Linux

If you have a slow Sony Xperia Arc, then probably you have Timescape and carrier bloatware that makes your phone slow (e.g. Rogers in Canada). In this tutorial, I will explain the steps that I did to make the phone considerably faster.

Install PC Companion and Update Service

In order to flash a new ROM on your phone, you will need first to install Sony Ericsson's PC Companion as well as Update Service on your Windows computer. This is needed so that the required USB drivers are installed and configured.

Install Flashtool

You can root a Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc from Rogers (Canadian mobile phone network), using the zergRush method.

The method works for Xperia Play and other models as well.

For this, I used an Arc running Android 2.3.3 Gingerbread.

Using Windows

Follow the instructions on the above page.

Using Ubuntu

1. Download the package.

wget http://ubuntuone.com/7mD63kpsKzGmaou5hcftBV

2. Rename the package.

mv 7mD63kpsKzGmaou5hcftBV zergrush.zip

A very nice surprise from Sony Ericsson. Even though Android does not have full and official support for Arabic until Android 4.0, their handsets do have very good Arabic support by default, even handsets sold in the USA and Canada.

Arabic in Sony Ericsson Xperia Android phone

If you have Android 2.1 or 2.3 and updated it to the latest update from your carrier, then you do have Arabic support. To check if it works, then just visit BBC Arabic and see if Arabic shows correctly and the letters are connected.

Enabling Arabic keyboard

To enable Arabic typing, you need to press Menu, then select "Language and Keyboard", then under "Keyboard settings" select "Default input", then select "Writing Languages", and check "Arabic". You will then see a language switching icon on your keyboard (the "globe" symbol).

Not only does Arabic work well, the font looks much better than what is in CyanogenMod for example.

This is a a list of Android applications that I currently have on my phone. Some are more often used than others, but all are useful.

These apps are running on my Sony Ericsson Xperia Arc, which has Android 2.3.3 on it. Most of them ran on the Sony Ericcson Xperia X10 as well.

ADW Launcher is a fast and feature rich home application replacement. Use it instead of Sony Ericsson's TimeScape and your phone will feel faster.

This is great news!

Sony Ericsson decides to cooperate with independent custom Android ROM developers.

They started with publishing steps on how to unlock the boot loader, and how to build the Linux kernel for Xperia phones.

Thanks Sony Ericsson ...

Since I use Linux exclusively, and have to interface with clients using various Windows technologies, open standards are an important aspect of our tech-life. For example, we use OpenOffice to read Word/Excel/Powerpoint files, and so on.

One thing that comes infrequently is the need to login to a corporate virtual private network (VPN) that uses Cisco's Easy VPN.

On Dell's web site, there is an Ubuntu extolling its virtues.

Overall this is very good publicity for Linux, Ubuntu and Open Source, even though I disagree with some wording (e.g. on why Linux is secure).

Here are the highlights

Many years ago, I wrote about why tapes are still the most efficient backup method. I also wrote about using tape backup on Linux for a home network.

My daughter Suhaila likes to draw and paint.

She wanted to get a tablet that she can draw with, without the awkwardness of using a mouse for a task that is better handled by a pen.

So, when Staples had a $50 off sale ($249.99) on the Wacom Intuos 4 (Small) tablet, there was finally a chance to get it at a lower cost.

I have been a Kubuntu users for many years now.

So, when Kubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) was released, I took the plunge and upgraded my laptop from Kubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala), which I have been running shorty after its release in October 2009. Lucid is an Long Term Support (LTS) release, with security updates for 3 years on the desktop. Hopefully I will be staying with it for at least 2 years and skipping the 6-month releases in between.

This post details what I have found so far on Lucid, whether good or bad.