Saturday, December 18, 2010

Rooted and Flashed

I finally went for it and rooted my HTC Eris and Flashed a new ROM  / Updated OS onto it last night! It turned out to be easier than expected.  I just downloaded the 1-click root app and installed it on my phone. Then downloaded the ROM I was interested in / had been following for a while.  Then copied the zip file to my phone, powered it off and rebooted it while holding the up volume and power button at the same time.  This gives you a menu for making backups, wiping the internal storage, & flashing a new ROM from the SD card.  After making a backup I wiped the internal storage, and flashed the new Android 2.2.1 Tazz Froyo build to the phone.  Now I'm wishing I had done this sooner!  The phone runs faster, is more responsive, and I have all the new features in 2.2 that I didn't have in 2.1.  Mainly voice commands, vastly improved battery life, moving apps to the SD card form the limited internal memory, Tethering, and improved features in many apps that weren't available in 2.1.  Since my phone is out of warranty and wasn't going to get any new OS updates from Verizon, this was my only option to get the new features until my contract runs out.

Now I can wait for the end of my contract and not be missing out on the new OS features.  I see 2.3 Gingerbread is already out and developers are making new builds.  In a few months I might try the new version!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Body Browser by Google Labs

Check out this great demo of WebGL & HTML5. The technology is less interesting than the usefulness for study of the human body and it's various systems! Zoom in and turn on the labels. Click on muscles and organs to isolate them...

Body Browser - Google Labs

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Simon's Cat in 'Santa Claws'


Love these. This is what our cat does at night while we sleep. Check out his whole series.