Raspberry Pi, OpenElec and xmbc

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So, I got a Raspberry Pi for Christmas.  I have had some fun and games with it, not least when I broke the mount for the SD card whilst custom making a case.  Stupid error.  I’d cut a slot and left the card in whilst slipping the Pi in to the case.  I must have levered it somehow.  It was fixed by cutting a piece of plastic or two from a yoghurt pot lid and screwing the Raspberry Pi firmly down against some plastic casing from a house wiring box.  I had cut the plastic using my new dremel. 

The box had contained some buttons.

I am running OpenElec at the moment which is a fast booting xmbc implementation.  Without much effort I have it working as music player, BBC iPlayer, Spotify player (Spotimc)  and TV Catchup (I had to read the installation instructions for this one since the zip is a repository, not the add-on).

It even works with my Samsung TV remote using libCEC though this needed activating on the TV (which took me some time to work out).

Running BBC iPlayer in HD

The little box is powered by the TV and when I have a WiFi adapter for it will sit behind the TV and quietly work its magic.  I am very impressed by the little guy.  My wife suggests that cardboard and wood are not ideal case materials, and I agree, but it is different, and all I had lying around.

The next project is to (maybe) get another and make it do the same but with a squeezeserver on top so I can free up my Dell Zino, which I don’t really take full advantage of where it is.  I might sell it on if I can do that.

Change Indicator Lamp – Lotus Elise S1 1998 (5 minute job)

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My indicator bulb broke for the first time since I bought the car in 1998. A quick google found a page that was not too useful. It is actually a quick and easy job as long as you are prepared to lie on the floor. This is what you buy overalls for.

It was a 5 minute job if you have the bulb beforehand.

Tools needed:

  • some wood (hand sized) to block the wheel arch liner
  • a spare bulb (standard 21W indicator lamp, SCC BA15s).  I bought two from the local garage for £2.50
  • Your fingers, hands and arm
The bulb, for reference

1. Don’t try to undo the two screws. 
After reading the other thread I initially
looked at this but it is totally unnecessary.

2. Just reach round and pull back
the liner with your fingers (it has
a soft foamy rubber flange). 
Block it open with some wood.

3. Enough room for an arm.
4. This is your target.  It is about
an eighth turn anti-clockwise

5. The bulb is on a long lead, so it is
relatively easy to replace.
6. Done!

Arduino

General

Mum bought this for my nephew for Christmas.  It looks fun so I bought a kit.

http://www.arduino.cc

I had a play for a little while and came up with a button that when pressed plays out SOS on a red LED.  I suspect I am not the first to try this, but it looks interesting and the possibilities are enormous.  I initially had problems because in the dim light of my sitting room I had plugged the 5V lead in to the 0V (GND) hole. But I got there.

My masterpiece

I’m still not *quite* sure why I bought this, but if/when I make a go of going it alone in Primary school eduction it might make a fun little project.

This is the board I have:
http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/arduinoBoardUno

All purchased as a kit from www.earthshineelectronics.com.