Kevin Boone
Kevin Boone
Kevin Boone
Musing on computing, math, electronics, de-Googling and the small web, from an old warhorse of the IT industry.
Latest Posts
The terminal stage of de-Googling is to go back to using a 90s-style dumb phone. Devices like the Nokia 105 aren't as old-fashioned as you might think, but can they substitute for a smartphone in day-to-day use?
It looks like the end for Lineage OS on Samsung handsets, at least in the UK. Here's why.
My article on calculus of variations assumed without explanation the basic form of the Euler-Lagrange equation. This article attempts to demonstrate how an Euler-Lagrange equation arises, by solving a variational problem algebraically...
This article describes how AppImage packaging works on Linux. It's based on a simple demonstration that uses nothing but commonplace command-line tools, to create a self-contained, distributable application (albeit a trivial one).
These platforms both offer a Google-free, privacy-sparing smartphone experience. How are they similar and different?
Ten years after cellphone manufacturers stopped putting headphone jacks on their devices, you still can't buy a USB-C headphone adapter that you can be sure will work.
Why did this splendid toy um... run out of steam?
Perhaps it's no bad thing that they don't make'em like this anymore...
If you didn't like it, it's because you didn't use it. Now you can't.
Hi-fi snobs and complacent manufacturers colluded to rob us of our tone controls in the 90s. Why should we care?
Animated musical scores are quite common on YouTube, for educational and promotional purposes. This article explains how to create one, using OpenShot and other Linux tools.
You'd think you could improve the cooling of a laptop by fitting extra fans under its air intakes. Seems not.
I don't much care for how hot my laptops run, before the cooling system takes action to bring the temperature under control. What can be done about that?
The L298N is a convenient and inexpensive H-bridge motor controller, which interfaces nicely with the Pi Pico.
FastMail is a good, Google-free provider of e-mail, calendar services, and the like. But it isn't the only one, and it's due for a price increase in 2025. Is it time to switch?