Hacking the TomTom XXL

After all these years, the TomTom One 130 is getting slower with every map upgrade. Power on/off takes longer. Route recalculation takes longer. Out of the 32MB memory, only a couple of MB is free after bootup. So I've decided to get myself a new model.

Best option is to get the latest VIA models with the 500MHz processor and 128MB RAM, but that's probably overkill for my needs. Another reason why I don't want to go for the newer models is because they don't support user-upgradable maps, if you know what I mean. So I settled for the TomTom XXL IQ Routes Edition - 64MB RAM, 5" 16:9 screen with 64k colours.

Upgrading the navcore and maps is the same as before. Firstly, update the PND using TomTom Home. Make a backup of the upgraded navcore and maps. Delete everything on the internal memory. Copy in an SE navcore. Copy over the voice files from the backup. Copy over the LoquendoTTS folder. Install latest maps and "activate" using FastActivate. As usual, remember to add meta codes for your maps in the meta1.txt file in the temp directory. In my case, temp directory is appdata\local\temp\ folder of the user.

Some tips:

• As far as I can tell, you can use either SE_GO or SE_ONE navcore for the TomTom XXL. I went for the later because of the wide splash screens.
• Removing the Outsourced directory obviously uses up more memory (10MB more), but I reckon it should make the device faster. As I have 64MB, I don't really mind.
• For best results, use model:ori in setconfig.txt. While x40 or x40light gives you more features, I found it to be slower and doesn't support computer voices, which is required for spoken street names.
• Looks like switchfiles are mandatory. I figured I don't want to use any emulation, so I removed the whole Config folder. TomTom can't boot up anymore.

Get the latest maps here (v920 as of this writing):
http://gpsunderground.com/forum/tomtom-maps/23232-all-new-maps-920-collections-only.html

http://gpsunderground.com/forum/gps-navigation-systems/tomtom-gps-systems/tomtom-maps/

http://forum.mobilism.org/viewtopic.php?f=1297&t=656022

Meta codes from http://gpsunderground.com/forum/tomtom-maps/23304-meta-codes-v920-maps.html

Latest safety cam maps from http://www.austech.info/tomtom/36148-tomtom-speed-camera-au-updates.html
If the download links are not showing up properly, search for the print or archive version. Any recent recent meta file will work for these maps.

Latest SE navcore from http://gpsunderground.com/forum/tomtom-navcore/22274-navcore-9-530-se-tonyzeta.html
Get the older versions from http://gpsunderground.com/forum/tomtom-navcore/1396-list-navcores-available-forum.html

Some FAQs and user guides:

http://gpsunderground.com/forum/tomtom-tutorials-faq/557-updating-tomtom-faqs.html

http://gpsunderground.com/forum/tomtom-tutorials-faq/558-updating-tomtom-patching-navcore-maps.html

http://gpsunderground.com/forum/tomtom-archives/354-navcore-vs-se-navcore.html

http://www.austech.info/gps/27844-switchfiles-dummies.html

http://www.austech.info/tomtom/26150-tomtom-se-navcore-switchfiles-settings.html

Happy upgrading!

Of Navcores and Maps

I regularly update the maps on my TomTom PND, but I can't remember the last time I've upgraded the navcore. I went back to the forums, and seems like not much new is happening on the navcore scene. The newest is series 9 back in 2011.

Apparently, TomTom got wise to all these hacks and tightened up security. While the internal flash memory of older TomToms are accessible via Windows Explorer and/or TTHome, the newer TomToms (which are rocking v10, v11, or v12 navcores) used a web-based mechanism called MyTomTom. All updates are done via HTTP over USB. So far, there is no way to access these navcores. Hence, no new patched or cracked navcores.

Below is the list of TomTom PNDs using this security feature:

• GO 400/500/600/800/1000/2000/5000/6000 Series
• Via Series
• PRO 7100/7100 TRUCK
• PRO 7150/7150 TRUCK
• PRO 9100
• PRO 9150/9150 TRUCK
• Start 20/25/40/50/60 Series
• Blue&Me TomTom 2 Live
• Sony XNV Series
• TomTom Connect

In addition, Wikipedia has a list of TomTom devices with a breakdown of CPU speed, RAM, screen size, GPS chipset, etc. Very handy for deciding which PND you want to buy.

Aurora II CM10.1 to CM10.2

CM10.2 (Android 4.3.1) is out for the Ainol Aurora II, so it's time for a flash. Christian Troy has already released CM11 (Android 4.4.2), but might have some video playback issues, so I'm holding off from that one for now.

 

Installation procedure is pretty standard:

1. Download TWRP recovery from here, and follow installation instructions.
2. Copy ROM, gapps, and compatibility zip to the external microSD card.
3. Power on tablet usingVOL- and POWER buttons.
4. From TWRP recovery, perform a factory reset via the Wipe menu.
5. Flash ROM, gapps, and compatibility zip.
6. Select "Reboot system"

In my case, I used the UBIFS-based TWRP and single-user compatibility zip, as before. After the flash, the tablet wasn't able to boot up. I figured there's something wrong the partitioning because TWRP was complaining about not being able to mount /emmc and internal storage.

With nothing to lose, I loaded up the EXT4-based TWRP and multi-user compatibility zip. Made sure I did factory reset, format data, multiple wipes, etc. This time, the reflash worked like a charm.

Movie 2014.01.04 - The Internship

Feel-good movie about two watch salesmen who lost their jobs, and now trying to transition into the new digital world. They decided to try their hand at a Google internship. At this point, a willing suspension of disbelief comes in handy.

Of course, the interview was done online via Hangouts. The old-timers didn't even have a webcam, so they commandeered a PC from the public library, while bribing the kids with soda money to leave them alone. Incredibly, they got accepted into the program. In spite of being grouped together with the "losers" of the class, they started winning challenges - the Quidditch match when they've never even heard of Harry Potter, coming up with the winning idea for an app after a night of drunken debauchery, etc.

If all Google needs are quirky characters with a lot of Googliness, I'm in.

External HDD Reformat

You'd think it's as easy as going to Windows Explorer, right click on the drive letter, and selecting Format. Well, not on this portable hard disk.

If you check my previous post, I've managed to salvage most of the data from it, but it refuses to be formatted. Windows' built-in Disk Management reports the drive as RAW. Windows format takes too long, and it eventually gives up. Definitely something wrong with the HDD.

This is what I did to fix it. First, download and install TestDisk. It tells me both the main and backup boot sectors are bad. Use TestDisk to rebuild the boot sectors. Then, use the built-in DiskPart clean the disk and create a primary partition:

DISKPART> list disk

  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt

  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---

  Disk 0    Online          149 GB      0 B

  Disk 1    Online          465 GB      0 B

 

DISKPART> select disk 1

Disk 1 is now the selected disk.

 

DISKPART> clean

DiskPart succeeded in cleaning the disk.

 

DISKPART> create partition primary

DiskPart succeeded in creating the specified partition.

 

Download and install low-level format tool from HDDGuru. Took its sweet time formatting the 500GB HDD at an average of 24MB/s. After that, do a quick format using WD's Quick Formatter.

Movies 2014.01.04 - Kung Pow! It's Esther Blueberger

There are some movies that are so bad, they're good. Kung Pow! Enter the Fist is one of those. It's an out-and-out parody of the old HK martial arts genre, complete with the bad dubbing and the over-the-top fight sequences. What makes the movie funny is that the original bad dubbing and cheesy dialogue are made even worse. Let me explain that. Basically, the filmmakers took footage from the 1976 film Tiger and Crane Fist, supplanted the lead character with Steve Oedekerk and gave it a whole new story. A few LOL moments, but expect much else.

Hey, Hey, It's Esther Blueburger is a local production about a schoolgirl and her misadventures. As with other coming-of-age movies, we have a likable main character and a sprinkling of quirky supports. Sadly, the movie plot is everywhere, and the characters are not fully developed. You have an ugly-ducking Esther, who's ostracized at her posh school; her sociopath brother, who moved to a Jewish school; her nagging mother; her public-school friend Sunni and her stripper-mom, who was killed in a bike accident; and her snooty classmates, who thought she's part of a secret student exchange program.

Fedora Boot Order

After installing the Sugar Learning Platform on my Windows 7 laptop, it now has GRUB bootloader with the following boot entries:

• Fedora 17
• Advanced configuration
• Microsoft Windows 7

And by default it goes to the first entry, which is Fedora.

Now that's a bit inconvenient, as I use Windows most of the time. Here's how to make the default boot switch to Windows 7:

1. As su, grep menuentry /boot/grub2/grub.cfg to show the boot entries
2. vi /etc/default/grub By default, it'll say GRUB_DEFAULT=saved. If you run grub2-editenv list, it'll show you Fedora 17 as the default option.
3. grub2-set-default "Microsoft Windows 7" to change the default.
4. grub2-editenv list to confirm that the configuration change was committed.

Another option is to manually make the change:

1. vi /etc/default/grub
2. GRUB_DEFAULT="Microsoft Windows 7"
3. grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg to save.

Sugar on a Stick on an HDD

Just from the name itself, Sugar on a Stick is supposed to be installed on a USB stick, but you can actually install it permanently on a hard disk.

First, download the Fedora Live USB Creator. Then, download the latest SoaS iso image and install it on the USB drive. Boot up the PC from the USB drive. Go through the initial setup. Once on the Sugar homescreen, open up the Terminal activity. Select the Become Root option. If it's not there, just run su. Type 'liveinst' without the quotes. This brings up anaconda, which will assist you in installing the SoaS onto the hard disk.

In my case, I was using the latest Fedora-Live-SoaS-20 image, and the partition manager keeps dying on me, and sending me back to the prompt. Had to downgrade to Fedora 17 before it worked. Shrank the current Windows partition and used the resulting free space for Sugar.

More complete installation instructions here:
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Tutorials/Installation/Install_with_liveinst

PCA, CDC, OC

Received the PCA, CDC, and OC forms, which I need to sign and email back. Dunno what is the rush about, as the land is not yet registered. And I still need to do the following appointments:

• external finishes
• colours and inclusions selection
• kitchen
• electrical

before the forms can be submitted to council.