Well, end of last week I finally got an invite for Google Wave from one of the guys I asked for one from. Actually, I got 2 invites (got the second one a few hours later from someone else), but passed that invite link on to a friend of mine who was interested. However, I have now gotten 8 invites from Google Wave in order to invite new people. I've already used 3 of them for friends of mine that I actually know and who are interested. That being said, I have 5 invites left for people I don't actually know :P I will be updating the count on this blogpost. If you're interested, leave me a comments, with your email address, and I'll add the first 5 commenters to the list (first come, first serve). Keep in mind, it's a beta, and so there ARE issues with the system (slow, lagging, crashing, etc.). However, I haven't had too many problems in the time I've used it.
After I "invite" you, the invitation won't actually be sent until Google deems their system capable of handling more users, and will then manually send out an invite to the people on the list. This means that you should expect delays in the invitation. I got my invite in about 36 hours, but some people have had to wait weeks. There is nothing you can do to speed the process up, just be patient.
Good luck and enjoy,
Lswest
Invites are all gone. I'll be adding another blogpost when/if I get any more invites to give out.
0 of 8 Invites left!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Gnome 2.28
So, it's been roughly a week since I updated my gnome apps to 2.28 off the archlinux repositories. First impression: GDM seems a lot smoother and more "modern" than it used to, however...configuring it these days can be a real pain. You've got to open the gnome-appearance-manager as the gdm user using
Which is fine, I guess, except that it overwrites my theme/GTK settings for my openbox setup, and I have to configure it again, unless I use the exact same settings for GDM (which I ultimately decided on doing). So far that's my biggest problem with gnome 2.28. However, I won't be downgrading, since I have configured GDM for the time being and probably won't be changing it anymore. Another issue is that there are random crashes back to the GDM login screen since GDM starts on tty2 now, as it's the first available getty (when GDM starts), and when the tty2 refreshes, it then kicks you off gdm and has it restart on tty7, as it should actually do from the start. I've put a temporary stop to this by commenting out my tty2 getty entry in /etc/inittab, but I'm so used to my X being on tty7 that it's taking some getting used to. But again, I can live with it, I just see no reason why this new behaviour is there. I am also curious why they decided to not include a configuration tool for GDM itself, besides the usual gnome-appearance-manager, it would just make life easier.
Moving away from GDM, I don't really see too many tangible differences in Gnome 2.28, since I run Openbox, and hardly use any gnome apps besides GDM for logging in and shutting down, etc. I've noticed a few layout changes in the Gnome applications that I ended up using to get GDM to work, and they're nothing intrusive or random, and makes, if anything, the user interface more logical. I honestly don't expect there too be too much of an improvement on the interface level until 3.0 comes out, but I could be wrong. In any case, Gnome 2.28 seems to be a nice update for most Gnome-related applications. There are a few showstoppers with GDM (inability to use themes, changing themes results in overwriting theme settings for user account, starts on tty2, etc.). The tty2 problem could be solved by editing the custom.conf, but sadly they dropped support for the [servers] flag, which, again, seems illogical to me. Also, I use lxappearance in Openbox along with Nitrogen, so that the changes to your themes may not occur if you used gnome-appearance-manager to set them as well.
Hope that you find this opinion (it's not a proper review, it's just my impressions on it) useful,
Lswest
gksudo -u gdm dbus-launch gnome-appearance-properties
Which is fine, I guess, except that it overwrites my theme/GTK settings for my openbox setup, and I have to configure it again, unless I use the exact same settings for GDM (which I ultimately decided on doing). So far that's my biggest problem with gnome 2.28. However, I won't be downgrading, since I have configured GDM for the time being and probably won't be changing it anymore. Another issue is that there are random crashes back to the GDM login screen since GDM starts on tty2 now, as it's the first available getty (when GDM starts), and when the tty2 refreshes, it then kicks you off gdm and has it restart on tty7, as it should actually do from the start. I've put a temporary stop to this by commenting out my tty2 getty entry in /etc/inittab, but I'm so used to my X being on tty7 that it's taking some getting used to. But again, I can live with it, I just see no reason why this new behaviour is there. I am also curious why they decided to not include a configuration tool for GDM itself, besides the usual gnome-appearance-manager, it would just make life easier.
Moving away from GDM, I don't really see too many tangible differences in Gnome 2.28, since I run Openbox, and hardly use any gnome apps besides GDM for logging in and shutting down, etc. I've noticed a few layout changes in the Gnome applications that I ended up using to get GDM to work, and they're nothing intrusive or random, and makes, if anything, the user interface more logical. I honestly don't expect there too be too much of an improvement on the interface level until 3.0 comes out, but I could be wrong. In any case, Gnome 2.28 seems to be a nice update for most Gnome-related applications. There are a few showstoppers with GDM (inability to use themes, changing themes results in overwriting theme settings for user account, starts on tty2, etc.). The tty2 problem could be solved by editing the custom.conf, but sadly they dropped support for the [servers] flag, which, again, seems illogical to me. Also, I use lxappearance in Openbox along with Nitrogen, so that the changes to your themes may not occur if you used gnome-appearance-manager to set them as well.
Hope that you find this opinion (it's not a proper review, it's just my impressions on it) useful,
Lswest
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Kernel 2.6.31-1
Well, time for another update. I thought I'd write up my initial impressions on kernel 2.6.31-1 (from the Archlinux testing repository as of the 11/09/09). I have to say, there are a few things that struck me right off the bat.
Good Things:
- Intel driver performance increased noticeably (smoother, yet cooler), and glxgears (yes, I know it's not a benchmark, but I used it as a comparison check for driver and kernel settings) is up around 280 fps (highest it has ever gone in archlinux).
- Flash videos, while still not perfect, are less jumpy than they were with the old kernel on this netbook (Samsung N110)
- Suspend works (who knows if it's just temporary, but it now works on the Samsung N110, I will post an update with what happens when it moves into the core repository - may be missing a driver or some other updated package)
- It's smoother under heavy load (default configuration, not sure if KMS is enabled or not, I'd say no though, since there's no framebuffer on boot) than its predecessor
- It seems a little bit faster to boot (probably saves about a second or two on boot).
Bad things:
- USB devices aren't working right now (may be because of the fact that I only installed kernel26 and kernel26-firmware from testing, or it's due to an old package that has yet to be updated)
- KMS (as far as I know) still results in no backlight control for this monitor, and that seems to be an intel driver problem.
Overall, I'm happy with the new kernel, even if I can't use usb devices with it for the time being. I'll bet once they move it to core/up the revision to -2, it'll work again.
*UPDATE* USB works again, but I don't think I updated anything for it to work again, it just seems to have decided to be nice again.
Good Things:
- Intel driver performance increased noticeably (smoother, yet cooler), and glxgears (yes, I know it's not a benchmark, but I used it as a comparison check for driver and kernel settings) is up around 280 fps (highest it has ever gone in archlinux).
- Flash videos, while still not perfect, are less jumpy than they were with the old kernel on this netbook (Samsung N110)
- Suspend works (who knows if it's just temporary, but it now works on the Samsung N110, I will post an update with what happens when it moves into the core repository - may be missing a driver or some other updated package)
- It's smoother under heavy load (default configuration, not sure if KMS is enabled or not, I'd say no though, since there's no framebuffer on boot) than its predecessor
- It seems a little bit faster to boot (probably saves about a second or two on boot).
Bad things:
- USB devices aren't working right now (may be because of the fact that I only installed kernel26 and kernel26-firmware from testing, or it's due to an old package that has yet to be updated)
- KMS (as far as I know) still results in no backlight control for this monitor, and that seems to be an intel driver problem.
Overall, I'm happy with the new kernel, even if I can't use usb devices with it for the time being. I'll bet once they move it to core/up the revision to -2, it'll work again.
*UPDATE* USB works again, but I don't think I updated anything for it to work again, it just seems to have decided to be nice again.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
N110 Scripts
Okay, so I just uploaded all my scripts that I wrote for my N110 netbook (things that I use for audio, wireless toggling, brightness, etc.) to my github.
Link: http://github.com/lswest/scripts/tree/5ea76c78e581a978ea0712ccf1c8a9c134c1a40b/Bash/N110%20Scripts
I will add to it if I write any more scripts, but for the time being that does pretty much all I need (save for a basic few tweaks to other configs, which I'll cover in a post later). If anyone has a request for added functionality, or a suggestion of how to improve a script (removing password prompts, etc.), feel free to leave a comment. I will be thankful for any suggestions, and will integrate as many suggestions as possible.
Link: http://github.com/lswest/scripts/tree/5ea76c78e581a978ea0712ccf1c8a9c134c1a40b/Bash/N110%20Scripts
I will add to it if I write any more scripts, but for the time being that does pretty much all I need (save for a basic few tweaks to other configs, which I'll cover in a post later). If anyone has a request for added functionality, or a suggestion of how to improve a script (removing password prompts, etc.), feel free to leave a comment. I will be thankful for any suggestions, and will integrate as many suggestions as possible.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Summer Update (one of few)
Hello,
I know I've been doing a terrible job of regular updates, but I was living with dial-up until about a week or a week and a half ago, most of that time was then spent updating all the stuff that needed to be updated. Now I'm spending my days trying to fix up my laptop a little. I've written scripts to manage brightness, volume, wifi (on/off), bluetooth, etc. on my Samsung N110 since it's running Openbox and I want to avoid gnome-power-manager (and it's good practice). So far my battery life is about 5.5 hours-6 hours in linux (Windows is 6.5-7 hours), but I'm quite happy with it. The only thing I need to fix now is the fact that laptop-mode-tools seem to no longer want to do anything (I have a few scripts set up to run on battery to adjust brightness and whatnot). I haven't found any fixes online yet, but it seems there are a few people suffering from the same problem. Also, I'm going to try to fix suspend to ram on this computer (LCD stays off, non-responsive, etc. on wakeup). I'll be sure to post the solution if I find one.
Also, I'm thinking of writing my next FCM article on how to use xev/xbindkeys/showkey to create custom shortcuts/get Fn keys working. Unless someone tells me "NO!!", I'll be writing it later this week. Later this week I will also update my blog with the scripts I've written for my N110, in case anyone else wants a notify-osd script for brightness and volume, or a notify-osd battery info script, or a notify-osd wifi on/off script.
Any suggestions or fixes that worked for you on any of the above listed issues would be much appreciated (always easier to start from somewhere instead of from scratch).
Hope everyone had a good summer,
Lswest
I know I've been doing a terrible job of regular updates, but I was living with dial-up until about a week or a week and a half ago, most of that time was then spent updating all the stuff that needed to be updated. Now I'm spending my days trying to fix up my laptop a little. I've written scripts to manage brightness, volume, wifi (on/off), bluetooth, etc. on my Samsung N110 since it's running Openbox and I want to avoid gnome-power-manager (and it's good practice). So far my battery life is about 5.5 hours-6 hours in linux (Windows is 6.5-7 hours), but I'm quite happy with it. The only thing I need to fix now is the fact that laptop-mode-tools seem to no longer want to do anything (I have a few scripts set up to run on battery to adjust brightness and whatnot). I haven't found any fixes online yet, but it seems there are a few people suffering from the same problem. Also, I'm going to try to fix suspend to ram on this computer (LCD stays off, non-responsive, etc. on wakeup). I'll be sure to post the solution if I find one.
Also, I'm thinking of writing my next FCM article on how to use xev/xbindkeys/showkey to create custom shortcuts/get Fn keys working. Unless someone tells me "NO!!", I'll be writing it later this week. Later this week I will also update my blog with the scripts I've written for my N110, in case anyone else wants a notify-osd script for brightness and volume, or a notify-osd battery info script, or a notify-osd wifi on/off script.
Any suggestions or fixes that worked for you on any of the above listed issues would be much appreciated (always easier to start from somewhere instead of from scratch).
Hope everyone had a good summer,
Lswest
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Delayed update!
Well, I know I missed my usual update day (Sunday), but I was a little busy and so the update is a couple of days late. Better late than never, right?
The interesting stuff:
- My netbook arrived!! The Ubuntu liveUSB image worked perfectly (wireless, etc. was all fine) and I installed it, yet I haven't been using Linux much on this thing, since I haven't had the time to test the battery life in Linux yet, or to optimize it (with the "normal" profile for the samsung power manager in Windows I get 6-7 hours). It's all on the plan for the summer, just haven't quite made it there yet. It's surprisingly roomy (keyboard is easy to type on, the screen has more than enough space for stuff, etc.). Also, readability outdoors is pretty good too (even though it's a glossy screen), which is very good. I don't know what the computer was like with 1GB of RAM, since I upgraded the RAM the moment I got it, but with Google Chrome, Skype and Notepad++ running (besides the usual background processes of Dropbox, bluetooth, gmail notifier, etc.) it's at 615MB of RAM.
- Tested Xmonad, which is nice. The only issue I have with it at the moment is that floated windows are always on top, which is bad (since I float Skype, but don't necessarily move it to a different workspace). Config files aren't too confusing either.
- Wrote my FCM article on Irssi and MOC
The not so interesting:
- Set up windows with all the stuff I needed on my netbook :P
That's it for now! If you have any requests for entries, just comment. I'll be updating again in two weeks time.
The interesting stuff:
- My netbook arrived!! The Ubuntu liveUSB image worked perfectly (wireless, etc. was all fine) and I installed it, yet I haven't been using Linux much on this thing, since I haven't had the time to test the battery life in Linux yet, or to optimize it (with the "normal" profile for the samsung power manager in Windows I get 6-7 hours). It's all on the plan for the summer, just haven't quite made it there yet. It's surprisingly roomy (keyboard is easy to type on, the screen has more than enough space for stuff, etc.). Also, readability outdoors is pretty good too (even though it's a glossy screen), which is very good. I don't know what the computer was like with 1GB of RAM, since I upgraded the RAM the moment I got it, but with Google Chrome, Skype and Notepad++ running (besides the usual background processes of Dropbox, bluetooth, gmail notifier, etc.) it's at 615MB of RAM.
- Tested Xmonad, which is nice. The only issue I have with it at the moment is that floated windows are always on top, which is bad (since I float Skype, but don't necessarily move it to a different workspace). Config files aren't too confusing either.
- Wrote my FCM article on Irssi and MOC
The not so interesting:
- Set up windows with all the stuff I needed on my netbook :P
That's it for now! If you have any requests for entries, just comment. I'll be updating again in two weeks time.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Quick Update, Little to Tell
Well, it's my bi-weekly update again, and I haven't really done much that's worth mentioning (besides finishing my exam and then relaxing), so I will quickly outline what I'm looking forward to, and what I plan on doing (blog-wise) in the near future.
Basically, I graduate (officially) from high school in a weeks time. After I graduate I will be purchasing a Samsung NC10 netbook to replace my battered and temperamental speaker-less laptop for a little under 400€ off amazon.de (haven't seen a better deal anywhere else yet). Once I get it and play around with it for a bit, I'll install Ubuntu or ArchLinux on it as well (if Ubuntu, then the Netbook Remix edition). If battery life (which is supposedly anywhere between 6 and 9 hours depending on usage and review) in Linux is similar to the windows one (Samsung seems to be offering a custom power savings utility that is very modular, so Linux may be a little bit subpar compared to the XP battery life), I will most likely be shrinking XP to the most minimal size, mainly for itunes (since I have an iPod touch, and while I am sure I could get it working in Linux, I see no point in doing so since I don't update my music or my ipod every day). Basically, I'm taking the lazy way out, which is to say...I'll just boot XP and use iTunes if I need to update my ipod. I'll also be writing up a review of the netbook as it runs under XP and Linux (whichever distribution I choose) and posting them on here. It may or may not be up before I go on summer break. If it's after, then it won't be up before September, since I'll be living with dial-up for quite a few weeks.
Also, I may be purchasing a couple of things with the netbook if I order it, depending on if I can afford it or not. The two other things would be a 2GB stick of RAM (only one slot in the NC10), and a slim drive, since I will probably buy CDs over the summer, and it'd be silly if I can't put it on my iPod. Altogether (this is an offer on amazon.de) it'd go for about 430€, which is not bad, considering.
I'll post back once I order and receive the stuff, which may be in two or three weeks. If anyone wants to post here with an opinion as to whether or not the 2GB of RAM will make much of a difference on this netbook for mainly command-line tools in Linux and itunes (being the most resource heavy program I'd run) in XP, it would be appreciated.
Besides the netbook I'll also be working on whatever coding ideas I can come up with over the summer, and so I'll be posting those on here as I go. Not only that, but I have to write my FCM articles in advance, since I won't be able to send them in for two or three issues, meaning I'll be busy. Also, I'm going to be going to see Angels and Demons today, and I may post a quick update with my opinion on the movie (if it's worth mentioning) later today.
Basically, I graduate (officially) from high school in a weeks time. After I graduate I will be purchasing a Samsung NC10 netbook to replace my battered and temperamental speaker-less laptop for a little under 400€ off amazon.de (haven't seen a better deal anywhere else yet). Once I get it and play around with it for a bit, I'll install Ubuntu or ArchLinux on it as well (if Ubuntu, then the Netbook Remix edition). If battery life (which is supposedly anywhere between 6 and 9 hours depending on usage and review) in Linux is similar to the windows one (Samsung seems to be offering a custom power savings utility that is very modular, so Linux may be a little bit subpar compared to the XP battery life), I will most likely be shrinking XP to the most minimal size, mainly for itunes (since I have an iPod touch, and while I am sure I could get it working in Linux, I see no point in doing so since I don't update my music or my ipod every day). Basically, I'm taking the lazy way out, which is to say...I'll just boot XP and use iTunes if I need to update my ipod. I'll also be writing up a review of the netbook as it runs under XP and Linux (whichever distribution I choose) and posting them on here. It may or may not be up before I go on summer break. If it's after, then it won't be up before September, since I'll be living with dial-up for quite a few weeks.
Also, I may be purchasing a couple of things with the netbook if I order it, depending on if I can afford it or not. The two other things would be a 2GB stick of RAM (only one slot in the NC10), and a slim drive, since I will probably buy CDs over the summer, and it'd be silly if I can't put it on my iPod. Altogether (this is an offer on amazon.de) it'd go for about 430€, which is not bad, considering.
I'll post back once I order and receive the stuff, which may be in two or three weeks. If anyone wants to post here with an opinion as to whether or not the 2GB of RAM will make much of a difference on this netbook for mainly command-line tools in Linux and itunes (being the most resource heavy program I'd run) in XP, it would be appreciated.
Besides the netbook I'll also be working on whatever coding ideas I can come up with over the summer, and so I'll be posting those on here as I go. Not only that, but I have to write my FCM articles in advance, since I won't be able to send them in for two or three issues, meaning I'll be busy. Also, I'm going to be going to see Angels and Demons today, and I may post a quick update with my opinion on the movie (if it's worth mentioning) later today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)