Re: [Hampshire] Network laser printer recommendations
On 9 February 2012 23:13, Chris Dennis cgden...@btinternet.com wrote: I've seen a couple of Samsung ML printers recently that have just given up (whirring away with the red light on, no obvious way of fixing them). On the other hand my wife's one has been fine for a couple of years. And I've supplied a couple of Panasonic KX-MB2000E's recently -- they seem good value at £70, having ethernet and a built-in copier, but how long they'll last I don't know yet. See my blog[1] for installation notes. cheers Chris [1] http://www.fbcs.co.uk/wp/archives/405 I've got one of those at home, print is reasonably good and a reasonable speed (certainly from being used to an ink jet before). Powersave mode is nice and quiet and the network access is great to have. I have it set to scan to an SMB share on my NAS, which makes getting at the scanned output from either my Linux or Windows machines nice and easy. (although you need to tell it to use the same settings as last time and up the DPI on the LCD to get a reasonable quality scan) You can configure on the small LCD on the front, or via HTTP once you've got networking configured. Having basic copier function is great too, and because it has an enclosed paper tray your paper doesn't get all dusty. Linux setup wasn't straight forward, but googling found the page linked above about the ppd file which solved all my problems. I've been very happy with it, after setting up I've not done anything other than print, which is always a good sign and much nicer than my old inkjet which seemed to require constant attention! -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] [OT] Anyone got a PCI sound card they don't need?
Hi all, I've recently had to change my Linux PC into a Windows PC (well dual boot) :(. However I cannot make my on board sound card work with Windows XP (spent 2 hrs installing, un-installing, trying different driver versions etc.). An nice win for Linux as it worked perfectly out of the box with Fedora :D, nothing special required at all. However it leaves me stuck without sound when I'm running Windows, which sucks. Does anyone have a spare sound card (PCI) they don't need any more, preferably one that works in Linux and Windows, although something that only works in windows would be fine because I can still use the on-board one for Linux by just swapping the plugs around. I'm based in Basingstoke so can get to most places easily enough, Thank you. Stephen. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Anyone got a PCI sound card they don't need?
All sorted now thanks to Ian :) On 15 Nov 2011 15:58, Ian Park i.d.c.p...@ntlworld.com wrote: On 15/11/11 14:37, Stephen Rowles wrote: Hi all, I've recently had to change my Linux PC into... -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mail... Hi Stephen I have a Soundblaster Live! Player 5.1 which I fished out of my old Windows tower system (now working as a file server with a bunch of 160GB HDDs in a RAID 5 array). I've still got the driver CD (though you can download more up-to-date drivers from the web), and I printed out the manual from the CD as well. Contact details are below if you're interested Ian -- Ian Park 17 Pyle Hill Newbury Berkshire RG14 7JJ Tel: +44 (0)1635 821420 email: i.d.c.p...@ntlworld.com -- -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/l... -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Mobile Technology
On 03/04/2011 03:59 PM, Jacqui Caren-home wrote: On 04/03/2011 10:03, Mike Austin wrote: In the mornings I am able to watch the BBC News and UK TV on my mobile, from a Slingbox in my UK home. I can also use the SKY1 app to view Sky TV schedules and send a signal to my Sky receiver to record programmes I wish to watch on my return. I have ssh, vpn and vnc clients but up till now only have used the ssh client In anger. I have a very cheapo ZTE Racer but was thinking of a cheapo droid tablet. Jacqui I love my Advent VEGA. You really need to get the OS refresh from modaco [1] on it, which is really easy to do, but it runs great and does everything I want. Watching iPlayer is a common use, web browsing is really good and the larger screen makes SSH sessions etc. when I need it much better. The custom rom gives you market place, google maps etc. which is really useful, it isn't that good a deal with the software it comes with, but the custom rom is wonderful. 1: http://android.modaco.com/content/advent-vega-vega-modaco-com/331467/09-feb-r8-modaco-custom-rom-for-the-advent-vega-with-online-kitchen/ -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Connection refused even though Sendmail is running
On 19/01/2011 11:27, Victor Churchill wrote: victor@ss07:~$ telnet phoenix 25 Trying 192.168.11.199... telnet: Unable to connect to remote host: Connection refused I haven't done anything explicit to do with firewalling on the phoenix server. I can see other services the server is running such as ssh and http from the neighbouring machines. Just not the SMTP port. Any comments on what I should be looking for? Have you tried the firewall? (iptables -L). I know that fedora usually ships with a hole already punched for ssh, possibly the install for httpd put a hole in for that too? (or it comes with a hole by default in centos). The other thing to check is that sendmail isn't bound to localhost only, I'm not a sendmail expert but you need to either be bound to every address 0.0.0.0 or the external IP to be able to see the service. try: netstat -n | grep 25 to see if it is only listening on localhost. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Idiots Guide to Andriod Development?
On 08/10/2010 07:51 PM, Andy Random wrote: Hi, I'm looking for a good place to start to learn about developing apps for Android. I have more years than I'm willing to admit to of software development (Assembler/C/Perl) experience but have never done anything with Java and have fairly limited experience of OO coding in general. So despite the subject line I'm not looking for something which teaches you how to code, but I am looking for something which doesn't assume you are already an experienced Java developer. Any suggestions or recommendations? I work as a Java developer so I'm probably not best placed to comment on how good the documentation is for non-Java developers, even I find it a bit cryptic at times. Having said that have you tried the basic android dev guide? http://developer.android.com/guide/index.html The biggest thing about Android is understanding the slightly odd combination of Activities, Services, Intents etc. And I've found that the best thing is the developer guide, specifically starting here to understand how the different elements work together: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/fundamentals.html And their guides of developing in Eclipse etc. are fairly low level taking you through what menus to select, buttons to click etc. http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/eclipse-adt.html The problem is that once you've gone beyond the basics the android code mostly relies on you understanding OO and being able to read javadoc. The documentation is fairly good, often with good code snippets and examples, but you are going to struggle without basic Java knowledge. I would recommend getting used to Eclipse with some basic Java development, get used to using Eclipse (make sure you get 3.5, not 3.6 as Android dev kit doesn't work on 3.6 yet), and look for some simple Java tutorials on the web first before then diving in to the Android fundamentals. My strongest recommendation about Android would be to get a good grasp on the design fundamentals from the dev guide. Even as an experienced Java developer I made some pretty big mistakes with my first app and structured it all wrong and had to re-write it. However it's nearly done.. some more testing on my phone and I will be releasing it to the market place soon :) Hopefully none of that is teaching you to suck eggs. I know it doesn't really answer your question, but I don't really know of a beginners guide. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] ALSA multiple digital outputs?
On 06/14/2010 07:40 PM, Stephen Rowles wrote:
does anyone know if it's possible to specify 2
outputs so I can have spdif and HDMI output at the same time? I've tried
googling but I've not found anything other than one horribly complicated
example of mixing analog audio which didn't seem to cover what I wanted.
To answer my own question, in case it helps anyone else searching the
archives in the future, the following can be added to an .asoundrc
config file to create a new device called both which will output
stereo sound to both my HDMI and SPDIF outputs using mplayer -ao
alsa:device=both
pcm.both {
type route
slave {
pcm multi
channels 4
}
ttable.0.0 1.0
ttable.1.1 1.0
ttable.0.2 1.0
ttable.1.3 1.0
}
pcm.multi {
type multi
slaves.a {
pcm tv
channels 2
}
slaves.b {
pcm receiver
channels 2
}
bindings.0.slave a
bindings.0.channel 0
bindings.1.slave a
bindings.1.channel 1
bindings.2.slave b
bindings.2.channel 0
bindings.3.slave b
bindings.3.channel 1
}
pcm.tv {
type hw
card 0
device 3
channels 2
}
pcm.receiver {
type hw
card 0
device 1
channels 2
}
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Re: [Hampshire] Looking for Linux Set top box
On 14/06/2010 11:03, James Courtier-Dutton wrote: Hi, I am looking for a STB that I can install Linux onto. I need: 1) Net boot. 2) Wake on USB (for the remote control. I want the STB to be in a cupboard, with just the remote control eye outside, so a USB attached remote sensor.) 3) HDMI output 4) Able to decode MPEG4. 5) Fanless 6) Small, so probably mini-itx. Essentially, It will be a mythfrontend accessing content from across the network. All my TV aerials etc. connect to a central PC, with the STB linking to them via Ethernet cables. I tested using a laptop as the STB, and wireless to the central box, the this kept breaking up the image, so I have to use Ethernet cables. Content will be recordings I have made from TV, and also my HD Video camera, jpeg pictures, you-tube etc. I cannot seem to find one that can do MPEG4/AVC and is fanless. On another point, I have quite a few IR remote sensors that plug in using a 3.5mm jack to DVB cards. Does anyone know how I might be able to interface these to a PC that does not have the DVB card in it. Maybe some serial interface or something. Kind Regards James I use one of these: http://www.asrock.com/nettop/spec/ion%20330.asp It does have a small fan, but on the book shelf in the lounge I can't here it sitting on the sofa, only if I'm looking for a book on the shelf do I notice the fan noise. It uses the Nvida ION chipset, with the binary driver from nvidia I can playback full 1080p perfectly, although flash in the browser isn't very good as the CPU is low horsepower. And 6 USB ports is great for external connectivity. There are instructions on configuring it for Freevo Fedora here: (basically a brain dump of my setup) which might help if you go down that route, it covers things like audio output over HDMI, configuring mplayer for VDPAU etc. http://doc.freevo.org/ASRockIon330Fedora If you really want to go fanless then there is another ION board that you could use to DIY from Zotac: http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=53#ION-B-bundle But I decided for the extra cost / hassle I would just get the off the shelf solution with a small quiet fan :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] ALSA multiple digital outputs?
Hi All, Any ALSA experts out there? I've got my home media centre set up, I use mplayer which outputs using the following alsa device: -ao alsa:device=hw=0.3 This outputs digital sound data over my HDMI connection to the TV. However I would like to also output the data over the SPDIF optical output output. I can use: -ao alsa:device=hw=0.1 To output over spdif, does anyone know if it's possible to specify 2 outputs so I can have spdif and HDMI output at the same time? I've tried googling but I've not found anything other than one horribly complicated example of mixing analog audio which didn't seem to cover what I wanted. Cheers, Steve. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] get i player gone!
I've got 2.67, which is a bit better than 2.42. I'd also like to get hold of 2.72 if anyone has it. If not I'd be happy to supply 2.67 Simon Reap wrote: The author of get underscore i player (at linux centre dot net) has retired his program which is a shame. The latest one I have is 2.42, but 2.72 seems to have been available. Does anyone have a copy of it? It seems to be quite hard to find, belying the old internet adage that once it's out there, it stays out there! TIA, Simon -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Basic drawing programme to design roof extension
On 15/04/2010 13:29, James Courtier-Dutton wrote: I think the payback period for PVs in the UK is something like 30 years due to the lack of sunlight in the UK. I think, due to wear and tear, the PV would have to be replaced before 30 years, so using PVs in the UK does not give you any TCO savings. It would only help you feel better in a green sort of way I'd agree, and they are not very green either due to all the horrible chemicals etc. used to create them! Solar thermal (hot water) on the other hand are a great idea. They are very efficient, relatively green (basically glass vacuum tubes) and will have a huge impact on your hot water bills very quickly. You do need to make sure you use the vacuum tube versions though, the all metal ones are rubbish! Having said that do note that they are not really suitable for heating your house (unlike some sales people claim). -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Smartphones with keyboards
On 03/16/2010 04:27 PM, Ian Park wrote: I'm looking around for a phone to replace my current model, a Sony Ericsson v630i. I'd like one with a keyboard a la Blackberry; it's also important for me that I can use it as a modem for my laptop netbook (both of which run Ubuntu). There's no constraint about which operator it's tied to; in fact I want one that *isn't* tied to an operator (it would take a long time to explain...). Can anyone with experience of such a machine suggest which models would be worth researching further please? Thanks Ian Not sure if I would 100% recommend it or not. But it's certainly cheap :). Go for the LG InTouch Max. Runs Android 1.5 (which I think does tethering, not sure). Has a very nice slide out keyboard and Android apps for things like SSH, remote desktop etc. It has a resistive screen which is not as nice as capacitative, but does mean you can use a stylus which helps with fine control. It's processor is also quite slow, depends if you can live with it. Has 3g, HSPDA etc. connectivity. The keyboard is very nice and easy to use with decent size keys, and has the advantage of a discrete number and space bar row, unlike the very limited 3 rows of keys on the Nokia N900. El'Reg has a review here: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/03/17/review_phone_lg_gw620/ T-mobile are doing some very good deals on the phone at the moment with unlimited data thrown in. My wife has one and really likes it. I went for the Samsung Portal because I wanted to upgrade to Android 2.1 (there are no plans to upgrade the LG apparently) and I wanted the faster processor and capacitative screen, but alas I lose out on the keyboard. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] Smartphones with keyboards
On 17/03/2010 12:42, Andy Random wrote: Looking at the current phone market my next phone will probably be Android, though at the moment I'm on the fence about when I'll upgrade. So a quick question about gmail integration with Android... How well does it deal with multiple gmail accounts? I have 4 that I use regularly and while there is an ok app for my current (Nokia/S60v5) phone to read gmail, it doesn't support multiple accounts that well and it's a pain to switch between them. I know the early version of Android had similar issues, have they improved that in the later versions? Andy As far as I can tell it isn't possible to use the google mail app for more than one account (at least on Android 1.5 which my phone currently runs). You can however set up as many accounts as you like in the standard email app. These will be checked periodically and it pops up an alert (with optional sound and vibrate) when there is a new email. For multiple accounts you get an alert saying new email in n accounts, and it takes you to the account list page with each account showing the unread count. This means you will need to set up IMAP access to your gmail accounts, and use them as a standard account. It works well (I've just tested), only required my gmail address and password and it was automatically set up. But the integration isn't as nice as using the dedicated gmail app. (usual imap access style). In the email app you simply get a list of all the accounts, selecting an account then allows you to view the email folders etc. I've got the Samsung Galaxy Portal and I am really pleased with it, they have just announced the Android 2.1 offical update which will appear in the next few months, not 100% if I will upgrade yet, going to wait and see what the general opinion is first. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Playing music in my living room
On 03/11/2010 01:51 PM, Andy Random wrote: Budget is no more than 400 UKP (less would be good:) for a fully working system, though I have a serviceable pair of stereo speaks so if the solution will connect to standard hifi speakers that price doesn't have to include speakers. Any suggestions? Andy A bit of an off the wall suggestion, but how about this: But a car stereo, something like this one from Pioneer: http://www.pioneer.eu/uk/products/25/121/61/DEH-P3100UB/index.html approx £100 It has a front USB port, and according to the manual will accept USB storage up to 250gigs. Get a 250gig USB hard disk (or smaller). Approx £60 12V laptop power brick capable of 10 amps to power the system, approx £45 from linitx.com: http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=12342 Little bit of work required to connect the 12 volt power supply to the correct pins on the car stereo, wire up to speakers and build a simple box for it (or as a friend of mine did, simply put it in the wall to the under stairs cupboard). It will probably work with your existing speakers, but will depend on what impedance they are, the car stereo I linked requires 4 to 8 ohms so your speakers might not match. Some of the more expensive car stereos will have a better range available. It will be easy to load the hard disk up from your laptop / whatever computer device you already have. Total cost: £205 + a little bit of work wiring it together, but no ongoing maintenance of a PC to think about. You could improve on this by spending more money on the stereo and finding one with a remote, I'm sure they are out there :). -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Basic CAD software?
On 02/17/2010 09:49 AM, Steve wrote: Hi List, Could anyone point me in the direct of some software that would allow me to import a digital photo (JPEG), draw some lines on the image and then measure the angles between them? I've set the subject as basic CAD software as that was my first thought as to what I'd need, but open to any software suggestions really. I've had a bit of a search on Linux CAD software - a lot of it seems to be either commercial or very complex. Cheers, Steve Google sketchup should probably fit the bill. Although a quick google search shows that textures are limited to 1024x1024, I don't know if that will be a problem? It's a free download and I believe it runs under wine: http://wiki.winehq.org/GoogleSketchup I've not had it working well here, but my graphics card (ATI) is not very well supported, especially in dual screen mode, so it's way too slow to be usable ;) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] unable to connect from one system to another using ssh
On 02/17/2010 11:19 AM, Lisi wrote: The IPs of the two active computers are 192.168.0.2 and 192.168.0.3. The router is 192.168.0.1. I then tried the following (from 192.168.0.2): Tux:/home/lisi# netstat -atn Active Internet connections (servers and established) Proto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address Foreign Address State tcp0 0 0.0.0.0:59782 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN tcp0 0 127.0.0.1:1004 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN tcp0 0 0.0.0.0:111 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN tcp0 0 0.0.0.0:22 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN tcp0 0 127.0.0.1:631 0.0.0.0:* LISTEN tcp0 0 0.0.0.0:77410.0.0.0:* LISTEN tcp0 0 192.168.0.2:43311 92.122.211.37:1935 ESTABLISHED tcp6 0 0 :::22 :::*LISTEN tcp6 0 0 ::1:631 :::*LISTEN Tux:/home/lisi# ps -ef | grep sshd root 2341 1 0 06:38 ?00:00:00 /usr/sbin/sshd root 15602 15392 0 11:08 pts/100:00:00 grep sshd Tux:/home/lisi# If I have understood correctly, that is a bit worrying. (The ESTABLISHED one.) So have I understood? I hope that I have not. ;-0. If it _is_ ominous, I can block that IP. But I presumably need to close some open ports as well? Lisi To know if it is ominous or not, the command fuser is your friend :) You can run fuser to find out what process the connection is to, you might find it is a simple MSN connection, or something else expected. For example in my machine, finding out what process is using tcp port 22 (n for namespace of tcp, you can use udp and others too, v for verbose output): ]# fuser -vn tcp 22 USERPID ACCESS COMMAND 22/tcp: root 1888 F sshd Hope that helps. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] unable to connect from one system to another using ssh
On 02/16/2010 12:05 PM, john lewis wrote: I know want to run unison on landing to synchronise the geneweb directory on landing with a geneweb directory on benden and for this I need to be able to setup ssh on landing to allow ssh benden But I get an error message ssh: connect to host benden port 22: Connection timed out Some simple diagnostics to get further with this problem. First is to isolate the source of the problem, whether it is SSH, or simply the network / DNS. Try using telnet to connect to the port instead, for example, if I connect to my local machine on port 22, I get the following, which clearly shows that OpenSSH is running. ]$ telnet localhost 22 Trying 127.0.0.1... Connected to localhost. Escape character is '^]'. SSH-2.0-OpenSSH_5.2 ^] telnet close Connection closed. However if I try and connect to a port with nothing running I get: ]$ telnet localhost 1234 Trying 127.0.0.1... telnet: connect to address 127.0.0.1: Connection refused As well as doing this, you can check the IP address that is returned, it may be that you are not resolving the right IP address for the machine. Those are good starting points -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Useful utility - regionset
Keith Edmunds wrote: On Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:34:16 +, step...@rowles.org.uk said: vendor resets available: 4 user controlled changes resets available: 4 Be aware of what this means: you can only change the region five times in total, then that's it, it will stay in the last region set. Rumour has it that the change count can be hacked, but I've no experience of that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD_region_code#Computer_DVD_drives Yeah, I know there are only 4 resets available.. but seeing as I was unable to watch the dvd at all, and I only own region 2 dvd's, it seemed like a good idea to me :). -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Useful utility - regionset
Hi all, I have a new media centre PC. A nice little ASRock ION-330. I tried to play my first region locked DVD last night, and all I got was a random CSS error. After much searching I found the answer on google, so I thought I would share with everyone just in case you have the same issues! It turns out even with libdvdcss there are some DVD's that cannot be decoded unless the drive is set to a region. It turns out that as this box has only ever had Linux on it the region had never been set in the drives firmware. I thought I was going to have to install windows simply to be able to set the region, but it turns out there is a lovely little utility called regionset. On the first run it showed that my drive had no region set: regionset version 0.1 -- reads/sets region code on DVD drives Current Region Code settings: RPC Phase: II type: NONE vendor resets available: 4 user controlled changes resets available: 5 drive plays discs from region(s):, mask=0xFF Would you like to change the region setting of your drive? [y/n]: So I said yes to setting the region, and selected region 2. Now my DVD plays fine :) regionset version 0.1 -- reads/sets region code on DVD drives Current Region Code settings: RPC Phase: II type: SET vendor resets available: 4 user controlled changes resets available: 4 drive plays discs from region(s): 2, mask=0xFD Hopefully this will help someone in a similar situation. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] stuart biggs added you as a business connection on Plaxo
On 02/01/2010 02:51 AM, LinuxLearner wrote:
consent to give Facebook my email). This infuriates me, no end: it's
You misunderstand, possibly;
Somebody, somewhere (doesn't matter who, or how they got the address),
has your email addy stored at (say) GMail. That person decides to use
the FB option to mail all their friends invites. You get one. FB don't
send you a message then store the info and keep sending you stuff.
Oh yes oh yes they do ... I have had quite a number of people 'invite'
me to join facebook over the years ... I've never accepted any of those
offers ... Yet once a month/quarter/bi-annually {whatever}, I get
invites i.e. repeatedly (mentioning those persons) from FB, direct.
I don't know, and don't care to know/care, HOW, exactly, FB got my email
(whether by direct input from a known party or via said known party(ies)
allowing FB to access e.g. their web-based address books ... I just
don't want SPAM, and FB *is* SPAMMING me, without comeback.
Disgraceful conduct, which needs to be stopped, *immediately*.
There is comeback available. Via the data protection act.
It's easy, simply visit this link:
http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection/your_rights/preventing_unsolicited_marketing.aspx
Open their PDF on Unwanted marketing, scroll down to page 4. Write an
email to facebook with the contents of the model letter on that page
requiring them to stop processing your details for the purposes of
direct marketing.
They are required under uk law to stop. If they do not then you can
complain to the ICO and they will investigate.
If you don't follow those steps, then under current UK law there is
nothing you can do about it. I would agree that it isn't great but using
the data protection act will get results. It has worked for me on
numerous occasions, I've even had a letter back from the ICO after they
had to follow up on a company that decided to ignore my letter and I've
never had any contact from that company again!
I don't think the laws go far enough, I think it should be extended to
include the right for you to have your data removed from companies
systems, but unfortunately it doesn't. For now the DPA is a very good
way of stopping reputable companies from spamming you, it won't stop
illegal or dis-reputable companies but then no law would ;)
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LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk
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[Hampshire] Free hardware - Basingstoke/Farnborough
All, I've finally got round clearing out my old machine. I'm not sure what state this stuff is in it is in because the power supply blew up, nothing is visibly damaged. I thought I would offer in case anyone is interested rather than just taking it straight down the tip. I need to get rid of them quickly, so anything unclaimed by next weekend will go down the tip (unless someone knows of a Basingstoke drop off point for Jamies or similar, assuming they would be interested) Photos of any of it can be supplied on request. Collection from either Basingstoke in the evening, or Farnborough Aerospace park during working hours. Micro-ATX case, removable double 3.5 hdd tray. 2 fixed 3.5 inch bays. two 5 1/4 inch drive bays. 4 expansion slots. Spare for 120mm fan on rear. No PSU. Asus A8N-SLI with AMD 64-3200XP (think, and I don't want to take the heat sink off to check). With IO Shield on board ethernet, 4xusb, 1xfirewire, parrellel port, on board audio, ps2 mouse and keyboard sockets 1gig Giel memory (2x512) PC3200, 2.5-6-3-3 (currently on the motherboard) Hauppauge WinTV PCI-card, PAL 61344 rev D421. Including IR sensor (although I cannot find the remote) Firewire face plate Siluro GF4 Ti4200 PCI-express (fits motherboard) Soundblaster Live! PCI sound card 4 channel out, SP/Diff, mic and line in. 3.5 floppy drive Serial port face plate Cheers, Steve. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Free hardware - Basingstoke/Farnborough
Stephen Rowles wrote: Micro-ATX case, removable double 3.5 hdd tray. 2 fixed 3.5 inch bays. two 5 1/4 inch drive bays. 4 expansion slots. Spare for 120mm fan on rear. No PSU. Asus A8N-SLI with AMD 64-3200XP (think, and I don't want to take the heat sink off to check). With IO Shield on board ethernet, 4xusb, 1xfirewire, parrellel port, on board audio, ps2 mouse and keyboard sockets I failed to point out: Motherboard will not fit in this case as it is a full ATX motherboard. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Free hardware - Basingstoke/Farnborough
All now reserved. I will post back if any becomes available. Stephen Rowles wrote: All, I've finally got round clearing out my old machine. I'm not sure what state this stuff is in it is in because the power supply blew up, nothing is visibly damaged. I thought I would offer in case anyone is interested rather than just taking it straight down the tip. I need to get rid of them quickly, so anything unclaimed by next weekend will go down the tip (unless someone knows of a Basingstoke drop off point for Jamies or similar, assuming they would be interested) Photos of any of it can be supplied on request. Collection from either Basingstoke in the evening, or Farnborough Aerospace park during working hours. Micro-ATX case, removable double 3.5 hdd tray. 2 fixed 3.5 inch bays. two 5 1/4 inch drive bays. 4 expansion slots. Spare for 120mm fan on rear. No PSU. Asus A8N-SLI with AMD 64-3200XP (think, and I don't want to take the heat sink off to check). With IO Shield on board ethernet, 4xusb, 1xfirewire, parrellel port, on board audio, ps2 mouse and keyboard sockets 1gig Giel memory (2x512) PC3200, 2.5-6-3-3 (currently on the motherboard) Hauppauge WinTV PCI-card, PAL 61344 rev D421. Including IR sensor (although I cannot find the remote) Firewire face plate Siluro GF4 Ti4200 PCI-express (fits motherboard) Soundblaster Live! PCI sound card 4 channel out, SP/Diff, mic and line in. 3.5 floppy drive Serial port face plate Cheers, Steve. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ubuntu 9.10, dvb and dual boot
On 01/18/2010 08:27 AM, Philip Stubbs wrote: 2010/1/17 Leoli...@fractal.me.uk: Is anyone out there using a digital TV card on Ubuntu 9.10 and also dual booting with windows? If so do you find that after switching back from Windows to Ubuntu the TV card doesn't work, and you have to reboot again into Ubuntu? If not, can anyone tell me how I'd go about finding out what's changed between 9.04 and 9.10 in terms of dvb firmware, drivers and dvbstream between the two version of Ubuntu, so that I could try and figure out what's broken. When I first started using my USB dvb dongle, I had the opposite problem. It would only work if I loaded Windows, then rebooted into Linux. It turned out that I did not have the correct firmware in Linux. From my experience, it sounds like the firmware loaded by windows is not the same as the one loaded by Linux. Is it possible to up/down grade the windows driver so that it matches the Linux one? Different and incompatible firmware is probably the the issue. If you re-boot (rather than power off) the device will remain powered, so the firmware will still be loaded once you change OS. A short term work around would be to power off your machine, then switch on again. This will ensure that the device is powered down and so a new firmware load will occur. To compare the difference in firmware: Check /var/log/messages (assuming that is the right file on debian, it is for redhat) for dvb output to identify the firmware file being loaded. Find that file, and diff between 9.10 and 9.04 -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Shuttle and other small box systems
Adam John Trickett wrote: Hi, I may have convinced a family member of the merits of a small box home computer system. I'm no particular axe to grind regarding Shuttle boxes but the requirement is a small, quiet box for a home office setting. Its be running a full weight Linux distro and probably Win7 in dual boot configuration. It will be mostly used for email, web browsing, home office applications, looking at/printing pictures and possibly to view autocad files (on Window). What things should I be looking for? Obviously if it runs Windows then it will need more grunt, but my preference is for a case with a passively cooled CPU and graphics system and a quite hard disk. It'll probably be driving a 4:3 ratio LCD at approx 1280x1024 and not used for games other than the solitaire type. I'm not expecting it to be used for video, other than a bit of YouTube. As ever thanks in advance. I run my media centre on an ASRock ION-330: http://www.asrock.com/nettop/spec/ION%20330.asp It's a dual core ion-330. It's quite slow but adequate for day to day web browsing, open office etc. I run full blown Fedora 11 with KDE on it. It's a bit slow but very very quiet (not quite silent as it has a small fan). They are also very cheap, being available with DVD drive (as opposed to blu-ray) for about £250. So cheap too. I have mine in the lounge downstairs and don't notice the fan. Connected via HDMI into our 32inch TV. VDPAU gives hardware accelerated video so I can play high def content, and sound goes to the TV too. If money isn't an object and you want a passively cooled but fast machine then hush are great. They use huge heat sinks with heat pipes to give you a small box, with no fans and still a fast CPU: for example: http://www.hushtechnologies.net/?gclid=CJzF9uW5l58CFeZr4wodzVYzJw which you can get with a core duo 2 CPU. It's not quite as compact as the ION-330 but a lot faster! Of course it costs you - £1100. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Krfb (VNC) remote connect nightmare with screensaver *solved*
On 11/27/2009 09:08 AM, Antony wrote: Stephen Rowles wrote: I'm running Fedora 11 and trying to allow remote access to my machine via Krfb - I need to get this working so I can work from home tomorrow! If I'd know it was going to be difficult I would have started earlier :(. I rather foolishly assumed that because Krfb came pre-installed it would just work. Silly problem. Turns out that for some reason shift wasn't getting sent via VNC, hence password not working! You left out the most important bit... how on earth did you find out? Anthony I don't know why I even thought to try, but I unlocked the machine locally, then connected in via VNC from another machine here at work. I tried typing into an instance of kwrite and discovered that shift was being ignored. I still don't know why or how to fix it! Cue a day of having to use caps lock, or copy/paste to get at any characters that require shift! Fortunately most things could be auto-completed in Eclipse for development work so it was simply a case of typing until the shifted character and then using ctrl+space and arrow keys to select :). Weirdly Ctrl and Alt work fine, it's just shift. And both shift keys don't work - but caps lock does. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Krfb (VNC) remote connect nightmare with screensaver login
Hi all, I'm running Fedora 11 and trying to allow remote access to my machine via Krfb - I need to get this working so I can work from home tomorrow! If I'd know it was going to be difficult I would have started earlier :(. I rather foolishly assumed that because Krfb came pre-installed it would just work. I can connect fine if the screen saver is off. However when the screen saver is running it won't let me log in. The password is just rejected and I get Authentication failure from kcheckpass in /var/log/messages. It would appear that there is something stopping the authentication working when I've connected remotely via VNC. This is also a real pain to test as I have to lock the machine and then get a colleague at work to let me try connecting in. I've tried googling but no luck so far. Does anyone have experience of pam / vnc and this sort of problem? Any tips / hints on trying to find out what is wrong? Cheers, Steve. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] This weeks microMart
On 10/29/2009 07:49 PM, Dee Earley wrote: On 29/10/2009 12:57, Stephen Davies wrote: Has an interesting article asking the question Should the UK have its own Linux Distro. Why? Apart from the fact that being something to do with IT our government would screw it up, I think that this would be a very good idea. One of the reasons that Windows continues to keep a hold on the market place is the age old everyone knows how to use windows argument. While Linux is making serious in-roads especially in the server space there is significant fragmentation of use and management styles between the major distributions. If the UK had their own distribution, maintained and customised for the UK market, and the government picked up this and started using it as a standard distribution on their servers and clients, then this would help build a larger market of easily transferable skills. If rolled out on the desktop it would also have the advantage that a huge number of government employed staff would know how to use UK Linux and would therefore be happier using it on a home PC (or laptop / netbook). A large user like the government would also encourage compatibility from the vast numbers of business that supply the government which would further drive the adoption of things like ODF and other standards rather than proprietary standards like MS Office. A greater adoption of a single platform would also make life easier for companies trying to target Linux as an install platform, they would have a much clearer picture of the potential install base and not have to worry about producing packages for several distributions. I think it is a good idea, but I also think it won't happen Microsoft has too much money to bribe (sorry, I mean lobby) the government with. I also think too many members of the Linux community would be up in arms too when it turned out their favourite distribution wasn't picked as the one to use as the basis for UK Linux ;) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] OT: Geocities shutting down today.
From the telegraph: http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/iandouglas/14057/geocities-closes-today/ XKCD have an incredible re-work as a tribute: http://www.xkcd.com/ :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Xorg is hungry today...
On 10/06/2009 12:56 PM, Alan Pope wrote: 2009/10/6 Dr A. J. Trickettadam.trick...@iredale.net: We should should have table on our Wiki with the equivalents, written by people who use system X rather than by people who don't use X. http://hants.lug.org.uk/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?CommandLineEquivalents Your starter for 10. Don't tell me something is wrong with what I typed, it's a wiki, edit it :) Cheers, Al. I would edit it but I keep getting SPAM blocked, none of my edits work. I'm trying to add the following in case anyone else has any luck: ||Display a list of package groups available || || yum grouplist optional filter text, e.g. yum grouplist dev* || || ||Install a group of package || || yum groupinstall groupname || || -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Dependency hell (Was: Re: Xorg is hungry today...)
On 10/05/2009 04:30 PM, john lewis wrote: On Mon, 5 Oct 2009 16:11:09 +0100 Philip Stubbsphi...@stuphi.co.uk wrote: 2009/10/5 Stephen Daviesstephen.dav...@ultraconsulting.co.uk: .deb Hell ??? wtf? We all know that it is only rpm's that give you hell! (Now where's the 'only pulling your leg emocion?') I for one have not had an 'rpm dependency hell' for well over three years. Nor have I. Then it was about three years ago that I started using Debian :-) nor have I, but then I stopped using rpm based systems when I dumped RedHat 5.1 and moved to a distro with 'proper' dependency control based on dpkg/apt and more recently aptitude. I realise I'm probably in the minority here as a Fedora user rather than using a Debian based system, and I do remember the dependency hell from the bad old days of RedHat systems before Yum came along. But one thing I don't understand is the differences between the actual package format that causes the dependency hell. From my understanding the thing that means you don't get dependency hell with .deb packages purely because of dpkg/apt (I don't run debian so perhaps my terminology is incorrect, I mean the debian equivalent of yum). That there wasn't anything intrinsic about the .deb package vs the .rpm package that meant the dependency hell was avoiding using .deb packages. I don't want to start a distribution flame war but I was wondering if someone could explain why .deb packages don't have dependency hell but rpm's do. Especially as I've not had rpm dependency problems since yum came along to sort them out. From reading around there doesn't seem to be anything in the .deb package that backs this up, there would appear to be different packaging policies for the distributions, possibly better tools for creating a .deb package (although there appears to be 2 sides to the debate there too!), but from an end users perspective I can't see the difference in terms of installation problems. Can anyone enlighten me? (without entering into a flame war). -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] [OT] Anyone used EclipseComputers or LambdaTek?
I'm interested in buying an ASRock ION-330 to replace my current media centre and take advantage of HDMI output to my LCD and to have something small and quiet rather than a tower case in the lounge ;) EclipseComputers have it for a reasonable price. However according to companies house they are overdue on their last return (it was due in feb last year) which worries me a little, and their postcode is listed differently on their site from their company registration. I've found a bit of feedback on the web which doesn't seem great. Another alternative would be LambdaTek, they don't appear to be registered with companies house but do have good feedback from various review sites on the web. They are also slightly cheaper so I'd be tempted to purchase from them. Has anyone used EclipseComputers or LambdaTek and have any comments? Cheers, -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Sheeva PlugComputer anyone?
On 09/04/2009 02:44 PM, Bob Dunlop wrote: Not a Shiva but should be interesting to some people looking for a small workhorse in the nslug vein. Mini2440 or FriendlyARM. $110 for a 405MHz ARM9 processor, 64M RAM, 128M Flash, Ethernet, USB host, USB slave, SD card slot, 3 serial ports, I2C, audio and a 3.5 LCD touchscreen. 100mm x 100mm. Runs linux of course. http://www.andahammer.com/mini3/ http://code.google.com/p/mini2440/ You do have to supply your own box to put it in. I have one at work which I could probably bring along to the meeting next week if anyone would like a look. O, now that does look nice, touch screen (supported in Linux I assume?). How deep is it with the LCD attached, would it fit inside a standard partition wall with the LCD flush on the surface (thinking home control device). -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Partitions
On 08/13/2009 01:16 PM, Chris. Aubrey-Smith wrote: As gparted seems not to want to allow me to shrink/move anything, do I have any option but to back everything up and start again? Chris. gparted won't let you adjust or move any partition that is currently mounted. Seeing as you want to adjust the root partition you will need to get a live CD, boot without mounting any local partitions, then use gparted to adjust your partitions as appropriate. But I would back up you data first anyway just in case, I have come across the occasional corruption issue :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Software bugs impending liability
Stephen Davies wrote: I'm wondering how other LUG Members would tackle the release of software with known bugs and would it stop you from developing software in the future if you had the spectre of being sued for bugss in your software. Remember that the Microsoft EULA makes them NOT Liable for any defect in their Software although how that would ever standup to the scrutiny of a court I'm not sure. Perhaps this is why they are on the same side as the Linux Foundation. Stephen D It is inevitable that a complex piece of software will have bugs, anything beyond the most trivial piece of software is impossible to produce completely bug free. Obviously as a developer I try to minimise the bugs in code I write, and I would like to think that there are not too many. But even when the code is technically flawless (it does happen sometimes) there can still be bugs which have come from a misunderstanding of the requirements, or bugs that have crept in due to the requirement changing half way through. You can have done all the defensive programming, ensure buffers are checked, user input sanitised, all memory allocated freed etc. etc. but you can still end up with something that doesn't quite meet the requirement in some obscure side case that was badly documented in the original requirement. You can also have issues with code that doesn't work well when interacting with other code due to both sides interpreting the interface spec. slightly differently. These kinds of errors will always happen on projects where the requirements are written in English and not some formal specification language. Most use cases are very simplistic diagrams with a few paragraphs of text, you don't stand any hope of producing a bug free implementation given that sort of input ;). And for most projects they idea of formal specification is complete overkill (unless you are trying to control a nuclear reactor, armed UAV etc.). I would argue that 100% correct code is almost impossible in very large systems, and also not required. 99% of code written and used in the daily life of a computer doesn't need to be mission critical. In most cases we are not talking about software that will cost peoples lives if it goes wrong, we are talking about things that will be a minor inconvenience. Is it really the end of the world, for example, if the buttons don't quite line up on a tool bar? It would be classed as a bug but would you really stop the shipment of a piece of software over it? Given that nature of most software it would be economically infeasible to ensure that all code is either 100% bug free, or that all bugs in the code are documented prior to release, nobody would every release any software or the cost of that software would be so astronomical that nobody would buy it. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
Alan Pope wrote: 2009/8/6 pavithran pavithra...@gmail.com: Uncertainty : yeah I am afraid if my tv tuner or graphic card gets detected in linux There is this thing called Google. It has a list of supported devices. When it comes to TV tuners that still assumes: 1) You can find somewhere in the uk selling it 2) When you buy it it doesn't turn out to be a different hardware revision that doesn't work. 3) Support happens to actually work as opposed to claiming to work and then not actually. In my experience TV card support still sucks and it is very hard finding a real person who really has a card that actually works and that you can still buy who will give you advice ;) For me I own: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?page=Productfm=nullsm=nulltm=nullsku=226218category_oid= Which does work for me with Fedora 10 without any re-compiles. Just requires tracking down the firmware using Google. (again assuming this isn't a new version that doesn't work, which unfortunately you cannot tell from the outside, only once you plug it in). TV cards are still not as good as the support that Windows provides and are quite a scary thing for the newbie it can be quite a bit of money to gamble on a card that might not work. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
Keith Edmunds wrote: The MythTV mailing list and website are very helpful in this respect. I don't run myth so didn't think of posting there, the linux-dvb mailing list wasn't very helpful. For me I own: http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/store/pcw_page.jsp?page=Productfm=nullsm=nulltm=nullsku=226218category_oid= That's just plain irritating. Why do you make your reader(s) click on a link to find out what you are talking about? Why not just say, I have a Blogmeister TelliVee WonderCard? I was trying to be explicit as to which card I own (especially has hauppauge have several models with similar names) and after pasting the link I obviously forgot to add the name and model to the email. Thanks for cutting me some slack. Sometime I do wonder why I bother with this mailing list as so often I seem to run into people who are more interested in posting a hostile response than fostering a sense of community. Not exactly friendly, thanks. TV cards are still not as good as the support that Windows provides I'm not sure that makes sense. Maybe you mean that the support for TV cards under Linux is inferior to that which Windows provides. I couldn't comment: I don't run Windows, but I suspect that is the case. If Google is not working you might want to look at http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Video_capture_card I'm trying to point out what an up hill struggle a new Linux user has trying to get a working system with a working TV card of some description.Your only choice is to run the gauntlet of unhelpful, sarcastic and in many cases down right rude experienced Linux users while you tear your hair out wondering why things don't work. That link on the MythTV wiki illustrates this point perfectly. If as a Windows user I go into PC world I can look at some shiny boxes on the shelf, read the worlds on the small selection they have, and take home a card / USB stick that will work with my Windows machine all nice and easy. They even have a nice sticker saying things like Media Centre Compatible so I know I can have a card that will work. For Linux I have to search Google and find the MythTV page you linked. If I can get past the jargon of DVB-something and ATSC and other bits and follow the link to Terrestrial viewing I'm present with a list of 45 cards with meaningless names with no clue as to where I might go to buy one of the cards or even if the card is still sold. If I then decide that I thought the Hauppauge WinTV Nova-T 500 PCI looked interesting, and I thought that PC World sold it, I click on the link to the page with details on the card and run a mile! http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Hauppauge_WinTV_Nova-T_500_PCI Or if I thought that the HVR-1110 sounded good I think I would be more put off by this page: http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Hauppage_WinTV-HVR-1110 And that is why I come back to my point that I would not recommend Linux as a media centre solution for anyone who doesn't already know Linux and isn't afraid to get their hands dirty, it's just too much hassle. Don't get me wrong, Linux is great, my home laptop runs it, I run a media centre / server at home and my day to day development machine at work runs Linux. I've been using it on and off for over 12 years now. But it just isn't user friendly especially when you start dealing with things like TV and media. If all you want is to email, browse the web and type simple documents I would recommend a netbook running Linux in a flash, but for power uses it is too steep a learning curve and too difficult for your average computer user. I truly wish it wasn't that hard, I wish manufactures listed Linux compatibility on their hardware boxes / websites, and I really wish people on mailing lists were less rude to newbies asking questions. And that the solution to problems wasn't the case of, oh simple just open a console window and type insert magic incantation here. Most windows users have never even seen a command prompt and would run a mile at the prospect of having to type something in or edit some arcane configuration file to get what they see as a basic job done. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
On 08/05/2009 11:58 AM, Adam Sweet wrote: Brief summaries: John Wesley, Hardware + Mythbuntu: £425 processor: Via C7 memory: 1 Gb Hard Drive: 1.5 Tb Optical drive: None Graphics: VIA UniChromeTM Pro II 3D/2D AGP *snip* Without some research beforehand, I'd be very reluctant to use any Via graphics chips in what is essentially a video specific application. I'd be interested to hear others' experience of Via Chrome graphics chips if I'm wrong. Ad I would 100% agree from my previous experience of Via motherboards and graphics chipsets. I used to have a Via SP13000 running my media PC performance was sluggish and horrible even from the supposedly 1.2ghz processor. The chipset drivers used to be a complete nightmare (even worse than now), but now openchrome drivers are included in a number of distros so you shouldn't have to worry about it, Fedora, Debian and Ubuntu all ship openchrome which should be fine. MPEG2 playback on my system was with the openchrome driver and xvmc, but again hard to get working and playback quality wasn't great (my nvidia 6200 gives better xvmc playback by miles, and that isn't even a current card VDPAU on a Ion platform or similar is better still) but it did achieve the goal of smooth framerate and only 20% CPU usage for broadcast SD tv. No MPEG4 support without using the via drivers, and I would agree that most people would tell you to avoid it if at all possible. I think that a via system would be viable for SD content, but HD is probably beyond the hardware mentioned above. If you want HD an Nvidia ION system is probably the way to go. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
On 08/04/2009 03:35 PM, Stephen Rowles wrote: ASRock Ion-330 (No OS) £249.99 (svp.co.uk) Processor: Intel Atom (330 dual core) Memory: 2 Gb (800 mhz) Hard Drive: 320 Gb (2.5inch) Optical drive: DVD re-writer (slimline / laptop) Graphics: NVidia ION (Geforce 9400M equivalent) Audio: 5.1 (with output over HDMI) Monitor:None Networking: Ethernet (RJ-45, Gigabit) Controls: None supplied. Power supply: 65W adaptor Audio/Video : 1 x D-sub VGA 1 x HDMI Line in, Line out, Mic Other ports:6 x USB 2.0 1 x S/PDIF (optical) 1 x Mini PCI express slot Ops, spec. correction, there isn't a mini PCI express slot, silly copy and paste error. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
On 08/04/2009 03:52 PM, David Webb wrote: Stephen Rowles wrote: You've missed my suggestions My mistake - sorry about that. No worries. What is the position re Linux drivers? Are they the same NVidia ones as the Acer Aspire? David The drivers are exactly the same as for the Aspire, they are both Nvidia ION platform machine and the latest Nvidia binary drivers provide HD content off-load and audio out via the HDMI cable. They are almost the same machine, the advantage the ASRock ION-330 has is that it has a built in DVD-writer and uses the dual-core version of the Intel Atom chip. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
On 08/03/2009 09:41 AM, Alan Pope wrote: Hi Pavithran, 2009/8/2 pavithranpavithra...@gmail.com: Yes I am suggesting someone to use a proprietary software in a linux list but I am afraid that there is no *viable* FOSS alternative :( Untrue. MythTV, Boxee and XBMC are all (for the most part) FOSS alternatives to Windows Media Centre. As much as I hate to agree with someone suggesting Media Centre I've not used Windows Media Centre, but for a non-guru all of those alternatives above are a REAL pita to install configure and maintain. I use Freevo at home but there is no way I would recommend a Linux media centre to anyone who doesn't really understand Linux and is happy to get their hands dirty. XBMC is by far the best of the bunch both in terms of support and features, however it DOESN'T do TV (well not without some nasty hard to configure hacks to make it use a Myth backend). This is because of many reasons : * Bad Hardware vendors who don't write free drivers . So vote with your feet and buy hardware that _is_ supported. There is a lot of it about. Also worth noting that Linux based systems support _more_ hardware out of the box than _any_ other operating system, including Windows, OSX and BSD (and BeOS, Haiku, OS/2...). Have you tried finding and actually getting hold of such hardware in the UK? I spend a long time researching, asking questions on the extremely unhelpful linux-dvb mailing list and eventually bought what I thought was a supported piece of hardware, only to discover I'd got it wrong and I had to wait approximately 6months before support was even vaguely there. I suffered months of having to download source snapshots and build my own kernel modules which then needed to be rebuilt every time the kernel was updated. The really good hardware with Linux support is stupidly expensive, and almost impossible to find in the UK, my best chance so far is shipping it in from Germany and paying seriously over the odds for the privilege. The other problem is that manufactures often ship revised versions of known good hardware, which subsequently doesn't work in Linux. Your only real bet is to try and find a small shop someone sell old and out of date hardware which will probably work ;) *Many proprietary video formats I'd be interested to know exactly which proprietary video formats the FOSS media player VLC can't play. With VLC and MPlayer I don't think I've yet come across a format they wont play. I think you'll find that FOSS also supports way more codecs than most proprietary solutions. Windows for example doesn't support OGG/Theora/Vorbis, DIVX or H.264 out of the box. Most Linux distros these days can install codecs very easily. I would agree with VLC, but it doesn't have good hardware acceleration, meaning you have to throw a seriously fast CPU at it to ensure you can get playback of the more demanding video codecs. This doesn't go well with finding a small low noise box to sit under the TV. MPlayer is good but you need a very up to date version, usually compiled from source to use the latest acceleration from Nvidia (VDPAU) which is pretty much required to get a decent media centre experience. *lack of video standards ( Yes MPEG is a ISO standard but mp3,divx thrive ) There are many standards for video compression, and (as outlined above) they pretty much all work on Linux. Which ones don't The all work, but varying degrees of actually work. If all you need is to play back an mpeg video, yes it all works, if you want sensible fast forward and rewind functions (which you find an all the most basic DVD players) then you are completely out of luck with any Linux system, except for XBMC but it doesn't do TV so is no good for me :( Linux media centres are great, flexible and powerful, but they are a complete PITA to get working and setup and are very fragile once you do eventually get them working. Now I've not used Windows Media Centre, but I find it hard to believe it can be worse ;) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
On 08/03/2009 10:31 AM, John Wesley wrote: 2009/8/2 Stuart Matheson stuart.j.mathe...@gmail.com mailto:stuart.j.mathe...@gmail.com Hi Everyone, I did a quick search of the HantsLUG list and couldn't find anything appropriate so please let me know if I've missed something. My girlfriend is moving out of her current splace and will no longer have access to the expert she had there (ie someone with an xbox with xbmc). I'm looking for a quiet multimedia PC that can be plugged into a TV for watching iplayer, youtube and other online video as well as video files and possibly a dvd (I have an external dvd player she could use though so it isn't a deal breaker). She said the xbox was quite noisy though so she'd like something quiet. Something that shouldn't have much trouble running something like xbmc (which she is familiar with, or any other easy to use program) and can connect to a SD tv would be great. A remote will also likely be required. An internal or external HDD would be fine as I have one spare. She is also interested in wii fit so a nintendo might be an option, but I have no idea if it would fit the bill in regards to the other requirements. What can people recommend for this (unit and remote)? It doesn't necessary have to be brand new so 2nd hand laptops/refurbished PCs aren't out of the question. Like most people (or in her case, public servants) she is pretty skint so the cheaper the better. All suggestions welcome :) Cheers, Stuart -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk mailto:Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk -- I spec'd up something that does this (and is intended to be a PVR too) over the weekend, though it's probably overkill for what you really want: motherboard: http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11471 (£140) case: http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=12418 (£50) hard drive: http://linitx.com/viewcategory.php?catid=105pp=100,105 http://linitx.com/viewcategory.php?catid=105pp=100,105 (£100) keyboard: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-920-00586-diNovo-Mini/dp/B0012NIYSO (£90) memory: http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=11106 (£15) tv card: http://www.dabs.com/products/hauppauge-wintv-nova-t-digital-dvb-t-usb-stick-42PG.html (£30) -- probably not required for this Install Mythbuntu and you're done ta jonh (trying desperately to ignore the WMC flamewar) Or if you don't want to build it yourself: http://www.svp.co.uk/systems-pcs/value/pc-asrock-ion-330-pc-system-no-os-black_mte-01011.html Dual core ion system, tiny case, from all reports it is silent in operation. Uses NVIDIA's ION platform so you can run VDPAU to offload all the graphics load for high def content (1080p). It is dual core so should be reasonably OK for you tube content etc. For remote the easiest to get working is probably the MCE version 2 remote: You need the one that looks like this, I couldn't find a shop I know that sells them on-line http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=mce+remoteoe=utf-8hl=encid=7426765364015426615sa=title#p The USB tv card linked by John works for me, but I have a friend who runs one any has a world of pain with kernel and usb issues. http://www.dabs.com/products/hauppauge-wintv-nova-t-digital-dvb-t-usb-stick-42PG.html -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
On 08/03/2009 10:47 AM, Stephen Rowles wrote: Or if you don't want to build it yourself: http://www.svp.co.uk/systems-pcs/value/pc-asrock-ion-330-pc-system-no-os-black_mte-01011.html Dual core ion system, tiny case, from all reports it is silent in operation. Uses NVIDIA's ION platform so you can run VDPAU to offload all the graphics load for high def content (1080p). It is dual core so should be reasonably OK for you tube content etc. Grr, teach me to read the original post properly! This system won't connect to an analogue TV, it would be brilliant for an LCD TV or computer monitor though :). Sorry. Steve. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
On 08/03/2009 12:30 PM, Stephen Davies wrote: I am puzzled by one of the responses to this thread. If you have to build some kernel modules and it is a real PITA when the kernel is upgraded to get it all working again then as this is a Media Centre and therefore a pretty statically defined system then why are you doing upgrades to the kernel etc if everything works and is not broken? This constant need to upgrade ( Possibly break) working systems is always feels a bit wrong to me. If it ain't broke then don't fix it seems to be about right here. Ok, if there are problems with say MythTV and a new release fixes them fine buat as I say, if it is all working fine, then why upgrade? Stephen D For me there were 2 reasons to need upgrades. 1) Security - the box in question is visible over my adsl line to allow access to my media and to allow TV guide browsing / remote record. As such I need to keep up to date with security fixes to minimise the chance of my box being compromised. From time to time these require a kernel upgrade, which in turn required the re-building of the kernel modules. Even if I wasn't allowing remote access in to the box, as it has a web browser installed I would want to keep up to date with security fixes in case of a browser based security flaw. 2) Fixing other bugs in other software. After your machine has been installed for a while you can eventually be forced into a kernel upgrade to get the rest of the package dependencies to an appropriate level to get the latest patched application you require. There were also a number of kernel USB issues around the same time as I was trying to get my USB based TV tuner working and some of the issues with the stick were blamed on the kernel USB stack which really did force an upgrade and then re-compile to try and get things working. As a side note getting my media centre working, in the early days, was the biggest pain I have ever encountered in Linux. There were several points that I nearly gave up and just bought a copy of windows media centre to stop all the hassle. It originally took months of blood (literally in the case of one of the hardware installs), sweat and tears getting it working. Now it is much less hassle and there are a number of live distributions that help, but I'm still not sure I'd want to recommend it as a solution to someone who doesn't know how to get under the covers and sort problems out when the occur. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ultimate Linux Media PC?
On 08/03/2009 01:23 PM, Vic wrote: We have DKMS in Ubuntu ...and everywhere else as well. DKMS isn't quite as clean as it might be - but it does give the lie to all those waily you've got to recompile the kernel just to use Linux FUDs... Vic. Ok, I don't fully understand DKMS, but how does it help when you have downloaded a source tree from git and compiled and installed the modules it creates? I thought it only helped if you had installed a proper DKMS package? -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Hantslug gallery update
On 07/31/2009 10:57 AM, Lisi wrote: On Friday 31 July 2009 03:15:12 pavithran wrote: Aren't we as linux users on Cutting edge ? No Lisi I'd agree with that, it is sometimes referred to as the Bleeding Edge for a reason! I like to live by the if it ain't broke, don't fix it motto and try to avoid doing things (especially upgrading software) without there being a compelling reason to do so. I've been burned in the past and ended up spending days recovering back to a working system due to an over enthusiasm to be on the latest and greatest version just for the sake of it ;) Now if there are good reasons to upgrade, all well and good, otherwise I say leave well enough alone. And yeah, some more up to date photos would be nice, but being as of yet I haven't managed to make it along to a single meeting I don't really feel in a position to comment on that one ;) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Stopping gnome applets / monitors running?
Hi all, I'm running Fedora 10, and I installed the KDE packages after installing from a live CD which ran gnome. The upshot of this is that I have 2 of almost everything all trying to be helpful at once, and in the case of power / suspend monitors it is really unhelpful! In particular I seem to have both the KDE and gnome power monitors running, when I close the laptop lid one or other gets the notification first and suspends the laptop before the other can complete. When I resume the suspend cycle from the 2nd monitor kicks in and suspends the laptop again! A similar battle seems to happen over update checking and other facilities. What is it that controls which of these are run? I can't seem to figure out how to stop these extra unwanted gnome processes starting when I log in to KDE. Cheers. Steve. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] MTBF
Hugo Mills wrote: [snip] You can see all sorts of interesting things here which can easily be used to warn on pending failure of a drive. It's not actually a very good guide to failure. The figures I've seen quoted from NetApp are that SMART data will only give you warning of a pending drive failure in about 20% of cases, and that's if you know what you're looking for (which most systems don't, as they can't do the same level of analysis as NetApp can, to get the data). Hugo. With my cynical hat on: NetApp would not exactly be an un-biased source of information seeing as they have a business to run based on selling a solution. If SMART was better I wouldn't expect them to tell you ;) But fair enough comment, SMART is not a substitute for a proper storage solution, more just pointing out that there are already lots of metrics tracked and stored by even a dumb consumer hard drive.. and assuming NetApp are correct, 20% is better than nothing. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT] MTBF
James Courtier-Dutton wrote: None of the above smart parameters give any indication from the accelerometers. So, one has no way of telling if shock was a contributing factor to the HD failure. It would be nice to see smart stats saying, we got this much shock before we managed to park the heads. Another thing, for the pre-fail smarts like: Raw_Read_Error_Rate 16203744 Seek_Error_Rate 139114079 Hardware_ECC_Recovered 164354431 What is an acceptable value and what indicates things starting to go wrong? My laptop HD has these values at zero!!! On my desktop, they keep increasing over time. So, what is an acceptable rate ? James Unfortunately this is my work desktop machine, I don't think it has an accelerometer in it... my personal laptop at home would appear to have this line: 191 G-Sense_Error_Rate 0x000a 100 100 000Old_age Always - 0 Which according to google is something to do with shock-sensitive sensor on the drive. Unfortunately I'm not an expert in analysing the output to tell you what the numbers mean, I expect there is some software that will do a better analysis job but I don't know of any off-hand. I've only used it once before in anger on a drive that was making odd noises and behaving strangely, one of the numbers was huge, which I looked up and google suggested it indicated a failing drive, so I backed up the data and replaced it :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Firefox ongoing bother: is it me?
Victor Churchill wrote: Desktop machine: Ubuntu 8.10, Firefox 3.0.11. Firefox regularly grows to 1GB in virtual memory size and close to 1GB physical memory at which point my (1GB) system starts thrashing and I usually need to kill it and restart. FF version from Synaptic is '3.0.11+build2+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.8.10.1' which is the up to date version. It's not a huge Firefox session: 3 windows, 10 tabs. Even after a fresh restart it shows 250MB resident, 750MB virtual. For reference below is the top output from my firefox (3.0.11, Fedora 10). It has been running for quite a long time, and I've certainly not seen it taking growing that excessively. I don't seem to have your problems with the 3.0.11 included in Fedora 10. I run lots of tabs during the day, only 2 were open when I took the top snapshot. I have lots of extensions running installed and enabled: Adblock Plus NoScript Web Developer User Agent Switcher XSL Results Top output on my current firefox: PID USER PR NI VIRT RES SHR S %CPU %MEMTIME+ COMMAND 18622 srowles 20 0 630m 405m 24m S 2.0 10.3 186:26.81 firefox Having restarted and opened 3 windows with 12 tabs in total across the 3 windows I have the following: PID USER PR NI VIRT RES SHR S %CPU %MEMTIME+ COMMAND 936 srowles 20 0 285m 97m 21m S 15.6 2.5 0:20.02 firefox -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] PC powers itself off after grub.. any ideas?
Right... Well it wasn't the power supply. Nice shiney new PSU with more power than the old one, and it is still behaving the same. Just to update, must have been a memory / cpu / motherboard issue of some description. I decided the simplest plan was to replace those parts (went Intel rather than AMD this time, dual core celeron and DDR2 motherboard). Machine now boots and works fine. Don't feel like working out what was wrong, I'm guessing the voltage regulation on the motherboard was failing once I had a number of peripherals drawing power from USB, but I don't have a spare CPU or time to try and figure out what fails ;) Machine now back, configuring new hardware was a little interesting (especially getting ethernet working again) but all sorted now - yay! -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Konsole
I have got a root tab working thanks to Stephen but still can't work out the 'spell' to get a root mc tab based on the command: /bin/bash -c su - that he suggested. I really struggle with simple things like this as I know practically zilch about programming of any sort, I'd probably even struggle with html these days. right.. having installed midnight commander (never used it before) the following command should work: /bin/bash -c su - -c mc Again it will prompt you for root password before giving a new shell with MC in it. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Konsole
I have got a root tab working thanks to Stephen but still can't work out the 'spell' to get a root mc tab based on the command: /bin/bash -c su - that he suggested. I really struggle with simple things like this as I know practically zilch about programming of any sort, I'd probably even struggle with html these days. right.. having installed midnight commander (never used it before) the following command should work: /bin/bash -c su - -c mc And quite why KDE decided that they would go backwards on the functionality for Konsole, especially when adding it is quite difficult for an end user, having to figure out the correct magic incantation, I don't understand. Like the new way of configuring settings in KDE4 is just plain stupid, they have thrown away the old control panel that placed everything you need in one nice place, and replace it with a new control panel that configures some of the settings you might want with other settings spread between 2 different sub menus it drove me mad trying to set the default printer before I found I had to run a separate app located in a different menu :( Administration - Printers for adding and configuring your printer Settings - Default Printer to set which one is the default I like KDE4 but some of their decisions are very hard to reconcile. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Konsole
On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 09:06:55 +0100 (BST) Stephen Rowles step...@rowles.org.uk wrote: right.. having installed midnight commander (never used it before) the following command should work: /bin/bash -c su - -c mc ah! it was the need for a second -c that had escaped me mc is a very useful tool as it will run on a system without X and give a semi-gui file manager (and more). I first became acquainted with its parent, Norton Commander, a long time ago when I bought a 32 meg hard card* that came with dos and a trial copy of Norton Commander installed on it. I found I preferred NC to Xtree which I'd been using till then and when I converted from OS/2 to Linux and found there was a clone of NC I started using that for all my file management stuff. Ah... now Xtree I remember from my very very early days using my dads Tandy 1000 (HX model I think certainly looked like the picture of an HX on wikipedia) we had the extra memory module to take us to the full 640k and an external 3.5inch floppy drive to compliment the 5.25 inch drive in the side of it :). I taught myself to program in BASIC on that machine, and learned to touch type as it was one of the few interesting programs it had for a young boy to play with! -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Konsole
Until a short time ago Konsole had options in the File menu for a Root tab and a Root MC tab in addition to New tab and New Window. A recent update removed the two 'Root' options, I suspect a bit of ubuntization at work. I have got used to using Konsole and would like to have those two options available. I have tried editing the konsoleui.rc in ~/.kde/share/apps/konsole but all I succeeded in doing was to end up with no options in the File menu, not at all what I intended ;-( So if there is anyone out there still using an old version of Konsole that allows those two 'Root' tab options would they send me a copy of the relevant konsoleui.rc file please. I just tried and the best I can come up with: Settings - Manage Profiles... New Profile... Profile name: Root shell Command: /bin/bash -c su - Then hit OK. I can now go to the file menu and just click on Root shell in the middle of my File menu, this prompts for the root password before giving me a shell. I guess if you have sudo setup to allow su - then you could use that instead. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] PC powers itself off after grub.. any ideas?
Right... Well it wasn't the power supply. Nice shiney new PSU with more power than the old one, and it is still behaving the same. Booting gets further depending on how many peripherals are connected, without anything other than display and keyboard it will boot, but even just connecting the ethernet cable means it won't get through the whole boot. It still feels like power, the more things connected the less far it gets through the boot. I've checked the temperatures and I'm 99% certain it isn't over heating. CPU heatsink is still cool enough to touch when it powers off, and the BIOS should warn with beeps at 65 degrees before power off at 75 so I would expect it to be quite hot if that was the issue. Powering straight back up and using the bios health check shows temp in the 35 degrees or so, I wouldn't expect it to cool back to that from 75 that quickly. Booting from a Linux live CD (well USB stick) doesn't work either so I think it is unlikely to be kernel and software related. Any other ideas? I guess next I look at replacing motherboard and processor which is pretty much the whole machine replaced at that point. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] PC powers itself off after grub.. any ideas?
Hi all, Slightly OT, except for the fact that the machine is running Fedora 10. My machine powers on and boots into grub just fine, however as soon as I select the kernel to boot the machine continues to a blinking cursor before the whole machine simple shuts down. I'm wondering if it might be a faulty PSU? Any other suggestions? I'm going to try booting from my Fedora install image on usb stick but I've never seen this sort of behavior before. It behaves the same regardless of which kernel I select so I don't think it is related to any updates, typical to get a hardware failure on the PC that runs the telly during Wimbledon week! -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] PC powers itself off after grub.. any ideas?
2009/6/30 Steve Kemp st...@steve.org.uk: On Tue Jun 30, 2009 at 17:34:48 +0100, Stephen Rowles wrote: I'm wondering if it might be a faulty PSU? I think its a tie between PSU and overheating. It behaves the same regardless of which kernel I select so I don't think it is related to any updates, typical to get a hardware failure on the PC that runs the telly during Wimbledon week! If you leave the machine shut down for an hour or so, then power it up does it get futher? (If so that would point more definitively to overheating.) Based on current weather conditions(HOT) and the odd butterfly effect..., I would say overheating is the most likely cause. Check that all the fans are working well, and don't have dust in them and there is good air flow through them. Another option is the paste between the fan and the CPU drying out and going too powdery. I had a similar problem, and replacing the CPU paste and cleaning the fan fixed the problem. The result was a CPU that ran 15 degrees cooler. I now set the HD to automatically spin down after 20 mins of no use for temperature reasons. The PSU has already span up the HD and read the grub boot sector, so I don't think the PSU is at fault. James More indications that it might be PSU related. Removing the USB tv tuner (which draws full usb allowed power IIRC) let it boot further, but now powers off part way through the boot sequence. It won't complete the boot from USB either I've checked the fans etc. and they are all ok. PC has been off all day before I came home and started trying to figure out what is wrong. Having said that I'm going to check the CPU cooler, CPU in the bios shows as 45 degrees just sitting there doing nothing, which seems a bit hot. And as I've typed this it has gone up to 49 just sitting on the bios screen which doesn't seem right! The bios is set to auto shutdown set if it gets too hot so that seems a likely culprit now. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] PC powers itself off after grub.. any ideas?
On Tue, 2009-06-30 at 17:34 +0100, Stephen Rowles wrote: Hi all, Slightly OT, except for the fact that the machine is running Fedora 10. My machine powers on and boots into grub just fine, however as soon as I select the kernel to boot the machine continues to a blinking cursor before the whole machine simple shuts down. I'm wondering if it might be a faulty PSU? Depends. If you can leave it running at the Grub menu (which spins the CPU) indefinitely, then it's probably not a power problem. Does any other operating system work? Any other suggestions? I'm going to try booting from my Fedora install image on usb stick but I've never seen this sort of behavior before. It behaves the same regardless of which kernel I select so I don't think it is related to any updates, typical to get a hardware failure on the PC that runs the telly during Wimbledon week! Try booting with acpi=off and see if this helps. James. I'm 99% certain it is a PSU fault. With the machine plugged only into the monitor and keyboard I can boot quite happily and run all the apps I like. When I reconnect network, USB TV stick etc. etc. the machine only gets part way through boot before losing power. Temperatures are OK, having managed to boot it I was able to scan /var/log/messages where I record CPU and HDD temperatures every hour through a cron job. It shows it died for no good reason last night round about 10:00pm with the temperatures looking just fine so I don't think it is an overheat issue. ebuyer have a good looking more powerful PSU for only £30 next day delivery so I'll order that, has a nice 120mm fan so should be quieter than my current one too, also has more power than the current 300 watt one I'm running. Normally I'd want to try more things but as this is our only way of recording TV, and contains all our email archives, I want to get it up and running again asap :) Thanks for all your suggestions, I just hope this doesn't turn into a piece by piece replacement of the whole box! -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Code style
Hugo Mills wrote: Yet one more reason to avoid ternary operators... (If you haven't guessed yet, I'm not a fan of the whole concept. I've rarely met a use of the ternary operator, in any language, that made code easier to read.) Hugo. I use the following fairly regularly when writing debug output: object == null ? null : object.getText(); Or similar. But only for debug output, I don't use ternary for main line flow control, too much chance of someone else misunderstanding in the future. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ergonomic mouse ?
I'm beginning to get pain in my shoulder through over use of the mouse. I have seen other alternatives like a mouse pen or a track ball mouse and wonder if anyone has experience of these things and recommend their use. It would have to work under Fedora 10 or Ubuntu of course :-) I started suffering from RSI about 4 years or so ago now and managed to get a referral to a physiotherapist (fortunately I had private health insurance so didn't have to wait 9months). She was very helpful and provided me with tendon stretching exercises etc. which where a great long term help as well as loosening my shoulder muscles up which provided more immediate relief. I now use a simple Logitech MX400 which provides slightly better ergonomics than the normal cheap flat mice, but it isn't the thing that really helped. The physio' worked out that my particular problem was due to stretching too far out to the right to reach around the keyboard to grab the mouse, and from bad posture (partly due to a bad chair). Having fixed the layout of my work station, got the nicer Logitech mouse, and a narrower split ergonomic keyboard most of the problems no longer occur. If you have already been to the doctors then my apologies got assuming you hadn't yet. But if not it really is worth getting it looked into properly as sometimes it isn't what you might think is the real cause of the problem. In my case switching to an ergonomic mouse / tracker ball but not changing the keyboard would have been no help as the stretching would still have been happening and causing me problems. Having said all that, things like tracker balls etc. have all just worked for me out of the box. As others have said they are just mice and linux seems just fine with those nowadays. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Ergonomic mouse ?
Roger Munford wrote: I haven't a problem at the moment but it could happen anytime and prevention is always better. Good point Roger, but like backups prevention is often something that people look back on an wish they had done after the event! I'd also echo this. My physiotherapist said that once you have a problem, that is is you are stuck for life with trying to limit the symptoms. My symptoms are now greatly reduced but I would recommend everyone get their workstation set up correctly with appropriate reach distances, properly adjusted chair, good posture etc. BEFORE they start having problems. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] JOB: Senior Security Engineer | LOCATION: London, England, UK
The posts are no more than 1-2 per month and are formatted in such a way that people can ether hit delete or open as soon as they see it. Alternatively perhaps you can just create a filter just as easily? On some of the other groups I subscribe to I do make non-Job posts...and in fact am pretty sure I have made at least one to the Hampshire LUG too relating to Linux media servers and Raid under Linux (SUSE). I for one don't have a problem with the posts, an exception would be the recent issue with the repeated posting of the Database which clearly wasn't going to get a response. I appreciate the Hampshire targeted jobs and it is certainly interesting to see what jobs are out there (not that I am looking for a job, or that any have matched my particular skills so far, but I know other people who are looking). So long as they are infrequent (no more frequent than they are currently) and are not repeatedly advertised then I for one am happy for them to continue. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Remote copy of Firefox?
Does anyone know if there are there any GPL equivalents to this commercial product? http://www.thinstuff.com/products/lx-server/ ( a multi-user X server combined with an RDP (remote desktop) server ) I want to give (Windows) desktop users access to a remote copy of the Firefox web browser running on a firewalled and sandboxed Linux server. Basically I need a multi-user X server combined with a VNC or RDP server. I don't want a whole remote Linux desktop, just a remote Firefox window for several users. Simon I think what you want is xrdp: http://xrdp.sourceforge.net/ Simply install a linux distro, set up users, they log in using windows remote desktop client with their own userid and password. Suse has a package that seems to work perfectly out of the box, I've not quite got it configured right yet.. I can connect via remote desktop but cannot actually get an X session :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Creating a minimal sized disk image (VirtualBox)
On Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:25:35 +0100 (BST), step...@rowles.org.uk said: I cannot afford to have any downtime at the moment or my project manager will shoot me! tbh he'd probably shoot me if he knew I was even looking at this Let's hope he's not a closet HantsLug reader. There's no reason why you shouldn't be successful with this, but I'd suggest a moment to consider two questions (they're rhetorical): - what do you gain if you are successful in your mission? - what do you lost if you trash the hard disk? Given that you don't know what you're doing (not meant unkindly, but you are asking here) then the second point above is a possibility. Maybe find a spare, additional hard disk you can install? Or just do this on another PC. At the very least, make sure your CV is up to date and backed up before you start... Keith I was only joking ;). Just trying to get across the point that I cannot afford any downtime right now so I need to be able to do this without having to reboot or do anything risky like resizing the partitions. There are several people who use dual boot machines here, if there is an easy way to get this working it will save a lot of time in the long term, which is why I'm thinking / experimenting when I get small dead spots (waiting for compiles etc.). Just that my experimenting needs to be safe, creating a new image and playing with virtual box is safe, risking trashing my existing partition / hard disk isn't :). So any other suggestions on how I create a small bootable image without the risks outlined above? -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Creating a minimal sized disk image (VirtualBox)
On Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:22:22 +0100 (BST), step...@rowles.org.uk said: Just trying to get across the point that I cannot afford any downtime right now My point entirely. Not wanting to flog a dead horse here... but I still don't get your point. All you have said is: - what do you gain if you are successful in your mission? - what do you lost if you trash the hard disk? I already know that the 2nd point is a risk. If I didn't know it was a risk I wouldn't have posted, twice before now, that I know it is a risk. All I am trying to do is find a way to do it that is completely non-destructive. So what exactly is your point? Are you saying that you don't think there is any gain to this endeavour and hence you won't help? (I didn't realise I should have posted a business case to justify my request for help). -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Creating a minimal sized disk image (VirtualBox)
I had to go through various Windows installation repairs after that, but I did end up with a virtual Windows machine that was, essentially, a clone of my real Windows installed - and I never booted that workstation into Windows again. Which is exactly what I'm trying to achieve.. thank you.. now I wonder if I can convince our IT department to provide me with some install media :S. They are not exactly keen on doing anything if I mention the word Linux. Which odd considering we sell products which require development on Linux and I'm using Linux because my manager specifically asked for developers to move to a Linux platform - ah well! Thanks for the help :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Creating a minimal sized disk image (VirtualBox)
Actually, it's good advice. To add to it I would say that if you're neck's on the block and this is effectively a production machine, then only something that is more urgent than your current project should take precedence over it. If it's not more important then I'd stall it until after the project is complete, unless I had some way of getting back up to speed /very/ quickly should messing about with partitions go horribly wrong. Sean How many times do I have to say that I'm looking for a way to do this WITHOUT messing around with my partition table? If I waited until I was under no pressure from management to deliver code I'd never do anything other than heads down code monkey, which in the long term is not good either for my sanity or the business overall. There is potential benefit to proving the use of virtual machines successful for more than one developer in my team but management will not give me scheduled time to investigate, so it needs to be done in a safe way along side my normal work load. But there are now 2 safe suggestions of things I can try in my lunch time, thanks for those that are contributing possible solutions rather than just implying I am silly to attempting it ;) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] [OT] Friday humor...
A friend of mine on Facebook linked to this - very funny (and scarily accurate) :) http://www.dinosaursandrobots.com/2009/04/tools-explained-by-do-it-yourselfer.html -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] [OT]ServerHouse and NewNet
Hi, I am looking for a co-location provider and have come acrosthese two names, both on the same estate location in Fareham. DOes anyone know whether there is a relationship between them, or is it just coincidence? Never heard of either of them before. ServerHouse would appear to be a registered company, but isn't following the UK rules and putting appropriate contact information, or their company registration number on their website. NewNet is also registered and isn't following the rules either, but at least they have their company number on one page of their website. Both would appear to be up to date on accounts according to companies house (assuming, in the case of ServerHouse, that I have found the correct company). No idea about any relationship but they appear to be separate companies, certainly one is private limited and the other public, but it is entirely possible that one owns the other :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Digital video archiving
Hi all I'd probably settle for a system that transfers from PVR to DVD by copying a file rather than making a DVD recording of a PVR broadcast so to speak but is there a simpler way? I don't have a nice enough looking case so I've not tried a media centre PC, MythUbuntu or some such solution. While I cannot suggest a good way of getting data out of an off-the-shelf PVR, I would like to vouch for a media centre PC. I have a simple one running Freevo with a USB Freeview stick. All programs are simple dumps of the over-the-air mpeg stream, these are either watched or moved onto my NAS for future reference (usually only films, but lately In The Night Garden for my son). Freevo is quite easy to set up and was a huge step up from my old PVR. The ability to connect in to the web interface to schedule recordings is great (from the laptop) and connecting in a remote is also pretty easy. Given the Acer Revo recently announced (assuming you are happy with nvidia drivers) which can play back HD content and will be in the UK supposedly for only £180 http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/13/acer-aspire-revo-now-up-for-pre-order-in-uk-with-may-18th-releas/ Would be quite a cheap way to get a nice small system, just add a USB tuner stick, sling on your favourite Linux media centre and then easily archive your TV onto a NAS. The only thing is you will need an LCD TV as it only has digital outputs. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] What is a Shuttle PC?
Rob Malpass wrote: Hi all I've done a bit of googling but (apart from the obvious shape of the case) what's so special about a shuttle PC? I'm looking to put together a new machine with quite a bit of grunt (6Gb RAM+ and as fast a CPU as I can afford). The only other real specification I need is that it can handle dual monitors. Aside from that, standard sound is ok, as is standard network. A front USB port would be handy but no other major requirements. I intend to dual boot Ubuntu and Vista and the main thrust of the machine's work will be video editing (hence the RAM, CPU and graphics). Physical space is an issue but is there anything else to watch out for? I notice for instance that lots of Shuttle PCs have only 275W power supplies - presumably the case can't take any more hardware so a stronger PSU isn't an issue - is that right? TIA - I promise I have done a lot of googling on this but not turned up the one answer I need - why buy a shuttle PC as opposed to a traditional tower? Cheers Rob If what your really want is a small form factor case, there are plenty of ways you can do this yourself without paying the Shuttle premium. Now of course you don't get the convinience of a ready built machine etc. but it will save you some money :) There are places like: http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=47 and http://linitx.com/ Both of which I have ordered parts from in the past will sort you out with a small form factor case, mini-itx / mini-atx mother boards, etc. to build your own small form factor PC. Not sure how much memory you will easy fit as most boards only have 1 or 2 dimm slots, but worth looking into. I have built myself a small server based around a case similar to this: http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=10543 And a media centre based around one of these cases: http://www.mini-itx.com/store/?c=3#media which have both run fine. But I've had not serious CPU horse power requirements :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] iplayer and BBC licence fees (again)
I have a tv set which is connected to a satellite dish and tuner and is capable of receiving only German tv. How does that fit into all this? Chris. I *think* that this still requires a license. In the UK you need a license to watch live TV, regardless of the source. I guess this would be similar to what SKY wanted to do, which was not include any BBC TV and hence allow it's subscribers not to pay a TV license fee. It hasn't worked for SKY so I guess the same argument would be true for German satellite TV, it isn't quite the same but I'm sure the TV licensing people would say it was. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] iplayer and BBC licence fees (again)
On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:31:39 + Jacqui Caren jacqui.ca...@ntlworld.com wrote: I am one of the hold-outs. Our TV died over a year ago and we decided not to renew the licence. TV licencing send automated nastygrams threating imminent court action but some nice web sites break these letters down and explain your rights. We had the Investigation officer around with his 'almost police' uniform :-) but I think two snarling GSDs behind a child gate put paid to any the idea of forcing entry. Same here - I don't have a TV since I moved house about 18 months ago. I have no intention of getting a TV, either. I regularly get threatening letters from the TV Licensing people, which get immediately binned :) I'm yet to have a visit from the enforcement division - which is a shame because I know exactly what I'm going to say to them if they ever turn up ;) As I posted before, but I will post again just to add some balance. My previous experience is that if you open the and read the letters, contact the TV licensing people and explain that you either a) don't have a TV or b) have a TV but don't watch live TV (e.g. only watch DVD's or Videos and it isn't connected to a TV aerial) Then they accept it and leave you alone. No more wasted trees on threatening letters and no investigation officers coming to your door. Before we were married my wife had a TV video combo but didn't have an aerial and just watched Videos from the Library / Purchases. She contacted the TV licensing people and told them, no more letters or contact. Simple as that. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] iplayer and BBC licence fees (again)
Hello folks I know this was discussed last year, but a non-TV-owning client has just asked me whether he needs a BBC licence to use iPlayer, and I was surprised to find this page at http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/channels/television/iplayer.shtml which implies that he does. It says The TV programmes are free for UK licence fee payers, at high quality and with no advertising. On the other hand, the iplayer terms and conditions at http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/about_iplayer/termscon make no mention of the BBC licence fee. It's all rather confusing really. Maybe the government should admit the the licence fee is really a tax that they expect everyone to pay, and give up the charade about the BBC being independent. This link from the iPlayer site seems to sum it up quite nicely: http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/about_iplayer/tvlicence Catch-up: No license needed Live online (simulcasting): License required. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] iplayer and BBC licence fees (again)
On Wednesday 25 March 2009 13:45:52 Stephen Rowles wrote: As I posted before, but I will post again just to add some balance. My previous experience is that if you open the and read the letters, contact the TV licensing people and explain that you either a) don't have a TV or b) have a TV but don't watch live TV (e.g. only watch DVD's or Videos and it isn't connected to a TV aerial) Then they accept it and leave you alone. No more wasted trees on threatening letters and no investigation officers coming to your door. Neither my experience nor my husband's (when we lived separately before we were married). We got endless threatening letters, to all of which we replied explaining that we didn't have a TV. Finally I wrote and said that that was the last time I would reply to one of their nasty letters, the rest would be binned. I binned everything else they sent me. But no enforcement officer turned up - at least, not when I was in. Admittedly, this was a while ago. We must have been lucky, I was surprised it worked but I thought I should mention that at least some times it does :). I wonder what other legal options you could take, seems to me that the constant letters when you have explained could be harassment. I wonder if you could take out a restraining order or similar? Possibly it might even now be an offence under the data protection act as they are incorrectly processing your details. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] RSS reader app - what a good idea!
Yes, welcome to 2002! I've used live bookmarks in firefox before and quite frankly wondered what the point was I kept having to click on the bookmark to see what had changed, it didn't seem to achieve anything useful. However I have just discovered and installed Liferea which is brilliant and I wish I had known about it before! I've put the RSS feeds of the various website I look at (which fortunately have RSS feeds) I now have a little blob (I think it is supposed to be a globe) that sits down by the clock on my KDE bar and checks all the feeds once an hour, and the icon changes colour if there are new unread feeds. It also has a nice unread folder which aggregates all the unread items from the separate feeds into one place to look for things I haven't read yet. This really simplifies keeping track of new stories etc. It's a great little app so I thought I would mention it here in the hope that someone else might find it useful. Suddenly I see why RSS feeds are a good idea :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Cheap and Easy NAS
I know that many are amazed at how slack some peoples backups are, and I know that my current situation is among them. However, in my defence, my computer is more a toy than a business tool. My life would not grind to a halt should all my computers go up in a puff of smoke. That said, I have now got a few gigs of photos that I would like to protect. *snip* I know my solution isn't great, but consider it good enough :) I don't have a backup hard disk. My photos are burned onto DVDs which I then post / take to my parents house whenever I visit. I keep in check with the photo backups about once a month, I don't take enough photos for it to be worthwhile any more regularly than that. Everything else, while it would be a pain if I lost it, like all my old emails, I won't care *that* much if it all went up in smoke. But my photos would be annoying to lose, especially now I have a young baby that I need to keep photos of to embarrasses him in the future with :D Remotely stored DVDs containing the photo backups should be enough for me, and apart from the pain of starting to back them up in the first place it is easy to keep on top of. Every now and again I check the oldest DVD to see if I can still read it, so far so good, but I've only been doing it for 12 months. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] HDMI output from linux
Mark, The problems with 1080i 1080p that the current eeeBox (B202) has are well known. If you google for B204 or B206 you will see the announcements for the new models. These should have enough grunt to deal with 1080p (well I hope so...) Stephen D Problem is it is an ATI card, and at the moment ATI haven't got their video offload interface out for Linux yet. It should do 1080p in windows but no use if you want to run a Linux based media centre, until ATI get their act together. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] HDMI output from linux
You can get (and pretty cheaply...) DVI to HDMI cables. This solves the problem of searching for reasonably priced graphics cards with a HDMI conector. I use a 5m one to connect my Macbook to the Camera Clubs 1080p projector. That said, the next generation of eeeBox (B204/B206) is supposedly going to have a HDMI connector. One of these should do very nicely as a Media Centre. They were announced in late November so we may start to see them soon. btw, they are going to have an Nvidia GPU rather than the somewhat problematical Intel one. I intend to get one to use at the core of my MediaCentre setup. Stephen D The big problem with just using a DVI - HDMI converter is that you don't get audio. The main reason for wanting HDMI is to have audio and video down the same cable rather than having to run 2. I have found this card: http://www.gainward.com/main/vgapro.php?id=95 Which is fanless - yay - and comes with a spdif cable to connect to get audio included. Apparently this now works with the latest versions of ALSA if you use the nvidia binary driver. In researching and asking elsewhere was also told about VDPAU which is also available on the card I've linked above, apparently this allows offloading of h.264 decoding, deinterlacing, OSD effects etc. the same as PureVideoHD has for ages on windows. Apparently the latest xine and ffmpeg support this too. In theory (according to phoronix) this would allow HD playback using a very low end processor (they tested AMD Sempron LE-1150 and an 8400GS): http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=articleitem=nvidia_vdpau_gpunum=1 So things are looking up, I will do some more research to be 100% certain the audio thing works, but looks like it is possible, and I might be able to get HD playback out of my existing system (which is an LE1100) simply by purchasing a £42 graphics card - very happy :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] HDMI output from linux
All, I would like to use HDMI output to get my Linux media centre working on an LCD TV. (I don't have the TV yet though!). What I want to do is to do away with my expensive and small media centre PC and have a high powered PC which can sit in the understairs cupboard, using nice big low noise fans, and generally be out of the way. This means running all the output from the cupboard to the Telly :) Looking around HDMI would seem to be the best way of doing this, I can send stereo and digital audio over HDMI along with the video signal, and have it automagically picked up by the TV. The digital audio can then go into the amp and be turned into surround sound if required (when playing back DVDs). Best of all long HDMI cables are fairly cheap, and it means only running 1 cable. Now this is all well and good in theory, but I cannot find much information on how to achieve this, and certainly not in linux. There appear to be a few cards out there with HDMI out for video but no way of getting the audio into the HDMI signal. Does anyone know of any video / sound card pairs that fit the bill, and most importantly actually work on Linux! Cheers. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Streaming video
On Mon, January 26, 2009 15:48, Brian Chivers wrote: Has anyone tried streaming video across there network ? Yep, I do it all the time, however... What I'd like to be able to do is stream TV shows that I've recorded in avi / xvid format to Windows workstations connected to projectors so staff can view fullscreen what they've requested to be recorded. ...I use MediaTomb to stream audio and video to my PS3. Streams full HD video just fine, but may not do what you want. On the server side, you just point it at a directory full of videos. It has a basic web interface for configuration. On the client side, you'd need something that supports UPNP media servers. The PS3 just picks it up automatically, not sure if media players on Windows will do the same, or whether you can feed them an URL to it. A really simple solution, which would depend on network bandwidth but would be easy to setup, would be to consider just a simple shared directory. I run freevo on my linux machine at home which records shows onto the harddisk. This is shared out via samba and if I want to watch a program I just browse to the share and play it back using mplayer installed on windows. It would be a very low tech solution, it isn't really streaming but works quite well :) no idea if it would work well enough to scale up to lots of people steaming videos, that would depend on your network bandwidth and the servers ability to keep up. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] DVD remastering
Hugo Mills wrote: All - Is anyone aware of a tool that will read the contents of an DVD and write out, say, a dvdauthor XML configuration that represents that DVD? I don't want something which can copy DVDs verbatim -- I want something that will allow me to edit the DVD between reading it and writing it. For example -- back up a DVD, with its menus and chapter structure intact, but not take the pointless extras with it. (If I wanted to listen to someone talking over the top of the film, I'd go to the cinema...) Hugo. k9copy will do remastering without compressions etc. you can pick and choose in a similar vein to dvdshrink on windows. I've not used it yet only played with the options to see what is possible since moving over to Linux and not wanting to go back to windows just to rip a DVD. But it looks like it will do what you want. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Data Recovery
I've had good experience with Steve Gibson's Spinrite. There's a ton of testimonials here http://www.grc.com/sr/testimonials.htm This guy is one of the best, I would trust everything he does. Spinrite is worth paying for simply for the maintenance effect, I buy very little proprietary stuff but I have a copy of this. You're welcome to borrow my copy if you undertake to buy your own copy if it works for you. Contact me off list if interested - rustleg @ gmail dot com. Regards Russell Gadd Well I've read the site, and I'm at work so it might be I missed it while doing a quick skim, but I cannot find any information about what Spinrite actually does. It is compared to chkdsk but no real explanation of how it manages to read failing disks, or what it does to fix the problems. Just lots and lots of marketing stuff and comments like it performs miracles which is backed up with lots of user comments. When working with something like a computer I'm rather wary of people that claim their software performs miracles... I would much rather see a technical explanation (or at least a summarised one if they are worried about disclosing enough info for people to copy it) I'm sure it has worked for you, but I really don't like the idea of paying for something which has no information about how / why it works for data recovery. Can anyone point me to something I missed on the site? or another review / article that explains why it is so good? -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] TV Tuner
On Sun, Jan 18, 2009 at 08:28:51PM +, Chris. Aubrey-Smith wrote: From time to time, I try to enliven a dull evening by making yet another attempt to get my Twinhan Alpha 7045A USB TV tuner to work on one of my Debian ThinkPads. To the best of my ability, I've followed every piece of advice and guidance I can find, but with the results below: T42:/home/chris# xawtv -hwscan This is xawtv-3.95.dfsg.1, running on Linux/i686 (2.6.18-6-686) looking for available devices port 73-73 type : Xvideo, image scaler name : ATI Radeon Video Overlay [Intel (R) Video Overlay on my X30] T42:/home/chris# xawtv -tvscan This is xawtv-3.95.dfsg.1, running on Linux/i686 (2.6.18-6-686) can't open /dev/video0: No such file or directory v4l-conf had some trouble, trying to continue anyway [snip] no video grabber device available You're using the wrong tools. The TwinHan DTV Alpha devices are *digital* TV devices, but V4L (aka video4linux) is for *analogue* devices. You need at minimum the dvb-utils and dvbstream packages. dvbtune is probably helpful, too. The first half of the article at [1] should explain a bit of how to use them. Hugo. [1] http://carfax.org.uk/docs/DVB If you are only interested in simple TV watching, then it is much simpler to use something like Kaffine, or mplayer / xine to actually tune your channels. Follow the instructions on hugo's site to create your channels.conf, then place it in the .mplayer .xine directory as appropriate. For Kaffine it should just pick up the DVB device and let you use it, I don't think it even needs the scan file as it is capable of scanning by itself. For mplayer you can then watch a TV channel with mplayer by doing, for example: mplayer dvb://BBC ONE Where BBC ONE is the name of the channel from the scan file. Then if you wish to record that program you can dump it to disk by doing: mplayer -dumpfile myfilename.ts dvb://BBC ONE Much easier than using tzap etc. although a bit less flexible. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] TV Tuner
Jumping sideways slightly, are the signal levels reported by femon consistent from DVB-T tuner to tuner? And what sort of levels are needed? Short answer.. no Long answer.. see linux-dvb mailing list ;) I believe there is some attempt being made to produce a unified output scale for these things, but you can only really compare output between different runs on the same device. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] S-Video
32 ideally. It's just that time of year I guess. The shops I've looked at that allow you to check stock levels prior to buying (argos, comet etc) have plenty of 32 TVs without PC inputs, but I had to go over 400 quid before I could find one both in stock and having PC input. There were plenty 300-400 in stock without PC input. Maybe 32 were last year's must have Christmas presents. I'll stick to TVs offering VGA and keep trying. Try richer sounds: For example, 32inch samsung with PC input (only 1366 x 768 though) for £299.95 and richer sounds extended guarantee's are great value as you can get the money back if you make no claim at the end of the time (provided you remember and can find the paper work) http://www.richersounds.com/showproduct.php?cda=showproductpid=SAMS-LE32A336 The shops are usually very helpful and will check stock if you phone them, and should allow you to try it out with the laptop. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Anyone else having serious issues with Fedora 10?
The Holy ettlz wrote: Hello, I've run into a number of kernel recursive faults on my notebook with F10 that I never experienced with F8 or F9. I suspect that this is something to do with the graphics code (and from what I understand there's still a lot of roadworks going on there) since on all occasions, I'd been using Xv-accelerated video playback (and using suspend/resume) on an Intel X3100 chipset. So I reckon something is amiss, perhaps either in DRI, GEM or X scribbling where it ought not. I've reported these bugs. James. That is exactly the behaviour that I am seeing, I'm using the laptop as a temporary media centre replacement as my via based machine died just before Christmas, I can only watch about 1 video before it all dies horribly, again with a X3100 chipset. Do you have the bug numbers? I'll add myself to the cc list and comment so they have more weight. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Anyone else having serious issues with Fedora 10?
John Cooper wrote: Did you actually upgrade from Fedora 8 or do a new install? If you upgraded I would start again with an initial (new) install and see if that solves the problem. I have not had any kernel problems. John. I initially upgraded, but I have since wiped and installed fresh. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Anyone else having serious issues with Fedora 10?
Hi all, Is anyone else having serious stability issues with Fedora 10? I have used Linux for over 10 years now and prior to using Fedora 10 I've seen maybe 2 kernel oops or complete crashes of the kernel. Since upgrading to Fedora 10 I've had 5 or 6 oops and about 4 complete system hangs, this is on laptop hardware that was previously running Fedora 8 completely stable. The current state of this release is that I'm seriously thinking of wiping it and going back to Fedora 8, even though it is now out of service. The kernel is: Linux mini-manicminer 2.6.27.9-159.fc10.i686 #1 SMP Anyone know of any major problems or fixes in the pipeline? Or is this just my problem? -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Broadband usage
I'm looking for a new broadband provider, having intended to escape Tiscali ever since realising during a support call that I knew more about networking than the person at the other end. I have talktalk, yes their service is crap and you are outsourced to a call centre in different locations around the world.. however to be fair to them it has never gone wrong, the installed on time I get close to 2meg out of my up to 8meg service (which given that my line is about as far away from the exchange as you can get, is pretty impressive, my old BT provided line used to get 1.2meg). We also have the any time call package which means that our phone bill every month pretty much just the £25 cost. I cannot complain for that much of a bargain! It is capped but at 40gig it just isn't a limit I come anywhere close to hitting. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Fedora 10: not at all glitch free audio
Does anyone else have this problem? I have my new shiney Fedora 10 install, one of the things that attracted me was the new Pulse glitch free audio, audio playback has never been great in Linux, especially with multiple sources, I hate the fact that 50% of the time I end up having to close an app because it has hogged the audio output so nothing else will play. But this new Pulse audio won't play anything correctly without glitching all the time. I get stops and starts and stutters. Yes I can play multiple sources more easily but they all glitch. I still haven't re-installed from scratch, so I want to do that before raising the bug, just to be certain it isn't some hangover from my old install, but does anyone else have this problem? -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Fedora 10: not at all glitch free audio
Check through the Bugzilla, there are loads on it skipping. Chances are your bug is already there; add your hardware data to it. Yup, this is pretty much mine situation perfectly: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=470568 I'll append my hardware details when I get home and have access to the laptop again :) -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] Fedora 10: not at all glitch free audio
When moving the mouse over icons in windows (particularly Dolphin) the machine becomes very busy (even with the Dolphin preview pane shut and all the window effects turned off.) The Xmms spectrum analyser freezes and if I pass over more than about 2 icons the pulseaudio output stops then restarts (I'm not hearing any bangs, pops or glitches). If I have the system monitor open the mouseovers up the CPU load by about 50%!!! The shutdown sound on KDE comes in bits. No glitches but not continuous. That is what I mean by glitching, it stops and starts during playback. I have the same issue with Amarok and any other audio that I play, certainly during startup of the audio track. There are other bugs against Pulse in bugzilla describing the icon problems you describe with sound stopping and starting so maybe add you symptoms and hardware to those? -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
[Hampshire] Fedora 10 upgrade woes
Hi all, I've just upgraded my Fedora 8 to Fedora 10 using the upgrade option from the DVD image. Now I imagine that Fedora 8 to 10 is not really the supported or intended upgrade path, but I was left with a system that would boot but I couldn't log in to X or even run yum or rpm to try and sort it out. The problem ended up being the nspr package which wasn't upgraded correctly, I needed to get 4 libraries off another linux machine via usb stick which then prodded it into life. However my system doesn't look or behave like the live CD version, I'm missing a bunch of tools and have old kde3 versions of things like the power management rather than the new shiny versions that I had when booting the live CD. I'm a bit disappointed by the whole thing tbh, I now have a major upgrade pain to go through and upgrade the remaining fedora 8 packages... tbh I'm thinking that I might just move everything I care about into my home partition and wipe the box and do an install from scratch... I did the upgrade as I thought it would be the easiest solution :( -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] I am a person not a PC...
Out of interest, does anyone know where the TV license issue stands on browsing the BBC's website and using the iPlayer? Presumably iPlayer is recorded TV programs and therefore a license is required? http://iplayerhelp.external.bbc.co.uk/help/about_iplayer/charge Interesting wording though: The BBC does not charge you to use BBC iPlayer, nor does the current version require a television licence Which I guess means they reserve the right to change that to require a license in the future as only the *current* version requires no license. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] I am a person not a PC...
Stephen Rowles wrote: They seem unable to believe that some people actually don't have a TV. My friend deliberately never replies to the letters and makes them come round. I think the last time they did and he refused to let them in. He told them he didn't have a TV. The investigator challenged him but you've got a TV aerial. I love his response I've got a pint of milk in the fridge. Doesn't mean I've got a cow in the back garden. That is really weird... before I was married my fiancee lived in a flat and had a TV/Video combo, but no TV license, she just used to get video's out of the Library and watch them. The first time the letter came she simply replied with I have a TV, but it is not tuned and I don't watch TV and never got pestered again :) Will be interesting to find out how well that works, I intend to do the same thing in the new year (after recording lots of Christmas telly) That is odd because I thought you were licensing the set(s) at your address and and not the right to receive and watch broadcasts as such. Me, I quite like the Beeb or various components thereof and don't mind shelling out for the service. It'd be a sad loss if we went fully commercial IMHO. Sean I just find I don't watch TV, or even have time to watch TV, with a 7 month old child around ;) I've doubled checked and according to the TV license web site: You must be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. And from an article on the BBC news: The law says that anyone who uses a TV, or any other device, to receive TV signals, must buy a licence. The key thing being there was no receiving of TV signals go on, therefore no license required. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] I am a person not a PC...
I've doubled checked and according to the TV license web site: You must be covered by a valid TV Licence if you watch or record television programmes as they're being shown on TV. And from an article on the BBC news: The law says that anyone who uses a TV, or any other device, to receive TV signals, must buy a licence. The key thing being there was no receiving of TV signals go on, therefore no license required. How does this affect devices such as Slingbox I wonder? Presumably there is a delay during payload assembly and retransmission of the relayed TV signal - does this then count as live - as in as they're being shown ? If the answer is yes, how about if they introduced a delay in the feed? Surely the signals are then being received *after* being shown on TV then. I imagine they would say that sling came under the record television programmes as a delay buffer would still be recording. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] First impressions of Fedora 10
from lspci... 03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network Connection (rev 02) is this different to yours? works like a charm with NetworkManager I've got a 3945 card too, not sure which one as I'm at work and the laptop is at home ;), and that works great under NetworkManager on Fedora 10. Apart from one small bug that I have raised and is currently being ignored... but that only causes problems if you have a power failure, and NetworkManager doesn't turn the card back on when power is restored, you have to disable and enable it again to kick it into life. -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
Re: [Hampshire] First impressions of Fedora 10
Things still to test before upgrading: * 3D graphics * TV output * Audio playback (mp3) * Movie (SD HD) playback both on the LCD and via TV out. * Bluetooth * Infrared * DVD-Writing I've now also tested: * 3D graphics, glxgears gives smooth output and slightly higher framerate than running on Fedora 8. * Audio playback (mp3) skipped a little on first play with Amarok, and I hate the new skin on Amarok (must see if the old one is still available) but was fine after that. * Movie playback - SD HD fine on the laptop's LCD, not tried TV out yet. * Another note on the audio front, I think I need to tell the intel HDA driver which laptop type I have as it seems very confused atm, I get mono output rather than stereo from my speakers (right speaker only). Enough now works that I will be downloading the full DVD iso and upgrading, I will also try out the graphical boot - thanks for the tip :D -- Please post to: Hampshire@mailman.lug.org.uk Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk --
