Ubuntu Tips n Tricks

TechSource: Best Internet TV Apps For Android

2012-01-28T11:35:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Best Internet TV Apps For Android

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 06:47 PM PST

Television, since its inception in the early twenties, has gone through a plethora of changes. From the big curvy boxes to the thin and flat LCDs, the attention-seeking living room device still stays one of the most popular gadgets around.

While watching the television whilst sprawled on a sofa has been the ultimate Sunday experience, the need for mobility is slowly changing this scenario. TV, these days, has become a bit more mobile, thus catering to the needs of people who are always on the go. Our very own Android too hasn't been that immune from the mobility boom as it has some amazing Internet TV apps to boast of. So, to help you choose the best of the lot, here we are with another article outlining only the essential Internet TV apps for Android.

Plex

Though basically a media platform, Plex does come in handy if you're looking for a comfortable way to get access to Internet television. With a beautifully organized interface, Plex works well in unison with the Plex media server.

Apart from letting you browse, play, and manage your media from your Droid, Plex also gives you access to 200 of the hottest Internet TV channels. You can get the best entertainment from sources like CNET, YouTube, Vimeo, Revison3 and more. Working seamlessly across Windows, Mac, Roku, Android and a bunch of other devices (including TVs), Plex serves as a great one-stop entertainment solution for Internet-TV junkies.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Crackle

Crackle is a popular entertainment app that lets you watch full-length Hollywood movies and TV shows for free, right from your Android device. The app provides full-length uncut TV shows, the list of which includes an impressive number of classics like Seinfeld, Samurai-X, The Three Stooges, and more. With high-quality streaming over Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G, Crackle also allows you to watch hundreds of full-length movies. Though limited to US, UK, Australia, and Canada, Crackle does prove to be a great source for catching up with some great television entertainment.

DOWNLOAD HERE

BBC iPlayer

Folks in the UK must be well familiar with this application. Official app of the largest broadcaster in the world, this free but region-limited application lets you watch and listen to over 400 hours of BBC programs. You can listen to live radio, watch live TV, and browse through a schedule of upcoming shows. Though Flash-based, the app is very popular in the United Kingdom.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Online TV Player

This is a nifty little application that lets you stream TV content from over 100 online TV channels for free. The app, which uses ffmpeg and libmms, supports a wide variety of formats including rmvb, rm, avi, mpeg, flv, and more.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Revision3

Revision3 is a popular Internet TV network, mostly known for shows like Tekzilla, Diggnation and App Judgement. This free app brings the whole Revision3 experience into a nice little Android application letting you watch all the popular shows like Tekzilla right from your Android device.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Hulu Plus

Hulu Plus for Android brings the highly popular Hulu experience to your mobile phone. Once installed, Hulu Plus members can stream thousands of episodes from hundreds of current and classic TV shows. Though mainly for Hulu Plus subscribers, the app does provide a lot of free episodes for non-subscribers to sample out. Users can also opt-in for a one-week free trial if they want to. Once the trial ends, the service costs about $8 a month.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Justin.TV Broadcaster

If you're a fan of Justin.tv (don't worry, it's not another Justin Bieber fan site), then this app might be something you should download right away. The free application lets you broadcast live content to the web over Wi-Fi and 3G. What's more, you can also chat with your viewers while doing the show.

DOWNLOAD HERE

You may also check out: 5 of the Best Internet Radio Apps for Android

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 01/26/2012

2012-01-26T00:35:00.001-08:00

HowtoForge Newsletter 01/26/2012
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

With the ISPConfig Monitor App, you can check your server status and find out if all services are running as expected. You can check TCP and UDP ports and ping your servers. In addition to that you can use this app to request details from servers that have ISPConfig installed; these details include everything you know from the Monitor module in the ISPConfig Control Panel (e.g. services, mail and system logs, mail queue, CPU and memory info, disk usage, quota, OS details, RKHunter log, etc.).

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

We at HowtoForge are proud to announce that our new Facebook page is now available under http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge. As most of you probably have a Facebook account, we want to use this additional channel to post updates and get feedback from you. Therefore we would like you to "Like" our page, share it with your friends, post comments, etc. :-)

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* Dualbooting Windows 7 And Linux Mint 12
* The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.2 x86_64 With nginx [ISPConfig 3]
* VBoxHeadless - Running Virtual Machines With VirtualBox 4.1 On A Headless Ubuntu 11.10 Server
* AVG Antivirus For Linux/FreeBSD Plus Postfix Mail Server
* RedHat Cluster Suite And Conga - Linux Clustering
* Simple Linux Auditing

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Dualbooting Windows 7 And Linux Mint 12
=======================================

Dualbooting means having installed two operating systems on one hard disk and being able to boot from any of them. This tutorial will explain how to install Linux Mint 12 alongside Windows 7 - the procedure however should be the same for all Ubuntu based distributions and only slightly different for every other.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/dualbooting-windows-7-and-linux-mint-12

The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.2 x86_64 With nginx [ISPConfig 3]
===============================================================

This tutorial shows how to prepare a CentOS 6.2 x86_64 server for the installation of ISPConfig 3, and how to install ISPConfig 3. ISPConfig 3 is a webhosting control panel that allows you to configure the following services through a web browser: nginx web server, Postfix mail server, MySQL, BIND nameserver, PureFTPd, SpamAssassin, ClamAV, Mailman, and many more. Since version 3.0.4, ISPConfig comes with full support for the nginx web server in addition to Apache; this tutorial covers the setup of a server that uses nginx, not Apache.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-centos-6.2-x86_64-with-nginx-ispconfig-3

VBoxHeadless - Running Virtual Machines With VirtualBox 4.1 On A Headless Ubuntu 11.10 Server
=============================================================================================

This guide explains how you can run virtual machines with VirtualBox 4.1 on a headless Ubuntu 11.10 server. Normally you use the VirtualBox GUI to manage your virtual machines, but a server does not have a desktop environment. Fortunately, VirtualBox comes with a tool called VBoxHeadless that allows you to connect to the virtual machines over a remote desktop connection, so there's no need for the VirtualBox GUI.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/vboxheadless-running-virtual-machines-with-virtualbox-4.1-on-a-headless-ubuntu-11.10-server

AVG Antivirus For Linux/FreeBSD Plus Postfix Mail Server
========================================================

This document describes how to deploy AVG Antivirus for Linux/FreeBSD to a Postfix mail server. It is usable for AVG version 8.5, 10 and 2012. By using AVG Antivirus with your Postfix mail server, you can ensure virus-free inboxes.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/avg-antivirus-for-linux-freebsd-plus-postfix-mail-server

RedHat Cluster Suite And Conga - Linux Clustering
=================================================

This how to describes an easy step by step installation of the RedHat Cluster Suite on three CentOS nodes and prepare them as nodes of a cluster. You will also install the Management suite which is web based and is known as Conga.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/redhat-cluster-suite-and-conga-linux-clustering

Simple Linux Auditing
=====================

Basic Linux system auditing is a bit tricky and data collected and information of that is out of place and readability is not that good. Recently this lead me to put together a Open Source code project and develop simple BASH scripts that do the job nicely. The code and tar ball can be downloaded from both google code or from SourceForge's website and the project website has links to documentation, help, installation and code.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/simple-linux-auditing

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

For a monthly fee of 5 EUR or 25 EUR for half a year, you can become a HowtoForge supporter and help us cover our costs (servers, bandwidth, etc.) and support ISPConfig development. In return, you receive the following benefits:

1. Download the ISPConfig 3 Manual (from http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual).
2. Access the whole HowtoForge web site without any ads.
3. Download the results of our tutorials as VMware images (where available) (a list of downloadable VMware images is available here: http://www.howtoforge.com/list-of-downloadable-vmware-images).
4. Download our tutorials as PDF files.
5. View our tutorials as printer-friendly pages.
6. You will be marked as a "HowtoForge Supporter" in your forum posts.
7. Plus, you support the ISPConfig development.

If you have the free VMware Server or Player installed, you can import our VMware images and start playing around with the results of our tutorials immediately. It's a great way to track down problems with your own setup or simply to save time. ;-)

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

TechSource: Simple But Handy Tips to Make Ubuntu Linux Run Faster

2012-01-25T11:29:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Simple But Handy Tips to Make Ubuntu Linux Run Faster

Simple But Handy Tips to Make Ubuntu Linux Run Faster

Posted: 24 Jan 2012 10:33 PM PST

Over the years, people have pinned Windows down as the slowest of all operating systems. While Mac still remains a class product, our beloved Ubuntu Linux has shot to fame because of its amazing speed and power, even on low-end systems. Windows, after months, or sometimes weeks of usage, tends to bloat and behave like a sluggish car beyond repair. Ubuntu on the other hand, tends to stay as agile as it was when you first installed it, making it one of the most preferred operating systems on low-end computer users.

That said, grass isn't always green in the Ubuntu Linux world. As with every operating system, perfection eludes the open-source distribution, thus making issues like slowdown and incompatibility more prominent. These problems, however, cannot be pinned down as Ubuntu's fault because most of them arise from incompatible hardware, especially graphics cards. So, if you too, in some point in time have faced, or are facing issues of slowdown and choppy graphics, here are some simple tips to help you alleviate those problems and in effect make Ubuntu Linux run faster.

Install/Update to the latest graphics driver

About three years ago, when I went to purchase a new graphics card, the vendor recommended me ATI, telling me that it's much better than the almost-omnipresent NVIDIA, and that I won't be disappointed by the performance. I couldn't agree more with him as I too had read a lot about ATI, but never had the chance to try it out. So, I went home with a sparkling grin, installed it, and tried out the latest game that was available out there, and boy, I was thoroughly impressed with it. The card ran as smooth as butter on Windows, but then, once I installed Ubuntu on my computer, that's where the problems began. Not only did I have a tough time installing the drivers, I also had trouble getting the card to work just enough to play movies.

However, sticking to ATI paid off, as graphic support for my card has improved by miles over the last couple of years. Though not as good as it is on Windows, it is still quite satisfactory when you have a lot of RAM.

If you ever have faced similar issues in the past, I don't need to tell you how important it is to update your graphics drivers.

Use Unity 2D instead of 3D

If upgrading your graphic card doesn't help alleviate the problem, then it may be good idea to move to something lighter. While XFCE is a perfect desktop for extremely low-end and dated computers, for those stuck with an incompatible or old graphic cards, the Qt-based Unity 2D comes in really handy. The light environment brings the best features of Ubuntu without using too much of your RAM.

Use apt-get often

With the advent of Ubuntu Software Center, the classic-yet-powerful apt has lost its prominence. Though as good as Ubuntu's new app store is, apt-get is almost ten times faster thus saving you a lot of valuable time that's usually spent while updating and installing applications.

Check start-up applications

Ubuntu doesn't bloat like Windows, but having a dozen of start-up applications surely slows it down. To remedy that problem, it's always a good idea to check which apps you have added to your start-up list. To do so, open the launcher (Super Key/Windows Key) and type in the words 'startup applications'. Once the 'Settings' window opens, chose which applications should load when Ubuntu starts up.

Clean your browser's cache

Sometimes, especially if you're a web addict, the browser cache tends to pile up and slow down the computer. A simple solution to this problem is clearing the cache by going to your browser's settings menu.

Install Preload

Preload is an adaptive readahead daemon, which, once installed, monitors the applications you run, analyzes that data, and, by predicting which application you'll run next, loads the predicted program into your memory. Of course, this won't dramatically speed up your computer, but you'll certainly see some improvements. To install preload, open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type in/paste the following command:

sudo apt-get install preload

TechSource: Best GarageBand-like Apps For Android

2012-01-23T11:45:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Best GarageBand-like Apps For Android

Best GarageBand-like Apps For Android

Posted: 22 Jan 2012 03:08 PM PST

You are busy strumming at that beautiful guitar, moving from the verse to the chorus. Just as the word SOLO appears on the lyrics page, with a flourish of excitement and a slight fumble of fingers, you manage to finish what seemed like the most difficult riff of your life. You complete the song and then, wiping the sweat from your brow, you shout out loud "I need to start a band."

Starting a band eh? Well, it's not as easy as it looks, well, at least, that's what I've heard many people say. And anyway, who'd go through the trouble of looking for new bandmates? No, no, not me sir; I'm just happy sitting here in front of my computer and having the world come to my desktop. And what better way to do that than to have a cool app like GarageBand instantly downloaded on my desktop?

So, if you're one of those aspiring musicians lacking a full-fledged band, an app like GarageBand is a blessing in disguise. And though the application is only available for iOS, Android users don't have to go green with envy yet. Our very own Android has a good repertoire of GarageBand-like apps, some of which are even free.

ReLoop Loop Sequencer

ReLoop Loop Sequencer is a loop-based music sequencer that lets you make music using samples and loops. The application comes with real-time loop preview, a nice little feature, which lets you get a feel of how the loop will sound when added to the track. By default, ReLoop comes with three effects: Delay, Low-pass filter, and distortion; however, more effect packs can be added for free by downloading them from the marketplace.

As the app comes with support for gestures, the interface is really easy to use. Just dragging, dropping, and tapping are the only actions you'll need to know in order to start using ReLoop.

Finally when you're done creating your musical masterpiece, you can export it to a CD-quality track. Though not free, ReLoop Loop Sequencer is one of the best synthesizer apps out there; and don't worry if you're a tablet computer user; the app works exceptionally well on many Android tablets.

DOWNLOAD HERE

RD3 Groovebox

Developed in Berlin, Groovebox is an amazing app that lets you program your own grooves. With support for multi-touch gestures, the app comes with loads of features that audiophiles and musicians will love.

Groovebox includes a virtual analog synthesizer, multiple waveforms (3 types), high-quality filter modes, drum machine with 8 drum kits, and 3 play modes. The interface is really easy to use, thanks to the multi-touch support and the built-in ability to cut, copy, or paste patterns.

Once you're done creating your tunes, you can either save the session, or export the audio loop. Though not free, RD3 is a highly polished synthesizing app for Android.

If you're a tad skeptical about spending your money on this app, you can always try out the free demo version of the app.

DOWNLOAD HERE

PocketBand Uloops Pro

One of the most highly rated apps in this genre is PocketBand Uloops Pro. Unlike the aforementioned apps, PocketBands comes across as a powerful application thanks to its reliance on cloud technology. Despite the downside of requiring a fast, unlimited data connection, PocketBand is perhaps the best synthesizer app for Android.

The app comes with a 12-channel mixer (with effects), a drum machine (35 drumkits), recorder, modulator, and an arpeggiator. The recorder makes use of your phone's microphone to provide live audio recording. As for the effects, PocketBand leads the pack with a great lineup that includes delay, flanger, reverb, phaser, and more.

Once you're finished recording your song, you can either share the song on the Internet or save it locally. If you want, you can also share your work under Creative Commons license so that it can be remixed and listened to freely by the huge community. What's more, you can also remix songs uploaded by other musicians (only if they're CC-licensed).

Overall, PocketBand is a great, feature-filled synthesizer with a multitude of quality effects, which turn your Android gadget into a full-fledged mixing device.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: Ultrabooks vs. Chromebooks

2012-01-21T11:10:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Ultrabooks vs. Chromebooks

Ultrabooks vs. Chromebooks

Posted: 20 Jan 2012 03:38 PM PST

Ultrabooks, the much-touted ultra-slim laptop computers, which Intel announced with great pomp and expectations, have finally started making their presence felt. Recently showcased at CES 2012, these Macbook Air competitors, if successful, may revolutionize the tech world just as the tablets did. At this nascent stage though, not much can be said about them; however, we at TechSource do wish ultrabooks ran Ubuntu instead of Windows.

Ultrabooks, despite being slim and sleek in design, offer the users a complete desktop that's both usable and powerful. That said, it would be wrong to pit them head-on against laptops or even tablets for that matter. Ultrabooks target a completely different audience, which is, oddly enough, a niche that Chromebooks have been trying to get into for a long time. Chromebooks, which we covered earlier, haven't reached the pinnacle Google expected them to, nor have they managed to impress many customers, thus making room for competitors like Ultrabooks, and even tablet computers, to steal the show. But how does the relatively mature Chromebook stack up against the emerging Ultrabook? Let's see.

Performance

Ultrabooks, though slim in design, provide the user with a powerful, performing desktop. For example, the recently announced Dell X13 Ultrabook: this slim beast is powered by i5 and i7 processors and comes with 128GB solid-state drive (SSD).

Chromebooks, on the other hand, are powered by Chrome OS. The breezy web browser is the only thing you'll find on a Chromebook, thus making the whole operating system feel super fast. Unlike Windows, which tends to slow down after a while, Chromebooks would perform the same way (or even faster!) even after 2-3 years. The only thing slowing down these machines is your Internet connection.

It is thus quite obvious that Chromebooks outmatch Ultrabooks in the performance department. I know, that the i7 processor is definitely faster than the Intel Atom-powered Chromebooks, but that performance comes at almost 3-4 times the price of Chromebooks. For the $300 Chromebook, you almost get the same performance you get on an i5 device with Windows Vista on it.

Winner: Chromebooks

Samsung Series 5 Chromebook

Price

The Dell Ultrabook costs $999 whereas Chromebooks cost as little as $300. Though, you can purchase low-end Ultrabooks at even lesser prices, the ever-dipping price point of the browser-based notebook steals the show.

Winner: Chromebooks

Usability, Features, and Functionality

Chrome, Chromebook's raison d'etre is a powerful, nimble browser that makes the notebook work real fast despite its relatively low-end specs. That said, when you want to get something done, you can't always rely on a browser-based computer. Sometimes, you need Windows, Mac, or Linux to run high-end applications like video editors, or even games. This is where Chromebook is still lagging behind. People can't be on the web all the time, and they need something with which they could work offline. Ultrabooks, in this department, completely outsmart the struggling Chromebooks.

Winner: Ultrabooks

Acer Aspire S3 Ultrabook

Design, Overall Look and Feel

If you've seen Chromebook's reviews, you must have noticed that the little browser-based notebook is quite well designed. The nicely styled keyboard, the smooth finish, and a brightly lit display are enough to make even a full-fledged laptop user go green with envy.

That said, Chromebook's charm pales out when compared to the stylishly designed Ultrabooks. For example, the recently announced Envy Spectre by HP will make your gadget lust reach new heights. The i5-powered beast features a Gorilla Glass chassis (scratch-resistant) and has a 1600x900 Radiance Display. Similarly, most of the notebooks in this genre feature a shiny aluminum design along with a chiclet-style keyboard. Not only does this -- to a limit of course -- succeed at curing some seriously Mac-envy, it also makes the Ultrabook an attractive-yet-powerful gadget. The winner here undoubtedly is the shiny new Ultrabook.

Winner: Ultrabooks

Conclusion

Though Ultrabooks target a market similar to the one Google is targeting, it would be wrong to proclaim the slim gadget as a Chromebook-killer. Chromebook is, and perhaps always was, a niche product, especially for those who have successfully migrated their tech life to the web. For the rest, a good old netbook or even a laptop does the job. Ultrabooks, on the other hand target the whole laptop market; so, it is quite unlikely that the twain will ever be at loggerheads.

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 01/19/2012

2012-01-19T03:18:00.001-08:00

HowtoForge Newsletter 01/19/2012
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.2 x86_64 With Apache2 [ISPConfig 3]
* Securing Your ISPConfig 3 Installation With A Free Class1 SSL Certificate From StartSSL
* Installing An Oracle-Ready CentOS 6.2 Server
* Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On Fedora 16 (LAMP)
* How To Set Up Multi-Master Replication Using Tungsten And MySQL-Proxy For MySQL High Availability On Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS
* Use Minitube To Watch Youtube Videos On Your Desktop (Linux Mint 11)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.2 x86_64 With Apache2 [ISPConfig 3]
=================================================================

This tutorial shows how to prepare a CentOS 6.2 x86_64 server for the installation of ISPConfig 3, and how to install ISPConfig 3. ISPConfig 3 is a webhosting control panel that allows you to configure the following services through a web browser: Apache web server, Postfix mail server, MySQL, BIND nameserver, PureFTPd, SpamAssassin, ClamAV, Mailman, and many more. Since version 3.0.4, ISPConfig comes with full support for the nginx web server in addition to Apache; this tutorial covers the setup of a server that uses Apache, not nginx.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-centos-6.2-x86_64-with-apache2-ispconfig-3

Securing Your ISPConfig 3 Installation With A Free Class1 SSL Certificate From StartSSL
=======================================================================================

This tutorial shows how you can use a free Class1 SSL Certificate from StartSSL to secure your ISPConfig 3 installation and get rid of self-signed certificate warnings. The guide covers using the SSL certificate for the ISPConfig web interface (both Apache2 and nginx), Postfix (for TLS connections), Courier and Dovecot (for POP3s and IMAPs), and PureFTPd (for TLS/FTPES connections). If you've installed monit and use HTTPS for its web interface, I will show you how to use the StartSSL certificate for it as well. This guide assumes you use Debian or Ubuntu; the principle is the same for other distributions supported by ISPConfig 3, but paths might differ.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/securing-your-ispconfig-3-installation-with-a-free-class1-ssl-certificate-from-startssl

Installing An Oracle-Ready CentOS 6.2 Server
============================================

This is a tutorial for installing an Oracle-ready Linux box with CentOS 6.2, it covers the steps involved on the preparation of an Oracle-ready server for the posterior installation of Oracle Database Server/Oracle Fusion Middleware Suite on a multi-role server deployment.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-an-oracle-ready-centos-6.2-server

Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On Fedora 16 (LAMP)
==================================================================

LAMP is short for Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP. This tutorial shows how you can install an Apache2 webserver on a Fedora 16 server with PHP5 support (mod_php) and MySQL support.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-apache2-with-php5-and-mysql-support-on-fedora-16-lamp

How To Set Up Multi-Master Replication Using Tungsten And MySQL-Proxy For MySQL High Availability On Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS
=======================================================================================================================

This tutorial is based on my experience setting up Tungsten Replicator and MySQL-Proxy for a client's production setup.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-set-up-multi-master-replication-using-tungsten-and-mysql-proxy-for-mysql-high-availability-on-ubuntu-10.04.3-lts

Use Minitube To Watch Youtube Videos On Your Desktop (Linux Mint 11)
====================================================================

This article is about how to watch YouTube videos on your desktop with a tool called Minitube. Minitube is a piece of software with a nice GUI that lets you enter keywords into a searchbar just like on youtube.com to display a list where you can choose your desired video from. It is then played directly in the graphical interface without the need to install any flash player for your browser or even open it. server.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/use-minitube-to-watch-videos-on-your-desktop-linux-mint-11

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

TechSource: Top First-Person Shooter (FPS) Games for Android

2012-01-18T11:31:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Top First-Person Shooter (FPS) Games for Android

Top First-Person Shooter (FPS) Games for Android

Posted: 17 Jan 2012 10:54 PM PST

From the classic Golden Eye 007 to the more modern and visually stunning Call of Duty MW 4, first-person shooter (FPS) games have always had a special place in the hearts of hardcore gamers. The genre has reached worldwide acclaim since it allows the player character to see and feel the action through his/her own eyes. This engaging style of gameplay has been lauded by many gamers, thus propelling the success of billion-dollar blockbusters like Modern Warfare and Battlefield series.

The omnipresence of this genre is such that Linux too offers a great variety of FPS games to choose from. And, as more and more people are moving on to the popular portable version of Linux -- that is Android of course--, there are some great FPS games that you can enjoy on your mobile devices too. So, if you're looking forward to shooting conniving villains and evil monsters on your beloved Android, here are three of the most popular first-person shooter games for Android.

Modern Combat 2

Rather than being just a poor man's Call of Duty, Modern Combat 2 is a game that brings the best first-person shooting experience to your Android. The intense shooter throws you into 12 different battlefield scenarios like Middle East, Eastern Europe, South America and more. To help you eliminate all the baddies, you get 15 different -- and of course 'modern' weapons -- to choose from. Not all are handed to you right away, but you can always pick many up from your deceased enemies.

The game features a unique control method that leverages the gyro functionality of your mobile to make gameplay even more immersive. Once you finish the single-player campaign, you can always go online and try out the four different multiplayer modes that the game comes with. You can either play online or local; and the game allows up to ten players at a time. So, in short, the game is just as addictive as you think it is. With stunning graphics, engaging gameplay and a whole bunch of enemies to kill, this action-shooter is worth your every penny.

DOWNLOAD HERE

N.O.V.A. 2 HD

A sequel to the highly popular N.O.V.A. game, N.O.V.A. 2 HD takes place six years after the events depicted in the first episode. The central government Terran Orbitals, and the Human-Alliance are in the midst of a bloody civil war. Kal Wardin (protagonist and the main player character), who was living peacefully on Scorpius for the past six years, is called back by Prometheus to Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance a.k.a. N.O.V.A. And that's when the real battle begins.

This sci-fi FPS title cuts no corners in providing a superb gaming experience. The game features an amazingly detailed single-player design along with an intense multiplayer mode. While the single-player takes place on different environments, the multiplayer mode gives you ten great maps to showcase your skills. Furthermore, the ranking system, and the leaderboards feature make sure that you get your daily dose of online bragging right away.

With over a dozen weapons, three special powers, and 12 chapters to shoot through, N.O.V.A. 2 proves to be one of the best FPS games out there for Android.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Contract Killer

In a world full of gangsters, bounty hunters, and criminals, it's up to you to clean up the mess. But unlike in the aforementioned games, you're not an expert soldier, nor you are a policeman; you're just a deadly assassin who shoots quietly from rooftops. You're a contract killer.

Contract Killer is a game about, well, a contract killer who takes on various missions and gets paid handsomely to do that. Unlike Modern Combat, Contract killer relies on stealth and precision. Though you get to select from a wide range of weapons, the sniper is probably the weapon you'll end up using most of the time. Each contract you take up earns you cold hard cash. Shoot for the head, and you get more than what you usually get. You can then use that cash to upgrade your armory.

The game comes with 17 missions that go with the story, and other random missions that give the game an unlimited gameplay. The graphics aren't as good as Modern Combat or N.O.V.A., but they aren't that bad either. Also, at times the game tends to be a bit repetitive, but the overall gameplay is quite amazing for a mobile game. Worth a try if you're bored with the traditional instant shoot-and-kill FPS games.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: Ubuntu TV vs. Google TV: Battle of the Linux-based Smart TV

2012-01-16T11:18:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Ubuntu TV vs. Google TV: Battle of the Linux-based Smart TV

Ubuntu TV vs. Google TV: Battle of the Linux-based Smart TV

Posted: 15 Jan 2012 10:17 PM PST

Google TV, despite being launched and relaunched with much pomp and expectations, has not quite managed to reach the market it intended to. In fact, it wouldn't be wrong to proclaim that the foray of Internet on our television screens previously has been an utter failure. And this, you see, is despite the fact that there are giants like Apple and Google scampering for the top spot.

Last week, Ubuntu's own little warrior came sauntering into this hallowed market, but only to deliver a nice big surprise. At CES, when the Unity-based Ubuntu TV was unveiled, even the most pious of Apple fanboys couldn't help feeling a tinge of jealousy. The demo, which showcased a beautiful-yet-functional interface, left all the Unity-bashers a tad guilty.

Having said that, it would be wrong to call Ubuntu TV a game-changer, as Apple, Google, and -- yes, we haven't forgotten them -- Microsoft too are working hard on bringing something intelligent and intuitive to the idiot box. However, we're not that interested in the efforts of Apple, or Microsoft, what we, as FOSS fanatics, are interested in is the battle between two Linux-based smart TV platforms: Google TV and Ubuntu TV.

Interface

Though Ubuntu TV hasn't reached the consumers yet, a quick demo at CES showed us how clean and intuitive the interface really is. The experience is no different from what we get on our desktops, but having Unity on it makes it a force to reckon with. However, don't think that my derision for the 'NEW' Ubuntu ceases with Ubuntu TV: Unity was and still is, to me, a crippled interface that is just wrong for our desktops. But when, this much-hated feature shows up on the good old television, you forget that you ever criticized Unity. From the CES demo, and the reviews we read on various tech-related sites, Ubuntu TV could, quite unexpectedly, be the TV interface we've been waiting for.

Google TV on the other hand, has been around for a long time. Based on the Android interface, the interface is quite easy to use and clean too. However, when compared to the aforementioned Ubuntu TV, it does seem a bit cluttered and unintuitive. Instead of focusing on content, Google TV tries to bring too many things to the table, adding to the complexity of the interface. Ubuntu TV, however, stays classy by giving you just the content.

Winner: Ubuntu TV

Familiarity

Though Google TV is based on Android, its interface is totally different from what you have on your phone or tablet. There are a few similarities here and there, but the Google TV doesn't make an Android user feel at home. Ubuntu TV however, makes sure that an Ubuntu user gets the best experience without missing their computer. If Ubuntu on mobile takes off as Shuttleworth expects it to, then Ubuntu TV will be a brand you won't be able to ignore.

Winner: Ubuntu TV

Content

It's not clear as to how many tie-ups Ubuntu TV will have, but from what we've seen at CES, it's enough to satisfy the needs of most TV-lovers. On the other hand, the Android-based Google TV goes one step further by providing an assortment of high quality apps, a domain that is very lucrative these days. Undoubtedly, if Ubuntu TV gets a big audience, it might catch up in this department; however, Google TV will always be a step ahead. Google has partnerships with a lot of content providers, and, not to forget, the movies and TV shows you can rent/buy from Netflix, Android store, and YouTube.

Winner: Google TV

Conclusion

At this early stage, it is difficult to know whether Ubuntu TV will be able to live up to its expectations or not. Also, don't forget that Apple too is surreptitiously working on something big for the TV market. So, as good as Ubuntu TV might seem, it won't be easy for Canonical to break into such a big market. Nevertheless, Ubuntu does promise to bring something unexpected and fresh to the TV market, and it might as well be the game-changing product we've been waiting for.

TechSource: Awesome Android Smartphones and Tablets Showcased at CES

2012-01-14T11:33:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Awesome Android Smartphones and Tablets Showcased at CES

Awesome Android Smartphones and Tablets Showcased at CES

Posted: 13 Jan 2012 07:39 PM PST

2012 starts off on a geeky note, with the most awaited technology event around called CES (Consumer Electronics Show). The event, considered as the Mecca for geeks, nerds, and tech journalists, has been hailed as the ultimate place to showcase your innovative products.

This year, CES saw some big changes taking place. The most important one was that this was the last CES event for Microsoft. On the other hand, our beloved Ubuntu made its first ever appearance at the event, and yes, it was a huge success.

Now, moving on from Ubuntu to another Linux-based OS, our much-adored Android showcased some amazing new tablets and smartphones at the event. And yep, we've got the best of those head-turners in this article just for you.

Toshiba Excite X10

Toshiba Excite X10, the thinnest tablet computer at CES, has become quite popular among tablet computer enthusiasts. The most 'exciting' thing about Excite X10 is that it comes with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which is the latest and the greatest that Android has to offer. Weighing in at just 1.2 lbs., this sleek beauty is powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz OMAP 4430 processor. To make sure you can multitask smoothly, there's about 1 GB of RAM. For the photo-enthusiast in you, there's a 5 MP camera at the back, and a 2MP at the front. The price of this coveted device is $520 (16 GB model) and $600 (32 GB model).

Acer Iconia Tab A700

The Acer Iconia Tab A700 is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and comes with 1GB of memory. Running a Tegra 3 chip, this beast of a tablet also comes with a revolutionary anti-glare technology that makes it the perfect e-book reader. Iconia A700 will run on Ice Cream Sandwich Android 4.0 with some Acer customizations. It has an HDMI port, a microSD card slot, and a 1080p display to make sure that you enjoy your movies and videos in style.

Asus Transformer Prime 700 Series

The Transformer Prime 700 Series is a variant of the original Asus Transformer Prime which we've talked about earlier. It comes with specs almost the same as Prime except for a full 1080p HD display. Apart from that, there are a few other changes here and there; but nonetheless, it's still pretty much the same thing as Prime. In my opinion, it should have been called Transformer Prime HD instead of giving it a misleading name. That said, if you're planning on buying a Prime, I'd suggest you to go for the 700 instead of its predecessor.

Samsung Galaxy Note

The Samsung Galaxy Note is a cross between a tablet and a smartphone. Though the phone has been around for a while now, it was officially launched for the US market at CES. Running on AT&T's network, Note features a 5.3-inch WXGA Super AMOLED HD display with a 1280x800 resolution. With a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, it can give a lot of tablets a run for their money. Also included in the package is the innovative new S-pen that allows users to write, draw, and doodle on their Droid just like they do on paper. Though the dated Gingerbread is kind of a bummer, Note still is one of the best Android smartphones -- oh wait tablets -- around.

Sony Xperia S

Sony's latest offering, the Xperia S, besides being backed by some powerful specs, does come with a few unique features of its own. On the specs front, the 4.3-incher comes with a 1.5 GHz Qualcomm MSM8260 Snapdragon processor along with an ample 1 GB of RAM. The most awesome feature about this phone is its 12 MP back camera that can make this phone quite popular amongst photography enthusiasts. However, the 1.3 MP camera could have been better.

Other unique features include Mobile BRAVIA engine (similar to the technology found in Sony TVs), Active Noise Cancellation, and PlayStation certification. The phone runs on Android 2.3 but Sony has promised an ICS upgrade in Q2 2012.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx

We've already talked about the lamentable battery life of Android smartphones, and how, to an extent you can fix them. Droid Razr Maxx, as the name aptly suggests, endeavors to get rid of that problem by promising you a 21 hours of talktime and 368 hours of standby time. Not just that, the Maxx comes with a 1.2 GHz Cortex-A9 processor along with an 8 MP camera. The phone weighs just 145g and is quite thin as compared to other Android devices. Maxx is a smartphone that's totally worth the wait if you're a Moto Razr fan.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 01/12/2012

2012-01-12T04:19:00.000-08:00

HowtoForge Newsletter 01/12/2012
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* Running TYPO3 4.6 On Nginx (LEMP) On Debian Squeeze/Ubuntu 11.10
* Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On CentOS 6.1 (LAMP)
* Web Filtering On Squid 3 With QuintoLabs Content Security 1.4 And Windows Active Directory Integration
* Installing OpenVZ + Management Of VMs Through ISPConfig 3 (Debian 6.0)
* Introduction To The Enlightenment 17 Window Manager For X (Ubuntu 11.10)
* Ubuntu 11.10 Samba Standalone Server With tdbsam Backend

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Running TYPO3 4.6 On Nginx (LEMP) On Debian Squeeze/Ubuntu 11.10
================================================================

This tutorial shows how you can install and run a TYPO3 (version 4.6) web site on a Debian Squeeze or Ubuntu 11.10 system that has nginx installed instead of Apache (LEMP = Linux + nginx (pronounced "engine x") + MySQL + PHP). The guide also covers the use of the nc_staticfilecache extension which allows TYPO3 to cache pages as complete .html files for faster delivery (increases response times for static pages by a factor of 230; it's similar to Drupal's Boost module). nginx is a HTTP server that uses much less resources than Apache and delivers pages a lot of faster, especially static files.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/running-typo3-4.6-on-nginx-lemp-on-debian-squeeze-ubuntu-11.10

Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On CentOS 6.1 (LAMP)
===================================================================

LAMP is short for Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP. This tutorial shows how you can install an Apache2 webserver on a CentOS 6.1 server with PHP5 support (mod_php) and MySQL support.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-apache2-with-php5-and-mysql-support-on-centos-6.1-lamp

Web Filtering On Squid 3 With QuintoLabs Content Security 1.4 And Windows Active Directory Integration
======================================================================================================

This HOWTO will show you how to set up a Squid proxy server deployed on CentOS or RedHat 6 Linux with web and content filtering done by QuintoLabs Content Security with proxy users transparently authenticated by Windows 2008 R2 based Active Directory. This is the work in progress and all comments are welcomed. The HOWTO is targeted at novice users and may sometimes seem too thorough for more advanced gurus. No compilation magic will be involved in our setup so any system administrator accustomed to Windows will be able to easily follow the instructions.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/web-filtering-on-squid-3-with-quintolabs-content-security-1.4-and-windows-active-directory-integration

Installing OpenVZ + Management Of VMs Through ISPConfig 3 (Debian 6.0)
======================================================================

This tutorial describes the installation of an OpenVZ host server to manage virtual machines from within the ISPConfig 3 hosting control panel. OpenVZ is a lightweight virtualization technology for Linux servers, similar to jails on *BSD systems. ISPConfig 3 contains a module to manage OpenVZ virtual machines on the local server and on remote servers that run ISPConfig.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-openvz-plus-management-of-vms-through-ispconfig-3-debian-6.0

Introduction To The Enlightenment 17 Window Manager For X (Ubuntu 11.10)
========================================================================

This tutorial is supposed to show some features of the Enlightenment window manager as an alternative to the often used Gnome and KDE managers. I will install Enlightenment on a desktop computer with Ubuntu 11.10 installed. Apart from the login screen however, all of the controls shown on the screenshots should be the same for every installation of enlightenment, whatever distribution you install it on. Enlightenment is already included in the Ubuntu repositories, therefore Ubuntu users and those of any Ubuntu derivatives won't have any problems installing it. It is also available for download for most other distributions though.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/introduction-to-the-enlightenment-17-window-manager-for-x-ubuntu-11.10

Ubuntu 11.10 Samba Standalone Server With tdbsam Backend
========================================================

This tutorial explains the installation of a Samba fileserver on Ubuntu 11.10 and how to configure it to share files over the SMB protocol as well as how to add users. Samba is configured as a standalone server, not as a domain controller. In the resulting setup, every user has his own home directory accessible via the SMB protocol and all users have a shared directory with read-/write access.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/ubuntu-11.10-samba-standalone-server-with-tdbsam-backend

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

TechSource: Best Video Editing Software for Ubuntu

2012-01-11T11:27:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Best Video Editing Software for Ubuntu

Best Video Editing Software for Ubuntu

Posted: 10 Jan 2012 08:35 PM PST

Ubuntu, with its ease of use and beautiful design, has managed to become a desktop that is not just for geeks anymore. These days, more and more non-technical users are switching to Ubuntu, making it the fastest growing Linux distribution in the world. Now, as Ubuntu's demand is soaring, the recently switched users are looking for applications that will help them perform simple tasks like video editing and music management.

While there is no dearth of music management apps on Ubuntu, video editing is an area that hasn't seen much progress yet. Nevertheless, there are some great video editors for our beloved distro, which are quite as good as the ones you'll find on Windows and Mac. So, if you're looking for a great way to edit that holiday video you just shot, read on as we list the best video editing software applications for Ubuntu.

OpenShot

OpenShot is quite undoubtedly the best video editor on not just Ubuntu but also on Linux in general. Written in Python, the open-source video editor comes with a lot of amazing features. OpenShot includes support for many video, audio, and image formats, including, but not limited to: MKV, MOV, VOB, MP4, and MPEG.

The thing I love about OpenShot is that it is a complete application. What I mean by that is, you can make a whole movie without the need for any other software. From video transitions to scrolling movie-style credits at the end, OpenShot does pretty much everything you need from a video-editor.

If you're a moviemaker, then OpenShot might not prove to be as great as Final Cut Pro or even Lightworks, but it will certainly serve as great bare bones editing tool for vloggers and budding filmmakers. Oh, but don't make the mistake of writing off OpenShot as a simple video-editor. It also packs in a lot of advanced features like the famous Ken Burns effect, along with 20 other cool effects that will definitely add a little spunk to your movie.

To install, open the terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) and type in/paste the following command:

sudo apt-get install openshot

Avidemux

Avidemux is a non-linear video editor that allows users to edit and transcode videos. Written in C++, the open-source application comes with some great features that make it one of the most popular video-editing applications on this platform. Though not as easy to use as the aforementioned OpenShot, Avidemux does come with a well-designed interface. On the features front, the application includes support for video effects, transcoding, Optical Character Recognition ( OCR ) of subtitles, and much more.

The best feature of Avidemux is its ability to run as a GUI program as well as a command-line program. This saves a lot of time, especially for folks who love doing everything using the shell. Oh, and yeah, Avidemux also has multi-threading support, so expect it to run breezing fast once you install it on your desktop.

Install: sudo apt-get install avidemux

PiTiVi

This is one of my personal favorites when it comes to quick, no-fuss video editing. PiTiVi comes with a basic interface allowing you to edit your videos and add some effects to it. This open-source application, which was also included as a default app in Ubuntu, is quite simply the most easy-to-use video editor around.

With PiTiVi, you can trim, snap, split, and cut a clip, and then, you can export it to various formats. You can also merge the video with a different audio clip, a feature that can be useful for a lot of people who like remixing videos and uploading them on YouTube.

Though the application is not as feature-loaded as OpenShot or Avidemux, it is still the perfect tool for anyone who is not that familiar with the basics of video editing. Don't expect it to be your companion in Hollywood though. However, if you're looking for a simple tool that can edit your family videos, PiTiVi is your best bet.

Install: sudo apt-get install pitivi

Apart from the aforementioned apps, there are some other good tools like Cinelerra, Kdenlive and Kino, but they don't integrate that nicely with Ubuntu's GNOME-based desktop. Nevertheless, they're great choices too, especially if you're looking for some powerful video editing tools.

TechSource: Best Health and Fitness Apps For Android

2012-01-09T12:25:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Best Health and Fitness Apps For Android

Best Health and Fitness Apps For Android

Posted: 08 Jan 2012 06:36 PM PST

In our struggle to stay fit and healthy, technology is something that has always played an important role. Whether it's high-quality medicinal equipments or some 99-cent app, health is heavily influenced by technology these days.

On mobile devices too, developers are coming up with innovative new apps that help users stay fit or at least motivate them to do so. Also worth trying are apps that monitor health and provide accurate information about our health. These apps are aplenty on both iOS as well as Android, and can be used with or without other health-monitoring accessories. So, if you're willing to kick off all the holiday pounds you have gained this season, read on as we cover the best health and fitness apps for Android.

Endomondo Sports Tracker

One of the most popular Android apps in the marketplace, Endomondo uses your phone's GPS to track your training activities. This means that whenever you go for a run, or a walk, Endomondo will track your distance, speed, and calculate the amount of calories you burned during that activity. You can then brag about your achievements on social media by sharing your workouts on Facebook and Twitter. Though you can use the app without an Endomondo account, I'd highly recommend creating one as it uploads all your workout data to your account on the web. Using the web version you can later review your activities and track your progress. -Worth a try for every fitness freak.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Calorie Counter MyfitnessPal

Trying to lose weight? Well, then this is the app that will help you in your struggle. Calorie Counter allows you to keep a daily diary of all the foods you eat. Say you ate eggs for lunch; then, simply enter eggs in the search bar, and that food will automatically get added to your daily diary. Thus, throughout the day if you enter everything you eat, you'll get a better idea about how many calories you're consuming each day.

Another great thing about this app is that it allows you to enter your weight-loss goals. Then, according to your goals, the app recommends you how much calories you should be consuming to achieve that target. The same works for people who're trying to gain weight.

The app, even though requires you to create an account, can also be used as a simple calorie tracker without the need of signing up. Overall, Calorie Counter is a handy tool that helps you lose weight in a planned and systematic manner.

DOWNLOAD HERE

HeartRate Monitor

This is an app that lets you monitor your heart rate using your phone's camera. The way this app works is quite simple: you place your index finger on the back camera, the app the tracks color changes on your finger tips -- which, in turn, are related to your heartbeat – and gives you an accurate reading of your heart rate. Even though it is not a substitute for medical care, the app can be helpful for those who're into a habit of constantly checking their heart rate.

DOWNLOAD HERE

WebMD

This app brings all the functionality of the popular WebMD site to your Android device. The app, which lets you check symptoms, view drug information, and self-educate on first-aid, can be quite useful for medical students, doctors, and hypochondriacs. Though can be useful for diagnosis, we do not recommend using it as a substitute for medical care.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Google MyTracks

Unlike Endomondo, which is a dedicated fitness app, MyTracks from Google does just one thing, and that is recording your GPS tracks. Whenever you go for a walk or run, just fire up MyTracks and it will start recording (depending on GPS availability) every step you take. When you're finished, you can see important statistics like time, speed, distance, and elevation. Then, if you want, you can share your stats online using Google MyMaps, Twitter, Facebook, or Google Docs. Overall, a great free and trusted alternative to other sports tracking apps like Endomondo.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Note: The apps are not a substitute for professional medical help. To be on the safer side, it's always better to check with your physician before taking up a new workout regime.

You may also check out: Free/Open Source Workout/Fitness Software for Linux

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: Some FOSS-Related Predictions for 2012

2012-01-06T11:13:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Some FOSS-Related Predictions for 2012

Some FOSS-Related Predictions for 2012

Posted: 05 Jan 2012 07:24 PM PST

The tech industry went through a lot of ups and downs last year, and our ever-expanding FOSS world too, wasn't all that immune from these huge changes. From the introduction of Unity to the sudden rise of Mint, the Linux community went through a game-changing phase last year.

2012 too promises to be as tumultuous as last year, thanks to all the great things the Linux community has lined up for us. Though many of these changes would be welcomed with open arms, some of them are bound to get flak from the users. Whatever the response may be, the expectations from the FOSS community are higher than ever.

So, if you're busy guessing what the FOSS world will bring in 2012; don't rack your brain; just read on as we list some FOSS-related predictions for this year.

Distro wars will escalate

With the much-hyped transformation of GNOME and the birth of Unity, every distro has managed to get its own unique identity. Earlier, major desktops the likes of Ubuntu, Fedora or SUSE, all looked and worked pretty much the same way since most of them ran GNOME 2.x. Now, because that has changed, people have more choices, bringing along some tough competition amongst the distros.

Ubuntu's fall from the top spot on DistroWatch shocked many people in the Linux community. And, even though Canonical congratulated Mint on its success, losing the coveted throne must have come across as a bitter shock for them. It is therefore quite imminent that Ubuntu will try to snatch back the spot from Mint. So, grab your popcorn and expect to see some tough neck-to-neck competition this year.

Ubuntu might bounce back

The competition might be tough, but Ubuntu is a seasoned player with a huge community backing it. Leaving behind the tepid response Unity got, Ubuntu will be hitting a milestone this year by presenting at CES for the first time. Oh, and don't forget, we've two more releases lined up for this year. Precise Pangolin itself seems so promising, we can only guess how mature and stable Ubuntu will be by 12.10.

Mint will rise

While Ubuntu is busy polishing its not-so-nicely reviewed Unity interface, Linux Mint, which we talked a lot about last year, is basking in the verdant glory of its sudden rise. Though on top now, Mint doesn't seem like a player who'll get complacent. Expect some big things from the minty fresh distro this year.

Android may give the iPad and Kindle Fire a tough time

Rumor mill is abuzz with stories of a new $200 Nexus tablet that will compete directly with Kindle Fire. If that is true then the iPad will be facing its mortal enemy in another big battle. The Nexus tablet, if it comes out this year, will surely thwart Kindle Fire's winning streak and maybe, put a dent in Apple's tablet computer monopoly.

SOPA might play spoilsport

We've already told you why SOPA, the draconian anti-piracy bill sucks so bad. In that article, we also mentioned how the bill will affect FOSS projects. Now, FOSS may not be as affected as the whole Internet will be, it will still make a significant impact on the fledgling community that now consists of more contributors than ever before.

Linux Market Share Will Rise

According to a report by netmarketshare.com, Linux's desktop market share saw a growth of almost 50% last year. This year too, if all goes well, we will see Linux growing more and more whilst taking on giants like Apple and Microsoft. This growth, as gradual as it may seem, is still a huge achievement for Linux, especially in a market that is locked in tight by giant corporations like Microsoft and Apple.

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 01/05/2012

2012-01-05T04:28:00.000-08:00

HowtoForge Newsletter 01/05/2012
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.1 x86_64 With nginx [ISPConfig 3]
* Installing Nginx With PHP5 (And PHP-FPM) And MySQL Support On OpenSUSE 12.1
* Installing iRedMail And Mailman On Debian Squeeze
* Configuring CAS On Ubuntu For Two-Factor Authentication With WiKID
* How To Monitor And Manage IPMI Management Console

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.1 x86_64 With nginx [ISPConfig 3]
===============================================================

This tutorial shows how to prepare a CentOS 6.1 x86_64 server for the installation of ISPConfig 3, and how to install ISPConfig 3. ISPConfig 3 is a webhosting control panel that allows you to configure the following services through a web browser: nginx web server, Postfix mail server, MySQL, BIND nameserver, PureFTPd, SpamAssassin, ClamAV, Mailman, and many more. Since version 3.0.4, ISPConfig comes with full support for the nginx web server in addition to Apache; this tutorial covers the setup of a server that uses nginx, not Apache.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-centos-6.1-x86_64-with-nginx-ispconfig-3

Installing Nginx With PHP5 (And PHP-FPM) And MySQL Support On OpenSUSE 12.1
===========================================================================

Nginx (pronounced "engine x") is a free, open-source, high-performance HTTP server. Nginx is known for its stability, rich feature set, simple configuration, and low resource consumption. This tutorial shows how you can install Nginx on an OpenSUSE 12.1 server with PHP5 support (through PHP-FPM) and MySQL support.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-nginx-with-php5-and-php-fpm-and-mysql-support-on-opensuse-12.1

Installing iRedMail And Mailman On Debian Squeeze
=================================================

I'm a big fan of iRedMail, which is basically a packaged version of Postfix and the other bits that make Postfix cool, like Spamassassin, greylisting and an LDAP or MySQL backend. One thing I wanted with iRedMail is Mailman, my favourite mailing list server. Integrating the two can be a mission though, so here's some instruction to save you from quite a bit of pain.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-iredmail-and-mailman-on-debian-squeeze

Configuring CAS On Ubuntu For Two-Factor Authentication With WiKID
==================================================================

Single sign-on is a great technology. Requiring users to login to multiple applications is huge hassle, encourages password reuse and simple passwords. Security needs to focus on usability. If you can make a user's life better while increasing security, everybody wins. In this how-to we will set up the open-source CAS SSO product with the WiKID Strong Authentication Server for two-factor authentication for sessions and mutual https authentication for host authentication. Obviously using two-factor authentication for the login increases security because the user must have the factors to get access, in this case, knowledge of the PIN and possession of the private key embedded in the token. The CAS server is running on Ubuntu 11.04 Server and is using Radius to talk to the WiKID Strong Authentication Server Enterprise Edition.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/configuring-cas-on-ubuntu-for-two-factor-authentication-with-wikid

How To Monitor And Manage IPMI Management Console
=================================================

This guide provides an overview on how to monitor and manage IPMI Management Console with Verax NMS. The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is a standardized computer system interface used by system administrators to manage a computer system and monitor its operation.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-monitor-and-manage-ipmi-management-console

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

TechSource: Why SOPA Sucks

2012-01-03T11:14:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Why SOPA Sucks

Why SOPA Sucks

Posted: 03 Jan 2012 02:01 AM PST

Stop Online Privacy Act, also known as SOPA, is a draconian anti-piracy bill that was introduced in the U.S. Congress in October 2011. If you've been on the Internet recently, you must have heard a lot about SOPA, and how it will ruin the web. People worldwide are protesting against it, also, many companies who are supporting it are being faced with a massive boycott.

If the bill is passed, many sites, including ones like ours, may get banned from the search results, lose all advertising, and get the domain name blocked for simply having a couple of links that could be interpreted as 'piracy-friendly'. So, if you're fully unaware of what SOPA might do to the Internet, here are five reasons why SOPA sucks.

1. SOPA Gives the Power to Censor the Internet to the Entertainment Industry

"Movies in Hollywood now, for the past 20 or 30 years, are made mainly by lawyers or agents." -- Jean-Luc Godard.

Hollywood, even though, a pinnacle of cinematic art and entertainment is still in the hands of beady-eyed businessmen who think that piracy is a crime that should be punishable by death. It is thanks to these Hollywood lobbyists that millions of innocent website-owners will face unnecessary lawsuits and eventually may end up losing their livelihood.

2. SOPA Curbs Internet Freedom And Online Freedom of Speech

2011 saw the Internet being a part of major revolutions. That, however, might become just a one-off event as SOPA makes it easier than ever to censor content on the Internet. Thanks to the bill's convoluted fine print, social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and G+ might become easy targets of these 'anti-piracy' marshals, thus curbing Internet freedom.

3. SOPA Kills Jobs, Thwarts Entrepreneurial Growth.

If you are running an Internet-based business, or are thinking about starting one, then SOPA is one hell of a nightmare for you. If your website contains just a couple of links that violate the anti-piracy act, your site's domain name will get blocked from the Internet, you'll lose all your advertisers, and your site will no longer appear in search results. Here's what section 102 of the bill says it will do to infringing websites:

Order Internet service providers to alter their DNS servers from resolving the domain names of websites in foreign countries that host illegal copies of videos, songs, and photos.

Order search engines like Google to modify search results to exclude foreign websites that host illegally copied material.

Order payment providers like PayPal to shut down the payment accounts of foreign websites that host illegally copied material.

Order ad services like Google's AdSense to refuse any ads or payment from foreign sites that host illegally copied content.

While SOPA supporters continue to argue that the bill is introduced to protect jobs (by preventing piracy), it will actually end up killing more jobs than one can ever imagine.

4. SOPA Doesn't Curb Piracy, It Merely Makes Pirated Content Less Accessible

SOPA, once passed, will be able to block any website it deems as an infringement of its policies. The fatal flaw in this blocking mechanism, however, is that it doesn't actually 'block' the site; it basically blocks the site's domain name. So, if you try to visit, let's say 'example.com', you won't be able to load the website; but instead, if you type in the site's IP address, you'll be able to access the site in its full glory.

Now, as you can see, you'll still be able to visit your favorite pirate-infested websites, but this time, you'll have to remember their IP addresses instead. If, however, the bill does get passed --we all hope against it though-- Reddit has a huge list of IP addresses of all the major sites. You can view this list HERE.

5. SOPA Is A Threat To Open Source Too

If an open-source project is found to be aiding piracy, SOPA might be able to shut it down too. This will have a huge impact on fledgling open-source projects further hindering the growth of innovation and technology.

So, as you must have noticed, SOPA isn't a good news for anyone who cares about the Internet, or even individual freedom for that matter. The five aforementioned reasons are just the tip of the iceberg, the bill is much more destructive than the proponents portray it to be. Many people have started boycotting SOPA supporters, which include the massive GoDaddy boycott that grabbed a lot of eyeballs. If you too are looking forward to boycotting other SOPA supporters, feel free to do so with the help of this huge list of SOPA proponents.

Also, don't forget to sign the petition opposing the draconian bill HERE.

Finally, here are some great Anti-SOPA videos we came across while surfing the net:

1. Anonymous doesn't seem to be so happy about the whole SOPA thing.

2. And Fuhrer, we'll he's just pissed off as everyone else.

3. I'm not a big hip-hop or rap fan myself, but somehow I ended up loving this song.

4. Finally, if you still don't get what SOPA is all about, here's more about the evil law in much simpler terms:

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: Top Tech News of 2011

2011-12-31T11:35:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Top Tech News of 2011

Top Tech News of 2011

Posted: 30 Dec 2011 06:14 PM PST

2011, which has almost come to an end, has seen some good, some bad and some really sad tech news. Whether it's the unveiling of several innovative gadgets and apps, or the unfortunate passing of some important tech heroes, 2011 was full of ups and downs.

So, to wrap up this momentous year, we've decided to give you a quick flashback of all the important tech stories of 2011.

January

The year kicked off with Android dethroning Nokia to become the leading smartphone platform in the world. According to a report by Canalys, around 33.3 million mobile phones were running the Android operating system in Q4 2010.

February

February saw Google accusing Bing of copying their search results. The ambitious search venture by Redmond suffered a massive PR blow when the Google published a blog post detailing Bing's evil activities. Though the Microsoft-owned site is yet to see any major success, it's still seen as a big competitor to Google's search domination.

March

1. The popular blog host Wordpress.com suffered largest DDoS attack in its history. The attack, which originated from China, took down a large number of sites. Though short-lived, the minor discrepancy rang a few alarm bells within the blogging community.

2. Steve Jobs unveiled the highly awaited iPad 2 on March 2, 2011. A few days later the coveted tablet went on sale breaking previous records.

April

1. Sony's PlayStation Network suffered a massive outage that resulted in huge PR problems for the company. The attack that affected PlayStation Online and Qrocity services left around 77 million people without access to the online services. Soon, the company tried to allay fears of possible data thefts and a leak of personal details by issuing a series of press releases. Finally, when the problems were resolved, Sony gave away a bonus package to all its online customers along with a mandatory security update.

2. Ubuntu 11.04, which featured the contentious Unity interface, was released into the wild. The interface, which was clumsy, and sometimes downright unusable, drew heavy criticism from the Linux community. Moreover, many users switched to Mint soon after Ubuntu 11.04 was released, later propelling Mint to the top spot on Distrowatch.

May

1. Linux Mint 11 'Katya', which was the only sane release in the in the mad penguin onslaught of Shells and Unities, was finally released to the public. Many people – even Ubuntu loyalists – switched to Mint soon after it was released.

2. On 29, May 2011 Linux kernel 3.0 was announced. The release brought no big features, but was still a milestone release as it coincided with Linux's 20th anniversary.

3. Google announces Chromebooks at the Google I/O Conference.

June

1. The first Chromebooks went on sale. The response, however, was not as big as Google expected.

2. Google launched Google+ in an invite-only testing phase. The new social network, about which we wrote at great length, instantly became an Internet sensation. People from all around the world were scampering, begging, and sometimes, even spending money to try out Google's ambitious social endeavor.

3. Steve Jobs unveiled Apple's new iCloud service at a WWDC 2011. This was also Steve's last public appearance.

July

1. Following a phenomenal third quarter earnings, Apple has surpassed the U.S. government in terms of cash reserves. Apple accumulated a total of $75.876 billion while the U.S. government has $73.768 billion.

2. According to Nielsen, Android became the top mobile operating system in the United States. It garnered 39% of the market, followed by Apple's iOS at 28%, and BlackBerry OS at 20%.

3. DOS (Disk Operating System) turned 30 during this month. As some of you may know, DOS was acquired by Microsoft and was the basis of earlier Windows versions.

August

1. Due to his failing health, Steve Jobs resigned as the CEO of Apple. The news was met by speculation and overall disappointment amongst Apple's fanboys as well as its investors.

2. Google acquired Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. The highly shocking move received a mixed response from the Android community. Nevertheless, it was an essential maneuver in order to stop Microsoft's patents trolling.

September

1. Google+, which was earlier accessible on an invite-only basis, was thrown open to the general public. The move further boosted the nascent social network's popularity making it a serious competitor to Facebook and Twitter.

October

1. After a long battle with cancer, Steve Jobs passed away. The innovator was admired, and often praised by not just Apple fanboys, but also by many techies from around the world.

2. Ubuntu 11.10, which brought many improvements to the highly criticized Unity interface, was finally released to the public. Surprisingly, the response to this release was not as bad as the flak Ubuntu 11.04 got.

3. Samsung Galaxy Nexus, the much-awaited successor to Nexus S was finally unveiled. The Galaxy Nexus event also gave users a closer look at the highly hyped Ice Cream Sandwich operating system.

November

Following the tepid response that Unity received, Linux Mint 12 'Lisa', which released in November, was responsible for beating Ubuntu from the top spot on DistroWatch. The release blended the best elements of GNOME 3 and Ubuntu and delivered a sane and stable distro to many frustrated Linuxians.

December

1. Chrome, Google's blazingly light competitor to pretty much every browser around, knocked off Firefox and Internet Explorer to become the most popular browser around.

2. The highly anticipated Samsung / Google Galaxy Nexus was finally made available in the United States.

3. The fight against Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) heats up as the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing to debate amendments to the controversial bill.

~0~

To all our friends, contributors, readers and site visitors, have a peaceful and fruitful New Year!

TechSource: TechSource’s Top 10 Linux Distributions of 2011

2011-12-29T11:36:00.001-08:00

TechSource: TechSource’s Top 10 Linux Distributions of 2011

TechSource’s Top 10 Linux Distributions of 2011

Posted: 29 Dec 2011 06:48 AM PST

As we say goodbye to a momentous 2011, it's time to reflect on some of the big happenings in the FOSS world. Apart from Android's rise, Torvalds's rant, and a tasty ice cream sandwich treat, the year also saw some big changes taking place for popular Linux distributions. While many of the changes ranged from annoyingly buggy to downright unusable, a few pleasant minty surprises did manage to cleanse the Linuxiens' palettes.

With the advent of Unity, Linux Mint, then a familiar name only amongst developers, tinkerers, and hackers, made its foray into the desktops of the so-called 'normal' users. Thus began a game for the top spot in the users' hearts. And, even though Ubuntu somehow managed to keep its head high by the end of 2011, it finally had to settle on a modest second spot on the coveted DistroWatch list.

The distro scene in 2011, though mired in controversy, was a witness of some of the boldest -- and perhaps game-changing -- decisions ever taken in the FOSS community. Earlier, when Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, and Suse offered pretty much the same interface, there was a little competition -- and also little uniqueness -- amongst the individual distros. However, once Unity and GNOME Shell entered the scene, each distro now had something different to offer. Fedora went with GNOME 3, Ubuntu stuck by Unity, and Mint, well, Mint did something a little different. Mint made combined the best of both interfaces and brought a modern, stable, and a beautiful desktop for its users.

Thus, having witnessed what is perhaps the best 'distro war' ever, it's time to showcase the winners who braved the storm and emerged strong enough to be featured in our list of top 10 Linux distributions of 2011.

10. Mageia
Founded in September 2010, Mageia is a fork of the once-popular Mandriva Linux. The distribution was started by former employees of Mandriva, which is a publicly traded Linux and open source company based in France. Mageia comes with a slightly customized KDE giving it a certain edge over other distributions that ship a plain vanilla version of the desktop environment. Having said that, Mageia is still in its nascent stages, and it would take some time before it reaches the level of maturity that other KDE-based distros have reached. Though not as popular as Kubuntu, or even Chakra, Mageia does have the potential to become a solid KDE-based distribution in the future.

9. Chakra
When it comes to KDE-based distributions, there are many users who prefer Chakra over Kubuntu. Forked from Arch Linux, Chakra is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful-looking distributions to come out in 2011. What makes Chakra so special -- especially when compared to Kubuntu -- is that it includes a customized KDE interface that is absolutely gorgeous, and yet, it's one of the most user-friendly ones we've seen this year. Again, the popularity of Chakra is not as widespread as Kubuntu's, but it does seem to be gaining a huge amount of following amongst KDE fans.

8. Arch Linux
Currently on the 6th spot on Distrowatch, Arch Linux is one of the most powerful distros around. Operating on a rolling-release system, the distribution provides the simplicity and minimalism that every Linux fanboy demands. Thanks to its amazing package manager called Pacman, users are able to install or update any package, at any time they want. So, if you want the bleeding edge of everything that's made in the Penguin Land, Arch Linux is the one for you.

7. Debian
Cringing at the sight of Unity? Not a big fan of the whole 'user friendly' thing are you? Then, ditching Unity for Debian is something you should add to your To-Do list right now!

Debian brings the classic, plain and simple GNOME interface back to your desktop. Of course, since Ubuntu is based on Debian, you won't have to learn new things. Most of the things remain the same, including the beloved package manager. The installation, however, might not be as user-friendly as it is on Ubuntu, but it's not that hard either. Love it or hate it, Debian is still the sweetheart of many Linuxiens around.

6. Fedora
Fedora still is one of the most popular distros around. It enjoys a large user base and its stability is something that is envied by even the most dedicated Ubuntu fanboys. Having said that, 2011 was a bit on the disappointing side for Fedora users, especially with the introduction of the contentious GNOME Shell. Being the first distro to feature the highly awaited GNOME revamp, Fedora became a punching bag for many users disappointed by GNOME 3. Moreover, GNOME 3 also made a lot of Fedora fans seek out other distros, thus affecting the RPM-based project's popularity. Nevertheless, Fedora still is a hot favorite of not just developers but also end users who benefit a lot from the customized 'spins' that the community provides with each release.

5. OpenSUSE
Novell's openSUSE is still one of the most popular Linux-based distributions around. Its familiar green interface and the dreaded YaST have given the distro a unique identity and branding. That said, SUSE's popularity is a bit on the decline, especially with the rise of Ubuntu and all its friends. This year though, the green distro managed to stay sane by not switching to Unity or GNOME Shell thus earning itself a number 5 spot on the list. The KDE-based distribution is still a hot favorite amongst many developers as well as end users.

4. Xubuntu
Though ranking low on Distrowatch, Xubuntu does prove to be a great viable alternative for people using lightweight machines. The Ubuntu-based distribution comes with the thin-and-clean XFCE, a desktop Linus Torvalds switched to once GNOME Shell came out. With a minimalist interface, XFCE also serves as a full-fledged user-friendly desktop for anyone who's tired of the current trend amongst the distributions. Ranking fourth on our list, Xubuntu promises a usable and stable desktop experience without sacrificing the familiarity of Ubuntu.

3. Ubuntu
2011 was the most happening year for Canonical. Ubuntu, Canonical's flagship product swerved into new territories by introducing the controversial Unity interface. Unity, which came along with Ubuntu 11.04, received a lot of flak from not just developers but from end users as well. The clumsy, and sometimes unusable interface made many loyal Ubuntuers switch to Mint.

The only reason Ubuntu manages to land the third spot on our list is the release of Ubuntu 11.10. Oneiric Ocelot, which improved Unity in a lot of areas, did bring a lot of smiles on the faces of frustrated Ubuntu users. That said, Ubuntu still lacks the polish and more importantly the 'precision', which, hopefully, the next version might bring to the table.

2. Kubuntu
Whilst the Linux world was going bonkers over Unity and GNOME shell, KDE was only desktop that was stable yet modern. A lot has been said about KDE, more so because it too started off on a controversial note, but then went on to become one of the most beautiful-looking and stable desktop environments around.

Kubuntu is a distro that brings all the goodness of KDE without sacrificing the familiarity and stability of Ubuntu. Loaded with some awesome applications like Amarok, Dolphin, and Kopete, Kubuntu proves to be the perfect alternative to the Unity-ridden Ubuntu. The reason Kubuntu wins the second spot is the fact that, unlike Canonical and GNOME, it didn't try to do anything radically different this year. It just stuck to what it has been doing all along, and improved upon it. If you're looking for a modern, aesthetically pleasing, stable desktop, Kubuntu is your best bet.

1. Linux Mint
Like on Distrowatch, here too Linux Mint enjoys the number 1 spot. The Ubuntu-based distribution, which saw a huge spike in popularity this year, has suddenly become the hot favorite of many Linux users. Thanks to Unity, users and Ubuntu loyalists alike migrated to this little-known distro in large numbers. The simplicity and the stability of this minty-fresh distro is such that we too have been waxing eloquent about its feature. Simply put, Linux Mint is the hottest Linux success of 2011.

What's your top 10 Linux distros of 2011?

Which 10 distros do you think were the absolute best in 2011? Share your list with us in the comments section below.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: Best Dropbox Alternatives For Ubuntu

2011-12-26T11:32:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Best Dropbox Alternatives For Ubuntu

Best Dropbox Alternatives For Ubuntu

Posted: 26 Dec 2011 12:42 AM PST

Dropbox, an innovative startup, which refused a mouth-watering acquisition offer from Apple, has been one of the favorite apps across all platforms. Be it iOS, Macintosh, Windows, or our very own Linux, the file-hosting / online backup service has managed to gain more than 25 million users in a very short span. Furthermore, the simplicity, ubiquity, and the lack of any big competitors have made Dropbox one of the most essential apps out there.

That said, Dropbox isn't without its share of problems. The startup was heavily criticized by many privacy-conscious users for being insecure. Software expert and the creator of GNOME went on to claim that Dropbox's Terms of Service (TOS) contradicts its privacy policies and that the company's famous claim "Dropbox employees aren't able to access user files" is an outright lie.

Thus, issues abound, many Dropbox users have already started searching for some good alternatives. For Ubuntu users though, there aren't that many choices as there are for Windows and Mac users. That said, it's not as if you won't be able to leave Dropbox behind. In fact, there are some great alternatives that provide almost the same amount of features as the popular startup.

UbuntuOne
With unmatched features, UbuntuOne is perhaps the best alternative to Dropbox. The personal cloud service developed by Canonical Ltd. already has a lot of users. Users start with a 5GB storage, which, when compared to Dropbox's 2GB starter, is more than enough for many desktop users.

UbuntuOne, apart from being a cloud storage service, also powers the syncing capabilities of Ubuntu. The service integrates with Thunderbird (Ubuntu's default Email client) and Tomboy (a popular note-taking application for Linux) to make sure that all your contacts and notes stay safe in the cloud. Another unique feature of UbuntuOne is its ability to integrate with the UbuntuOne Music Store. What this does is, whenever you purchase a song from the store, it gets automatically delivered to your UbuntuOne account. This song can then be streamed to your cloud-integrated mobile devices (iOS and Android).

Written in Python, UbuntuOne works well across Windows, Ubuntu, Android, and iOS; however, the lack of native client integration for Kubuntu and other distros has often been criticized by many.

Price: Free
Starting Space: 5GB
Additional Storage: 20GB for $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year.
Site: https://one.ubuntu.com/

Wuala
Pronounced as voila (FR), Wuala is a secure online storage, file synchronization, versioning, and backup service that works across many popular platforms. Developed by a Swiss company called LaCie, the free service allows users to sync their files, share them, and back them up securely to the cloud. Thanks to Java, Wuala works well across platforms like Windows, Mac OS X, and of course Linux.

Wuala offers free 2GB storage for its starting users, which, like in Dropbox, can be expanded using referrals. A unique thing about Wuala is that it puts a lot of focus on the user's privacy and security. Each file uploaded to Wuala is first encrypted, then chunked into redundant fragments using Reed-Solomon error correction codes, and finally, the fragments are uploaded to data centers.

Though not as popular as Dropbox, or even UbuntuOne for that matter, Wuala does prove to be a secure and feature-packed choice for cloud storage.

Price: Free
Starting Space: 2GB
Additional Storage: starting with 20GB at 19EUR per year
Site: http://www.wuala.com/

SpiderOak
SpiderOak is a cross-platform online backup tool that allows users to share, sync, access and store files using the cloud. Starting with 2GB storage, users get to store and backup their files with client-side encryption. The encryption, which is a combination of 2048-bit RSA and 256-bit AES, gives SpiderOak a definite edge over its competitors like Dropbox. Partly open-source, SpiderOak works really well on Linux, Windows, Android and Mac.

Price: Free
Starting Space: 2GB
Additional Storage: $10 per month per 100GB increment.
Site: https://spideroak.com

Minus
Minus is a free cloud service that allows you to store, sync, and share files using the cloud. Though Minus mainly focuses on sharing, it is still one of the best applications when it comes to cloud backup.

Standing apart from other file-storage application, Minus comes with a unique drag-and-drop interface that works across web, mobile, as well as desktop. With a native application for Linux, minus makes it easy for penguinians to upload all their files -- especially their photos -- to the cloud. You can then choose to make your files public, which will help you gain some 'karma' if they get popular.

Minus users start with 10GB of storage; however using referrals you can increase that space to up to 50GB. Use this link to sign up and you'll get an 11GB storage instead of the standard 10GB one.

Price: Free
Starting Space: 10GB (can be expanded up to 50GB using referrals)
Site: http://minus.com/

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 12/22/2011

2011-12-22T01:39:00.000-08:00

HowtoForge Newsletter 12/22/2011
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.1 x86_64 With Apache2 [ISPConfig 3]
* Enabling Compiz On Linux Mint 12 (GNOME Classic)
* Setting Up Unison File Synchronization Between Two Servers On Ubuntu 11.10
* SQUID Proxy On RHEL5/CentOS - Everything That You Should Know About [Part 1]
* How To Install RoundCube 0.7 For ISPConfig 3 On Debian Squeeze
* Finding Out Package Dependencies With apt-rdepends On Debian/Ubuntu

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Perfect Server - CentOS 6.1 x86_64 With Apache2 [ISPConfig 3]
=================================================================

This tutorial shows how to prepare a CentOS 6.1 x86_64 server for the installation of ISPConfig 3, and how to install ISPConfig 3. ISPConfig 3 is a webhosting control panel that allows you to configure the following services through a web browser: Apache web server, Postfix mail server, MySQL, BIND nameserver, PureFTPd, SpamAssassin, ClamAV, Mailman, and many more. Since version 3.0.4, ISPConfig comes with full support for the nginx web server in addition to Apache; this tutorial covers the setup of a server that uses Apache, not nginx.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-centos-6.1-x86_64-with-apache2-ispconfig-3

Enabling Compiz On Linux Mint 12 (GNOME Classic)
================================================

This tutorial shows how you can enable Compiz on a Linux Mint 12 Lisa desktop (the system must have a 3D-capable graphics card - I'm using an NVIDIA GeForce 8200 here). With Compiz you can use beautiful 3D effects like wobbly windows or a desktop cube on your desktop. Compiz is not supported on GNOME 3 yet, that's why this how-to is applicable only for the classic GNOME desktop.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/enabling-compiz-on-linux-mint-12-gnome-12

Setting Up Unison File Synchronization Between Two Servers On Ubuntu 11.10
==========================================================================

This tutorial shows how to set up file synchronization between two Ubuntu 11.10 servers with Unison. Unison is a file-synchronization tool similar to rsync, but the big difference is that it tracks/synchronizes changes in both directions, i.e., files changed on server1 will be replicated to server2 and vice versa.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/setting-up-unison-file-synchronization-between-two-servers-on-ubuntu-11.10

SQUID Proxy On RHEL5/CentOS - Everything That You Should Know About [Part 1]
============================================================================

The main feature or duty of a proxy server could be a gateway that receives HTTP requests from clients and forwards the request to the destination and relays the answer back to the requestor. Squid is most popular open-source software that brings this to us. It also has some excellent features for doing something else such as web access controlling, bandwidth controlling, restriction policies, and content caching and filtering. Actually people install SQUID to pursuit 2 goals: first reduce the bandwidth charges by content caching and second for restricting access to particular contents. The following guide explains advantages of using Squid and will show you how to install, configure, control, and maintain the Squid Proxy Server on RHEL5 and CentOS Linux.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/squid-proxy-on-rhel5-centos-everything-that-you-should-know-about

How To Install RoundCube 0.7 For ISPConfig 3 On Debian Squeeze
==============================================================

This will guide you thru the installation of the latest stable version of RoundCube (currently version 0.7) and get it to work together with ISPConfig 3. This guide should work for most Linux distributions but may differ on some parts.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-install-roundcube-0.7-for-ispconfig-3-on-debian-squeeze

Finding Out Package Dependencies With apt-rdepends On Debian/Ubuntu
===================================================================

Sometimes you need to find out all the dependencies of a package. This tutorial explains how to use apt-rdepends to recursively list all dependencies of a Debian/Ubuntu package.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/finding-out-package-dependencies-with-apt-rdepends-on-debian-ubuntu

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

TechSource: Best Real-Time Strategy Games for Android

2011-12-21T11:42:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Best Real-Time Strategy Games for Android

Best Real-Time Strategy Games for Android

Posted: 21 Dec 2011 07:03 AM PST

From the seminal Age of Empires Series to the massively popular StarCraft, real-time strategy games have always enjoyed a huge fan base. Whether it be prepping your soldiers for a tough battle ahead, or launching a full-blown attack on your enemies, there's never a dull moment in this genre of gaming. Also, since fans of this genre range from hobbyist amateurs to accomplished world gaming champions, real-time strategy games have made their presence felt on almost all platforms, including mobile.

So, if you're an Android fan, and are looking for some good real-time strategy (RTS) games to spend your weekend on, read on as we list the best of the lot.

Townsmen 6
The famed Napoleon complex may or may not be real, but the desire to become the King of France still burns wildly in the hearts of many. While that dream cannot be realized in the 21st century, a little Android game does try to bring an experience that is quite close to the real thing.

Townsmen 6 is a free Real-Time Strategy game for Android that lets you play a part in the French Revolution. You start off by constructing buildings, huts, farms and forgeries, which help you strengthen your army. Once you have enough resources, you start capturing various French districts and thus spreading your territories. As your power grows, you slowly ascend towards Paris in a daring attempt to overthrow the king.

The game is completely free (no ads or limited features) and is rated 4.5 stars out of 5 in the Android Marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Medieval Empires
Medieval Empires is the first full-time strategy game to appear on Android. The free game comes with 50 different types of units and buildings. From knights and archers to catapults and swordsmen, weapons are aplenty in this war. The game is slightly reminiscent of the popular RTS games like Age of Empires wherein you have to build your own army, dig gold mines, build an empire and conquer new territories.

Set in medieval era, the game requires a great amount of strategic thinking if you're planning for a victory. Every map can be conquered using a new strategy, giving the game a high replay value. Definitely worth a try if you miss the old RTS games like Age of Empires.

Medieval Empires runs well on tablets as well as smartphones, and is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars in the Android marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Defense Craft Strategy HD Free
Blending the best elements of an RPG and strategy games comes Defense Craft Strategy HD. With multiple maps and some great graphics, the free game pits you against knights, archers, orcs, and even dragons, right from the start.

Drawing from RPGs, Defense Craft Strategy is all about building strong defense towers and strengthening your army. With every fight, your units gain XP and keep on getting stronger. Couple that with strategic placement of towers, and you have a great chance to beat the game. However, as easy as it seems, DCS is pretty hard to beat even if you have a decent strategy at your disposal.

Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, the game works well across tablets as well as smartphones and is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Art of War 2 Online
Art of War 2 Online is a Massively Multiplayer Real Time Strategy Game for Android. The free game lets you battle it out against other players over the Internet in two different modes: Skirmish and Tournament. Once you start off, you don't need to mine resources as you get them automatically. In Skirmish mode, you battle against a player of your choice, matching your own skills. In tournament mode however, you don't get to choose who you battle against, thus making the game much more fun.

Another thing I like about this game is that it allows players to form clans that let them to team up and fight against other clans. The more fights you win, the more points you gain, which in turn take you up the power ladder. Also, if you win tournaments, you get YouCraft credits that you can spend to buy perks not just in this game, but also in all online games that are made by the developer.

With over 50K downloads so far, Art of War 2 is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Best RTS Games
Though not a game per se, this app does include an impressive collection of the best RTS games out there. The developer has handpicked some of the best RTS games out there in the market and bundled them up in this nice free application. -Worth a download for every RTS fanboy.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: 6 Siri-Like Apps For Android

2011-12-19T11:10:00.001-08:00

TechSource: 6 Siri-Like Apps For Android

6 Siri-Like Apps For Android

Posted: 19 Dec 2011 05:47 AM PST

When Apple unveiled the magical Siri, even Android users drooled over the feature. Though many derided the robotic assistant as just another gimmick, its human-like intuitive voice brought a new edge to the popular mobile platform. Furthermore, thanks to its witty, and sometimes snarky responses, the ever so charming Siri has also become an Internet sensation.

Quite expectedly, no sooner was Siri released than the Android market was inundated with Siri clones and alternatives. Even though most of them can't match the Apple's speaking robot, they are not that bad either. So, if you're itching to try out some Siri-esque voice control on your Droid, then read on as we cover the best Siri alternatives for Android.

Iris

Created in just 8 hours, Iris is a powerful Siri alternative for Android. The free application comes with a simple, no-fuss interface that draws from the Ice Cream Sandwich UI. Just tap on the button to speak, and Iris will speak out your results instantly. To start off, you can ask questions like "When was Steve Jobs born?" or "What is the weather like in Honolulu"; if you speak clearly enough, Iris will find the right answer for you. Iris, which stands for Siri in reverse, has been downloaded over 500K times so far and is freely available to download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Cluzee

Cluzee is a freshly released voice assistant for Android. Though still in its nascent stages, this Siri alternative does pack in a lot of features. Cluzee lets you actually converse with your phone, allowing you to delegate tasks like reading messages, travel planning, social updates and notes management all through your voice. You can also pester the app with questions ranging from "How's the weather?" to "Who is Larry Page?" Here's a video of Cluzee in action:

Since the app is in testing phase, many users have complained about major bugs and issues. Nonetheless, Cluzee is still a promising app that might give Siri a tough time someday.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Jeannie

Jeannie is a simple-yet-powerful voice control app for Android. Though not nearly as witty as Siri, Jeannie does come with some impressive features. Once installed, you can search the web, send text messages, dial phone numbers, and even set alarm clocks by simply using your voice. You can ask for simple requests like "Call Barack Obama" or you can make Jeannie update your Twitter and Facebook status. Like the aforementioned Iris and Cluzee, Jeannie too is a work in progress. That said, the app looked pretty stable when I used it.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Vlingo

Though not a Siri alternative per se, Vlingo does serve as a good voice assistant for your Android phone. Since Vlingo has been around for a long time, its features are a tad different from Siri or other Siri alternatives. That said, it's one of the very few voice control apps that is mature and stable enough to be relied upon for daily use. Here's a short video of Vlingo in action:

Vlingo is rated 4.3 stars out of 5 in the Marketplace, and is worth a download even if you're not looking for a Siri alternative.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Skyvi

Another new app entering the list is Skyvi. Free for a limited time, Skyvi is an app specially designed to help you get rid of your Siri-jealousy. Like Siri, you can ask Skyvi questions like "When is Britney Spears's birthday?" or "How many calories in a bagel?" The app then looks up information from various web resources like Twitter, Facebook, Wolfram Alpha and delivers the results. What's more, you can also ask the app to read out your Facebook and Twitter timelines for you. Definitely worth a try if you want a close Siri-esque experience on your Droid.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Speaktoit Assistant

For all those folks who've been dying to have a diligent assistant at their disposal, this next app might be of some use. Speaktoit Assistant is a free Android application that serves as your talking buddy. Using natural language input to find answers to your questions, the nifty little application is pretty accurate despite being in beta.

Speaktoit also integrates with web services like Twitter, Evernote, Foursquare, Facebook and Google to provide accurate results. I've tried it a while on my phone and it is pretty accurate, except for a few bugs here and there.

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

TechSource: Most Highly Recommended Books About Linux

2011-12-17T11:08:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Most Highly Recommended Books About Linux

Most Highly Recommended Books About Linux

Posted: 16 Dec 2011 06:15 PM PST

Ever since we started this blog, we've talked about Linux at great length. We've provided tips, tutorials, hacks and even some spicy gossip from the magical Penguinland. While that may suffice your geek cravings, the information falls quite short if you're trying to learn about Linux in greater detail. For learning Linux, you'll need a deeper knowledge and understanding about the system and its functions. And what better way to learn Linux than by filling your shelf with some great books on the topic?

In this article, we'll be listing some of the best books about the operating system. Not only are they helpful for Linux geeks and hackers, they're also a great starting point for anyone who's always wanted to learn Linux. So, if you're a desktop neophyte or a coding ninja, here are some of the most highly recommended books about Linux:

Linux Pocket Guide

If you want to take a no-fluff, only-the-good-bits approach towards learning Linux, then the Linux Pocket guide is the best place to start. Though not a comprehensive reference book, the little book does pack in a lot of material that you can reference any time you want. An essential book to own for Linux administrators, and for students who are studying for Linux-based certifications.

GET IT HERE

Unix and Linux System Administration Handbook

Currently in its fourth edition, this 1200-paged book covers everything you want to know about Linux and UNIX system administration. The book is divided into three parts, Basic Administration, Networking and Bunch o' Stuff. Basic Administration will give you a broad overview of UNIX and Linux from a system administrator's point of view. By the end of the section, you'll be able to administer your own computer.

Networking deals with all the protocols used on UNIX and Linux that help set up, extend and maintain networks and Internet-facing servers. The final section includes a lot of supplemental information like virtualization, Eco-friendly computing and more. To make sure you understand all the stuff perfectly, every chapter ends with a set of practice exercises. Simply put, the book is a must-have for anyone who wants to get into system administration.

GET IT HERE

Linux in a Nutshell

While the aforesaid Linux Pocket Guide serves as a great reference tool, this next book helps you dig deeper into the operating system. Linux in a Nutshell is a book that covers almost everything about Linux. Written by four experienced authors from the Linux community, the 1000-paged tome includes a variety of topics that both novices and experts will find useful. Currently in its sixth edition, Linux in a Nutshell has been rated 4 and ½ out of 5 stars by Amazon users.

GET IT HERE

The Linux Programming Interface: A Linux and UNIX System Programming Handbook

This book is a definitive guide to the Linux and UNIX programming interfaces. Written by Micheal Kerrisk, Linux Programming Interfaces gives a detailed insight into all the system calls and library functions that are needed to master the craft of system programming. The book is filled with examples, exercises, diagrams and detailed descriptions that will help you master the topic without any need for external help. Overall, an essential book for anyone who wants to get started on system programming.

GET IT HERE

A Practical Guide to Linux Commands, Editors, and Shell Programming

The title of the book says it all. Written by Mark. G. Sobbell, the book explains how to work with the Linux operating system from the command line. Not only that, there are also detailed coverage of Mac OS's command line interface, which is an added bonus.

GET IT HERE

Linux All-in-One for Dummies

Unlike most of the aforementioned books, which dealt with more advanced topics, this book sticks to the basics and helps you take your first steps into the penguinland. Covering a vast array of basic topics, the book is divided into nine self-contained minibooks that makes the content much more organized and easy to scan through. Topics include system administration, security, programming, scripting, and of course, the very basics of Linux. Worth your every hard-earned penny if you're trying to use and understand Linux.

GET IT HERE

Working at the Ubuntu Command-Line Prompt

Written by award-winning author Kier Thomas, this Kindle-only book will make you a Ubuntu command-line ninja in no time. The book will teach you basic shell commands, syntax and some advanced techniques in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. Overall, the book proves to be a great way to get started with the command prompt.

GET IT HERE

Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible

Cited as the authoritative guide to the Linux command line, this book is the only book you'll need if you want to master shell scripting. Filled with real-world examples, the book isn't just for Linux pros; it's a book that even novices can pick up and enjoy reading. Written by experienced authors, Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible is a must-have book for anyone who's serious about taking up shell scripting.

GET IT HERE

Beginning Ubuntu Linux

Written by Kier Thomas, Andy Channelle, and Jamie Sicam, Beginning Ubuntu Linux is a great starting point for anyone who is curious about Ubuntu and its working. Being the number 1 distribution around, Ubuntu's importance cannot be overlooked. This book will take you from the very basics of Ubuntu to more advanced topics like shell scripting, user management and SSH networking. Overall, a great choice if you want to master the popular operating system.

GET IT HERE

How Linux Works: What Every Superuser Should Know

Written by Brian Ward, How Linux Works gives you a deeper insight into the internals of the Linux system. Aimed at system administrators, this book teaches you how to deal with real-world issues that arise while administrating a Linux system. With coverage of vast array of topics -- from boot sequence to networking – How Linux Works is a great investment if you're a system administrator.

GET IT HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: ASUS Transformer Prime vs. Motorola XOOM 2

2011-12-15T12:45:00.001-08:00

TechSource: ASUS Transformer Prime vs. Motorola XOOM 2

ASUS Transformer Prime vs. Motorola XOOM 2

Posted: 14 Dec 2011 10:36 PM PST

Android tablet computers haven't quite gained the same amount of popularity that the Apple iPad did. That said, it doesn't mean that there aren't any quality Android tablets around. In fact, this November, two big companies, ASUS and Motorola, launched their own tablets that are powerful enough to give the iPad a run for its money.

ASUS's Transformer Prime and Motorola's XOOM 2 are battling it out to become the top Android tablet of 2011. While the battle may be an exciting thing to watch, when it comes to buying a top-notch tablet, there's often a dilemma about which one to choose. So, if you're an Android lover and are planning to buy any of the two tablets (or both), read on as we compare them head to head.

Motorola XOOM, which was the first tablet to feature the somewhat contentious Honeycomb UI, has a new successor. Simply called XOOM 2, the 10.1 Android-based device promises to be 33 percent thinner and 10 percent lighter than its predecessor. Loaded with Honeycomb 3.2, XOOM 2 comes with some impressive specs, and even though the steep pricing leaves a lot to be desired, it's still one of the most coveted tablet computers around.

Despite some amazing features, the XOOM 2 does pale out when pitted against the much-hyped ASUS Transformer Prime. Currently selling in the UK, the Transformer boasts of even more features at a much lower price. Also running Honeycomb 3.2, the tablet-cum-laptop device comes with a 1.3 GHz Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. Showing off the device performance is a 10.1-inch Gorilla Glass display with a 1280x800 resolution.

Operating System

Though specs are top of the line, the only thing common between both the devices is that they're running Honeycomb 3.2. Don't worry if you hate the OS, as both devices will soon be getting upgraded to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which runs on the Samsung / Google Galaxy Nexus.

The Specs

The Motorola XOOM 2 is backed by a 1.2 GHz OMAP4 processor whereas the Asus Transformer Prime sports a 1.3 GHz Quad-core Tegra 3 processor. In terms of storage capacity, the Prime comes in 2 versions: 32 GB and 64 GB. The XOOM2 on the other hand, only offers 16 GB of internal storage. The RAM on both the devices is 1GB and both come with a micro-HDMI port. As usual, there's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack on both devices. Undoubtedly, the Prime completely outmatches the XOOM 2 when it comes to the specs.

Unique Features

Though the XOOM 2 is not nearly as impressive as the Prime, there are some areas where it stands out. The Motorola-made tablet, apart from being a full-fledged reading and work device, does serve as a good multimedia gadget. With a 3D virtual surround sound and a nice display, the XOOM 2 makes a good device for watching movies. Moreover, the Motorola XOOM 2 is also available as a Media Edition. The Media Edition comes with an additional feature that streams files from the PC to the device. Also in the special edition is an 8.2-inch HD display with Adaptive Surround Sound technology. Though there's not much to boast of, the Xoom 2 Media Edition does manage to make some iPad users a tad jealous.

Heading off to the ASUS Transformer Prime, the biggest selling point of this device is its ability to transform itself into a full-fledged laptop. The keyboard dock, which is bundled separately, allows the tablet to be used as a laptop while extending its battery life. Of course, the dock adds to the price, but still, the Transformer Prime is a great investment for any tablet fan.

Price

Though not yet confirmed, the ASUS Transformer Prime will be priced at around $500, while the Motorola XOOM 2 will probably set you back by $618. The keyboard dock for the Transformer Prime will be priced at $150.

So, what gives the Asus Transformer Prime the edge over the Motorola XOOM 2?

Well, pretty much everything. The battery life, the lower price point, the Tegra 3 processor, and the shiny aluminum design at the back make the Asus Transformer Prime one of the best tablets around. In fact, popular gadget site Engadget has even deemed it as the best Android tablet computer around. Oh, and don't forget, it's a laptop too!

You may also like: Holiday Gift Ideas for Linux and Android Fans

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 12/15/2011

2011-12-15T03:32:00.000-08:00

HowtoForge Newsletter 12/15/2011
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* The Perfect Desktop - Pinguy OS 11.10 (Beta)
* How To Encrypt Mails With SSL Certificates (S/MIME)
* Running Joomla 1.7 On Nginx (LEMP) On Debian Squeeze/Ubuntu 11.10
* Installing Lighttpd With PHP5 And MySQL Support On CentOS 6.0
* vsftpd: Local And Virtual Users With Bash Scripts For User Maintainance (CentOS 6.0)
* PDNSD HowTo - A DNS Caching Personal Server (Fedora 16)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Perfect Desktop - Pinguy OS 11.10 (Beta)
============================================

This tutorial shows how you can set up a Pinguy OS desktop that is a full-fledged replacement for a Windows desktop, i.e. that has all the software that people need to do the things they do on their Windows desktops. The advantages are clear: you get a secure system without DRM restrictions that works even on old hardware, and the best thing is: all software comes free of charge. The Pinguy OS developer has stated that there propably will not be any further release of Pinguy 11.10 due to some instabilities of the components used. This Perfect Desktop tutorial therefore refers to the currently released beta version of Pinguy OS 11.10.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-pinguy-os-11.10-beta

How To Encrypt Mails With SSL Certificates (S/MIME)
===================================================

This article is about how to use the S/MIME encryption function of common e-mail clients to sign and/or encrypt your mails safely. S/MIME uses SSL certificates which you can either create yourself or let a trusted certificate authority (CA) create one for you.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-encrypt-mails-with-ssl-certificates-s-mime

Running Joomla 1.7 On Nginx (LEMP) On Debian Squeeze/Ubuntu 11.10
=================================================================

This tutorial shows how you can install and run a Joomla 1.7 web site on a Debian Squeeze or Ubuntu 11.10 system that has nginx installed instead of Apache (LEMP = Linux + nginx (pronounced "engine x") + MySQL + PHP). nginx is a HTTP server that uses much less resources than Apache and delivers pages a lot of faster, especially static files.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/running-joomla-1.7-on-nginx-lemp-on-debian-squeeze-ubuntu-11.10

Installing Lighttpd With PHP5 And MySQL Support On CentOS 6.0
=============================================================

Lighttpd is a secure, fast, standards-compliant web server designed for speed-critical environments. This tutorial shows how you can install Lighttpd on a CentOS 6.0 server with PHP5 support (through FastCGI) and MySQL support.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-lighttpd-with-php5-and-mysql-support-on-centos-6.0

vsftpd: Local And Virtual Users With Bash Scripts For User Maintainance (CentOS 6.0)
====================================================================================

vsftpd is the most popular FTP server in the Linux world and is secure and fast. Recently I had to configure a FTP server quickly onto a CentOS server setup built using the minimal ISO and the server was up and running in a snap.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/vsftpd-local-and-virtual-users-with-bash-scripts-for-user-maintenance-centos-6.0

PDNSD HowTo - A DNS Caching Personal Server (Fedora 16)
=======================================================

PDNSD is a non authoritative caching DNS server. It maintains a disk cache of the queries that your system performs and subsequent queries will be faster from the cache. It is safe enough to be used on a personal Unix/Linux system as a home Desktop or a Laptop.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/pdnsd-howto-a-dns-caching-personal-server-fedora-16

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

TechSource: Best IM / Chat Clients For Android

2011-12-13T12:02:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Best IM / Chat Clients For Android

Best IM / Chat Clients For Android

Posted: 12 Dec 2011 10:05 PM PST

Instant messaging technology has been around since the 1960s. However, it was not until late 1990s that chat / IM desktop clients like AOL Messenger came out and totally revolutionized the way we communicate across borders. What's more surprising is that the long-established technology has stood the test of time and has constantly been evolving decade after decade. In the recent years, the Instant Messaging scene has gone through another such transition by making its foray into the mobile space.

Numerous IM clients for iPhone, Nokia and Blackberry are already out there for download, many of which are completely free. On Android too, there's a surplus of such apps; however it does get rather hard for users to pick out the best once.

So, if you're looking for a good IM client on Android, don't worry, we've done all the hard work for you and compiled a list of some of the best IM clients out there.

Without further ado, here's the list of the best IM/chat clients for Android:

Nimbuzz

Nimbuzz is a popular all-in-one communications client for mobile phones. Apart from letting users call and message each other without any charge, this free application also comes with a fully featured IM client with built-in support for Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger (Windows Live Messenger), Google Talk, Myspace and Hyves. Being one of the very few clients that support HD calling, Nimbuzz does outshine the rest when it comes to features and stability. With over 60 million registered users, Nimbuzz is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

eBuddy

eBuddy is another well-known chat client that comes with support for a huge number of IM services. The free application has built-in support for Yahoo Messenger, MSN, AIM, GTalk, ICQ, Facebook, and Hyves. Since the app runs in background, you can receive messages from your chat buddies even while you're not using the phone. If you're just looking for a feature-laden all-in-one IM client then eBuddy should be your pick.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Yahoo Messenger

This next app delivers the once-trendy IM experience on your Android device. With beta support for voice calls and video calls, Yahoo Messenger for Android includes an interface that's quite similar to what you'll find on its desktop or web version. You can share photos, videos, and also connect with your buddies on Windows Live Messenger and Facebook. Rated 3.9 stars and with over 5 million downloads so far, Yahoo Messenger is a great choice for those who've been loyal users of the service.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Facebook Messenger

Specially designed for Facebook junkies, this next app lets you stay connected with your FB 'friends' on the go. Since Faceboook Messenger works across all major mobile platforms, you won't have to badger your friends to switch to Android just for this app. Moreover, if any of your friends doesn't have the app just yet, it also lets you bug them by sending text messages. If you're an avid FB user, I bet you've already skipped this section.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Messenger with You

Though not developed by the Android-loving Microsoft, Messenger With You (MWY) is the closest you'll get to using MSN messenger on your Droid. With support for MSN and Yahoo Messenger, MWY comes with an impressive list of features that have made it quite popular in the marketplace. Moreover, the free app also includes support for group chat as well as file transfer.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Imo Instant Messenger

Despite there's being an overload of all-in-one IM client apps in the market place, IMO stands out from the crowd with its simple, no-fuss approach to instant messaging. First of all, unlike the aforementioned Nimbuzz or eBuddy, you don't need to create a separate IMO account. Just plug in your IM service's credentials and you're good to go. Secondly, IMO supports a vast number of services which include Facebook, Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Google Talk, AIM, Hyves and a few others, making it a one-stop solution to all your IM needs. There are also other great features like Voice IMs, concurrent sessions, photo sharing, etc., which are quite unique. Rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, Imo Instant Messenger is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: Holiday Gift Ideas for Linux and Android Fans

2011-12-09T11:27:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Holiday Gift Ideas for Linux and Android Fans

Holiday Gift Ideas for Linux and Android Fans

Posted: 08 Dec 2011 05:53 PM PST

Thanksgiving then Christmas and Hanukkah then New Year…Oh boy! There's so much shopping to do! You, by now, must've realized that it's not that easy to choose holiday gifts for our loved ones, even more so, if they happen to be geeks or hackers.

Just because they're into technology, it doesn't mean that you can pick up the priciest -- or the cheapest, depending on your relations -- computer or gadget in a local store, wrap it up nicely and give it to them. Remember that geeks are really choosy about the gadgets they use; hand them over the wrong one (Windows, cough, cough, Mac, cough, cough), and you'll see them cringing at the mere sight of your 'well thought out' gift.

So, if you have a geek lurking around in the basement of your house, it's time to put a smile on his or her face this holiday. Read on as we list some ideal gifts for Linux and Android fanboys and geeks in general.

Samsung / Google Galaxy Nexus

It goes without saying that Samsung / Google Galaxy Nexus is the most coveted gadget around. And yeah, it's not just for geeks; it's for everyone. It has the Tron-esque Ice Cream Sandwich operating system and some amazing hardware specs to boast of. With a 5-megapixel shooter at the back, and a 1.3 MP at the front, Galaxy Nexus also doubles up as a camera to capture all those great holiday moments. Oh, and if you're still on the fence about buying this one, do check out our earlier post where we've outlined all the great features of this phone.

You could buy the Samsung / Google Galaxy Nexus HERE

Amazon Kindle Fire

Kindle Fire, which we've covered before, is the latest offering from the shopping giant Amazon.com. Competing head-to-head with the dominant iPad, Fire does have some interesting features that geeks will love. First of all, Kindle comes with Android, which is one of the most popular operating systems on the mobile platform. If your basement-dwelling geek doesn't like the locked-down and forked UI, it's good to know that the Kindle Fire can easily be rooted. Also, because it's so cheap, it is the best gadget to tinker around with. Instead of buying a $300-$400 tablet and then hacking it, it's better to let them play with a $200 gadget instead.

You could buy the Amazon Kindle Fire HERE

Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung Galaxy Note is kind of a cross between a tablet and a phone. If you find that a tablet is too big, and a phone's too small, Samsung Galaxy Note is a gadget that frees you off that dilemma. Running on Android, the unique gadget also comes with a stylus, letting you take notes too. Even though a bit on the expensive side, it does come with some impressive specs, making it well worth your hard-earned cash.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is already available HERE

Android Tablets

If Kindle Fire isn't your cup of tea, then why not go for a full-fledged Android tablet? Here at TechSource, we've already compiled a list of all the best tablets out there. Do check it out and pick the one that suits your budget.

Programming Books

Instead of going for gadgets, you can give your geek friend some good programming books (see: Highly Recommended Books on Python). A good way to start is by buying him "The C Programming Language" written by Brian Kernighan and the late Dennis Ritchie. Before buying though, make sure that you know which programming language he/she is into.

TV Series or Movies

Geeks, as with their gadgets, are quite choosy about the shows and movies they watch. If you're clueless as to which shows they like, you can watch a whole season of "The Big Bang Theory" and buy him/her any show or movie that's referenced in it. Also, if you're sure that your geek friend is a Star Wars fan, you can buy him/her the recently released Blu-Ray version of the epic saga. You may also check out our list of 10 Best Hacker Movies (Films about Computer Hacking) of All Time.

Video Game

Just one word: Skyrim.

Supercomputer

If the geek in your basement is a bit too ambitious, then ignore all the aforementioned suggestions and get him/her a supercomputer instead. We've already listed some of the best and fastest supercomputers out there. You can go for the K-supercomputer, which is the fastest in the world and costs only $65 million. But hey, don't look at the price; look at the value it offers. ;)

Happy Holidays!

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 12/08/2011

2011-12-08T03:24:00.000-08:00

HowtoForge Newsletter 12/08/2011
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* Creating Your Own Distributable Ubuntu DVD
* Install GNOME 3 (With Mint GNOME Shell Extensions) Or Mate On Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot)
* Enabling Compiz On Xubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot)
* Mounting Remote Directories With SSHFS On Ubuntu 11.10
* Installing Maia Mailguard On Debian Squeeze (Virtual Users/Domains With Postfix/MySQL)
* Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On CentOS 5.7 (LAMP)
* Simple Bash Script To Work As A Daemon

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Creating Your Own Distributable Ubuntu DVD
==========================================

This article is about how to create a DVD image of the Ubuntu distribution on your machine with the exact same software included on the disk. This can be done using a software called Remastersys. Remastersys allows you to either create iso-backups of your whole system, including the home folder, or just backups of the installed software, leaving the home folder aside.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/creating-your-own-distributable-ubuntu-dvd

Install GNOME 3 (With Mint GNOME Shell Extensions) Or Mate On Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot)
===========================================================================================

This tutorial shows you how you can install the GNOME 3 desktop on Ubuntu 11.10 with the shell extensions that are used in the Linux Mint 12 release (Lisa) (these shell extensions are called Mint GNOME Shell Extensions - mgse). These shell extensions give GNOME 3 the look and feel of GNOME 2. For those who prefer GNOME 2 this tutorial shows how to install Mate from the Linux Mint repositories on Ubuntu 11.10. Mate is a GNOME 2 fork.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/install-gnome-3-with-mint-gnome-shell-extensions-or-mate-on-ubuntu-11.10-oneiric-ocelot

Enabling Compiz On Xubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot)
=================================================

This tutorial shows how you can enable Compiz on a Xubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) desktop (the system must have a 3D-capable graphics card - I'm using an NVIDIA GeForce 8200 here). Xubuntu uses the Xfce desktop environment which is a fast and stable alternative for those that are not happy with Unity or Gnome 3. With Compiz you can use beautiful 3D effects like wobbly windows or a desktop cube on your desktop.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/enabling-compiz-on-xubuntu-11.10-oneiric-ocelot

Mounting Remote Directories With SSHFS On Ubuntu 11.10
======================================================

This tutorial explains how you can mount a directory from a remote server on the local server securely using SSHFS. SSHFS (Secure SHell FileSystem) is a filesystem that serves files/directories securely over SSH, and local users can use them just as if the were local files/directories. On the local computer, the remote share is mounted via FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace). I will use Ubuntu 11.10 for both the local and the remote server.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/mounting-remote-directories-with-sshfs-on-ubuntu-11.10

Installing Maia Mailguard On Debian Squeeze (Virtual Users/Domains With Postfix/MySQL)
======================================================================================

This guide explains how to install Maia Mailguard, a spam and virus management system, on a Debian Squeeze mailserver. Maia Mailguard is a web-based interface and management system based on the popular amavisd-new email scanner and SpamAssassin. Written in Perl and PHP, Maia Mailguard gives end-users control over how their mail is processed by virus scanners and spam filters, while giving mail administrators the power to configure site-wide defaults and limits.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-maia-mailguard-on-debian-squeeze-virtual-users-domains-with-postfix-mysql-p1

Installing Apache2 With PHP5 And MySQL Support On CentOS 5.7 (LAMP)
===================================================================

LAMP is short for Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP. This tutorial shows how you can install an Apache2 webserver on a CentOS 5.7 server with PHP5 support (mod_php) and MySQL support.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-apache2-with-php5-and-mysql-support-on-centos-5.7-lamp

Simple Bash Script To Work As A Daemon
======================================

If you need some snippets or codes to run for ever, but not more that one instance, you need to rapidly check the code, or script and if it has died! It's the time to run it again. To be sure of this function, just add the following lock handler at the top of your script.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/simple-bash-script-to-work-as-a-daemon

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961

TechSource: 5 of the Best Stock Market Apps For Android

2011-12-07T11:41:00.001-08:00

TechSource: 5 of the Best Stock Market Apps For Android

5 of the Best Stock Market Apps For Android

Posted: 07 Dec 2011 05:57 AM PST

Although the stock market isn't the most pleasant thing to look at right now, there are millions of people whose lives depend upon the ticking of those numbers. While those changing digits might not be of much importance to the average person, there are quite a lot of people whose job involves monitoring the stock market throughout the day. To them, there are a lot of resources available that help them do that. For example, there are stock market desktop applications, web apps and websites that show the latest stock market figures. However, as this is the age of smartphones, there are a few stock market apps that help achieve the same result with the added comfort of mobility.

So, if you're on Android, and are a tad jealous of the default stock market app on the iPhone and other iOS devices, read on as we list some of the best stock market apps for Android:

Bloomberg

Bloomberg is one of the most trusted sources when it comes to financial news, updates and analyses. Android users can get the same experience on the phones by downloading any of their free apps. For those who're looking for news, market data, and stock updates, there's the basic Bloomberg app for smartphones and tablet computers. On the other hand, if you're looking for a more professional coverage, there's the Bloomberg Anywhere app, which, though free, is available only for Bloomberg Anywhere subscribers. The Bloomberg Anywhere app features real-time quotes, up-to-date market reports and many other features which are not there in the basic app. Overall, the Bloomberg suite of applications is one of the best and the highest rated stock market tools for Android.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Finance (by Google)

Developed by Google, this free app brings you streaming real-time quotes to your Android. It fetches the data from Google Finance and presents it in a nice-looking UI. You can view stock quotes, market updates as well as financial news. Definitely worth a try if you're a regular Google Finance user.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Yahoo! Finance

Despite having its own finance service, Google hasn't managed to get as much success and popularity as Yahoo's finance website, Yahoo! Finance. The site has been the staple of many finance professionals and enthusiasts for a long time. Bringing the site's experience to your Android comes their official app.

Simply titled Yahoo! Finance, the free app lets you view a daily market summary along with the latest finance news. There are also detailed tickers for individual stocks that are presented in a nice and easy-to-understand format. Moreover, if you're interested in a particular stock, you can add it to your 'watchlist' and keep a close eye on it. Summing up, Yahoo! Finance is a great app not just for the site's fans but also for anyone who needs a decent and trusted way to keep in touch with the stock market.

DOWNLOAD HERE

StockWatcher

If Google Finance and Yahoo! Finance seems too limited for you, then this next app is just what you need. Packed with useful features like worldwide market support, analysis charts, technical indicators (ROI, RSI, MFI etc), StockWatcher is a free app that lets you get your daily stock market fix from your Android. The app syncs with Yahoo! servers and brings up-to-date reports of the stock market. To add to the fun, there's also a Twitter search functionality that lets you look up the latest updates about your stocks from a social perspective.

One thing I particularly love about this app is that it allows users to add multiple Android widgets to the home screen. So, for example, if you want to stay in touch with Apple's (AAPL) stock quotes, you can add a simple widget showing updated quotes about the company's stock on your home screen. Similarly, you can add more widgets like that and fill your home screen with only the relevant stuff.

With over 100,000 downloads so far, and a rating of 4.1 out of 5, StockWatcher proves to be an all-in-one stock market app that is perfect for stock enthusiasts who like to keep in touch with worldwide stocks.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Stock Alerts

Okay, this app does more or less the same things that the aforementioned apps do. However, there's one thing that makes it stand out from the crowd. Stock Alerts comes with a feature that alerts you whenever your stock hits a particular price point. This is an essential feature that will prove useful for many stock investors and traders. The app is free and is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars in the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

You may also check out: Best Finance Apps for Android

TechSource: Is Ubuntu’s Popularity Declining? The Answer is Yes... and No

2011-12-05T11:23:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Is Ubuntu’s Popularity Declining? The Answer is Yes... and No

Posted: 04 Dec 2011 10:24 PM PST

Mint, which just released its latest version (Linux Mint 12 Lisa), has become the most popular Linux distribution on DistroWatch. Seizing the top spot from Ubuntu, the GNOME 3-based distro has evolved from a mere spin to a serious competitor to Canonical's flagship product. As Mint continues to dominate DistroWatch, some journalists have already come to a conclusion that Ubuntu is no longer the most popular distro around. How true is that claim? Is Ubuntu's popularity really declining? The answer to both these questions is Yes and No.

Yes, Ubuntu's popularity is declining, but Mint's not to blame.

With Unity, Ubuntu managed to annoy a lot of its loyal users. Regular Linux users, who relished the comfort of a clean simplistic UI, were presented with something entirely different and confusing. With Ocelot, Canonical did manage to alleviate many of those issues. However, Unity still remains a punching bag for longtime Linux users. Since there's no denying that Unity's complexities have coerced veteran Linuxians to look for better alternatives, many of them have found comfort in the familiar freshness of Mint and are probably never looking back. So, if Ubuntu's popularity is declining, it's here; it is the faithful Linux user who's quitting the distro.

Having said that, Ubuntu's popularity decline might not be something Canonical should worry about right now. Mint, though popular and better than the Unity-ridden distro, is still unknown to the average user who's trying to escape the shackles of a world with Windows. Over the years, Ubuntu has gained a lot of popularity among Windows users, and to them, it's still the virus-free magic pill that they can load onto a USB drive and impress their friends. Moreover, Ubuntu has a vast repertoire of support tools like Ask Ubuntu and Ubuntu Forums, which assure the user that if anything goes wrong, there's a huge community backing you.

If you check out Ubuntu's website, it's far more appealing and inviting than Linux Mint's homepage. Furthermore, Ubuntu has its very own cloud service, music store and even training courses that have been quite popular lately. Overall, it goes without saying that Ubuntu is still a behemoth in the wild distroland, and to topple it, ain't that easy.

What about those lost users then?

As I mentioned before, Canonical shouldn't worry about those lost users right now. They may be 100, 1000 or even a million, the number just doesn't matter. If they manage to pull off something impressive with Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin, I'm sure almost 90% of those users would hop back on to Unityland. For veteran Linux users, switching distros isn't a big deal. So, if Ubuntu does come out with something spectacular and useful of course, they'll definitely switch back.

So, what about Unity then?

Many journalists have attributed Ubuntu's much-hyped 'decline' to the contentious Unity interface. We all know what Unity is, what a launcher is, what global menu does, and how bad all that looks. But hey, does the average Windows user who has just started exploring Ubuntu know about these terms? Moreover, does he or she even care about them? Users just want a desktop that works for them. If they find it attractive and easy-to-use, they'll download and use it. In short, Unity isn't a cross Canonical has to bear for the rest of its life. It's just a small feature of the desktop that needs some work.

Oh but DistroWatch says…

Since when did DistroWatch become the ultimate authority on a distribution's popularity? Do they check each and every computer and see if users have switched to Mint? The answer is No. Currently, there is no way of telling whether a user has switched to Mint or any other distribution. Also, considering the fact that Ubuntu comes pre-installed on many laptops (see: Affordable Ubuntu Laptops) - its user base is undoubtedly much bigger than Mint. What's more, the UbuntuOne client, which recently released its Windows version, is bringing in many new users to Ubuntu. So that, coupled with Ubuntu's brand, still make it the no 1 Linux distribution around.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

TechSource: Best File Browsers/Managers For Android

2011-12-03T11:36:00.001-08:00

TechSource: Best File Browsers/Managers For Android

Best File Browsers/Managers For Android

Posted: 02 Dec 2011 06:21 PM PST

Just downloaded a document on your Android and can't seem to find it? You're not the only one. Browsing files on smartphones and tablet computers is not the same experience as it is on the desktop. Don't fret though, for this is not the locked-down world of iPhones and iPads where you'd run against a shining white wall every time you try to use the device your way. Thanks to the open nature of Android, you can use and customize your gadget any way you want to, and file browsing is no exception.

So, if you're looking to cut, copy, paste and delete your files just like you do on desktop, look no further as we list out some of the best file browsers/managers for Android.

ASTRO File Manager

With over 18 million downloads so far, ASTRO File Manager is undoubtedly one of the most popular file managers for Android. This free application lets you manage your photos, videos, documents and MP3s just like you do on your desktop. Thumbnails, drag and drop support, File searching, ASTRO's got it all covered. What's more, the app also comes with a built-in text and image viewer. Moreover, if your droid is loaded with Zip attachments, ASTRO will handle them for you without any problems. ASTRO is frequently updated and works seamlessly across phones as well as tablets (Honeycomb). Oh and one more thing, the app is free (ad-supported).

DOWNLOAD HERE

ES File Explorer

With more than 10 million downloads, ES File Explorer ranks just below ASTRO when it comes to file management. Supporting 18 languages, ES lets you manage all your files efficiently by letting you cut, copy, paste, drag, drop and search them just like you do on your big shiny desktop. ES is a full-featured file manager that supports a variety of file formats that also includes thumbnails support for APKs and images. Also, if you want to exchange files between your desktop and mobile devices, ES comes with SMB support over Wi-Fi. For the folks who're always on the go, there's an FTP client too. Another unique feature about ES is that it comes with an enhanced version of Dropbox built right into the file manager. Like the aforementioned ASTRO, ES too is freely available for download from the marketplace.

DOWNLOAD HERE

File Manager

File Manager by Rhythm Software is a free full-featured file manager for Android. It comes with a refreshingly clean User Interface, which is a far cry from other file managers on our list. On top of it are 3 sets of beautiful icons that are designed for more than 60 different file types. File Manager, even though it has one of the most striking UI's around, it doesn't skimp on functionality. There's support for cut, copy, paste, along with the ability to share and search files. If you want, you can also mount SMB shares over your Wi-Fi network. For hackers and tinkerers, there's also support for rooted devices. File Manager is free and has been downloaded over a million times so far.

DOWNLOAD HERE

File Expert

File Expert is another free file manager for Android that comes with a strikingly fresh interface. Also, unlike the aforementioned File Manager, File Expert even lets you theme the UI with some great themes available for download. Besides letting you do all the basic file management operations, File Expert acts as an SMB, FTP, SFTP and FTPS client. Furthermore, it includes support for Bluetooth send, Wi-Fi send and NFC too. Another great thing about this app is that it's completely free that too without any ads whatsoever.

DOWNLOAD HERE

AndroXplorer File Manager Lite

AndroXplorer File Manager is a free file manager for Android that comes with a wide range of features. The lite version offers almost all the features that a decent file manager should provide except for encryption, a feature that is only available for paid users. AndroXplorer's UI is what makes it stand apart from other file managers. This app uses sliding drawers for file sorting, navigation and toolbar. All you have to do is pull the drawer to sort files, and then with a couple of more taps, all your files are sorted instantly. AndroXplorer also includes an app-management functionality called My Programs. This feature aggregates all your installed applications into one single folder from where you could launch, backup and uninstall apps instantly. Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars, AndroXplorer Lite is freely available for download from the marketplace. Also, if you're ready to shell out a few bucks on a decent file managing application, then there's the Pro version too. The paid version comes with support for encryption, archiving (ZIP) and more.

DOWNLOAD HERE

You may also check out: 5 of the Best Multimedia Applications for Android

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 12/01/2011

2011-12-01T03:02:00.000-08:00

HowtoForge Newsletter 12/01/2011
================================

*** Version 1.3 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4; Date: 10/25/2011).

Version 1.3 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.4 (Date: 10/25/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
333 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual

*********************************************
*********************************************

ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .

*********************************************
********************************************

*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
********************************************************************

New HOWTOs:
===========

* The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 12 (Lisa)
* The Perfect Server - OpenSUSE 12.1 x86_64 With Nginx [ISPConfig 3]
* Installing KVM Guests With virt-install On Ubuntu 11.10 Server
* Running Contao 2.10.2 On Nginx (LEMP) On Debian Squeeze/Ubuntu 11.10
* Install Memcached And PHP5-MemCached Module On Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)
* Indicate Mail Accounts On Your Desktop (Ubuntu)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Perfect Desktop - Linux Mint 12 (Lisa)
==========================================

This tutorial shows how you can set up a Linux Mint 12 (Lisa) desktop that is a full-fledged replacement for a Windows desktop, i.e. that has all the software that people need to do the things they do on their Windows desktops. The advantages are clear: you get a secure system without DRM restrictions that works even on old hardware, and the best thing is: all software comes free of charge. Linux Mint 12 is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that has lots of packages in its repositories (like multimedia codecs, Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Skype, Google Earth, etc.) that are relatively hard to install on other distributions; it therefore provides a user-friendly desktop experience even for Linux newbies.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-linux-mint-12-lisa

The Perfect Server - OpenSUSE 12.1 x86_64 With Nginx [ISPConfig 3]
==================================================================

This tutorial shows how to prepare an OpenSUSE 12.1 64bit (x86_64) server with nginx for the installation of ISPConfig 3, and how to install ISPConfig 3. Since version 3.0.4, ISPConfig comes with full support for the nginx web server in addition to Apache, and this tutorial covers the setup of a server that uses nginx instead of Apache. ISPConfig 3 is a webhosting control panel that allows you to configure the following services through a web browser: nginx and Apache web server, Postfix mail server, MySQL, Dovecot POP3/IMAP, BIND or MyDNS nameserver, PureFTPd, SpamAssassin, ClamAV, and many more.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-opensuse-12.1-x86_64-with-nginx-ispconfig-3

Installing KVM Guests With virt-install On Ubuntu 11.10 Server
==============================================================

Unlike virt-manager, virt-install is a command line tools that allows you to create KVM guests on a headless server. You may ask yourself: "But I can use vmbuilder to do this, why do I need virt-install?" The difference between virt-install and vmbuilder is that vmbuilder is for creating Ubuntu-based guests, whereas virt-install lets you install all kinds of operating systems (e.g. Linux, Windows, Solaris, FreeBSD, OpenBSD) and distributions in a guest, just like virt-manager. This article shows how you can use it on an Ubuntu 11.10 KVM server.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-kvm-guests-with-virt-install-on-ubuntu-11.10-server

Running Contao 2.10.2 On Nginx (LEMP) On Debian Squeeze/Ubuntu 11.10
====================================================================

This tutorial shows how you can install and run a Contao 2.10.2 web site on a Debian Squeeze or Ubuntu 11.10 system that has nginx installed instead of Apache (LEMP = Linux + nginx (pronounced "engine x") + MySQL + PHP). nginx is a HTTP server that uses much less resources than Apache and delivers pages a lot of faster, especially static files.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/running-contao-2.10.2-on-nginx-lemp-on-debian-squeeze-ubuntu-11.10

Install Memcached And PHP5-MemCached Module On Debian 6.0 (Squeeze)
===================================================================

"Memcached is free & open source, high-performance, distributed memory object caching system, generic in nature, but intended for use in speeding up dynamic web applications by alleviating database load." This article is going to explain how to install memcached and PHP5-MemCached module on a Debian 6.0(Squeeze) system with Apache2.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/install-memcached-and-php5-memcached-module-on-debian-6.0-squeeze

Indicate Mail Accounts On Your Desktop (Ubuntu)
===============================================

This article is about how to get informed about new mails without actually opening your mail client using a handy indication tool called popper. Popper is silently running in the background and gives you a notice when a new mail arrives at your mail account, containing the mail's sender, subject and the time it arrived. Popper does not actually display the mail's content - it only gives you the information mentioned above. I have tested it on Linux Mint 11, but it should work fine with all other Ubuntu derivatives.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/indicate-mail-accounts-on-your-desktop-ubuntu

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
=======================

*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Best Regards,

Your HowtoForge Team
Email: info@howtoforge.com
URL: http://www.howtoforge.com

To unsubscribe or update your records, click here: http://newsletter.howtoforge.com/howtoforge/user/update.php?email=matrixunix.ubuntu@blogger.com&code=d8531959c7da2982ec3a7f8f82a13961