PDI Kettle 4.4.0 Missing MySQL and Oracle

Pentaho Data Integration (PDI) Kettle does not include all database JDBC drivers by default beginning with version 4.4.0. Oracle and MySQL, in particular are have been taken out. That means all your transformations and jobs that access those databases will not run until you copy the jdbc drivers to the libext folder.

The following table shows the comparison between an older version of PDI. The highlighted rows are no longer bundled by default, so you'll have to copy the drivers over from an previous version or download from the database vendor's website.

To Do Lists and Task Managers

I have tried several apps to help manage my To Do list and so far cannot find the optimal system for managing tasks. If you've read Getting Things Done by David Allen, the key to an effective system is to have only one entry point for all tasks. To guide you on the path I had taken, here are the tools that I've used so far:

• Google Tasks - Web. Officially available only on the web but handy because you are already logged in to Gmail, if you use that.
• GTasks - Android. Syncs to Google Tasks, handles offline but syncing is slow. 
• Astrid - Android. Syncs to Google Tasks, handles offline but syncing is slow.
• Taskos - Android. Syncs to Google Tasks, handles offline but syncing is slow.
• NoNonsense Notes - Android. Syncs to Google Tasks, handles offline but syncing is slow.
• Any.Do - Android/iOS. Syncs to Google Tasks, handles offline but adding new items and syncing is slow.
• Wunderlist - Android/iOS/Mac/Windows/Web. Syncs to own server. Handles offline. Fast to enter items. Does not handle nested tasks.
• Evernote - Android/iOS/Mac/Windows/Web. Syncs to own server. Handles offline. Many taps to enter a task.
• Trello - Android/iOS/Web. No offline mode. Very good visualization for teams.
• Do.com - Android/iOS/Web. No offline mode. Ability to create templates to create a set of tasks for a new similar project.

My verdict: Wunderlist. You want to be able to enter items fast even when offline because keeping a task in your mind goes against GTD principles and increases the chances of it being left out. Wunderlist has the disadvantage of having to create another account but using the desktop app makes using it more convenient. The smaller feature set of Wunderlist forces you to keep your list clean and manageable, which is really the point of having a task manager in the first place.

How to install Android 4.2.2 on your Nexus S

The Nexus S got its last official Android update (4.1.2) last October 2012. If you want to get to the latest version, you have to go for a custom ROM. The 4.2 Jellybean changelog lists down the new features that are available. There are only a couple of new features that are significant:

1. Quick settings - If you are tired of doing Menu -> System Settings and scrolling, then this should be make things like disabling mobile data or switching to 2G/3G faster. Though one could argue you could get this using Power Toggles.
2. Gesture keyboard - If you don't have Swype, then this should be handy. Though someone backported this feature to 4.0 and 4.1, so you still can get this. Jellybean 4.2 Keyboard
3. New clock - I used to install Ultrachron for the stopwatch and timer. Now, it is built-in. The design is not as intuitive but you'll get used to it. It also looks so much better than Ultrachron.
4. Font enhancement - There are slight tweaks to how text looks.
5. Lock screen widgets - Frankly, I don't use this on the Nexus S. However, if you want to try the excellent DashClock lockscreen widget, you'll need 4.2. It is quite useful on the Nexus 7, where you have a larger screen.

If you really want the new features of 4.2, then the easiest way to upgrade will be to install Cyanogen 10.1. The Cyanogen wiki page has the best instructions IMHO. Read and reread that completely. The major steps to installing a custom ROM are the following:

1. Unlock your bootloader - Download the Android SDK to be able to use the fastboot command to unlock the bootloader. This step wipes all data from your device so make sure you keep a backup of your photos and SMS messages.
2. Install ClockworkMod recovery - Since your bootloader has already been unlocked, you can install software that will enable you to install a custom ROM. This is a small piece of software that you run by pressing Power Button and Volume Down at the same time when turning on your device.
3. Install CyanogenMod - You'll be using ClockworkMod to install the custom ROM. Follow the instructions on wiping before installing the files. You'll need to install 2 files in sequence. The first file is about 150MB and will install Android 4.2. Choose the M1 if you want something stable. The nightly builds may have bugs and can randomly reboot but will have more advanced features like HDR. The second file provides Google Play and the Google apps.

• cm-10.1-20130121-EXPERIMENTAL-crespo-M1.zip or one of the nightlies (Update 2013-03-04: cm-10.1-20130304-EXPERIMENTAL-crespo-M2.zip has been released). See the Get CM page for the latest list.
• gapps-jb-20121212-signed.zip

Once you've done this, you'll be able to try out other alternative ROMs. Steps 1 and 2 no longer need to be done. Good luck on your journey in the land of custom ROMs!

Activating NDD on your Globe landline

NDD and IDD is not available by default on your new Globe landline to protect you from inadvertent charges due to calls to mobile phones and long distance numbers.

Note that these instructions are for Metro Manila accounts. To activate NDD, you need call 730-1000. The problem is, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) menu greets you at that number and there is no menu option to activate NDD. There is also no easy way to get to a human in the options. For credit card companies, I always use the "Report a lost card" option to reach an agent immediately. It appears there is no such shortcut with Globe's number. After several attempts at the menus, the way I got to an agent was to pretend to customize my plan and select the option that says the information is not helpful. Here's the guide:

730-1000 IVR Menu:
1 - English
1 - Globelines
1 - Customize your plan
1 - Customize your plan
2 - Not helpful
1- Talk to a customer agent

It will take about 3 minutes for the agent to verify your account details and put you on hold while they schedule the activation. NDD will be activated within 24 hours. The agent gave me these locking instructions.

Default PIN: 1234

Phone Lock: #5702 4-digit-PIN#
Phone Unlock: #5712 4-digit-PIN#
Change PIN: #575 Old-4-digit-PIN*New-4-digit-PIN**New-4-digit-PIN*#

If this helped you, do click on an ad below or at the right!

Nillkin Nexus 7 Case

I had been using a Speck FitFolio for my iPad 2 but it was showing obvious signs of wear and tear with less than a year of use. This time, I wanted to get a TPU case for my Nexus 7. A quick trip to Greenhills (last September 2012) yielded nothing. Anything that is not Apple or Samsung will be hard to find. A search on sulit showed several cases that were over P1,000 which I didn't want to pay for.

I came across good reviews on Nillkin cases so I hunted for a seller in ebay. I eventually found a Hong Kong based seller http://stores.ebay.com/ecdigishop that offered free shipping in Asia so I ordered one for USD 12.70. Standard shipping would take 2 weeks. True enough, it arrived exactly 14 days after I placed the order. Unfortunately, I would have to claim it at the post office because I had to pay customs (P100) for it.

The package was shipped from Singapore. Unboxing follows:

Shipment packaging from Singapore

TPU case designed for the Nexus 7 

Packaging is typical China

Available in 4 colors

Comes with the case and screen protector

Now, my Nexus 7 has a case that provided protection without adding too much thickness. So far, it has survived a 2 foot drop on a wooden floor with no damage. I highly recommend the Nillkin TPU case for protection against scratches. While the Nexus 7 already has a good grip, the case will provide you with an even better grip.

My Nexus 7 with the case and protector

Applying Jelly Bean OTA on your Nexus S

The official Nexus S OTA file for i9023 is now out!

Google OTA file
(MD5 – 12c718dbda2565609db45c9631a25adc)

I had used the Nexus S 4.0.4 factory images for my phone and left the boot loader unlocked. Unfortunately, the instructions for applying the official OTA apply only to those on boot-locked stock recovery or custom recovery. I tried doing it but got the "apply_patch_check assert failed" error message. You might want to try it first if you are on stock.

Just a tip for going to the recovery menu on stock ROM:

1. While phone is off, press Power and Volume Up continuously until the fastboot screen appears.
2. Press volume down to select Recovery, then press Power to select.
3. The phone will reboot, show the Google logo and show a robot with a red exclamation point.
4. Press Volume Up, then Power to go the recovery menu. I thought the the robot with the red exclamation was an error. Also make sure you press Volume Up first, then Power and not vice versa, otherwise nothing will happen.

I didn't want to lock my boot loader using "fastboot oem lock" because it would wipe my phone so I decided to flash a custom recovery ROM and then apply the OTA update manually.

The Cyanogenmod wiki has the best instructions for doing this. You'll need the SDK for this.

Once the custom recovery was flashed, I powered off, then reboot to recovery (Power+Volume Up). Select the apply update.zip. The update should proceed smoothly and reboot on Jelly Bean. Upon first boot, there will be an update message but all your apps and data should be intact.

Mac OSX system preferences hang

Many users must have encountered a permanent hang in Mac OSX System Preferences because searching "osx system preferences hang" on Google returns more than 300,000 results. OSX isn't so rock solid after all.

This happened while I was changing the wallpaper and probably chose iPhoto. The bouncing ball then appeared. I left it like that for about 15 minutes and had to Force Quit. Rebooting the machine didn't help. This makes the entire System Preferences inaccessible so you cannot change any setting on your machine until you resolve the wallpaper issue.

The following forum entry had a solution:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1194163

All you need to do is to delete a file in your preferences folder which will reset your desktop to the default.

To do this, you will need to open terminal and type the following:

rm ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist

Then, reboot your Mac and you'll see the default wallpaper and System Preferences back to normal.