Just Another Tech Blog

"Here on Mr. Gartner's 200-acre pig farm, the fields are now covered with 10,050 solar panels, which soak up the sunshine and convert it into electricity. The ambient hum in the air is not the sound of insects but of transformers carrying a high-voltage current to the villages nearby. Mr. Gartner makes more than $600,000 a year."

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Adobe developer Mike Melanson has been tracking the development progress of Flash Player 9 for Linux users. A recent post on his Penguin.SWF blog listed the APIs being used in this version of the software.

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The Advanced Packaging Tool (APT) is a distinguishing feature of Debian-based systems. Most GNU/Linux users know it through the apt-get command, a utility that calls on the lower-level dpkg command. However, other APT-based utilities remain largely unknown to desktop users.

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"They must be eternal optimists. How else would you explain the plan by physicists to look for a hypothetical particle, the Higgs boson, by sifting through the remnants of an evaporating mini black hole, which itself may or may not exist?"

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*Original Source: New Scientist

Setup a working LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP) server using Ubuntu 6.06. The guide, as the title states, is VERY noob friendly. Almost all configuration is done via GUI!

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Today I completed my first very successful install of IE (version 6) on a Linux system. I had attempted this before, but had failed. As with last time, I used the Sidenet Wine Configuration Utility. This utility installs IE6 and WMP using WINE. To know what version to download, just input wine --version at the terminal, and see what output it brings up. My WINE version happened to be 20050725 (this number is the release date: July 25, 2005. Hey! This WINE version is one year and a day old! Dang... I really need to update). Anyway, download a version of the SWCU (that is what I will abbreviate Sidenet Wine Configuration Utility as) that is fitting to your version (as in, if you don't want to download the newest version, which I didn't, choose one that is know to work with your version of WINE. See "What's New" section of the SWCU page to find out what version will work with your WINE version). Ok... phew! I write too much... Anyway, once you have downloaded that, find out where you virtual C drive is present (you need to know this during setup). It may be located at the default ~c/ location, but I found out mine was located at /home/linnerd40/.wine/drive_c which is actually in a hidden file.... Ok, once you know that, extract the SWCU package and cd to the directory it is present in. Then, at the terminal, run

./setup

NOT AS ROOT! First off, you should never run anything as root unless instructed to do so, and second, the setup utility will not work when run as root. Then, answer some questions and choose which installation you want. You will need a working internet connection, as IE6 and WMP have to be downloaded. Then, a setup wizard (GUI) for IE6 should pop up. When it came up by me.... there was no text! So, I just kept pressing the default button, and... it worked! If I ever find out what the actual text is, I will let you know. That went very well, with no errors (or so I hope). Next came the WMP install, which didn't go as well. After the IE6 setup, wait a while and the WMP setup will appear. This, again, is done through a GUI, this time with TEXT! I went through, and selected the default options, and everything was going well, until the end, where it stated "Setup Failed" and some other MS crap. Oh well, I didn't need WMP anyway (MPLAYER all the way!). After that, IE6 launches... and there you have it. A working IE6 on Linux using WINE. If this worked for you.... CONGRATS! If not, I wish I could help, but I am not an expert with WINE. All I can suggest is to go trough the setup again, but with different options selected. Good luck! See screenshot above to see how IE6 looks running under WINE (yeah, crappy. Thought so too! BUT, it works... so Hey! Fine with me!).

"The next release of the Debian Project's Linux distribution will run on AMD's AMD64 processors for the first time, according to the organisation's Web site." This is actually quite exciting. I have often asked myself when debian will finally be released to run on AMD64 platforms, and now the Linux world need just wait a bit longer for this to finally come true! Read more.

Hilarious! Movie imitating The Matrix.... with a twist! Very amusing ending... Must watch.



Source

As you may remember, in my last post I stated that my only problem with Thunderbird was its apparent inability to open links in Firefox. This problem has been solved! Solution: When in Thunderbird, do the following:
Edit->
preferences->
Select the "Advance" tab->
Select the Config Editor at the bottom of the window.

When in the "Config Editor" :
Right Click->
New->
String->
Name: network.protocol-handler.app.ftp ; Value: /path/to/firefox

Again:

Right Click->
New->
String->
Name: network.protocol-handler.app.http ; Value: /path/to/firefox

And once more:

Right Click->
New->
String->
Name: network.protocol-handler.app.https ; Value: /path/to/firefox

Of course, set the /path/to/firefox as the location of Firefox (in most cases /usr/bin/firefox). This should configure Thunderbird to open all links in a Firefox window (or Tab if Firefox is already running). Hope this helps for some people that were in my same situation! Many thanks to the kind people @ MozillaZine.org forums who helped me get this!

In the distant, young universe, quasars shine with a brilliance unmatched by anything in the local cosmos. Although they appear starlike in optical telescopes, quasars are actually the bright centers of galaxies located billions of light-years from Earth." research reveals a new picture of Quasars, that also challenges views conceived in the past. Interesting read... (sorry, a bit difficult to summarize).

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The One Laptop per Child (OLPC) initiative for the developing world is gaining ground in Africa, with Nigeria announcing the acquisition of one million laptops. Prices are, however, set to fluctuate. Still, the laptops will be the cheapest ever sold in Africa.

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The 2.6.17.7 stable kernel update is out. This one adds a relatively long list of fixes for problems with networking, sound, and several other areas.

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EDIT: Hmmm.... looks like TigerDirect has better prices now... I don't know what is going on... a 3700+ costs $209 @ newegg.com and only $104 @ TigerDirect. Oh well, most processors have gotten really inexpensive... go with the one you want, from where you want!

Wow, prices on AMD processors have drop a ton @ newegg.com! I knew prices were going to drop, but when I saw and AMD X2 4200+ for $199, I was like.... WOW! Also, the X2 3800+ is only $169... I am seriously considering getting that! Anyways, check out the prices at newegg.com! w00t!

AMD's acquisition of ATI Technologies, one of the top two graphics processor makers, may be great news for desktop Linux users.

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"Why have I never used this before?" That was my reaction after my first use of Thunderbird, the opensource mail client/ rss reader from the creators of Firefox! For a while now I have been looking for a mail client to view my gmail account messages from. Kmail was no good, and other clients that I tried simply didn't cut it. Then I got to Thunderbird... true bliss. I love this program. Not only could I easily configure it to read my Gmail account, I can now also view all my RSS feeds from it too (I had been using Liferea which was awesome, but I wanted something "prettier" and something with email integration). To set up my account so it would read my Gmail, I simply followed the directions given my Google (you can find them here). Then, I simply imported all my news feeds from Liferea... and there I had it! A perfect way to view my email and my news feeds. The only thing I was not happy with was the default theme... I thought it rather bland... So, I just downloaded the "Tiger Mail" theme from the Thunderbird Themes page... and everything was looking MUCH better. In conclusion, if you have not used Thunderbird... do so now! You will love it! The only thing I still have to figure out, which is rather annoying... is getting Thunderbird to open links in Firefox... One would think this would be quite easy... yet it hasn't. I don't know, maybe it is just me. Anyway, GET THUNDERBIRD!!!!

"ATI is battling with Nvidia Corp. to be the No. 2 maker of computer-graphics chips behind Intel Corp. Buying ATI may help Sunnyvale, California-based Advanced Micro in its efforts to keep taking market share from Intel, the world's largest semiconductor maker."

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A great video of the bleeding edge of copiz/XGL, an emerging technology that promises great things for the future of the Linux desktop.



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Hello readers!
I have returned! I will now resume my normal posting habits. Sadly, I have noticed my blog is down to 7 hits a day... PLEASE COME BACK READERS!!! Anyway, for those of you still here. Enjoy my blog!

AMD says that it will release true quad-core processors by mid-2007, distinguishing the chips from packaged two dual core design that Intel has announced will be released this year. AMD's quad-core product will differ from the Intel offering because it will four distinct processors on a single die rather than two dual-cores packaged together.

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Novel has unveiled Suse Linux Enterprise 10 the world's first major Linux distribution to offer support the Xen open source virtualization technology. More detailed posts coming up!

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Hackers are using techniques popularised by developers of open-source software like Linux to improve their malicious code, a researcher at McAfee has said. Also see http://trends.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/07/15/1331229&
from=rss on Microsoft FUD potential

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"We've all been waiting for this day, the day Intel lifts the last remaining curtain on the chip that is designed to re-take the performance crown AMD, and return Intel to it's days of glory."

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Hello to all! While I am currently a tad bit crippled in my blogging activities (see previous posts), I would like to redirect you to another blog. Check it out here: Linux and Open Source Blog. The posts there are awesome and should keep you going until I am back (if not steal your attention away from this blog entirely). Have fun!

More than 90% of operating systems in the desktop world does not mean Microsoft is entitled to be the King of Operating Systems! Who is? Read more!

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*You may wonder how I write this post, since my last post states I would be at a lack of internet for 2 weeks. Wrong! Yay! I can get internet here where I am! Don't expect many posts though, my time on the computer is usually limited! Expect small posts via digg.com.

Hello readers! I am leaving for 2 weeks... so don't expect any posts! I am going to "The Governor's School" for music... yeah, I am going to be stuck with very little internet access for 2 WEEKS!!!! How is a nerd to survive?! Anyway, I'll resume posting on June 23! Untill the... Farewell!

Well, as you may know, one of my former hard drives crashed a while back and I have been stuck with just one hard drive for a couple weeks. Yes, I sent the hard drive back to where I got my computer... and I have never heard or seen anything of it again... hmmm... do I hear lawsuit? Naw, it was a refurbished drive anyways.. so I don't care. Ok. So, a couple days ago I ordered a new Seagate 20gigabyte 5400RPM (sad, I know) hard drive for $10 @ TigerDirect after rebates. Yesterday, I got the drive. And, eager to have a new drive to test Linux distros on, I set to work installing it. Well, I got it installed and then I realized.... oh crap, I only have one jumper (the one that came with the new drive). I frantically looked for the old jumpers from my setup before my last hard drive crash. No luck... then I realized... I had accidentally sent both jumpers with the hard drive when returning it to my computer vendor. HOW DUMB WAS THAT? Ok, no response to that please. A bit desperate, I took one of the jumpers from one of my optical drives. And, while pulling it out, it jumped out of my hand and into the most in-accessible corner of my case. Oh *expletive*. So, for the next half and hour or so, I tried to get the darn thing out of that little corner. Finally, using a bent paper clip, I got it out.. Phew! So... not wanting to loose the jumper again... I just set it back into the optical drive. My initial problem... still not solved. My only place left to turn: Computer Forums. I have been a member there for a little while now, so I asked the other members if you could run two drives with one jumper. Turns out, you can run two drives... with no jumper! What a relief... So just now, I have pulled out the jumper in the new hard drive and everything works fine! Now... I just have to mail in the rebate and get to work installing new distros on the hard drive! w00t! Thanks CF!

Physicists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have designed and built a novel electromagnetic trap for ions that could be easily mass produced to potentially make quantum computers large enough for practical use.

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Linus Torvalds has announced the first release candidate for the upcoming 2.6.18 kernel. He noted that the changes are extensive, "the changes are too big for the mailing list, even just the shortlog." "Most architectures got updated, Most architectures got updated, ACPI updates, networking, SCSI and sound, IDE, infiniband, input, DVB, etc."

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"You probably agree with me that running Windows XP on a 1.4GHz PIII would make that user unhappy. And yet that's the server for the Linux system driving 16 stations (they'll double that next year)."

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A great, complete review of SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10. Points such as: installation, on the desktop, and Home/ Office use are all discussed. Review has many links to videos to watch the new SLED10 in action!

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"Wardriving is fun. Going around the neighborhood and mapping all the wireless networks may be nothing more than a geeky hobby but it can sure teach you alot. And viewing the results in Google Earth is icing on the cake." And all of this.... with Ubuntu Linux! It just keeps getting better... wish I had a lap top...

Learn more!

The most computationally intensive computer program ever developed has been put to work simulating the quantum behavior of atoms.

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Become a registered Linux user! Get counted at http://counter.li.org/. I registered today, and I am:

"GTK+ is a multi-platform toolkit for creating graphical user interfaces. Offering a complete set of widgets, GTK+ is suitable for projects ranging from small one-off tools to complete application suites."

GTK 2.10 adds significant new functionality while maintaining source and binary compatibility with GTK+ 2.8. Highlights of new features and improvements in GTK+ 2.10 are:

• Printing Support


• Recent Files Support


• Drag and Drop Support in Notebooks


• New Widgets and Call Renderers


• Changes in the File Chooser


• Changes in the Tree View Widget


• Changes in the Text View and Entry Widgets


• And MORE

Read full Release announcement here.

Start with the ultimate AMD64 motherboard and build on it to create a masterpiece of your own... Linux syle!

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