Xyiko's Blog

Wanting some of the extra options you find on more expensive cameras. Well before you go out and spend all that money, see if you can give your Canon PowerShot the power you are looking for by using the CHDK firmware.



CHDK is a freeware and open source firmware add-on, that is loaded on an SD card and gives your Canon PowerShot a slew of extra options.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Make sure your camera is supported on the CHDK wiki
Create a new text file on your camera’s memory card named ver.req

(make sure it is called a REQ file)
Insert card into camera, make sure camera is started in review mode then press the Function and display button at the same time. This will display your firmware version.

Go to the CHDK wiki and check to make sure your firmware is supposed. Now, download the CHDK zip file that works with your firmware.

Unzip the CHDK file and extracting two files: Diskboot.bin and PS.FIR and copy those to the root directory of your card.

Start camera in review mode, press menu – scroll down on the first menu choose the firm update option. click OK.
If everything went ok you should be able to press the printer button and then menu button to access the CHDK menu
Tada you are done! Remember CHDK is bootable so everytime you turn off your camera you will have to update the firmware everytime you turn it back on.
______________________________________________________________________________________
(ALT. WAY OF DOING THE CHDK INSTALL – Direct from the CHDK For Dummies Page)
Open My Computer and verify that you can see the card unit. It will be a removable device. Put the mouse pointer over the icon, and see if the size matches your SD card’s size. If not, check your card reader installation procedure.
Don’t go any further until you are sure you have this reader working and your card accessed.
Download CardTricks from Wiki or look Card Tricks thread and save it to a specific computer folder. Or just create one, if you wish. Locate the download folder and simply double click the file: Card Tricks will open.
Check the Auto box.
Click the card stamp (below the Auto box) and select the card’s drive unit.
Pay attention: is the drive corresponding to the previously identified card reader unit.
The Card Info & Selection section is updated now. Read and check one more time if it actually is your card: the card size is a good sign.
If it has no size (not formated) and you just bought your card, it’s positive feedback: you picked your SD card correctly.
Click the Format as FAT button, read and accept the notice. Card Tricks will format your card in the best way for CHDK. Wait until it ends.
Click the Make Bootable button, read and accept the notice. Card Tricks will prepare your card for camera autoload.
Click Download CHDK. Your browser will open at the CHDK official download page. Pick your camera model’s ZIP file.
Just remember where you saved it!
It is possible that there is more than one file per camera: Choose which one by referencing your camera’s firmware version, go back here if you are unsure which version you need.
Click the CHDK->Card button, select the ZIP file you downloaded, confirm and wait until the unzipping message disappears.
Remove the card from the card reader.

Place the write protected card back in camera and turn on. If everything went right the CHDK splash screen will blink.

Wanting some of the extra options you find on more expensive cameras. Well before you go out and spend all that money, see if you can give your Canon PowerShot the power you are looking for by using the CHDK firmware.



CHDK is a freeware and open source firmware add-on, that is loaded on an SD card and gives your Canon PowerShot a slew of extra options.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Make sure your camera is supported on the CHDK wiki

Create a new text file on your camera's memory card named ver.req



(make sure it is called a REQ file)

Insert card into camera, make sure camera is started in review mode then press the Function and display button at the same time. This will display your firmware version.



Go to the CHDK wiki and check to make sure your firmware is supposed. Now, download the CHDK zip file that works with your firmware.



Unzip the CHDK file and extracting two files: Diskboot.bin and PS.FIR and copy those to the root directory of your card.



Start camera in review mode, press menu - scroll down on the first menu choose the firm update option. click OK.

If everything went ok you should be able to press the printer button and then menu button to access the CHDK menu

Tada you are done! Remember CHDK is bootable so everytime you turn off your camera you will have to update the firmware everytime you turn it back on.

______________________________________________________________________________________

(ALT. WAY OF DOING THE CHDK INSTALL - Direct from the CHDK For Dummies Page)

Open My Computer and verify that you can see the card unit. It will be a removable device. Put the mouse pointer over the icon, and see if the size matches your SD card's size. If not, check your card reader installation procedure.

Don't go any further until you are sure you have this reader working and your card accessed.

Download CardTricks from Wiki or look Card Tricks thread and save it to a specific computer folder. Or just create one, if you wish. Locate the download folder and simply double click the file: Card Tricks will open.

Check the Auto box.

Click the card stamp (below the Auto box) and select the card's drive unit.
Pay attention: is the drive corresponding to the previously identified card reader unit.

The Card Info & Selection section is updated now. Read and check one more time if it actually is your card: the card size is a good sign.

If it has no size (not formated) and you just bought your card, it's positive feedback: you picked your SD card correctly.

Click the Format as FAT button, read and accept the notice. Card Tricks will format your card in the best way for CHDK. Wait until it ends.

Click the Make Bootable button, read and accept the notice. Card Tricks will prepare your card for camera autoload.

Click Download CHDK. Your browser will open at the CHDK official download page. Pick your camera model's ZIP file.

Just remember where you saved it!

It is possible that there is more than one file per camera: Choose which one by referencing your camera's firmware version, go back here if you are unsure which version you need.

Click the CHDK->Card button, select the ZIP file you downloaded, confirm and wait until the unzipping message disappears.

Remove the card from the card reader.

Lock the card! (the little plastic switch on the side of the SD card)

Your card is now autoload and ready to use.

Place the write protected card back in camera and turn on. If everything went right the CHDK splash screen will blink.

I was watching the new show Leverage the other day and it donned on me that I had seen a show like this before, that show was the A-Team.

The Plots

The A-Team:

Ten years ago / In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn’t commit. These men promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Los Angeles underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire… The A-Team.

Leverage:

The series follows a group of criminals led by a former insurance investigator, who pull off sophisticated scams against other criminals, especially corrupt corporations and those who have taken advantage of innocent people.

So here is how I see the characters break down:

Col. John “Hannibal” Smith / Nate Ford
The Master Planner:

Unquestionable leader of the group. always has a plan A, B, C and usually even a Z.

Captain H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock / Parker
The Crazy One/ Comedy Relief:

The loose cannon of the group. You can never guess what craziness they will get into, but it usually ends up taking a funny spin.

Mr. T / Eliot Spencer
The Muscle:

Can take down a group of men without even breaking a sweat.

Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck / Sophie Devereaux
The con-man, The “face”:

Your basic pretty face, who can trick anyone into apparently doing whatever they need to get the plan to work.

Frankie “Dishpan” Santana / Alec Hardison
The Hardware Guy:

Supplies most of the “extra” stuff for a plan. In the A-team it was Special Effect stuff, in Leverage it was updated to be Hacking and Computer equipment.

Too bad the machine was broke.

VS

[INTRO]
Ma ya hee, ma ya haa (Ay)
Ma ya hoo, ma ya ha ha (It's a special what's happenin' to all my)
Ma ya hee, ma ya haa (All my soldiers over there in Iraq)
Ma ya hoo, Ma ya ha ha

Ma ya hee, ma ya haa ('Errbody right here)
Ma ya hoo, ma ya ha ha (What you need to do is be thankful for the life you got, you know what I'm saying?)
Ma ya hee, ma ya haa (Stop looking at what you ain't got and start being thankful for what you do got)
Ma ya hoo, Ma ya ha ha (Let's give it to 'em, baby girl!)

[CHORUS - Rihanna]
(Hey! Hey! Yeah!) You're gonna be a shining star
(That's right! Yeah!) Fancy clothes
(Okay! Yeah!) And fancy ca-ars (hey, hey, hey, yeah!)
And then you'll see (See! Yeah!)
You're gonna go far (Go! Hey!)
Cause everyone knows (They know! Hey!)
Just who you a-are. (Rihanna let's get it!)

So live your life, (Hey! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
You steady chasing that paper (Ay!)
Just live your life (Oh! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
Ain't got no time for no haters
Just live your life (Gram postal, homie!) (Ay! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
No telling where it'll take ya
Just live your life (Oh! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
(Hey yo, we did it again, homie!) Cause I'm a paper chaser, (throw your hands up)

Just livin' my life (Ay)
My life (Oh!)
My life (Ay!)
My life (Oh!)
Just livin' my life (Throw your hands up!)
My life (Ay!)
My life (Oh!)
My life (Ay!) (Let me see you get your hands up!)
Just livin' my life (Oh!)

[VERSE 1 - T.I.]
Hey, never mind what haters say, ignore them 'til they fade away
Amazing they ungrateful after all the game I gave away
Safe to say I paved the way, for you cats to get paid today
You still be wasting days away, now had I never saved the day
Consider them my protegè, homage I think they should pay
Instead of being gracious, they violate in a major way
I never been a hater still I love them, in a crazy way
Some say they sold the yay and know they couldn't get work on Labor day
It ain't that black and white, it has an area that's shaded gray
I'm west side anyway, even if I left the game and stayed away
Some move away to make a way, not move away cause they afraid
I brought back to the hood and all you ever did was take away
I pray for patience but they make me want to melt they face away
Like I once made them spray, now I could make put the taze away
Been thuggin' all my life, can't say I don't deserve to take a break
You rather see me catch a case, and watch my future fade away

[CHORUS - Rihanna]
(Hey! Yeah!) You're gonna be a shining star
(That's right! Yeah!) Fancy clothes
(Okay! Yeah!) And fancy ca-ars (hey, hey, hey, yeah)
And then you'll see (See! Yeah!)
You're gonna go far (Go! Hey!)
Cause everyone knows (They know! Hey!)
Just who you a-are (Okay now)

So live your life, (Hey! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
You steady chasing that paper
Just live your life (Oh! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
Ain't got no time for no haters
Just live your life (Hey! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
No telling where it'll take ya
Just live your life (Oh! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
Cause I'm a paper chaser

Just livin' my life (Ay) (Ma ya hee)
My life (Oh!) (Ma ya haa)
My life (Ay!) (Ma ya hoo)
My life (Oh!) (Ma ya ha ha)
Just livin' my life (Ma ya hee)
My life (Ay!) (Ma ya haa)
My life (Oh!) (Ma ya hoo)
My life (Ay!) (Ma ya ha ha)
Just livin' my life (Oh!)

[VERSE 2 - T.I.]
I'm the opposite of moderate, immaculately polished with
The spirit of a hustler and the swagger of a college kid
Allergic to the counterfeit, impartial to the politics
Articulate but still would grab a nigga by the collar quick.
Whoever having problems wit they record sales just holla TIP
If that don't work and all else fails, then turn around and follow TIP
I got love for the game but ay, I'm not in love with all of it
Could do without the fame, the rappers nowadays are comedy
The hootin' and the hollerin', back and forth with the arguin'
Where you from, who you know, what you make and what kind of car you in
Seems as though you lost sight of what's important with the positive
And checks into your bank account, and you up out of poverty
Your values is a disarray, prioritizin' horribly
Unhappy with your riches 'cause you piss poor morally
Ignoring all prior advice and forewarnin'
And we mighty full of ourselves all of a sudden, aren't we?

[CHORUS - Rihanna]
(Hey! Yeah!) You're gonna be a shining star
(That's right! Yeah!) Fancy clothes
(Okay! Yeah!) And fancy ca-ars (hey, hey, hey, yeah)
And then you'll see (See! Yeah!)
You're gonna go far (Go! Yeah!)
Cause everyone knows (They know, Hey!)
Just who you a-are (Okay now)

Live your life, (Hey! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
You steady chasing that paper
Just live your life (Oh! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
Ain't got no time for no haters
Just live your life (Hey! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
No telling where it'll take ya
Just live your life (Oh! a-ay a-ay a-ay)
Cause I'm a paper chaser

Just livin' my life (Ay) (Ma ya hee)
My life (Oh!) (Ma ya haa)
My life (Ay!) (Ma ya hoo)
My life (Oh!) (Ma ya ha ha)
Just livin' my life (Ma ya hee)
My life (Ay!) (Ma ya haa)
My life (Oh!) (Ma ya hoo)
My life (Ay!) (Ma ya ha ha)
Just livin' my life (Oh!)

[VERSE 3 - Rihanna]
Got everybody watching what I do
Come walk in my shoes
And see the way I'm livin' if you really want to
Got my mind on my money
And I'm not goin' away

So keep on gettin' 'ya paper (Ah)
And keep on climbin' (Ah)
Look in the mirror
And keep on shinin' (shinin')
'Til the game ends
'Til the clock stop
We gon' post up on the top spot

Livin' my life (Ma ya hee) (My life)
My life (Ma ya haa) (My life)
Got a brand new CD (Maya hoo, Ma ya ha ha)
Got my whole team livin' life (Ma ya hee) (My life)
My life (Ma ya haa) (My life)
I do it how I wanna do (Ma ya hoo)
I'm livin' my life (My life)
My life (My life)
I will never lose
I'm livin' my life
My life
And I'm not stoppin'

[OUTRO]
Ma ya hee, ma ya haa
Ma ya hoo, ma ya ha ha
Ma ya hee, ma ya haa
Ma ya hoo, ma ya ha ha

Ma ya hee, ma ya haa
Ma ya hoo, ma ya ha ha
Ma ya hee, ma ya haa
Ma ya hoo, ma ya ha ha (So live your life)