Ultimate Web Designers Resource
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Has XHTML, PHP, FLASH, AJAX and many more resources. Definitely worth a look at this site.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
WINE! (The program, not the Beverage)
Significant advancements made today in my Linux world. I managed to install Internet Explorer 6, Windows Media Player, and Lockdown Mu (guide found here) on my SuSE Linux system, using WINE. This was by no means an easy task for me. Installing Lockdown Mu alone took about 3 hours (the installer went incredibly slow), not to mention that the download took about 6 hours (I had to restart 3 times!). But, once I got that installed, I went to installing IE6 and WMP, using the sidenet wine configuration utility (see here). Since the guide said to use version 1.8.1, I used that and ran the setup shell script. Everything went fine, but I received an error message going into stage 3:
SETUP STAGE 3
Setting up wine configuration ...
Downloading Internet Explorer 6 setup ...
./ie6setup_EN-US.exe: Permission denied
ERROR: Download failed, Please download ie6setup.exe manually and try again.
Setup aborted.
So, I went to the website and looked if there was any different version that would perhaps work. To find out what WINE version I was using, I did:
********@linux:~> wine
Wine 20050725
Usage: wine PROGRAM [ARGUMENTS...] Run the specified program
wine --help Display this help and exit
wine --version Output version information and exit
********@linux:~>
Turns out that there was a fix for WINE versions 200507* (version 1.8.4). So, I downloaded that, and once again attempted to install. Luckily, the download worked this time and I was able to download ie6setup.exe. After that, the download of WMP followed. Once the downloading was done, the ie6setup was launched. Sadly, the display was not readable (as in no text showed up). Slightly discouraged, I Googled ie6setup.exe and found a nice walkthrough with pictures, so I knew what was happening. The install/ setup for both IE6 and WMP was successfully and IE6 was launched. Although the internet connection didn't initially work, I configured the Internet Options and got it online. IE worked well, but extremely slow. The most simple text-based website took minutes to load. Annoyed, but happy that IE worked, I went on to configuring LockdownMu. Copying the necessary fonts as the guide directed, I was able to get LockdownMu.exe running. This too took an extremely long time and the resolution was terrible. I tried to change the settings, but to no avail. I had gotten as far as to get the game to work, and that was my initial goal (not to get it running with supreme graphics and lightening fast gameplay). Sadly, I received many errors about missing files and odd configurations so I just decided to bump it. I had gotten as far as I wanted, and that was good enough for me. In retrospect, I suppose I should have started installing easier programs and not a full fledged MMORPG. My knowledge of WINE has just begun to accumulate, so any further advancements I make in the world of Windows programs on Linux, will promptly be posted on this blog. Until then, I think I will enjoy a good hour of surfing the web.
SETUP STAGE 3
Setting up wine configuration ...
Downloading Internet Explorer 6 setup ...
./ie6setup_EN-US.exe: Permission denied
ERROR: Download failed, Please download ie6setup.exe manually and try again.
Setup aborted.
So, I went to the website and looked if there was any different version that would perhaps work. To find out what WINE version I was using, I did:
********@linux:~> wine
Wine 20050725
Usage: wine PROGRAM [ARGUMENTS...] Run the specified program
wine --help Display this help and exit
wine --version Output version information and exit
********@linux:~>
Turns out that there was a fix for WINE versions 200507* (version 1.8.4). So, I downloaded that, and once again attempted to install. Luckily, the download worked this time and I was able to download ie6setup.exe. After that, the download of WMP followed. Once the downloading was done, the ie6setup was launched. Sadly, the display was not readable (as in no text showed up). Slightly discouraged, I Googled ie6setup.exe and found a nice walkthrough with pictures, so I knew what was happening. The install/ setup for both IE6 and WMP was successfully and IE6 was launched. Although the internet connection didn't initially work, I configured the Internet Options and got it online. IE worked well, but extremely slow. The most simple text-based website took minutes to load. Annoyed, but happy that IE worked, I went on to configuring LockdownMu. Copying the necessary fonts as the guide directed, I was able to get LockdownMu.exe running. This too took an extremely long time and the resolution was terrible. I tried to change the settings, but to no avail. I had gotten as far as to get the game to work, and that was my initial goal (not to get it running with supreme graphics and lightening fast gameplay). Sadly, I received many errors about missing files and odd configurations so I just decided to bump it. I had gotten as far as I wanted, and that was good enough for me. In retrospect, I suppose I should have started installing easier programs and not a full fledged MMORPG. My knowledge of WINE has just begun to accumulate, so any further advancements I make in the world of Windows programs on Linux, will promptly be posted on this blog. Until then, I think I will enjoy a good hour of surfing the web.
Massive List Of 5000 Programming / Computer / Internet Books - For Free!
Who needs to pirate books / steal from the library with a list of free resources like these?
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
List of hacking applications that run on USB flash drive
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Security applications such as namp and ethereal are appearing that run straight from a thumb drive and packet capture, detection and injection tools no longer require the installation of WinPCap or other third-party packet capture drivers.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Learning the shell.
A good guide for the Linux/Unix newbie and seasoned veteran alike. This teaches you how to effectively use the shell, and give that mouse a rest!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Adventures with a SUSE Linux-Powered OQO Palmtop
Friday, April 28, 2006
Ha, I seem to be SuSE happy today (perhaps because the SuSE 10.1 goldmaster should be released soon). Anyways, another interesting story involving SuSE Linux and a palmtop PC.
"After seeing the specs for the OQO model 01+ tablet palmtop PC, I knew I had to put SUSE 10.0 Linux on it and do a review. OQO currently offers only a Windows XP version.
Would SUSE even install? Would the tablet work? What are the challenges? Where would you use Linux on such a small package? Would Linux techies even be interested? All good questions that you'd probably like answered. This is my adventure of putting SUSE Linux on the little micro PC. I also carried the machine around the recent LinuxWorld Conference in Boston, for a few days. To say the OQO/SUSE Linux combination is a "geek magnet" is to overstate the obvious."
Read story here.
"After seeing the specs for the OQO model 01+ tablet palmtop PC, I knew I had to put SUSE 10.0 Linux on it and do a review. OQO currently offers only a Windows XP version.
Would SUSE even install? Would the tablet work? What are the challenges? Where would you use Linux on such a small package? Would Linux techies even be interested? All good questions that you'd probably like answered. This is my adventure of putting SUSE Linux on the little micro PC. I also carried the machine around the recent LinuxWorld Conference in Boston, for a few days. To say the OQO/SUSE Linux combination is a "geek magnet" is to overstate the obvious."
Read story here.
SuSE Linux 10.1RC3 Released!
"I'm glad to announce SUSE Linux 10.1, code name 'Agama Lizard' RC3. We have fixed the majority of bugs from RC2 and look forward to the gold master - if testing does not show serious problems. During the RC phase, we only provide delta ISOs of the media and update the factory tree as well. Note that the factory tree is not synced out right now, it is two days old. It will be updated by tomorrow."
Read full release announcment here
Get Delta ISOs here.
Read full release announcment here
Get Delta ISOs here.
Xgl on SuSE 10.1 for KDE and Gnome with Nvidia Graphics Cards
"Perhaps the most interesting eye-candy introduced to a mainstream Linux distribution is that of the Xgl 3D desktop environment. Naturally, when seen, it fosters the thought, "How can I do that on my own desktop?" I'll be honest with you, it's not quite as point-and-click as some of the other desktop niceties that we've discussed in the past, such as gdesklets or the gkrellm monitors. That in mind, if you're interested in getting Xgl installed and running on your desktop, you've found the right place. We'll take it a bit at a time and make sure we get you set up. First of all, I need to make sure that you are using this tutorial for a machine running either SUSE Linux 10.1 or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10, and that you have an NVidia video card. With that, let's get going."
Read full story here.
Read full story here.
Intel Admits It's Fallen Behind AMD!
AMD has finally got the lead on Intel with increased profits, better, faster technology, and increased market share. Read more here.GNOME 2.15.1 Released!
Thursday, April 27, 2006
The first in the GNOME development cycle, GMOME 2.15.1 and following versions promise to be filled with new features, new bugfixes, new translations, new documentations, and much more! "This is our first development release on our road towards GNOME 2.16.0, which will be released in September 2006. And I can tell you that GNOME 2.15.1 tastes good. Go download it. Go compile it. Go test it. And go hack on it, document it, translate it, fix it." Read full release statement here.Scientific breakthrough a step toward quantum computing
Light is the solution. It's also the problem. That's the paradox HP Labs' Quantum Information Processing Group is beginning to unravel with its research into optical quantum computing.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
CORSAIR 2GB Flash Drive (USB 2.0) only $40.00!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
BUY THIS!!!!!!!!! If you need a good, large capacity flash drive for a low price, but this CORSAIR 2GB flash drive from Newegg.com for ONLY $40.00 (after $15 mail-in-rebate). Even without the rebate, it is only $55.00. Good for a tight budget. BUY HERE...Linux device drivers for (nearly) everybody
With a bit of C and microprocessors knowledge, this article shows it's possible to write your own device drivers in Linux. It might not be the easiest thing to do, but it's great to see that writing device drivers doesn't require black magic - it's just a matter of talking to the Linux kernel!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Create your own webserver tutorial!
This is a very straightforward way to install and configure apache on gentoo or Suse.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
How To: Understand And Edit /etc/fstab In Linux
fstab is a configuration file that contains information of all the partitions and storage devices in your computer. Learn what its contents mean and how it's used in conjunction with the mount command. This is a good guide for people who are new to Linux and want to know more about mounting partitions on start-up.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
345+ Free online programming books
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
High End Graphics Card Roundup
ExtremeTech puts three of the most powerful graphics cards to the test: the PNY Verto GeForce 7900 GTX Limited Edition,eVGA GeForce 7900 GTX Superclocked, and ASUS EAX1900XTX. The cheapest card here already weighs in at a pricey $525, with the most expensive going to $600+! Each card puts up a tough fight against the others, and anyone would be proud to have one of these cards sitting in their PCIe x16 slots. See the verdicts and who comes out on top here.Mind Map of Linux distributions - Version 2
Monday, April 24, 2006
A nice update to the Mind Map of Linux Distributions. Really helps you see where some of the most prominant distros have their roots. See it here. See full here.
Linux: Stable kernels 2.6.16.10 and .11 Released
So far today there have been only two stable kernel releases. The announcement for 2.6.16.10 appears to have been swallowed by the net, though the full patch is available. It contains a fairly large number of fixes (22 in the version posted for review) spread throughout the kernel. 2.6.16.11, instead, goes back to the "single security fix" mode; in this case, it turns out that the CIFS filesystem allows backslashes in file names, leading to obvious problems with Windows clients.read more | digg story
*I sumbitted this story... PLEASE digg!!!!
The Next Generation Programming Language: D
"Like Java because of its nicely structured classes and uncomplicated syntax, but wish it had the power and efficiency of C or C++? Look no further than than D!"
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Astronomers see the Big Bang in action
Recently, NASA astronomers announced new evidence supporting the Big Bang theory, which states that the universe was once subatomic in size and, in only one trillionth of a second, expanded to astronomical proportions. Oooo... interesting.....
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
2,760 drives, 500GB each, one huge storage array (1.3 Petabytes)
Fujitsu recently launched what it claims to be the world's largest storage array, the ETERNUS 8000 and ETERNUS 4000 storage arrays. Weighing in at 1.36 petabytes, or 1.36 million gigabytes, the ETERNUS file storage arrays push the envelope for enterprise data storage systems.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
AMD Bumps AMD2 Launch Date
"AMD has moved the official launch date of AM2 up two weeks to May 23, 2006. AMD roadmaps have previously put the launch at June 6, 2006 (during Computex 2006), but since motherboards and CPUs are already completed, the launch will be pushed up."Read story @ DailyTech here.
Linux Performance Tuning
Tune the Performance of your Linux System... Some great ways to make things run faster and to check your overall performance.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Xtra Fine Computing Environment: xfce4.4 beta 1
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Ever gotten tired of the standard KDE and Gnome desktop environments? Want something new? Something more executive? Well, xfce (short for Extra Fine Computing Environment) may be a solution for all your needs. Faster, sleeker, and less demanding, xfce is growing in popularity.This story from tuxmachines.org gives a bit of insight into what goes into the system and some of its features. See if it is right for you!Plantage
Wow, this is a truely impressive animation. From Amanita Design, makers of Samorost and Samorost 2, comes "Plantage." A simply beautiful animation, illustrating a bird's little journey. See it here!My Desktop
I thought it would be fun to show off my desktop for once. Its nothing spectacular, but I like it. Currently, I have LiquidWeather and System Monitor running through SuperKaramba. The wallpaper is from VLADSTUDIO.
Kids Outsmart Web Filters
Title says it all. As students are discovering innovative ways to bypass school filters, the administrators are still hurrying to catch up. Funny, I can bypass most filters at school, and administrators are too dumb to prevent it!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Linux Distributors Work Towards Desktop Standards
An article from MSNBC discussing a move by several Linux distributors to standardize on a set of components for desktop versions of the operating system. "The standard created by the Free Standards Group should make it easier for developers to write applications that will work on Linux versions from different distributors. Linux has a firm foothold as an operating system for servers -- it's popular for hosting Web sites, for instance -- but has only a few percent of the desktop market."
See original slashdot post: here.
See original slashdot post: here.
SuSE Linux 10.1RC2 Report
If you are into SuSE Linux like I am, this is very interesting. I can't wait untill SuSE 10.1 is officially released (as stable). The most exciting new feature I see is that your will be able to install XGL much easier than with 10.0 and less (the packages even come on the CDs). If you choose to install the Gnome desktop environment, this new release has a much nice standard theme/ look and feel.Read the full report at tuxmachines.org here.
Microsoft Goes Solar (*Pics*)
Microsoft says the system, which with 2,288 solar panels on four building rooftops generates about 480 kW at peak capacity, is the largest of its kind in Silicon Valley. It's also the first such effort from Microsoft on any one of its worldwide campuses. Wow, microsoft does something (gasp!) right!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Advice for Computer Science College Students
A well-written article describing tips for making computer science your profession. A good read for any student thinking about studying this subject in college.
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read more | digg story
How to Think Like a Computer Scientist - C++
Saturday, April 22, 2006
This is intended for people with little or no programming experience, and is appropriate for first year college or advanced high school students, or anyone interested in learning to program. Under the GNU Free Documentation License.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
How Binary Numbers and Hexadecimal Works
Ever wonder how the binary number system works? Or how Hexadecimal functions? Wonder no more, here is a little introduction to the realm of binary and hexadecimal (two of the most important systems for all computing). Need more? Here is a link to the Wikipedia page explain binary in quite some depth. Learn how to use the binary number system, and confuse all of your friends and family!New BMW 3 Series Coupe Revealed
The new BMW 3 series coupe has just been revealed, and all I can say is wow. With completely new looks, this BMW has definitelly changed for the better. "In true BMW tradition, it also establishes a new standard of performance and driving dynamics with the introduction of an exceptional engine: the first inline six-cylinder with twin-turbochargers, high-precision fuel injection, and an all-aluminum crankcase." Read more here.Architects using old Boeing 727s and 737s fuselages in new building
New York's urban architect recyclers, LOT-EK, have recently designed a library in Guadalajara made entirely of refurbished airplane fuselages.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Gentoo Linux?? Not any time soon...
Friday, April 21, 2006
Ha, being the naive Linux noob that I am, I tried installing Gentoo Linux 2006.0 today. Let me tell you, this is a distro not meant for noobs (or not-as-experienced-users)! I should have know... Anyways, as soon as I got to the installer, I was already confused by the options which I really had no clue about. So, I clicked around, applied what I already knew, and... well, after thinking for a little bit, I thought that if the installer was already so confusing to me, I really shouldn't install the whole OS. So, I retreated (for the better I suppose) and now I am back in my trusted SuSE 10.0 environment. I guess I will just learn as much as I can about Linux through SuSE, and then move on to install a more complicated distro of Linux on my other hard drive. Oh well, just a little set-back for now, but also an opportunity that forces me to learn more about Linux. Still, from what I hear, Gentoo is an EXCELLENT Linux distro, used and loved by many, so don't let my little post here scare you off. : )AMD cuddles with Linux
AMD apparently wants to set up a research group in Dresden not only to optimize Linux for its own processors, but also to integrate the requirements of the open operating system in the development process for future processor generations. Read more here.Boot Faster with Parallel Starting Services
If the slow booting time of your Linux box is driving you crazy, consider parallel booting techniques.
What kind of improvements might you see, compared to your current sequential boot process? Well, let's start by seeing what kind of times you're getting currently. Either grab a stopwatch, or write a simple script to time the boot
read more | digg story
What kind of improvements might you see, compared to your current sequential boot process? Well, let's start by seeing what kind of times you're getting currently. Either grab a stopwatch, or write a simple script to time the boot
read more | digg story
Could this Invention Save us from our Dependence on Oil?
Thursday, April 20, 2006
"A tiny chemical reactor that can convert vegetable oil directly into biodiesel could help farmers turn some of their crops into homegrown fuel to operate agricultural equipment instead of relying on costly imported oil."
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Samorost and Samorost2
In a world of bloody war-simulation video games, it is rare thing to find a game that shines out past the rest, without violence. These games are often neglected and passed off as boring or not exciting enough. But, Samorost 1 and 2 are 2 of the best games I have ever played, without a single drop or "virtual" blood shed. They are simple, point and click flash games, but are made with so much love and skill that playing them is like nothing ever done before. Samorost1 is about a little guy trying to save his "planet" from an immanent collision with another "planet." In Samorost2, the same little guy tries to save his dog from the "aliens" who took him. 
To start off with, I must complement the art work of the game, which is the best I have ever seen. Such simply surreality is hard to accomplish, but the makers (Amanita Design) have done an excellent job. The great, life-like background is such a beautiful contrast to the rather simple, animated figures which constitute the characters of the game. I could go on for ages about how great the game looks, but I will let the reader find that out for himself. The game play just as good as the artwork. Each level presents you with new puzzles to solve, often quite thought provoking. Playing the game was fun at another level. It wasn't that exciting, make-your-heart-race kind of fun you would normally experience in video games, but a more profound sense of enjoyment. I HIGHLY recommend these games to anyone that has ever been disgusted by the modern themes of video games. These games are legends of their own time, a real milestone in what can be done with creativity.AMD Continues To Gain Market Share From Intel!
Intel was stung by excess chip inventories and slowing PC sales in the first quarter and it won't get better soon! Especially with AMD steadily gaining market share from Intel!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
HOWTO: Install Linux onto a USB thumb-drive with encrypted partitions
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Simple instructions for anyone looking for a portable installation that they can easily carry with them for use as rescue media, system administration or as a private workstation. This is an update of the original howto (http://www.debian-administration.org/articles/179), and adds support for 2.6.16, cryptsetup with LUKS support, Udev, and Yaird.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Easter Egg Hunting In Linux =)
Strange Ubuntu names in your Ubuntu hardrive, OpenOffice.org Star Wars Game, "The Book of Mozilla", and the Supercow powers in Debian based systems. Check them out!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Stable kernel 2.6.16.9 released
Today's first stable 2.6.16 release is 2.6.16.9. It contains a fix for a potential inter-process information leak on the i386 and x86-64 architectures. (Update: the FreeBSD advisory has some additional information on this vulnerability, which is specific to certain AMD processors).
Managing Linux Through Windows Active Directory
A nice article about connecting Linux Authentication to Windows Authentication.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Stable Kernel 2.6.16.7 Released
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Well, 2.6.16.6 lasted for at least a couple of hours, but now 2.6.16.7 is out with another security fix. The fixed vulnerability would allow a process with read-only access to a file to delete parts of that file - but probably only on a tmpfs filesystem.More Here and Here.
Installing XGL on SuSE Linux
Yesterday, I was once again fooling around with my Kororaa XGL LiveCD and decided that I want XGL on my SuSE platform. With that said, I did a quick Google search for some directions on how to install and run XGL. After looking at the page for about 2 minutes, I knew I was not going to be able to install something like that (not with my experience). But, for those of you who can do something like this, here are the instructions. I suppose I will wait until SuSE 10.1 is officially released (stable), which is supposed to have an option for installing XGL off of one of the disks. Have fun!Large Ruby on Rails resouce for all levels w/ Articles, Tutorials & more
Very nicely put together resource roundup of all sorts of Ruby on Rails information. From beginners installation tutorials, to more advanced coding articles & tutorials, as well as good like of Ruby on Rails books and hosting options.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Stable Linux Kernel 2.6.16.6 Released
Greg KH and the -stable team have announced the release of Linux kernel 2.6.16.6. Changes for this version include EXT3, netfilter, usb, ptrace, and a handfull of non-X86 changes. The updated 2.6.16.y git tree can be found:
Here
and can be browsed at the normal kernel.org git web browser:
Here
Holographic storage demonstrates 515 Gigabits Per Square Inch Data Density
Monday, April 17, 2006
Holographic data storage pioneer InPhase Technologies, has announced that it has demonstrated the highest data density of any commercial technology by recording 515 gigabits of data per square inch.The first generation drive will have a capacity of 300 gigabytes on a single disk with a 20 megabyte per second transfer rate.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
PlaneShift 0.3.014b Installed on Linux!
I succesfully managed to get the new release of PlaneShift installed on my SuSE Linux platform. It was really quite simple. After downloading, open the terminal and type the following(I ran this as root, you may not have to):
>su
#a+x chmod PlaneShift_CBV0.3.014b.bin
#./PlaneShift_CBV0.3.014b.bin
The installer then runs and PlaneShift is installed in the chosen directory. After installing it is reccomended you run the updater (simple open a terminal cd to the directory PlaneShift is installed in, and type ./updater). Then, enjoy the game!
Triple Boot via BootCamp
It has now been shown that one can successfully boot Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux all on the same machine. This was done on a MacBook, but should work with all macs. Now, with the possibility to boot all 3 OSs on one computer, PCs will soon become a thing of the past. Mac is the new thing now. I mean how much better can it get? Mac OS X, Windows, AND Linux!! Who could ask for any more? Besides, it has already been proven that Windows runs a WHOLE lot better on a Mac. Read more here.
GIMP 2.2.11 Released
Version 2.2.11 of the GNU Image Manipulation Program is now available. This is a bug-fix release in the stable 2.2 series.The Top 15 Security/Hacking Tools & Utilities
A good summary with a description and links of some of the top tools in the Hacking/Security arena. Good for those new in the arena.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
"The Incredibles" Done as an ASCII Movie
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Amazing, a scene from "The Incredibles" done completely as an ASCII movie. Think of the time that must have gone into that! Wow.. A must see!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Physicists in the US have made the first gas that never reaches equilibrium
According to the team, the gas behaves like a "quantum Newton's cradle" -- the atomic equivalent of the popular desk toy that has five steel balls suspended from strings in a straight line. The work could help us better understand the behaviour of many-particle systems and even be used in practical applications like ultrasenstive force detectors
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Interested in Computer Science?
If your planning on going to University for it here is an article that will give you a small taste of what Computer Science is like.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Blue Hippo Scam Alert! The $2000+ low end desktop computer.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Original post: "RAW DEAL! Worst computer deal in the history of scams. They are selling a $300 desktop computer for $2200. They are scamming the public by making it look like an easy payment plan. If the overall price wasn't bad enough, they don't even take on any risk, as they won't ship the computer until you've spent more than $600! Help expose this scam!"Actually, it is not really a scam, just a company sinking VERY low to get money. If people are to stupid not to do the math, then it is really their own fault. Still, this should be stopped.
read more | digg story
Do Not Place Your DS Inside Angry Snowmen
CHECK THIS OUT! VERY FUNNY!!!
The DS Lite's Japanese manual has some illustrations that are much funnier if you don't read Japanese than if you do. Mojo-jojo of the Ars forums translates them all. Hilarious!!!!!!!!Read more
Kororaa XGL LiveCD
After hearing all of the news about XGl and it's amazing features, I decided to see for myself what all the excitement was about. So, I downloaded the Kororaa XGL LiveCD (here, choose the ftp from Latvia as it is the fastest). After downloading, I quickly made a nice bootable CD using K3B, and restarted my computer, popping the new LiveCD into the disk drive. Start up has a nice interface showing you how much of the system is loaded. It takes a while at first, so one must be patient. 
After that, the standard Gnome desktop comes up and here the fun begins! I must first comment on the very testfull and elegant theme that was used with a very nice desktop back ground and a great color scheme. At first, I went ahead and browsed trough the menus at the top of the screen. The LiveCD features a nice array of software for you to try out. I liked the way the menus just seemed to bounce out and fad into / out of the screen, very cool. After opening an application (the GIMP) I just dragged the window around the screen and I liked what I say. The window bends in an elastic way and feels very smooth. Also, most of the windows have transparency features that let you see exactly what is behind the window you are using. 
Now, the feature I find the coolest, the rotating cube of desktops. By simple clicking ctrl+alt+left/right arrow key you can rotate to any of 4 desktops you have open. You can even let your current application window follow you around to another desktop. I can see how a feature like this could really improve productivity, because I know, if there is one thing I hate, it is a crowded desktop. With the nice cube interface, you can easily and quickly switch desktops and have a nice, clean environment to work with. The download itself is only about 442MB, but it comes with quite a few applications. Firefox 1.5.0.1, gaim, totem, lots of cd rippers, players, and burners, gimp, and a bunch of system tools and games are all ready for use. 
Everything worked just fine, except for the fact that I couldn't connect to the internet (I have a wireless internet connection that always takes some special configuring). Powering all this is kernel 2.6.14-r6, gcc 3.4.5, and Xorg 7.0. There are still many features of the CD that I have yet to explore, but from what I have seen, XGL is definitely something I want to see standard in all future Linux distro.
After that, the standard Gnome desktop comes up and here the fun begins! I must first comment on the very testfull and elegant theme that was used with a very nice desktop back ground and a great color scheme. At first, I went ahead and browsed trough the menus at the top of the screen. The LiveCD features a nice array of software for you to try out. I liked the way the menus just seemed to bounce out and fad into / out of the screen, very cool. After opening an application (the GIMP) I just dragged the window around the screen and I liked what I say. The window bends in an elastic way and feels very smooth. Also, most of the windows have transparency features that let you see exactly what is behind the window you are using. Now, the feature I find the coolest, the rotating cube of desktops. By simple clicking ctrl+alt+left/right arrow key you can rotate to any of 4 desktops you have open. You can even let your current application window follow you around to another desktop. I can see how a feature like this could really improve productivity, because I know, if there is one thing I hate, it is a crowded desktop. With the nice cube interface, you can easily and quickly switch desktops and have a nice, clean environment to work with. The download itself is only about 442MB, but it comes with quite a few applications. Firefox 1.5.0.1, gaim, totem, lots of cd rippers, players, and burners, gimp, and a bunch of system tools and games are all ready for use. Everything worked just fine, except for the fact that I couldn't connect to the internet (I have a wireless internet connection that always takes some special configuring). Powering all this is kernel 2.6.14-r6, gcc 3.4.5, and Xorg 7.0. There are still many features of the CD that I have yet to explore, but from what I have seen, XGL is definitely something I want to see standard in all future Linux distro.Images from tuxmachines.org
Star Explodes Inside Another Star
Friday, April 14, 2006
On 12 February 2006, amateur astronomers reported that a faint star in the constellation of Ophiuchus had suddenly become clearly visible in the night sky without the aid of a telescope. Records show that this so-called recurrent nova, RS Ophiuchi, has previously reached this level of brightness 5 times in the last 108 years,most recently in 1985.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Why Windows is less secure than Linux
Graphic argument for why Windows is harder to secure than Linux and Open Source. VERY obvious...
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read more | digg story
Linux Distro Map
Thursday, April 13, 2006
This is a map of all the mainstream Linux distros and where they come from/ what they are based upon.
Windows Vista Preview
Here is a great preview of the up coming Windows Vista next-gen OS from Microsoft. Even though my heart lies with Linux, I must say that Vista looks pretty impressive. The look and feel has completely changed to be more convenient for the user, and many new features have been implemented. But, as with all Windows releases, once Vista comes out I am sure that it will be loaded with bugs and errors. To tell you the truth, I was quite surprised that Vista didn't crash during the presentation.
Google Calender is Released!!!!
After months of speculation and false screenshots, Google has officially released Google Calender. I must say, it is pretty awsome! Check it out.
New Linux Kernel- Stable 2.6.16.5
This is the third kernel release in two days, stable 2.6.16.5. This release only has two patches for x86_64 on Intel CPUs.Read more here and here.
Matrox delivers three screen gaming - only this time with SLI
Remember the Matrox Parhelia and its promise of three screen surround gaming? Matrox's new Triplehead2Go does the same thing but hooks onto an existing SLI setup. Massive panoramas of Counter-Strike and Elder Scrolls!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Firefox Tweaks, Extensions and Optimizations
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Stable kernel 2.6.16.4 released
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Yet another stable kernel release. "Sometimes, keeping up with kernel releases can be a challenge. 2.6.16.4 has just been released with yet another security fix (for a local denial of service vulnerability)."Read more here and here.
Global Warming Capable of Sparking Mass Species Extinctions
Joint study largely confirms earlier dire predictions of species loss from climate change. The Earth could see massive waves of species extinctions around the world if global warming continues unabated, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Conservation Biology.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Just another rant about Windows...
Recently, my Windows hard drive was experiencing some very annoying problems. Everything was terribly slow using Windows and I couldn't open a single application without having to wait at least 10 minutes. Of course, this was rather annoying and my first thought was VIRUS! Sadly, the anti-virus scan failed, eventually just stopping after taking about one minute to scan each file. To say the least, I was quite livid by now. I was in no mood to re-install Windows AND Linux (Suse was working so well). See, the thing that really gets me about Windows is that it doesn't play nice with others... at all. I can't install Windows after Linux because Windows just HAS to over-write the master boot record and boot loader. So, I asked a fellow Linux user if there was any way around this most aggravating obstacle. He, in response, sent me this article: Linux+Win9x+Grub HOWTO. My hope was renewed, but with some skepticism. The HOWTO explains everything assuming that you have a single hard drive configuration with partitions for Windows and Linux. Yet, I still tried it, but to no avail. I couldn't get the boot-loader (Grub) to install properly once I had Windows reinstalled. So, now I am stuck with just Windows until I get my beloved Suse Linux 10.0 reinstalled. Perhaps the article mentioned above can give some other Linux/ Windows user in peril some help. I am sure the technique works, just with my lack of experience, I just couldn't pull it off. Well, yet another flaw with Windows exposed. One would think that with so many issues, I would just leave Windows off altogether, and believe me, if I could I would. But, I just can't say good-bye to some Windows only games like the Need for Speed series and other games/ applications that just won't run under Linux, or do so only through much hassle with Wine (which I haven't even attempted to use really). So ends my rant about Windows, perhaps just a necessary evil for now.
Desktop Core Duo: ASUS N4L-VM and the Intel T2600
Ever wonder how those new Intel Core-Duo processors run? Well, here is an article that basically sums up it's performance and benchmarks. The system was also tested against an AMD FX-60 system and an Intel Pentium Extreme Edition 965 & 955. The results were very interesting... but for $600+, is the processor worth it? Read more...
Steps to compile C / C++ programs using GNU compiler
This is a very helpful article for those new to C/C++ compiling under Linux using the GNU compiler. It goes through the basic steps on compiling and executing your program along with some nice examples.
Stable kernel 2.6.16.3 released
The third stable update to the 2.6.16 kernel is out. There does not appear to have been an announcement as of this writing, but the changelog shows that 2.6.16.3 consists of a single patch for what appears to be a local denial of service vulnerability in the key management code.Originally from here and here
Intel Mac Benchmark Smorgasbord
So how do the latest Intel Macs compare with an AMD64 system? A Quad? How about some older iMacs or powerbooks? You used to have to look at 10 different benchmark pages to get all of the info you wanted, but this site lists it all. Most comparisons are against different Macs but an AMD64 system was often included.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
You Know You Go to a Tech School When...
Monday, April 10, 2006
A hilarious article, basically relfecting the lifestyle of all geeks. My favorite: Friendship depends on what browser and OS you use. Those IE kids get awful lonely.
OpenSUSE wins Best of Show award at LinuxWorld
Yeah for OpenSUSE!!! OpenSUSE won the Best of Show award at the LinuxWorld convention in Boston.
Pitting ATI against Nvidia with Oblivion
A look at how the hit new game Oblivion performs on various graphics cards with nVidia and ATI chipsets. Six cards were tested, ranging from the mid $200s to the low $600s.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Linux & Open Source Software: The History
A nice, consise history of Linux and Open Source. Good stuff to know...
Firefox Hacking
Corresponding to the post below, this is a guide on actually hacking Firefox. The Hacks are relatively simple and really do help improve overall performance. Have fun hacking!
Firefox Guide
This is an excellent guide to Firefox that helps you optimized your browsing experience. The guide goes through plug-ins, extensions, hacks, and more!
Explanation of Phi: The Golden Ratio
Shapes proportioned according to the golden ratio have long been considered aesthetically pleasing in Western cultures, and the golden ratio is still used frequently in art and design, suggesting a natural balance between symmetry and asymmetry.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
The Explanation of Phi: The Golden Ratio
Shapes proportioned according to the golden ratio have long been considered aesthetically pleasing in Western cultures, and the golden ratio is still used frequently in art and design, suggesting a natural balance between symmetry and asymmetry. This is why...
Explanation of Phi: The Golden Ratio
Shapes proportioned according to the golden ratio have long been considered aesthetically pleasing in Western cultures, and the golden ratio is still used frequently in art and design, suggesting a natural balance between symmetry and asymmetry.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
DHTML Yoshi's Island in (almost) 3D
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Written entirely in Javascript, it is a 3D-ish version of the opening screen from Yoshi's Island. Very Cool.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Video of High-tech Honda Civic Hatchback
This is a video of the all new, simply amazing Honda Civic Hatchback. A must see for all Honda enthusiasts! Want one? Sadly you can't get it. This cool little hatch back with a 2.2 Liter Diesel engine and six speed manual gearbox, getting 55 mpg, will not be for sale in the US. Sad really...
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Giant Space-Time Ripples May Cause Cosmic Expansion
Dark energy is not necessary to explain the accelerating expansion of the universe observed by astronomers, suggest controversial new calculations. Instead, gigantic ripples in space-time - larger than the observable universe - may be the cause. Read more.
The Pentagon's Futuristic Exotic Weapons
This is the future of our weapons system. But is it worth it? And for what cause?
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
PCLOS SuperGamer-1
Saturday, April 08, 2006
SuperGamer-1 is a DVD based on PCLinuxOS and is the ultimate gaming Linux distrubution. Included on the 3.6 gig DVD are several 3d acceleration drivers and many awsome games (including Quake 4 and America's Army). Read more!
The Anatomy of A Search Engine
This is Sergey Brin and Lawrence Page's original Stanford paper from 1997 that started the googol phenomenon: The Anatomy of a Large-Scale Hypertext Web Search Engine. I have hardly read half of it, but find it extremely interesting. A must read for any computer geek or googol enthusiast!
Possible Discovery of Liquid Water on Martian Surface
Researchers at the University of California Davis have identified
features in images returned by the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover that appear to indicate the current presence of liquid water on the Martian surface.
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features in images returned by the Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover that appear to indicate the current presence of liquid water on the Martian surface.
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Why open source is taking over the planet ...
Friday, April 07, 2006
Scientists discover rare blue ring around Uranus
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Scientist have now discovered a rare blue ring around Uranus. This makes it one of only two planets in our solar system having this feature (Saturn being the other planet). Read more...
Red Hat ends Fedora Foundation
Just about 2 days ago, Red Hat, the enterprise Linux leader, has ended the Fedora Foundation. The post I tried to put up the day it happened has for some reason failed to appear on this page, so.... I guess this is a bit of old news. Still, click here, for details on this story.
The ULTIMATE Linux Guide
This is truly the ultimate guide for all Linux newbies, myself included. The Linux Newbie Guide.com is a great source for answers to many questions that newbies ask. The site is even great for people who have been using computer/ Linux for years, and just need some quick reference. Check it out!
Linux and Wireless
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
On my quest to set up a working Linux system on my PC, the most major problem I encountered was getting the wireless internet to work. I must have spent a month testing out different distros and drivers, trying in vain to get a proper internet connection set up. I then stumbled upon three pages that changed my life:
Linux Wireless LAN Support
A survey of Linux and WiFi &
Linux Wireless LAN Howto
Withouth these pages I would have never gotten my internet working. Seeing as they helped me a tremendous amount, try them out yourself! You can get wireless internet with Linux, it just takes a bit more time in some cases and persistance.
Linux Wireless LAN Support
A survey of Linux and WiFi &
Linux Wireless LAN Howto
Withouth these pages I would have never gotten my internet working. Seeing as they helped me a tremendous amount, try them out yourself! You can get wireless internet with Linux, it just takes a bit more time in some cases and persistance.
New Mac Commercial
With the release of boot camp, Mac has also released this new commercial.... ok its not a real commercial.
Source
Source
Boot Camp Released!!!!
Apple has released the Public Beta of its Boot Camp program. This program will allow all Mac users to install Windows XP on their Macs.
Professor Predicts Human Time Travel This Century
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Ronald Mallett from the University of Connecticut has devised an experiment to observe a time traveling neutron in a circulating light beam. While his team still needs funding for the project, Mallett calculates that the possibility of time travel using this method could be verified within a decade.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Physicists Make Baffling Discovery: Chaos = Order
According to a computational study conducted by a group of physicists at Washington University in St. Louis, one may create order by introducing disorder. The physicists' research is not only hard to grasp for non-physicists, but puzzling for physicists, too. "Every physicist who hears this is surprised."
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
How fast can they crack your password?
Monday, April 03, 2006
This is a very interesting article on how fast it would take to crack your password. Are you safe?
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
A computer with 400 TERABYTES of Memory! (2008)
Cray Inc. is building a supercomputer that consists of 24,000 2.6 Ghz quad-core Opteron (AMD) processors. This will be the first computer ever to hit ONE PFLOP - 1 quadrillion operations/second (the human brain is capable of about 10). It will use up to 400TB of memory and 11PB of storage.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Simple and Easy Linux File Structure Tree image
This diagram lays out the Linux file structure in an easy to understand way. Very helpfull for beginners.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
