Computers

Ubuntu 8.10RC is coming

munmon2 Comments

Good Evening,

Ubuntu the best Linux Distro (me thinks) is releasing the next version 8.10 Intrepid Ibex soon. As of now, Release Candidate is available here. Shall I be upgrading to the latest version? I don’t think so. Am feeling lazy to re-install Ubuntu. Hear me when I say, I don’t like upgrading Ubuntu or any other Operating System. There’s nothing better than the fresh installation of an Operating System. Furthermore, being on LTS now. Why should I upgrade? I would if I have the time. Heh. /rolling eyes.

Let’s see, what Ubuntu 8.10 is offering. Usually, the new release has better applications and a new kernel. However, one will never know what lurks behind. /sinister smile. Upgrading is not for the fainted heart. Save it for the bold. Let the experienced users test and conclude it in the future. Well, we will know. Okay, on the new features now.

  • GNOME 2.24
  • X.Org 7.4
  • Kernel 2.6.27
  • Encrypted private directory (nice feature for the paranoid)
  • New Guest session
  • Network Manager 0.7
  • DKMS
  • Samba 3.2
  • PAM authentication framework
  • Totem BBC Plugin
  • Server Virtualization and many more

As promised by Canonical Foundation, every 6 months, a new version of Ubuntu will be released. The new 8.10 Intrepid Ibexis is scheduled to be released on 30th October 2008.

Do you believe in Ubuntu? Well, I believe. What about you?

Take your files anywhere with Dropbox

munmonLeave a comment

Good Evening and Salam Sejahtera

It’s 12.00AM in the morning. Should not be a problem. I will be on night shift tomorrow. Nice huh? I can wake up late in the morning, but with a price… I have to stay until 8.00PM. Coolies. It’s raining, not much differences.

Okay, just found out one cool application which would act like your virtual storage. Syncing everything you save with your computers. Hence, opening again with different computer. A very good utility for the people on the move. I was playing with my Ubuntu Tweak when I came across with Dropbox in the 3rd party sources list. I was keen to find out what is this Dropbox all about.

A simple statement to enlighten me “Dropbox is the easiest way to share and store your files online“. Well, it is an on-line storage where it can sync to your linked computers. It acts just like your normal folder in your computer. But whatever goes inside that folder will be uploaded to the server (hint: sync). It is safe and protected. However, one should not put confidential materials there. Just as precautions.

Try it now. A very nice application.

BTW, this application is available for Linux, Mac and Windows

Is CAP nuisance to the society?

munmon2 Comments

Good Morning and Evening

Recently, I read an article in Malaysiakini about Wi-Fi being dangerous. Is this all about opposing free Wi-Fi services to all folks in Penang? I don’t know, you tell me! What is this all about then? Do wi-fi radio frequency carry health threat? Well, I don’t think so. I have been exposed to Wi-Fi signal for quite sometimes, I do not have any health problem. I believe many people’s are being exposed to various types of radio frequency, Mobile Phone, FM, AM, Wi-Fi and many more. Do they get sick?

I quote this from Wi-fi: Better safe than sorry

Wi-fi, like mobile phones, is an untested technology, meaning that it hasn’t yet been proven safe for use. Wi-fi operates in a way very similar to mobile phones – which should be of concern, as it is now believed that the universal use of mobile phones may be storing up medical catastrophes for the future.

Like mobile phones and their towers (or masts), Wi-Fi also emits microwave radiation. Though virtually no research has been carried out, public health advocates and some scientists expect them to have similar ill effects. It is reported that we are all now living in a soup of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) one billion times stronger than the natural fields in which living cells have developed over the last 3.8 billion years.

Though virtually no research has been carried out would simply mean your finding and accusation and proposal are baseless and invalid. What is he talking about? I don’t know, you tell me!! Why CAP must always oppose many of the societal benefits improvement. This is not the first time. Don’t ever make a concussion or decision from several findings that are not authoritative and its accuracy may be disputed. Do some reading next time.

Today, we are surrounded by signals. Not from one source, but many of them. Many experts claim (one of them is CAP), that radiation emitted from wireless technology poses a health risk. They are 2.5 billion cell phones users around the world. Professor Henry Lai of the University of Washington, who studies the biological effects of electromagnetic fields, has this to say “Cell phones pose the greatest potential health risks due to their proximity to the head”. Evidence is conflicting, over the past 30 years, studies show nothing, Prof. Henry Lai added.

In the land of the Norseman, Several epidemiological studies of cell phone users found no evidence of increased risk of brain tumours. Andrei Laszlo a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, and several colleagues have tested possible mechanisms of carcinogenesis-including radiation exposure ten times greater than the maximum from today’s cell phones-he has obtained negative results in every study. “I feel that the problem of health risks associated with wireless technology, especially cell phones, has been exaggerated in the media,” Laszlo says. “We have a sign in our laboratory: “Cell phones will kill you if you use them while you drive.“

Well then CAP, this for you to consider, subscribe to ProQuest or EBSCOhost or Academic OneFile or MEDLINE before giving out a ridiculous proposal. Rather than simply took an article from the Internet and make baseless proposals.

Adios

My Computer Chronicles

munmonLeave a comment

Good Evening Boys and Girls. Salam Sejahtera to all.

I have been discussing about this since my last blog, munmonlisme ver.1. Well, that did not survive my last financial crisis. Hence, the new version emerges. On with the topic.

Let me see, my first computer was a 8086 in 1986. It was a new experience for me. All I ever knew was playing games. Dig Dug, Alleycats and Montezuma Curse. That was a long time ago. There’s no Windows or any Shell Management at that time. Just plain CMD. MS-DOS was the tool of the trade. Funny to think about it.

Then, the technology moved on. 286, 386 and 486 and finally Pentium. My OS were Windows 3.11 and Windows 95. Followed by Windows 98 and finally Windows XP. When I could afford me own Personal Computer, Windows XP was the OS of choice. Installation was easy and straight forward. Games were plentiful for Windows XP.

There was a time, I was eager to try Linux and gave Mandrake a chance. I did not like it. Trashed it and reverted to Windows. Then came Red Hat, but hey no MP3 support. At that time, I had no Internet connection to seek for help. SuSe came along after that and still dual booted with Windows. I used it for a while.

One day, I came to know about Ubuntu, new Linux Distro and decided to gave it a try. My final days with Windows was a result of one stupid mistake. Truthfully, I am careless, I pressed next and next and next without realizing the cause. Boom!! me Windows Installation and all Important files were gone. lol. Idiot I was at that time. However, I was bold at that time to try out Ubuntu. What was the used of returning to Windows if all files and installations were gone. Go ahead with Ubuntu, this I said to me self. That was in the year of 2006.

I am considered lucky to have the wits and ability to learn something new very fast. Fast learner as all call it. PHP, VB, MySQL, Linux even Windows, I have no idea at first. All of my IT knowledge are learnt by reading and experience. Self-Taught almost all of them. You’ve got to have the willingness to learn to be successfull. Here I am today with Ubuntu as my only OS.

What makes me love Ubuntu, I can never tell. I just love it. Plus, the new Visual Effect enchants me. Hey, Windows XP and Vista can’t do what Linux can. Linux users do not have to be wary of Viruses and malwares, spywares, and trojan. Very true, Windows own the dekstop but the numbers are diminishing as the day passes. Same with the case of Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Heh, I just love open source applications.

Take Care now.

One crazy taxi in Sabah

munmon5 Comments

Good Evening and Salam Sejahtera.

Arrived at Sandakan in one piece around 1.30 PM. Nice view during flight. I saw the peak of Mount Kinabalu on my way there. No picture was taken as I did not have any DigiCam. Hand-phone is prohibited in any aircraft during flight. Pictures are not possible. Nevertheless, the fantastic view is mine to keep.

On my way to Hotel Sandakan (it is Friday and the person who is supposed to fetch me is having his business in the Mosque). Well no worries, I can be on my own. My next best option is the cab. RM22 was paid (coupon system) to get my ass to Hotel Sandakan, the best place in town, access to food, entertainment and all my daily needs is easy.

Let us start with my story, the Crazy Taxi of Sandakan. He is quite old and short. He talks a lot and curses all the time. I care not about that, as I am of his type too. The road in Sandakan is quite funny, closure and detour are normal here. So he took the one which was going in the right direction, yesterday. Yep, it was like that yesterday. But today, the road has turned into 2 lanes instead of one. Instead of using the road in the right direction, he insisted on using that road.

This would be the end of me. I asked him to turn around and use the other road on our left, which is separated by a large drain. It is not that hard, just make one big u-turn. He did not listen. He kept driving as if nothing wrong had happened. Oh, God. Burn me not in hell for being a big sinner as the lorry came toward us. Yes, one big lorry with a full load of timber. Hahaha. Please u-turn and use the right road, I begged him. He simply said, “I have opened the light. Don’t worry”. Fuct, deep in my heart I said. And the lorry avoids us. Phew!! I live another day.

I saw one big roundabout in front, finally, the taxi re-enters the road in the right direction. I kept quiet after that. Never to utter any words and leave the cab without saying thanks as I enter the hotel. I live today and shall remember this day as a hint from me God the Almighty.

How crazy is that? If anything happens to me, OUM would lose the best Librarian in town. Har Har Har. That’s merely a joke for motivating me. Seriously, if the lorry ran into us, today would be the last day of my life. Thanks, for giving me another chance.

Take Care

She’s Ready and Running

munmon4 Comments

Good Evening

Last week me GF and I went to the Lowyat Plaza to buy her a new PC. Since I did not have time to assemble PC which I always did, we bought Acer Aspire M Series. No! We did not install Vista or XP. Instead, we decided to install Ubuntu 8.04 LTS. We would not waste money on lousy product such as Vista. The PC was priced at RM 1,470. A very good deal.

Once arrived at home, the I immidietly proceed to install Ubuntu. Not a hard things to do. Just pop-in the Alternate Ubuntu CD and let the system installed itself, including Compiz and all required packages to run MultiMedia. Well, Ubuntu 8.04 is a bliss. A very good alternative to that expensive Vista.

With RM 1,470 we get :

Processor : Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E8400
Memory : 2GB DDR2 Memory (upgradable to 4GB)
Hard Drive : 160GB SATA 2 Hard Drive 300MB/s
Optical : DVD SuperMultiplus Writer Drive
NVIDIA® GeForce® 7100 graphics
Integrated 7.1-channel High-Definition audio
Integrated 10 / 100 / 1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet

There’s a story behind this new PC. At first, Lowyat was a no no. I did not enjoy crowded area. So we went to Tesco Extra instead, knowing Acer Aspire was there. However, since the salesperson was stupid or acting like he knew everything so we decided not to buy PC there. This Tesco was not like Walmart. With stupid salesperson, stores are losing everyday. Tesco would need to screen salesperson in Computers Dept. Put someone who is bright and wise. Furthermore, the unit there was for display only. Why would Tesco put a display unit if stock was not available. Tesco should put or write a very big notice saying “This Product is Out of Stock”. So that people like me, who can read and understand and wanted hasle free service would understand. Do not waste my time. Well Tesco you suck big time! Carefour is much more better!!

So we went to Lowyat to buy her new PC. Among the Lessons learnt are:

  1. Buy PC at the right place (Which is Lowyat if in KL)
  2. Don’t waste your time talking to Stupid Salesperson
  3. Never install Windows Vista (not related at all. lol)

Okay. Now the PC is ready and may be pick-up anytime. So sayang, if you are reading this, please come over and pick-up your PC. Munmon does not provide delivery service. (hahaha. joking-joking je taw).

Take Care

Annoying Windows Update Restart

munmon2 Comments

Good Evening, My PC in the office just went through some updates. And as usual, Windows require a restart in order to perform the updates. Usually, Windows will pop up a reminder to “Remind” the user of the restart. This is an annoying reminder. We know and we will restart the PC eventually (sigh… Windows). They require a restart in almost all updates. My Ubuntu PC never ask me to restart. I love my Ubuntu (Use it in both Office and Home)

Well, every now and then this bloody reminder pops up to gain my attention. Which I dismiss asap. I need to get my work done. Who on earth creates this reminder? How stupid of him. Windows should give an option “Don’t Show this Dialog Anymore for Good”. Since I am fed up with this reminder, I do a search in Google, Keyword: “disable windows update restart”. The first entry answers my call Disable Windows Update restart nag. A simple solution. Open CMD and paste this command “sc stop wuauserv“. The stupid reminder will be gone for good. And of course, the Windows Update will return in the next reboot. Take Care