Technology: Amazing DIY In-Car Surveillance IP Cam Combo!!!

Battery-Powered WiFi Netcam
Image from Toms Blog at McLaren Labs

Remember that sometime ago, I wrote a post Technology: How to Use Your Extra Smartphones / Tablets As Webcam? In that post I successfully tested using an old Android phone as IP Cam. Now, it is time to use that for something even cooler!!!

I have always liked the idea of having an IP cam in the car. This is very useful (if possible) because if there is a police nearby wanting to give you a ticket, you can use your app to honk him, open the pano roof, this and that to signal that you are in fact nearby, while at the same time, you run like crazy back to the car trying to save yourself another HK$480 fine.

Or maybe you just feel it is cool to be able to look around the environment from inside your car and get a comfort feeling that your car is still around while you are away on a business trip.

My first idea was to connect a IP cam which can get its power from the USB port in the Model S while the car is 'off', but soon I found out that this is not possible. So to make it work, the power supply for the IP cam must come from somewhere.

Then I found this, Do It Yourself: Battery-Powered WiFi Netcam | Toms Blog at McLaren Labs. A rather easy DIY battery-powered WiFi Netcam/IP cam. Do read the article for specific details, but this part of the problem about power supply is solved, and you get the turns and rotations which can be controlled using apps or browsers on any computers or smartphones.

What's missing now is the connection between the IP cam and your phone -- you need a modem connected to LAN. Since the cam itself has only a limited range for its WiFi capability, you will not be able to connect the IP cam with a modem unless your car (with the IP cam inside it) sits nearby the modem. So, to provide a 'modem' that moves with your car going anywhere you go, you need a smartphone with at least 3G enabled on WiFi hotspot.

So, here goes the route of connection.

Battery-powered WiFi IP cam <--> WiFi hotspot on 3/4G smartphone as server <--> Smartphone / PC at home or office

How do make such connections? Well, here's a tutorial by Zedomax, who gets High On Android everyday!

I have tried all steps except for the battery-powering the IP cam, if you have tried all the steps and you like this idea, do leave a message and let me know!


Resources:

Technology: How to Use Your Extra Smartphones / Tablets As Webcam? @Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2014_05_02_archive.html

Concept: In-Car Surveillance IP Cam Combo @TMC
http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/34413-All-Model-S-Mods-Go-Here/page6?p=825636#post825636

How to Recycle Android into Security Camera Liveview! +YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwdWMTICnYQ

Technology: Remote Desktop With Google Chrome Remote Desktop and App!!!

Image from Locky's English Playground

Say for some reasons, you need a higher power computer to do some lengthy and difficult calculations but your PC at home just isn't fast enough, or you need a faster network but your home just doesn't have it, or the most unfortunate of all, you have left some important documents back in your office but you don't want to or can't afford the time to travel to your office on a Saturday or Sunday, here's something you should know.

In the old days, I will use Remote Desktop, or that mstsc.exe that comes with Windows, check your IP address, set up group name, blablabla..... However, the setup was tricky and the response is often very slow. Luckily, the world is different now and we have Google and Chrome, and with that you can gain near real-time control of a remote computer!

You don't need to do tedious installation and setup of software, all you need is to do the following on your computers

1. Go to your target computer (eg. office / school computer and home PC),
2. Install Chrome browser from Google, run it and log in with your Gmail account,
3. Download Chrome Remote Desktop from Chrome web store,
4. Follow the instructions and install what has been downloaded next,
5. Create a pin of your choice for login, confirm that pin,
6. Leave your computer on.

The nice thing about this set up is that you need nothing but internet access, a Gmail account and a pin to control the machine you want.

"Apps" icon on Chrome
Image from Locky's English Playground

To control your office computer remotely now, you just open your Chrome browser, click the "Apps" icon on the top left corner of the bookmark bar. If you don't see it, you can simply type chrome://apps/

Can you find the Chrome Remote Desktop icon here?
Image from Locky's English Playground

and then your browser will show the page as seen above. Simply click onto Chrome Remote Desktop icon to activate connection to your office PC. You can even bookmark it like a normal webpage for faster access next time.

Controlling office computer from home through Chrome browser
Image from Locky's English Playground

Take note of two things:

1. If you are at your home PC and all you see is a black screen even though it is connected, simply go to the top blue bar in the middle of the browser page, click onto it and "Send keys" then "Send Ctrl-Alt-Del" and the black will disappear and your office computer is yours to control.
2. The number keypads on your PC keyboard does not work, so use the number keys above the letter keys.
3. Note that by default, as you happily control your office computer remotely, people in your office can see what you are doing on the screen like a ghost is controlling it. To avoid this, simply download and install the registry file from here onto your office computer then reboot. When it is done, your computer will be on Curtain Mode and no one can see what you are doing on your PC, provided of course, you have a password set up on your office computer in the first place.

Wanna control your office computer and home PC on the go?
Image from Locky's English Playground

How about if I want to control both my office computer and home PC on the go through my smartphone? Well, yes you can! Simply download Chrome Remote Desktop from Google Play onto your Android phone, then log in with your Gmail and PIN, and Wah-La!!! You have all your machines and devices in your hands!

Leave a comment below and let me know what you think about my recommendation!

Resources:

Chrome Remote Desktop @Chrome Web Store
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/chrome-remote-desktop/gbchcmhmhahfdphkhkmpfmihenigjmpp?hl=en

Chrome Curtain Mode for Windows registry +Google Groups
https://groups.google.com/a/googleproductforums.com/group/chrome/attach/4adfbca404287d2c/ChromeCurtainMode.reg?part=0.1&authuser=0

Food & Dining: Rice Paper @ Kowloon Tong Festival Walk

Rice Paper's Lunch Menu
Image from Locky's English Playground

If it wasn't for the iPhone I reserved, I would hardly ever go to Festival Walk, it really takes too long to get there. Getting those phones took even longer. Luckily, there is a nice cosy place for lunch at a very reasonable price.

Just look at the menu, doesn't it look reasonable to you?

View Raw Beef with Rice Noodles (foreground), Seafood Laksa with Rice Noodles (Background), Sampler Plates (Centre)
Image from Locky's English Playground

The food doesn't only look gorgeous, they taste just as excellent. Steaming hot noodles and samplers in bamboo rack, lovely match of colours bringing every bit of pleasure to the eyes,

Sampler plate close up
Image from Locky's English Playground

and definitely mouthwatering good.

Seafood Laksa with Rice Noodles
Image from Locky's English Playground

The noodles were fine, not particularly outstanding especially because I like my laksa to be more spicy, but overall, it still exceeded my expectation by a tad.

Butter Wings!!
Image from Locky's English Playground

Lastly, because wings are my wife's favourite, I gotta order some, and they did not disappoint us. Crunchy scorchingly hot, rich in garlic and butter. The only concern was really the cholesterol level of them.

My little baby Muse is enjoying herself in the sea of cushions
Image from Locky's English Playground

Overall, it is a splendid lunch set at a great bargain, and because it is quiet, you can stay there to chat with your friends for as long as you want.

Enjoy!

Technology: Galaxy S2 Reborn With IMEI Fixed!!!

Just as I thought it was gonna be it, it came back to me!
Image from Locky's English Playground

Two assignments down, 2 more to go. Realised I have many things to write but too little time, and it is going to be like this till early December, when all assignments deadline have passed.


Anyway, back to today's topic. Sometimes, you just need another phone, and I have never known that an extra Android phone will one day be so needed! Since the last Galaxy S2 Seawater Damage YouTube video in the My First Galaxy S2 Surgery, apart from the Wi-Fi which is working, it could not make call, could not use bluetooth or 3G. The phone was practically a home device with nothing more than a web-surfing browser bigger than an iPhone 4 and 5.

So what was the problem? Well, two possibilities.

1. the SIM reader is busted due to seawater damage or, 
2. SIM reader is still fine but only the IMEI is lost.

For my S2, luckily it was case 2. I found this out because the phone actually picked up phone signals for a minute, which had never happened before and surprised me when I tried it again this morning. It was almost like the S2 is calling for me.

And so I did a quick research and found an awesome video which uses a free app HC-kTool to get the job done. The steps are really easy.

1. Install the app from Google Play,
2. Click "Backup EFS to /sdcard/efs.img", "Yes", "Run Check" and "Close",
3. Click "Restore EFS from backup", "Restore IMG" and "Restore TAR"
4. Click "Reboot" 

WahLah!!!! Your phone is back!!! Put in a SIM card and try it!! Here's what I got!

IMEI back (partially masked)!!
Image from Locky's English Playground

My S2 is completely working now!!!

Resources:
Technology: My First Galaxy S2 Surgery -- Sea Water Damage S2 Fixed!! @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2013/02/technology-my-first-galaxy-s2-surgery.html

Galaxy S2 Seawater Damage Fix [First Ever On YouTube] @YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP5YfvnimBc

HC-kTool IMEI Recovery Samsung Galaxy S2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY9cDkj4CCw

HC-kTool +Google Play
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.hellcat.droiddev.ktool&hl=en

Event & Opinions: 25 Images of Occupy Central

Cameraman capturing the truth
28th Oct 2014 @ Mongkok
Image from Locky's English Playground

Visiting Mongkok and Admiralty a lot fewer these days, still am occupied with doing assignments, but I have not given up any chances of taking more photos every time. It is really encouraging to see creativity (in terms of art and actions) continues to explode. I shall photograph more of such creativity when I can afford more time to explore.

Policemen looking at arguing crowd from afar
28th Oct 2014 @ Mongkok
Image from Locky's English Playground

Police mobiles has no end
28th Oct 2014 @ Mongkok
Image from Locky's English Playground

Crowd having debates
28th Oct 2014 @ Mongkok
Image from Locky's English Playground

President Xi poster
28th Oct 2014 @ Mongkok
Image from Locky's English Playground

President's poster up close, sharing a can of SOL with the man on his right
28th Oct 2014 @ Mongkok
Image from Locky's English Playground

The wall of HSBC has messages to convey
28th Oct 2014 @ Mongkok
Image from Locky's English Playground

barricades strengthed by wooden boards
28th Oct 2014 @ Mongkok
Image from Locky's English Playground

Windmill of Admiralty
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

A group of elderlies surrounded Civic Party Margaret Ng (in centre white trenchcoat) with a hostile attitude
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Zooming out on Connaught Road Central
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Study "rooms" made of tents with a library at the entrance
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Little girl is reading from the library
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

The umbrella of the umbrellas
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Great art
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Tents after tents, Occupants devote their time and energy for the future of Hong Kong
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

"Carry On!" in 2 big Chinese characters
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

"wir wollen gehoert werden, wir werden nicht kaempfen" /
"we want to be heard, we will not fight"
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Organic Farm on unused land
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Lennon Wall
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

The Umbrella Man
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

The umbrella tent
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

From the footbridge
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Panoramic View from the footbridge
6th Nov 2014 @ Admiralty
Image from Locky's English Playground

Resources:

Event & Opinions: Stunning Images and Videos of Occupy Central @ Hong Kong @Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2014/09/event-opinions-stunning-images-and.html

Event & Opinions: Occupy Central Day 2 @ Admiralty @Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2014/10/event-opinions-occupy-central-day-2.html

Event & Opinions: Occupy Central Day 4 @ Causeway Bay @Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2014/10/event-opinions-occupy-central-day-4.html

Occupy Central 2014-10-16 @Mongkok
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtVNYnLgJW0

Travelling & Living: $48 Prepaid Local SIM Cards in Hong Kong

3G Travellers SIM and PCCW SIM
Image from Locky's English Playground

I have never really used prepaid SIM cards before, but once I have tried, I realise they are extremely convenient and tourist-friendly. Too bad I knew this too late, otherwise I would have recommended this to my Singapore friends who came to visit me.

For one thing, they are extremely easy to get hold of, walk into any convenient stores such as 7-11 or Circle K and you can find SIM cards offered by at least 5 companies.

So far, I have tried SIMs from 4 telecoms: PCCW, 3, China Mobile and Easycall, all cost HK $48 or lower. 

Among them, I recommend PCCW to be the best of all. It sends fast SMS, connects quickly to 3G, offers day pass at reasonably high data package, and the best of all, free Wi-Fi at every PCCW hotspot, which is literally everywhere, such as Starbucks, phone booths, shopping malls, parks, etc. Plus, you get extra $10 recharge voucher for free.

3 doesn't offer free Wi-Fi, but you do get 3G on a capped $28/day, the fast SMS and the calls you need to make. And if you ever need a top-up, you get up to $100 rebate. The funny thing is, it has many way too many SIMs to offer, sort of catered to different customers' needs, such as HK Local and Special Asia. The cost for SMS, data and calls also differ a little, so I suggest spending a little time to study them carefully before purchasing. But if you need data more than calls, you may want to look into their Travellers SIM or Data SIM instead of Local SIM. 

3G Local 3 SIM and PCCW SIM
Image from Locky's English Playground

Easycall is actually CSL, which is in turn PCCW after the acquisition, but with a much lower priority when it comes to SMS and calls. So, seriously recommend not getting it.

China Mobile seems like a decent choice if you visit China or maybe even Macau, but in Hong Kong, it is slow in every aspect, especially the 2G data it offers.

There are more expensive SIM from these companies too, you may want to give them a try and then let me know what you think.



Resources:
Hong Kong Prepaid SIM Cards @ HKTravelBlog
http://hktravelblog.com/sim-cards/hong-kong-prepaid-sim-cards/

Prepaid data – for visitors to HK (further thoughts) @ Thebrowngeek
https://thebrowngeek.wordpress.com/tag/pccw/

A Test of Hong Kong Telecommunications Network Speed Credit Suisse: SmarTone is the best, China Mobile & CSL Tie @Ming Pao Daily
https://www.smartone.com/about_us/our_company/aboutsmartone/common/Credit_Suisse_SmarTone_Beats_Rivals_Ming_Pao_update_confirmed_e.pdf

Local SIM @ 3HK
http://www.three.com.hk/website/appmanager/three/home?_nfpb=true&pageid=631001&_pageLabel=P200470391219567710594&lang=eng

Travellers SIM @ 3HK
http://www.three.com.hk/website/appmanager/three/home?_nfpb=true&pageid=641001&_pageLabel=P200470391219567710594&lang=eng

Data Package SIM @ 3HK
http://www.three.com.hk/website/appmanager/three/home?_nfpb=true&pageid=652001&_pageLabel=P200470391219567710594&lang=eng

csl
http://one2free.hkcsl.com/jsp/prepaid_sim_card/power_prepaid_sim/card_features/card_features.jsp?language=eng