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We seem to be scaring the non-free world of software
by Oren Beck 23 Sep '08

23 Sep '08

http://slashdot.org/firehose.pl?op=view&id=1195799 -- Oren Beck 816.729.3645

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Neuros releases OSD2 HD OpenSource Media Platform
by Tom Bruno 17 Sep '08

17 Sep '08

Hello everyone, Recently (as of yesterday) Neuros Technologies has released a new hardware and developer platform coined the "OSD2". The OSD2 is an OpenSource based HD platform. We are working hard to provide Open Source communities with open hardware that users, developers, and commercial projects can change and modify to fit their unique needs, wants, hobbies. A lot of work has went into this unit especillay behind the scenes where we had to fight almost daily inorder to get TI to open up documents, api, and system libraries for their Digial Signal Processor technologies. The Neuros OSD2 HD is an unique class of device in a market full of manufactures and product teams that are set on controlling what their hardware does and how it is used. Neuros is continuing to fight on behalf of OpenSource software and software freedom to remove absolute control from the producer of the product and place it into the hands of you the consumer. We cannot do this without the support of communities, linux users, and users that understand their very freedom of use is under attack by the media blob all around the world. On the technology front the OSD2 is based on Texas Instruments new Davinci hardware that offers HD performance in low cost ARM+DSP cpus. Low power usage, low cost, and abilites to record up to 720P video over Component input make the OSD2 a very unique box amoung all the other similar devices on market. With OSD2 moving to the OpenEmbedded distribution platform and VLC frameworking being ported to control media/DSP features, software avialable for the device will range from file sharing to full blown media experiences. For more information feel free to email me or head to any of these sites. It is a great little box and is still under very active development so if you are into hardware, embedded, or even want to just know more about linux embedded in general this is a great place to start. Currently we are working to bring davinci and OSD2 into kernel.org mainline. You and your support of Open devices goes a long way to help us show TI and other hardware makers that Open Source and freedom are a better life. Links: http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9949081537.html http://open.neurostechnology.com/content/neuros-osd-20-hd-developer-kits-sa… http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/17/neuros-ships-hd-capable-osd-2-0-set-top-… http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/16/neuros-open-settop-b.html http://technorati.com/search/neuros?authority=a4&language=en Tom

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Free Software and Open Source. Walking the walk as opposed to merely talking.- RE: Software Freedom
by Oren Beck 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

We seem to be in agreement about free Vs non-free concepts in software. The concept I am invoking centers on what each of us is doing. To promote Free and Open Source ideals by spreading usage of such. There is a danger of a discussion such as this rapidly de-evolving into ugly chest beatings etc. I propose something vastly more productive. A simple sharing of our notes. Notes on whatever success or failure we have had. Reports on freeing persons or companies from closed non-free software. MY initial "ready to share" notes start with: A public kiosk at the campground getting about 3-5 unique NEW users a week for most of this summer. With well over half taking one or more of the Linux cd's on a nearby shelf. The kiosk details of note: 400mhz p3 -384 mb ram - 32x cd-rom drive,15" lcd,usb keyboard with usb ports-one free for staff thumbdrives and the other for the optical mouse. Current most usable distro is Puppy 4.0 which has been essentially flawless with the exception of the typematic rate bug. Several total exorcisms of MS from friend's lives- their testimonials are forthcoming. More than a few project managers in my mundane working world gifted with Knoppix and a hard copy print of: http://www.shockfamily.net/cedric/knoppix/ have called me back to say it saved their data and sanity. The related bridges to escaping Closed unfree software is using Abiword and OpenOffice as opposed to MS office. Sumatra PDF as opposed to Adobe. ALL of those used as part of "crash and/or virus recovery" operations. Showing someone that their virus infested winbox can be resurrected. By the Shockfamily document's methods. And then the revelation of Free Software continuing to show that unfree software is not mandatory. It's Tuesday afternoon. 3 guests at the campground have been exposed to a working Linux kiosk this week so far. 3 of 3 took copies of Puppy. Well- Let's hear what you have done lately? -- Oren Beck 816.729.3645

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[Reminder] Software Freedom Day this Saturday
by Billy Crook 16 Sep '08

16 Sep '08

For all you foaming-at-the-mouth freedomites out there, this Saturday is Software Freedom Day. See: http://softwarefreedomday.org/ Show your friends, family, and colleagues that you care about them by celebrating Software Freedom Day with them this Saturday. This is a big one. This September marks the FSF's 25th Birthday. How can you celebrate Software Freedom Day? -------------------------------------------------------------------- Upgrade any computers running Windows or OS X to any GNU+Linux distribution of your choosing. Nuke that flash player. Or, next time it breaks, let Adobe fix it for you. rm -rf ~/.ies4linux Switch from IIS webhosting to Apache. Upgrade your home NAT/router firmware to OpenWRT. Become more familiar with SSH and screen. When a website doesn't render in Firefox, it's broken. So call up the company and let them know. Replace vmware with kvm, qemu, Xen, VirtualBox-OSE or any of the other Free Software alternatives. Check out the latest gNewSense (Ubuntu with proprietary blobs removed) from http://torrent.gnewsense.org/gnewsense-livecd-deltah-2.1.iso.torrent It is even more free than Fedora! If you use gNewSense, you basically have zero risk of running proprietary code on your machine. Learn the difference between Free Software and Open Source. Become an FSF associate member. The FSF campaigns to raise awareness of software freedom, and end software tyranny. They are also to thank for most of the core GNU utilities upon which your GNU+Linux system is built. http://www.fsf.org/associate/ Buy your next workstation, or server, with GNU+Linux pre-installed! Even if you prefer to do your own install, you will have assurance that the hardware works, and is validated by the manufacturer. And you will be giving your vote for Free Software. Support the SFLC, who defend software freedom by holding violators accountable, and enforcing free software licenses in and out of court. http://www.softwarefreedom.org/ When choosing hardware, consider which vendors provide Free drivers, or participate in kernel development. Speak with your wallet, and ask "Does this support GNU+Linux?" and "Will you refund my purchase if it doesn't work?" before buying hardware. Stop using proprietary and patent encumbered formats like .mp3, .doc, .xls, .gif, .jpeg, .wmv, etc., and convert your old media to Free formats like ogg vorbis, open document format, png, svg, and theora. If someone "can't open" a free format, don't give them a patent encumbered file. Give them Free Software to open and work with it. There are even versions of most Free Software that users can use without installing to a system, or modifying system configuration so they don't have any excuses not to use it. Support other GNU+Linux users at http://www.linuxquestions.org/ and on your mailing lists. Switch from proprietary network services like Twitter, and Google Reader, to Free Software Solutions like itenti.ca, and Gregarious. Keep an eye out for AfferoGPL licensed Software As A Service sites, and give preference to them. They're gaining steam, quickly.

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Xact USB skype phones. does anyone on list have experience with them. Possibily also integrating them with Asterisk?
by Oren Beck 15 Sep '08

15 Sep '08

There is a vast gap between assembling a few "this is what I did" posts from Google etc and being able to make them work. Examples are too many to count.. The desired result is- emulating POTS to the user. They pick up phone- get tone- dial- finish call and hang up. It just plain works. Details in progress- but one example would be perhaps setting up a "softphone" demo for ITEC. An unlimited calls per month Skype account is <$5 a month for the rest of the story. I do wonder in the real world if a seven port powered USB hub would handle a few such phones? -- Oren Beck 816.729.3645

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Re: Kclug Digest, Vol 50, Issue 24
by gary hildebrand 14 Sep '08

14 Sep '08

Looks like a rant about people whose computer skills are limited by poor little Billy Gates. I keep in mind that those who love Wndows have never used anything else; those who hate Wndows HAVE used something else. Some people think sounding off in colorful language will make them feel superior, and influence others into going along with their wants, needs and desires. They are usually mistaken. Gary Hildebrand St. Joseph, MO Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:53:01 -0500 > From: "Oren Beck" <orenbeck(a)gmail.com> > Subject: Typematic rate in livecd. > To: KCLUG <kclug(a)kclug.org> > > This is a query regarding what default settings should be for > typematic. Earlier tonight the kiosk public terminal at the campground > caused much Obscene Verbiage to be loudly spoken about Linux. The > reason proved to be a typematic default setting of 600ms delay and 25 > cps repeat. I myself felt that setting to be Obscenity Worthy upon > trying it. Perhaps this issue might underscore why public perceptions > become what they are? As in this case- the guest needing to check her > yahoo mail found the terminal repeat rate -Uh- described mostly in > anatomical improbabilities liberally frosted with excretions. I wish I > had an audio recording as the woman was rather direct in expressions. > ALL avoidable had the person responsible for such setting's default > numbers thought a bit. > > A demo disk by most probable reasoning WILL be seen by either the > overly critical or the painfully inexperienced. > > > > Thus handing out distros we have not checked for such issues may need > rethinking. > > So the "Expererience Zero" they have with Linux is a good one. As > opposed to my unhappy camper. > > Yes- assuredly we ALL should test a kiosk etc for such issues. I > however respectfully suggest we all at the mastering level consider > pre-master changes. Or at minimum feeding back to the responsible > project person info on the issue. > > Which feedback letter is being my next project. > > -- > Oren Beck > > 816.729.3645 > >

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Typematic rate in livecd.
by Oren Beck 14 Sep '08

14 Sep '08

This is a query regarding what default settings should be for typematic. Earlier tonight the kiosk public terminal at the campground caused much Obscene Verbiage to be loudly spoken about Linux. The reason proved to be a typematic default setting of 600ms delay and 25 cps repeat. I myself felt that setting to be Obscenity Worthy upon trying it. Perhaps this issue might underscore why public perceptions become what they are? As in this case- the guest needing to check her yahoo mail found the terminal repeat rate -Uh- described mostly in anatomical improbabilities liberally frosted with excretions. I wish I had an audio recording as the woman was rather direct in expressions. ALL avoidable had the person responsible for such setting's default numbers thought a bit. A demo disk by most probable reasoning WILL be seen by either the overly critical or the painfully inexperienced. Thus handing out distros we have not checked for such issues may need rethinking. So the "Expererience Zero" they have with Linux is a good one. As opposed to my unhappy camper. Yes- assuredly we ALL should test a kiosk etc for such issues. I however respectfully suggest we all at the mastering level consider pre-master changes. Or at minimum feeding back to the responsible project person info on the issue. Which feedback letter is being my next project. -- Oren Beck 816.729.3645

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Cook Up Tasty Custom Ubuntu Live CDs With UCK
by JDP 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Sent to you by JDP via Google Reader: Cook Up Tasty Custom Ubuntu Live CDs With UCK via Linux Today on 9/10/08 Linux.com: "The Ubuntu Customization Kit, tastefully called UCK, lets you add your favorite applications into the distro. If you're not happy with the factory-installed Ubuntu apps, here's your chance to spin up your very own Ubuntu live CD without too much effort." Things you can do from here: - Subscribe to Linux Today using Google Reader - Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

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Re: Flash alternatives
by Luke -Jr 11 Sep '08

11 Sep '08

On Wednesday 10 September 2008 13:40:22 you wrote: > Awesome! I didn't know FF supported it yet. Are you sure that FF isn't > launching a 3rd party app, like Luke suggested? If it truly is being > rendered by the browser and not a proprietary plugin (even if it IS MPlayer > :-P) then that's awesome. Monolithic browsers are stupid anyway. Konqueror uses a "plugin" for everything, including HTML. There is no reason to have a proprietary or embedded implementation of a codec in a web browser.

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Re: Flash alternatives
by Luke -Jr 10 Sep '08

10 Sep '08

On Wednesday 10 September 2008 13:47:51 Nathan Cerny wrote: > That's fine, but there's a distinct difference between loading a "plugin" > or module designed for the browser and loading a 3rd party app. The only real difference is that sometimes 3rd party apps use a different toolkit. But KDE's video players are themselves wrappers around 3rd party frameworks-- either Kaffeine (Xine-based) or KMPlayer (MPlayer-based). > I want to see support for streaming media just like browsers support images > now. Sure, the Mozilla team wrote their own image library from scratch, but I suspect most browsers use shared libraries for this. > I don't want a browser to have to load MPlayer, WMP, Quicktime, Flash, etc. > THAT is stupid IMO. Now you're contradicting yourself a bit... WMP is about the closest thing to a native browser plugin as you can get for Windows.

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