How To: Install Emacs23 on a MAC through MacPorts

People seem to like my How-To's so here's another.

This time we'll be installing the non-UI version of Emacs 23 on Snow Leopard through MacPorts.
Just as a side-note, Snow Leopard brings Emacs 22 installed by default but I prefer using the most recent software available, it's kind of a good practice, you know?
The process is quite simple, just write all of the following commands without the quotes ( "" ):

- Install MacPorts

- Enable the root account

- Go to Terminal.app ( just search "Terminal" in spotlight or quicksilver and it should do it )

- Type "su" and enter the password you choose in the second step

- Type "port install emacs" and wait for it to finish

- Type "open /etc/paths" and add "/opt/local/bin/emacs" to the list. Save the file ( by pressing CMD+S )

- Close Terminal.app and open it up again

Couldn't be easier right?

I hope that helped you to get started with Emacs, the OS which happens to bring a text editor!

How To: Xlink Kai on a MAC ( Xbox 360 )

Xbox Live is a very good online service. Most of the time you don't get lag in game and you have access to a variety of services like Games on Demand, Twitter, Facebook, Netflix and Last.fm.
There's only one huge problem... It's a monthly paid service.

And, as we all know, I don't like paying for stuff.

Some time ago I found a service called Xlink Kai which let's you play any game that supports System Link online with your friends. Although you should bare in mind that your ping must be below 30 to play, since I'm Portuguese that shouldn't be a problem but if you're from the USA you can only play with people from your state.
These are the steps you should follow to make Kai working:

- Register on Xlink Kai's website;

- Download and install Xlink Kai;

- Start Kai and go to "http://127.0.0.1:34522/" on your browser;

- Select your network adapter from the drop-down menu under Network Settings;

- Still under Network Settings, change your port to 30000 if not defaulted already;

- Enter your username and password on the Engine Settings;

- Create a static IP for your computer;

- Select your router from this list and follow the instructions;

- Start your Xbox 360 and run any game that supports System Link ( CoD:MW2, GoW, GoW2... );

- Select multiplayer/co-op and go to the System Link menu.

You should then see a bunch of servers in the list if you entered Kai's correct lobby.

If you have any doubts: vitormpereira3(at)gmail.com

References:
Xbox 360 Support: http://www.teamxlink.co.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=evo7:xbox360

HTC Touch - Get Hacked

This weekend was more productive than usual. I spent most of my time playing Mass Effect 2 and trying to hack my HTC Touch ( Elfin ).

First of all: Mass Effect 2. What a great game! I haven't played a game this good in years! The story is great, the characters are great and the gameplay is a typical 3rd person shooter with sci-fi powers ( which is also great ).

Anyway, to the stuff that matters. The hacking was not that hard. Although, you will require Windows at all cost, I tried it myself doing it on a VM but the Activesync connection was very weak.
The process involves:
- Finding your device info
- Backing up your current ROM and some ID's
- Hacking your CID
- Installing the cooked ROM

The tutorials from our friends at XDA-Developers will help you help you hacking the HTC Touch <--- ONLY!!!!!. For other models you'll have to search their forum, they have a huge variety of models and brands.

Since the WM 6.5 version is still in Beta I decided to install WM 6.1 which seems really stable.
The process worked at the 3rd time because I got stuck at the HaRET screen with the little, but familiar, penguin looking at me.
Onyx 4.9 as they call it is really good and it uses all the good features you would expect from an HTC product.
The only con I found until now is the battery drain. Even though it says that the 4.9 version is almost identical to the default ROM ( WM 6 ) the battery drains is a little bit faster, it can only take 2 days in use ( not really bad but still, bad ).

The next step would be trying to run some flavor of Linux in it. Maybe Android? With a bit of search you'll find that some people were able to run it with some bugs.