Dictionaries and language reference on the road

(updated on 2013)

Best of reference and translation dictionaries for some of the following operating systems:
PalmOS, Android, MacOSX, Windows and  Linux

PalmOS


Although I always used my Maemo "PDA" to read reference information, in the last weeks I have been doing an intensive use of languages dictionaries in my PalmOS phone, and I realized that the applications/databases I was using had lacks in some aspects, I decided to found solution for my requirements, specifically phonetic symbols and pronunciation sound.



On the other hand, is possible to have and read Wikipedia in your device, there is no price for this free(as freedom as well) encyclopaedia, but your its utility is incalculable.





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 DictionaryForMids (Android v0.92.2)
(MID=Mobile Information Device)

Amazing open source and multiplatform dictionary software.

Available for platforms supporting JAVA ME or SE such as Nokia, Blackberry, SymbianOS or PalmOS (with IBM MIDP SW)


-Supports phonetic symbols
-Colored dictionaries

 Recognize:
.jar (dictionaries in jar files)

 http://dictionarymid.sourceforge.net
 http://dictionarymid.sourceforge.net/android.html




Colordict  4.1.8 (Android)
Compatible with:
Dictd .index/.dict(.dz)



No compatible with:
Stardict format using (.idx, .oft files)
lingoes (.ld2)
aar files

Copy dictionaries in folder:

internal SD/dictdata

to force reindex, delete dict folder in   /dictdata
Delete:
Phone\Android\obb\com.socialnmobile.colordict




Stardict (Maemo/Window/Linux/MacOS 10.5)
****Windows Stardict 3.0.4 **


****Windows Stardict 3.0.3 **Technical info:
-Dictionary folders inside:
\StarDictPortable303\App\StarDict\dic\stardict-dict
or (unzip/installed version)
C:\Users\xx\AppData\Local\StarDict

-Config file with dictionaries info:
.\StarDictPortable303\Data\settings\stardict\stardict.cfg (ver. portable)
or
C:\Users\xxxxx\AppData\Roaming\StarDict\stardict.cfg (No portable - Window)
-Dictionary description inside xxxxx.ifo
-Prerecorded Sound for some words using WybdcRealTTS (version 3.0.2 is not working for me)


GoldenDict (Maemo/Window/Linux/Android ) gpl
The evolution of Stardict, supports Babylon dictionaries, ABBYY Lingvo LSA audio files.
Recognize:
Babylon .BGL
Dictd .index/.dict(.dz)


Notes on Maemo:
madplay (to play WybdcRealTTS audio files)
mplayer (to play Lingvo LSA audio files)


Notes on Windows:
  v100, v101
  Not works with Stardict format using (.idx, .oft files)

  Portable version: Dictionaries under ./content/ directory
  Installed version. Config files in   C:\Users\xxx\AppData\Roaming\GoldenDict


Notes on Android (v1.4.1):
   Default folder: \goldendict (db will be indexed)
   Free version max 5 dictionaries at same time
   Folder(additional) for dictionaries can be specified in preferences (i.e  \dictdata)
   Supported formats:

QuickDic (Android -free -f-droid)
own format;extension .quickdic
Default Path: /mnt/sdcard/Android/data/de.reimardoeffinger.quickdic/files

My CustomPath: ¿working?
/mnt/sdcard/external_sd/SD_DATOS/quickdic/files




Qdict (Android)
Stardict format files
/mnt/sdcard/Qdict
(BB10 Android RT) Custom folder is not working but default folder works
/misc/Android/Qdict


MDict (Android)
Read .mdx file format

From:
Default Path:  /mnt/sdcard/mdict/
(BB10 Android RT) /misc/Android/mdict/

My CustomPath: /mnt/sdcard/external_sd/SD_DATOS/mdict




Kiwix
 .zim files (wikipedia, wikivoyage,...)
 folder is detected (i.e /kiwix_sd)



Aard (Android/Maemo/Windows)
Just aar and html.aar formats (support big files as wikipedia, wikivoyage,...)

Any folder in SD, open the dictionary file from an file browser and Aar will detect and save the locations.

Aard1 uses .aard files

Aard2  Android/BB10 runtime
Select a folder with contents

Aard2 uses .slob files












Dictionaries and databases



Download dictionaries from:

XDXF
and dictionaries with phonetic can be downloaded from http://code.google.com/p/ppdict/downloads/list

In desktop OS such as Linux, MacOS, or Windows, compatibility with database format is an important feature since there are many free language databases in different formats such as:
DICT (filenames .index and .dict (.dict.dz =compressed)
Startdict (filenames xx.if, xx.idx, xx.idx.gz, xx.dict or xx.dict.dz, xx.syn(optional)
)
XDXF (XML Dictionary eXchange Format)
Babylon, SDICT,...






We have other interesting applications for MacOSX

Dict OS X
Translate it

Improve Maemo step by step

Firmware

Settings, Control panel, About Product
(N800/810 last ver. v5.2008.43-7)

Download from:
http://bb5firmware.blogspot.se/2011/04/n800-rx-34.html


Add repositories 
Settings, Application manager, Tools, Application catalogue


Install repositories from
http://www.gronmayer.com/it/


or create by hand

Maemo Chinook
http://repository.maemo.org/
chinook | free non-free

diablo tools
http://repository.maemo.org
diablo/tools
free non-free
 
Maemo Hackers
http://maemo-hackers.org/apt

I hope they continue available in the future...

Install tools

rootsh (with application manager closed -deprecated method) 
or 
sudo gainroot  (new method)
apt-get update
apt-get install wget
apt-get update
apt-get install e2fsprogs



Note for file downloads
Internet browser downloads to
/home/user/MyDocs/.documents
(hidden folder from commandline)


Gparted
Download and install Gparted - Hacked
Manage partitions from a graphical interface

gparted-hack.deb (for N800/N810)
Open and install with Application manager or save to local folder( i.e Documents) and install with dpkg -i 

http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=24679&page=3


Install important packages
apt-get install python2.5-runtime

EmelFM2 (file explorer and file editor)


Install console-tools
http://talk.maemo.org/showthread.php?t=25714 (links console-tools.deb offline!!)
This installs also: fdisk - parted - cfdisk - wget - tar - bzip2 - e2fsprogs
Use with command 'pbeasy', or 'pb' advanced mode.


Backup Firmware (0pen Free Fiasco Firmware Flasher)


DOwnload "0xffff" v0.3.9 from
http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=654646&postcount=3

0xFFFF.static.gz

(in order to execute the file 0xFFFF.static, you must copy it to a folder in the main partition (Not FAT/FAT32))


cp 0xFFFF.static.gz /usr/local/sbin
cd /usr/local/sbin
gunzip 0xFFFF.static.gz
chmod +x 0xFFFF.static
mkdir /media/mmc2/mybackup0xfff
sudo ./0xFFFF.static -e /media/mmc2/mybackup0xfff/




Now you have some new files in /media/mmc2/mybackup0xfff
config.bin
initfs.jffs2
rootfs.jffs2
secondary.bin
xloader.bin
zImage

you can put in one tar file.

tar -cf /media/mmc2/myN810backup.tar .
(for me it is a 262Mb file)
And I copied the file to my PC

Notes:
To extract from tar file
tar -xvf myN810backup.tar

Partioning SD
sfdisk /dev/mmcblk0 -uM
0, 1900,06
,,,

0=begin
1900=end (MB)
06=fat
default=linux

verify with  sfdisk -l

format fat: mkdosfs /dev/mmcblk0

Add boot from SD
Download  initfs_flasher.tgz 
mkdir bin
and copy in /home/user/bin
tar zxvf initfs_flasher.tgz
cd  initfs_flasher
edit bootmenu.conf

./initfs_flasher
remove extra staff?: yes
install telnet for recovery? : yes
dropbear ssh for recovery? yes
(automatic reboot loading from flash )

Clone to SD

download script nupgrade.sh
and copy in /home/user/bin
grant execution rights with: chmod -x nupgrade.sh
( As script requires to find tar app file in same folder,
cp /bin/tar /home/user/bin )

sudo gainroot
./nupgrade.sh wipe

target p2? yes
reboot

if error "Unable to locate mbcache.ko - aborting"
copy /mnt/initfs/lib/modules/2.6.21-omap1/mbcache.ko  /lib/modules/2.6.21-omap1


Useful Links
repositories
http://www.gronmayer.com/it/

hacking Tomtom

Tomtom GO 530
Hardware:
4.3" 16:9 480 × 272 pixels
SiRF starIII
400 MHz
64 MB
Bluetooth
FM radio
internal Mem
1 GB
SD external
2GB

Current Maps:
Iberia v8.75_3613
UK and Ireland v8.75_3613
France: v8.75_3613 (external SD)

Previous Iberia:830.2305

Rename Maps for TomTom Menu. Edit 1st line of pna file and change name or add version.
ID=Iberia.pna to ID=Iberia_955.pna

Keep historic
Copy MapSettings.cfg from previous map

Current Firmware:
Bootloader 55120
Linux ver.315187
Navcore=8.351 (9982/0905518)

Acronyms of Maps
TTS, Text to Speech, detailed driving instructions are provided using computer voices. The instructions include distances, road-names, directions to major cities, etc.
ALG is Advanced Lane Guidance. This comes in two parts. Part one are lane-use instructions for large intersections on screen, at the same location that is used for turn-left/right instructions. Part two are splash screens with a sort of very simple windscreen view.
ASR is Assisted Speech Recognition, where you can enter an address by talking to your TT.
C-speech are the files in the map needed for ASR.
Voice Control: TT control with one tap on the screen and your voice commands. (Requires a working TTS voice)
IQ routes is a planning system using real average speeds instead of maximum speed on a road. For this the map contains tables with the average speeds for the 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.


Compatibilities
*** Go 530 ***
Navcore 8.203.9717 [Reinicio 5.5106]
Navcore 8.301 [Reinicio 5.5106 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.302 [Reinicio 5.5106 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.320.9901 [Reinicio 5.5022 - 5.5122 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.350.9980 [Reinicio 5.5120 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.351.9982 [Reinicio 5.5120 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.410 [Reinicio 5.5106 - 5.5122 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.413.1237 [Reinicio 5.5120 - 8.0012]

*** ONE v.1 ***
Navcore 8.203 [Reinicio 5.5106 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.204 [Reinicio 5.5001 - 5.5010 - 5.5012 - 5.5015 - 5.5105 - 5.5106 - 5.5112 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.300 [Reinicio 5.5015 - 5.5105]
Navcore 8.320.9901 [Reinicio 5.5022 - 5.5106]
Navcore 8.410.1218 [Reinicio 5.5105 - 5.5106 - 5.5112 - 8.0012]
Navcore 8.412.1236 [Reinicio 5.5105]
Navcore 8.413.1237 [Reinicio 5.0500 - 8.0012]

Software for Tomtom:
-Tomplayer 0.2.30 (multimedia player)
-TTMaps 0.4.3 (offroad maps)
(Maps in \ttmaps\maps)
-TomBox 1.0(480x272) (games and apps)


Apps in external SD
copy \SdkRegistry files in internal SD
Edit .cap file and modify the line with path
e.g.
AppPath|/mnt/sdcard/tomplayer/|
by
AppPath|/mnt/movinand/tomplayer/|




Other  apps/webs
http://gpsunderground.com/
https://www.laradiobbs.net
http://www.tomtomheaven.com
http://www.tomplayer.net
http://jrepetto.free.fr/ttmaps

Mobile devices: data folders path

* Modification of the default folder path.

Maemo

-Documents
/home/user/MyDocs/.documents
(hidden folder from commandline)

-Email/Modest
/home/user/.modest
-Stardict
media/mmc1/stardict/dic
media/mmc1/WyabdcRealPeopleTTS\en
-Gpodder
media/mmc2/gpodder
-Mnemosyne
/home/user/MyDocs/.documents/mnemosyne
-Maemo Mapper
/home/user/MyDocs/.documents/Maps
/media/mmc/DATA *
-Map Wayfinder
/media/mmc/map
-System Backup/restore
/media/mmc1/backups
/media/mmc2/backups
-RSS feed reader
/home/user/.osso_rss_feed_reader
-BootMenu
/media/mmc2/bootmenu.conf
-Garnet VM
/home/user/.gvm
-Internet Radio (radio channels)
/home/user/.mediaplayer-engine

PalmOS
-2TrackMe
SD \PALM\Programs\WintecTool\Maps
-PathAway
SD \PathAway
-RescoBackup
SD \PALM\Backups\Default
-Slovoed (Dicts)
SD \PALM\SlovoEd
-Metro
SD \PALM\Programs\metro
-Mobipocket reader
SD \ebooks
-Beiks Bdicty (Dicts)
SD \beiks
-Resco Neews
SD \PALM\Programs\RNews
-Roadlingua reader
SD \PALM\Launcher
-Tomeraider
SD \PALM\Launcher
-Tube2
SD \PALM\Launcher

MacOSX
-Dict OS X
Library/Application Support/Dic OS X
-Dictionary
Library/Dictionaries
-Translate It!
/Users/xx/Library/Application Support/Translate It!(package)

Linux in your old Ibook PPC

After use many times Ubuntu as Live CD or running Linux apps with Fink and MacPorts. I decided to have Linux and MacOS X installed in the Harddrive.

Therefore I don't want to do a clean installation, I have to resize my partitions to free space for Linux partition/s.

I will install a quiet recent Ubuntu 10.4PPC from CD.

1- Resize and move HFS partition with "ipartition" from a MacOS Live CD.

note1:
You must have the free space at the begin instead of the end of the HD,
if you have the free space at the end of HD, Linux will not see correctly your partition table

note2:
Power users also can do this task from a Linux CD using the application "parted" from command line because the graphical Gparted can't.
The command should as:
>parted /dev/hdX resize (partition number) (start location) (end location)
*1

2-Boot from Ubuntu CD
Press "C" key on the Apple boot
Write "live" to load Ubuntu in RAM







*1:
These lines can be important, dependin:
turn off journaling on Mac partition?
cd /Volumes/
ls
sudo diskutil enableJournal Macintosh\ HD/
sudo diskutil disableJournal Macintosh\ HD/
?

*2:




Comments:
-Ubuntu 10.10PPC is available and above procedure is useful for this version as well.

Interesting webs about Linux on Mac:

http://www.mintppc.org/
http://mac.linux.be/content/apple-powerpc-wiki
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/PowerPC
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/10.04/release/

Back to the past: Panther or 10.3.9

After many years using Tiger, the destiny have forced me to go back to the past and to use Panther for some days, while I take more memory for this laptop.

Find useful and lightweight apps isn't a easy task, since this OS is abandoned for the most of users and isn't supported by Apple; moreover my RAM memory is the minimum (256MB)

Multimedia:
Cog 0.05
VLC 0.8.6i
CocoviewX 0.95

Internet:
aMSN 0.983 (March.2010)
Opera 9.64
Firefox 2.0.0.20
Skype 2.6
Skype 2.8.0
Ms. Messenger 6.03


Adium 1.0.6 (MSN protocol isn't working)

Utilities:
Acrobat Reader 7.1.0
KeepassX 0.3.3
UnrarX 2.2

Some Commercial apps working.
Photoshop 6
Appleworks 6

Project Management Software

At the moment Microsoft Project is covering big portion of the total of users of PM programs, but one of the common lacks of Microsoft is to forget about architectures or operative systems different than Windows.


--PalmOS--
*Natara Project@Hand 2



Can import/export to Ms Project only if you install a software in your windows desktop and sync, the palm device. On the other hand you can use as stand alone app.


--MacOSX--
*OpenProj 1.4



Works stable and include the basic features, translated to some languages, many data fields, few customizable, interface could be better, Net plan view is a crap, and


Save as: .pod(default), Project2003 XML, Project .mpp, .mpx
Open XML, Ms.Project, Gnome Planner
Doesn't support project 2010 files
(Opensource and Multi-platform)


!! Notes on MacOS:
-Some features requires right button click therefore you have to use a normal mouse or press apple+alt+click instead of standard ctrl-mousebutton
-Change Date format (mm/dd/yyyy) to (dd/mm/yyyy)
edit /Applications/OpenProj.app/Contents/Info.plist
-Xms128m -Xmx768m -Duser.region=GB
-Change Interface language, add "-Duser.language=en" inside the tag
-If you are creating a new relation of dependency and you have an error, check your task and if your task has a successor then remove this relation, define predecessor dependency, and now you can create the removed relation again.





*Merlin 2.7.7
Nice and usable interface, good Net plan view, many data fields.

Open Project files (.mpp, .mpx), Project XML
Many option to save/export, merlin2, project, CSV, FreeMind, Image, OmniOutliner, HTML,iCal
Commercial

!! Notes:
Be careful if you import Ms project files, and check/ask about some correct dates because Merlin use some data fields in differente way than Ms. Project and the dates could change.


*OmniPlan 1.7
Basic project management software with few data fields.
Open Ms.Project files XML and mpp (fails opening .xml files saved with Merlin or Openproj)
Many option to export, project .mpx .XML, CSV, Image, OmniGraffle, OmniOutliner, HTML,iCal
Commercial

!! Notes:
This software doesn't have a PERT or Net view, fails to open some files, and sometimes when you export. Maybe in a future could be an alternative to Merlin but not now.


--Windows--
*Openworkbench 1.1.6
Powerful software, specially for PM power user, customizable views including many data fields, best alternative to Ms. Project.

Used for a long time, works stable moreover can be used as a standalone app or to connect to CA Clarity PPM Servers.
Only for Windows(requires Java)

!!Note: For Ms. project users, the planification is done using the effort (hours) of resource assigned to task.

*Ms. Project 2007
The most popular PM software, you must configure the view to show baseline bars in the Gantt, could be easier like in the alternatives.

Save as: Project .mpp, .xls, .csv, xml
Open XML, Ms.Project *

*Like is common in Microsoft, lacks of compatibility with other formats


*ConceptDraw PROJECT
Default format: cdpz(conceptdraw project), cdpx (xml)

Save as: Ms Project XML, mmap(MindManager)
Open: Ms Project( xml, mpp, mpt, mpx), mmap(MindManager)
Multiplatform. Mac, Windows
version 6.3.0 included in ConceptDraw Office 2

conceptProject gantt screenshot

 

Fix an Apple Ibook laptop

Open a apple laptop is harder than open a PC laptop. For the 1st time is important to check the assembling/disassembling procedures:


http://www.sterpin.net/uk/ddibookg4uk.htm

http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_apple.html

Info about boot fromUSB

Change Harddrive

The harddrive have 4 black screws in the sides to adjust, you must remove from old hd and put in the new, (screwdriver is torx).

Partitioning.

Moreover the included utilities you can use:
*Disk Utility. included, use from a cd/dvd you can select a scheme of 2 or 3 partition in a easiest way, (only HFS format).
*DiskStudio 1.6. same options than DiskUtility (only HFS format)
*Drive Genius 2. repartition, clone and other functions.
*iPartition. repartition, create partition in many formats.

Clone HD
There are some apps for clone to HD or Image file
*Carbon Copy Cloner aka CCC(backup to bootable image file, too slow to clone from usb to ide)
*Clone X (only clone to hd or bootable DVD/CD, faster than CCC)
*CopyCatx (only clone)
*SuperDuper! (Clone to image file)






Fix Screen wires
A common fail in Ibooks is on the the screen wires,one or more wires can be broken.

Software utilities
There is a utility dvd in Internet called "Bootable Ultimate Image 1.2" full of system apps. (Be careful with license and copyright)


Openfirmware as apple BIOS
How to access: press the key combination of "Command"(apple key) + "Option" (alt printed in key) + "O" + "F"

COMMANDS

devalias (shows defined alias)
dev / (move to the tree, /=root)
ls (shows the current branch of the tree)
pwd (show the current path in devices tree)
.properties (show data from the current device in the tree)



Default boot device on Apple Ibook is "hd:,\\:tbxi"
The command ¨boot¨ without arguments will use the default device and the arguments can be such as:
[device]:[partition],[path][filename]

Example of devices(using alias and not)
usb0/disk
ide0/disk
scsi-int/sd@0
hd(alias)
cd(alias)
pci@f4000000/ata-6@d/disk

hd is a alias to pci@f4000000/ata-6@d/disk

VARIABLES
setenv: environment variables
printenv: variables
Interesting variables:
output-device (name of output device for OF console)

mac-classic open-firmware-basics

openfirmware in a comprehensive language

Introduction and commands
Apple Technical Notes 1061, 1062, 1044: Fundamentals of OpenFirmware

A Repair manual
Step-by-step Guides to repair a Ibook
Many links about repair
Forum

Semantic web and microformats

Semantic Web Basic info:
http://composing-the-semantic-web.blogspot.com/




Microformats Basic info:
http://microformats.org/about


Firefox and Microformats
Operator add-on. Shows and options to manage contacts, events, locations, ...


cc by 2.0