How to Root the HTC Hero with Windows 7

Hi folks,

as I wanted to install the HTC Hero on my Windows 7 workstation, I encountered some issues installing the ADB driver. So I searched for a solution and finally figured out how to root the Hero on a Windows 7 machine.

In order to get HTC Hero synchronizes with Windows 7 computer:

1. Download the latest version of HTC’s sync tool for the HTC hero (HTCsync)
2. Install the downloaded program on your machine. At this moment, your computer is still not capable of  recognizing the HTC Hero, so don’t panic.
3. Manually update the HTC respectively ADB drivers, using the Windows Vista drivers.

To install Vista drivers just download one of the archives below either for Windows 7 32-bit or Windows 7 64-bit. Extract the archive to C:/Program Files/HTC/HTC Drivers/Vista_x86 or C:/Program Files/HTC/HTC Drivers/Vista_x64. Afterwards go to the device manager. Hit Start and Pause on your keyboard or do a right click on your computer icon and select preferences. There you can select the device manager on the left side of the window.

Now, on the top of the list, you find an icon ADB marked with a yellow exclamation mark, named ADB. Right click on the icon and update drivers. Perform a manual update by choosing the folder where you just extracted the drivers. The device will install now. Unplug and Replug your HTC Hero again and the drivers will be updated and you are able to use the sync tool.
HTC Driver for Windows 7 (32-bit)

HTC Driver for Windows 7 (64-bit)

Lucas Arts Adventure Revival

Already 20 years ago,  Star Wars and Lucas Arts could have created a game in the style of Indiana Jones or Monkey Island. Unfortunately, Lucas Arts did not develope one. But now, 20 years later a fan took care of this topic.

Stacy Davidson is a bi fan of the classical Lucas Arts adventures and she loves Star Wars. If nobody – however for what reason – is interested in developing a Star Wars adventure, it is time to do it on your own, thought Stacy and started the work on Han Solo Adventures that should remind people of the cool oldschool games with Indiana Jones, but only with Han Solo instead of Indy as main actor. That’s the reason how Han Solo Adventures was born. Now the first screenshots and a video appeared. Up to know Lucas Arts was not quite happy about fan projects like this one but we are hoping that Stacy is allowed to finish her work.

ar Wars und LucasArts – das hätte schon vor 20 Jahren geniale Adventures á la Indiana Jones oder Monkey Island geben können. Gab es aber nicht. Jetzt hat sich ein Fan der Sache angenommen.

Intel Atom Processor Developer Program for Mobile Devices to Spur New Wave of Applications

To encourage the creation of innovative applications for Intel® Atom™ processor-based products, Intel Corporation today launched the Intel® Atom™ Developer Program for independent software vendors (ISVs) and developers.The program provides a framework for developers to create and sell software applications for netbooks with support for handhelds and smart phones available in the future. Through the program, developers seeking to reduce overhead and streamline the creation of new applications may also license development tools and application modules directly from other independent developers and ISVs.

“We want to fuel the growth of Intel Atom-based products designed for the mobile lifestyle,” said Renee James, corporate vice president and general manager, Intel Software and Services Group. “The netbook has become one of the most popular consumer devices in the market today, but its true potential has been limited by applications that are not optimized for its mobility and smaller screen size. The Intel Atom Developer Program provides a great opportunity for developers to create useful and inventive applications that will unlock a netbook’s potential while opening a new sales and distribution channel.”

To provide the broadest choice of applications across platforms, the Intel Atom Developer Program will support multiple operating systems and run-time environments. Run-times enable developers to use a single code base to support multiple device platforms and avoid extensive reprogramming, thereby reducing development costs and time-to-market. Run-times such as Microsoft Silverlight allow developers to access multiple classes of customers and deliver rich applications for Windows and Moblin-based environments using a single toolset, Visual Studio and the .NET Framework.

“Using Silverlight’s cross-device, cross-browser, cross-platform technology, developers will be able to write applications once and have them run on Windows and Moblin devices – expanding the reach of Silverlight applications to more consumers, regardless of whether the device they’re using is a PC, TV or phone,” said Ian Ellison Taylor, general manager, Microsoft Client Platforms and Tools.

“The Adobe Flash Platform enables developers to create and deliver the most compelling applications, content and video to the widest possible audience,” said David Wadhwani, general manager and vice president, Adobe Platform Business Unit. “We expect the Intel Atom Developer Program will be a great way for the flash platform community developing on Adobe AIR to monetize their AIR applications and we are working closely with Intel to deliver the necessary technology to enable this opportunity on the Atom platform in the future.”

The program offers a streamlined and transparent process that will take the developer from application creation through testing and, finally, to the go-to-market stage. Intel is working with netbook original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other partners to create application storefronts through which validated applications will be sold.

“Customer adoption of our Intel Atom-based netbooks is exceeding our expectations,” said Jim Wong, president, Acer IT Products Global Operations. “Acer is excited to see Intel’s effort in bringing new and innovative applications to netbooks and will use the Intel Atom Developer Program framework to open an application storefront.”

“The Intel Atom Developer Program is an integral element of providing a holistic netbook experience for our customers,” said S.Y. Shian, vice president and general manager, Asus System Business Group. “Asus sees this new development model as an opportunity to encourage developers and ISVs. Asus plans to offer an application store based on this framework in order to make exciting applications available to our customers.”

“Dell is passionate about providing value for developers,” said John Thode, vice president, Dell Small Devices. “The Intel Atom Developer Program will open a new world of innovation and business opportunity for developers and we look forward to working with Intel to foster the creation of exciting new Windows and Moblin-based netbook applications.”

Developers can learn more about the program, APIs, validation process and application store framework through appdeveloper.intel.com. Applications for ISV and software developer memberships are currently being accepted. Members will be given access to tools and resources that will aid the pre-development process. The Intel Atom Developer Program software development kits will be available to members in late fall.

Future Prospects: Mobile VoIP Could Transform Mobile Landscape

Mobile VoIP is moving beyond its initial function as a new mechanism to get inexpensive international calls, reports In-Stat. While Mobile VoIP still poses a direct threat to operator voice revenue, it also represents a dynamic new capability that promises numerous applications. In-Stat projects that by 2013 Mobile VoIP applications will generate annual revenues of $32.2 billion, driven by over 278 million registered users worldwide.One new application integrates Mobile VoIP into a unified mobile interface to social networking sites. In another new development, MVNOs and 3G operators without legacy networks are using Mobile VoIP to more cost effectively add voice to data offerings. In yet another scenario, a few carriers are using a form of Mobile VoIP, UMA, to support better indoor coverage and off-load macro networks.

“Applications such as Skype and Vonage have influenced users to think of voice as a data application,” says Frank Dickson, In-Stat analyst. “The increasing penetration of Wi-Fi in mobile devices was the beach head that Mobile VoIP applications needed. As user habits are being shaped by rich on-line communication experiences, mobile carriers control over devices and data applications is waning. Mobile carrier attempts to slow the spread of on-line Mobile VoIP are proving challenging as well.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• Activities associated with early Mobile VoIP successes are likely to influence LTE operator voice plans in ways that potentially favor IMS.

• While the EMEA region has more Mobile VoIP related revenue currently, Asia Pacific will be the largest regional market by 2013.

• Dual-mode handsets will approach nearly 400 Million units shipped in 2013.

• Revenue and users associated with Mobile VoIP will be distributed among online Mobile VoIP services, 3G-Based Mobile VoIP offerings, and WiMAX/LTE Mobile VoIP offerings.

The research, “Mobile VoIP—Transforming the Future of Wireless Voice” (#IN0904428MCM), covers the worldwide market for mobile VoIP. It includes:

• Analysis of VoIP’s impact on the mobile market.

• Forecasts for Mobile VoIP-associated revenue by region through 2013.

• Forecasts for Mobile VoIP users and annual usage by region through 2013.

• Profiles of Mobile VoIP start ups: Fring, JAJAH, Nimbuzz, Vopium, Yego, and Defi Mobile.

• Profiles of VoIP providers: Skype, Google, Vyke, and Freshtel Holdings; and MVNO/MVNES: Zer01 Communications, Truphone.

• Profiles of WiMAX providers: Scartel, Clearwire, and KT Networks, and of mobile carriers: T-Mobile, Cincinnati Bell, Rogers Wireless, and Orange.

Bootleg Report: Where They Come From and Why People Use Them

Where does a bootleg come from? The answer to this question is shown in the pyramid above. The picture demonstrates the way a bootleg goes before it reaches a “customer”. The root of a bootleg is in most of the cases a single person but never an organization. As supplier devlared is any person that provides illegal material for example screeners or games. The raw material is transmitted to so called release groups. Anyhow, release group is not an appropriate name since release groups do not release anything. Release groups convert received materials like analog video tapes to a digital version of the illegal copy and put the byte stream on a server. The location of these servers are well kept secrets and they are known by the release groups only.

Most of the release group members are just consumer and do not provide any materials to third persons. Other members share stuff like the devil was behind them. That’s how the bootleg reaches the real “consumer” and is uploaded to file sharing networks or illegal download servers. There it is accessible for anybody who knows how a search engine like Google works, or Edonkey, or Kazaa or whatever they are called.

At this point to massburning just a small step is left: A person that downloads illegal content normally burns the material to CD or DVD and “borrows” the media to a colleague and the colleague “borrows” another colleague and the bootleg goes around.

Customer Details

Nobody will never be able to answer the question whether bootlegs harm the gaming industry. Is it possible that software pirates are potential customers? Maybe!

Following reasons for playing bootlegs exist:

• A demo version of the game does not exist, despite gamers want to test them
• An original game does not provide bonus material compared to a bootleg
• Products are often released to early. They have a minor quality and they are buggy.
• Registration of an original game requires presonal data that a user does not want to transmit.
• Sharing and Resale is often not possible
• Software pirating is often seen as bagatelle (almost everybody does it)

Whether a pirate becomes customer or not varies according to the quality of the product.

CamBuddy: Photo manipulation on Android 1.5

CamBuddy - Restyle your pictures

In the publication section you can find now a download link to a project of my girlfriend Larissa and her colleague Matthias. The application represents an image manipulation software that can be installed on any device featuring Android (Cupcake 1.5) such as the Google G1, HTC Magic or HTC Hero. The project was selected to be one of the winners of the Austroid contest featured by T-Mobile Austria. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.