site  contact  history  index

Seduced by the camera hype

October 23, 2026 — BarryK

I have two YouTube channels, this one a record of traveling in the south west of Western Australia:

https://www.youtube.com/@meanderinglight/videos

Also this one, an introspective journey:

https://www.youtube.com/@explore-sadhana/videos

...ok, that last one not everyone's cup of tea!

I started off by using my Moto G75 phone, held in a bracket, convertible to a tripod. Works OK, but jerkiness when panning, and a lot of waviness while walking. Got the idea that to fix these issues, need to have a gimbal camera; this is where I got seduced by the hype.

Yes, watched lots of YouTube videos, decided that needed a DJI Osmo Pocket gimbal camera. Bought the Pocket 3, not the latest (Pocket 4); this one:

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/dji-osmo-pocket-3-4k-3-axis-gimbal-camera-combo

...yes, AU$789!!!

img0

It's OK, still has waviness, up and down motion while walking, that the 3-axis gimbal cannot fix. Apart from that, there is one big problem; it is very delicate. Can't just stuff it in a trouser pocket, nor throw into my carryon travel bag.

So, watched more YouTube videos, also viewed the excellent videos produced by other vloggers, such as Wayne:

https://www.youtube.com/@fiascodagama1

...he has a GoPro action camera.

I had previously shied away from action cameras, as they are fixed focus. I had fixated on the need for auto-focus, as my phone has. Fixed focus requires a fairly small lens aperture, so as to get sufficient depth of focus. Also, cannot get up close, needs a macro-lens for close-up focus. I also imagined that the small aperture meant poor low-light performance.

A point about auto-focus; while vlogging, the auto-focus can sometimes be seen shifting what it is locked onto, which can be disconcerting in the resultant video.

Then I saw an advert for a DJI Action 4 action camera, on sale for only AU$278. That is remarkably cheap, and watching YouTube videos convinced me that this is the one to have for vlogging. Here are some of those videos:

"Is The DJI Osmo Action 4 Still Worth Buying in 2025?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPSnzjxpr2E

"DJI Action 4 Is The Most Underrated Camera In 2026!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqS64_3DxYE

"DJI Osmo Action 4: Is It Still Worth Buying in 2026?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo8kGySN6cA

"DJI Osmo Action 4: Is It Still Worth Buying?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlicbMl1d3w

"Everyone Is Buying the Wrong Action Camera in 2026... Why I Bought the DJI Osmo Action 4"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCnNu92qVUA

The Action 4 came out in 2023, and now superseded by the 5 and 6; at considerably higher prices. But I was convinced that for my vlogging needs, the 4 is excellent. So bought it, just before the sale-price ended:

https://www.harveynorman.com.au/dji-osmo-action-4-standard-combo.html

img1


Also bought a stick/tripod thingy:

https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/dji-osmo-action-mini-extension-rod-action-5-pro-action-4-action-3

I have been playing with it, amazed how good the videos are turning out. Also surprised how sharp images are up-close, less than a foot away.

Might sometimes still use the Pocket 3. Not a complete waste of money though, as the external microphone (DJI Mic2) that came with the Pocket 3 combo, pairs with the Action 4; that on its own is sold for about AU$120.   

Tags: nomad

Apple filesystem linux driver

October 22, 2026 — BarryK

Support for the Apple filesystem was added to EasyOS, see:

https://bkhome.org/news/202610/fix-support-apple-filesystems.html

However, a driver is also needed for the Linux kernel:

https://github.com/linux-apfs/linux-apfs-rw

...this will be the 'apfs.ko' module.

I have added this in woofQ2, so the driver will be in the next kernel compile.   

Tags: easy

The end of living in a tent

October 15, 2026 — BarryK

Well, have certainly "scratched that itch", been on the road for about 2 months, car and tent. Posted videos to YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@meanderinglight/videos

I have been closely watching others who are permanently on the road; they have camper-van/motor-home/caravan, certainly much better than a tent. But I'm not convinced they are all happy being constantly on the move. There is of course the underlying worry about a breakdown.

Might consider a van in the future, but for now, moving back to the city of Perth.

Rather like the idea of reducing belongings to just about nothing. Wayne is an example of that; he has a backpack with all of his possessions. He grew up in Perth and has a sister here, where he stays when back in Perth. His YouTube channel is "Fiasco da Gama":

https://www.youtube.com/@fiascodagama1/videos

Wayne was in Perth recently, for medical treatment, but has just gone back to India. Chennai; I like his $10 per day hotel room!    

There is a catch for an Australian age pensioner to live overseas; more than 6 weeks, lose the Pensioner Concession Card. If permanently overseas, lose the Pension Supplement. That leaves a base pension, which is still pretty good in many Asian countries. Lots of Aussie seniors doing it.

Not that I will, just thinking of options.

Oh yeah, regarding those "MeanderingLight" videos; had the idea of combining inner-contemplation-journey with an outer journey, but decided that doesn't really work. So have deleted some of the inner-contemplation videos.   

Tags: nomad

EasyOS Excalibur-series version 7.4.92

October 15, 2026 — BarryK

This is a release-candidate for Easy 7.5, built with 7.2.10 kernel and excalibur-backports (trixie-backports) packages. Changes since 7.4.11:

Yes, this is now an official upgrade from Easy 7.4.11 and earlier. Or, if you previously installed Easy 7.4.90, you can update that if you wish.

Download:

https://distro.ibiblio.org/easyos/amd64/releases/excalibur/2026/7.4.92/

Feedback welcome at the forum:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?p=178212#p178212

Have fun!   

Tags: easy

Kernel 7.2.10 compiled with hugepage support

October 14, 2026 — BarryK

See yesterday posts about the 7.2.10 kernel:

https://bkhome.org/news/202610/broadcom-sta-driver-compiled-for-7210-kernel.html

https://bkhome.org/news/202610/linux-kernel-7210-compiled.html

Forum member Overdrive5 started this thread discussing hugepages:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=17544

OK, I have recompiled the 7.2.10 kernel:

Filesystems -> Pseudo filesystems ->
  HugeTLB filesystem support
Memory management options ->
  Transparent hugepage support

Let's see, now have these:

CONFIG_HAVE_ARCH_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE=y
CONFIG_HAVE_ARCH_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_PUD=y
CONFIG_ARCH_WANT_OPTIMIZE_HUGETLB_VMEMMAP=y
CONFIG_ARCH_WANT_HUGETLB_VMEMMAP_PREINIT=y
CONFIG_ARCH_ENABLE_HUGEPAGE_MIGRATION=y
CONFIG_ARCH_WANT_GENERAL_HUGETLB=y
CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE=y
# CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_ALWAYS is not set
# CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_MADVISE is not set
CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_NEVER=y
CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_SHMEM_HUGE_NEVER=y
# CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_SHMEM_HUGE_ALWAYS is not set
# CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_SHMEM_HUGE_WITHIN_SIZE is not set
# CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_SHMEM_HUGE_ADVISE is not set
CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_TMPFS_HUGE_NEVER=y
# CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_TMPFS_HUGE_ALWAYS is not set
# CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_TMPFS_HUGE_WITHIN_SIZE is not set
# CONFIG_TRANSPARENT_HUGEPAGE_TMPFS_HUGE_ADVISE is not set
CONFIG_ARCH_SUPPORTS_HUGETLBFS=y
CONFIG_HUGETLBFS=y
# CONFIG_HUGETLB_PAGE_OPTIMIZE_VMEMMAP_DEFAULT_ON is not set
CONFIG_HUGETLB_PAGE=y
CONFIG_HUGETLB_PAGE_OPTIMIZE_VMEMMAP=y
CONFIG_HUGETLB_PMD_PAGE_TABLE_SHARING=y

We shall see how this turns out!  

Tags: easy

Broadcom-sta driver compiled for 7.2.10 kernel

October 13, 2026 — BarryK

Earlier today posted about compiling the 7.2.10 linux kernel, but unable to compile the broadcom-sta wl.ko module. Have found source that compiles.

Where did I get it? It will be in woofQ2, when next upload it, but I got it from an Ubuntu site, I think from here:

https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/stonking/+package/broadcom-sta-dkms 

It was this: broadcom-sta-dkms_6.30.223.271-32_amd64v3.deb  

Tags: easy

Linux kernel 7.2.10 compiled

October 13, 2026 — BarryK

Recently there was an experimental build of EasyOS with 7.2.6 kernel and excalibur-backports packages:

https://bkhome.org/news/202609/easyos-version-7490-maybe-75rc.html

The kernel has some issues, one being iptables support is dropped. I do need to update the firewall; however, for now, compiled the 7.2.10 kernel with this:

Networking Support -> Networking Options ->
  Network packet filtering framework (netfilter) ->
    Core netfilter configuration -->
      [*] Netfilter legacy tables support

It results in: 

CONFIG_NETFILTER_XTABLES_LEGACY = y
CONFIG_IP_NF_IPTABLES_LEGACY = m
CONFIG_IP6_NF_IPTABLES_LEGACY = m

In the 6.12.x kernel compile, v4l2loopback (v4l2loopback-dc.ko) and broadcom-sta (wl.ko) modules are compiled; however, they don't compile with the 7.2 kernel. I found updated source for v4l2loopback, so now have v4loopback.ko (note the different name); however was unable to find broadcom-sta source that will compile -- so will have to use the Broadcom drivers in the kernel; brcmfmac.ko, brcnsmac.ko and b43.ko -- maybe they have improved enough to be usable?

If anyone finds broadcom-sta source that compiles with the 7.2 kernel let me know. I have found some purporting to, but still won't compile.  

Tags: easy

Another bug fix for Easy Installer

October 09, 2026 — BarryK

Caramel posted a fix that was implemented in Easy 7.4.11:

https://forum.puppylinux.com/viewtopic.php?t=17502

However, there is still another problem. Caramel reported that /usr/local/easy_install/support/partition_unallocated reformats boot and working-partition, even if they already have vfat and ext4 filesystems.

I'm straining my brain to recall how it all hangs together; however, have implemented questions in the script, do you really want to wipe existing filesystem. I think that should do the trick, and not cause confusion. The changes are marked by "#20261009".   

Tags: easy