Kyle Rankin @kyle@librem.one

I should have mentioned how to enable this if you are running Phosh on a Librem 5:

gsettings set sm.puri.phosh automatic-high-contrast true

Phosh has a new optional feature that uses the light sensor to switch to a high contrast theme whenever it detects you are in direct sunlight. Very cool, especially since it also applies to the lock screen and all GTK apps too. #Librem5

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have long division! ⁨#antique⁩ ⁨#calculator⁩

It also seems Apple's ad tracking rules exempt much of its own tracking behavior since it only shares the data it collects about you with itself and not third parties. At least according to this analysis: https://mobiledevmemo.com/att-advantages-apples-ad-network-heres-how-to-fix-that/

Interesting coincidence that after Apple added App Tracking Transparency to alert iPhone users to the data 3rd party apps collected for ads, adtech had to scramble for alternatives, such as Apple's own ad biz, which grew 238% to $3.7B in 2021 https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/14/23305200/iphone-more-ads-advertising-apple-maps-podcasts-books-mark-gurman-rumors

I was able to fix the shift mechanism with a few adjustments and while I was at it figured out what was wrong with the main accumulator so now addition and subtraction work. Next up: multiplication.

Sound ⁨#troubleshooting⁩ techniques can be applied to all classes of problems, and I'm using the same approach I wrote about in DevOps Troubleshooting. I identified an issue (shift mechanism) and to narrow down the cause I now need to study and understand how this mechanism works.

I decided to start by fixing the shift mechanism, which stutters when shifting left. I'm hoping resolving that may also resolve some of the other issues. I was able to locate a service manual for a similar calculator which has some decent diagrams. #antique #calculator

Today we attempt to repair and refurbish a Monromatic CSA-8 electro-mechanical calculator from the 1950s-1960s. At the moment addition and subtraction don't update the accumulator among othet issues, I hope just from seized gears. ⁨#antique⁩ ⁨#calculator⁩

Cars continue to copy the smartphone business model, now have mandatory pre-installed services and apps (and the tracking that comes with them): #privacy https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-makes-1500-onstar-subscription-mandatory-on-gmc-buick-cadillac-models

You have to hand it to them... #privacy https://www.engadget.com/amazon-one-palm-payment-whole-foods-california-195712253.html

The biggest challenge with filing expense reports is deciding which ⁨#antique⁩ adding machine in my collection to use to add up receipts. Today's winner is an RC Allen model 75. ⁨#vintagecomputers⁩

Here's a bonus video of what happens when you divide by zero on an electro-mechanical calculator. #infiniteloop

My Marchant Silent Speed is all cleaned up and ready to go with the rest of my collection! #antique #calculator

Here's another view of the same operation from the back so you can see more of the gears move.

It's worth mentioning that this is doing long division via repeated subtraction completely mechanically, just using the electric motor to power the gears. If you watch closely you can see it detect underflows, increment, and then shift right to the next digit.

Success! A little cleaning and lubrication freed up the stuck registers enough to do long division. Here's the Marchant Silent Speed approximating Pi. #antique #calculator

The Marchant Silent Speed ⁨#antique⁩ ⁨#calculator⁩ restoration begins! Here's hoping this is as far as I have to take it apart today.