Locally, a group of Linux advocates set up Sahana, a collection of web based disaster management applications that provides solutions to large-scale humanitarian coordination and collaboration in disaster situation and its aftermath. It’s a good start for us to have a centralized area for any possible communication when disaster strikes. There are also others who have been tweeting and plurking the latest news. The updates were related to volunteer work, how to give relief goods, as well as tips on how to check on your car when it gets flooded to info on which shop offers services to laptops which needed to be serviced/recovered after the flood. I also received messages from friends in other countries and amidst the time differences it is heart-warming to receive messages from those who care.

Personally, I am glad that technology is not only used to improve one’s work. It is also being used to effectively disseminate information needed. This way, we’re able to not just be updated about where the storm is going but what we could do when it hits, etc. It also helps us track which shelters need more supplies, or more volunteers and so on.

This is one heck of a learning experience for all of us, I think. Especially for us in the Philippines. It’s a matter of preparation and coordination among people so we could adapt to whatever storms (literally and figuratively) that might hit us.

Post from: New Linux User

Moblin

Will these netbooks be available within the quarter? I am hoping that Moblin will be polished early next quarter so that more users could get a feel of things there. I’d like to see more feedback about the user interface. Of course it is different from the rest of usual desktop environments so there might be much resistance or acceptance.

Post from: New Linux User

Interestingly enough, Acer might be releasing the Android-powered Acer Aspire One in the third quarter of the year. And they could probably even have a netbook sale around Thanksgiving, right? Or around Christmas time. A strategic time of release, don’t you think? Especially if these netbooks would cost lower. For Linux users who want to play around with Android on their netbooks, this would be interesting because at least you get hardware that works with the software already. Unless Acer releases something half-baked, that is. I don’t think they would be doing that because their customers could end up complaining.

Somehow, I’d like to see Android on even smaller devices like the Sony Vaio P Series that just looks like a pocketbook because it somehow feels right to me for it to ‘feel very mobile’ due to its size. Or maybe something like a DS Lite or a DSi. The DSi could even connect to wireless internet even with WPA security so I wonder if there’s a way to load Android there for the heck of it.

Post from: New Linux User

• streamlined scanning capabilities
• new antivirus filters
• improved handling of system resource
• improved ease of use
• support for 64-bit and multi-CPU architectures and multi-core
  CPUs
• a modular approach to software

It has been tested on the following distros:

• Mandriva
• Fedora Core
• Debian
• SUSE
• Red Hat
• Red Flag
• Ubuntu
• other Debian-based distros

Maybe those who are running small businesses might want to consider using AVG for their needs. I’ve encountered some people who use AVG on their Windows computers and they swear by it. I personally used it for a time but right now, I only turn to ClamAV for my needs. At least, this is one more option for us who would like to make sure our Linux machines are not breeding grounds for malware. After all, these viruses might affect other users who would like to access your machine, especially if they are on Windows. As they say: an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. But do note that AVG has a price tag of 163USD per year for every 10 client access.

Post from: New Linux User

Lately I’ve been listening to music on my netbook using Listen. It’s like iTunes, Amarok and Exaile and Rhythmbox in a way because the interface is like that.

Screenshot of Listen (image credit: Clair Ching, 2009)

Aside from that, my Rhythmbox install keeps hanging until I have to restart. It totally sucks when that happens. So far, I haven’t had similar issues with Listen. That’s why I think you ought to give it a try because it might actually work for you.

Here’s a quick list of Listen’s features:
* Partial DAAP support
* Listen Last.fm Station
* Record any stream played in listen
* A Equalizer 10 Bands
* Icecast Agent (to use with a icecast server)
* Visulisazer (all gstreamer visualizer plugin are supported)
* Jamendo Music Store browser
* Crossfade playback engine
* A plugin system to easy write new feature
* Some other (gajim plugin, avant-window-navigator plugin, new lyrics backend)

So far, things are looking great for Listen and it really had a release candidate you could check out by downloading and installing it on your computer.

It looks like a promising project so I’d keep using it, I think. So far it seems better than Bluemindo.

Post from: New Linux User

Image Credit: Clair Ching, 2009.

Some of the interesting things about this version of Knoppix:
1. My wireless works out of the box. (Look ma, no tweaks!)
2. The user interface looks very similar to something…
3. There’s Compiz right away. I finally got to see Compiz funkiness on my own netbook.
4. Clean-looking user interface.
5. Media playing is not fussy. I was able to play avi files as well as mp3s without a hitch.
6. There’s an option to try bluetooth connectivity so you could surf the internet.

There are some things that aren’t quite perfect yet:
1. Dual screen is not enabled by default. Because the screens are just mirrors of each oher. Orz
2. There aren’t too many choices in terms of default applications.

I want to test this on my machine a bit more but the printing and internet access will have to wait.

For now, I will give you some screenshots I took of Knoppix.
1. Video playback

Image credit: Clair Ching, 2009.
2. Music playback

3. Installing of components

Image credit: Clair Ching, 2009.
4. UMTS/modem setup options

Image credit: Clair Ching, 2009.

Post from: New Linux User

Kuki is also based on Ubuntu but it boasts of tweaks that are specific to the hardware of your Aspire One. The Kuki team’s objectives are as follows:

• For Kuki to be an out of the box working system
• For Kuki to boot fast
• Have a low usage on SSD/HDD
• Include lightweight and fully working programs for common daily tasks

It uses the combination of Openbox and LXDE so the graphical user interface is comparatively lightweight. LXDE is comfortable to use as I’ve posted before. And for those who like Openbox as a window manager, it seems like a good option for the Aspire One as I am using it myself. As pointed out by It Runs On Linux, you could install the Kuki Linux kernel on top of the Ubuntu installation so you could get the patches and fixes instead of installing it completely.

Post from: New Linux User

So how have you Linux users have been? Any newbie troubles you’ve been experiencing? Let me know and maybe I could help you out.

One of my online buddies didn’t really know how to add/remove programs on his sister’s Acer Aspire One and he posted an SOS online. Though I haven’t really tried Linpus on my own AAO, I found a tip that might help you if you have the same issue he’s having.

You could install new applications via the Add/Remove Software menu by making it show in the graphical user interface. When you do that, you will have a wide variety of programs to choose from. Those who are intimidated by the command line will find this not so difficult to follow.

I hope that helps!

Post from: New Linux User

When you need to look at the contents of the tar.gz file you downloaded, you could actually use the command less to list them for you!

$ less yourfile.tar.gz

Image credit: Clair Ching, 2009. Screenshot posted on Flickr.

This is a sample of the output of the less command. You don’t have to extract the file’s contents before you could check if all the files you are expecting to be there.

This is thanks to the article on ServerWatch It’s called Reading Compressed Files with Less.

Another tip I got from the article is that you could list contents of .gz files with zless instead of less. There are other useful commands in the article and maybe you’d be able to use them depending on what your needs are. If you’re not using a GUI environment you already have a tool for listing files. I have to admit using the desktop environments and window managers like GNOME and OpenBox more so I’ve been relying on the tools available with them.

Post from: New Linux User

I’ve read that other people used different panels and docks for their system tray and applets. I actually like the full screen goodness I have with OpenBox right now as well as the docker which shows that I have applications running like Pidgin and Gnome-do. I also want to see the time and date just so I won’t be too disoriented.

I’ve tried wmclock but I didn’t like the way it looks. Now I have wmcalclock. It has the same layout but it looks cleaner than wmclock in my eyes. I just have the docker hidden until I do a mouse over on the upper left part of my screen.

What clock applets have you tried and liked? Are you also on Openbox or some other desktop?

Post from: New Linux User