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Topics - Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)

Pages: [1] 2 3 ... 11
1
The long awaited Linux version of Lightworks non-linear video editor has finally gone into public beta.

You'll have to create an account at lwks.com then go here:
http://www.lwks.com/betas-linux
Accept the agreement, then they'll email you the download link .. you can then use the account details for your lwks.com account to "activate" lightworks.

Also reported here:
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTM2MTY

BE AWARE - the download appears to be 64bit only .. unless I'm missing something.

2
General Discussion / Offline for few days
« on: April 11, 2013, 03:35:23 pm »
Due to a dying keyboard on my netbook I'll not be posting much in the next few days (though I may appear to be online), until the new one arrives.

Yes, I have other PC's (obviously, or how am I posting this), but I generally use my netbook for convenience .. a USB keyboard ruins the netbooks convenience.

I also have access to a netbook running OS X .. but you'll understand my not wanting to use that as much as possible.

New keyboard is ordered, so I'll see you all soon :)

Maybe it will give somebody else a chance to get a word in edgeways ;)

3
Dell's Alienware division introduce (at least in the US) a range of four high spec gaming PC's (X51) with Ubuntu pre-installed:
http://alienware.com/ubuntu/

Quote
Low end system ($599)

    Intel Core i3-3220 3.3GHz Dual Core
    Ubuntu operating system
    6GB DDR3 at 1600MHz (2 DIMMS) *
    1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 645 *
    Slot Load Dual Layer DVD Burner
    Dell Wireless 1506 (802.11gn) WLAN half mini-Card
    1TB SATA 3Gb/s,7200RPM


Quote
High end system ($1049)

    Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad Core
    Ubuntu operating system
    8GB Dual Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (2 DIMMS) *
    1.5GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 *
    Slot Load Dual Layer DVD Burner
    Dell Wireless 1506 (802.11gn) WLAN half mini-Card
    1TB SATA 3Gb/s,7200RPM


4
Humble Bundle weekly sales currently has 2 "AAA" Linux games .. for  approx £2.50 for BOTH

Red Orchestra = $1.00 or more

Killing Floor = $2.91 or more


As usual, pay what you like, and support charity

I gather they're available only through "Steam" .. see here:
https://www.humblebundle.com/weekly

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5
News and Events / Gnome 3.8 Classic desktop - a touch of sanity
« on: April 02, 2013, 01:28:51 pm »
Have the Gnome 3 developers seen sense ? .. has sanity finally prevailed ?

Gnome 3.8 now features a "Classic Mode"

Quote
Classic mode is a new feature for those people who prefer a more traditional desktop experience. Built entirely from GNOME 3 technologies, it adds a number of features such as an application menu, a places menu and a window switcher along the bottom of the screen. Each of these features can be used individually or in combination with other GNOME extensions.


You can check out the release notes .. with a picture of the "Classic Mode" desktop, here:
https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.8/



According to this LinuxPlanet article:
http://www.linuxplanet.com/news/gnome-3.8-debuts-new-open-source-linux-desktop.html

Quote from: LinuxPlanet
The GNOME Foundation sees the inclusion of a Classic mode after two years of Shell-only, as being a matter of choice for users.

"GNOME 3 is elegant by default and extremely configurable by design," said Karen Sandler, Executive Director of the GNOME Foundation in a statement. "The release of GNOME Classic is evidence of the ability to customize GNOME through extensions and demonstrates how our developers have listened and responded to feedback from the community."

6
News and Events / Looks like WUBI will be dropped from Ubuntu 13.04
« on: April 02, 2013, 01:07:56 pm »
From the Ubuntu delvelopers mailing lists:
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-devel/2013-April/036993.html

Quote from: Steve Langasek
Dear developers,

Recent bug reports suggest that the Ubuntu installer for Windows, Wubi, is
not currently in very good shape for a release:

  13.04 installer doesn't create user account
  https://bugs.launchpad.net/wubi/+bug/1155704

  Wubi fails to detect 12.04.2 and 13.04 AMD64 ISO
  https://bugs.launchpad.net/wubi/+bug/1134770


Combined with the fact that Wubi has not been updated to work with Windows 8
(bug #1125604), and the focus on mobile client over desktop, the Foundations
team does not expect Wubi to be in a releasable state for 13.04.

I am therefore proposing to drop Wubi from the 13.04 release, starting
immediately with the upcoming Beta.  This will save our testers from
spending their time testing an image that will not have developers working
on fixing the bugs they find, and spares our users from using an image for
13.04 that is not up to Ubuntu's standards of quality.

If someone is interested in taking over the maintenance of Wubi so that it
can be released with 13.04 (or if not with 13.04, then with a future
release), I would encourage them to start by looking at the abovementioned
bugs and preparing patches, then talking to the release team.

Thanks,
--
Steve Langasek

That should stop some confusion when walking someone through a problem on the forum ..

This kind of thing can wear thin after a while -

Is this a WUBI install ?
> What's that
It's a method for installing Ubuntu inside Windows
> Yes I used Windows
Do you mean you used Windows to create the LiveCD, or that you inserted the LiveCD into the drive Whilst Windows was running, and it started to install.
> Yes I used Windows to make the CD, and then tried to install Ubuntu.
Oh I give up ...........

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7
What is DansGuardian Web Content Filtering ?

Quote from: DansGuardian Website
DansGuardian is an award winning Open Source web content filter which currently runs on Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Mac OS X, HP-UX, and Solaris. It filters the actual content of pages based on many methods including phrase matching, PICS filtering and URL filtering. It does not purely filter based on a banned list of sites like lesser totally commercial filters.

DansGuardian is designed to be completely flexible and allows you to tailor the filtering to your exact needs. It can be as draconian or as unobstructive as you want. The default settings are geared towards what a primary school might want but DansGuardian puts you in control of what you want to block.

http://dansguardian.org/



OK, how to install/configure DansGuardian in Peppermint 3

First you need to install the dansguardian and squid packages .. so open a terminal and run:
Code: [Select]
sudo apt-get install dansguardian squid
(don't worry if you see a warning about dansguardian not being configured .. just carry on below)

Now you need to edit the dansguardian.c onf file .. so back in the terminal run:
Code: [Select]
sudo gedit /etc/dansguardian/dansguardian.conf

When the file opens, look for the line that reads:-
Code: [Select]
UNCONFIGURED - Please remove this line after configuration

and comment it out, so it now reads:-
Code: [Select]
# UNCONFIGURED - Please remove this line after configuration

SAVE the file and exit gedit.

Now you need to edit squid.conf .. so back in the terminal run:
Code: [Select]
sudo gedit /etc/squid3/squid.conf

Find the section that reads:-
Code: [Select]
# Squid normally listens to port 3128
http_port 3128

and add the word "transparent", so it now reads:-
Code: [Select]
# Squid normally listens to port 3128
http_port 3128 transparent

SAVE the file, and exit gedit.

Now just in case you got the error I mentioned earlier, you're going to reinstall dansguardian and squid (this will then pick up the edited configs, and restart dansguardian) .. so back in the terminal run:
Code: [Select]
sudo apt-get install --reinstall dansguardian squid

OK, now you need to add some system-wide environment variables .. so back in the terminal run:
Code: [Select]
sudo gedit /etc/environment

A file should open (that probably contains a single line that starts with PATH=)

Add the following lines BELOW what's already there (DO NOT remove what's already there):-
Code: [Select]
http_proxy=127.0.0.1:8080/
https_proxy=127.0.0.1:8080/
ftp_proxy=127.0.0.1:8080/
no_proxy="localhost,127.0.0.1,localaddress,.localdomain.com"
HTTP_PROXY=127.0.0.1:8080/
HTTPS_PROXY=127.0.0.1:8080/
FTP_PROXY=127.0.0.1:8080/
NO_PROXY="localhost,127.0.0.1,localaddress,.localdomain.com"

SAVE the file, and exit gedit.

REBOOT.

Now fire up the Chromium web browser and try to access a websitet you wouldn't want your kids to access.



If you use the Firefox web browser .. you'll also need to fire up Firefox, and go to:-

Edit>Preferences>Advanced>Network>Connection Settings (button)

And manually change the proxy settings to:-

HTTP proxy: 127.0.0.1     Port: 8080

and tick the "Use this proxy server for all protocols" box (as in the picture below).

Then click the "OK" button


8
News and Events / Peppermint 4 closed beta testers wanted
« on: March 26, 2013, 01:24:10 pm »
Quote from: Team Peppermint
Peppermint Four Beta Testing Request

If you would like to participate in the private beta testing of the soon to be released Peppermint Four OS by Peppermint LLC, please fill out the following form. Please note: All applications are reviewed, Not all will be granted a position, We are looking for those with certain skill sets and are willing to provide helpful and confidential feedback to the team.

Application form can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1MYptIZohR3Nd0EnNRjgDO7cwydHwb1Ikbxw9JsjInXg/viewform

It's a "closed beta", so you'll be expected to keep info about new features etc. to yourself .. but if you are the type that likes to try break things then report the problems (and possibly solutions), why not join in :)

9
If you like/use the GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program), you might want to check out the free GIMP Magazine at:
http://gimpmagazine.org/

Available to download as a free PDF (59.8MB)or you can buy the magazine on paper if you prefer :)

Currently on issue #3 .. but back issues are also available.

There's also GIMP resources, courses, and even a gift shop

and a "GIMP vs PS Comparison Whitepaper"

10
Open Xchange (OX) the self proclaimed "disruptive open source software company" and a group that contains some of the OpenOffice core developers, has announced the next version of Open Xchange App Suite will contain OX Text.

OX Text is an online word processor taat can deal with ODT and MS Office formats.

It'll be a commercial product, but free for individuals and non-profit organisations such as charities.

I could drivel on about it, but see for yourself:
https://www.ox.io/ox_text
Including a working "sneak preview"

Other links:
http://www.open-xchange.com/home.html
and
http://www.linuxandlife.com/2013/03/web-based-version-of-openoffice-to.html

11
Here's a 12 minute presentation by Nvidia's CEO, Jen-Hsun Huang .. look for "Digital Ira" at approx 8:40 .. and prepare to be amazed.

How long till hollywood no longer needs to pay Actors millions ?

<a href="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5d1ZOYU4gpo" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/5d1ZOYU4gpo</a>

Freaky, huh ?

Original source:
http://www.redsharknews.com/technology/item/542-sit-back,-relax,-and-prepared-to-be-amazed-cgi-takes-a-huge-leap

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12
News and Events / Lightworks video editor beta said to be very close
« on: March 19, 2013, 07:08:47 pm »
According to the RedShark blog (\redShark share the same parent company and office space with Lightworks) the beta of Lightworks is "very close":
http://www.redsharknews.com/technology/item/512-lightworks-for-linux-first-ever-official-full-length-demo

Video here:-

<a href="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/jEJcPKD9p7A" target="_blank" class="new_win">http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/jEJcPKD9p7A</a>

13
News and Events / LibreOffice 4.0 now opens Microsoft Publisher files
« on: March 17, 2013, 12:42:21 am »
One of the things I see repeated a lot on my travels around Linux forums and websites is "if only I could open Microsoft Publisher .pub files in Linux" ...

Well I've just installed LibreOffice 4.0.1 in Peppermint 3 from this PPA:
https://launchpad.net/~libreoffice/+archive/ppa

And LibreOffice Draw had no problem opening .pub files .. I must add, I've only tried a few, and I have no idea which version of MS Publisher they're from .. but things are looking good :)

I'd also like to add that LibreOffice 4.0.1 seems quite a bit quicker than 3.5 was, and opens nearly instantly on my PC  ;D

Amongst other things there's supposed to be better compatibility with .docx and .rtf files.

You can check out the new features here:
https://www.libreoffice.org/download/4-0-new-features-and-fixes
and at The Document Foundation Blog here:
http://blog.documentfoundation.org/2013/02/07/the-document-foundation-announces-libreoffice-4-0/

So far I'm liking what I'm seeing ..

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14
News and Events / Humble Bundle with Android 5
« on: March 06, 2013, 06:15:14 pm »
Humble Bundle with Android 5

https://www.humblebundle.com/

15
Canonical/Ubuntu have announced that they are not going to move to Wayland, but rather they are doing their own display server "Mir" .. Mir is to span ALL Ubuntu platforms, mobile, desktop, TV, etc.

See here:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MirSpec

and here:
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/03/ubuntu-dumps-x-window-system-creates-replacement-for-pc-and-mobile/

Quote
Summary

We are developing a next generation display server known as Mir. A system-level component targeted as a replacement for the X window server system to unlock next-generation user experiences for devices ranging from Linux desktop to mobile devices powered by Ubuntu. This document outlines the motivation for the project, describes the high level design, summarizes the scope, and provides the roadmap of the Mir display server.

The purpose of Mir is to enable the development of the next generation Unity.


Seems to me they're going to have problems with graphics card manufacturers and proprietary drivers .. I get the feeling that Canonical/Ubuntu are no longer really interested in the desktop PC .. that whole page (first link above) seems to keep referencing "mobile" use scenarios without really explaining how they intend to make it work on desktop systems.

Their "Desktop PC" strategy for Mir seems to be .. we're doing it anyway, lets just cross our fingers the graphics card manufacturers can be coaxed into coming onboard later .. seems to me you can only afford this kind of attitude if "Desktop" is no longer an important consideration.

If there were to be no proprietary graphics drivers, it will be interesting to hear Valve/Steam's take on this .. after them having just released their client for Ubuntu .. are they going to be thinking "Oh for f**k sake" ? ;)

On the other hand, maybe Mir will become the next Linux display server of choice .. who knows.

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