Monday, October 7, 2024

Forward SMS from Android to iPad

The goal is to forward short messages received on a Pixel 4 running Android 12 to an iPadOS 18 device over the Internet.

  1. Install Bark on iPad.
  2. Follow this tutorial to set up a URL like https://api.day.app/<some_random_chars>/. The random chars are the push key.
  3. Install SMS to URL Forwarder on Android. The app can be downloaded from F-Droid.
  4. Add an entry in the SMS to URL forwarder app
  5. Set sender to *
  6. Set webhook URL to https://api.day.app/<some_random_chars>/
  7. Set the JSON content to {"title": "%from%", "body": "%text%"}
  8. Click test
  9. Save the entry if iPad receives a notification.


Sunday, July 21, 2024

Extend a BTRFS filesystem on LUKS protected partition

My computer's root partition is a BTRFS sub-volume inside of a LUKS encrypted partition. Its space is running low. Fortunately the SSD has unallocated space after the LUKS partition.

Steps,

  1. run parted /dev/nvme0n1
  2. type resizepart to resize the LUKS partition
  3. type q to quit
  4. run cryptsetup resize {name_of_the_dm} -v to grow the LUKS volume.
  5. run btrfs filesystem resize max /

Credits

  • https://blog.tinned-software.net/increase-the-size-of-a-luks-encrypted-partition/
  • https://btrfs.readthedocs.io/en/latest/btrfs-filesystem.html

Friday, July 12, 2024

2024 Honda Civic sport test drive impression

Good,

  • Interior materials feel nicer than competitors like Corolla.
  • Good driving dynamics
  • It has proximity key entry and key-less start. 
  • And it can lock doors automatically when you walk away.
  • It has adaptive cruise control and blind spot indicators.
  • Key fob is compact and lightweight.
  • The rear view camera has dynamic guidelines.
  • Physical AC knobs are easy to use.
  • The whole interior is black, including the headliner.
  • It does not have a sun-roof.
  • The infotainment system has physical buttons and volume knobs.
Meh
  • No sun-glass holder in the sport trim.
  • No auto-dimming rear view mirror.
  • Fully manual driver seat.
  • No wireless phone screen projection.
  • 2.0L NA engine does not have much power.
Bad
  • It has auto start-stop.
  • The steering wheel controls are confusing. It has buttons, wheels, and toggles. See the picture below.
  • The 7-inch infotainment screen is small and has a very wide bezel.
  • The 7-inch infotainment screen is dim even at the highest brightness.
  • The MSRP of 26k is expensive for such a compact sedan.
  • The salesperson was extremely rude as if I should beg him for the car.
  • The dealer has a $500 mark-up.
  • The dealer does not have any 2025 models.





Saturday, July 6, 2024

Qodosen DX-286 portable radio review

I bought a Qodosen DX-286 portable radio at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3V3H356 for 80 USD + tax.

I compared it with a tecsun PL330 last evening.

Good,

  • The tiny speaker is surprisingly loud and deep. Better than tecsun PL330.
  • Stellar performance in FM band. It clearly received 38 stations without pulling out the antenna. While tecsun got only 19.
  • Good MW performance. It picked up 15 stations. Tecsun got 12 stations.
  • It decodes FM RDS/RBDS.
  • It uses a widely available 18650 battery and can charge the battery through USB.
  • The build quality feels nice.
  • The tuning knob has good tactile feedback.
  • It is extremely compact.
  • It has many powerful settings.
  • The LCD display has good viewing angle and even backlight.
Meh
  • It does not receive SSB or air band. But I have other radios for these.
  • It is power hungry thanks to the TEF6686 chip. The quiescent current in FM band is 200 mA.
  • The 18650 battery is not included in the package.
  • I wish the RDS info could be displayed on a dot-matrix with more characters.
  • Buttons serve multiple functions. I must not lose the user manual.
  • The English user manual has a few translation errors.
  • The noise floor in FM is higher than PL330's.
  • The radio mutes for ~100ms between tuning, probably due to DSP.
  • The buttons do not have a bump on 5, making it hard to use in the dark.
  • It takes ~1 sec to boot.
Bad
  • The "world" clock setting is counter-intuitive. IMO, the correct order is to set UTC time and then choose the local timezone.
  • The kickstand feels flimsy.
  • Charging port is micro USB, not type C. 
  • The volume control is weird. The volume knob is a potentiometer. The MCU reads its output to set the actual volume.
  • The carrying case is a waste of plastic.



Note that DX-286 is an improved version of SR-286.

Friday, July 5, 2024

2023 Nissan Rogue SL review

I rent a 2023 Nissan Rogue SL FWD for a week on a trip. Here is my review.

Good,

  • The engine is quiet even though it has only three cylinders. 
  • The engine has enough power to haul four adults.
  • It has good fuel economy. I averaged about 28 mpg.
  • Handling is agile among all SUV that I have driven.
  • It has features like,
    • powered lift gate
    • comfortable powered seats
    • wireless phone screen projection
    • three zone AC
    • four USB ports for charging
    • proximity key entry
    • adaptive cruise control with lane centering assist
    • parking sensors
    • 360 degree camera
  • The instrument cluster has two analogue gauges and a LCD display. The trip computer is easy to use.

Meh

  • The KR15DDT engine has complaints of reliability issues.
  • Only the driver's window supports "one touch" up and down.
  • I don't like the gear selector. I often shift into manual mode by accident. 
  • The lane centering feature does not work well on curvy roads.
  • The driver seat's lumbar support cannot be adjusted vertically.

Bad

  • Proximity locking and unlocking uses the same button on the door handle. So it is hard to tell if the door has been locked or unlocked.
  • Adaptive cruise control sometimes (once every other day) disengages on its own.
  • There is no audible alarm when the car is moving and a door is unlocked.

 

Thursday, June 20, 2024

2024 Corolla Cross review

I test drove a 2024 Corolla Cross XLE. The verdict is to not buy one. Here is why.

  • The interior is the almost same as my 2020 corolla sedan.
  • The cabin is not much roomier than corolla sedan.
  • It has auto start-stop.
  • The infotainment screen still cannot display CJK chars correctly.
  • Very slow acceleration.
  • The engine requires hard to find 0w8 oil.
  • Much more body roll when cornering than corolla sedan.
  • Suspension is too soft.
The corolla cross did have some nice things,
  • JBL sound system.
  • improved ADAS (TSS 3.0).
  • Wireless carplay.
  • AWD
But it is more expensive ($4000) than a similarly equipped corolla sedan.


Monday, June 10, 2024

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 EV review

I drove a 2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5 on a weekend trip between Sacramento and Truckee.

Good things,

  • Fast acceleration
  • Quieter than my Corolla sedan
  • Spacious cabin
  • Plenty USB charging ports
  • Powered lift gate
  • Powered folding side mirrors
  • Auto brake hold is always enabled. 
  • Audio quality is good.
  • Handling is better than similar ICE SUV.
  • It notifies me when it is stopped and the vehicle ahead drives away.

Meh,

  • Range is not as good as similar ICE cars, especially when going uphill.
  • The infotainment screen is also too big with the left edge blocked by the wheel.
  • The rear turn signals are red. 
  • Regenerative braking is too aggressive. I find it hard to modulate the pedal to maintain a speed on local roads.
  • I don't like the toggles on the steering wheel.

Bad things,

  • The LCD instrument cluster has a white background in the day, lowering contrast.
  • The instrument cluster puts indicators on the screen edges.
  • The LCD instrument cluster is too big. The edges are blocked by the steering wheel.
  • The infotainment UI has latency.
  • It has too many driver assistance features.
    • Lane change assist is too conservative.
    • "Smart cruise control" often disengages on its own.
    • User manual does not explain the features well enough.

EVgo fast charging was expensive and not as fast as expected. The car charged 55 kWh over 1 hour. I paid 39 USD.