Fsf-friends September 2006

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Internet, tech skills growing quietly in Goa...
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 02 Sep '24

02 Sep '24

INTERNET, TECH SKILLS GROWING QUIETLY IN GOA PANJIM, April 30: Goa's BSNL internet service provider is already providing some 3000 broadband connections in the state, and roughly another 24,000 people dial-up to get access the Net using this central government-run service. These figures emerged during an informal discussion at the monthly meeting of the India Linux Users Group (Goa), a network promoting Free Software and Open Source in the state. ILUG-Goa, which holds its meetings usually on the fourth Saturday of each month at the Goa Science Centre at Miramar, sees a range of tech issues -- usually directly related to Free Software and Open Source in Goa. During it's meet on April 29, a range of issues came up for discussion, from how to partition your hard-disk (to install GNU/Linux side-by-side with Windows), to software tools to ehance productivity, and various internet and broadband options available to users in diverse parts of Goa. For instance, there are some useful Free Software tools to monitor your bandwidth usage on BSNL's broadband. One such tool is available for free download at http://tinyurl.com/qgu9p Called the Data One Broadband Statistics, this is a screen-scraper written using Perl to download usage statistics of BSNL's Data One (www.bsnl.co.in/service/dataone.htm) broadband service and total it. Generally, BSNL (www.bsnl.co.in) allows only the Microsoft-based IE and has no monthly total. But trust Indian software talent to find a work-around. This solution comes from the Free Software/Open Source network in Chennai. Meanwhile, the Goa free software network stays connected and announces its event via http://iluggoaannounce.notlong.com There are no fees for joining, all are welcome, and encouraged to form parallel user-groups in diverse parts of the state. Meanwhile, the Fedora Core 5 Free Software distribution has just become available on DVD in Goa. Number of foreign magazines are also available. Members of ILUG-Goa such as engineer Bijon Shaha and software pro Arvind Yadav gave diverse views on techies-only distros like 'Gentoo'. Debopriyo 'DP' Sarkar pointed to a 'mindmap' of various Free Software distributions or 'distros' available, which was illustrated at linuxhelp.blogspot.com Earlier, there was a brief presentation on FreeMind. FreeMind is a premier free mind-mapping software written in Java. It has the potential of playing the role of a high productivity tool. Operation and navigation of FreeMind is faster because of one-click "fold/unfold" and "follow link" operations. Other members raised a range of issues -- from how to get started in GNU/Linux, to playing around with tools like StumbleUpon, and how to encourage Free Software usage in schools and educational institutions. Remy Furtado of Rosary College, Navelim expressed an interest in working on the Free Software tool Moodle, ideal for distance education, as the Goa University moves to a pattern of semisterisation. Goa Engineering College's Prof George Easaw has done work on this platform, as have others. Reacting unofficially, BSNL officials said Goa now had six STMS 155 MBps connectivity, which was resulting in a speedy expansion of broadband to many parts of the state. But for broadband facilities to become available in village areas, at least 60 subscribers were needed to make operations viable. So far, broadband from BSNL is available in a growing number of areas in Goa: Panjim, Vasco (except Cortalim, but including Sada, Mangor, Bogmalo, Sancoale and other areas), Ponda, Bambolim, Merces, Dona Paula, Porvorim, Mapusa town, Calangute-Candolim, and Saligao, among others. Equipment has already been installed in Aldona exchange, and broadband facilities are expected to go functional -- ------------------------------------------------------------- | India Linux Users' Group, Goa | | Join the friendly user group | | Mail list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa/join | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/teach-yourself-linux | | http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ilug-goa-announce | | http://www.iosn.net/country/india/organizations/ilug-goa/ | ------------------------------------------------------------- , , / \ .-. * SOFTWARE ((__-^^-,-^^-__)) (. .) * FREEDOM `-_---' `---_-' / V \ * SHARING `--|o` 'o|--' // \\ \ ` / /( )\ KNOWLEDGE IS POWER ): :( '.^^_^^.' SHARE IT EQUITABLY :o_o: \_/ \_/ "-"

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Careers in FLOSS... (Dec 2003 issue of LFY)
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 06 Jun '24

06 Jun '24

=========================================== LINUXForYou * Dec 2003 (Vol 1 No 10) In India Rs 50 (with CD) http://www.linuxforu.com Pages 102 * US$7.95 0 74470584957 =========================================== THIS ISSUE has probably reached your city. Saw it in Bangalore, and also got a complimentary copy from the LFY team at LinuxBangalore2003. But when I reached back to Goa on Dec 4, it wasn't in as yet. So it might take time to reach 'small town' India... FN REVIEWED: Mandrake 9.2 * PhProjekt * StarOffice 7.0 COMPUTERS AT TIS HAZARI, the session courts for the city of New Delhi, are being shifted over to Linux, courtesy the National Informatics Centre. - Rahul Chopra in this month's editorial. LINUX LEARNING CENTRE at Bangalore is offering courses in administration, security, development (internals and programming essentials, programming with Qt, device driver programming, MySQL & PHP), RHCE and Red Hat rapid track certification. www.linuxlearningcentre.com DotGNU RELEASES CD: It can now be used to implement application programs and Web services in C# and C applications under multiple operating systems, including GNU/Linux, FreeBSC, MacOS, MS Windows. The 219 MB release 0.1 CD is available as a free download at http://download.freedom.biz/dotgnu/dotgnu-0.1-cdrom.iso.gz.torrent e-Bridge calls itself "the new state-of-art training facility from eSpark Infotech is now open in the heart of Bangalore". It's offering embedded Linux courses (Linux fundamentals, programming Linux, embedded C & Linux, realtime C & Linux, Linux internals, device drivers, networking) and DSP courses (DSP fundamentals, TI/analog dev programming, audio/video, image processing, bio-medical systems). www.ebridgesolutions.net Linux.net provides a free e-mail service to those who want an e-mail address that ends in '@linux.net' MAJOR UPDATES and releases: OpenNA Linux 1.0, Gibraltar Firewall 1.0, Xandros Desktop 2.0, Onebase Linux 2.0, CUPS 1.120rc6. CAN YOU MAKE money with open source? Registration entails a "nominal fee" of Rs 5000 for a three-day conference. http://www.linuxasia2004.com/attendees/ February 11-13, 2004, New Delhi. SEND IN YOUR favourite slogans for a tee-shirt, and win five free copies of the shirt... LFYedit at efyindia.com MONEY CAN't buy respect, says Robert Adkins. Some of us might have met this guy at LB2003 in Bangalore. He's the CTO of Technetra Corp, and an advocate and implementer of FLOSS solutions for government. He can be contacted at radkins at technetra.com CAREERS WITH FLOSS: The number of students opting for courses in Open Source is growing steadily, even as industry experts predict a growing need for trained professionals in this expanding field. EXIT RED HAT, ENTER FEDORA: It's official now; the free (of cost) version of Red Hat Linux will not be available anymore. This has created a lot of FUD in an already unstable environment, thanks to the SCO episode. But is Red Hat closed for good? WEB-BASED COLLABORATION SOFTWARE: PHProjekt is an easy-to-install collaboration suite, which runs on the open source platform and databases. As the design of the system is developer-friendly, adding new features and components is a piece of cake. STAROFFICE: The latest version of Sun's office suite, StarOffice 7, may just be the right solution for the cost-conscious user. It loads faster than the earlier version, and sports some noticeable improvements. IN THE LFY CD THIS MONTH: Slackware (the "oldest Linux distro") and a range of GNU software for Windows users. FALLING BACK on backup systems. MAKING ADOPTION OF Linux in the enterprise easy. www.linux4e.com Business partners required: http://wwww.linux4e.com/partners ooWRITER HELPS YOU create your own templates and styles so that you can work with documents easily. Open Source is key to IBM's vision of computing. User empowerment is key to Microsoft's, writes Alolita Sharma USING DATABASE functions in Calc, a tutorial. (Wish there were more how-tos for the user in this mag! --FN) HALDIA DOCKS: it has a uniquely designed Linux installation with an active-active cluster set up, which is considered the best of its kind. This has ensured efficiency and cost-effectiveness. BASIC UNIX commands and concepts: an extract from *Running Linux* (Shroff Publishers, Pp 674 only Rs 425 in India). VxWorks and LynxOS are definitely the biggest embedded operating systems in use today. But slowly they are acknowledging the power of GNU/Linux and how it can help them maximise deployments. HELP LINUX GO INDIAN: By using various translation tools, you can join Language translation groups working across India to help translate GNU/Linux into your language. EXPERT INTRODUCTION: Multi-threaded programming under Linux. KICKSTART YOUR Linux installation (Part I): Installing Red Hat Linux on multiple machines one after another can be quite tedious. To avoid answering the same question over and over again, try the KickStart method, as it does not need any user intervention. WRITE CHEQUES. NOT JUST BOOKS: Niyam Bhushan on how anybody can turn thoughts into words, and words into wealth. NFS CLIENTS for Windows. OpenSSL PACKAGE offers a vast crypto library of algorithms WAIT QUEUES in Linux device drivers UNDERSTANDING recursive sub-routines INDIA-RELATED NEWS: HP launches GNU/Linux laptop Mandrake's latest distribution Oracle announces 10g for GNU/Linux Delixus offers India Linux CxProtect anti-virus mailing solution for mail-servers Trade management system from Network Programs Netweb Technologies unveils Tyrone MRO-Tek rolls out Network Management Systems Review of FLOSS at BangaloreIT.com =========================================== DISCLOSURE: This journalist (FN) writes a monthly column for LFY and gets paid for it. Promoting awareness about the content of LFY however is not part of the job, and is carried on with the intention spreading awareness about FLOSS among different GNU/Linux user groups in India. -- Frederick Noronha : http://www.fredericknoronha.net : When we speak of free Freelance Journalist : http://www.bytesforall.org : software we refer to Ph 0091.832.2409490 : Cell 0 9822 122436 : freedom, not price.

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Software Freedom Day
by Githin Alapatt 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

Hi, We conducted the Software Freedom day in a good manner. Here is the report and some photos. http://softwarefreedomday.org/gallery/2006/india/kerala/college_of_engg_che… FLOSS Cell College of Engineering Chengannur -- Cheers :-) githinATgmailDOTcom Free as in Freedom http://githin.googlepages.com/

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October 3rd Declared "Day Against DRM"
by പ്രവീണ്‍‌|Praveen 28 Sep '06

28 Sep '06

* * *"If consumers even know there's a DRM, what it is, and how it works, we've already failed" - Disney Executive.* *Defeating DRM is all about awareness*. The direct actions that we have taken are all about this. Whether it means protesting outside Apple Stores in Hazmat suits or getting HUGE press coverage for announcing the Bono petition (sign it now <http://defectivebydesign.org/petition/bonopetition>). Action gets attention, and creates space for debate. And as our friends at Disney recognize, if there is a debate, we will have won. Clear your schedule for a world wide day of action against DRM. *On Tuesday October 3rd we will all be taking action to raise the stakes and attempt to increase awareness to the threats of DRM - in a very significant way.* Add the action that you will take!<http://defectivebydesign.org/actions/plan_your_october_3rd_action>(real world or virtual) and ask others to join you. Or join the actions already planned<http://defectivebydesign.org/en/actions/oct3list>and get connected to others in your town. Submit your ideas <http://defectivebydesign.org/node/add/content-idea> for October 3rd and we will be ready to make it happen. Tell us<http://defectivebydesign.org/node/add/content-idea>how you think we can, together, raise awareness to defeat DRM. We will award prizes for the best ideas and actions<http://defectivebydesign.org/actions/plan_your_october_3rd_action>. Yes, that's right, to add a little more fun to the events (and we just love to get competitive here at DbD) we will award prizes for things like Best Idea, Best Action, Best Team Action, Best Photo, Best Blog, Best Video, Most People Contacted, Thing that makes us laugh.... and others. Submit your action today<http://defectivebydesign.org/actions/plan_your_october_3rd_action> ! *Based upon your actions on October 3rd<http://defectivebydesign.org/actions/plan_your_october_3rd_action>we will fulfill Big Media's worst nightmare: public awareness about the dangers of DRM.* Take a look at some of the idea's that have been submitted already!<http://defectivebydesign.org/ideas/day_against_drm> Is your idea too sensitive to tell everyone? Would it ruin the fun if everyone heard your idea now? Send us those suggestions<http://defectivebydesign.org/contact> . Digg this story!<http://digg.com/tech_news/October_3rd_Declared_Day_Against_DRM> http://defectivebydesign.org/en/blog/announce_day_against_drm -- "Value your freedom, or you will lose it, teaches history. `Don't bother us with politics', respond those who don't want to learn." -- Richard Stallman Me scribbles at http://www.pravi.co.nr

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link - fonts on GNU/Linux
by Raghavendra Bhat 27 Sep '06

27 Sep '06

http://avi.alkalay.net/linux/docs/font-howto/Font.html -- Raghavendra Bhat Free Software: "You don't pay back, you pay forward." -- Robert A. Heinlein

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Training for two govt. schools in Chenganur
by Githin Alapatt 27 Sep '06

27 Sep '06

Hi, As a part of the "Software Freedom Day 2006" celebrations at College of Engineering Chengannur, a one day training camp is planned for the staff and students of two Government Schools in Chengannur. A group of 12 students from the college will be spending a day helping them install and learn GNU/Linux. We have selected a group of 100 students in each school who will attend our training. (We could not celebrate the SFD on time as we had exams that time, then the school had exams.) We have already installed IT@School on the computers at the schools. The college has agreed to provide us an LCD projector and laptops for the event. This is a part of the actvity of the FLOSS cell existing at the college. Hope this small contribution of ours goes a long way in making Free Software useful and popular. Date and Time: 28thSept 2006, 1000hrs to 1600hrs Venue 1: Govt. Girls' School, Chengannur Venue 2: Govt. Boys' School, Chengannur FLOSS Cell, College of Engineering Chengannur, Kerala. http://floss.cec.googlepages.com/ -- Cheers :-) githinATgmailDOTcom Free as in Freedom http://githin.googlepages.com/

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Fwd: Marathi spellchecker available for OpenOffice.org 2.0.x (updates !)
by priti patil 27 Sep '06

27 Sep '06

Hi all, New updates !! It's available here http://wiki.services.openoffice.org/wiki/Dictionaries#Marathi_.28India.29 download mr_IN_pack.zip and install using "Install New Dictionaries" wizard of file menu. Works perfect with 2.0.x which has got inbuild huspell engine, but to make it work with 1.1.x and 2.x (with myspell) recompile their source code with Hunspell UNO component, then follow the same procedure. Please revert back with queries, suggestions, comments if any. PLEASE NOTE: It's just a 1st version of marathi spell checker and requires periodic refinements. Contributions will be highly appreciated. Regards. Priti Note: forwarded message attached. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Use GPLv3 for Linux Kernel says Bruce Perens
by പ്രവീണ്‍‌|Praveen 26 Sep '06

26 Sep '06

Ultimately, we need to recognize that Linux is a 15-year-old kernel and that there will be another technical development to superscede it eventually. I can't say what that will be, but I think the best chance of mobilizing individual contribution to it would be to use GPL 3. *Bruce* http://digg.com/linux_unix/Use_GPLv3_for_Linux_Kernel_says_Bruce_Perens Cheers Praveen -- "Value your freedom, or you will lose it, teaches history. `Don't bother us with politics', respond those who don't want to learn." -- Richard Stallman Me scribbles at http://www.pravi.co.nr

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Re: [MarathiOpenSource] Marathi spellchecker available for OpenOffice.org 2.0.x
by priti patil 26 Sep '06

26 Sep '06

Thanks ! By the way, it's only the 1st version and consistant refinement is needed for upcoming versions. Contributions will be highly appreciated. Regards. Priti --- RKVS Raman <rkvsraman(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Congratulations!!! > > -Raman __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Marathi spellchecker available for OpenOffice.org 2.0.x
by priti patil 26 Sep '06

26 Sep '06

Hi all, This is for your information ! Most awaited marathi spell checker is now available for installation without any hassle through "Install new dictionary" wizard of "File" menu. It's in pipeline and will be available upstream very soon ! For more details please visit: http://blogs.nuxeo.com/sections/blogs/laurent_godard Do revert back with comments/suggestions, if any. Regards Priti Patil janabhaaratii Project Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (Formerly NCST) 8th Floor, Air India Building, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021. India. Telephone: +91 22 2202 4641, +91 22 2283 6924 Fax: +91 22 2204 9573 Website: www.cdacmumbai.in, www.janabhaaratii.org.in __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Fsf-friends September 2006