New website!

We have just launched our much needed new websites, after a long time in the forge, both in English (http://www.ondatechnology.org/) and Portuguese versions (http://www.ondatechnology.pt/). They have many new features and information. Please feel free to visit them and tell us what you think. They are fresh out of the oven, so they may still need some polishing.

e-SUV updates 2: The candidate

So, we finally found the perfect canditate SUV for the project. We have already made a reservation and are awaiting all the paperwork to clear. A gorgeous black beast. Meanwhile, we have received a new OBD2 connector (supporting USB and Bluetooth) and I made available an Asus Transformer tablet just for the project. We haven't yet got any donations through IndieGoGo, but I have made available 3500€ from my own pocket towards the fund for this project. There will be photos soon.

Stay tuned.

Package Doctor Search

Package Doctor now allows for searching packages on the package repository and displays the various alternatives. It was easy enough to create and it came as a pleasant birthday gift for me.

root@workstation:~$ pkd -f binutils
[ Package Doctor ] package management system
Copyright 2010-2012 Onda Technology Institute
* sys-devel/binutils ( 2.20.1, 2.22 )

Package Doctor First Success

Success! Package Doctor has now created its first binary package! This package management system is now able to fully create binary packages ready to install from the source and the corresponding ".pkd" file. This makes it closer to be ready for download for world-wide testing. The system is entirely built on BASH scripts and works quite well, making use of UnionFS-FUSE to keep everything isolated. The next step is to check the performance of the system while compiling over a FUSE-based mount, to determine if the performance loss over building directly over the real filesystem is significant. Stay tuned.

# pkd -b binutils01
[ Package Doctor ] package management system
Copyright 2010-2012 Onda Technology Institute
[ OK ] Downloading binutils-2.20.1.tar.bz2
[ OK ] Preparing build environment for package "binutils" (binutils)
[ OK ] Unpacking binutils 2.20.1
[ OK ] Preparing to compile binutils
[ OK ] Compiling binutils
[ OK ] Installing binutils
[ OK ] Building binary package /System/Data/L0/default.profile/packages/binutils-2.20.1.pkb.tar.bz2
[ OK ] Cleaning up.

Monthly Updates: August 2011

It is time for an update on our activities. I think we'll be doing this every month, from now on, so you know we're alive and as well as possible. So, let's start:

1. We're still figthing local bureaucracy. We had a tough time trying to make everything official as even official documentation is either wrong or seriously outdated.
2. We now have a bank account for donations and to manage our funds without relying solely on our Paypal account.
3. There has been progress regarding the agreements we are trying to establish. We are looking for alliances with several entities so we can provide better conditions for our associates and contributors. However, unfortunately, all of the ongoing agreements have been arranjed with local businesses, which means that, for now, only our fellow countrymen are elligible. But we didn't forget everyone else and we are going to attempt to reach international agreements also.
4. We've been updating regularly our website, adding new details, new information, correcting every mistake we find.
5. We are going to attempt to get recognition as a technical training institution which will allow us to go much further than we've been able so far.
6. Our first book has already seen some sales, but still very shy so far. It could become a very important source of funding for our projects.

On other news, the debate on patents is heating up again. With a strong war going on between Apple and Samsung, and patent trolling stories emerging like mushrooms everyday, it seems that our IP Protection Fund initiative came right on time but its success depends on how it is received and perceived.

We wish you well and you're always welcome here.

Cheers.

Looking for a new home

Our current home is, at best, temporary. Onda Technology Institute needs a new headquarters. We are currently in the process of selecting potential sites (we don't need much more than a small office space in a location with good road access and appropriate telecommunications infrastructure). We need to take into account the cost, since we, as a non-profit, have severe limitations on our budget. We would also like to hear from all of you about suggestions of features and things to implement on the new headquarters, as well as specific characteristics we should look for or potential location sites.

Best regards

Officially a non-profit NGO

Today, Onda Technology has been finally registered as a non profit, non governmental organization, a process that took a long time due to some unforeseen circumstances which included personal loss and poorly written, incomplete and outdated information from the official state-run websites.

What does this mean? It means that we are finally able to proceed with our goals and to seek the necessary funding to support our projects. It means we are now a recognized entity and we'll be able to write you a receipt for tax purposes for deduction of your donations. And it also means we'll finally have access to a whole lot of very important benefits that will greatly improve productivity by adding to our available tools and resources. So, stay tuned as we do our best to make this institution grow and provide the world with innovative solutions and technologies.