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This site is no longer maintained.
My current weblog.
Friday, March 22, 2002Irony: Installing software on a Linux-based PDA by first copying it to an SD card mounted on a Pocket PC.
Sounds a little silly, but from Windows it's easier to copy files to my Maestro than the Zaurus. I do actually have a CF adapter for my PC, but then I'd have to raid my camera for it's CF card and temporarily unplug the WiFi card. I picked up a 128MB SD card so that I wouldn't have to do that! Unfortunately the Zaurus will only load ROM updates from CF, in conjunction with some awkward button presses, which is yet another reason why the device is not ready for prime-time.
This has nothing to do with glue, rather I'm talking about wireless. Harping on the vulnerabilities of WEP has become passe, the current trend is to talk about "War Driving."
In the early days, long before the Internet and AOL were household words, computer hackers with modems would call a range of phone numbers (usually in numerical order) looking for other computers. This practice was called "War Dialing." The modern-day version of that practice is called "War Driving." Instead of modems, hackers use WiFi cards, laptops, and special Sniffing software that seeks out wireless access points.
It seems like most "War Drivers" are presently doing so in order to sell articles. Others do it looking for a free ride to the Internet. Some network administrators are war driving their own offices, searching for unauthorized wireless access points. And there are probably more than a few folks actually looking to hack into personal and corporate networks.
Today I installed a sniffer called Kismet on my Zaurus. Kismet is not new, and it's Zaurus port has been available for two months or so. Installing it is a simple as typing "ipkg install kismet_1.5_arm.ipk" from the Terminal app. Type "kismet" and you are "War Driving." Or in my case, "War Walking."
I knew that it worked when my own wireless network instantly appeared on the screen. Kismet told me the SSID of my base station, the channel being used, that it was running in infrastructure mode, and that WEP is enabled.
I stepped outside, across my porch, onto the jogging path around the lake, and proceeded to walk around the lake while sniffing my neighbors.
My neighbors are pretty boring, non-technical folks. Half-way around the lake I had yet to sniff any other networks. From that spot, with my own porch in clear sight, I couldn't see my own network either. However, my cordless phone does work from that spot, and it's base is next to the acess point.
Three-quarters of the way around, I got my first (and only) hit. SSID "linksys", channel 6, no WEP. Is that an open invitation or what? Over the weekend I will hang out at the pool and see if I can reach the Internet from my neighbor's wide-open access point.
My own access point is as locked-down as I can make it right now. Funky SSID, MAC addresses, WEP. I'll be firewalling it from my wired network and Internet connection just as soon as I can get my hands on a BSD-compatible DSL adapter.
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that someone won't try to hack me.
Sharp has put a new image for the SL-5000D on their download page. According to the notes, this is the same image as the consumer SL-5500 minus the Handcom Office suite.
Supposedly Amazon and other online retailers are already shipping the consumer unit, and they should be available at retail outlets starting next month.
I think it's too bad that Sharp hasn't taken more time to address the shortcomings of the device. For starters, it lacks a genuine internal speaker (it's a "buzzer" only) and microphone. Second, the system boot off of a compressed image from the Flash ROM, which much be decompressed into main memory. Several megabytes of memory are wasted due to this. Third, the battery life sucks. While nearly every other StrongArm-based PDA is using a 1400mAH Lithiom-Plymer battery these days, the Zaurus limps along with a meager 950mAH Lithion-Ion cell. And finally, if the Zaurus isn't turned on when "docked", Windows XP doesn't recognize it.
And actually, a fifth thing: lack of drivers for desirable peripherals. Presently, low-power WiFi cards from Socket and Symbol are unsupported. There are no drivers for any Bluetooth or GPS devices. None of the cellular connection cards. No support for the Enfora Pocket Spider CF CDPD modem (it looks like Sharp is planning to support the new, smaller unit once it ships).
Wireless is the "Killer App" for the Zaurus at the moment, and the only wireless kit presently supported are WiFi cards that drain power as if battery power were an unlimited resource.
Dan has finally completed his review of the Treo. Parts one, two, and three. Dan's experience of just a single hour of talk time with a "full day" of stand-by, which I presume to be 10-16 hours, will be a deal breaker for heavy cellular users. Especially since the battery is not removable (the Samsung combo device includes a spare battery).
The final installment provides links to several reviews. Philip Greenspun's review stands out for it's focus on the negative, particularly regarding the integration of PDA and Phone functionality.
Personally, I'm beginning to believe that a SmartPhone could effectively replace my PDAs for everything except accessing the web from my couch (or roaming around the office). For that, the Zaurus SL-5000D and a WiFi card seem best.
PS: Of all the reasons not to buy a US-spec Treo, it's lack of 1800MHz for European networks isn't one of them. During my time across the pond, I never noticed a difference in coverage when I switched from a Nokia 7110 (900/1800MHz) to a Nokia 8890 (900/1900MHz). In general European cellular coverage is far better than America, likely due to the lack of non-GSM networks like TDMA and CDMA.
PPS: 1900MHz is the US GSM standard. In Europe they use that frequency for ultra-cool DECT cordless phones that have phenomenal range.
