Use mutiple versions of Firefox on Ubuntu 11.04 at a time

Recently, I had been facing some issues regarding the firefox crashing very frequently. I have finally figured out a way to downgrade the firefox browser to any lower version inorder to get rid of this crashing problem. This is really very simple but it just needed to be figured out.

1. First of all, you need to download the package for the version you want to install. You can get it from anywhere on the internet. I found out this official location for all mozilla releases http://releases.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/

2. Download the version that you need and that supports the architecture of our current FAI of Ubuntu 11.04-32 bit.

3. I tried this for Firefox-3.6. What you get from this link is a tar.bz2 file which needs to be extracted. Extract it and you will get a file named firefox in this extracted folder.This firefox file is a self executable file, just double click and you are ready to go with firefox version you want.

4. To make things easier for the users, create a launcher on the desktop and convert it into an icon. Here is a screenshot:

 Same way, this can be done for any version you want and it also enables you to use multiple versions of Firefox at any time.

Take a great start with Ubuntu 11.04

Ubuntu 11.04 – Its Natty Narwhal!! After fresh installation of Ubuntu 11.04, you need to install some basic application and packages to make your system usable, although some nice Apps are installed by default. In this post, you will get some basic and cool tips and tricks, for Ubuntu 11.04, and I assume that ‘it will be helpful for beginner, who has just installed the Ubuntu and wondering – what should I do now? how will I do that in Ubuntu?’, Relax.. everything is simple . if you have any problem/question or you want to recommend something then reply through comments.
Ubuntu 11.04 is a free and open source – Linux Based Distribution, developed for common desktop users. I’ve more than two years of experience with Ubuntu (Since version 9.04). Few days before I’d installed the fresh stable version of Ubuntu 11.04, and finally prepared a list of few tips ‘n’ tricks that may help you in understanding, exploring and customizing Ubuntu as you wanted. Here is my favorite – and probably the best Tips ‘n’ tricks for a novice Ubuntu 11.04 users -

Top 10 collection of cool Tips ‘n’ Tricks for Ubuntu 11.04 users :

#1 : Remove Hard Drive Partition/Volume Icons from Desktop

Open Configuration Editor – hit ALT+F2 , then type gconf-editor and hit Enter. Then go to apps -> nautilus -> desktop and simply uncheck (select the row by double clicking on it) the box that says ‘Volumes Visible’. That’s all you will notice the instant effect, Then just close the window and Enjoy! Your Desktop looks much better now, due to removal of cluttered – drive icons.

#2 : Mount Drives automatically when your computer starts

If you are using Ubuntu along with Windows in dual boot mode, then you may need to access NTFS partition frequently, so it’s not a bad idea to enable auto-mount of hard drive at system startup. PySDM is a simple ‘storage device manager’ application (based on PyGTK)  that allows full customization of hard drive mount points. To install you can search for ‘pysdm’ in synaptic package manager or Type the following command(s) given below – at Terminal (CTRL+ALT+T) :

sudo apt-get install pysdm

Then open it from Applications -> System -> Storage Device Manager or simply search for it. Now you are ready to customize it – just select the drive or partitions and click on mount or any other options that you want to configure. Be careful, while tempering with your hard drive, a silly mistake might piss you off.

#3 : Aero Glass Effect in Window Border

You just need to enable metacity opacity (by default opacity value is equal to one, Make it translucent by decreasing its value, less than .7 to get effective level of translucency) settings from the configuration settings. Again, open gconf-editor (hit ALT+F2 , type gconf-editor and press Enter)  and go to Apps ->gwd and double click on metacity_theme_opacity row, then change its value (1) to .7 or .5 (something less than 1).

#4 : Try Gnome 3 / Gnome Shell

Gnome 3 (The Next Generation of Desktop) is available through PPA (Personal Package Archive), although if you will install Gnome 3 on Ubuntu 11.04 – Natty Narwhal , then your Unity would break and this process is irreversible , so think once! before you do that.

#5 : Switch to classic Gnome 2.3 desktop

Probably, Many of us do not like Unity Desktop, don’t worry, you can use your favorite classic desktop – ‘Gnome 2.3′ on Ubuntu 11.04 without any problem, it is installed by default. You just need to select the classic desktop option at login prompt, to run Gnome Desktop.

#6 : Install Cool Faenza Icons

Don’t you like cool icons on your desktop, I think so (with the Assumption that you are a Human! ). Install Faenza icons from the command line – Then select it from Theme customize options (Appearance -> Themes, then customize any theme to use Faenza Icons and save the theme).

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tiheum/equinox
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install faenza-icon-theme

#7 : Unlock Root in GUI mode

Although it’s not required because you can do the administrative task using sudo command, but – just for fun! if you want to enjoy root power in GUI mode then there is a simple trick to unlock root in Ubuntu 11.04. But you have to be – very careful while using Ubuntu as root, because a small mistake may break the system.

#8 : Tweak Ubuntu 11.04 settings as you want

Ubuntu is a free and open source OS, so it’s 100% customizable. If you want to tweak ubuntu settings then use some tools/utility like Ubuntu Tweak for customizing Ubuntu 11.04. Ubuntu Tweak (a free and open source application) will allow you to configure Ubuntu in easy way.

#9 : Configure Boot options – Grub

Install a simple utility -  StartUp Manager, to customize the GRUB and splash screens, in GUI mode. The command is -

sudo apt-get install startupmanager

#10 : Move the Windows buttons to Right Corner

If you have the habit of using Maximize, Minimize and Close buttons in Right Corner, then you should change default windows button layout of Ubuntu 11.04. Open gconf-editor (hit ALT+F2 and enter ‘gconf-editor’) and go to apps -> Metacity -> General and select button layout field (Double click on the row) and change the default value to -

menu:maximize,minimize,close

Mark Zuckerberg is the most popular user on Google+

 

It has to be somewhat embarrassing news for Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg has been listed as the most popular user on Google+.
According to the Google+ statistics, the Facebook CEO has 21,213 followers compared to Google’s co-founder and CEO, Larry Page who has only 14,798 followers and another Google co-founder Sergey Brin with 11,629 followers.
Google+ Statistics creator Boris Veldhuijzen van Zanten explains the Facebook CEO’s unlikely popularity thus, “He has the most friends in the world, they made a movie about him, and he is more handsome than the Larry and Sergey.”

Facebook, Skype to launch video chat service

Just as Google''s next big thing ''Google Plus'' is all set to launch, Facebook and Skype are about to strike a deal that would bring the video chatting service to the social networking site. With Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg promising an "awesome" new feature on July 6, Skype, which was recently purchased by Microsoft for a whopping USD 8.5 billion, could become a fixture on the world''s largest social network. The beta version of Google''s social network, Google Plus, debuted last week to rave reviews, especially for its +Hangouts feature that allows for multi-user video chat.



At present, Facebook users update message and status through their profile, and share photos but the addition of video chat will bring an interesting change to their account. Editor of Tech Crunch, Michael Arrington stated in the Next Week that Facebook, in collaboration with Skype, will unveil its video chat option which will be powered by Skype. This move will strengthen Facebook''s position in the social networking market. Facebook at present is the most influential and one of the biggest social networking sites in the world having over 500 million active users. This isn''t the first time that Skype has been linked to Facebook. Back in September 2010 the same rumour reared its head and this March it was reported that talks had resumed between the two companies. .

China opens world's longest sea bridge

Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge, the world's longest cross-sea bridge with length of 36.48 kilometers, connects the urban district of Qingdao City to its Huangdao district.

 

This photo taken Tuesday, June 21, 2011 released by China's Xinhua news agency shows the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China opened Thursday, June 30, 2011, the world's longest cross-sea bridge, which is 42 kilometers (26 miles) long and links China's eastern port city of Qingdao to an offshore island, Huangdao. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Yan Runbo) 

 

This photo taken Wednesday, June 29, 2011 released by China's Xinhua news agency shows the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China opened Thursday, June 30, 2011, the world's longest cross-sea bridge, which is 42 kilometers (26 miles) long and links China's eastern port city of Qingdao to an offshore island, Huangdao. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Yan Runbo) 

 

Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is seen in Qingdao, Shandong province, in this general view taken June 27, 2011. The world's longest sea bridge spanning Jiaozhou Bay of Qingdao City, Shandong Province, opened on Thursday, June 30. The bridge is 36 km (22 miles) long, Xinhua News Agency reported. Picture taken on June 27, 2011. REUTERS/China Daily 

 A band plays during the opening ceremony of the Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in Qingdao, Shandong province June 30, 2011. The world's longest sea bridge spanning Jiaozhou Bay of Qingdao City, Shandong Province, opened on Thursday. The bridge is 36 km (22 miles) long, Xinhua News Agency reported. REUTERS/China Daily

 

A sign that reads: "Shandong Highway Corp. invests to operate Shandong Highway Jiaozhou Bay Bridge" is seen at Qingdao Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in Qingdao, Shandong province June 27, 2011. The world's longest sea bridge spanning Jiaozhou Bay of Qingdao City, Shandong Province, opened on Thursday, June 30, 2011. The bridge is 36 km (22 miles) long, Xinhua News Agency reported. Picture taken June 27, 2011. REUTERS/China Daily

 

This photo taken Tuesday, June 21, 2011 released by China's Xinhua news agency shows the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province. China opened Thursday, June 30, 2011, the world's longest cross-sea bridge, which is 42 kilometers (26 miles) long and links China's eastern port city of Qingdao to an offshore island, Huangdao. (AP Photo/Xinhua, Yan Runbo)

Nokia launches N9 Smartphone and Series 40 Devices

Nokia launches N9 Smartphone, Three New Series 40 Devices

The estimated retail price of the Nokia C2-02 and C2-03 is approximately 75 euros (USD 105) and for the Nokia C2-06, it is 80 euros (USD 112). All of the C2 series devices are expected to hit the market in the third quarter of 2011 while the N9 smartphone will be launched by the company at the end of this year.

Nokia today announced its own internet browser and these phones have the Nokia browser loaded on it. "Nokia browser can compress data size up to 90 per cent. All phones to be shipped in future will Nokia browser loaded on them," Nokia Executive Vice-President, Mobile Phones, Mary McDowell said.

Mobile phone-maker Nokia today announced the "beginning of a new era" for the company with the launch of four new mobile phones, including a full-screen touch-based smartphone. "Earlier this year, we outlined a comprehensive strategy to change our course," said Stephen Elop, the president and CEO of Nokia. "Innovation is at the heart of our strategy and today we took important steps to demonstrate a new pace of innovation at Nokia.It''s the beginning of a new era for Nokia," he added.

Nokia revealed its latest smartphone, the Nokia N9, an all-screen device that will allow user to navigate the phone by swiping on the screen. "The phone application will follow direction of the finger on the screen," Nokia Senior Vice-President, Design, Marko Ahtisaari said.

Nokia introduced two dual SIM phone Nokia C2-03 and Nokia C2-06 and a single sim phone, Nokia C2-02. All three models are built on the Symbian operating system S 40. (Text courtesy - PTI )

 

The company will announce the price of the N9 close to its launch.

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Lytro: The camera that could change photography forever

Have you ever taken a picture that would have been great if only it were in focus? Of course you have. So have we, countless times. But those days may soon be past all of us with the introduction of Lytro, an entirely new kind of camera that allows users to completely change the focus of a picture after the shutter clicks. And, according to AllThingsD, this next-generation camera will be available before the end of the year.

The secret behind the Lytro camera is a new type of sensor that gathers much more information about the light coming into the camera than the sensors found on all other types of digital cameras. Rather than record a finite amount of information about the light in a photograph, as is the case with other camera sensors, the Lytro sensor records the entire “light field,” which is made up of “all the light rays in a scene,” according to the Lytro website. This includes the color, intensity and direction of the rays of light. Other cameras simply record all the light as a single amount of light.

With this vast amount of data, the focus of a photo can be fully adjusted to match a photographer’s desires, using a computer, in the same way one might use Photoshop to adjusts hue, brightness or contrast on a regular photograph. This means never having to worry about whether auto-focus centered on the right part of a picture, and it makes capturing fast-motion much easier.

The Lytro sensor’s sensitivity to light also makes it possible to take photos in very low-light conditions without the need of a flash. It also makes it possible to take 3D-like photographs with only a single lens, and without the need for glasses to see the immersive effects.

Of course getting into the camera-making business isn’t a cheap endeavor. Not surprisingly (considering the truly astounding capabilities of the Lytro technology), the company has so far managed to raise $50 million from a variety of investors.

“Lytro’s breakthrough technology will make conventional digital cameras obsolete,” says Lytro investor and well-known venture capitalist Marc Andreessen of Andreessen Horowitz, which has invested in Lytro. “It has to be seen to be believed.”

According to Lytro founder and chief executive, the first Lytro camera “will be a competitively priced consumer product that fits in your pocket,” and will be available for purchase by the end of this year. To reserve a camera now, simply visit Lytro.com and enter your email address.

Tata Manza clocks an incredible mileage of 46.33 km per litre to join Limca book of records

The Tata Manza (Quadrajet Aura ABS) has clocked an incredible mileage of 46.33 km per litre. This feat has been achieved by Narayanan Menon, a resident of Coimbatore who has zoomed into the Limca Book of Records.
Narayanan R Menon, Managing Director of Aromen Engineering Company and a proud owner of the Tata Manza has been certified for the remarkable drive on the Coimbatore- Avinashi by-pass on 25th of May 2011. Menon’s Tata Manza covered a long stretch of 72.3 kilometer on road by consuming only 1.58 liters of diesel, which translates to an incredible mileage of 46.33 km per litre.
A mechanical engineer, Menon himself does not credit an amazing mileage to a ‘magic foot’ rather a combination of good driving and car maintenance. For a country where fuel efficiency is a significant factor for automobile ownership and with fuel prices increasing, the feat certainly bodes well for the mileage conscious customer.

Apple iPad 2: review

The iPad 2 refines last year’s product, adds a few premium features and makes a very tempting package.

As anyone who has followed technology news this month will know by now, the iPad 2 is thinner and lighter than its predecessor. Although the difference in weight is a mere 100 grams, the slimness of this year’s model creates the illusion that it is lighter still. This further helps with the iPad’s greatest trick: seeming to disappear and become whatever app you’re using.

And there are apps by the thousand. Around 65,000, in fact, which gives Apple an enormous head start over the competition. Those apps will run faster too, thanks to the iPad 2’s A5 dual core processor. The new iPad runs up to twice as fast and graphics performance is nine-times faster. The speed improvements can be seen on almost any app; the original iPad didn’t feel sluggish before but it will after you’ve spent some time with the iPad 2.

The improvement in graphics performance is most noticeable on games such as Infinity Blade, which looks truly stunning on the iPad 2. Real Racing 2 has been upgraded to take advantage of the new graphics capability as well and more and more titles will follow in the coming weeks.

The other significant addition are the cameras: one on front and one on the back of the iPad 2. The rear camera is capable of 720p HD video but, as with the one in the iPod touch, it’s a mediocre stills camera. The front-facing camera, for video conferencing, is VGA - and also works as a stills camera.

Now it has cameras, the iPad 2 joins the iPhone 4 and iPod touch in getting FaceTime, Apple’s video chat app. In tests - calling an iPhone 4 from an iPad 2, it worked very well. While the picture quality was not pin-sharp, the call was smooth and uninterrupted. It’s easy to see this being a boon to people who travel a lot or those whose friends and family are far away.

Last year Apple showed off the capabilities of their new device by producing versions of their iWork productivity suite: word processor Pages; spreadsheet application Numbers; and presentation tool Keynote. This year they’ve brought two of their iLife apps to the iPad: GarageBand and iMovie.
Garageband takes the popular music-making program from the Mac and takes it far beyond what a desktop app is capable of. The iPad becomes a musical instrument and Garageband allows you to layer tracks together to produce songs. For the musically-challenged, like me, there are ‘smart instruments’, which are designed to sound good together. Even more clever is the use of the accelerometer to determine, with surprising precision, how hard you’re pressing the keys on your keyboard or banging your drum.
Then there’s iMovie, which uses the extra screen real estate of the iPad to offer a well-equipped video editor. It’s designed for the touchscreen and the controls are very simple but there’s some very powerful options for those who know what they’re doing. While not for everyone, I can see both these apps becoming essentials for a lot of people.
There are several other additions. There’s the HDMI-out accessory that allows you to mirror your iPad’s screen on your television, for example, and the addition of a gyroscope that allows the iPad 2 to match the iPhone 4’s gaming capabilities. However, the one that I want to spend a little more time on is the Smart Cover.

The original iPad cover was a triumph of practicality over design. It collected dust, had a strange rubbery texture and felt very un-Apple. That said, it did protect the iPad and folded back neatly into a stand. The Smart Cover, on the other hand, is a triumph of design and practicality. Hooking magnetically onto the side of the iPad 2, it covers the screen and closes with a reassuring click - magnets again - putting the device to sleep as it does so. Peel it back and the device wakes up. Meanwhile, the cover folds underneath to create a stand. Throughout it all, the beauty of the iPad design remains visible. The Smart Cover costs £35 in polyurethane and £59 in leather but the iPad 2 doesn’t feel complete without one.
To add to the iPad 2’s smooth looks, there’s also a white version this year. Personally, I’m not a fan. As I mentioned above, I like the iPad to disappear when I’m using an app and I find the white border around the iPad screen too distracting. There will be plenty who disagree with me, however.
Are there weaknesses? I suppose so but you have to look quite hard to find them. There are rivals out there with higher specs certainly, but the iPad 2 never feels like it’s struggling. Famously, the iPad doesn’t support Flash but after a year using the first iPad I can honestly say that I scarcely miss it. Finally, there’s the size; some people think the iPad is just too big. For them a 7-inch tablet is probably ideal but I remain unconvinced by those. I want a tablet, not a big smartphone.
The iPad 2 does everything that made the original iPad such a revelation but it does them better. At £399 for the basic model - 16GB and wifi-only - it’s hard to resist, though those with a bit more to spend should consider the 32GB model with wifi and 3G (£579). The extra storage is worth it and cheap 3G plans mean you have the option of using the iPad when wifi is unavailable. Those who travel a lot will want a 64GB model so that they can carry a selection of films but most of us won’t need so much storage.
Whichever model you choose, there’s no reason to wait. Now is the perfect time to join the iPad club.

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