Category: solution

Android playing iOS MOV video

I am using an Android phone, specifically Vivo. I found that when I play the MOV video transferred from iOS, only sound is able to be played properly but the picture is not showing.

None of the solutions from the Internet helped me to solve my problem. After trial and error, I found that the MOV file can be converted to MP4 format using ffmpeg with some parameters. Eg,

fmpeg -i input.MOV -c:v libx264 -c:a aac -vf "scale=720:1280,fps=29" -ac 1 -x264opts "ref=0:cabac=0:b_pyramid=0:bframes=0" -profile:v baseline -pix_fmt yuv420p output.mp4

Based on my experience, the most crucial parameter is “-pix_fmt yuv420p”, so the MP4 video is 8-bit depth.

Switching from Openbox to IceWM

Bye-bye Openbox, welcome IceWM.

Due to the recent upgrade of glib2 on Arch Linux, it crashes my Openbox when I am running Wine or Proton. Downgrade to 2.74.6 is not a solution, because Nemo, Caja, Nautilus are using 2.76.0.

As a result, I have to find an alternative. From Wikipedia, I found that LXDE can be configured with other window manager rather than Openbox, eg Fluxbox, IceWM, or Xfwm.

I tried Xfwm, but it fails to run. Probably needs extra configuration, but I didn’t continue trying. I tried Fluxbox long time ago, can’t remember the feature. Then I found that, compare to Openbox, IceWM is still in development. Hence I decided to try IceWM.

After installation, I just need to configure it so that it resembles Openbox behaviour, especially the shortcut keys.

The following is the list of prominent configuration I did:

  • Install dex to start XDG autostart applications
  • Use shutdown script to pkill -u myusername , so that all the processes will be stopped/killed when I logout
  • Hide the taskbar (ShowTaskBar=0), because I use tint2
  • Use prefoverride to replace the default background image. Though, I am still using feh script to show random wallpapers
  • Window related shortcut keys are edited in preferences file; launching application shortcut keys are edited in keys file

For shortcut key to toggle a window as always on top, it requires editing keys file with the following line,

key "Alt+F12" sh -c 'if icesh -f getLayer | grep -q 'OnTop' ; then icesh -f setLayer Normal ; else icesh -f setLayer OnTop ; fi'

Note: Make sure the key such as “Alt+F12” has no conflict in preferences file. If it exists, just empty the value in the preferences file.

Some limitations I faced:

  • I cannot use Numix theme anymore
  • Alt+Ctrl+Del (system dialog) has a strange behaviour if I cancel it. I can’t type on any window after cancel, unless I switch the workspace.

As a conclusion, I just need to adapt to this new window manager. Bye-bye Openbox.

Twitter interests deselection bookmarklet

I like to use Twitter, but the new Topics and Interests feature of Twitter is damn annoying. It keep showing something I am not interested of.

I looked for the solution from Internet, and finally I come out with this bookmarklet, which can be used in Settings > Privacy and Safety > Content You See > Interests.

javascript:(async()=>{const sleep=ms=>new Promise(r=>setTimeout(r,ms));const inputs=document.querySelectorAll('section[aria-label="Section details"] input:checked');for(let i=0;i<inputs.length;i+=1){const rand=Math.floor(Math.random()*2e3);await sleep(9e3+rand);const input=inputs[i];input.click()}})();

After trigger the bookmarklet, just leave the page there, it will slowly deselect one by one.

Alternatively, just use Tweetdeck, which is much cleaner.

Not able to boot

Recently, I failed to boot into my laptop. I was shocked. 

home contains a file system with errors, check forced.
home: Inode 12976129 seems to contain garbage.
home: UNEXPECTED INCONSISTENCY; RUN fsck MANUALLY.
        (i.e., without -a or -p options)
fsck failed with exit status 4.

Then not able to mount the home partition, I was prompted to login as root. However, I was too nervous, I forgot what is my root password.

Luckily, I always have an Arch Linux LiveUSB, though it was 2020 release. I boot into it. Then the screen is tearing, due to the graphic card issue (NVidia). I tried to remember how I did the installation previously. At the end, it involves BIOS to change the graphic card to non Discrete Graphic Card. Boot again, yes, success boot into LiveUSB.

The next thing is, I immediately run fsck to check the partition again. And auto fix all prompts.

During the fix, fsck shows me such frightening screen.

Luckily there is no read error caused by bad sector.

After finish running fsck, I reboot and no more issue to boot into Linux.

Backup! Backup! And always do backup! And I should remember my root password!

Reviving Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (GT-P7500)

I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 many many years ago. But recently, I am trying to revive it so that, it will be a possible solution to allow my son to watch cartoon on an old tablet, in future.

Reviving this Galaxy Tab (P7500) takes me so much time to try out those custom ROMs and the apps. But it is an interesting experience.

I tried several ROMs, flashed with TWRP.

  • Nameless ROM (Android 4.4.4 Kitkat) – Fast, but no MTP, I cannot transfer file.
  • AOSP 7.1.2 – Slow. Am not sure it is caused by gapps or what, it is slow and can’t run Firefox, Opera Mini or Brave. A device without a modern web browser is quite useless.
  • AOSP 5.1.1 – Flashed the ROM, but it doesn’t start. Not sure what’s the problem.
  • CyanogenMod – It is too old (Android 4.2.2 Jellybean). I flashed this ROM many many years ago.
  • AOSP 6 – Because AOSP 7 is too slow, I tried to downgrade. But I can’t find the P7500 related ROM to download.
  • Omni ROM – Also Android Kitkat. I installed, but I didn’t find the virtual keyboard (forgot to check the right-bottom corner), then I gave up.
  • AOKP – I think I tried this ROM before using Nameless ROM, but that’s many years before, not remember well.
  • /e/ (/e/ OS, eOS) – Lastly I tried this ROM. This is so far the best as it is based on Android 7.1.2, and the performance is good, far more better than AOSP.

/e/ OS (eOS)

I tries eOS, I am happy with it. But after I installed the ROM, I cannot install gapps , because not enough space. At the end I decided to continue Android without Google Apps (most importantly Google Play). This also means, I need an alternative app store.

I am currently using two app stores: F-Droid and Aptoide. F-Droid focuses on the free and open source apps. This is a good solution to exclude apps that contain ads, as ads are super distracting. Some useful apps can be installed from F-Droid:

Aptoide itself contains ads, but I still can bear it. I can find all the apps that I need in Aptoide.

Customization

There are several apps from eOS I have disabled them. Notably, eOS default web browser is Via. Then I tried FOSS Browser. It has built-in ads block, but it is lack of other features like remember last visit tabs. As a result, I tried Opera Mini again in eOS (failed to work on AOSP). And Opera Mini works good.

eOS default launcher is Bliss Launcher. It lacks features such as grouping, shortcut management, etc. Then I found a good alternative, and it is really good. Microsoft Launcher. It is ads free!!!!!!

Now I am using Simple File Manager and Astro File Manager. I am still looking for an ads free (I don’t mind In-App Purchase), with show hidden files feature. Looks like FX File Explorer can fit my requirement. By the way, those file managers/explorers naming are damn annoying: FX, ES, CX, FS, FE.

Video problem

After installing eOS, I tried to play movie. But found out it is choppy. Tried run with mpv, it is choppy; built-in Gallery, it has no sound; QuickPic has no sound as well.

At the end, I believe that it is due to the coder problem. So, I tried to use ffmpeg to convert the video into other format (mkv, m4v), and it works.

Besides that, I tried to use the Camera to record video, but then it crashed.

Audio hardware problem

Because the tablet was put on a rack for a long time. When I started trying it again, found that there is no audio, and the tablet thought that I have jacked in the earphone.

At the end, I found a forum discussed how to solve this. Yes, I tried with hair dryer. It didn’t fix immediately. But after few days, I tried again, the tablet sound works again!

Solution on Evernote login issue

I faced the login issue with Evernote since around two weeks ago. It leads me to a blank page, with the HTTP status code 418. There is similar issue reported here. I made the bug report, but the issue not yet solved. Looks like it happened in Malaysia and Vietnam according to the forum. Suggested solution in the forum was to use VPN.

This is how I solved the issue as a temporary solution to login.

Requirement:

  • Google account
  • Tor browser or any VPN related connection

Try to login successfully from the web, by luck or by Tor browser or any VPN related connection.

After login, go to Settings > Connected Services, and enable “Sign in with Google (Sign in to Evernote with 1 click)”.

By enabling the above, I can just sign in with my Google account, which skips the status code 418 issue.

Microsoft To Do

In my previous post, I mentioned I migrated Wunderlist to Microsoft To Do.

However, there are two annoying things. Firstly, do not expect there will be Chrome App version of Microsoft To Do similar to Wunderlist and Google Keep, because Chrome Apps is going to be discontinued.

Secondly, I frequently experienced To Do web page doesn’t load properly, either stuck at the loading page, or the tasks not showing or showing partially.

In order to resolve the second issue, I need to test the page with incognito mode, to make sure the page works fine. Then in normal browsing, I need to remove the HTTP cookies for to-do.live.com, live.com, microsoft.com, and any cookies used by the page. Lastly, re-login to To Do.

LightDM background image

Recently my old laptop, due to some unknown configuration, it shows a background image in the LightDM login. It is annoying, and it is user specific. Meaning, if I choose another user, the background image will be changed to black background.

Searched for the solution on Internet, most of links are about gsettings, or edit the image in /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf. But none of the related to my issue.

Finally, I found the solution. The problem is not LightDM itself, but related to AccountsService.

To solve the issue, edit the /var/lib/AccountsService/users/[username], there is a line

[org.freedesktop.DisplayManager.AccountsService]
BackgroundFile='/path/to/custom/image.jpg'

That’s the culprit. Remove or comment out the BackgroundFile, then the problem solved.

Dell Vostro 5459 hibernation

In the previous post (1 year ago), I mentioned the hibernation issue. I believed that it was related to the NVidia graphic card. Related forum can be found here.

But these few days, I notice that whenever I shut down the laptop, it will show the systemd messages. Previously, if I did suspend my laptop, then resume, then shut down will show only black blank screen, until the power off. I believe that the graphic card issue is being fixed with the recent update.

I am now using linux-lts 4.9.13-1 and nvidia-dkms 378.13-2

Linux no sound after boot into Windows

Just now was trying to boot into Windows, by plugged in the HDMI cable, which supports for video only. But then, I rebooted into Linux without plugged out the HDMI cable. Then, it caused no sound in Linux.

Try 1: I killed the pulseaudio, then delete the ~/.config/pulse, and rebooted Linux. Failed.

Try 2: Run alsamixer, turned on everything, and do Try 1 again. Failed.

Then I guessed it was caused by the HDMI cable, which the Windows may assume there is audio, then caused my computer somehow ouptut the audio through the HDMI, even I rebooted into Linux.

Try 3: Plugged out the HDMI, booted into Windows. I checked the audio in Windows. It plays well. Then rebooted into Linux without plugged in HDMI. Yeah! It works. Passed.

Next level

Then I found that, though the sound works fine, my headphones doesn’t work. Tried out many methods as I asked in forum.

At the end, it is solved by shutdown, and boot again.