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(Update: Instructions for connecting via the DKU2 cable now at the end of the post.)
This is how I made the GPRS Internet connection working from my Ubuntu Dapper laptop via a Nokia 9300 and Bluetooth. I found this info on an Ubuntu forums thread, kudos go to emperon:

1. Have a working bluetooth setup.
2. hcitool scan gives you your phone’s BD address. Make a note of this.
3. sdptool search DUN will show you the appropriate channel to use. Make a note of this.
4. Check that you have a 4-number code in /etc/bluetooth/pin unless your phone and the machine are very friendly already. Your phone may ask for this number later.
5. Type rfcomm bind /dev/rfcomm0 X:X:X:X:X:X YY (where X:X:X:X:X:X is the BD address and YY is the channel number).
6. Type rfcomm and check that the channel is either “clear” or “closed”.
7. Create /etc/ppp/peers/gprs with the following contents:
   /dev/rfcomm0
connect ‘/usr/sbin/chat -v -f /etc/ppp/peers/gprs.chat’
noauth
defaultroute
usepeerdns
lcp-echo-interval 65535
debug
8. Create /etc/ppp/peers/gprs.chat with the following contents:
   TIMEOUT 15
ECHO ON
HANGUP ON
‘’ AT
OK ATZ
OK ATD*99*#
(NOTE: *99*# above is the number to call. This one works for Sonera in Finland and many other providers, but call your friendly provider helpdesk and make sure you have the correct one.)
9. Initiate bluetooth pairing between your phone and the computer.
10. Make the call: sudo pppd call gprs
11. Surf away!

Here’s instructions for connecting via the DKU2 cable supplied with the 9300. Cables are uncool and sometimes get in the way, but the procedure is simpler. This info comes mostly from gr0kzer0 in another forum thread:

1. Install wvdial.
2. Connect the cable.
3. Run wvdialconf /etc/wvdial.conf
4. Edit the /etc/wvdial.conf just created. Look at the last four lines, we edit the Phone, Password and Username lines (the username and password are bogus ones. wvdial wants non-empty ones but you can enter Batman’s credentials there if you like), and additionally force the modem into Stupid Mode.
   [Dialer Defaults]
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = USB Modem
Baud = 460800
New PPPD = yes
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0
ISDN = 0
Phone = *99#
Password = foo
Username = bar
Stupid Mode = 1
   (NOTE: Again try to find a suitable phone number)
5. Now you should be able to dial out with wvdial or GNOME PPP.

Technorati Tags: gprs, linux, bluetooth, nokia, howto

The European Commission has finally clarified the European software patent issue once and for all. Software clearly is either patentable or not patentable, depending on your opinion and on the size of your business. You can get a software patent filed at the European Patent Office, and somebody with enough money for the lawsuit can then ask the European Court of Justice to invalidate the patent on the grounds that it describes a piece of software.

So this means that dominant tech companies can add software patents to their patent portfolios in order to ensure their dominance just like in the US, and small tech companies are free to go bankrupt while fighting in court for their right to do business and innovate in Europe.

Not confused enough yet? Let Yahoo! News try and explain:
EC: Software is not patentable - Yahoo! UK & Ireland News

Technorati Tags: software patents

This must be the ultimate tip of the day. I know many people who sweat trying to clean their whiteboards, accidentally stained with permanent marker.  WikiHow has the HOWTO:

1. Get the board you want the stuff off.
2. Get a dry erase marker (yes, we will make marks to take marks) and a dry eraser.
3. Draw over what you want to erase (make sure you draw slowly to fill it in better).
4. Erase.
5. Done!

I haven’t tried this yet, but soon will since my whiteboard is in a pretty sorry state. :)
(Via Lifehacker.com)

Today’s updates brought some things that make it seem like Ubuntu Dapper is finalizing: neither login messages, release identificators, nor the artwork advertises Dapper’s beta status anymore, the system default look is awesome, and everything works as advertised.

What better way to celebrate the official release of Dapper on June 1st than remember old times? Matt has made the artwork from all previous Ubuntu releases parallel installable, so if you feel nostalgic, you can use the Warty theme and wallpaper.

Technorati Tags: ubuntu, debian

I’ve uploaded packages of GNOME phone manager, LyX 1.4, REOBack and Finnish dict dictionaries on the new packages page. Enjoy.

Technorati Tags: debian, software

Ubuntu Breezy users can now upgrade to Dapper more easily than ever. (Actually, someone who isn’t comfortable with the standard Debian dist-upgrade method shouldn’t upgrade before Dapper stabilizes on June 1st, but the method is already there.) I don’t think any other operating system is this easy to upgrade. Daniel shows us how in his blog:
daniel.holba.ch/blog » Blog Archive » Upgrading to Ubuntu 6.06

Technorati Tags: ubuntu, debian

Microsoft has published the hardware requirements for Windows Vista, scheduled for release perhaps sometime this century. A “Vista Capable PC” must have a 800MHz processor and 512M RAM, and a DirectX 9  capable video card. If you want any of the goodies in the new Aero interface, you must have a 1GHz processor, 1G RAM, and 128M of video RAM.

Most consumer-level laptops don’t meet those requirements, and I wonder if companies will run to upgrade all their machines in order to deliver the Aero eye candy to all their office workers.

I wonder if the good old alliance between Microsoft and hardware manufacturers will still work. “What kind of stuff would you like to sell the suckers this year? We’ll be happy to make software that requires it.”

Technorati Tags: vista, digital-divide

Since the gnome-phone-manager-0.6 on dapper is broken, I built a package from the latest 0.7 sources. Since I know someone might be insterested in a working phone manager, I’ve uploaded the package on Box.net. My package works, but not perfectly of course: you’ll have to make a link in /usr/share/gnome-phone-manager to the phone icon or the phone manager will crash upon startup. So after you install the package do “sudo ln -s /usr/share/pixmaps/cellphone.png /usr/share/gnome-phone-manager” and enjoy. As always, there’s no guarantee and if my packages break your system or are found eating children on the midnight streets, don’t bother me.

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