Setting up ant (Linux Mint)

Install ANT

sudo apt-get install ant

Create Ant build files 

xxxx@xxxx ~/abc/Code/StorageWidget $ ~/android/android-sdk-linux/tools/android update project --path .
Updated local.properties
No project name specified, using Activity name 'HelpTopicActivity'.
If you wish to change it, edit the first line of build.xml.
Added file ./build.xml
It seems that there are sub-projects. If you want to update them
please use the --subprojects parameter.

the sdk.dir is added in local.properties correctly, but somehow the ant doesn't use it when building. Have to add the env variable ANDROID_HOME for now.

export ANDROID_HOME=/path/to/android-sdk-linux/

or

ant debug -Dsdk.dir=$ANDROID_HOME

Reference

http://www.androidengineer.com/2010/06/using-ant-to-automate-building-android.html
https://developer.android.com/tools/projects/projects-cmdline.html#UpdatingAProject

Quick summary

DevBytes: Efficient Data Transfers - Understanding the Cell Radio

Very interesting topic on the consideration behind efficient data transfer in mobile apps.
Summary: Use "big cookie" method.

XAMPP on Linux (Mint)

Summarized from http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp-linux.html

Install and setup XAMPP

su
chmod 755 xampp-linux-1.8.3-0-installer.run
./xampp-linux-1.8.3-0-installer.run

Home-Mint Downloads # /opt/lampp/lampp start
Starting XAMPP for Linux 1.8.3-0...
XAMPP: Starting Apache...ok.
XAMPP: Starting MySQL...ok.
XAMPP: Starting ProFTPD...ok.

/opt/lampp/lampp security

Home-Mint Downloads # /opt/lampp/lampp security

XAMPP:  Quick security check...

XAMPP:  Your XAMPP pages are NOT secured by a password. 

XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes  

XAMPP: Password: 

XAMPP: Password (again): 

XAMPP:  Password protection active. Please use 'xampp' as user name!

XAMPP:  MySQL is accessable via network. 

XAMPP: Normaly that's not recommended. Do you want me to turn it off? [yes] yes

XAMPP:  Turned off.

XAMPP: Stopping MySQL...ok.

XAMPP: Starting MySQL...ok.

XAMPP:  The MySQL/phpMyAdmin user pma has no password set!!! 

XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes

XAMPP: Password: 

XAMPP: Password (again): 

XAMPP:  Setting new MySQL pma password.

XAMPP:  Setting phpMyAdmin's pma password to the new one.

XAMPP:  MySQL has no root passwort set!!! 

XAMPP: Do you want to set a password? [yes] yes

XAMPP:  Write the password somewhere down to make sure you won't forget it!!! 

XAMPP: Password: 

XAMPP: Password (again): 

XAMPP:  Setting new MySQL root password.

XAMPP:  Change phpMyAdmin's authentication method.

XAMPP:  The FTP password for user 'daemon' is still set to 'xampp'. 

XAMPP: Do you want to change the password? [yes] yes

XAMPP: Password: 

XAMPP: Password (again): 

XAMPP: Reload ProFTPD...ok.

XAMPP:  Done.

IMPORTANT FILES AND DIRECTORIES
File/Directory	Purpose
/opt/lampp/bin/	The XAMPP commands home. /opt/lampp/bin/mysql calls for example the MySQL monitor.
/opt/lampp/htdocs/	The Apache DocumentRoot directory.
/opt/lampp/etc/httpd.conf	The Apache configuration file.
/opt/lampp/etc/my.cnf	The MySQL configuration file.
/opt/lampp/etc/php.ini	The PHP configuration file.
/opt/lampp/etc/proftpd.conf	The ProFTPD configuration file. (since 0.9.5)
/opt/lampp/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php	The phpMyAdmin configuration file.

Install Add-ons:

http://bitnami.com/stack/xampp

chmod 755 *.run
Home-Mint Downloads # ./bitnami-
bitnami-joomla-3.1.5-0-module-linux-installer.run
bitnami-mediawiki-1.21.1-0-module-xampp-linux-installer.run
bitnami-wordpress-3.6-0-module-linux-installer.run

>> MediaWiki installer having problem to connect to MySQL server in XAMPP, still need to troubleshoot. Wordpress using the same interface was fine.

Nexus 7 2013 - better wait

http://www.greatdeals.com.sg/2013/08/01/new-google-nexus-7-version-2-how-to-get-it-now/

Tempted. But it costs some S$389 with all the logistic troubles to deal with...
Based on the local release price of last model at S$399 and some reported issues on the early production... It's wise to wait.