Computer Tips -Tech Info

Tag: Linux

  • Linux using wine passes Microsoft Windows Genuine Advantage test

    This will likely not last long, but according to this post at bit-tech.net, the author went to windows update to try to download directx on his linux machine just to see if it would work. (I assume he was using Internet Explorer running on wine.)
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  • HP virus throttler available for Linux

    HP will be making their virus throttler software avialable for Linux. Their virus throttler software detects compromised machines on a network, mails the administrator and throttles network connections to the machine, attempting to minimize the impact of the viral outbreak. (It seems as though it would be especially useful against network worms.
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  • Linux: Using Mandrake (Mandriva’s) URPMI tool

    As background for this, I’ve used Mandrake Linux (now Mandriva) for my main desktop since around 8.2 I can’t remember quite how long ago that’s been, but around 3 to 4 years I think. The why is something best saved for another writeup. Early on I was frustrated by installing software. I read everyone give instructions on installing from source. That went along the following lines….
    from a command prompt type the following….
    tar -xzvf yournewsoftware.gz
    cd yournewsoftware
    ./configure
    make
    su
    enteryourrootpassword
    make install
    and your done!

    Well…. no it isn’t always that simple
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  • Gentoo new release 2005.1

    It looks as though Gentoo 2005.1 has been released. The ModWiki.org’s tech blog has mentioned it. Of course for more details you can look at the main gentoo site. Gentoo is a Linux distribution that has gained a following for the fact that everything is built from source.
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  • Kstars – great personal astronomy software under linux

    I’ve played around with Kstars off and on for a good while. It reminds me vaguely of a program I used to have under windows. It’s essentially a planetarium on your desktop. It is GPL licensed and part of the KDE Education suite of programs for the KDE desktop under Linux. It has all the basics for a program of this class (view the night sky and the stars from your latitude and longitude.)
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  • PS3 ( Playstation 3 ) to be linux or Apple Tiger compatible

    This interesting article says that Sony has released some information on the PS3 (Playstation 3) that says “The integrated Cell processor will be able to support a variety of operating systems (such as Linux or Apple’s Tiger).” Prior to that in their release they mention that “Sony is expected to offer optional hard drives for the PS3 with potential memory capacity of 80 or 120 GB”. So is Sony looking to turn the PS3 into a desktop replacement?
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  • AJAX threatening Windows?

    Long ago there was talk about the desktop not meaning anything anymore and that software would be delivered through the web. Well, it looks as though AJAX has brought that closer to reality. Wired news takes a look at where things are in the arena. Explains what Ajax is and what makes it so meaningful. ( Google Maps is one site that uses “AJAX”).
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  • Linux code drastically improved

    According to this writeup(in spanish), an analysis of linux kernel code in the 2.6.12 version compared to 2.6.9 is drastically improved.

    Coverity, makes software tools that analyze source code for errors. The 2.6.9 analysis turned up 6 severe errors and 985 smaller problems. The 2.6.12 analysis uncovered no severe problems. There was an increase in small problems though to 1008. (An increase of 2.3 %), The total size of the codebase though, increased by 4.7%. Meaning the pecentage of problems to lines of code went down.
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  • Get counted at the linux counter

    One of the problems with “free software” that can be downloaded and installed on multiple machines without expense or legal recourse, is that it’s sometimes hard to know how many people run it. Yes, sure there are web statistics that might tell you if someone is using a different platform than windows. But what about those machines that don’t get used for web browsing, but sit firewalling or mail serving, or file serving their lives away without even getting to be a statistic in the big scheme of “market share” debates?
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  • Google Earth for linux?

    I’ve mentioned Google Maps several times. *(Microsoft VirtualEarth recently jumped into competition)* Essentially you can browse, search and drag around road maps on the screen, or switch to a satellite view of an area, or even a hybrid mode where you can zoom, click and drag a satellite image with mapping super-imposed. Searches place objects on the map or satellite view with an arrow and “thought bubble” type description. There are even ways to find specific gps locations and to pick gps coordinates from the Google Maps.

    What I’m typing about now though is Google Earth. Google bought a company called Keyhole that made all this imagery possible. Keyhole sold a small client that pulled the satellite data real time from the web and allows some neat pluses (better zoom levels), tilting of the map for a different angle view. Google has renamed the product Google Earth and a free version is available for Windows.
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