Feb 252012
 

It’s quite easy to shrink dynamic disk files in VMWare – just go to VM Settings -> select the desired disk -> Utilities -> Compact or use command line tool vmware-vdiskmanager. You’ve done this and… the VMDK size is still the same.

So… before you shrink the virtual drive make sure you fill the empty disk space with zeros!
On linux/unix/OS X – Lion start terminal / shell and execute:
cat /dev/zero > disk.fill;sync;sleep 1;sync;rm -f disk.fill
after the job is finished you can shrink your VMDK drive.

Have fun.

 Posted by at 10:01
Feb 202012
 

So finally I’ve decided to give Mac a try. I’ve replaced my loud Dell XPS15 i7 with MacBook Air 11” i5. I really enjoy the silence of SDD and most of the time passive cooling. But… MAC is missing some of very useful PC keys like DEL, PgDn, PgUp etc. especially if you work remotely on Windows / Unix machines.

Here my Findings:
OS X Terminal

  • Page Up key – Shift+Fn+Arrow Up key
  • Page Down key – Shift+Fn+Arrown Down key
  • Home key – Shift+Fn+Arrow Left key
  • End key – Shift+Fn+Arrow Right key
  • DEL key – Fn+Backspace key
  • Insert key (Selecting files in Midnight Commander) – alternative: Ctrl+t key

Remote Desktop / VNC / Screen Sharing

  • Page Up key – Fn+Arrow Up key
  • Page Down key – Fn+Arrown Down key
  • Home key – Fn+Arrow Left key
  • End key – Fn+Arrow Right key
  • DEL key – Fn+Backspace key

have fun.

 Posted by at 21:42
Feb 142012
 

My last year mod for Mini-Me – Audi tuning with LED lights.

Everything is powered with 4 x 1.5 V AA batteries and controlled with low power CMOS 4013 (one battery pack is enough for 6 month usage). The lights switch automatically on (magnet sensor mounted on front wheel) and switching off automatically after 1 minute.

The electrical circuit is a simple multivibrator – unfortunately documented only in my head – so if you are interested in the circuit drop me an email and I’ll make a nice drawing.

Gallery:


Final product:

 Posted by at 22:29