearly impossible to “destroy” the device by flashing it. You always have a fail-safe mode. Even after a crash when the “100% ROM erased” line appeared won’t affect the device…just redo the flash…

But for me it’s a major problem. I am supposed to flash the new ROMs via a serial terminal (HTCs MTTY to be precise). The problem is that the only reply if the device on the flash command is “NOT ALLOW OPERATION”. Which is quite frustrating.

But there’s another way to get the data flashed. If you have the BIN file… dd / ntrw it do the SD card…SD Card into the MDA2, boot into bootloader…and voila… flash!

Okay. That’s the fast version. But stay tuned for the long version soon ;)





USB>d2s
d2s
SD:Waiting for card insert.........

CMD3 for SD, it's OK, ready to get RCA from response.

SD:Detected one card

SD:ready for transfer OK

pc->drive.total_lba=F4400
pc->drive.num_heads=0
pc->drive.sec_p_track=0
pc->drive.num_cylinders=0
pc->drive.block_size=200
pc->drive.features=0
pc->drive.RCA=2F83
pc->drive.drv_type=40000000
pc->drive.securedAreaSize=0
pc->drive.securityDrv=0
pc->drive.busWidth=1
pc->drive.erasedSize=0
Total card size=1E880000

***************
Store image to SD/MMC card successful.

USB>



LOST Season 1 Final….(WARNING: SPOILER!)

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

First: YOU BLOODY BASTARDS!

It’s unfair that almost nothing concludes at the end of this season. Of course a huge cliffhanger was expected but… Hey come on!

I am very very angry about the fact that obviously no strange event or fact is explained at the end of the first season.

For me it seems that the authors are on the best way to overstress their viewers. In my oppinion they should take care of this issue. Thrill lowers when you push to hard…and to long.



I wished they explained at least something…but there are even more questions to be answered. And that’s why: YOU’RE BLOODY BASTARDS!

Source: http://www.i-am-lost.com/

new version of Process Explorer

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

Yesterday Sysinternals released the new version of their famous Tool “Process Explorer”…

New in this version:

  • x64 and x86 executables are in a single binary
  • x64 kernel and user-mode stack support
  • New Verified Company column shows image signer information
  • Strings tab in process properties dialog has in-memory image scan option
  • Highlighting for images that are packed (have compressed or encrypted code, which is common in malware)
  • Window menu on process context menu allows for minmizing, maximizing, and restoring windows

Source: http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml

Bergfest Movie News

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

It’s rite at the TU-Ilmenau to make a movie when you have “Bergfest” (half time to make it simple)… so it’s time for a new one:



“NICHTS WAS BLEIBT IST WIRKLICHKEIT erzählt die Geschichte von Joe. Eigentlich heißt Joe Johannes, aber so hat ihn schon seit Jahren keiner mehr genannt. Er lebt in einer kleinen Stadt inmitten des Thüringer Waldes und geht dort, mehr schlecht als Recht dem Studium der Physik nach. Eigentlich ist er kein besonderer Student. Vielleicht etwas klüger als die anderen, dafür aber auch schwermütiger, denn es scheint, als würde er eine schwere Last mit sich herumtragen. Das war allerdings nicht immer so. Früher war er aufgeschlossener und fröhlicher. Früher war er glücklich. Vor dem tragischen Schicksalsschlag, der sein Leben so veränderte.
Sein Freund Hagen kennt diesen alten Joe noch. Und vielleicht aus Hoffung, dass diese Lebensfreude wieder zurückkommt, ist er so ziemlich der einzige, der sich noch um seinen Freund kümmert. Joe selbst lebt schon längst nicht mehr. Jedenfalls ist es ihm anscheinend nicht mehr bewusst.
Und wäre da nicht Hagen, er würde wahrscheinlich die meiste Zeit in seiner Wohnung verbringen, tief versunken hinter Büchern sitzen und sich seinen Tagträumen hingeben.
Es ist also kaum verwunderlich, dass Joes seelischer Zustand auch an seinem Körper nicht spurlos vorbeigeht und er eines Tages in der Uni erschöpft zusammenbricht. Im Krankenhaus lernt er Marie kennen und Joe beginnt, sich in dieses lebensfrohe Mädchen zu verlieben, das so komplett anders ist als er. Und auch wenn es zunächst nicht den Anschein macht, so übernimmt das Schicksal langsam wieder das Ruder in Joes Leben…”

Source: http://www.nichtswasbleibtistwirklichkeit.de/

finally after nights of hax0ring: Magneto on the MDA2

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

my MDA2s Bootloader is/was unfortunately locked – which simply means that you cannot update/flash it. However I managed to get my offical dogfood-Magneto Release Candidate Image up on my device WITHOUT even touching the bootloader. It boot, it runs. And it works completely: except the all known “lost RAM” issue.

This issue is solved in the RTM Image which hopefully will successfully flash onto my device…until that. Enjoy the screenshot of my device:


Dogfood Magneto Release Candidate

Mac on Mac – virtualize your machines!

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

Okay. We got several virtualization solutions for Windows and the x86. Now there is something brand new for the Mac.


“Mac-on-Mac is the userfriendly port of the Mac-on-Linux Project to Mac OS X.It makes it possible to run Mac OS Classic,Mac OS X, OpenDarwin or Linux for PowerPC in parallel with your Mac OS X installation in a Virtual Machine. Due to the fact that there is no real platform emulation its very fast!”



Source: http://maconmac.bastix.net/

ImagineCup 2005 national finalist: Smartrunner

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

Up to now, it was only possible to be informed about speed and covered distance of a workout session at a fitness studio or using an exercise machine at home. But what about jogging in unobstructed nature? Any guidance is missing. What distance did I cover? How many kilometres did I run? What was my speed? How is my training condition and how did it change during the last month?
Without such information you lose impulse, because you are not able to meter, evaluate, and compare your athletic success.
Should we do sport in stuffy rooms only? – Not with us!

We developed a software, which makes it possible to do sport everywhere and anytime – in unobstructed nature – while being informed about specific measured values of the workout session, like:

  • duration of the workout session
  • covered distance in kilometres
  • current speed
  • average speed
  • estimated calorie consumption
  • graph of the covered distance

Using a web service we inform the athlete about the weather plus information about its short and medium term development in the actual training area.
Furthermore, SmartRunner provides an Internet site, where athletes can request extensive evaluation of their collected data, individual workout plans, nutrition recommendations, and advices for the best route. Additionally, it is possible to contact other athletes and exchange experiences and success in the JoggerCommunity.
This overall system uses the latest Microsoft technologies and consists of client application (.NET Compact Framework), web application (ASP.NET 2.0), Windows

more stuff out of where the good music is

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

After the panoramic views now the “fotostory”.




On the Road.


This way!



So it’s supposed to be a party here?



OBEY! We’re getting closer to the nerd core as I call it.



Ladies and Gentleman: The Hackcenter!



The Uplink!…taped to the window…



Party!



This is a shot of the software the VJs are using to create the astounding visual effects everywhere in the party hall.



A sample of the results.



noisy party.



drum&bass with dj jerome

theSpoke on tour

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad




Time for a public service announcement:

theSpoke ON TOUR besucht vom 30.05. bis 08.06.2005 bundesweit zehn Städte. Die Roadshow bietet Know-How, Markttrends und Karrieretipps für alle technisch interessierten.

Themen sind:

  • Mobility
  • Games Development
  • Direct X Basics

In Berlin und Dortmund findet zudem der theSpoke Games Cup statt.

Die Inhalte:


1. Games Development

Der Vortrag gibt eine kurze Übersicht über die Architektur der Microsoft DirectX-Komponenten. Der Schwerpunkt liegt auf der Spieleentwicklung von 3D Spielen in C++. Die Direct3D Programmierung wird anhand eines einfachen, leicht verständlichen Beispieles illustriert. Zudem wird eine Übersicht über Ausbildungsmöglichkeiten und die Anforderungen vom Arbeitsmarkt gegeben. Die Schwerpunkte werden je nach Veranstaltung und Speaker unterschiedlich liegen.


2. Mobile Geräte

Thema sind mobile Webanwendungen sowie Smart Clients auf Basis von .NET Compact Framework und der mobilen Datenbank SQL Server 2005 Mobile. Anhand von Live-Programmierung wird die Erstellung von Anwendungen gezeigt. Zudem werden die Pocket PCs und Smartphones Next Generation vorgestellt. Neben dem technischen Teil erfolgt auch ein kurzer Abriss über die Marktsituation für mobile Entwickler und die Anforderungen, die man für den Einstieg in diesen Bereich mitbringen sollte.

Hier die Termine der einzelnen Veranstaltungen:

    Ort Thema Termin  
    Dresden Mobile
Geräte		 30.05.05,   
 13 – 15
Uhr
    Leipzig Games
Development – Direct X		 30.05.05, 09 – 11
Uhr
    Paderborn   
 Mobile
Geräte		 31.05.05, 16 – 18
Uhr
    Berlin Games
Development & Games Cup      
 01.06.05, 18 – 20
Uhr
    München Games
Development – Direct X		 01.06.05, 16 – 18
Uhr
    Karlsruhe Games
Development		 01.06.05, 17 – 19
Uhr
    Ilmenau Mobile
Geräte		 03.06.05, 15 – 17
Uhr
    Erlangen Games
Development – Direct X		 07.06.05, 12 – 14
Uhr
    Dortmund Games
Development & Games Cup		 08.06.05, 15 – 17
Uhr
    Hamburg Mobile
Geräte		 08.06.05, 15 – 17
Uhr

Natürlich kann man sich sofort anmelden:



video cutting for iswision

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

Because namenlos is managing the media storage array we had to visit the video cutting room. There were some teams cutting their videos and I was impressed by the number of G5s available there…


Namenlos dealing with problems, well…nothing more to say ;)


count them!


AVID

You can watch the ISWISION broadcasts via live-stream or even better: Live at in the audience in MKR 102.

how to remove EXIF informations

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

I got my hands on some very great pictures of the universities campus. But in order to make them publicy available I was asked to remove the EXIF information from all the images.


So I searched for a tool that could to this fast. And I found JHead. It’s a fast and easy usable command line application that can modify, extract and in my case remove EXIF information.


Source: http://www.sentex.net/~mwandel/jhead/

Pixologic ZBrush – high polygon modeler

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

I knew ZBrush for some time, although I am not using it I am frequently asked where to get this program or even how it’s name is. So I put it on here to find it in the future.

“ZBrush 2 is a huge leap forward in speed, performance and technology. Modeling, texturing and painting features have all benefitted from unprecedented code enhancements. New tools and options provide even more versatility in all areas, boosting the artist’s productivity and streamlining workflow in surprising ways.

Z2 is fast. It boasts handsomely optimized code innovations, combined with unique features, providing more power to create models with unparalleled detailing capabilities. Even medium- to high-resolution models respond instantly to sculpting actions, constantly rendered and shaded in real time.

Building on the freedom to sculpt high-frequency details with ease, Z2 offers revolutionary new modeling, surfacing and texturing techniques, while intuitive controls focus these powerful resources on the creation process.”

The results are astounding. In just minutes you can create impressive high polygon meshes.

Source: http://pixologic.com/home/home.shtml

real elite keyboard

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

This is a service announcement:



Das Keyboard


“If you are an elite programmer who can write sophisticated code under tight deadlines, someone who makes impossible projects possible; or a Silver Web Surfer your colleagues turn to when they need IT advice: this keyboard is for you.


Shouldn’t your keyboard reflect your status as one of the elite? We think so!”


Oh…just in case you didn’t notice: BLANK KEYS. I think I’ll get one…or two…


Source: http://www.daskeyboard.com/

bubblegum in the server room

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad

As you may noticed further I got a HP Netserver LH4 some months ago. And this week was the day we “installed” the machine in the server room.

With five-man-power we managed to get the machine in place. It’s an awfully unhandy and heavy machine but you can hear the power when you turn it on ;) (actually you even can feel it… beware of getting soaked in)


It’s a quite big box…unfortunately.

Source: HP Netserver LH4

R2D2 Show Off

Posted on by Daniel Kirstenpfad


(click for more info)


Diego, a friend from Pisa just gave me a link to an article about his R2D2… Looks really awesome. I guess the return of the Jedi or even the Sith is not too far away anymore… I look forward to see it in action. Or even better, maybe I can write some code for it…

May the force be with you!


Link: http://www.repubblica.it/copertine/scienza_e_tecnologia/copertina.htm