# Devices and Tech

Cover photo by [https://unsplash.com/@we\_are\_rising](https://unsplash.com/@we_are_rising)

# Samsung Galaxy S3 Tab

Galaxy Tab S3 is a 10 inch (9.7") tablet released in 2017.

## Installing TWRP

1. To install TWRP on the device it's best to use [this chap's release](https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/recovery-unofficial-sm-t820-sm-t825-2021-11-30-twrp-3-6-0_9-0-for-galaxy-tab-s3.4303163/) and install via Heimdall:
2. `apt-get install heimdall-flash`
3. Once you have the files ready to go, put the tablet into download mode with Power + Vol Down + Home (hold for 10 seconds).
4. ```bash
     heimdall flash --RECOVERY ./Downloads/twrp-3.6.0_9-0-gts3lwifi.img --no-reboot
    
    ```
5. It's important to now reboot straight into recovery so that the old recovery partition is not recovered - Power + Vol Up + Home
6. Swipe to install TWRP

## LineageOS

- Use LineageOS 19 [this release](https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rom-unofficial-12l-eas-sm-t820-sm-t825-2022-07-15-lineageos-19-1-for-galaxy-tab-s3.4418855/) is most stable
- Using [NikGApps](https://nikgapps.com/downloads#downloads) 12.1 (SL)
- From TWRP install the zip files.

# NeoVim

NeoVim is a new super configurable version of the VIM editor.

I've been learning to configure and customise it for my own use. I used the following tutorials:

- [https://scribe.citizen4.eu/geekculture/neovim-configuration-for-beginners-b2116dbbde84](https://scribe.citizen4.eu/geekculture/neovim-configuration-for-beginners-b2116dbbde84)

I also really like these plugins:

#### Powerline

Lualine adds a status bar at the bottom of VIM that shows you what's going on - its pretty neat. You need to install [powerline fonts](https://github.com/powerline/fonts) on the system. On Debian-based systems you can run `apt-get install fonts-powerline`

- [https://github.com/nvim-lualine/lualine.nvim](https://github.com/nvim-lualine/lualine.nvim) (you also need[ powerline fonts ](https://github.com/powerline/fonts)for this)

# Online Reading and Feeds

### RSS

I use [FreshRSS](https://www.freshrss.org/) to manage my feeds for me and the associated Android client for on the go. On the desktop I use [NewsFlash](https://apps.gnome.org/app/com.gitlab.newsflash/) reader which can also subscribe to FreshRSS

### Read it Later App

I use Wallabag to store articles I want to read later and the accompanying android app for on the go. I use[ Read it Later](https://gitlab.gnome.org/World/read-it-later) for Wallabag stuff on desktop and [the Firefox plugin](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/wallabagger/) for quickly adding things to my to read list.

# Firefox on Ubuntu 22.04 Non Snap

In the latest Ubuntu they made Firefox a snap instead of just installing via deb. [This walkthru ](https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2022/04/how-to-install-firefox-deb-apt-ubuntu-22-04)tells you how to undo it.

In summary:

```shell
sudo snap remove firefox 

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mozillateam/ppa

echo '
Package: *
Pin: release o=LP-PPA-mozillateam
Pin-Priority: 1001
' | sudo tee /etc/apt/preferences.d/mozilla-firefox

echo 'Unattended-Upgrade::Allowed-Origins:: "LP-PPA-mozillateam:${distro_codename}";' | sudo tee /etc/apt/apt.conf.d/51unattended-upgrades-firefox

sudo apt install firefox

```

# Hugo Static Site Generation

I use Hugo to maintain most of my websites.

### Extended Edition

Hugo has an extended version which includes hooks for building SASS. [Hugo recommend using snaps to manage and install versions of their tool](https://gohugo.io/getting-started/installing/) rather than relying on debian packages since these can often be out of date.

# Zellij

<div id="bkmrk-zellij-is-a-golang-t">- [Zellij](https://github.com/zellij-org/zellij) is a Golang terminal workspace + multiplexer - its a bit like tmux on steroids
- Featured in charm interview [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnp9LCUdtJw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnp9LCUdtJw)

</div>

# Dell XPS 13 9305

I had one as my daily driver at work from late 2020 to late 2023. I was so pleased with it I bought one for home/personal use too. Dell [no longer make this laptop](https://www.dell.com/en-uk/shop/laptops/xps-13-laptop/spd/xps-13-9305-laptop).

[![image.png](https://wiki.jamesravey.me/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/scaled-1680-/image.png)](https://wiki.jamesravey.me/uploads/images/gallery/2025-04/image.png)

###  

### Managing and Limiting Battery

I used [dell-charge-limit](https://github.com/glynhudson/dell-charge-limit) to automatically stop charging at 80% and preserve battery life

# LaTeX

LaTeX is a powerful typesetting system that renders books and has specific markup for mathematics

# Angle Brackets (Greater Than, Less Than) show as upside down question and exclaimation marks

This is an issue when &lt;&gt; render incorrectly, it can look very weird.

### Check your encoding

According to [this post](https://imathworks.com/tex/tex-latex-beramono-and-texttt-angle-brackets-show-as-inverted-exclamation-mark-and-inverted-question-mark-symbols-upside-down-signs-like-in-spanish/) ([mirror](https://archive.jamesravey.me/archive/1673198086.459024/singlefile.html)), it could be as simple as not using the correct encoding and can be remedied with the correct package being included in the document:

```latex
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}
```

# Delonghi Dedica

I've had my trusty dedica machine for over 11 years. It has taken a battering over the years but I still enjoy using it.

[Dedica EC680.M Manual.pdf](https://wiki.jamesravey.me/attachments/43)

# XTEInk4

The XTEInk4 is a budget e-ink ebook reader that is smaller and thinner than a modern smartphone.

### Crosspoint Reader

On [Github](https://github.com/crosspoint-reader/crosspoint-reader)

This is a community-provided open source reader firmware for the XTEink4 that can be flashed via the web flasher.

# Ravpower Filehub RP-WD009

[Manufacturer's Manual](https://wiki.jamesravey.me/attachments/44)

### Installing OpenWRT 

You can install OpenWRT on Ravpower Filehub - instructions can be found [on the OpenWRT Wiki here](https://openwrt.org/toh/ravpower/rp-wd009) and [archived here](https://wiki.jamesravey.me/attachments/45)

# Samsung Chromebook XE303C12

## First generation chromebook from Samsung in 2012.

- Cannot boot from the USB 3.0 port (blue) - USB boot is only available from the 2.0 port.
- Press CTRL + U to boot from USB or CTRL + D to boot from internal disk
- low beep indicates that the machine cannot find a bootable image on the USB drive
- Check that you have run `sudo crossystem dev_boot_usb=1 dev_boot_signed_only=0` - the signed image flag is important and making sure it is low (set to 0) is key.

#### ArchLinux ARM

[See Samsung Chromebook ](https://archlinuxarm.org/platforms/armv7/samsung/samsung-chromebook)

#### LinARM Images

see [Linarm](https://gitlab.com/quarkscript/linarm)