Incursor

My laptop adapter has unfortunately malfunctioned again (ie melted), which means that I will have to postpone the KDE series until I get it back up and running.

Ever since I’ve started using Linux, I’ve been with the Gnome camp. After hearing alot of praise for KDE and the new KDE4, I’ve decided I’ll try it out.

I’ll be using the KDE desktop as my default environment for a whole month with a weekly report on some of my problems. (If there are any)

So the first step is installing it, which I am doing right now by using the command:

sudo aptitude install kde4-core

It’s taking a while to download and install all packages so it will be left running while I complete other tasks.

When I downloaded Opera 9.7 a couple of weeks ago, one of the first things I noticed was how it managed sessions, and wanted to see if there was a similar extension for Firefox.

It turns out that there was one- Session Manager (It’s pretty obvious what it does).

Basically, Session Manager lets you:

• Save the current session or window (And make it auto-saving if you want it)
•  Encrypt the sessions you do save
• Move sessions to another computer by getting the session file

If you visit certain sites many times, session manager can save alot of time

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/2324

I must be really dense or something to have not noticed the Encryption option in the right click context menu. Anyways, 8.04’s new keyring manager made some things easier.

Key making

First, you should make a key. Go to Applications>Accessories> Passwords and Encryption keys.

In the menu, click Key> Create New Key. Since you’re using this one for encryption, keep the type as PGP and click continue.

The next two dialogs will be the information for the key and the password. Fill it in and you’ll have a key.

Encrypting/Decrypting

Right click the file or folder and click encrypt, then choose the key you’re going to use. After you click ok it should be encrypted. (If it’s a folder it’ll ask for packaging)

Decryption is a simple matter of double clicking the .pgp file and giving the password.

Ubuntu Hardy Heron was released today and I’ll be updating my laptop (Downloading right now) and getting back to blogging in a couple of days.

(From what I hear, this seems to be a really good release. I’m so excited!)

Mozilla Labs has made an extension for firefox that enables lightweight theming. This means that you can easily make and use custom themes without having to know the normal theme making process.

Here’s an example of the Groovy Blue theme:

<<<Clicky there

You can access the menu through the Tools menu or by clicking the little fox in the status bar.

To make your own, all you have to do is create a header image and footer image.

More information here:

http://labs.mozilla.com/featured-projects/#personas

And how to design one here:

http://people.mozilla.com/~cbeard/personas/designers/

(Load up your design by going to Preferences in the persona menu)

Here’s a small trick not worthy of being a recipe.

If you have Compiz Fusion enabled on Ubuntu, you can change the transparency of a window by holding the Alt key and scrolling with your mouse.

Just something neat I’d let people know

Here are the objectives for the robot before it’ll be considered finished:

• Able to mix a drink
• Can traverse around my house
• Will be able to move autonomously according to a premade map of the area
• Avoids collisions with people
• Can be called to go to the computer you are currently working from (Destination determined by transmitted signal)

Draft:

• Dwg can be found at: http://www.mediafire.com/?t0gnw22cbyn

Doing computer work for a long time can be bad for your health (ie wrist, neck, eye strain) so its good to take a break once in a while.

Too workaholic to take a break or know when to take one? Ubuntu’s Typing Break is a nifty little tool that locks up the screen so that you’ll be able to take a much needed break.

To turn it on, Go to System>Preferences>Keyboard in menu bar and go to the Typing Break tab.

Click the box next to “Lock screen to enforce typing break”

You can then adjust the times and allow break postponement if you are doing something time crucial.

Things have been boring lately, so what else to do but plan to make an asskickingly cool robot?

I don’t know exactly what it will be or exactly it will do, but I’ll keep updates on this blog and draft plans in either .kmz and/or .dwg format.

Feel free to give suggestions