3844229
submission
LWATCDR writes:
Okay Microsoft has finally figured out how to get everybody to install Silverlight.
They have partnered with Playboy and put up classic Playboy images on line but require you to install silverlight to view them.
Tricky.
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,2845,2343529,00.asp
3505437
submission
LWATCDR writes:
nVidia is going to support the VIA Nano CPU on the ION platform. For those people that don't know the ION platform brings the HD video decoding to netbook and nettop class systems. nVidia has already shown the ION combined with Intel's Atom CPU but now it will be available for the higher performance VIA Nano CPU.
What this means is that we could see some very nice, low power, and Linux friendly netbooks, nettops, media pcs, and set-top boxes. While nVidia doesn't offer FOSS drivers they do have a much better record of Linux support than S3 does.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/20/nivida-ion-platform-to-support-via-nano-processors-this-year/ for a little more info.
3208895
submission
LWATCDR writes:
Mozilla has given the Wikimedia foundation $100,000 to fund Ogg development. The reason is simple, "Open standards for audio and video are important because they can be used by anyone for any purpose without royalties, and can be inspected and improved by an open community. Today, video and audio on the web are dominated by proprietary technologies, most frequently patent-encumbered codecs wrapped into closed-source player widgets."
While Vorbis is better standard than MP3 everything I have heard about Theora is that it is technical inferior to many other video codecs. I wonder if wouldn't be better if more effort directed to Dirac http://diracvideo.org/ and maybe even putting Dirac into an Ogg container.
No mention was made of FLAC or Speex funding. If more media players supported Speex it would be an ideal codec for many podcasts and audio books. It really is too bad that these codecs get over looked so often.
2448913
submission
LWATCDR writes:
The 64 bit march goes on. First we got 64 bit Flash now Sun is providing a 64 bit Java plugin.
Now for most people there is nothing to hold you back from running 64 bit Linux.
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NjkyOQ
1318835
submission
LWATCDR writes:
Well the Source for Android is now available. A will assume that it is GPL so it should make all FOSS users pretty happy. It is available for download here http://source.android.com/
So when will we see it on Palm Treos. What other devices will end up running Android?
I kind of want to see how well it would work on a Netbook?
1293901
submission
LWATCDR writes:
Okay I have set up a Linux box for a group I am a member of to replace an old Windows 95 machine. This is to replace the computer in the media center. The old system was only used to look up information in a large text file that has a list of all the videos tapes on hand. I have already moved the data into an OpenOffice Calc. I hate using spreadsheets as a database but they are a good tool for converting a text file into something useful like a CSV or xBase file. I was going to use the database in OpenOffice to make a nice little application. The problem is that the "new" PC is only a 500 Mhz Celeron with 192 mb of ram. It will not run OpenOffice I have the spreadsheet moved over to gnumeric but I was thinking I should write a real media manager for them.
I know Java, C++, and a few other programming languages but Java is too heavy for this machine. C# and Mono also seem a little heavy for this machine. C++ seems like overkill for such a simple application. I am just not fond of LAMP for local single user program. I mean why put a web server on this box? I figure SQLlite would be a good database for this but what language would be good for writing the GUI and logic in? Python would be fun to learn but what IDE and interface builders are available? Ruby could be an option as well. Or should I just bite the bullet and use C++?
I have the box up and working with Zenworks and it seems pretty snappy. I would have to say I was impressed with Zenworks.
So what is a good, fast, and light development platform to write a simple form and database application in Linux?
828873
submission
LWATCDR writes:
I work with a group of young men 16-18 and I am thinking of starting a computer class for them. I was thinking about teaching them how to clean off spyware, virus scanning, defrag, and removing craplets. You know the stuff that geeks are typically asked to do for their friends or what the Geek Squad charges way too much for.
After that I hope to move on to hardware repair. Thinks like installing RAM, replacing hard drives and power supplies.
Maybe even move on to building a PC.
I really want to hit on the evils of piracy. I intend to show the young men where they can find free alternatives to pirating software. Things like OpenOffice, Gimp, Thunderbird, Linux, and so on. I hope that if all goes well I might even teach them the basics of networking and setting up servers.
The problem is that I know that I want to include how to use Windows XP, and Vista. I might even include Windows server and WHS after I learn it myself.
The problem is I don't want to pay for that software myself and the organization has no money to spend on it. The Linux stuff is free but the Microsoft software would cost money. Does Microsoft offer a program for small not for profits? If not I will be limited to teaching XP and Linux. Not a terrible thing but I would like to teach these young men how to deal what every they might run into.
773157
submission
LWATCDR writes:
From Endgadget http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/15/evidence-mounts-for-august-eee-pc-carnage-with-299-dell-e-launc/
It looks like Dell is going to launch a EeePC competitor.
The Specs look very good.
1.6GHz Atom processor
512 Mb of RAM expandable to 1GB
1,024 x 600 display
3x USB
SSD
integrated webcam
WiFi
2.2 pounds
and a $299 price.
Other rumors are an Instant on Linux "A flavor of Ubuntu?" and XP as an option.
They also mention WiMax, WiWan and BT as wireless options.
They are also bringing out a 12" model no info on the price yet.
Well if they deliver it for $299 sign me up.
760121
submission
LWATCDR writes:
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9107239&source=rss_topic122
From the article.
"Developers have created an easy way to load Android, Google Inc.'s mobile phone operating system that is still in the works, on Nokia Corp.'s N810 open-source handheld devices.
The development is of interest to people who are trying to build applications for Android rather than to general users. "So, from the point of view of someone who just wants to use his N800 and doesn't necessarily want to experiment for the sake of experimenting, what does running Android get me?" one person asked on the Internet Tablet Talk Web site that is sharing the technique for loading the software on the devices. "
While this is kind of cool what I really want it for someone to port it to the Treo or Centro :)
752017
submission
LWATCDR writes:
Yes it looks like Microsoft is going to a rental program for Office.
From the article.
"The software bundle, which also includes Microsoft's Live OneCare computer security software, will be sold at nearly 700 Circuit City stores for $70 per year."
Well I for one will be happy to stick with OpenOffice for now. From Microsoft's point of view it means a constant flow of money. For the customer it means you only have to pay a little each year instead of a lot every few years. I don't think this will save the average user any money and I wonder about problems with "activation".
So will this fly or will it give a big push to OpenOffice.
Read more at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080702/ap_on_hi_te/microsoft_office_subscription;_ylt=Aglfs.0Rrm.XlMNYRXVQuI5Y.3QA
751141
submission
LWATCDR writes:
ZFS looks like the best thing since sliced bread. Any post about file systems will soo end up talking bout how great ZFS is and or about why it can not be used under Linux except using FUSE.
But there is very little information about ZFS and how to use it. Wikipedia offers some information but I have yet to find anything that looks like a how to or even good documentation for what looks like a very powerful but complex file system.
Anybody know of any in depth sites on how to use ZFS under Linux, BSD, and Solaris?
678552
submission
LWATCDR writes:
A company out of the UK has an Intel Atom based Mini-ITX mother board available. http://www.tranquilpc-shop.co.uk/acatalog/Motherboards.html
It has a riser for for two PCI cards , two SATA ports and an IDE ports so it could make a grate little NAS, firewall, mame box, or low power workstation.
To add to the fun it has a real parallel port "perfect for hardware hacking", a real RS-232 port "perfect for data acquisition", and two USB ports. The price is around $100 give or take so the price isn't bad and hopefully will come down over time. All in all a nice system to run Linux, WindowsXP, BSD, or maybe even OpenSolaris on.
473770
submission
LWATCDR writes:
First there was the Everex gPC running gOS Linux, then the ever hackable Asus eeePC notebook, then the Everex cloudbook, Shuttle's new KPC and now the Mirus $199 Linux PC hits your local Sears. So what do you get for the money?
Intel Celeron 420 1.6GHz processor
1GB Memory
80GB Hard Drive
Card Reader
Modem
CDRW
Keyboard, Speakers, and Mouse
Freespire 2.0
CNR Basic Service — providing one-click access to free and commercial Linux software
Nothing great but a good starter PC.
So this makes me wonder.
Is this a sign that Linux is going to finally break into the mainstream?
Did Palm make a big mistake by killing there Linux based sub-notebook?
381063
submission
LWATCDR writes:
AMD has stepped up to the plate and now have a new middle price graphics card that can challenge the NVidia 8800GT.
Life would be so easy if the new ATI card was faster, cheaper, and used less power than the NVidia card but life isn't that simple.
The new AMD card is a little slower then the 8800GT but it looks like it may end up being a lot cheaper at around $169 and uses a little less power.
The end result is a card that gives you a little more bang for your buck than 8800GT which was already a great value.
So is it good enough? Take a look http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2217044,00.asp
BTW since the 8800GT is sold out this maybe a great option.
