Found a nice python script for displaying current battery status on the command line, I use this on my Acer Aspire One (110) under Gentoo (spend too much time in console mode). Here is a link to the script (many thanks to Tyler Gates the original author of this script):

http://pastebin.ca/205655

Here is some sample output from the script:

               << BAT1 >>
SIMPLO - UM08A73 | LION | rechargeable
Remaining Charge           : 32.23 %
Time Left                  : 02:30 Hrs
Charging State             : discharging
Rated Capacity Deviation   : -1.79 %
Charge Alert               : ok

The battery installed in the Acer is a nice (but big) 6 Cell 6600mAh available from Amazon at the link below.

Extended Battery for ACER Aspire One Blue ZG5 UM08A73 6600mAh
Extended Battery for ACER Aspire One White ZG5 UM08A73 6600mAh

The battery is big but worth it for the extended usage (well over 7 hours), Below is a picture of the Extended Battery with my Acer Aspire One attached…

Update 16/11/2008:

Just a quick update, this battery is still going strong, the only real issue with it is that it does cause the Acer One to slide about a bit if used on a slippery surface (could do with a couple of anti-slip pads on the base of the battery). Other than that no issues with this thing at all (unlike the issues I’m experiencing with the Acer Store at present … 2 months and counting for a refund to a product that was delayed and the order cancelled?).

Update 24/11/2008:

It would appear that a few visitors would like to know the charge time of this battery. Well from completely flat (unable to boot) it took just under 4 hours to fully charge the UM08A73 6 Cell Battery.

Update 18/01/2009:

Finally got a refund from the Acer On-line Store (UK), only took in excess of 3 months with lots of e-mails, phone calls and even getting my credit card company involved. It will be the last time I ever try to order something direct from Acer again (not well pleased with the whole experience).

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Well work has been keeping me very busy over the last month or so, and will continue to do so way into Christmas. Any way here is a little QNX to Linux porting tip (nothing major)…

When using QNX it was quite easy to start another process from your code:

pid = spawnlp ( P_NOWAIT, "app_name", "app_name", "arg1", "arg_2", ..., NULL);

However under Linux the spawn() family of functions does not exist, so we have to use the fork() and exec() functions:

switch ((pid = fork()))
{ case  0:
    if ((execlp ( "app_name", "app_name",  "arg_1", "arg_2", ..., NULL) == -1))
        _exit(1);
    break;
  case -1:
    break;
}

Also you must also be aware that your process may continue in the running state, so if you wish to make use of the newly forked process you may wish to put a forced delay/yield within the parent process to help produce a context switch to the newly created child process. You will also have to handle the SIGCHLD signal too (signal (SIGCHLD, SIG_IGN), will have the same effect as the QNX NO Zombie option).

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There is an excellent BitTorrent client for the GNOME desktop (GTK+), and it goes by the name Transmission. It’s nice and easy to set-up & configure and it’s already contained with Gentoo’s portage:

emerge -av transmission

Currently standing at version 1.33 it’s been really stable on my system for several months now, a recommended BitTorrent client for Linux / GTK+.

Update – 11/11/2008:
Version 1.40 has been released that has improved various elements of the application including more accurate bandwidth limiting (no longer going above the defined upload/download limits). This is a worthy upgrade, so go get it now =))

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Update – 07/06/2009:

Having had a few issues with certain versions of Transmission, I have made the move to Deluge. Please read my post on this Linux / GTK+ BitTorrent Client.

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