Previously I just played around with a faulty DVD burner to make some lame stripes: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/28673131

Used software

https://github.com/arduinocelentano/cdimage
It creates an audio track with carefully placed data to create visible images with pits and lands.
Quite crazy when you realize that this is a 5.38km long spiral

So... yeah... did I say I don't know to use GIMP? Well, how about some LibreOffice tomfoolery?

The presets needed a bit of fine-tuning since it isn't exactly the same Verbatim disc, but it was close enough already.

Other attempts

1st attempt with default values

Thankfully it was pretty close, and I only had to change 1st track length. Although it still doesn't look quite perfect. I am not sure what "Track delta" could be, and honestly not even the 1st track. Maybe the former refers to exact track pitch? Dunno.

Xenia

Art by Chimmie Firefly
https://xenia.chimmie.k.vu/

Fox by Fleurfurr

https://e926.net/posts/4557942

A regular photo

Looks good. The photo source is X (formerly known as Twitter), so that sucks source-wise.
But an alternative is here: https://railcolornews.com/2023/11/20/cz-finally-bolt-the-railway-dog-reveals-locomotive-name-after-himself/

As the URL hints, this is a photo from Czech Railways' introduction of Siemens Vectron locomotive named "Boltík" after Bolt's fursona.
Unfortunately, it's missing the name after being repainted, I don't know what's up with that, but that's also off-topic.

Sound sample

So, the images are cool, and they are quite crisp (if I don't use LibreOffice as image editor xD), but how does it sound?

You see, it's just an audio track.

Here you go: https://files.catbox.moe/kjhumj.flac

And for Lemmy WebUI users, an embed should work too:

Maybe. It's FLAC, I've used it with MP3 successfully, will depend on browser too.

Most apps try to display this audio as picture, but there is no picture. Well, I mean, technically a few meters of it.

Original post: https://lemmy.sdf.org/post/34817172

Previous post summary: I wanted to activate foreign (Czech) eSIM, it didn't work, so I traveled to Czech Republic (neighboring country), it didn't work there either

So now I just tried it again (in home country). I just got the idea that, perhaps, I can try different LPA software. Can't lose anything. I downloaded the profile, enabled it, AND IT FUCKING WORKS.

But OK, I tried the previous software with the second SIM. It... worked too?

To be fair, I still had the alternative installed, so maybe it did something in the background. (Like in terms of profile download notification.) I am not going to try a 3rd SIM.

The software

So, at first I tried EasyEUICC (https://gitea.angry.im/PeterCxy/OpenEUICC), or rather the rebranded JMP variant since that's the same thing but also available on F-Droid.

Now I tried NekokoLPA (https://github.com/iebb/NekokoLPA) and that worked, but so did EasyEUICC so no idea if it is related.

I originally chose EasyEUICC because I like the UI more, and also Nekoko says "super unstable, use at your own risk"

AAAAaaah...

Introduction

So, ehm. I have very random interests, and now I just play around with SIM cards a bit.
So 6 months or so ago I bought Czech T-Mobile Twist IoT Standard SIM, just for fun. There were instructions on how to activate it from abroad, and it worked. Better yet, it can connect to 3 MNOs in Slovakia.

Cool. But I've advanced. I've found about these external eUICC chips like ThinkPad Thales. In the end I got 9esim V3. Also has STK profile switching.

I wanted to also convert that T-Mobile IoT card to eSIM, but failed to do so. Profile downloaded and installed just fine, but the SIM wouldn't connect. T-Mobile's website says it may not be possible to activate eSIM in Roaming in some cases, and to rather do so in Czech Republic.

Now, you see, I am a totally normal, sane and reasonable person. So I figured out my only option was to ~~give up~~ travel to Czech Republic.

Unfortunately I don't live near the borders, so this took a while.

Attempt and result

I arrived in Olomouc. If I were to get stuck somewhere, it better be some normal city rather than a small town or village.

I've had 2 of those SIMs to try 2 slightly different ways since I am not sure if it makes a difference.

1. I downloaded eSIM profile in Slovakia
2. I downloaded eSIM profile in Czech Republic

Neither worked.
Relevant screenshots:

Theories:

1. There's some difference between eSIM adapters and native eSIM that breaks functionality in this case
2. IoT cards can't be converted to eSIM. They are also sold as physical cards exclusively, but then why can I generate the activation code?

Other issues on the journey

My carrier 4ka barely ever managed to connect in roaming. It would take minutes to register at least in 2G which it would take again if it disconnected. It also wiped the correct APN which I had to manually add back. 4G it managed to connect to twice for a short time.
It also had issues registering in home network back in Slovakia. I had to switch it to 2G only first, and just then back to 4G in *#*#4636#*#* menu.

But anyway, my data plan doesn't have any data allowance in EU, just €0.014/MB.
So I just bought BNESIM.

I also had some issues with anxiety until I was finally on train to CR. I couldn't stop my leg, I was a bit shaky, and when I checked my HR was 117BPM while just sitting. Not that high, but still a bit too high for resting HR.
79BPM on the final train.

Photos

Also found this "vehicle for measuring of RF networks", but unfortunately it was locked away from me, so I just have this bad photo:

Cat

It was in the Púchov station back in SK. Just heard a loud meow when I was waiting for a train back home and walking around the station.

End

Not sure what to do now. I wanted my primary SIM as physical one in slot 1 and random eSIMs in slot 2, including this one. Crap.

Sticker's fine, somehow, and already on my ThinkPad. Unfortunately I only got 1, and sc07.shop seems to be down. Oh well.

Where the hell was that envelope stuck...

Who needs sleep anyway?

Edit: Replaced Catbox with Imgur as it didn't embed

There's an expectation that you can receive calls anytime, reply to messages quickly, it's like having people in your pocket, always with you.

And I don't even use most social media, which others often find weird. I don't understand how people put up with and manage so many messages when it's multiple per minute. Snapchat, Instagram, Discord, Messenger, every few seconds responding to something is what I see most others doing.

Oh, funnily, it's often the people who constantly say "Back in my good ole times we had no smartphones like you, and we lived just fine." who expect a prompt reply, or get mad when you don't pick up the phone.

People can and will just message you during the day and suddenly expect you to change your plans.

And why have a smartphone then? Its evolved from being just a communicator. It's a computer, flashlight, camera, modem, access point, storage device, music player, radio receiver, remote control, portable server if you're weird enough, but simply, a lot more than just a messaging and calling device.

I can at least trash the calling part and excuse it on technical difficulties (disabling VoLTE, VoWIFI, VoNR and fallback 2G/3G networks).

I just hate the feeling that someone could suddenly message me. I hate having to pull out my phone because a message has arrived and I have to respond. I hate having to look at it every few seconds when I am trying to do something else, because someone messaged me.

I regret showing RCS to my father. I didn't realize just how much good the monetary cost of SMS was doing. "Free" messaging is paid by the soul.

Device: Ulefone Armor 24 (cheap-ish Chinese brand)

The default audio quality is absolutely awful. It's like this everywhere, including the default camera app.
The issue shows up with external microphone as well.

Basically it sounds like over-compressed audio that gets easily beaten with 22.5kHz 64kbps MP3 (comparing to what I listened to recently).

I've found this audio recorder app that allows selecting audio source manually, including "unprocessed" audio: https://gitlab.com/axet/android-audio-recorder
The result is far better.

Audio recording samples

I just recorded music playing from my laptop, so yeah, the audio source isn't that great either, but you can hear the artifacts there.
Both were recorded lossless.

Default

https://files.catbox.moe/e33ufc.wav [2.7MiB]

https://files.catbox.moe/d2n7sg.flac [1.4MiB] - converted to FLAC for in-browser playback

Unprocessed

https://files.catbox.moe/xf9ab8.flac [2MiB]

Basically, it's just missing some noise-cancelling, but other than that, it's far better.

I don't care if disabling that potentially screws up phone calls, I don't like those anyway.

Image source: https://www.telepolis.pl/tech/sprzet/ulefone-armor-34-pro-armor-33-pro-armor-mini-4-mwc-2025

Just another ridiculous device from Ulefone.
Unfortunately, I can only find its dimensions, but not weight. The thickness is whopping 3.4 cm (1.34 inch).

Currently I own a smaller one, Armor 24, which is still 2.75 cm (1.08 inch), but even that weights 647g (1.43 lbs).

I wonder if these brands like Ulefone, Doogee, Unihertz will reach the 1kg mark at some point.

Be ready to dial 911 if it falls on your face.

There goes me using laptop as a monitor.