Tux:Tops - Mobility with Linux and more

Google preps tablet-friendly Chrome that knows 'what's up'

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:09:22 -0400

As part of its effort to graduate its Chrome browser to the upcoming Chrome OS, Google is working to add device orientation to the browser's capabilities.

Not that orientation — the ability for an app or OS to know that up is up and down is down — is all that revolutionary of a breakthrough. Developers have been tapping to that ability on the iPhone (UIDeviceOrientation) and Android-based devices (SensorManager) for some time. Read More

OpenOffice.org to use GStreamer for Multimedia

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:06:15 -0400

Previously OpenOffice.org used Sun's Java Media Framework to play back audio and video in documents. It seemed to work well for a while, but as time went on Java became more outdated. So, developers have decided to implement the widely used GStreamer framework.

Java was problematic for customers because many distributions did not include it in default installs and almost as many didn't offer it in repositories. It could also be inconvenient or difficult for users to properly install themselves for use with OpenOffice.org. Read More

KDE Desktop Tricks

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:01:30 -0400

I started using KDE when version 4.0 was out. I had had a taste of KDE 3.5, which I didn't like, but release 4.0 looked like a big step forward, so I was tempted to give it a go. Just like so many others, I found KDE 4.0 disappointingly slow, unstable and unintuitive. However, I did see lots of potential in it and kept using it release after release.

Up until recently, I was mostly a GNOME user. I considered it faster, leaner, more intuitive... and certainly not as ugly as some say! No matter how hard I tried to like KDE, it would always feel a bit alien and I would always end up going back to GNOME. The tide has shifted lately, though, and I have found myself leaning towards KDE desktops more and more. I believe that is mostly a result of the incredible work the developers are putting in place to improve and polish the product, but also down to the fact that I have been learning more about its "secrets". Read More

New project leader wears the Fedora

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:16:11 -0400

Paul Frields, who has been getting his paycheck from Red Hat to run the Fedora development Linux variant since 2008, is moving back inside the company to work on Enterprise Linux, and an outsider named Jared Smith is being brought in as the new Fedora Project Leader.

Frields joined Red Hat in February 2008, replacing Max Spevack, another Red Hat employee who ran the open source Linux development product from February 2006 until Frields took over. Smith will take over the FPL position (which is a full-time job with a Red Hat paycheck) to steer the development of Fedora 14, something that Frields already got the ball rolling on. Read More

Easy Linux backups with Lucky Backup

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:12:26 -0400

We would all like to think that, since we are using Linux, we will never really need a backup of our data. Now, let's look at this realistically. Even if your OS is 100% rock solid, with nary a nanosecond of downtime, that hardware running that OS can not possibly give 100% forever. Add to that the irresistible urge to upgrade hardware and you have the serious makings for the need to back up.

When you need to back up where do you turn? Of course you could slap together a good ol' fashion Bash script using rsync, ssh, tar, and a few other Linux tools. But for those who haven't the slightest idea how to cobble together their own Bash scripts, what is there to use to back up all of that precious data? Those of you who don't want to “roll your own” or those just looking for something easy to use, you're in luck... thanks to Lucky Backup! Lucky Backup is a very user-friendly backup tool that will have you backing up remotely or locally in no time. Once you've seen Lucky Backup in act

Cisco unveils Android-based mobile collaboration tablet

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:10:00 -0400

Cisco announced an enterprise-focused tablet based on a 1.6GHz Intel Atom, using Intel's upcoming x86 Android port. Due in the first quarter of 2011, the Cius offers a seven-inch touchscreen, 32GB of flash, 3G and 802.11 a/b/g/n communications, a 720p-capable front-facing videocam, a five-megapixel still camera, plus an optional HD audio docking station equipped with a telephone handset. Read More

LinuxCertified Announces its next Linux Device Driver Development Course

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:48:10 -0400

LinuxCertified Inc, a leading provider of Linux training and services, today announced its next Linux Device Driver Development Course class to be held in South Bay, CA from June 28th - 30th, 2010.

With the increasing adoption of Linux in wide variety of environments, supporting Linux has become vital for device vendors. Being able to support Linux opens a rapidly growing market to these device vendors. For developers,the skill set to develop and maintain Linux drivers presents a lucrative career option. Read More

Cloning With Linux 3 Ways

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:46:12 -0400

Making an image copy of your system disk is a great way to create a backup. With the cost of portable USB drives at all time lows, you could keep a couple around for rotation purposes. If your main drive does crash, you could be back up and running in a matter of minutes. Now all that's left is making the actual image copy. There are lots of ways to accomplish this task, and we'll spell a few of them out to help you along.

The biggest issue with making an image copy of your system disk is that you must boot from another device to get a true copy. Options include a "live" CD or bootable USB. You probably have a copy of your favorite distribution's installation disk lying around somewhere, so that would be an obvious choice. For our purposes we'll use the Ubuntu 10.4 distro on a USB disk. The second option would be to use an actual disk duplication distro like Clonezilla. This turns out to be one of the easier ways to get the job done, especially if you're not too comfortable with the command line. Read More

android video terminal

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:43:55 -0400

Android on desktop video terminals, a great idea especially when they are extendable with apps and widgets. This looks like a very nice video terminal to have on your desktop. I can think of lots of possibilities, for instance installing the openremote home automation app.

UMEC has several versions available, depicted above is the CU-702 which is "just" a video terminal running android 2.1. The terminal is Voip enabled and has a 7 inch touch screen. Read More

Ubuntu 10.04 Upgrade: Best Practices Checklist

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 17:40:01 -0400

Have you been thinking about upgrading your computer to Ubuntu 10.04? I recently made the leap, at the prompting of my Update Manager. The process went fairly smoothly, but I did have to deal with a couple of minor annoyances. Since you never know exactly what may happen when you decide to upgrade, here are a few tips to get you started. Read More

8 of the Best Free Linux Usenet Tools

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:34:26 -0400

Usenet is a worldwide distributed Internet discussion system. It was founded in 1980 to enable users to read and post public messages to various newsgroups. As such, it predates forums, blogs, instant messaging and P2P networks.

The importance of Usenet as an environment for discussion has diminished over recent years given the increasing popularity of internet forums and blogs. However, the newsgroup community remains very active and vocal. It continues to be a great resource of information, and to obtain support from like-minded individuals. Moreover, Usenet is a popular means of downloading files including Linux distributions. Read More

Fedora 13 Boasts Many Leading-Edge Enhancements

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:29:13 -0400

Since its first version, in 2003, Red Hat's Fedora Linux has been the best place to track what's on the leading edge of Linux and open-source software. Of course, the trouble with running on the leading edge is that it's easy to get cut, and the Fedora distribution's fast development pace has required a certain amount of bug-squashing tolerance from its users.

Fedora 13, which began shipping in late May, boasts many of the leading-edge enhancements—and few of the rough spots—that I've come to expect from the popular Linux-based operating system. In particular, I appreciated the work the Fedora team has done in the area of security and permissions, with progress toward more granular rights management through Fedora's PolicyKit framework, and an implementation of the SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) framework that remained, for the most part, tucked away unobtrusively in the background. Read More

rugged android phone

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 19:22:24 -0400

If you are looking for a rugged Android phone this may exactly be what you are looking for. This phone was originally build for windows mobile, but nowadays they also ship it with android. And I have to say, it actually looks nice for a rugged phone.

The phone is IP65 sealed and tested for drops from 1.8 meter on a steel surface. This would be the first android phone surviving a dive in the swimming pool (even when there is no water). Read More

11 of the Best Free Linux Plotting Tools

Fri, 28 May 2010 02:49:33 -0400

A plotting tool is computer software which helps to analyze and visualize data, often of a scientific nature. Using this type of software, users can generate plots of functions, data and data fits. Software of this nature typically includes additional functionality, such as data analysis functions including curve fitting.

A good plotting tool is very important for generating professional looking graphics for inclusion in academic papers. However, plotting tools are not just useful for academics and scientists. Many users will need to plot graphs on occasions. Read More

Linux System and Network Administration Bootcamp W/Free Laptop!

Fri, 28 May 2010 02:47:01 -0400

LinuxCertified,Inc. a leading provider of Linux training, will offer Linux system administration bootcamp on June 3 - 4, 2010 near San Francisco (South Bay). This workshop is designed for busy information technology professionals and is designed to cover the most important Linux administration areas. All attendees get a free Linux laptop. Read More