Generate a street sign with your name or whatever you want from here.
Generate a warning sign here.
It’s really cool.
Thanks to Digital Inspiration.
Archive for June, 2006
Software updates
Posted 30 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category Technology
Category Technology
Here is the list of softwares I installed/updated yesterday evening.
1. I installed the new Skype 1.3 beta for Linux in my Ubuntu desktop. The installation was smooth, but the mic was not working. I tried to chat with my brother. I could hear his voice, but he couldn’t hear mine. I tried changing the sound mixer from ALSA to OSS (which was the default for the older version), but it didn’t work still. I then opened the volume control under sound & video and saw that microphone was muted. I unmuted (right word?) it, but still the mic didn’t work. I then saw under capture device section that it was also muted. I unmuted it and then it worked. The new version (1.3) is much better than the current one (1.2). The GUI is much better and cleaner and it has more options to customize now including individual sounds. It shows a nice pop up window when someone sends a chat message. I would recommend you to download this if you hadn’t done that already.
2. I upgraded the xgl/compiiz software in my Ubuntu laptop. You might have read in my earlier post that it was quite buggy. I rebooted the system after upgrading and used it for an hour (not continously and mainly for surfing with Firefox). It didn’t crash or kick me out in that time. I could use ALT-TAB keys (which I couldn’t earlier). I think the new version is much more stable. I’ll spend more time using it during this weekend and see how it goes.
3. I installed IE7 beta 3 in my desktop. I didn’t see any major change in the look wise. I didn’t check the functionality since I don’t use IE.
Google Search changed?
I noticed from y’day evening that when you do a google search, you don’t see the images of the search on top. For eg: If you are searching for Britney Spears, you’ll see some of her images on top from the images section, but I don’t see it from y’day evening. I have attached a screenshot.
IE7 Beta 3 out
Posted 29 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category Announcement, Technology
Category Announcement, Technology
Microsoft has released IE7 Beta 3, their next generation browser. Here are the list of changes in IE7 Beta3:
- Stop, refresh, and search icons are lightened up and favourites center and add to favourites got their old star icons back.
- You can now reorder tabs in IE just like Firefox and Opera.
- Fixed bug with FTP authentication
- Email icon (Read email) is back in the toolbar
- Small magnification cursor similar to Firefox to zoom the pictures resized to fit in the window.
Skype 1.3 beta for Linux available
Posted 29 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category Announcement, Technology
Category Announcement, Technology
Skype has released Skype 1.3 beta for Linux. Click here to see the changelog for Skype 1.3. Good news is, Skype now suports ALSA. Bad news is, they still don’t offer video support for Linux.
Google ready to check you out…
Posted 29 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category Announcement, Technology
Category Announcement, Technology
Google Checkout is out. You can login to Google Checkout and enter your address and credit card information. When you go to a shopping site and while checking out, if you see the symbol 
then you can use your Google Checkout account to checkout. It’s currently available with only few shopping sites like buy.com, Starbucks, Levi’s etc. It is similar to Paypal, but it doesn’t allow you to transfer money from and to your bank accounts like Paypal.
Clean Messenger
Posted 28 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category Announcement
Category Announcement
Cleanmessenger is a utility to remove advertisements, unwanted button etc from MSN Messenger. It’s originally in French, so I’m not sure if the software itself is in English or not. The screenshot is in French. If anyone of you used it, please tell me how it is.
Busy
Posted 27 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category Uncategorized
Category Uncategorized
I’m quite busy with production problems, so I couldn’t surf or post anything in the blog. I think this situation will continue today and may be tomorrow. 
Xgl/Compiz on my laptop
Posted 24 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category Technology, Ubuntu
Category Technology, Ubuntu
I installed Xgl/Compiz on my Ubuntu Dapper laptop (Acer Travelmate 8204) just now. I followed the guide here. I have ATI Radeon X1600 video card. I followed the second how-to, since I didn’t want to change the default login manager without making sure it works. The installation went without any problem. I rebooted the machine after the installation was over. I chose XGL as my window manager and selected just for this session. I logged in and Wow, the startup itself was mesmerizing with wonderful graphics when the system loaded firestarter, gdesklets etc. The visualizations of windows coming into focus and going out of focus are very cute. The menu, pop up windows etc waves into focus. I really love it. It doesn’t hog the memory like how Vista is going to be.
It has lots of improvements now compared to when I installed it last time. I couldn’t get it to work in my laptop using ATI card earlier (When Ubuntu Dapper was in beta). I got it to work in my desktop using NVidia’s card, but it was quite buggy, so I took it off. The new version now shows all the open programs as icons (like Mac icons). If you take the cursor near one of the icon, then that program comes into focus and others fades into the background. Ofcourse even the new version is little buggy. I minimized the Firefox window while typing this blog and when I maximized it, I couldn’t type in the box. I had to close Firefox. When I closed Firefox, the Xgl effect went away. The alt-tab program icons on the bottom was gone and also the commands that work under Xgl. I may have to logout and login after I finish this blog. I now made Xgl as my default session and I’m going to spend more time using Xgl to find out how it works. If it’s too buggy, I might change my session back to GNOME.
(Sample screenshot)
Update: Xgl got killed 5 times in the last 30 minutes. It got killed when I started Google Earth and AMSN. It got killed when I started just AMSN. It got killed twice working with Firefox. It logged out on its own when I just started typing this update. I love it for the graphics, but if it’s going to be buggy like this in Ubuntu, then I think most people won’t go for it. By killed, I meant, the Xgl graphics was gone. The programs worked fine, but the title bar was gone. You have to close the programs through the menu.
USB Air Conditioned Shirt
Posted 23 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category Announcement, Technology
Category Announcement, Technology
Do you sweat a lot while working with your computer or even normally? Then an ex-Sony technician has a solution for you. He has designed the USB powered air-conditioned clothes. The clothes have two 10 centimeter fans located at right and left sides at the back of clothing at waist level. These fans draw in a large amount of air which helps to vapourize thus dissipating sweat and bringing down the wearers body temprature. You can adjust the fan speed. If you are not near the computer, then you can power the shirt with four AA batteries or you can use your car’s cigar socket.
Art teacher in hot water over topless photos
Posted 22 Jun 2006 — by Arun
Category News
Category News
CNN reports that an art teacher at Austin high school was dismiissed when the school officials found her topless photos in Flickr. She said they were all taken with artists view and since she’s an art teacher, she didn’t find anything wrong with that. The school district wants to revoke her teaching certification.
