Fsf-friends March 2007

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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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Airtel Data Card on Ubuntu
by Javed Rahman 31 Mar '07

31 Mar '07

Hi, Has anyone used an AirTel Data Card on Ubuntu to access the internet? Any tips on how to do this? I haven't bought the card yet. I just wanna make sure it works before i buy it. Just in case this is helpful : I am using ubuntu edgy on a sony vaio vgn-fe48g. Thanks in advance, Javed.

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Torvalds 'pretty pleased' with new draft.
by Debarshi 'Rishi' Ray 30 Mar '07

30 Mar '07

>From the ILUG-Cochin mailing list: Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:24:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Binny V Abraham Subject: [Mailinglist] Torvalds 'pretty pleased' about new GPL 3 draft To: ILug Cochin Mailing List <mailinglist_AT_ilug-cochin_DOT_org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 According to CNet, Linus Torvalds is 'pretty pleased' with the current GPL v3 draft. He said, 'Unlike the earlier drafts, it at least seems to not sully the good name of the GPL any more.' After his earlier criticism, some had questioned whether such controversies would lead to rifts in the community, especially if the kernel ended up under a different license than the GNU tools. But with the latest revisions, Linus will entertain moving the kernel over to the GPL v3. Read more here... http://news.com.com/2061-10795_3-6171300.html That's good news! Binny V A http://binnyva.blogspot.com/ -- GPG key ID: 63D4A5A7 Key server: pgp.mit.edu

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Re: [Fsf-friends] With Vista, Microsoft could effectively hasten the obsolescence of half the world’s PCs ...
by Ajay Pal Singh Atwal 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

A little addition. ----- Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org> wrote: > http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?newsid=8226 > > > That's because, according to a report by the Department of Government > Commerce about Open Source Software Trials in Government, open source > software has lower hardware requirements and needs less frequent > hardware refreshes. Not a unique feature of GNU/ Linux but because we have the freedom to tailor **our** OS as per our hardware. Maybe it is a feature we get with GNU GPL. ---- snip -------- > The report continued: "Open Source operating systems such as Linux do > not usually have the regular major upgrades that are a feature of > Windows, and thus do not have the requirement that goes with these > upgrades for a new or upgraded computer to run them." It is pure economics. If MS aint selling software from where the money will come. Anyway MS need to **force** the users to upgrade (read as to force them to shell out money) somehow; and also create a monopoly. -- snip -- > > Greenpeace went on to argue that Microsoft should have considered > this > when producing its new OS. > So what do you want a poor bill? -- Sincerely Ajay Pal Singh Atwal Dept of CSE & IT BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib Punjab, INDIA -------------------------------- http://www.bbsbec.ac.in http://www.ajaypal.com -------------------------------- ajaypal[at]bbsbec.org, ajaypal[at]acm.org

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posting from news << >> mail gateway
by Mahesh T. Pai 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

For the list admin(s) - what prevents opening up posts to this list via gmane news <> Mail gateway? You can enable this from here ``list administrative interface'' > ``Mail << >> News geteway'' -- Mahesh T. Pai <<>> http://paivakil.blogspot.com/

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With Vista, Microsoft could effectively hasten the obsolescence of half the world’s PCs ...
by Frederick Noronha 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?newsid=8226 [GNU] Linux makes for greener computing By Manek Dubash, Techworld The UK Government reckons that servers with Linux installed are greener than those running Windows. That's because, according to a report by the Department of Government Commerce about Open Source Software Trials in Government, open source software has lower hardware requirements and needs less frequent hardware refreshes. In particular, it said that: "for equivalent open source and Microsoft Windows systems, the open source system will require less memory and a slower processor speed for the same functionality." It points out that Windows needs a hardware refresh every three to four years, while a Linux box might need a new platform as infrequently as every six to eight years - half as often. The report continued: "Open Source operating systems such as Linux do not usually have the regular major upgrades that are a feature of Windows, and thus do not have the requirement that goes with these upgrades for a new or upgraded computer to run them." The report then concludes that the reduction in hardware demands brings environmental benefits, because it translates into lower energy requirements and less waste, "reducing landfill requirements and costs arising from disposal of redundant equipment." The report also coincides with Tory shadow chancellor George Osbourne's call for the use of more open source software in government. He said that the UK government could save in excess of £600 million a year if more open source software was deployed across various departments. But if the timing of the report is good news for the open source community, it's possibly less welcome for others. Microsoft Windows Vista has just been released to a flurry of criticism from environmental groups such as Greenpeace who slammed Microsoft for the hardware-hungriness of Vista, saying that upgraders will "will trigger a deluge of e-waste in developing countries." Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace's southeast Asia toxics campaigner, argued that: "With Vista, Microsoft could effectively hasten the obsolescence of half the world's PCs, especially in the absence of fully-functioning global take back systems for PCs. Companies will feel the need to upgrade more computers sooner - and when they do, the world is unfortunately not prepared for the massive e-waste the upgrades will generate." Greenpeace went on to argue that Microsoft should have considered this when producing its new OS. It's a problem for which a solution will need to be found eventually. While most enterprises have few if any plans right now to move their desktops onto the new OS, most will eventually be forced to migrate as Microsoft starts to implement its phased withdrawal of support for Windows XP under its public life-cycle policy. This is some way off, although the company has announced that the availability of licences for Windows XP Professional would be withdrawn for OEMs after 28 January 2008, and for system builders a year later. Mainstream support for XP Pro ends on 14 April 2009 while extended support - in other words, paid-for support - ends five years later. Before that happens, Vista - or maybe even its more hardware-hungry successor - will have become the only commercial OS choice. SEE: http://www.arb.ca.gov/oss/articles/Report-v8d.pdf -- FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1300IST please) http://fn.goa-india.org http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com What bloggers are saying about Goa: http://planet.goa-india.org/

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Fwd: FW: Query on ICT tools for the blind
by Frederick Noronha 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Can someone help pls? FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: sajan venniyoor <s.venniyoor(a)unesco.org> Date: 27-Mar-2007 17:57 Subject: FW: Query on ICT tools for the blind To: frederick.noronha(a)gmail.com Dear Rico, Dipendra Manocha of the National Association for the Blind has raised an important query concerning ICT tools for the blind (see below). Since you have a considerable knowledge of the kind of ICT tools that Manocha is referring to, could you kindly respond to his query? I would really appreciate an early reply. Warm regards, Sajan Sajan Venniyoor Resource Person and Moderator ICT for Development Community UN Solution Exchange UNESCO House B-5/29, Safdarjung Enclave New Delhi - 110 029 Ph: 91-11-26713000 Extn: 207 Query: ICT tools for Visually Impaired Persons-Examples.Reply by 2 April 2007 Dear Members, Information Technology has the potential to revolutionize the way blind people read and write, and make them totally independent for all their reading and writing needs. ICT is a revolution for persons with vision impairment. A computer becomes a basic reading and writing tool for the blind or persons with low vision; thus it means much more to them than it does for persons without vision impairment. For example, a computer can become a printed text reader for them if we combine the scanner, OCR (optical character recognition) and TTS (text-to-speech) engine technology. Unfortunately, all this is currently available only in English and other European languages. The TTS being made for Indian languages does not follow standards such as SAPI (Speech Application Programming Interface), which means these cannot be used "out of the box" with any existing applications. Until these technologies are available for Indian languages, persons with blindness in India will remain on the dark side of the digital divide and will be forced to remain dependent on others for basic tasks like writing and reading a letter, reading books or writing examinations. Most of the access technology tools built for people with blindness and limited vision are built on the two basic building blocks of OCR software and TTS engines, and any information on these would be invaluable for people with vision impairment. · Is the community aware of any good OCR software available for Indian languages? · Does anyone have information about text to speech engines for any Indian language which is fully SAPI compliant? I would be grateful if members of the ICTD community could provide examples of such software. Dipendra Manocha National Association for the Blind - Delhi State Branch New Delhi -- FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1300IST please) http://fn.goa-india.org http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com What bloggers are saying about Goa: http://planet.goa-india.org/

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Mumbai cyber cafe license requirement makes Microsoft OS mandatory
by Frederick Noronha 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Have just learnt that under the recently announced licensing scheme for the cyber cafes in Mumbai, the Mumbai police under its list of requirement vide point no 14 insists on a copy of Microsoft Open License. This license fee is apparently prohibitive and apparently still unclear on the licensing term for public use, and, restrains cyber cafe operators from choosing any other alternative operating systems. I would like to hear from others who have more details. Specially someone in Mumbai. --FN -- FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1300IST please) http://fn.goa-india.org http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com What bloggers are saying about Goa: http://planet.goa-india.org/

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never knew about so many voip programs
by Kussh 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_VoIP_software

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Fsf-friends March 2007