openedhand, yet another small open source company

After working on matchbox project(originally host on matchbox.handhelds.org) for some times(about 2 years(?) ), matchbox finally catch Nokia's eye. Nokia funded the creator Matthew Allum to continue working on the project.

Matthew started a new company--openedhand to work closely with Nokia, take a look at Nokia Internet Tablet. Matthew told newsforge, his company currently employ 4 full-time developers, and hiring more.

Matchbox is a very well written piece of software, it has a right goal and design in mind, small, light-weight, no dependency of other libraries but xlib only, simple and clear. When I found this window manager on handhelds.org, I just love it.

The Nokia N770 Internet Tablet seems like a interesting small device which run Linux OS. It came with WiFi and bluetooth support, seems like it is not available in the market yet. If this Nokia device is continue in the future, it will direct compete with Palm's LifeDrive.

Nokia 770, internet tablet.

Sun Fire V240

Is hot, the weather. Almost a week I didn't surf the net, spending the saturday to read my email, and catch up with the IT news. Finally I saw the V240, is a 2U affortable Sun machine. Is about USD 7k, it says pre-install with solaris 9 on the website, the one I am using now is installed with Solaris 8. Those program that I compile on the old Ultra sparc 2 take me 5 to 10 minutes, when I compile on the V240 is just about 20 seconds, wow!. gcc (ver. 2.8.1) just take less than 5 minutes to compile. There is a cheaper version of 1U server, V210 about USD5k, good enough for many user, or you want the AMD Opteron processor, there is V20 series 1U server, you have the choice to choose Solaris, Linux or Windows operating system, selling about RM10-13k. Who says that Sun is expensive? Sun is expensive if you compare it with intel hardware, but since sun machine came with its stable solaris operating system, you pay for the stabality and services.

Linux command reference

My friend is going to take a Linux certificate examination, he print out some documentation for reading purpose. I just glance through, it look so familiar to me. I take a search on the internet. Yes, those Linux command documentation is taken from linuxfab.cx, which some of those command description are written by me, just a few, I don't really remember which one is really done by me, I think 'compress' is just one of those. Rollaned not really make linuxfab a success, but what he have a right goal in mind, and he really make it happen. He want to write a linux command reference ebook, many writer (I am one of those people) on the website did constribute their part, now it is every where. link:- cngnu.org compress

Sad or happy?

As almost everyone predicted and expected, Apple is going to switch to Intel processor, announce by steve jobs' keynote in WWDC (World Wide Developer Conference), there is a report from MacNN. Steve jobs keynote for WWDC. WWDC will continue for 5 days.

before 6th June

There is a lot of rumours/news around, Apple computer is going to use Intel chips and to drop PowerPC in the future. This is another update from CNet.

I don't have much concern about Intel chips inside an Apple computer, I am more interested on Mac OS X on intel chip. What is the different? If Apple computer really put a Intel chip inside, they would make it so different that OS X still can't install on normal Intel base PC. Most likely on the other way, Microsoft Windows will run on Apple computer. If people are so interested with Windows, most likely they will not buy an Apple computer but other brand like Dell, HP, Acer for others. If OS X can be installed on Intel machine, that's targeted for another 95% (or more) of users which potential will switch to Apple machine.

One interesting fact is, Micorsoft XBox (so do PS2) is using PowerPC cpu, so any combination is possible these days. I have an Apple iBook using a IBM (PowerPC alliance) cpu, but the IBM note book is running a Intel cpu.

Local apple fan in Malaysia, since 10 (Mac) or 20 years (Apple II) ago, is switching to Wintel long before Apple does, main reason is pricing issue. Heard some of them switch back to apple because they buy iPod, so they switch to Apple for OS X is possible.

There are many possibility reasons why Apple switch to Intel, one of them is low power consumption technology, they just can't put a G5 cpu into a notebook now. IBM should have acquire or license some technology from some other company like ARM or Transmeta, but IBM might not be so interested as well, IBM never put a PowerPC cpu in a notebook, IBM already sold off its PC department (to Levono, old name Legend (China) ), they don't have a better reason to do it now.

PowerPC alliance have a hard time get together, they suppose to be a great alliance, Apple on personal computer and operating system, IBM on cpu chip design, Motorola on manufacturing. For some reason Motorola can't get license from Apple computer, and finally they withdraw from PC business plan (they should have try Linux at that time). I though they are going to put PowerPC cpu in their mobile phone (just joking at that time), but I didn't know that the CPU consume too much of power to put into the mobile phone, they should start researching and developing lower power consumption cpu since 1991.

We are not sure what Apple computer (or steve jobs) is going to say on monday (US time) announcement, personally I would like to have competition in the market, so normal user like us to have more choice and have cheaper product.

Apple product announcement twice a year, is a good way to keep people remember of apple computer.

link:-
Power PC Alliance on last legs, By Richard Morochove, 18 September 1997.

Palm in the mist

Look at the PalmOne LifeDrive (with 4GB storage) and PalmOne (spending 30 million) to use back the Palm name again, they are loosing their direction. Palm(One|Source) lost their direction on hardware and software roadmap. link:- CNet, "PalmOne spends $30 million to drop 'One'", 24 May 2005.

Skype 1.0.0.24 for Mac OS X

The skype is still the old version 1.0 on MacOS X, any way I just do an update. Is not necessary to update every new version release, if happy with the old version software.

I heard the new Mac OS X (Tiger), consume a lot of memory, you might need a minimum of 256MB ram to run it. I will update my os x now, not sure os x 10.4 (Tiger) will perform better on my ibook 700 which using a ATI (ATY RageM7) display card.

PS: I prefer the green color of skype icon than the new red icon.

Intel in Apple Computer

Heard a romour, Apple Computer consider using a Intel CPU in their machine. Personally I don't think is a good idea to give out PowerPC, consumer will have less choice, but I think if Apple can release a x86 version of their MacOS X, that will be great(which they don't have any plan right now), especially before Microsoft Longhorn is out. Technically OS X is portable to x86 platform, the kernel (Drawin) is already available, porting Quartz (the UI engine) just need a good graphic driver will do. Apple developer is good enough to do such a job. Can't wait to see OSX to run on x86 platform one day in the future!

Postgresql 8.0.3 on osx and solaris

Is just about 2 week time, I visit postgresql website and found a new version 8.0.3. I have try to compile 8.0.2 on early May. I download the new version and compile on Solaris (2.6 + gcc 2.8.1). Ya gcc 2.8, is very old, but working. I take about an hour(?) (or may be less) on a UltraSparc II (300MHz) machine. I try on MacOS X, it take less than an hour. Anyway it can be easily compile and run on both platform.

After talking with my friend, I decide to take a try to compile mysql, I download the 4.1.12 version. I after few years time I never take a look at mysql, wow is easy to compile as well, but not able to do the timing, may be next time.

postgresql is just easy to compile and use:

to configure and compile
$ ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/pgsql

create database
# make /usr/local/pgsql/data
# chown postgres /usr/local/pgsql/data

$ initdb -D /usr/local/pgsql/data

startup database server
$ postmaster -D /usr/local/pgsql/data
(can't start up as root)

$ psql template1
(template1 is a default database, you can't do much thing with it)

Fedora on Mac mini

Colin Charles (from myoss mailing list) has an article on "fedora on mac mini".

Apache 2.0.54 compile on UltraSparc (Solaris)

Compilation of apache-2.0.54 on UltraSparc-II (296MHz) Solaris, take about 3 to 4 hours to complete. Same source compile on Pentium III (900MHz with L2 cache) Linux and PowerPC 800Mhz MacOS X is just about 15 to 20 minutes. The following is my configure script:- $ ./configure --prefix=/usr/local/apache2 --enable-mods-shared="cgi ssl env mime slias vhost_alias dir autoindex access rewrite expires status info"

OpenSSL 0.9.7g on Solaris (SS20)

Is quite some time I never check with openssl.org site, the new version is 0.9.7g, which my existing version is 0.9.7e(2004). Since 0.9.7g stated with security changes, I think I better upgrade. Many application link to ssl library, eg. apache and ssh program, I need to recompile these program and make sure it work. I encounter some problems(which I already expected!) while doing the upgrade, the situation is like this:-

I have some 3 Sun machine--Server 1000, SparcStation 20(SS20) and UltraSparc, only the UltraSparc install with compiler. After I compile openssh on the UltraSparc, I was not able to the get run on the other 2 Sun server, the reason is simple, the new openssh binary is a sparc v8+ binary and the SS20 only support v8. The v8+ binary came from openssl library not the openssh.

I encounter the problem about 4 years (yes, 4 years!) ago, when my colleague compile apahce, he is having the same problem, finally he install a compiler on the SS20 and re-compile the apache from there, and solve the problem. Definately there are many ways to solve the problem, I was not able to install a compiler on the SS20, because the machine are just too small.

Let's look at the problem. The common architecture that you can found on Sun machine are v7, v8, v8a, v8+, v9(and above), these architecture are just like x86's 286, 386, 486, 586, 686 and so on. v7 are too just too old(SS20 should be old enough to be abandon too), that it might only found on SunOS 4.x and very old hardware, v9 are new enough that will not give you much problem, so just focus on v8 (v7 v8 v8a are binary compatible, check here) and v8+ which is not compatible.

When I compile openssl on ultrasparc, it always give me v8+ code, may be there is some bugs with the config script during compilation, it doesn't work even though I pass in some parameter to ask openssl to be compile with v8 code. So finally I manually change the config script:-

$ vi config
GUESSOS=sun4m-whatever-solaris2

to force openssl compiled as v8 code, and it works! If you want to know more sun4m or sun4u, check it out here.

If you having a lot of old Sun hardware, you can still find support on the internet, from sunhelp.org, sun solve.

Security Update, Firefox 1.0.4!

Yesterday before I left the office, my colleague told me there is a new update for firefox(v1.0.4), which I didn't notice any acknowledgement from firefox online update, the new version is to fix some security vulnerabilities. The following security announcement is from mozilla.org:- Security Advisory (May 8, 2005) The Mozilla Foundation is aware of two potentially critical Firefox security vulnerabilities as reported publicly Saturday, May 7th. The power of opensource. I have update my Windows, MacOS X with firefox 1.0.4. Linux? My boot partition has been wipe off since quite some time ago, so I was not able to access my linux until I fix it...When I am free.

Gnome Ali, fame and flame

Ali Akcaagac is very popular of creating flame war in gnome development list:- Official Complain. Ali complaint on Mark McLoughlin has offended him, pointing Ali as a 'non developer'. Alan Cox say something for Ali. Sometimes I am quite agress with Ali too. From here gone, gnome is losing a developer. Ali Akcaagac Attempts to Fork Gnome.

midnight commander, something interesting

I am having some problem to delete file with funny character name (eg. '-') on Solaris. Sometimes I use the Solaris CDE File Manager(GUI) to remove it, but most of the time I just leave it there. Those 'funny' filename will mess up the screen display when I do a directory list. Definately I don't login to graphical screen on the solaris all the time, but work through telnet.

The first solution came into my mind, is using mc (Midnight Commander). I compile a version (but forgotten which number) of mc and install it on another Solaris machine(this machine do not have a compiler), surprisingly I need a glib library, I got a shock by this.

To do a quick fix, I just do a static link to the mc, and install it to the machine again, but the mc are just too big to fit into /usr directory on that very little solaris machine. I recall I compile mc on solaris before(many years ago), it doesn't need glib, and it doesn't make sense for me, glib is more likely for gtk.

I search around and found out there is fork for the mc, call mc-mp(Midnight Commander, More Powerful), which taken out glib library dependency, and some bugs fix, the code size is much more smaller than the static link of the original mc(about 1MB to 5MB), and using it happily on my Solaris machine.

Recently I search through the net. Found someone (Ali Akcaagac) propose remove dependency of gtk (1st) on the mc-dev mailing list, end up created some flame war. Is a long thread.

If you are too lazy to read through the mailing list, there is another (lengthly) web page which summarize a lot of things about mc; history, and the creator Miguel. The comment for Miguel, he is too much Microsoft style, this explain my question 'Why Miguel create the Mono project?' quite well.

(Midnight commander originally created by Miguel de Icaza, he start GNOME project, he is the co-founder of Ximian. Ximian acquired by Novell in year 2003)

And it give me another view to Miguel. :)

Postgresql 8.0.2 on osx and solaris

Get a call from a friend, he is telling me, he want to compile mysql from source, I said good! Then he can told me what is his progress, I did try to compile mysql many years ago, but fail. The postgresql has success many times. I have successfully compile and install postgresql-8.0.2 on solaris 2.5 (gcc 2.9), solaris 2.6 (gcc 2.8). Experience on 2.6 (gcc 2.8) Even though the compilation is a bit slow (on ultra spac II), but the compilation consider smooth, the gcc 2.8 is a very old version, but working find, I install the compile binary and is working fine. Experience on 2.5 (gcc 2.9, Workshop C v4.2) I am getting a lot of warning from the header file (netdb.h), both compiler (gcc 2.9 and Workshop C), I didn't find out why because it still can be compile. I didn't try the binary, because my 2.5 machine are too small to run the postgresql. Experience on OS X 1. need readline lib the easiest way to install readline library should be using fink, the is a good instruction show you how to do it. after install fink, just $ sudo /sw/bin/fink install readline $ cd (to postgresql source directory) $ ./configure --with-includes=/sw/include/ --with-libraries=/sw/lib 2. if you think installing readline and fink is too trouble, and just want to try out postgresql database, use use the option $ ./configure --without-readline The output binary will still work, just the sql client (psql) do not have a doskey like function. The compilation will just work fine without any problems.

Ｍac OS X Tiger review

I get the review before I visit the OS demo, but only take a detail look of it after I came back. The writer have something quite important to me here:- Apple tried mightily to provide binary compatibility for kernel extensions (kexts) across major revisions of Mac OS X. The effort was largely successful, but at a tremendous cost. ... Worse still, some bugs actually could not be fixed because doing so would break binary compatibility... Linux having this compatibility problem, each time they upgrade the glibc, since many program ultimately link to glibc, after the upgrade, many program just don't work. In a commercial/enterprise environment, compatibility sometimes just worth more than anything else.

OS X Tiger launch

Just came back from Apple center, OS X Tiger (10.4.x) launch. Demo a few things:-

Spotlight A desktop searching tools, very powerful.

Dashboard Is just small application, most important is the services. e.g. dictionary, weather...

Safari RSS
You know RSS, I don't know.
(demo screen saver is able to show RSS news feed)
Smart folder
link all you search result into a folder.

Apple consistently show the effort on seem-less integration of application with user interface. The presentation is not very attractive, definitely can't beat Steve Jobs. Later, I talk with the presenter--Jason, he just first day working there, another Apple fanatic.

The event start late, though they have refreshment, just drinks, no food, very hungry now. The door gift is just a pen and a neck strip, I though there is a T-shirt, very disappointing. A low budget launch, even lower than local independent movie, but the OS X Tiger pricing not low, offer price is RM499!

postgresql v8.0.2, 1st try

Is a long time never compile any program, finally I decide to compile postgresql-8.0.2, on solaris. I have some problem after I compile and install:- 1. postgres.bki (and other) - default install in share/, but initdb program locate the program in share/postgresql/ 2. InitDB: could not access file "$libdir/ascii_and_mic" - solution says $ configure --without-zlib, but seems like doesn't work for me The compilation on Solaris (Ultrasparc II), take me about 30 to 45 minutes for a clean compilation. Since rushing for OS X Tiger (10.4.x) launch and demo, so try next day.

View of Venture Capitalist

An interesting artible (New York Times) about Venture Capitalist on open source Company.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 26 - The first time Marc Fleury tried to raise money for his technology start-up company, in mid-2000...

He was rejected, because he is doing open source and try to compete with IBM. Four years later his company received a combined $10 million from two prominent venture capital firms. The company is JBoss.

Something which is impossible few years back, is possible, JBoss prove it. JBoss startup small (20 developers), but with good technical background. The other open source company which doing well is Ximian (eventhough bought over by Novell now).

Turning Green

When Novell started its certification course, their fist target group will be RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer), the reason are just simple, Novell has acquire SuSE Linux for $210 million in cash, at the end of year 2003. The news from cnet:- "在台（灣）推出 Linux 認證課程之後， Novell 的首要招攬對象將是 Red Hat 認證工程師。" Redhat which have a big name in local opensource community, but before they start to have a office and invest heavily here, they are charging RM1000 (and above) for RHCE examination fee, not including the training courses. Will RHCE end up a stepping stone to Novell's NCLE (Novell Certified Linux Engineer)? Once Novell integrate its directory service into Novell (SuSE) Linux and start migrating existing Netware customer to the new platform, NCLE will be useful.

A small flame war on local OSS magazine

Yesterday, my friend in OSS send the link, title "MYOSS Hot topic", I think the flame war start here.

Dindings Secondary School

After hearing the Dindings School story for many years, I visited the school on Saturday (16 Apr 2005). Dindings Secondary School located at Manjung (old name dindings) district, Perak state. The school build beside a palm oil estate, far (about 5km) away from Sitiawan town center.



Is saturday afternoon, weather is hot as usual. No students are around since is not a normal school day, the school is just like the other school located in rural area, old and simple setup, but not until you see the network infrastructure hidden inside the school.

When I step into the 3 story building, and pass by the admin office, there is no teacher in the office but a few student happily using the computer in the office, surfing internet, playing mp3 songs...

I went into the headmaster office, the headmaster--Mr. Tiong is on his way back to the school. Tiong turn his office into a server room and computer repair lab. Networks cables, switches, computer motherboard, lying around the room everywhere, a student is working on a motherboard, try to fix the hardisk problem... The students are self-discipline. I just practise what they do in the repair lab, I take a can of soft drink from the refrigerator, and drop my money into a collection box, all self-discipline.

Tiong came back about 20 minutes later and show me around the school. The school have 800 students, 140 computers, students pay a minimum fees of 120 per year, they are allow to use the computer freely. There are 6 laser jet printer, students can print (50 pages per student) from any of these computers, because they are all network together. I pass by the science lab, and peak through the windows, each bench of the lab was setup with a PC there.

Even though I know this school is well equipted with networking, is unbelievable until you see with your own eyes. The server room, with 24 hours of aircond supply, is the main gateway connected to the internet through 2 Mega bits ADSL line. There is about 400+ network jacket distributed around the school, connected through cables and fiber optics, they have wireless network access too! Each students have their own email account, many of the students know how to intall software, repair PC and clamp network cables. Tiong told me the server room network is setup by the students.

The students here learn how to use office application, internet, even programming like C and Java, one of the students show me the books that they used in their IT courses. There are technical classes which have more intensive computer courses, about 20 student per class, each can access internet at all time, so they can check information from the internet during lecturing time. There is another few more (newly build) computer rooms, is still under construction, but expect to be ompleted in about 1 to 2 months time. All the funding came from donations and computer fees collected from the students.

Mr. Tiong show me their School Management System(SMS). All student records, report cards, are uploaded into the computer database and online. Parents can check their children's results and the attendence list at home through internet. The school have a library modules (software system) which record all books borrowed by the students, is all computerize.

When I go back to the school after dinner, I saw a few of the student are helping Mr. Tiong, tracing the network problem, they will stay over night in the school, because they are going to Ipoh to attend some event on the next early morning. Tiong shows me the presentation material that he is going to train the students on basic knowledge about computer hardware, I run through those material, is good.

I ask Mr. Tiong, why he is doing all these things? Beside of interest, he want information to be access easily to every students in the school. What else I can say about this, I heard of many school want computerize, but not many succeeded. Is not just about vision and funding, is the implementation and consistency to make it into a success. I leave the school on Sunday, and I will visit the school again in near future.

link:-

story on trinetizen.

story on cnet asia.

meetup.com is not free anymore

Everyone knows about it, and meetup.com has establish.

Hi Meetup Organizer -- We have some important news to share with you about new features and required monthly Group Fees.

The news even came out from slashdot (/.). They will collect 19/month from the organizer and normal member are still free (but might not be in the futures).

Some people comment, the software (web services) they provide are poorly written, 19/month is expensive.

This is true, for a charge service, they should provide a better software, more stable and with more functions.

meetup.com is a place where people are free to login and register, join in local interest group, where you can meet with the others who have common interest face to face. Currently redhat (KL) meetup use the service there, but is not difficult to move it out later.

meetup.com provide
- member registration
- create venue and events
- registration for events
- poll
- forum
- track active members

A few problems with meetup.com:
- can't search by meetup time
- can't limit the number of user register to a event (limit by the location)

(and many more, just lazy to write it down here.)

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Launch, in Malaysia

The event is at le Meridian, near KL Sentral. I was lost, and late for the event, reach about 10am(the event start at 9am). Silvia serving at the registration counter, and I meet with Tanya(Red Hat Channel Manager, ASEAN) for the 1st time, after I heard about her name since this January. Tanya base in Singapore, since Red Hat do not have a office in Kuala Lumpur(since Hew left), Singapore became a regional office in this area. Should read about "Should we be surprised?" from jeffooi.com, I see the report before but can't find it on Singapore business week now, cnet news is here. Yeak(MyDir) have setup a booth for showcase too, but don't really have much time to talk with him, and take a look the product. Surprisingly I meet Chin Fah, he has been busy travelling for the pass few months and skip the meetup events, may be he will be joing in June event. Jude(CSN), just pass by me and don't have any chances to chat with him. The event (not in detail):- 10:00 to 11:00am Quak(Redhat) talk on rhel4, there are 2 main things about the new version of redhat enterprise linux; linux kernel 2.6 and Security (SE). Speaker from IBM, go through very fast, you can get the software from ibm.com/software. (refreshment break) 11:15am to 12:00pm Quak show the redhat desktop, and show us the installation of the redhat software on a VMWare. Someone ask Quak some interesting question about Tao(?) Linux, Quak answer is they are allow to do so, but they can't relate the product to redhat's name. I don't really get the name Tao, but there is whitebox linux which re-compile from rhel sources. Speaker from intel talks about linux on intel platform. Is a half day session and nothing much, just to meet some people there, nothing much. The refreshment is good, the fried chicken wing is nice, but finish fast, only grap 1, and I feel a bit hungry now.

Redhat/MYOSS join meetup April 2005

This a great success, about 30 members attended, we have to squeeze in to fit into the room. The 2 presentation is informative:-

1. "Virtual Server", by Khairil
2. "Asterisk, Opensource PABX", by Ditesh

The Asterish demo is interesting, live demo with the "China Phone" & "India Phone", oh is really working, no joking!

The presentation is uploaded here.

After the 2 presentation, Ow review his secret project, since he told me the website is not up yet, just wait for his public announcement, it should be interesting. Good work Ow.

Linus Lai is here(absent on the previous meetup), and he keep joking during and after the presentation, make the meetup lively. Some people comment, we are joking too much, but even though we are laughing, but we are serious.

The attendence list is here:

fuyichin(rh meetup organizer), jason(myoss meetup organizer), silvia(T. Choice), khairil(speaker 1), ditesh(speaker 2, a6?), Kenneth Teh, Noor Azman(Mara Polytech, CS), Samuel Kan(student and youngest) and his father, Alex Lam, Lee Yoong Wgon, Peter Moo, Callista, Pun E-Ken, Eddie, cheung loong, yeak(myDir), csyeow, Lee Poh Boon, Aizat(APIIT), Tommy Chui, kian meng, Paul Ooi, Chua Kia Nee, William Gan, Poh (Yong Meng), Ow (Mun Heng, Nik, lotso), Chan (Min Wai), Linus Lai, freon.

May be this is the time where the meetup group should brain storm where we are going to, in the future.

photo of the (official) redhat meetup is here.

photos host in UNDP.

For the detail of the meetup blog, please check Ow's blog, but seems like he didn't blog the event this time.

We leave Training Choice office about 10pm. Ditesh, Khairil, Jason, Ow, fuyichi, and a few of the others went to a mamak store near by, continue chit-chat. We all left at 11:45pm.

Quicktime Alternative

I found this Quicktime Alternative when I am working on video editing, this quicktime driver can replace the existing Quicktime from Apple, some comment it is better than official quicktime. I don't know where is this quicktime alternative came from, it came with a GPL Media Player too. There is a Real Audio Alternative too.

OS X Palm sync

I get a Palm Vx serial sync cable from Yahoo auction, though it can't work on OS X, and hopefully it can work on Linux, but I found out there is a driver for OS X.

The usb serial Palm sync cable is using and cheap and common chipset(should be pl-2303) manufacture by taiwan manufacturer, prolific, which can download from the website.

I get it work with Palm Desktop (4.2x) on OS X, but may be there is some problem with the driver, a simple data sync will take 15 to 45 minutes. The driver name under OSX is /dev/tty.usbserial.

Choose usb-serial, the option will appear once the cable plugin

This driver work well on linux kernel, module name is pl-2303.o

Gnome and Solaris 10

Sun integrate Gnome into Solaris as JDS 3.0. Look at Solaris 10 JDS 3 Screenshots by OSDir.com.

web page bloat!

Finally I see someone big (Tim Berners-Lee) talking about web design of todays. Earlier web information came in 1 page, later they use frame, but quite a number of people don't like frame, they display as 2 column and 3, 4... Earlier best view by 800x600 and now is 1024x768.

They either mess up everthing into 1 page, or end up something like this, the information only occupied one third of the display, and all other are blanks. In another word you are just looking at 640x480 diplay on an 1024x768 resolution.

Some people switch from Yahoo to Google for just one reason, simplicity.

We have code bloat, now we have page bloat.

It will be an endless debate, we should design general web page which work on all browsers, but in real life we have a lot of IE only web page, don't talk about mobile.

Not Just Java!

Eight year ago, I want to learn java programming, at that time, no broadband, connection to internet is expensive, so I decide to buy buy a java book. There is quite a number of books about java from Sun Press, I know nothing about them, but I need 1, so buy the cheapest java book, and it look so thick. I am so happy and go back. I flip through the thick java book, can't understand and is so boring, I just put it on book shelf for showing off, and never read it again! The book call 'Graphic Java' (AWT). Obviously I bought the wrong book, that shuold be the last book I should bought among all the java books from Sun Press. Even though java is version 1.5 now, all those java book are still valid(80%?), except this 'Graphic Java', because java is using SWING for it GUI and not AWT since java 1.2. Few years after, I pick up java from friends and the 21 days series book. The Sun Press series are still good, so my advice for those who want to pick up java, read these books from Sun Press:- Just Java, get some knowledge about java development, a very good book to start with Core Java, get deeper into java programming Java by example, I don't think this is a good book(at lest for me), it just in the series Graphic Java, this the the book that I bought, you may need it or may not. If you need it, buy the SWING version. Not Just Java, an interesting book about java history, for developer and manager. Just go to amazon.com, you will find these books.

History about OS X

Some history of Mac OS X, now you know why OSX is using Mach Kernel, BSD services and Objective C, is just all about NeXT and Nextstep. The history talk about the Pink OS, join venture by IBM and Apple, it used to call Taligent Software which I think many people have forgotten, it was one of the greatest vapourware. Writing a operating system is not easy, even though there are so many talented programmer out there, many of the 'do it right' OS, came from DEC, MS, Apple(BeOS, Nextstep), IBM... Apple computer have spend quite some money(USD 427 million) on NeXT, but Apple is doing a right move, OS X is a great OS especially for Apple itself.

Supper Shuffle

Another big joke (atlest is for me) in the digital music industry, Luxpro Corp showing it supper shuffle at CeBit, is just look (and feel) like iPod Shuffle, with extras, FM tuner. Even the advertisment photo is just like iPod. Steve Jobs must be mad about this. Heard the supper shuffle from taiwan.

Yahoo acquired flickr

Yahoo acquire flickr(cnet news), and Google had blogger, and I am linking my photo from flickr to blogger, so will yahoo stop the service? ha ha, let see what will happen next. I like both Yahoo and Google, especially the later, they are inovative. flickr name is hard to remember, I have take a few try before I can key the the correct url for flickr.com.

Linuxfab

For some reason, I am looking for a website name linuxfab, and I found this, dated 2002 February, someone (should be rollaned) wrote this down, he have to close down the website. Linuxfab once was the biggest chinese Linux and opensource portal, it has news, forum, technical article, review...I have write some article on it before, I never meet rollaned face to face before, but communicate through internet. There are new website about linux news, like asiaosc from jaring, but not sure how long it will last. The last part of the post (but Linux is not just that bad) :- "我恨那些厂商，个个都说要帮助本站，事实上根本没有，沽名钓誉而已 我恨我自己，未能早点看清事实，早点脱离这里"

Open up iMac mini

iMac mini is cute and nice, you can't find a screw on it, how to open it up, there is an article (with pictures) to show you how to open up iMac mini with bamboo-made chopsticks. If you are not a hardware guy, please don't try, is still not easy. Just in case anyone will ask, why doing it? Upgrade ram and hard disk.

VAIO VGN-T17GP

Saw this Sony 10" notebook from newspaper, 1.38kg with almost 8 hours of battery life. This sounds like the notebook I want, but not sure Linux work well on it. Vaio is a good brand name from Sony, but the model description-- VGN-T17GP, which is really terrible, I don't think normal people will remeber it. Look at Canon Ixus 30, 40, 50, are just simple naming and work nice.

Debian drops mainframe, Sparc development

Debian drops development on a few computer architecture, left with x86, AMD64, PowerPC and IA-64(?), as reported in theregister.

I seldom use debian, but should keep track of this main distribution, ubuntu base on debian as well.

Opensource promotion

John Haller have build a portable firefox (1.0), which can run directly from usb drive, to promote firefox.

Linux LiveCD is another way to promote Linux and Gnome. This is how technical people can penetrate marketting using technical skill.

ubuntu LiveCD

I am quite interested with the Linux ubunto LiveCD now, I download a PPC ubunto hoary LiveCD, and try to book on my ibook. Oh! It works, next time should try on the iMac mini. You can download the ubuntu LiveCD image from here, there are LiveCD and installation CD for x86 and PPC.

ubuntu LiveCD is not new, when I 1st heard of Knoppix LiveCD is about a year a go, but ubuntu can get popular in these days, there must be something interesting with it. Only check when I am free, some other day.

ubuntu seems like is an africa word.

Gnome 2.0, hot!

Gnome 2.10 is out(about last week), I am so lazy to upgrade my system to try is out, so I download the LiveCD.

I try the LiveCD on 2 of my friends' notebook, an Acer and Asus M2 notebook, can't get it boot up. Try on my office IBM machine, not working too. Finally get it running on another HP machine in my office, don't have time to try out yet, but the (ubuntu) LiveCD look nice.

iTunes with chinese display on Windows XP

I am quite surprise when I see iTunes with chinese support on my friend's Windows XP, because I can't get it in my OSX systems!

I just try on my current Windows XP desktop.

After enable chinese support under Control Panel, Regional and Language..., is either Language or Advanced tab. If can't work just, try and error.

If I switch to chinese system in OSX, may be it will work.

Eclipse 3.0 on Windows

Just finish download Eclipse, is about 90M, eclipse will become the defacto of Java IDE, plus it can put in C IDE plug-in. I just try run the eclipse, seems running quite well on Pentium 4 3.2GHz HT, 512M Ram machine.

I try to create a c program, but I don't have the compiler, and I have out of IDE for quite a long time so can't get it work, may be next time.

What is Apple MacOS X?

The equation shuold look like this: Darwin = Mach 3.0 + BSD services OS X = Quartz + Arqua + Darwin

Torvalds switches to Apple

Nothing much to say abaout this, Torvalds just use Apple machine(for fun!?).

You can read the news here.

The most interesting part about it is, Torvalds comment on the Mach kernel(is a creep) in September 2001. Mach kernel used by OSX, after Apple buy NeXT.

Definately Torvalds is not comment on Apple OS, but just on the mach kernel, reason? mach kernel is linux kernel compitators. rember the HURD project from GNU/fsf.org?

PenDrive driver for Windows 95 and Linux

I have a usb driver for windows 95 but never use before, yesterday I just try to install to a Windows 95 operating system, hopefully it will work, but unfortunately it can detect the usb chipset but not the PenDrive. PenDrive or FlashDrive, is just a usb storage. Since the driver is not working, I just simple remove it from windows, but it corrupt the vmm32.vxd file, results the machine can't boot anymore, I simple copy a vmm32.vxd file from another machine, it just don't work. It spend me another extra 2 hours to find the proper vmm32.vxd file to get the system up again! In Linux, you just need to need to enable 1. the chipset (USB Support, UHCI or OHCI, just try 1 which will work) 2. USB mass storage (module name usb-storage.o) (may be you need to enable scsi support too) I am using kernel 2.4.x, it work. I never give up windows 95, I believe there may be a patch or update for the usb storage driver.

NeoOffice/J

Have to take another one and the half hour to download NeoOffice/J, because the 1st time I download half way but fail, so have to download again, is about 117M. After install is 300M, wow! The different NeoOffice and OpenOffice is, NeoOffice use OSX interface and not X11.

OpenOffice.org 1.1.4 for OSX

The OSX version of OpenOffice is 158M, double than the x86 linux version. Take about 50 minutes to download. This is a X window version. I though 2.0 beta is out, so would like to try it on OSX too, but seems like they have not compile a OSX version yet, is still 1.1.2. 150M is a bz compress file, after uncompress is 370M, this is terrible! I think is time for OOo to slim down, before it is going too far. Seems like I didn't install my X11 on my OSX system, it need panther CD3, I abort, may be try next time or try Neo/J office.

micq, text base icq

Looking for a text base icq on windows, found a text base icq--micq. Is available on many system including Linux, BSD, OSX, Windows, even on PS2! The power of opensource!

OpenOffice.org 2.0beta

This could be the last time I install OpenOffice software in my office, because I told that can't install any Linux machine and unauthorize software(including license or non-license) in office anymore.

The new OpenOffice.org look nice, support chinese, but some of the effect(eg. text drop down) is not working anymore.

The package I downloaded is rpm. It will be install /opt. Take note, you will always need to install the core07 package(contain the soffice program), but the rpm dependencies never told you.

firefox 1.0 with Java plugins

Earlier I have some problem with running Java plugins(v1.4) in firefox (v1.0) browser, so I disable the java plugins in my firefox. Since these people suggest to use java 1.5, I download the 1.5 (finally!) from sun java site. The reason, why I don't like the new java, because my applet was develop on java version 1.1, and new java take up too much hard disk space. jre 1.5 (without compiler) 86M jdk-1.3.1_13 (with compiler) 58M This is a lot of difference. Anyway java 1.5 is working ok with my firefox browser on my Mandrake 10(Linux) now. So remove away the java 1.4, is useless.

RedHat/MYOSS (join) March Meetup, Kuala Lumpur

Date: 3 March 2005
Vanue: Training Choice office

I drive to city after work, reach Training Choice office(MUI Plaza) about 7.15pm.

This is the 2nd meetup host in Training Choice office, and is a join meetup of redhat and myoss.

Today we have 2 presentation, "CLI tricks" from Ow (Mun Heng) and "network cabling (basic)" from Yeak.

We start about 7.30pm after the presenter ready. Silvia(Training Choice) has a "ice breaking" game for us, Ow won the price, eventhough I complained, but I think Ow is qualified for that. :)

There is about 20 people attended, I can't remember everyone's name, almost half are first time to the training choice office. Jason(MYOSS organizer) miss the previous meetup, but he attended this time, Miguel(from US), Izak, William, Cheung Long and other new faces, sorry I can't name you all here.

Ow's presentation on "CLI tricks" start 8.05pm end about 9.00pm, everyone was give 15 minutes, but he is over time, I have to signal him to speed up his presentation(and he got the signal!), make sure everyone can go back on time.

Ow suggest we can upload the presentation slide on the internet, so it will be on the internet soon.

Yeak's presentation on "network cabling", something new and interesting to me, because I never do cabling myself, he show us how to clam a network socket on the presentation.

If you miss out yeak's presentation, you can always refer here.

We have a discussion on the vanue, the conclusion is we will still stick to Training Choice for sometime, because the member may have problems with new location.

Silvia update us, there will be some free and short(3 hours?) courses for linux beginners, I just glance through the content topics, I think is a good start for new linux users, if interested you need to register, check out with Training Choice office.

Ow thrown out a question for the fist timer here. Miguel get a notification from meetup when he change his location from Washinton to Malaysia, but he never attended any meetup while he was is Washinton. Cheung Long and SledgeHammer get to know this meetup from low yat forum. Jason do a good job on advertising the meetup.

Other discussion that I miss out, Ow has a detail blog.

zinf 2.2.5

zinf is not freeamp. I though freeamp is difficult to compile, but zinf seems to be a lot more easier, I need to intall another 2 more libraries to get it compile: libmusicbrainz libgdbm but they still need to improve the compilation script, because when I try to static link libgdbm, but it always link to gdbm dynamic library.

Firefox on Windows 95

Earlier I have problems install Firefox 1.0 on Windows 95. I found a link, explain how to do it, basically is:- - windows update - Microsoft Library update for Windows 95 - download firefox I have tried portable firefox, the normal installer should work now.