As i wanted to install Windows on my USB, and thought it was a good idea to run Windows XP off a USB Hard drive / Pen Drive that I just plug in when i need it, and boot from it. I wanted an easy guide that allows creating a modified version of the Windows XP CD, for painless and transparent installation to as many systems as you want.
Requirements
1. An existing Windows install for carrying out the steps in this tutorial
2. A USB2-compliant Hard disk drive (or a big USB2 stick, see remarks below)
3. An original Windows XP CD (tested only against SP1 so far, but reported to work on other versions)
4. A registered version of WinISO (or any other software that allows direct editing of ISO files)
5. The Microsoft CAB SDK
6. A CD-burning software that can handle ISO files. I like the free burnatonce
How To:
Summary:
We will dump the contents of your original Windows XP CD , extract a few files from the Image using ISO modification software, edit the files, and put the modified versions back on the ISO. The resulting ISO image is burnt back onto a CD media, and can then directly be used to install Windows on your USB drive.
I am also covering a few pitfalls that happened to me, in hope they will save you a bit of time.
1) Does your computer support booting from USB?
Usually, if its an option in your BIOS boot sequence menu, the answer to this is yes. If its not there, look for BIOS updates. If you are not sure, proceed and see what happens ;-)
2) Sorting out the "Bootability" of your USB-Drive
Connect your USB drive to your computer, directly, without a Hub. Then, shut down your computer, disconnect any other hard disk drives from it, and insert your original Windows XP CD into the drive. Start the installation, and proceed to the section where you are allowed to pick a hard drive. If it goes beyond the partition selection, your drive is already fine for booting Windows XP. If not (seems to be the cases with many of the Freecom USB HDDs for example), you will get an error like "Windows is unable to find your drive, partition, data etc bla". This is usually not a big problem. All you need to do is "properly" format the drive. Reboot into your normal Windows, and get this HP tool , and use it to format your HDD completely. I chose NTFS format, worked fine everytime i tried. After this, my drives are recognized as valid installation devices by the Windows XP installer.
(In fact, i did not manage to create a USB primary partition with FAT32 that was recognized as being installable)
3) Dumping the original Windows CD into an ISO File
Pretty easy one. Simply open WinISO, and select Actions -> Make ISO from CDROM, and save your CD image.
4) Extracting the files we need to work on
After the CD dump is done, close and reopen WinISO. Then, open the ISO file you just created using File -> Open. Now, click the I386 folder, and select the following files (Ctrl key to multi-select)
* TXTSETUP.SIF
* DOSNET.INF
* USB.IN_
* USBPORT.IN_
* USBSTOR.IN_
Select Actions -> Extract and put the resulting files into some folder to work on them.
5) Unpacking IN_ files
Use the Cab SDK (from the command line) for extracting the contents of the .IN_ files. Each of them contains exactly one .inf file. If you are unsure how to use the Cab SDK, here is an example command line: "cabarc x USBSTOR.IN_" . You should end up with three new files in the folder, called:
* usb.inf
* usbport.inf
* usbstor.inf
You can now delete the .IN_ files.
6) Editing the files
This is the main job. i ll also try to explain a bit whats happening. Use a simple Texteditor like Notepad.
6-A) TXTSETUP.SIF
This file is loaded on the initial install step by the Windows XP CD installer. In this file, we will change the way Windows treats USB devices during system setup -- the default is to only treat them as input devices during installation -- we will change this to include mass storage driver support (which needs to be loaded into the installer much earlier in order to work).
First, move the following entries from [InputDevicesSupport.Load] to the [BootBusExtenders.Load] section , as shown here
[BootBusExtenders.Load]
pci = pci.sys
acpi = acpi.sys
isapnp = isapnp.sys
acpiec = acpiec.sys
ohci1394 = ohci1394.sys
usbehci = usbehci.sys
usbohci = usbohci.sys
usbuhci = usbuhci.sys
usbhub = usbhub.sys
usbstor = usbstor.sys
[InputDevicesSupport.Load]
usbehci = usbehci.sys
usbohci = usbohci.sys
usbuhci = usbuhci.sys
usbhub = usbhub.sys
usbccgp = usbccgp.sys
hidusb = hidusb.sys
serial = serial.sys
serenum = serenum.sys
usbstor = usbstor.sys
... now the same for [BootBusExtenders] and [InputDevicesSupport]
[BootBusExtenders]
pci = "PCI-Bustreiber",files.pci,pci
acpi = "ACPI Plug & Play-Bustreiber",files.acpi,acpi
isapnp = "ISA Plug & Play-Bustreiber",files.isapnp,isapnp
acpiec = "Integrierter ACPI-Controllertreiber",files.none,acpiec
ohci1394 = "IEEE-1394-Bus-OHCI-konformer Anschlusstreiber",files.ohci1394,ohci1394
usbehci = "Erweiterter Hostcontroller",files.usbehci,usbehci
usbohci = "Open Hostcontroller",files.usbohci,usbohci
usbuhci = "Universeller Hostcontroller",files.usbuhci,usbuhci
usbhub = "Standard-USB-Hubtreiber",files.usbhub,usbhub
usbstor = "USB-Speicherklassentreiber",files.usbstor,usbstor
[InputDevicesSupport]
usbehci = "Erweiterter Hostcontroller",files.usbehci,usbehci
usbohci = "Open Hostcontroller",files.usbohci,usbohci
usbuhci = "Universeller Hostcontroller",files.usbuhci,usbuhci
usbhub = "Standard-USB-Hubtreiber",files.usbhub,usbhub
hidusb = "HID-Parser",files.hidusb,hidusb
serial = "Treiber f�r seriellen Anschluss",files.none,serial
serenum = "Enumerator f�r seriellen Anschluss",files.none,serenum
usbstor = "USB-Speicherklassentreiber",files.usbstor,usbstor
usbccgp = "USB Generic Parent Driver",files.usbccgp,usbccgp
Next, we also have to write several keys into the registry. Convieniently, the txtsetup.sif allows you to specify files that are parsed and instered into the registry at install time. Insert the following in the [HiveInfs.Fresh] section:
[HiveInfs.Fresh]
AddReg = hivedef.inf,AddReg
AddReg = hivesys.inf,AddReg
AddReg = hivesft.inf,AddReg
AddReg = hivecls.inf,AddReg
AddReg = hiveusd.inf,AddReg
AddReg = dmreg.inf,DM.AddReg
AddReg = usbboot.inf,usbservices
and also in [SourceDisksFiles]
[SourceDisksFiles]
usbboot.inf = 1,,,,,,_x,3,,3
bootvid.dll = 1,,,,,,3_,2,0,0,,1,2
kdcom.dll = 1,,,,,,3_,2,0,0,,1,2
Finally, save and close TXTSETUP.SIF. We are done with it.
6-B) DOSNET.INF
Now, open DOSNET.INF , and change the second [Files] section to look like this:
[Files]
d1,usbboot.inf
d1,_default.pif
d1,12520437.cpx
d1,12520850.cpx
....
6-C) usb.inf
Change the bolded lines in the [StandardHub.AddService] and [CommonClassParent.AddService] sections:
[StandardHub.AddService]
DisplayName = %StandardHub.SvcDesc%
ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
ServiceBinary = %12%\usbhub.sys
LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
[CommonClassParent.AddService]
DisplayName = %GenericParent.SvcDesc%
ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
ServiceBinary = %12%\usbccgp.sys
LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
6-D) usbport.inf
Change the bolded lines in the [EHCI.AddService], [OHCI.AddService] , [UHCI.AddService] and [ROOTHUB.AddService] sections:
[EHCI.AddService]
DisplayName = %EHCIMP.SvcDesc%
ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
ServiceBinary = %12%\usbehci.sys
LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
[OHCI.AddService]
DisplayName = %OHCIMP.SvcDesc%
ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
ServiceBinary = %12%\usbohci.sys
LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
[UHCI.AddService]
DisplayName = %UHCIMP.SvcDesc%
ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
ServiceBinary = %12%\usbuhci.sys
LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
[ROOTHUB.AddService]
DisplayName = %ROOTHUB.SvcDesc%
ServiceType = 1 ; SERVICE_KERNEL_DRIVER
StartType = 0 ; SERVICE_DEMAND_START
ErrorControl = 1 ; SERVICE_ERROR_NORMAL
ServiceBinary = %12%\usbhub.sys
LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
6-E) usbstor.inf
Change / Add the bolded lines in the [USBSTOR.AddService] section
[USBSTOR.AddService]
DisplayName = %USBSTOR.SvcDesc%
ServiceType = 1
StartType = 0
Tag = 3
ErrorControl = 1
ServiceBinary = %12%\USBSTOR.SYS
LoadOrderGroup = Boot Bus Extender
6-F) new file: USBBOOT.INF
Create a new file called USBBOOT.INF in the same directory as your other changed files, and put the following content into it:
[usbservices]
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB Mass Storage Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\USBSTOR.SYS"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR","Type",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Miniport Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbehci.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbehci","Type",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","DisplayName",0x00000000,"USB2 Enabled Hub"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbhub.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbhub","Type",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Microsoft USB Universal Host Controller Miniport Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbuhci.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbuhci","Type",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","DisplayName",0x00000000,"Microsoft USB Open Host Controller Miniport Driver"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","ErrorControl",0x00010001,1
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Group",0x00000000,"System Reserved"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","ImagePath",0x00020000,"system32\DRIVERS\usbohci.sys"
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Start",0x00010001,0
HKLM,"SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\usbohci","Type",0x00010001,1
7) Repack the inf files into their original IN_ format
If you have not already deleted your extracted .IN_ files, do so now. They need to be replaced. Open a DOS shell again, and navigate to the folder with your changed files. Then exceute the following commands:
cabarc n USB.IN_ usb.inf
cabarc n USBPORT.IN_ usbport.inf
cabarc n USBSTOR.IN_ usbstor.inf
The three IN_ files should now exist again.
Congratulations. All out modifications are done.
8) Inject the changed files into the ISO
Open your Windows CD image again with WinISO. Navigate to the I386 folder, and delete the following files from the ISO, saving the changes to the ISO afterwards:
* DOSNET.INF
* TXTSETUP.SIF
* USB.IN_
* USBPORT.IN_
* USBSTOR.IN_
Just to be sure all is updated in the ISO, cloase and repoen the ISO in WinISO. Now, again go to the I386 folder and select "Add Files". Now add your changed files, in detail:
* USBBOOT.INF
* DOSNET.INF
* TXTSETUP.SIF
* USB.IN_
* USBPORT.IN_
* USBSTOR.IN_
Save the ISO. You are done.
9) Burn the ISO back to CD
Feel free to use any burning package you want. I used the free and simple Burnatonce
10) Install Windows XP from the CD
Shut down your computer. Disconnect ANY internal and external hard drives (so Windows cannot find them during installation and mess up their Master Boot Records hehe). Some computers will have trouble to boot without an internal HDD attached, check in your BIOS and, if possible, remove the HDD from the boot sequence and set the USB Harddisk as the first boot device, and the CDROM as second.
Also, now connect your USB Harddrive directly to the computer, without any Hubs in between.
Windows should install just fine, with the exceptions noted below.
Issues you will encounter during installation:
* During driver installation, the USB drivers will prompt you, as they are "not certified" - This is normal. Our changes invalidated the checksum, and therefore the driver is no longer signed. Just press "yes" a couple of times.
* Upon completion of the install, the system will complain once on the first bootup that the pagefile does not exist. You can ignore this for now, as Windows will work fine without it. People are looking at fixing this issue, but its not critical for now.
Once everything is up and running , shut down and reconnect all your drives.
Inside the World's Greatest Keyboard
From the satisfying click of its keys to its no-nonsense layout and solid steel underpinnings, IBM's 24-year-old Model M is the standard by which all other keyboards must be judged.
Inside IBM's Model M Keyboard
Chip Taylor
IBM's Model 5150 PC, released in 1981, was a classic, perhaps the computer most responsible for launching the PC revolution. Sadly, however, its keyboard did not live up to that standard. This 83-key model was IBM's first, and critics hated it, complaining about its awkward layout and nonstandard design. Stung by the criticism, IBM assembled a ten-person task force to craft a new keyboard, according to David Bradley, a member of that task force and of the 5150's design team. Their resulting 101-key design, 1984's Model M, became the undisputed bellwether for the computer industry, with a layout that dominates desktops to this day. As we peek under the hood of this legend, you'll soon see why many consider the Model M to be the greatest keyboard of all time.
Meet the Model M
This is my keyboard. It's just a few months shy of 22 years old, and I use it every day.
The first thing that may strike you about the Model M is the layout: It's so normal. There's no pesky "Windows" key here; nor are there buttons to turn your computer off, play a CD, or start your car. Just the basics, as IBM defined them 24 years ago. Some would say its only flaw is the prominent placement of the Caps Lock key (in lieu of "control" on earlier keyboards). But it's a minor error compared with the modern keyboard's multitude of sins
Beneath the Keycaps
When designing the Model M, IBM engineers thought ahead. Almost every key on the keyboard has an easily removable keycap that allowed the user--or IBM--to easily change the layout or color of the keyboard. This was especially important for IBM's international keyboard releases, which incorporated subtle layout differences from the U.S. version. The keycaps are also durable; the label on each key is molded into the plastic itself, ensuring that it wouldn't wear off with use.
Cable Flexibility
As with the keycaps, the Model M's cable design supports modular extensibility. One 6-pin port on the back of the keyboard (left) allows for a number of configurations, from the traditional 5-pin AT connector seen here (right), to the PS/2 connector, and various IBM terminal connectors. Any compatible connector upgrade is only a new cable away.
The Flip Side
The Model M provides two sturdy, retractable feet on the base of the unit to change the operational angle of the keyboard. The speaker grille you see here is a holdover from an earlier terminal keyboard mold that was used with the Model M--the M contains no speaker.
22 Years of Service
As you can see by this label, IBM manufactured my Model M on August 13th, 1986. That's almost 22 years ago, and the keyboard still gets daily use (I even wrote this article with it). It still feels and sounds just as good as any newer Model M I've used--a powerful testament to its durability and relevance. Stop for a second and consider how many 22-year-old computer parts you still use on a daily basis. Exactly.
Under the Hood
Every keyboard hides a dirty secret: a years-long accumulation of dust, dirt, hairs, crumbs, and whatever else fell between the key cracks. But after splitting open the case, I was surprised at how clean my Model M was, especially when compared with a particularly nasty Apple II+ keyboard. The Model M's design ensures smooth operation even when dirty .
Buckling Springs
They call IBM keyboards "clicky" for a reason: With every keystroke, the keys produce a satisfying click-thunk-click via a patented mechanism called the "buckling-spring actuator." Every key press compresses the key spring until it suddenly snaps against the side of a black plastic cylinder (seen here), producing the "click" sound. Meanwhile, the spring, thus compressed, pushes a tiny pivoting rocker beneath each key that registers the key press on a membrane below.
A Durable Design
The Model M owes its incredible life span not only to its buckling-spring design, but also to the fact that each plastic key covers the only hole leading to the switch below, which in turn is covered by a rubber membrane, making it very hard for dust, dirt, or even liquid to reach the operational core of the keyboard. But cleaning an M is easy. Even under the force of a powerful vacuum cleaner, the small springs you see here don't budge--they're thankfully attached to elements beneath each key.
Built Like a Tank
The Model M is a hefty piece of hardware. Fully assembled, my unit weighs over 5 pounds. A large portion of that weight comes from the solid steel back plate on the bottom of the keyboard assembly (seen here removed from its plastic chassis and flipped over). The weight afforded by the steel is nice; it prevents the unit from sliding around while you're typing. If necessary, the Model M can also function as a battering ram or makeshift ballistic shield.
Also, that's the M's controller board sitting atop the base. You'll see the other side of the controller on the next slide.
The Man Behind the Curtain
Within every Model M is a tiny computer--a Hitachi 6805 microprocessor--that encodes key presses and interfaces with your PC. This board connects to the keyboard assembly via two thin plastic ribbon cables (not pictured), while the big black connector to the upper left receives the 6-pin external keyboard cable we talked about earlier. The white 4-pin connector to the right powers the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock indicator LEDs, and the braided cable to the far left is a grounding wire.
Plastic Armor
Another important component of the Model M's durability is its thick, rugged plastic shell, seen here devoid of any contents. It'll take a sizable beating without cracking, and it won't fly away in a breeze, even when empty. When you put all its components together, the Model M is a formidable keyboard that will serve a user reliably for years.
A Pale Imitation
Let's take a look at the Model M's competition. Here we have a modern, generic, $1-bill-of-materials, Chinese-made keyboard, the kind they toss out as confetti during parades and give away with PC clones as mere afterthoughts in a mouse-centric world. Compared with the tanklike Model M, this fragile, 1.5-pound keyboard is a lightweight (you could easily break it over your knee). Like most modern keyboards, it includes several extraneous keys and buttons that either annoy the seasoned typist or threaten your computer's stability because of the drivers required to make them work.
The No-Click Solution
Unlike the Model M, this keyboard's keys snap into place over silicone-rubber dome switches. The keyboard is very quiet, which can be a plus in certain environments, but it won't last nearly as long as keyboards built on the buckling-spring design. Dome-switch keyboards are also much less expensive to produce than keyboards with more complicated mechanical switches, which is why they dominate the keyboard market today.
Hardly Bulletproof
Here's a look inside a typical modern keyboard. Beneath each key lies a free-floating silicone dome switch that can easily wear out over time or degrade in harsh environments. When depressed, the dome buckles and pushes together two contact-laden plastic membranes, completing the circuit and registering a key press.
For many users, a keyboard like this is probably good enough. After all, if it wears out, it's cheap to replace. But for serious typists, or those who simply appreciate a solid keyboard beneath their fingers, an IBM Model M is, without question, the only way to go.
10 reasons why open source makes sense on smart phones
Open source brings a host of benefits to the mobile market, starting with cost savings. But as Jack Wallen explains, the advantages go much further - from better security to more customization options to more prolific application development.
The mobile industry is getting really interesting. We have finally reached a point where the smart phone is actually smart and the average user can gain serious benefits from its usage. How did this come about? In a word: Competition.
When the iPhone arrived on the scene, users scrambled to get their hands on Apple’s sexy gadget, and competitors scrambled to make a device that would have the same appeal. It’s taken a while, but the competition has arrived. Android phones, Palm Pre, Blackberry Bold — they are all outstanding entries into this market. But two of those entries will, in my opinion, outshine the rest for one simple reason — open source.
1: Open standards
With the iPhone, you do what Apple says, you follow Apple standards, and you use only Apple-approved apps (unless you jailbreak your phone). With both the Android-based phones and the Palm Pre, open standards are not just a bullet point or buzz phrase — open standards will be adhered to. And this appearance will have lasting effects. Software will be easier to develop, Web sites will load as expected (and will be easier to develop for the mobile device), and hardware accessories will be more readily available.
2: More applications
As it stands, the iPhone is the king of the app. It seems for just about everything, Apple has an “app for that.” But as the Android phones and the Pre begin to be more widely used, apps for those phones will multiply exponentially. Why? First, the application development process won’t be crippled by the same acceptance process Apple has. Anytime you want to develop an application for something, Apple will strike you down if it is something already native to the iPhone. You want a different browser on your iPhone? No luck. I look for mobile versions of Firefox and Chrome to both appear on the Pre and the Android-based phones. This will continue until one (or both) app stores surpass the Apple app store.
3: Security
Sooner or later, security is going to become a big issue with mobile computing. Apple has already shown that it can be painfully slow at releasing updates for the iPhone. Because of the open source nature of the competition, updates will not be so slow to arrive. So when a security hole or flaw is found, the update will find its way to the end user much faster. Of course, it’s not really just about the updates. The very foundation of the Pre and the Android phone is Linux based, so it’s going to enjoy a more fundamental security than, say, any of the Windows Mobile phones available. And although mobile phone security has yet to really become a widespread issue, with smart phones becoming the norm, it will be soon enough.
4: Customization
I have been an iPhone owner since the first gen device. One of my biggest beefs with this phone is how little you can customize it. It’s not theme-able. For a device that is supposed to be the pinnacle of hip, this is a setback. With the open source version of the smart phone, you can be sure you will be able to theme and customize it. Sites have already started appearing, such as PIMP My Pre. I know this isn’t a deal breaker for people like IT professionals. But the average user (those who make up the largest demographic of smart phone users) want to be able to make their phones look just the way they want. Will this make the smart phone work better? No. But this sort of functionality will draw users who are interested in pimping out their phones. The Facebook generation will comply.
5: Connectivity
I’m not talking 3G, EDGE, or Wifi — I’m talking about connectivity to your PC. Synching. With the iPhone, you can synch with iTunes and that’s pretty much it. If you’re willing to sign up for Mobile Me, you can then have a roundabout way of synching to your Gmail account. But what about anyone using something outside of iTunes? The Pre will show up on your machine as a standard mass storage device, so drag and drop will be seamless. Because of this, the open source community will be working much magic with various synching options. It will be only a matter of time before the Pre is synching with Evolution and Amarok (or Rhythmbox). And synching will work on nearly any platform. So with the Pre and the Android phones, you will be able to synch with OS X, Windows, and Linux. Cross-platform goodness. Top that Apple and Windows Mobile!
6: Cost
I am already planning a migration over to either an Android-based phone or a Pre as soon as AT&T opens its arms to one (which should be soon). One reason that appeals to me at the moment is cost. The total cost of ownership over a two-month period for the iPhone 3G is $3,799. The TCO for the Android G1 is $3,149. The TCO for the Pre is $2,599. The difference between the iPhone and the Pre is $550, which is approximately $22 per month cheaper. This will allow me to have more than one smart phone in the family. (The wife will be happy about that fact.) And in our current economy, any savings is good savings. How are they able to keep this cost down? No OS upcharges. Why? Open source.
7: Multitasking
This is one of the aspects about the iPhone that bothers me the most. If I am on the EDGE network and I accidentally click the mail button, I can pretty much give up on using my phone for a bit. And I have had a number of occasions when an alarm has canceled a phone call. The iPhone simply can’t multitask. Both the Android and the Pre can. You want to have more than one application open at once, feel free if you’re on the Pre. If you’re on the iPhone, forget it. And let’s face it — we are a society of multitaskers. So why would you want to use the DOS of smart phone OSes? The operating system powering both the Pre and the Android is Linux, and it was created for multitasking and networking.
8: Push Gmail
Most of the Google applications are built right into the Pre OS. Because of this, there will not only be seamless integration but you will be able to have your Google mail delivered to your phone without having to do a single thing. No more having to open up the mail client and wait for your Gmail to download. Now you open up that client and the mail is already there. This feature will also work with the Android phones. Of course, you can have your iPhone check your Gmail frequently so that it seems like Push. And an open source Gmail API (Web Storage Portability Layer) has already been developed. Because of this, the Pre and the Android will enjoy a much richer integration with Gmail. Before long, one (or both) of these phones will have seamless integration with tools like eGroupware and Zimbra.
9: Developers
Do you remember that Verizon commercial where the spokesperson has a massive amount of people with him to represent the Verizon network? You can apply the same analogy to the developer network for the Pre and the Android. The sum total of open source developers across the globe is fairly staggering. Imagine having that collective whole working to create interesting, helpful applications, as well as bettering the total experience with the phone. That is what awaits the smart phone based on open source technology. This model has proven effective on the Linux operating system. When a bug is found, it is patched quickly and efficiently. The same thing should hold true with the Pre and the Android. When you have that many people working toward a common goal, that goal will be reached in a hurry. And you can imagine how the collective open source development community would love to take down the behemoth known as Apple.
10: Creativity
How long do you think it will be before the open source community has created a super-light version of Apache to run on the Pre? Imagine being able to carry your own Web server around with you. How much geek cred will that bring? And it won’t end there. The open source community will find many creative ways to use the Palm Pre. Mail servers, CMSes, network security tools — the possibilities are endless! Soon, you’ll probably see a standard Linux desktop on the device. Hopefully, if someone does manage to do that, they will at least leave the phone feature intact.
Google Voice dialing up for launch
Google is preparing to launch a new service called Google Voice that is built with technology obtained through its 2007 acquisition of Internet telephony company GrandCentral. The Google Voice service gives users a single phone number that can seamlessly route calls to their existing phones. It has its own built-in voicemail service that can be accessed from any phone or through a browser, with GMail-like archiving features for audio messages.
The Google Voice service launched in March for closed testing with a limited audience that consisted of existing GrandCentral users. Google introduced a number of highly impressive features such as automatic message transcription and free SMS delivery. The transcription feature will convert voicemails to text and make them searchable. The service can also automatically forward voicemail transcripts directly to your preferred e-mail account.
There are signs that Google is preparing to open the service to a broader audience. Reports indicate that Google has recently obtained over one million new phone numbers from backbone operator Level 3. PC World speculates that the number grab could be a prelude to the full public launch of Google Voice, but it was unable to get official confirmation from the search giant. There are also reports that Google will offer number portability, enabling consumers to move their existing phone numbers to Google's infrastructure.
Ars recently began testing Google Voice as part of the closed beta program. The service is remarkably powerful and easy to use. It has a number of killer features, such as support for switching between lines during the middle of a call and recording incoming calls by simply pressing a button. Recorded calls and voicemails can be heard directly in the browser through a streaming playback interface and can also be downloaded as MP3 files.
It also offers a simple scheduling system that can be used to control when calls will be routed to specific numbers. For example, you could configure it to direct calls to your work phone during the day and your home phone on evenings and weekends. Google Voice also integrates with your Google address book and allows you to configure different greetings and forwarding destinations for various groups. Call screening is supported with the ListenIn feature, which allows you to hear a voicemail as it is coming in and enter the call by pressing the star key.
The service is off to a good start and already feels relatively mature despite the fact that it hasn't opened broadly to the public yet. Although we're strongly convinced that Google Voice has the potential to be a winner, there are some limitations that detract from its current appeal. The most disappointing bit is that call recording doesn't work on outgoing calls at the present time.
The user interface is consistent with the rest of Google's ecosystem, so it's easy to navigate and very search-centric. The transcription functionality is far from perfect, but it works well enough to consistently convey the gist of a message, if not the exact words. It's a compelling addition to Google's lineup and has the potential to get a lot more interesting as Google integrates its capabilities into its Android smartphone platform.
The Google Voice service launched in March for closed testing with a limited audience that consisted of existing GrandCentral users. Google introduced a number of highly impressive features such as automatic message transcription and free SMS delivery. The transcription feature will convert voicemails to text and make them searchable. The service can also automatically forward voicemail transcripts directly to your preferred e-mail account.
There are signs that Google is preparing to open the service to a broader audience. Reports indicate that Google has recently obtained over one million new phone numbers from backbone operator Level 3. PC World speculates that the number grab could be a prelude to the full public launch of Google Voice, but it was unable to get official confirmation from the search giant. There are also reports that Google will offer number portability, enabling consumers to move their existing phone numbers to Google's infrastructure.
Ars recently began testing Google Voice as part of the closed beta program. The service is remarkably powerful and easy to use. It has a number of killer features, such as support for switching between lines during the middle of a call and recording incoming calls by simply pressing a button. Recorded calls and voicemails can be heard directly in the browser through a streaming playback interface and can also be downloaded as MP3 files.
It also offers a simple scheduling system that can be used to control when calls will be routed to specific numbers. For example, you could configure it to direct calls to your work phone during the day and your home phone on evenings and weekends. Google Voice also integrates with your Google address book and allows you to configure different greetings and forwarding destinations for various groups. Call screening is supported with the ListenIn feature, which allows you to hear a voicemail as it is coming in and enter the call by pressing the star key.
The service is off to a good start and already feels relatively mature despite the fact that it hasn't opened broadly to the public yet. Although we're strongly convinced that Google Voice has the potential to be a winner, there are some limitations that detract from its current appeal. The most disappointing bit is that call recording doesn't work on outgoing calls at the present time.
The user interface is consistent with the rest of Google's ecosystem, so it's easy to navigate and very search-centric. The transcription functionality is far from perfect, but it works well enough to consistently convey the gist of a message, if not the exact words. It's a compelling addition to Google's lineup and has the potential to get a lot more interesting as Google integrates its capabilities into its Android smartphone platform.
MAC OS Keyboard Shortcuts
A keyboard shortcut is a way to invoke a function in Mac OS X by pressing a combination of keys on your keyboard. 
(Command key) - Sometimes called "Apple key"; on Apple keyboards this key also has an Apple logo (
)
(Control key)
(Option key) - "Alt" may also appear on this key
(Shift key)
(Caps Lock) - Toggles Caps Lock on or off
fn (Function key) - Located in the lower left corner of built-in keyboards on portable Macs
To use a keyboard shortcut, or key combination, you press a modifier key with a character key. For example, pressing the Command key (the key with a
A modifier key is a part of many key combinations. A modifier key alters the way other keystrokes or mouse clicks are interpreted by Mac OS X. Modifier keys include: Command, Control, Option, Shift, Caps Lock, and (on portable Macs) the fn key.
Here are the modifier key symbols you can see in Mac OS X menus:
(Command key) - Sometimes called "Apple key"; on Apple keyboards this key also has an Apple logo ()
(Control key)
(Option key) - "Alt" may also appear on this key
(Shift key)
(Caps Lock) - Toggles Caps Lock on or off
fn (Function key) - Located in the lower left corner of built-in keyboards on portable Macs
Startup keyboard shortcuts
Press the key or key combination until the expected function occurs/appears (for example, hold Option during startup until Startup Manager appears, or Shift until "Safe Boot" appears). Tip: If a startup function doesn't work and you use a third-party keyboard, connect an Apple keyboard and try again.
| Key or key combination | What it does
|
| Option | Display all bootable volumes (Startup Manager) |
| Shift | Perform Safe Boot (start up in Safe Mode) |
| C | Start from a bootable disc |
| T | Start in FireWire target disk mode |
| N | Start from NetBoot server |
| X | Force Mac OS X startup (if non-Mac OS X startup volumes are present) |
| Command-V | Start in Verbose Mode |
| Command-S | Start in Single User Mode |
Finder keyboard shortcuts
| Key combination | What it does |
| Command-A | Select all items in the front Finder window (or desktop if no window is open) |
| Option-Command-A | Deselect all items |
| Shift-Command-A | Open the Applications folder |
| Command-C | Copy selected item/text |
| Shift-Command-C | Open the Computer window |
| Command-D | Duplicate selected item |
| Shift-Command-D | Open desktop folder |
| Command-E | Eject |
| Command-F | Find any matching Spotlight attribute |
| Shift-Command-F | Find Spotlight file name matches |
| Option-Command-F | Navigate to the search field in an already-open Spotlight window |
| Shift-Command-G | Go to Folder |
| Shift-Command-H | Open the Home folder of the currently logged-in user account |
| Command-I | Get Info |
| Option-Command-I | Show Inspector |
| Control-Command-I | Get Summary Info |
| Shift-Command-I | Open iDisk |
| Command-J | Show View Options |
| Command-K | Connect to Server |
| Shift-Command-K | Open Network window |
| Command-L | Make alias of the selected item |
| Command-M | Minimize window |
| Option-Command-M | Minimize all windows |
| Command-N | New Finder window |
| Shift-Command-N | New folder |
| Option-Command-N | New Smart Folder |
| Command-O | Open selected item |
| Shift-Command-Q | Log Out |
| Option-Shift-Command-Q | Log Out immediately |
| Command-R | Show original (of alias) |
| Command-T | Add to Sidebar |
| Shift-Command-T | Add to Favorites |
| Option-Command-T | Hide Toolbar / Show Toolbar in Finder windows |
| Shift-Command-U | Open Utilities folder |
| Command-V | Paste |
| Command-W | Close window |
| Option-Command-W | Close all windows |
| Command-X | Cut |
| Option-Command-Y | Slideshow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command-Z | Undo / Redo |
| Command-1 | View as Icon |
| Command-2 | View as List |
| Command-3 | View as Columns |
| Command-4 | View as Cover Flow (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command-, (Command and the comma key) | Open Finder preferences |
| Command-` (the Grave accent key--above Tab key on a US English keyboard layout) | Cycle through open Finder windows |
| Command-Shift-? | Access Mac Help |
| Option-Shift-Command-esc | Force Quit Finder |
| Command-[ | Back |
| Command-] | Forward |
| Command-Up Arrow | Open enclosed folder |
| Control-Command-Up Arrow | Open enclosed folder in a new window |
| Command-Down Arrow | Open highlighted item |
| Command-Tab | Switch application--cycle forward |
| Shift-Command-Tab | Switch application--cycle backward |
| Command-Delete | Move to Trash |
| Shift-Command-Delete | Empty Trash |
| Option-Shift-Command-Delete | Empty Trash without confirmation dialog |
| Spacebar (or Command-Y) | Quick Look (Mac OS X 10.5 or later) |
| Command key while dragging | Move dragged item to other volume/location (pointer icon changes while key is held--see this article) |
| Option key while dragging | Copy dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held--see this article) |
| Option-Command key combination while dragging | Make alias of dragged item (pointer icon changes while key is held--see this article) |
Application and other Mac OS X keyboard commands
Note: Some applications may not support all of the below application key combinations.
| Key combination | What it does |
| Command-Space | Show or hide the Spotlight search field (if multiple languages are installed, may rotate through enabled script systems) |
| Option-Command-Space | Show the Spotlight search results window (if multiple languages are installed, may rotate through keyboard layouts and input methods within a script) |
| Command-Tab | Move forward to the next most recently used application in a list of open applications |
| Shift-Command-Tab | Move backward through a list of open applications (sorted by recent use) |
| Shift-Tab | Navigate through controls in a reverse direction |
| Control-Tab | Move focus to the next grouping of controls in a dialog or the next table (when Tab moves to the next cell) |
| Shift-Control-Tab | Move focus to the previous grouping of controls |
| Command-esc | Open Front Row (if installed) |
| Option-Eject | Eject from secondary optical media drive (if one is installed) |
| Control-Eject | Show shutdown dialog |
| Option-Command-Eject | Put the computer to sleep |
| Control-Command-Eject | Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then restart the computer |
| Control Option-Command-Eject | Quit all applications (after giving you a chance to save changes to open documents), then shut down the computer |
| fn-Delete | Forward Delete (on portable Macs' built-in keyboard) |
| Control-F1 | Toggle full keyboard access on or off |
| Control-F2 | Move focus to the menu bar |
| Control-F3 | Move focus to the Dock |
| Control-F4 | Move focus to the active (or next) window |
| Shift-Control-F4 | Move focus to the previously active window |
| Control-F5 | Move focus to the toolbar. |
| Control-F6 | Move focus to the first (or next) panel |
| Shift-Control-F6 | Move focus to the previous panel |
| Control-F7 | Temporarily override the current keyboard access mode in windows and dialogs |
| F9 | Tile or untile all open windows |
| F10 | Tile or untile all open windows in the currently active application |
| F11 | Hide or show all open windows |
| F12 | Hide or display Dashboard |
| Command-` | Activate the next open window in the frontmost application |
| Shift-Command-` | Activate the previous open window in the frontmost application |
| Option-Command-` | Move focus to the window drawer |
| Command- - (minus) | Decrease the size of the selected item |
| Command-{ | Left-align a selection |
| Command-} | Right-align a selection |
| Command-| | Center-align a selection |
| Command-: | Display the Spelling window |
| Command-; | Find misspelled words in the document |
| Command-, | Open the front application's preferences window (if it supports this keyboard shortcut) |
| Option-Control-Command-, | Decrease screen contrast |
| Option-Control-Command-. | Increase screen contrast |
| Command-? | Open the application's help in Help Viewer |
| Option-Command-/ | Turn font smoothing on or off |
| Shift-Command-= | Increase the size of the selected item |
| Shift-Command-3 | Capture the screen to a file |
| Shift-Control-Command-3 | Capture the screen to the Clipboard |
| Shift-Command-4 | Capture a selection to a file |
| Shift-Control-Command-4 | Capture a selection to the Clipboard |
| Command-A | Highlight every item in a document or window, or all characters in a text field |
| Command-B | Boldface the selected text or toggle boldfaced text on and off |
| Command-C | Duplicate the selected data and store on the Clipboard |
| Shift-Command-C | Display the Colors window |
| Option-Command-C | Copy the style of the selected text |
| Control-Command-C | Copy the formatting settings of the selected item and store on the Clipboard |
| Option-Command-D | Show or hide the Dock |
| Command-Control D | Display the definition of the selected word in the Dictionary application |
| Command-E | Use the selection for a find |
| Command-F | Open a Find window |
| Option-Command-F | Move to the search field control |
| Command-G | Find the next occurrence of the selection |
| Shift-Command-G | Find the previous occurrence of the selection |
| Command-H | Hide the windows of the currently running application |
| Option-Command-H | Hide the windows of all other running applications |
| Command-I | Italicize the selected text or toggle italic text on or off |
| Option-Command-I | Display an inspector window |
| Command-J | Scroll to a selection |
| Command-M | Minimize the active window to the Dock |
| Option-Command-M | Minimize all windows of the active application to the Dock |
| Command-N | Create a new document in the frontmost application |
| Command-O | Display a dialog for choosing a document to open in the frontmost application |
| Command-P | Display the Print dialog |
| Shift-Command-P | Display a dialog for specifying printing parameters (Page Setup) |
| Command-Q | Quit the frontmost application |
| Command-S | Save the active document |
| Shift-Command-S | Display the Save As dialog |
| Command-T | Display the Fonts window |
| Option-Command-T | Show or hide a toolbar |
| Command-U | Underline the selected text or turn underlining on or off |
| Command-V | Paste the Clipboard contents at the insertion point |
| Option-Command-V | Apply the style of one object to the selected object (Paste Style) |
| Option-Shift-Command-V | Apply the style of the surrounding text to the inserted object (Paste and Match Style) |
| Control-Command-V | Apply formatting settings to the selected object (Paste Ruler Command) |
| Command-W | Close the frontmost window |
| Shift-Command-W | Close a file and its associated windows |
| Option-Command-W | Close all windows in the application without quitting it |
| Command-X | Remove the selection and store in the Clipboard |
| Command-Z | Undo previous command (some applications allow for multiple Undos) |
| Shift-Command-Z | Redo previous command (some applications allow for multiple Redos) |
| Control-Right Arrow | Move focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table |
| Control-Left Arrow | Move focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table |
| Control-Down Arrow | Move focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table |
| Control-Up Arrow | Move focus to another value or cell within a view, such as a table |
| Shift-Command-Right Arrow | Select text between the insertion point and the end of the current line (*) |
| Shift-Command-Left Arrow | Select text between the insertion point and the beginning of the current line (*) |
| Shift-Right Arrow | Extend text selection one character to the right (*) |
| Shift-Left Arrow | Extend text selection one character to the left (*) |
| Shift-Command-Up Arrow | Select text between the insertion point and the beginning of the document (*) |
| Shift-Command-Down Arrow | Select text between the insertion point and the end of the document (*) |
| Shift-Up Arrow | Extend text selection to the line above, to the nearest character boundary at the same horizontal location (*) |
| Shift-Down Arrow | Extend text selection to the line below, to the nearest character boundary at the same horizontal location (*) |
| Shift-Option-Right Arrow | Extend text selection to the end of the current word, then to the end of the following word if pressed again (*) |
| Shift-Option-Left Arrow | Extend text selection to the beginning of the current word, then to the beginning of the following word if pressed again (*) |
| Shift-Option-Down Arrow | Extend text selection to the end of the current paragraph, then to the end of the following paragraph if pressed again (*) |
| Shift-Option-Up Arrow | Extend text selection to the beginning of the current paragraph, then to the beginning of the following paragraph if pressed again (*) |
| Control-Space | Toggle between the current and previous input sources |
| Option-Control-Space | Toggle through all enabled input sources |
| Command-Left Arrow | Change the keyboard layout to current layout of system script |
| Command-Right Arrow | Change the keyboard layout to current layout of Roman script |
| Option-Command-esc | Force Quit |
(*) Note: If no text is selected, the extension begins at the insertion point. If text is selected by dragging, then the extension begins at the selection boundary. Reversing the direction of the selection deselects the appropriate unit.
Universal Access - VoiceOver keyboard commands
| Key combination | What it does |
| Command-F5 or
fn Command-F5 | Turn VoiceOver on or off |
| Control Option-F8 or
fn Control Option-F8 | Open VoiceOver Utility |
| Control Option-F7 or
fn Control Option-F7 | Display VoiceOver menu |
| Control Option-;
or fn Control Option-; | Enable/disable VoiceOver Control Option-lock |
| Option-Command-8 or
fn Command-F11 | Turn on Zoom |
| Option-Command-+ | Zoom In |
| Option-Command- - (minus) | Zoom Out |
| Option-Control-Command-8 | Invert/revert the screen colors |
| Control Option-Command-, | Reduce contrast |
| Control Option-Command-. | Increase contrast |
Note: You may need to enable "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard keys" in Keyboard preferences for the VoiceOver menu and utility to work.
Universal Access - Mouse Keys
When Mouse Keys is turned on in Universal Access preferences, you can use the keyboard or numeric keypad keys to move the mouse pointer. If your computer doesn't have a numeric keypad, use the Fn (function) key.
| Key combination | What it does |
| 8 | Move Up |
| 2 | Move Down |
| 4 | Move Left |
| 6 | Move Right |
| 1 | Move Diagonally Bottom Left |
| 3 | Move Diagonally Bottom Right |
| 7 | Move Diagonally Top Left |
| 9 | Move Diagonally Top Right |
| 5 | Press Mouse Button |
| 0 | Hold Mouse Button |
| . (period on number pad) | Release Hold Mouse Button |
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