NBC Winter Olympics Videos on Linux

As with the last Olympics, NBC has once again chosen Silverlight as the technology for streaming video. Since Silverlight is a Microsoft technology, Windows user only needs to download the plugin and get on their way. For Linux users, it can be a bit more complicated.

Fortunately, Silverlight has existed in the form of Moonlight for the last couple of years and a version compatible with the NBC Silverlight player was released just in time for the Olympics.

In my case, I'm using Ubuntu 9.10 64-bit. The Firefox plugin can be downloaded here:

http://www.go-mono.com/moonlight/prerelease.aspx

For some reason, after download and installation, it still wouldn't work for me but this tip from the Mono support forums helped:

Try deleting your pluginreg.dat file (in ~/.mozilla/firefox/*/pluginreg.dat, close firefox first), then restart firefox.

Once I did this, the plugin worked as it should...now, if NBC could only get their act together and actually deliver the videos to actually play without errors.

XPS 1530 Camera Problems

Throughout the last few months, I have successfully used the integrated camera of my XPS 1530 to do video conferencing with friends and family. However, recently, I've been looking more into actually recording videos for some other purposes. So I started looking for some other software.

I soon found a little program called Cheese, which allows you to take photos and video very easily. It actually has some very interesting effects as well, for both video and photo.

To my surprise, I find that Cheese isn't quite working for me. It's not loading any photo or video as I load it. I found this highly irritating, naturally, especially when I have no problems with Skype or AMSN.

After a quick search online, I found the following solution:

1. Go to System > Administration > Software Sources.
2. Click on the Updates tab.
3. Check "intrepid-proposed" and "intrepid-backports" and click Close.
4. When it asks about update, select Update.
5. It should ask you to reboot and once you've done this, you're good to go.

Source: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1025992

Linux Gaming

While surfing around seemingly at random, I ran into this site:

http://live.linux-gamers.net

This site essentially provides a live-type disc loaded with Linux and games that work with Linux, all for free and for our enjoyment. Although I already have Linux installed and as such am unlikely to just download and try this when I can just download and install the games directly, the website does have a nice list of Linux compatible games.

So, if you're at all into Linux and want to have some fun on the side, by all means, check out this site.

Ubuntu 8.10 Upgrade Finished

Well, the upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04 to Ubuntu 8.10 worked out although not smoothly. Throughout the download and upgrading process, the updater ran into a number of issues that in the end broke my desktop all together. I could get to the login screen but not any further, I simply ended up with a blank screen after logging in.

Frustrating.

So, I started digging around and I finally found a workaround in this post. It's in a post towards the bottom by Charles Curley. Here's essentially what I had to do:

1. Reboot and open up the shell/command promopt (CTRL+ALT+F2).
2. Install scrollkeeper, which removes rarian and parts of Gnome.
3. Purge all of scrollkeeper once step two finished.
4. Installed rarian-compat.
5. Install ubuntu-desktop.

That did it. I did a reboot and I'm back in business.

So, what's 8.10 like, you ask? Well, I've barely had time to check yet but one reason I upgraded to the beta before all the bugs were worked out was because I was curious how 8.10 would handle wireless CDMA USB modems, like the CDU-680. Well, I'm happy to report that it's working better. The software that comes with the unit still acts up but once the interface changer has been run, the network manager gives you an option to automatically connect to the CDMA connection. No need to configure GnomePPP or any other similar application. I was happy to see that. It will make it easier to use. At some point I'll have to see if I can get my cell phone to act as a modem too.

Next step: updating the laptop. I think I'll wait for the official release for that though.

Ubuntu 8.10 and Other Fun Things

With the latest version of Ubuntu coming out at the end of this month, I just couldn't resist getting the beta installed on my desktop. Since my primary Linux computer is my laptop now, I figured it wouldn't hurt to try it on that one first to see what happens. I know there are probably drivers here and there that might not function properly so I'd like to check that out and see what happens. It's downloading as we speek.

1hr or so to go.

In addition to that, I've been messing around with my PPC6800. Those of you fortunate enough to have a phone from one of the bigger carriers already have GPS and Rev A capability but not poor me so I've been downloading kitchens and custom ROMs and radios, trying to find a combination that works.

Will it work? Who knows.

Finally, I've gotten sucked into Eve Online again. I played it for a couple of months a few years ago and I have always felt that if I ever would play a MMORPG, this would be the one. So, I have returned, created a new character, started a new life in a new two week trial. We'll see how it goes. If all goes well, I'll keep playing for a while, we'll see.

New Laptop - New Linux Adventures

Yesterday, my much anticipated Dell XPS 1530 arrived at my local FedEx office. I was fortunate enough to be able to pick it up just before they closed down for the day and being a Friday night, I now have a whole weekend to get things rolling on this thing.

First of all, the XPS 1530 comes loaded with Vista. I am no Vista fan and if you have read any of my posts before, you know that I've grown quite fond of Ubuntu. Yes, I guess I could have purchased a Ubuntu laptop from Dell right away but I have found that there are things that I really do need Windows for and I can always create a dual boot situation just like on my desktop.

So, with the computer out of the box and the basic stuff like installing some of my more used applications such as Firefix, iTunes, Picasa etc., I just finished burning a new disc with Ubuntu 8.04 on it and I ran the Live scenario to see how it held up.

Seems to work good. Next, it's time to install Ubuntu on there and it seems to be pretty straight forward. For those interested in how I will be doing this, these are the guides I've found and will be relying on to get this little project to work.

http://apcmag.com/how_to_dualboot_vista_with_linux_vista_installed_first.htm
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/InstallingUbuntuOnADellXPSM1530
http://jesperdj.pbwiki.com/Ubuntu+on+the+Dell+XPS+M1530

Will it work? Without a doubt. It'll just be a matter of time.

Having said that, I have to mention that the XPS 1530 is a great computer. After less than 24 hours with it, I've found that it's perfect for my needs and I will be installing plenty of the software I need in the coming days and weeks.

Printer Victory!

So far, my biggest challenge with my Ubuntu/Linux adventure has been my printer. I'm using a Brother MFC-240C Printer/Scanner/Fax combo which has served me very well since I got it this past fall.

However, I found that getting it to work in Ubuntu was easier said than done but I finally did get it to work.

The three links below are essentially what I used to get this to work. The first link contains links to the drivers you need (LPR and CUPS). The second links shows one specific step for Ubuntu 8.04 and the third one is a link to a page that walks you through how to do the install for Ubuntu 7.10. Although I'm using 8.04, I found the instructions to be sufficient and helped me get through to the end which was the successful printing of a page from OpenOffice just moments ago. So, another victory on my adventure with Ubuntu.

Brother Linux Drivers
Brother FAQ
Driver Installation Guide for Ubuntu

Picasa

Picasa by Google is an application that I have used for several years for organizing photos, printing them, ordering them, importing them and so on. Initially, I had not even thought about not being able to use that while using Linux so when it did dawn on me that I needed access to all my photos, I was happy to see that fortunately for me, there is a Ubuntu version available for Linux as well.

As I write this, Picasa is in the middle of scanning all my photos.

I have to admit that so far everything is going very smooth.

Skype is Alive

After a week of very little work on the Ubuntu front, I finally ventured back into Ubuntu to continue a bit of my work.

The next victim: Skype.

Skype is a fantastic program that I use primarily to call my family back over in Sweden and Finland. It works very well and using Ubuntu, I would absolutely want to use it.

I head over to Skype's website and immediately see a download link for Skype for Linux. I downloaded the Ubuntu version, installed it without problems. After logging in, I connected my USB headset, changed the sound settings to allow me to use my headsets for calls and I made a quick test call to the local time and temperature number.

It worked! (at least incoming)

I also found that my USB webcam worked perfectly without any need for configuration in Skype. Awesome!

Now, the next step is to get my Linksys Skype phone to work. I can tell that Ubuntu recognizes it since it's showing up as an available sound device in Skype but the phone itself is not registering. Not a big deal at the moment though since the headset works fine.

Another mission accomplished on my Ubuntu trek.

Windows Drives Mounted!

Another chapter in my Ubuntu adventure can be closed. This morning I finally successfully managed to mount one of my shared drives on my media machine, where all my music, videos and photos are kept. A victory!

Here's some links I used to get this accomplished:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MountWindowsSharesPermanently#head-fb089c2083e67c8d4de440e5c598792c4cf7c642

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=280473

Now, I've got Rhythmbox up and running, scanning my music and playing it! Sweet! Now, let's see if I can improve the sound any...

Anyway, one step done, several more to go.


Publish Post

Ubuntu Installation Successful

I shut down the Live CD and waited for the reboot.

The Windows logo appears. What? What happened to Ubuntu?

I quickly realize that the drive I installed Ubuntu on is a slave drive. A quick trip into the BIOS to change the priority of the drives fixes this.

Reset and reboot.

Bingo.

I get the boot menu where I get to select if I want to boot good old Windows or experience the new frontiers of Ubuntu.

Just to make sure Windows work, I click that first. After all, my work is all stored on there, if it doesn't work, I'd be toast (almost, I do have backups, fortunately, I just wouldn't want to deal with the mess of restoring everything).

It works.

Reset and reboot, selecting Ubuntu this time. After about 45 seconds or so, I'm past the login screen and I'm at the desktop.

The first thing that happens before I even get around to see what's around is that I'm prompted to download and install ATI drivers for my ATI graphics card. Very cool. I didn't even have to go ask for it.

So, after another few minutes and another reboot, I'm back to the desktop. I open up Firefox and yes, the Internet is working which means my network connection is working.

Sweet! I head over here to my little blog and notate what's going on.

What's next in the world of Ubuntu then? Well, several things:

1. I need to find out exactly what's in the installation package. What can I already do, what do I need to download.
2. I need to get my network configured if it's not already. After all, I store tons of music and photos on a network drive and I need to be able to access all of that.
3. Can I actually do any work here? Time will tell.
4. Will I be able to connect my shiny new PocketPC phone in any way?
   
5. Will I be able to use all my other hardware such as my webcam, printer/scanner and so on?
   

As you can tell, the adventure has hardly begun. What will the next few days hold? Time will tell.

Joining the Linux Revolution

My first introduction to Linux wasn't a very successful one. In early 2007, I downloaded a copy of Ubuntu, hoping to try it out and see what it was like. I didn't get very far. I couldn't get the thing to boot and I left the disc to gather dust.

A few months ago, my interest was reignited when I got the latest PS3 version to successfully install on my PS3. It was cool to see that hey, this doesn't look so bad and there's more to it than blank screens that leads to nowhere. So, when I heard that the latest version of Ubuntu was released just weeks ago, I decided to give it a shot on my desktop.

To help you understand my situation a bit more, I do quite a bit of computer work at home, primarily in the areas of web design and graphic design, writing and a bit of gaming here and there. So, I was thinking, what if I can do what I do on Windows XP just as well on Linux?

So, I've looked around a bit, read about Wine and a few other things and I finally took the plunge today. In fact, as I sit here and write this, Ubuntu 8.04 just finished installing from the Live CD.

Now, this is not a hard break with Windows by any means. I happened to have a sprace 20GB hard drive sitting around so I figured, what better thing to do with a piece of hardware that might not be used otherwise than to experiment with it. So, that's exactly what I have done. I still have my Windows XP drive and the I have my Ubuntu installation. Can I live without XP? Time will tell, right?

Anyway, it's prompting me to reboot so I guess it's time to take a peek and see if I still have something that functions.