) m o c . r k c i l F ( y

Full Circle h THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE COMMUNITY p a r

ISSUE #60 - April 2012 g o t o h P o u d B D : o t o h p

NNEEWW GGRRAAPPHHIICCSS SSEECCTTIIOONN LEARN GIMP AND INKSCAPE!

full circle magazine #60 full circle magazine is neither affiliated wit1h, nor endorsed by, Ltd. contents ^ HowTo Full Circle Opinions THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU LINUX COMMUNITY Python - Part 32 p.06 My Story p.28

Linux News p.04 My Desktop p.55 LibreOffice Pt14 p.08 My Opinion p.34 Columns

Prey p.11 Command & Conquer p.05 Ubuntu Games p.49 I Think... p.38

GIMP - Beanstalk Pt1 p.14 Linux Labs p.22 Q&A p.45 Review p.40

Inkscape - Intro p.18 Ubuntu Women p.47 Closing Windows p.24 Letters p.42 Graphics

The articles contained in this magazine are released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. This means you can adapt, copy, distribute and transmit the articles but only under the following conditions: you must attribute the work to the original author in some way (at least a name, email or URL) and to this magazine by name ('Full Circle Magazine') and the URL www.fullcirclemagazine.org (but not attribute the article(s) in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work). If you alter, transform, or build upon this work, you must distribute the resulting work under the same, similar or a compatible license. Full Circle magazine is entirely independent of Canonical, the sponsor of the Ubuntu projects, and the views and opinions in the magazine should in no way be assumed tfoulhl acivrecleCamnaognaiczainlee#nd6o0rseme2nt. contents ^ EEDDIITTOORRIIAALL

This magazine was created using :

Welcome to another year of Full Circle!

t's April 2012, and that means Full Circle is five years old this month. Time has certainly flown by, but I've enjoyed every issue of it, and I've no intention of stopping. Raise your I glasses (of whatever) to another year of Full Circle. Cheers! Being a birthday edition, I've added a few new things here and there. I'm starting a monthly GIMP series, and I'm joined by Mark Crutch who'll be teaching you Inkscape each month. Our articles join the usual suspects of Python and LibreOffice, and, to round off the HowTo section, we have an article on Prey - which will help you locate a lost/stolen Full Circle Podcast laptop/phone. I hope you never have to use it. Not only do we have the usual Ubuntu Games Released monthly, each episode articles, but Dougn has submitted some Ubuntu Games news, and will, hopefully, supply covers all the latest Ubuntu news, more news as and when he can. Don't feel left out though, as, like I always say, you're more opinions, reviews, interviews and than welcome to submit your news and articles. listener feedback. The Side-Pod is a new addition, it's an extra (irregular) short-form podcast If you're interested in how Full Circle takes shape each month, then have a read of the which is intended to be a branch My Story I've written. It shows you what we're doing week by week. of the main podcast. It's somewhere to put all the general technology and non-Ubuntu stuff As ever, Full Circle isn't just me. I want to say a big thank you to all the people who are that doesn’t fit in the main the unseen heroes of each issue. The writers, the proof readers, the translators, and, of podcast. course, you, the readers. Hosts: Robin Catling All the best, and keep in touch! Ed Hewitt Ronnie Dave Wilkins [email protected] http://fullcirclemagazine.org

full circle magazine #60 3 contents ^ LLIINNUUXX NNEEWWSS

Torvalds Shortlisted for HP will certify Ubuntu Ubuntu Linux Comes 2012 Millennium Tech 12.04 on some Proliant Preloaded on Two New EPUB Prize servers Laptops Finally, we have mobile editions of Full Circle on the downloads he Technology Academy INUX VENDOR Canonical uying a computer with page. At the moment, there are Finland has shortlisted has announced that its Linux preloaded is a only a couple of issues online, for its 2012 upcoming Ubuntu 12.04 great option in many but we're hoping to have back T Millennium Technology L long term support (LTS) B ways: Not only do you issues online shortly. If you've Prize, worth over €1 million will be certified know everything will “just work,” any problems with the epub (US$1.3 million). for a number of HP's Proliant but you also get your “vote” for file/formatting, you can drop an servers. Linux officially counted as a email to Jens at: There is one other shortlisted concrete sales statistic, thus [email protected] candidate for this year's prize, HP Proliant servers command helping to paint a more accurate Japanese stem-cell researcher significant market share and picture of the free operating Big thanks to Jens, and the Shinya Yamanaka. although Linux vendors such as Red system's true market share. beta testers, for making them a Hat and Oracle have already reality. The prize, awarded every two received certification, Canonical's A few weeks ago [...] a new years, has previously honored Ubuntu 12.04 LTS will be the first high-end Linux laptop from other contributors to the field of version of Ubuntu to be certified on ZaReason that's available [was information technology. a number of HP Proliant generation released] with a variety of Linux Currents 8 servers. As part of HP distributions preinstalled, but this In 2004 Tim Berners-Lee won certification, Ubuntu 12.04 LTS past weekend two more Google Currents has been the first Millennium Technology drivers and management moderately priced contenders released worldwide, so install it Prize for his creation of the will be included as part of HP's from made their official on your Android/Apple devices, technology underpinning the Proliant warranty. debut. [The Lemur Ultra, and the search for 'full circle' (in the worldwide Web. Pangolin Performance.] app) and add issues 55-60 to Source: theinquirer.net your app. Or, you can click the Source: pcworld.com Source: pcworld.com links on the FCM download page for those issues.

full circle magazine #60 4 contents ^ CCOOMMMMAANNDD && CCOONNQQUUEERR Written by Lucas Westermann TTiippss && TTrriicckkss IIII

s a follow-up to last seconds). month's article, I decided A reader, John, recently I hope that this information has to supply a few more explained his ToDo list setup to me The colours script I use is the been useful, and, as always, if you A tips and tricks that mesh (while suggesting I write the above last script on this page: have any questions, comments, or well with previous articles. I'll cover Conky tips in an article: done and http://tldp.org/HOWTO/Bash- suggestions, you can email me at (briefly) how to configure Conky done), and I thought it was a very Prompt-HOWTO/x329.. It lswest34@.com. If you do for Japanese, a reader's solution versatile way to go about it. As I've essentially writes the colour codes email me, please include “C&C” or for ToDo lists, and a useful script explained in the past, my system to the terminal, resulting in a table “FCM” in the subject line. I've been for displaying your current terminal simply utilizes a python script and a of the colours, helping you when debating whether or not I should colour scheme. folder of reminder , meaning I you're either customizing your do an article of C&C on my can update it on-the-fly with any Bash prompt, or else when you're configuration files and favourite Displaying Japanese in Conky is text editor. The script John uses, trying to find colours that you like. I programs – if any reader is fairly simple, and consists of the however, offers an Anroid and save this script in my scripts folder interested in reading that, please following three steps: iPhone app, which is a bit easier to as “colors” and defined an alias send me an email and let me know. • Override any UTF-8 locale with do quickly. The script he uses is within my .bashrc for “sh the setting “override_utf8_locale called “todo.txt”, and is written by $pathToColors” (replace yes” (minus the quotes) Gina Trapani (her homepage is: $pathToColors with your actual • Enable XFT (X FreeType) fonts http://ginatrapani.org/). Combined ), to save myself having to using the setting “use_xft yes” with the following script (that he write it every time. You can also (minus the quotes) found on the Ubuntu Forums – I create a symbolic link in /usr/bin/ • Then choose a font that supports was unable to find the exact or add your script folder to your the language, for example: “xftfont thread, otherwise I'd have linked to $PATH, but seeing as the colors VL Gothic:size=10” (minus the it), you can have a nicely formatted only matter for your terminal, it's quotes). list in Conky. The script is here: simply easiest to create an alias. http://pastebin.com/FnHGkcXw. The script looks something like the This is useful if you, for Once you've added some items to image shown right. example, have Japanese in your the todo.txt file, you need to ToDo list (if it's displayed by conky), simply test the script (and possibly For anyone interested in the Lucas has learned all he knows from in case any of your scripts return adjust the path to todo.sh), and actual colors I'm using, they can be repeatedly breaking his system, then Japanese characters, or if you use then add it to conky using, for found here: having no other option but to Japanese in any other way within example, ${execi 60 todo-list} https://github.com/lswest/dotfiles/ discover how to fix it. You can email conky. (which runs the script every 60 blob/master/.Xdefaults Lucas at: [email protected].

full circle magazine #60 5 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Greg D. Walters BBeeggiinnnniinngg PPyytthhoonn -- PPaarrtt 3322

must say, I love my Android something like “Well, if you REALLY friends on , and play Python programming for the tablet. While I use it every day, think we need that...”. Then she games - all on a device that was Android . One of it's not yet a replacement for gives me the same look I give her light and cool. If she got tired, she these tools is called “SL4A”. SL4A I my desktop. And I must also as she is lovingly fondles the 50th could just slip it off to the side stands for Scripting Layer for admit, most of what I use it for is pair of shoes at the store. between her and the recliner (or Android. That's what we will pretty much what everyone uses In all honesty, it wasn't hard to bed when she was home trying to concentrate on in the next couple theirs for: web browsing, listening get the first tablet into our house. I regain strength). MUCH better than of articles. We'll really focus on to music, watching videos, playing bought it for my wife while she was a bulky laptop, and book, mp3 getting SL4A set up on Android in games, and so on. I try to justify it going through chemotherapy. She player, remote control, and more. this one. by having apps that deal with tried to use a laptop for a while, grocery and todo lists, finding but the heat and weight on As she was getting You might ask, why in the world cheap gas, fun things for our her lap was too much pumped full of noxious I would be talking about Android grandson, etc. It's really a toy for after a while. E-books chemicals, I would programming in a magazine me right now. Why use a fancy on a laptop for her commandeer a designed for Linux. Well, the touch-screen tablet to do your wasn't an option, table and chair in simple reason is that the core of grocery list? Let's face it... it's the so when she tried the corner of the Android is Linux. Everything that cool looks of envy that people give to read, she had treatment Android is, sits on top of Linux! me in the store when they see me to juggle the room, near a rolling the cart down the aisle and I book, and the power outlet, Many web pages show how to tap my tablet to mark items off the laptop, and the and try to work load SL4A into the Android list. Ahh--- the geek factor RULES! mp3 player. All on my six-year Emulator for Desktops. We'll look Of course, I can use the back of an while being tied old laptop. In at doing that another time, but for old envelope to hold my list. But to a recliner with between now we'll deal with the Android that wouldn't be cool and geeky, tubes running into projects, I would device itself. To install SL4A on now, would it? her arm filling her do research on your Android device, go to with nasty chemicals. Android http://code.google.com/p/android- Like 99% of geeky married men When I got her the programming. I found scripting/; you'll find the in the world, I am married to a non- tablet, it was the best of all out that most programming installation file for SL4A. Don't be geek woman. A wonderful loving worlds. She could read an e-book, for Android is done in Java. I had absolutely confused here. There's a woman, to be sure, but a non-geek listen to music, watch a TV show, almost resigned myself to re- square High Density barcode that who, when I start drooling at the browse the web, check her E-mail, learning Java when I stumbled you tap to download the APK. Be latest gadget, sighs, and says update her cancer blog, follow her across a few tools that allow sure that you have the “Unknown

full circle magazine #60 6 contents ^ HOWTO - BEGINNING PYTHON 32 Sources” option enabled in the Application settings. It's a quick you'll see a rather How to Include Accents from the Keyboard download. Once you have it disappointing black by Barry Smith downloaded and installed, go screen [...] That's ahead and find the icon, and tap it. “ OK. f your Linux system is in French, German, or Spanish, and, What you will see is a rather therefore, requiring accents, or if, occasionally, you need to use disappointing black screen saying accents which do not appear in English words, many users do not “Scripts...No matches found”. I know that there is a very easy way to do this from the keyboard. That's OK. Hit the menu button and The following applies to only the UK keyboard. select View. You'll see a menu. http://developer.android.com/sdk/i Select Interpreters. Then select ndex.html to get the Android SDK Acute accent menu again, and select Add. From (Software Development Kit) for Press Alt Gr + ; (semi-colon) Lift hand then press the desired vowel é the next menu, select Python 2.6.2. your desktop. It includes an This should ask you to start a Android Emulator so you can play Circumflex browser session to download along. Setting up the SDK is really Press Alt Gr + ' (apostrophe) Lift hand then press the desired vowel î Python for Android. Once this is pretty easy on Linux, so you installed, select Open. You'll get a shouldn't have too much trouble. Grave accent screen menu with the options to Press Alt Gr + # (hache) Lift hand then press the desired vowel è Install, Import Modules, Browse Modules, and Uninstall modules. Umlaut Select Install. Now Python will Press Alt Gr + [ Lift hand then press u ü download and install along with other extra modules. In addition, ñ - Press Alt Gr + ] Lift hand then press n ñ you'll get some sample scripts. Finally, tap the back button and œ - Press Shift + Alt Gr Lift hand then press o then press e œ you'll see Python 2.6.2 installed in The œ will not appear until after the e is keyed. the interpreters screen. Tap again on the back button and you'll see a To get ¿ and ¡ (inverted exclamation mark) which I use all the time in list of some sample python scripts. Spanish before questions, and exclamations, press Alt Gr + Shift, Greg is the owner of RainyDay keeping both keys pressed, then hit _ (underscore) for ¿ or hit ! That's all we are going to do this Solutions, LLC, a consulting company (exclamation mark) for ¡. time. All I wanted to do is whet in Aurora, Colorado, and has been programming since 1972. He enjoys your appetite. Explore Python on cooking, hiking, music, and spending If you want any of these in capitals, just press Shift before keying in Android. You might also want to time with his family. His website is the letter. visit www.thedesignatedgeek.net.

full circle magazine #60 7 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Elmer Perry LLiibbrreeOOffffiiccee -- PPaarrtt 1144

hile data collection is Before starting the wizard, you useful and helpful in need to the data used for determining results, the chart. You will want to make W or whether goals sure you just highlight the data and were met, charts and graphs their labels. Although you can simplify data so others can quickly modify the ranges for the data digest and interpret results. The series later, getting it as close as art of charts and graphs is well possible helps Calc to better beyond the scope of this article, render the final results. but I will show you how to create a chart in Calc, which you could use in Writer or Impress. There are 1. Chart Type many predefined charts and graphs 2. Data Range available in Calc. The chart type (above) is where In step two we define the data you select the type of chart you We will use a simple collection range and how Calc will use the want to create. For some chart of data to create our chart. The data range to create the chart. If types, you have the option of 3D data represents the boat rentals we need to change the range from effects, and for others you do not. for a six month period. We will use what we selected, we can type in For our chart, we will select the a bar chart to show the relationship the range or select the range from basic bar chart. Since we have the between the different types of the spreadsheet. The small button option of 3D effects for a bar chart, boat rentals for each month. You have two ways to at the end of the data range we will also check the 3D Look start the chart wizard. textbox will shrink the wizard checkbox. In the 3D Look You can click on the chart dialog so more of your spreadsheet The Chart Wizard dropdown box, you have the wizard icon (shown right) on the is visible. options of Realistic or Simple. This main toolbar, or through the menu The chart wizard allows us to helps determine the look and with Insert > Chart. The chart We need to tell Calc whether get the basics of our chart shading of the 3D effect. We will wizard consist of four steps. We our data series are defined by row completed quickly and easily. In use Realistic. Finally, you can select will walk through each of the steps, or column. For our example, we fact, sometimes the chart wizard is different shapes for your data but it is possible to click the Finish used columns. Also, since we all you will need to complete your series. We will use cylinder. Click button at any time to end the selected the labels as well as the chart. The wizard is your jumping the Next button to move to the wizard process. data, we need to check both First off point for all chart creation. next step.

full circle magazine #60 8 contents ^ HOWTO - LIBREOFFICE PART 14

revisit any of the steps, you can use row as label and First column as range of the series much as you button to move to the last step of the Back button or select the step label. could in the data range step; the wizard. however, keep in mind, this is only from the list on the left. Click the Finish button to complete the Click the Next button to move for one set of data and not the 4. Chart Elements wizard and display the chart in your to the next step. entire chart. You can add another series by clicking on the Add spreadsheet. button. You can remove a series by The fourth step (above right) of 3. Data Series selecting it and clicking the the wizard allows us to define Formatting Chart Remove button. Change the order names for the different parts of The third step (below) lets us of the series by selecting the series our chart, including title, subtitle, Elements redefine, add, change the order, you want to move and use the up and x and y axis. We can also set After creating the chart with and remove data from our data and down arrow buttons. the location of our legend and the series. You will see the data series grid for the chart area. For our the Chart Wizard, it is possible to change the elements of the chart. for the chart defined by their label We don’t need to change chart sample, give it the title After clicking on finish, you will in a listbox. You can change the anything here, so click the Next “Sample Bar Chart”. We also want to label our Y-Axis as “Num of notice that the newly created chart Rentals”. Since our X-Axis is the is selected and your toolbar has months of the year, we don’t really changed. You have the chart need a label for the X-Axis. It is formatting toolbar instead of the self-explanatory. Set the legend to standard edit toolbar. The new appear at the bottom, giving our toolbar has a dropdown box which data more room to spread out. allows you to select the different elements you can change. After We are now finished with the selecting an element from the Chart Wizard. If you ever need to dropdown, click on the Format

full circle magazine #60 9 contents ^ HOWTO - LIBREOFFICE PART 14 Selection button to display the double-click the chart, and you get dialog for that element. the specialized toolbar and menus of the chart. On the Area tab, t back. There are also buttons for select a background color of light his changes the perspective of the changing the chart type, and gray. You will notice this changes chart. We have only touched the displaying the chart grid and the color of our data area as well, surface of the chart and graphs in legend. The button with the double but we want the data area to stand There are other things to do on Calc, but I encourage you to play arrow beside the capitol A is used out. Select Chart from the your own. Try changing the color of around with the different types to scale the text with the chart dropdown list and click Format one of the data series or adjusting and elements. The type of chart when you resize it. I highly Selection. On the Area tab, select the placement of some of the you use is dependant upon the recommend this, as it keeps things to fill with color and pick white. elements. All can be done through type of data you have and the proportional. In addition to the Since we are using a 3D chart, let’s the dropdown list, and the Format information you want to convey. changes in the toolbar, you will find change the perspective a little: and Insert menus. When you changes in the Insert and Format Format > 3D, check the Perspective deselect the chart, you are taken Next time, we will begin our work menus as well. These changes allow checkbox and change the back to normal toolbars and in Impress, LibreOffice’s you to insert and format elements percentage to 50%. You will see menus. To edit the chart later, just presentation program. of your chart.

You can move the chart by clicking and dragging the borders. Resize the chart by clicking and dragging one of the eight handles. If you selected the text scale button, the size of the text will scale with the chart as you change it.

Now, let’s make some changes to our chart. In the dropdown list in the toolbar, select Chart Title and click on the Format Selection Elmer Perry's history of working, and button. On the Font tab, change programming, computers involves an the size to 18 and the style to bold. Apple IIE, adding some Amiga, a generous helping of DOS and Click OK. Next, select Chart Area Windows, a dash of Unix, and blend and click Format Selection. The well with Linux and Ubuntu. chart area is the entire background

full circle magazine #60 10 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Jürgen Weidner PPrreeyy

Prey will then send us an E-Mail or a SMS, and then we can access our computer remotely with the following options:

• take a snapshot of the current user if there is a built-in camera.

• take a snapshot of what he is est safe. That's the currently doing. With a little luck, headline of the Prey it's possible to check out his E-Mail, project. If you have lost account, or R your laptop or your something else of evidence. phone, or they were stolen, Prey gives you the chance to locate • hide private Thunderbird or them anywhere in the world and Outlook data and/or delete stored install the tiny Prey client on every get them back. Simply the passwords. account. We can register up to device we want to protect. Since possibility of locking a stolen three computers or phones for Ubuntu 11.04, we'll find Prey in the laptop and denying a thief access • lock the computer and make it free. For more devices, or some Ubuntu Software-Center. Install it to the data is worth thinking about. unusable. special services (more reports, from there, or via Terminal, with Prey is currently available for Linux, permanent tracking, shorter Mac, and Windows based • send an alarm sound or show a reporting intervals), we can choose sudo ­get install prey computers, and Android based message on the display. one of their pro offers. phones. The iPhone and iPad Apps For older Ubuntu versions, are currently under Apple’s review. Sound interesting? Let's go. For testing, the free version just chose the download from the suits us, and we work through the projects website and install with How it works First, visit the Prey website procedure. After entering our Gdebi. Next thing to do is to open (http://www.preyproject.com/) to name, e-mail, country, and the Dash. In the category System, password, we will receive an e-mail we'll find the Prey Configurator. The location of the lost or create an account. After we click to activate our Prey account. stolen computer or phone will be the Login button, we hit on “Not After opening it, we work tracked by an Internet access, the registered? Sign up”. Now we can When that is done, it's time to through the Main Settings. nearest Wifi access point, or GPS. choose between a free or pay

full circle magazine #60 11 contents ^ HOWTO - PREY

Because the Prey account is already created, the last step is to type our login data (e-mail and password).

Finished! The unit is registered now and can be tracked. First, we decide about the Frequency of reports and actions. The Control Panel This means we set the time- switches have to be ON. For frequency when Prey will awake To check out if it works, and to groups. The function of every network details, it will be useful to after we’ve raised an alert of a lost see which options activate if the switch will be displayed when we switch on YES to gather active device, and the number of minutes device is lost, let's surf again to move the mouse over the question connections. If the computer between the single reports we'll preyproject.com. After we log in, mark beside it. Functions labeled possesses a WLAN-module, we receive, or an action will take place. we'll find our registered machine at with a little red pro are available should enable the listing of Wifi If you are not in a hurry, the default the control panel in the category only in the pay version. hotspots near the device. To be setting of 20 minutes will be just Devices. able to trace the route the current fine. If necessary, you can change Let's start with the settings in user has taken with our equipment, that later at the Control Panel. Before changing something, the section “Information to we first need to install the package let's take a closer look at the panel. gather.” “traceroute”. We'll find it in the Next we have to think about It is clearly structured in three Ubuntu repositories, install it in the enabling a guest account. This is a Of course Geo and Network usual way and activate this must for computers protected with function. a password to get full remote access. Next we can choose to take a screenshot of what the user is Wifi autoconnect should be doing. If we are lucky he is logged enabled, it allows locating the in somewhere where we recognize computer if it is near a Wifi access his name or something else of point - whether its new owner is evidence. If there is a built-in online or not. webcam, and we want to take a picture of the person who is using We accept the Reporting mode our property, we shift the as recommended. Webcam-button to ON.

full circle magazine #60 12 contents ^ HOWTO - PREY

Under the section “Actions to If a device is announced as aware that we give them at least container - to keep any possible spy perform”, currently we don't missing, Prey will send us 10 the access to our computers or at bay. change anything, because these reports. The eleventh report will phones. Even when they promise functions will work whether the overwrite the first one and so on. never to spy, and never to do URLs of interest: computer is registered as missing So we see always the ten latest anything that might harm us, there Website of the Prey-project or not. reports (up to 100 in the pro- is still a little risk. http://www.preyproject.com/ Caution particularly with the version). Host of the Prey-sourcecode Secure button! This article can only briefly https://github.com/prey/prey-bash- To prove that we are the legal cover the basic essentials of Prey. client At least let's activate the owners, it's important to notice the There is much more to learn about. Prey forum Missing-button, save the changes, computer’s or phone’s serial For further information, especially https://groups.google.com/forum/ and let's see what happens. numbers. for details of handling Prey on your #!forum/prey-security phone, visit the FAQ at their Prey IRC-channel When I made this test with my To prevent a thief from homepage. For discussion with http://webchat.freenode.net/?chan PC, after some minutes I received installing another operating other users or the developers, nels=preyproject an e-mail which told me that the system, we should protect the there is a forum and an IRC- device has been located. At the BIOS with a password, and disable channel. control panel appeared the first booting from CD/DVD or other Editor’s note: There’s also an report. The current IP, time, OS, removable devices. Conclusion Android version of Prey and active connections up to the (https://play.google.com/store/sea Internet-browser were shown. It To format the HDD, or to There is no assurance we will rch?q=pname:com.prey), but was all correct so far. remove the Prey-software from our get back our property, but we can having read the comments, it Computer, a thief needs to know improve our chances. I've decided seems quite easy to defeat. the administrator-password. Worth knowing to keep this little guard on my There is no need to worry about computers. Just the option to lock updates for the prey software. It out a stolen computer persuades will update automatically when me. By the way, in case of a necessary. burglary, maybe the PC will lead me to the thief, and help me get The software is open source and back other stolen property. Who can be checked by everyone. knows?

Prey people say that privacy is For the storage of sensitive their number one priority, and that data, I use Cryptkeeper (Ubuntu they gather information only with repositories) or a TrueCrypt our permission. But we have to be

full circle magazine #60 13 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker GGIIMMPP -- TThhee BBeeaannssttaallkk PPtt11

and make it A4 in size, portrait in else for now. For a foreground For ideas, I’m using Photoshop orientation, and with an X and Y color, choose a very pale greeny- tutorials that are freely available resolution of 80. The default X and yellow (RGB = 220, 229, 189). For on the web, and, while not copying Y resolution is 300. That’s for the background, choose a slightly them step for step, applying the professional printing, and, it faded greeny-yellow (RGB = 133, underlying principles of them to requires high resolution images as 151, 81). GIMP. source material, and can slow down even the hardiest of machines - so Next, left click (and hold) in the I should also state, for the we’ll go with 80 which is more than middle of the blank image and record, that I’m using GIMP 2.6. As I adequate for this tutorial. move up to the top middle of the write this, a 2.7 version is available, image. Release the mouse button but, it is not entirely compatible Select the ‘Blend tool’ and you’ll have a radial fill covering with the *buntu family, and trying icon (shown left), and, the entire canvas. to install it can give conflicts. where it says ‘Shape:’, choose ‘Radial’ from the drop down What we’ll be making is shown menu. No need to change anything left.

Sources: n the first of this new GIMP Sky - series, I’m going to try and http://www.2textured.com/index.p show you some intermediate hp/Environment/Skies/skies_0347 techniques. In other words, I YouTube Video showing Pt1 being things that people may think are possible only with Photoshop. If made: you’d like to read more about the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= absolute basics of GIMP, then I NYFTdbzjubg refer you back to FCM#12-19. While I used an older version of The Sky Gradient GIMP in those issues, the layout of GIMP has changed little in the First thing we need to do is passing years. create a new image (File > New),

full circle magazine #60 14 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP: THE BEANSTALK Pt1 drop down menu above the layers and choose ‘Value’.

Color Curve

You’ll now have a greeny sky, but it doesn’t look very dramatic does it? With the sky layer still selected, click Colors > Curves from the menu. We’re going to create what’s known as an S-curve. The S- curve is a great way of quickly color correcting your photos too. Click two boxes across and two down in the grid, and drag your mouse up little chain link icon is linked. If the and to the left slightly, and two No, Not The Layers! icon looks like a broken chain, then boxes in and up from the bottom your sky image will resize Click File>Open, and choose disproportionately and squish. your sky image. To quickly get the Make the width of the sky about sky into our main image, we go to 300 wide, and click OK. This gives the ‘Layers’ tab and (as shown us some room to play with. above) drag it onto our main image Click the ‘Move’ icon With the sky now in our main (shown left). Now, left image, you can close the opened click and drag the sky sky image. icon to where you think it looks best. The sky image is quite high resolution, larger TIP: The gradient is one layer and than we require, so we the sky is another. If we add several need to resize it. Click the ‘Resize’ more layers, it’ll get quite tool (shown left), and click the sky. confusing. To make things easier In the resize window that pops up, you can double click on a layer Now for some layer magic. With you need to make sure that the name and rename it. the sky layer still selected, click the

full circle magazine #60 15 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP: THE BEANSTALK Pt1 From the window that pops up, Select’ icon (shown below left). choose ‘White (full opacity)’ and Left click and draw a box around click ‘Add’. You’ll see a box appear the bottom third of the sky. next to your sky thumbnail in the list of layers.

Now click the ‘Blend Tool’ icon (that we used at the start of this tutorial), but make sure the ‘Shape:’ is Linear this time. You’ll need a foreground colour of black, left of the grid, and click and drag from the menu, choose ‘Add Layer That box is a thumbnail of the and a background colour of white. down to the right. Mask’ (shown below). layer mask. The idea is that if you With that all set, click and drag just select that layer thumbnail, and up from the bottom middle of the Which will give you an S-curve draw in black, you’ll erase parts of selected area, to just below the top (shown above) which you should the sky image. Draw over the middle of the selected area, and play around with until you get a erased area with white and the sky release the mouse button. nice dramatic sky with good darks, will reappear. This means you can but not too bright lights. show/hide parts of the sky - using the mask - without destroying the Let’s finish off this sky and original sky image. We’ll use the that’ll do us for this first part of the mask to fade the sky into the tutorial. background.

Make sure the mask Layer Mask thumbnail is selected, it should have a white Right click on the sky layer, and outline, and click the “Rectangle

full circle magazine #60 16 contents ^ HOWTO - GIMP: THE BEANSTALK Pt1

The Ubuntu Podcast covers all the latest news and issues facing Ubuntu Linux users and fans in general. The show appeals to the newest user and the oldest coder. Our discussions cover the development of Ubuntu but aren’t overly technical. We are lucky enough to have some great guests on the show, telling us first hand about the latest exciting developments they are working on, in a way that we can Your sky will now magically fade all understand! We also talk into the background. And since it’s about the Ubuntu community a layer mask, the original sky is and what it gets up to. untouched. You can right click on the layer mask and delete it and The show is presented by the sky will return to its original members of the UK’s Ubuntu state. Linux community. Because it is covered by the Ubuntu Code of Next month we’ll add a piece of Conduct it is suitable for all. below the sky, and maybe, just maybe, start growing The show is broadcast live every fortnight on a Tuesday evening that beanstalk. Class dismissed! Ronnie is the founder, and editor, of Full Circle, an official Ubuntu (British time) and is available for member, and part-time artist who's download the following day. work can be seen at: http://ronnietucker.co.uk podcast.ubuntu-uk.org

full circle magazine #60 17 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Mark Crutch IInnkkssccaappee -- TThhee SSVVGG FFiillee FFoorrmmaatt

magine giving instructions to someone in order for them to Vector graphics, on the other draw a picture of a house. The hand, consist of a series of I chances are that you would instructions. “Draw a red circle with describe geometric shapes and a radius of 10 units, centered at their relative positions. “Draw a big coordinates X,Y. Now draw a blue red rectangle about half the width line from the top left corner of the of the page, roughly in the middle page to the bottom right.” That red and a little wider than it is tall. Now circle could have a radius of 10 put a grey triangle on top of it inches, or it could be 10 miles, that’s a little wider so it overhangs meaning that, unlike raster images, at the edges...” The same vector graphics can be scaled with instructions would work for any no loss of quality. size of canvas from a postage stamp to a billboard.

You’ve just imagined the world of vector graphics. one in particular is an open format, “tags” in a similar manner to HTML When you take a photo or defined by the W3C – the same files. There's a tag, a create an image in GIMP, you’re standards body that’s responsible tag, and so on. They can be working with raster graphics – for the HTML format that drives modified using any text editor, sometimes called bitmaps (not the A small circle scaled up as a bitmap image the web. Vector graphics are, by though as an image becomes more same as the .bmp file format – (above left), and as a vector image (above their very nature, scalable – but and more complex it's usually right). although that is an example of a that didn’t stop them trying to easier to use a drawing program to make absolutely sure you know edit them. Probably the best bitmap graphic). A raster graphic Just as there are many raster (or bitmap) is essentially a list of what you’re getting with their known software for this is Inkscape formats – JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP to format: they called it “Scalable (www.inkscape.org) which can be colors, which tells the name just a few – so there are also computer to draw a red pixel, then Vector Graphics”, or SVG. found in the repositories of most many vector formats. Most of them Linux distributions, Ubuntu a blue one, then a green one... and have grown from proprietary so on, pixel-by-pixel, line-by-line, SVG files are plain text included, and is available also for applications, such as AutoCAD’s containing nested collections of Windows and MacOS. Inkscape until the last pixel is reached. DWG, or Adobe Illustrator’s AI, but

full circle magazine #60 18 contents ^ HOWTO - INKSCAPE uses SVG as its primary file format, works, but it's got one other trick which makes it a great tool for up its sleeve which elevates it Useful Links: creating or editing SVG files, but beyond the inherent smoothness Inkscape: http://www.inkscape.org which also places a limitation on and simplicity of pure vector Inkscape User Forum: the program's capabilities. With graphics: it also has some support http://www.inkscapeforum.com serious work now underway on for raster images. At the simplest SVG Icons: defining version 2.0 of the SVG , it's possible to include a http://tango.freedesktop.org/ format, Inkscape should, hopefully, raster image in an SVG file, then W3C SVG Working Group: be able to make some ground on draw lines and circles over it, or clip http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/ its proprietary competition over it into an odd shape using an SVG the coming years. path. But raster images can also be used as fill patterns in SVG files: ...brought to life with some SVG Next month we'll have our first The HTML-like structure of SVG Inkscape ships with a few of them filters touch of Inkscape. Stay tuned! files, together with their origins at by default, and I've personally used the W3C, have made them the the sand texture (which looks like official standard for vector the noise or on an un-tuned graphics in the web world. It has television) to help simulate stone, taken a long time, but most web ash, bricks, and even a cornfield! browsers now natively support SVG files, and it's possible to mix them Going further still, SVG has a directly into HTML files – ideal for concept of filters – mathematical inline graphs or maps. The operations that can be combined hierarchical structure of tags is also and applied to the rasterised pixels open to being modified by in your final image. The image is Javascript in the same way as still made up of vectors, but once HTML content, allowing for anyone those vectors have been drawn, with some web development skills filters can create all sorts of grungy Whether you want to draw icons to create interactive graphics. As is raster effects which would usually for an application using Inkscape, often the case, however, specific require a program like GIMP or graphs for a website using support varies between browsers, Photoshop. Just look at how a little Javascript, or abstract art using a and some more advanced features filtering can turn some semi- text editor, SVG is a powerful and Mark has been using Linux since of the SVG format may not display random vector blobs into an flexible format that promises even 1994, and uses Inkscape to create in the same way in all of them. explosive fireball: more in the years to come. So grab two webcomics, 'The Greys' and 'Monsters, Inked' which can both be a copy of Inkscape using your found at: So SVG is great for diagrams, Some simple vector blobs... and get drawing. http://www.peppertop.com/ interactive charts, and even artistic

full circle magazine #60 19 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Ronnie Tucker WWrriittee FFoorr FFuullll CCiirrccllee MMaaggaazziinnee

Guidelines If you are writing a review, REVIEWS please follow the guidelines shown he single rule for an here. Games/Applications article is that it must When reviewing games/applications please state clearly: somehow be linked to For a more detailed list of the style rules and common pitfalls Ubuntu or one of the • title of the game T please refer to: many derivatives of Ubuntu • who makes the game https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuMa (Kubuntu, , , etc). • is it free, or a paid download? gazine/Style - in short: US spelling, • where to get it from (give download/homepage URL) no l33t speak and no smilies. Write your article in whichever • is it Linux native, or did you use Wine? software you choose. I would • your marks out of five When you are ready to submit recommend LibreOffice, but • a summary with positive and negative points PLEASE SPELL AND GRAMMAR your article please email it to: CHECK IT! [email protected] Hardware If you can't write articles, but When reviewing hardware please state clearly: Writing hang out in Ubuntu Forums, send us interesting forum threads that • make and model of the hardware There is no word limit for we could print. • what category would you put this hardware into? articles, but be advised that long • any glitches that you may have had while using the hardware? articles may be split across several Non-English Writers • easy to get the hardware working in Linux? issues. In your article, please place • did you have to use Windows drivers? where you would like a particular • marks out of five If your native language is not image to be. Please do not use any • a summary with positive and negative points formatting in your document. English, don't worry. Write your article, and one of the proof- readers will read it for you and Images correct any grammatical or spelling errors. Not only are you helping the You don't need to be an expert to write an Images should be no wider than magazine and the community, but article - write about the games, applications 800 pixels, in JPG format, and use we'll help you with your English! low compression. and hardware that you use every day.

full circle magazine #60 20 contents ^ https://spideroak.com

full circle magazine #60 21 contents ^ LLIINNUUXX LLAABB Written by Calogero Bonasia SSeerriiaall CCoonnnneeccttiioonn

he old laptop I got from obtained, or you could try typing: Once the Serial line is mingetty cannot be used for serial my dad features an RS- configured and working properly, connections; it cannot be run in a 232 port. So, now that, setserial ­q /dev/ttyS0 it's time to let a terminal run on console, too. I tried it for testing technically, I had a client that port. This is what I added to purposes, but the console - along T which might be useful. Usually, the that I could test my RS-232 my /etc/inittab: with your login program - will log connection with, I ordered a null UART Type is 16550A on a standard you out, as soon as you log in over modem cable. PC. Mine wasn't working, though. s0:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty your serial line. At least not right from the start, ­L 38400 ttyS0 There is no RS-232 outlet on my when I tried to read the interface -L means this is a local line, with I added it at the top of that file, desktop computer, but there’s a with: no carrier signal. 38400 is the right below the 'si' statement, connector on the mainboard where standard speed of a Linux console, cat /dev/ttyS0 an RS-232 outlet can be attached. The outlet will then cover up a PCI I got the following error: slot. cat: /dev/ttyS0: Input/output Several of the programs error referred to below must be installed from Software Center, Synaptic, or Obviously, the driver couldn't by using apt-get. activate the hardware. Reason was, it was deactivated in the BIOS. Activating RS-232 After activating RS-232 there, it worked well. Ok, once all the cables were in place, I tried to access both RS-232 As a last action, I added myself ports by reading from them to the uucp group, so I have user directly. They're usually ttyS0 or permission to the serial lines. It is ttyS1, depending on what COM- not necessary for the terminal Port it is. setup, but a good idea to do so, just for future projects, maybe. From the file /proc/tty/driver/serial, information Setting up a terminal about the serial setup can be

full circle magazine #60 22 contents ^ LINUX LAB - SERIAL CONNECTION it might be a bit high, I was told, the better option is cu, it's part of capabilities.) These are the two The Kernel accepts multiple but it works well. I tested that with the UUCP-Package. lines I added to the top of my console options, of which the last some higher values as well menu.lst : one is the standard console, and (115200), and it worked too. I guess Oh, and the serial port of that the one that will be used in Single it depends on things like cable computer has to be accessible as serial ­­unit=0 ­­speed=38400 User mode. These are my Kernel length, etc. Last parameter is the well, of course. ­­word=8 ­­parity=no ­­stop=1 options: serial tty to listen on. The terminal terminal ­­timeout=3 serial type can be specified as an Once everything was set up, I console title Fedora Core (2.6.20­ additional parameter at the end of established the connection: 1.2316.fc5) the parameter list, vt102, for The serial command initiates root (hd0,0) instance. This is sometimes cu ­l ttyS0 ­38400 ­­nostop the serial terminal option, --unit=0 required, depending on the client. defines our first serial connector, in kernel /vmlinuz­2.6.20­ Pretty self explanatory, I think. my case it's the only one I have on 1.2316.fc5 ro The --nostop option disables root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 After finishing editing my machine. I used the standard rhgb quiet vga=795 /etc/inittab, typing: XON/XOFF handling. Linux-Console speed, as well as the console=tty0 console=ttyS0,38400 init q "8N1" connection strategy. Root Access Over ttyS0 initrd /initrd­2.6.20­ 1.2316.fc5.img will make the system re-read In order to become root over terminal defines the terminal /etc/inittab and apply changes. The the serial terminal, the tty needs to priorities, first terminal (serial) is console=tty0 is the standard agetty should now be listening on be added to /etc/securetty. I the standard one, the last one is console located on the machine, ttyS0 . appended ttyS0 to the end of the the secondary terminal (console). i.e. monitor and keyboard. file. It is now possible to gain root Setting up a client access over the serial terminal. The --timeout=3 enables a delay on agetty process needs to be both consoles, with a prompt for a It's time to establish a restarted to apply changes. keystroke. Depending on which connection and test the serial line. I terminal the key is pressed, this use a laptop that has an RS-232 Accessing GRUB over terminal will be used. If no key is port, so some preliminary setup is pressed after the timeout, the required. I tried minicom as a ttyS0 standard console (in my case serial) terminal program initially, but it will be used. turned out not to be the best To make bootloader access client. It tries to initialize the possible over ttyS0, some changes Relaying Kernel Output modem - this lasts quite long, and to /boot/grub/menu.lst need to be it doesn't convey ANSI colors. So done. (GRUB is the bootloader I on Boot use, I suppose LiLo has similar

full circle magazine #60 23 contents ^ CCLLOOSSIINNGG WWIINNDDOOWWSS SSoouunndd SSeettttiinnggss you access to the volume control Written by: and, by clicking a box, you can Ronnie Tucker (KDE) quickly mute your volume. Muting Jan Mussche (Gnome) can also be done by lowering your Elizabeth Krumbach (XFCE) volume to zero. More in-depth Mark Boyajian (LXDE) configuration is done by using Start David Tigue () > Control Panel > Sounds & Audio Devices.

From this one window you can adjust the volume, choose which sound devices to use for devices can be configured. The profile, configure devices, and even playback/recording, and adjust ‘Device Preference’ tab at the top test your speakers for proper various hardware settings. of the window lets you choose placement. which hardware to use for playback, recording, and video Clicking ‘Apply’ will accept your recording (webcam usually). current settings, and clicking Similar to Windows XP, you can ‘Overview’ will take you back to the click the speaker icon in the taskbar The ‘Audio Hardware Setup’ tab System Settings main window. to gain access to the volume. is where you can choose a sound Clicking the speaker icon in the popup will mute/unmute the volume. The device settings can be altered in K > Application > Settings > System Settings by double- indows XP has clicking the Multimedia icon in that several different System Settings window. ways of adjusting W your sound volume. The ‘Audio CD’ tab lets you The easiest and quickest method is configure encoding/decoding of by left clicking the small speaker audio CDs (MP3, OGG, etc.) while icon in your taskbar. This will give the ‘Phonon’ tab is where the audio

full circle magazine #60 24 contents ^ CLOSING WINDOWS

On the next tab, Hardware, you can choose which hardware you LXDE want to use, and change the setting for the loudspeakers to Volume control in LXDE can match the ones you have. most easily be adjusted by clicking Gnome-Shell master volume bar, together with the speaker icon on the right-hand the tick box to Mute the sound. The On the third tab, Input, it is side (default location) of the panel. The Gnome-Shell has a similar master volume can be set here, can possible to choose your Clicking this icon will open a slider program, although not as extensive be set by clicking the loudspeaker microphone - should you have control that can be dragged up or as in KDE. It can be reached by icon in the top panel, or by simply more than one. Also the volume down to adjust the volume clicking: System > Preferences > placing your mouse over the can be changed here. accordingly. There is also a “Mute” Sound, or clicking on the loudspeaker icon and use the check box; click in this box to mute loudspeaker in the top panel and scroll-wheel. The output tab is similar to the the volume - independent of the choosing “Sound Preferences”. previous one - with the difference volume slider setting. By default, For sound effects, you can that here you can select your out this box is unchecked. The sound preferences window chose either “No sounds” or device, and set the balance has 5 tabs: Sound effects, “Ubuntu” as your sound theme. An between left and right. For more granular control over Hardware, Input, Output, and alert sound can be chosen volume and gain settings, you use Applications. separately - which makes the sound The 5th tab, Applications, shows Alsamixer (the default application). theme change into “Custom”. The information about currently used Open Alsamixer from the Lubuntu No matter which TAB you use, alerts have a separate volume bar. programs. Here the volume for Control Center (from the Main on top of the window is always the each program can be changed. Menu select: System Tools >

full circle magazine #60 25 contents ^ CLOSING WINDOWS

the top of the window you’ll find the bottom of the window), the name of the currently selected immediately above which is a pair sound card, the name of the sound of numbers (each representing the chipset in use, the currently percent volume per channel - left selected view (the default is and right, respectively), and a Lubuntu Control Center) by clicking That said, they both do the same “playback”), and detailed vertical “bar” that is “filled” to a the “sound” icon. job in much the same way, but information about the currently percent that corresponds to the Alsamixer does it using a lot less selected item (volume, device, or percent volume setting. Alsamixer looks “primitive” system resources, and on older gain control). There is also a “key” compared with other GUI sound machines this can make a defining the operation of several To select a control, press the control applications, but it is significant difference in function keys and the “Esc” key; right (or left) arrow key on the chosen as the default because it is performance. using these keys gives you access keyboard. To increase or decrease very “lightweight”, which is what to help, system information and the volume for the selected LXDE is all about. There are other Since Alsamixer is the default sound card selection, as well as control, press the up or down apps. You can choose to install LXDE master volume controller, we exiting the program. arrow keys, respectively. If the from the LXDE repositories that will focus on that. Also, it differs control you select governs multiple look more “finished” (such as from other “GUI” apps (such as By default, the “playback” available devices (such as -alsamixer, shown below), Gnome Alsa Mixer) in that it cannot volumes are displayed. You can microphones), pressing the but they require more overhead. be operated with a mouse; you display the Capture gain controls up/down arrow keys will change As you can see, Gnome Alsa must use the keyboard (how by pressing the F4 key. All controls the selected device (rather than Mixer has the same functionality as quaint!). This is a surprisingly can be displayed by pressing the F5 altering the volume, which is a Alsamixer, but looks a little “nicer”. simple and efficient application. At key. Each control has a name (at separate control). When you are done making

full circle magazine #60 26 contents ^ CLOSING WINDOWS adjustments/selections, press the When you click on the speaker icon, “Esc” key to close the program. you will see the mute button, the main volume slider, buttons for Xfce your music apps (the default in 12.04 will be Rhythmbox), and By default, you can open the Sound Settings. Clicking on ‘Sound most basic volume control in Settings...’ will open a window Xubuntu by clicking on the speaker where you can make more in-depth icon in the top right hand side of sound changes. It defaults to the ‘Sound Effects’ tab where you can your panel. The volume scrollbar in this menu coming up automatically, click on change the default sound-effect can be used to directly adjust the “Select Controls...” to select theme, and change the Alert The first selection on the menu Master volume. additional controls that you may be Volume. Also you will notice there is “Mute” which you can select to able to manipulate for your card. is a volume slider at the top of this mute your sound. Once muted, a For more control than just your From this menu you can adjust the window labelled ‘Output Volume’, little red “x” will show up on your main volume, select “Sound sound levels, click on the speaker this is the same as the main volume speaker in the panel. To unmute Settings...” from that menu, this icon under the levels to mute any slider. Now, if you look at the tabs you can open the menu again and will launch the xfce4-mixer. controls, and click on the link icon on that window, you will see four instead of “Mute” you will see under the levels to adjust the left more tabs other than the default “Unmute” and you just select that. If you don’t see any controls and right speakers independently. ‘Sound Effects’ tab. The ‘Hardware’ You may also click on the “Sound tab will allow you to change which card:” dropdown at the top to sound device (if your computer has change settings for other audio more than one) to use, and it will cards, if you have them) and also allow you to change the settings for microphones. settings for the selected device. You will also notice a button that Unity says ‘Test Speakers’. Guess what that one does? The next tab is If you need to make ‘Input’, and within this tab you can adjustments to the main volume in change the input volume, Unity you can either hover over the speaker icon in the top left and use Next month we’ll discuss your scroll wheel to make the adding/removing software, PPA’s, volume go up and down, or you can and . files. click the icon to see the volume slider and adjust it from there.

full circle magazine #60 27 contents ^ MMYY SSTTOORRYY Written by Joe Berry

n a day-to-day basis, I day basis which make my life quite There may be better, more user- as Washington Post, Wall Street have two laptops open. comfortable and productive. This friendly apps out there, but I am Journal), and of course computers One is a Windows XP article describes those certain there are no password (such as Full Circle Magazine, O box that belongs to my applications, what they do, and management apps that are more SourceForge, VMware). If you really company. I use it for all my business how and why I use them. secure than Password Safe. When want to use impossible-to-break requirements, mostly software looking for a similar sort of passwords, Password Gorilla even development and work-related Password Gorilla application for Ubuntu, I stumbled offers the option to create random email. I used to keep personal files across Password Gorilla, an passwords for you to use for and applications on that same Protecting passwords can be a application with a database specific websites. One additional laptop, but ever since my company laborious task. It is a well known compatible with Password Safe, nice feature is that Password Safe had to re-image that laptop due to fact that using the same password written in Python. Given a is also available for Android smart- the operating system getting on multiple websites is dangerous. password database created in phones. fouled up, I decided it would be If the password is revealed, a Password Safe, it can be opened best to keep my work and personal hacker will have access to a and modified with Password DoIt activities on separate machines. multitude of your websites, some Gorilla, and vice versa. The that you undoubtedly will forget to advantage to this feature will be For those of you familiar with My personal laptop is a rather change. But remembering many apparent shortly (see Dropbox the GTD philosophy, DoIt is an low-end Toshiba box (Satellite passwords, especially good below). application that implements the A205-S5843) with 2GB of memory passwords, is not easy. There are a concept. GTD stands for Getting which I purchased for under $400 a number of password management When the application is first Things Done, based on the book of couple of years ago. I am currently applications that keep track of user started up, a database is created. the same name written by David running Ubuntu 11.10 on it. Other names, passwords, and URLs for Access to the database is, of Allen. At its simplest, DoIt than Skype not showing video the sites that you have subscribed course, via a password. I suggest maintains lists of things to do - task input from a USB-connected to. that a really good password be lists, if you will. Tasks can webcam, everything on that used. Personally, I use a short optionally be organized by context computer seems to work well On the Windows side, I have sentence in a foreign language or by project. Tasks can be enough. always been a fan of an app called transliterated into English letters. I scheduled or not. It's a very Password Safe, originally written keep my passwords segregated flexible system and quite intuitive While I have installed many by the cryptology expert, Bruce into folders: bank accounts, credit even if you haven't read the different software packages on Schneier cards, entertainment (such as reference book (but reading the this laptop, there are only a few (http://www.schneier.com/), and YouTube, Pandora), purchasing book will help you manage and applications that I use on a day-to- now an open-source application. (such as Amazon, Ebay), news (such organize your life).

full circle magazine #60 28 contents ^ MY STORY

One of the most popular Entire web pages can be saved The bad news is that there is no programs around is Evernote. From using Evernote browser extensions. Once upon a time I was a user of native Linux version of DoIt. The their website: “Evernote makes it This includes text, links, and the very popular personal financial good news is that it works out-of- easy to rememberthings big and images. If you're an MS Outlook software called Quicken for the-box via Wine. No special wine small from youreveryday life using user (yes, that's a Windows Windows. I used it for a number of options are required and the yourcomputer, phone, tablet, and product), then Evernote's Outlook years until, one day, the software program works quite quickly on my the web.”I use it for keeping notes extension can automatically notified me that I needed to laptop. There is also a web-based about everything. I have a folder capture all or part of any email. download (and purchase) an version of the app (accessible via for work notes, and a separate Similar to DoIt, there is, upgrade version as my version was http://doit.im), and even an folder for personal stuff. I also unfortunately, no native Linux too old. As I had already been Android version. They all have a folder where I keep credit- version of Evernote available. But, moving my personal computer synchronize nicely with each other. card and bank statements that I similar to DoIt, Evernote installs activities to Ubuntu Linux, I DoIt is probably the first program I have downloaded as pdf files. and runs easily through Wine. decided to look for a good, free, run every morning, preparing me What's really cool is that I can There are also web and Android financial package that would run for the day's tasks. search my notes (including the pdf versions of Evernote. on Windows and Linux. I looked at files I attached) for any text. a number of different packages but Evernote Moneydance none of them held my interest. In the end, I opted to spend some

full circle magazine #60 29 contents ^ MY STORY money and bought a commercial one easy, organized overview, obviously have to give them your information is available about product. I cannot recall what I available 24/7. With one password, username and password - along Thunderbird. When I originally spent originally on Moneydance, Manilla also lets you know when with the answers to any and all started using Ubuntu, my first but today it costs $49.99 (they also anything is coming due with challenge questions to all of your email client was Thunderbird. So accept Euros and British pounds). automatic reminders. Say goodbye accounts. It doesn't work with all of many articles spoke of the The product works on Linux, to hassles and late fees!”. my accounts (there are still 3 wonderful features of Evolution, I MacOS, and Windows boxes (it's accounts I need to manage decided to give that program a try. written in Java). I originally used Before Manilla, here is how I manually). But they now track my I stuck with it for almost six Moneydance on a Windows laptop. handled my credit-card, utility, and mortgage payments, all my credit- months. In the end, the frustration When I switched to Linux, I only other bills: A bill would come in the cards, gas, phone and electric factor was too high, and I switched had to install the software on my mail (or via email). I would note the utility bills (both homes), as well as back to Thunderbird. It's not Ubuntu machine (no extra cost for amount owed and when the “pay my checking and saving account perfect, but I use it for a significant switching platforms), and copy my by” date was. My note would statements. amount of time each day, for both data files. It worked flawlessly. contain the bill account, amount, email activity as well as for reading Today, I use Moneydance to and “pay by” minus approximately What's really nice is that the RSS/ATOM feeds. manage my checking accounts, 7 days. I would then use DoIt (see statements or bills from each of credit-card accounts, and above) to note that I have to pay these accounts can be stored Dropbox investment accounts. I'm quite one or more bills by the date that I indefinitely on their site. I no happy with the product; they noted. It was clumsy but it worked. longer need to keep a paper copy This is such a cool app! It runs update it fairly regularly. Then my wife and I built a second in my file drawer. Nevertheless, I on Linux, Windows, Macs, and home in the mountains of Maine decided not to take advantage of smart-phones. You define a special Manilla (where I tend to work from as much this feature. I download all account “dropbox” folder, and place as possible). Now, I had the statements (as pdf files) and store whatever content you want into Unfortunately, Manilla is problem of having to forward my them inside of Evernote. By having the folder. This can include available only for users in the USA mail periodically. Just remember an unique Evernote tag for each pictures, documents, music, etc. (or who have financial accounts this: the best definition of the account, I can conveniently see all Dropbox automatically based out of the USA). This is a word “oxymoron” is the U.S. Postal statements for a particular account synchronizes the equivalent folder web-only based product, and so is Service. Too often, I would end up with one click of the mouse. on each computer that has platform neutral. Since their paying late fees. The mail wouldn't Dropbox installed on it. For website says it so much better than arrive on time, or I would forget to Thunderbird example, whenever I purchase an I can, here is what they say the note the amount and date of when ebook, I place that book in a sub- product does: “Manilla gathers all the bill was due. Manilla has made For email, in my opinion, this is folder of dropbox called “books”. I of the information you need to my life a lot easier. the best product available on the can then read that book from any manage your bills and other Ubuntu platform. I won't really of my computers including my important accounts, and puts it in The scary thing about Manilla is discuss it much as so much Droid-X smart-phone. This way, I that you have to trust them, as you

full circle magazine #60 30 contents ^ MY STORY always keep my library with me. searchable interface. You can add PDFs, images, audio and video files, I also have a separate folder snapshots of web pages, and really 1166xx1166 SSUUDDOOKKUU wherein I store the Password Safe / anything else. Zotero automatically Password Gorilla database. So if I indexes the full-text content of Numbers 0 to 9 and letters A to F are to be filled into the add a new entry on my personal your library, enabling you to find 16x16 grid so that every row, every column, and every computer, it will be automatically exactly what you're looking for 4x4 box contains 0 to 9 and A - F. updated and made available on my with just a few keystrokes.” I work computer. Note that Dropbox frequently snapshot news articles is not inherently safe from prying using Zotero, knowing that the eyes. I would not store any articles will soon-enough disappear personal information in my from the hosting news site, and Dropbox folder that is not this will be the only way to keep encrypted by me. For example, I copies of those articles. would not store my Moneydance database in Dropbox. There is also Six months ago, I discovered a limit as to how much you can Evernote. Personally, I'm in a bit of store for free. By default, the limit a quandary, not really knowing if it is, I believe, 2GB. If you get other still makes sense to use both people to sign up, that amount will Zotero and Evernote or not. increase. For $99/year, you get They're both high-quality 50GB. applications, and I'll leave it to the reader to decide which if not both Zotero applications to use. In summary, the above I've been using Zotero for programs (in addition to ) several years now. Zotero is a probably represent well over 90% plugin for Firefox, Chrome and of what I do with my Ubuntu- Safari, that captures any and all powered laptop. I hope at least one information about a web page. A of these applications has piqued new version of the application runs your interest and will also make as a stand-alone program on all your life a bit easier. Solutions are on the second last page. platforms, including Linux. As their website says, “Zotero collects all Puzzles are copyright, and kindly provided by, your research in a single, The Puzzle Club - www.thepuzzleclub.com

full circle magazine #60 31 contents ^ MMYY SSTTOORRYY Written by Ronnie Tucker

ince I can’t give away free One week before deadline, I finest excuses about how the dog (usually me), and who still doesn’t party hats, or slices of send out another nag-mail telling ate their laptop, or something understand how to properly use a cake, I thought I’d spend a the authors that time’s getting on. similar. comma (me again). S page (or three) showing I’m pretty sure they ignore this one the process of how an issue of FCM too, but I can’t prove it. As time Week 2 - The One week after releasing the is made. passes, I’ll start to get articles proof-readers, they’ll have pored coming in. Not so much a gush, Proofreading over the articles, fixed all the Week 1 - The Deadline more of a trickle. spelling snafus and grammatical Once I have all the articles, I put goofs, and tweaked any sentences I have to compile: I Think, them in a folder on that need clarification. Usually the first (or second) Letters, Editorial, My Desktop, and set the proof-readers loose on Sunday of the month is the writers’ Closing Windows (just the Windows them. It’s usually messy, and it’s At this point I invite Jens and deadline for the regular folks. But, and KDE parts), and now the GIMP here that they catch who’s using the translation teams to the roughly two weeks before the tutorial. UK spelling instead of US spelling deadline, I send out my first nag- mail reminding writers about the Then, two days before deadline deadline. I’m pretty sure it’s is my final nag-mail. It’s around ignored, but I do it anyway. about this time that the writers start panicking and email me their

full circle magazine #60 32 contents ^ MY STORY Google Docs folder so that Jens look pretty along the way. Week 4 - The Release section. can begin making the epub edition and the translators can begin Along the way, I’ll take a rest Once the PDF is 100% complete, Once that’s done, there’s still translating the text while I’m from Scribus and head over to the and (hopefully!) free of errors, I’ll work to do. I have to package up making the PDF. Speaking of Google Currents Producer page upload it to the FCM site and the Scribus files and put them out which... and import the articles from announce it to the world. First via for our beloved translators to grab. Google Docs into a Google the mailing list, which I hope you’ve By this time, they’ll have most of Week 3 - The Scribus Currents edition. This doesn’t take all signed up for. Then, I’ll inform the text translated and begin their too long (couple of hours at most), the Ubuntu News mailing list of the side of things, Jens will be busy This is where Scribus comes into and, once it’s done, I can queue it new arrival, which they put in the with the epub, and I’ll go to , and I lose my entire weekend. up for release on a particular date Ubuntu Weekly News. I then Docs, create a new folder, and the I usually copy last month’s Scribus and time. announce it on Facebook, Google+, whole process begins again... folder, rename it, and use it as a , and on our Ubuntu Forums template for the new issue. Once I have a 90-95% complete PDF, I upload it to Crocodoc, and I always start by editing the invite the proof-readers to a game issue number, month, and year of spot-the-inevitable-mistakes first, then start from Command & that I’ve introduced along the way. Conquer and work my way through They’ll highlight text/sections the issue removing the old text, which they see as needing fixes, adding the new text, inserting and I’ll make those corrections images, formatting text, and before releasing the PDF. generally trying to make things

full circle magazine #60 33 contents ^ MMYY OOPPIINNIIOONN Written by Art Schreckengost

anonical has announced First you have the issue of or does it come with the one from the same basic specs plus a plans to have Ubuntu 14.x inconsistency, to wit: outer Mongolia? Good question, minuscule flash drive (usually 10GB ready for tablets and and something you're not going to or less) a great deal at the same C smartphones by 2014 but • Care to guess what version a find out until opening the box. Buy price? Think about it. Even the Fire could that be too late? Are tablets particular tablet carries? Doesn't a Nook Tablet or Kindle Fire, and and Nook Tablet, at $200 to $250, a fad - much like PDAs and assorted matter the price or size, chances you may soon discover that both are priced in netbook territory, yet mini electronics from the recent are even the person or store selling use proprietary app stores pack puny flash drives (and the past? it has no clue. You might find an charging more than Android's for Nook reduces their version to 1GB expensive tablet packing 2.3 the same apps (and both will try with the other 8GB reserved for First, let me define tablet for Gingerbread while the inexpensive their level best to keep users from Nook apps or books). the purposes of this discussion. I'm offering has 4.0 Ice Cream sidestepping to the Android going to omit the iPad since it uses Sandwich. My favorite? The version). • All the configuration allowance of the Apple iOS in lieu of Android. Sylvania tablet being sold by a local a cinder block brick. Come to think I'm also going to ignore tablets store that originally came with 2.x • On the topic of app stores, it may of it, I can at least paint the brick, based on Windows 7 since that's a but, somewhere down the line, had be best to state at this point that but doing anything with a tablet is full OS and not a truncated version a sticker placed over that part of apps are not programs, they are forbidden. Want more RAM? Buy a of something else (plus I know of the box with just “Android” being wannabes. An app that can open computer. Battery weak? Few allow just one tablet that actually runs it, listed for the OS (you could still see Word documents and do minor for a change by the user. Want to and that's the Acer Iconia W500 the 2.x entry through the sticker, edits cannot be considered a full swap Ubuntu for the OS? Check that comes with a detachable though). word processor. What office suites around and you'll discover most of keyboard making it a netbook I've seen and used through various these are locked tighter than Fort minus the screen hinges). • Peripheral acceptance. Some stores are pale comparisons to Knox. On reflection, tablets are come with USB connections and even LibreOffice (which hopes to consistent in this area. Oops, That pretty much leaves the card readers, some don't. Better have a tablet offering sometime wrong category. Android based devices, most of look before you buy, and don't this year). which sport 1:1 netbook specs assume that USB can be used to • How about screen resolution and (1GHz processor mated to 1GB transfer files to your tablet. Some • Pricing. I have a netbook with the similar considerations? I've seen RAM). do, some don't. specs mentioned earlier - although small 7-inch versions with sparkling it does have a 250GB HDD. I'll send screens and great video capability, So do tablets look like a fad to • Wherefore art thou ? it to you for $500 if you're while some of the 10-inchers sport me? Does your tablet of choice come interested. Too high? Then, why archaic resolutions similar to the with the Google Android app store would you consider a tablet with Windows 95 era and couldn't play a

full circle magazine #60 34 contents ^ MY OPINION YouTube video if their life Android tablets sold during the tablet). (app or program). depended upon it. Black Friday specials had a return rate after the holidays of almost But 8 has its own share of All of this tells me you're not • Then you have the posers such as 50%. That's right, nearly half of the problems: going to find 8 residing on your the Nook Tablet and Kindle Fire. tablets sold were returned with the cheaper tablets. In fact, the current Are they tablets or not? More not vast majority being sent back for • It swallows about 12GB of HDD Acer Iconia with Windows 7 runs than anything else, these are not performing to customer space once installed. Considering about $550, and has just 2GB RAM essentially e-readers pimped with expectations. the average Android tablet I've mated to a 1GHz dual core AMD C- browsers and with limited function reviewed has around 10GB, you can 50 processor and 32GB SSD. otherwise. Don't believe me? Buy Meanwhile, the debate rages see the space issue. Problem is, Meanwhile the Compaq CQ-57 one and see how much flexibility on. Will tablets progress far cranking up the flash drive space laptop with the same base specs you have. enough in the evolutionary chain to also means dishing out some plus a 250GB HDD and keyboard, survive or will they go the way of serious $ since SSD prices still runs just $250. Not only that, but And these problems are just the previous but now doomed techno- haven't come down to less than $1 the Compaq's hard drive, RAM and tip. As with any new software or wizardry? per GB. battery can all be swapped out for technology, there are initial better options (both are sold at teething problems, but Android has Maybe the answer will come • Efficiency is still an issue. walmart.com by the way). shown an ugly side mainly because sooner than we know. Microsoft is Windows 8 is a facade pasted over Google released the source code to set to release Windows 8 in the last Windows 7, so resource usage is Sure, it packs a pound or so everybody - without any guidelines. quarter of 2012, and it’s quite still a tick heavy. On my 2.2GHz more than the Acer tablet, but I obvious it’s designed for the tablet notebook running 8GB RAM, it also get the extra weight of $300 Oh, and did I mention that crowd. routinely swallowed 20% at idle. plus tax in my pocket. Android has really never gotten With tablets packing just 1GB RAM over the fact they started as a For those that haven't tested on average, you can see the Now we're back to Canonical smartphone OS? Most of the apps the free previews, it's actually the potential for sluggish performance and their decision to make Ubuntu you'll see were designed as Windows 7 Metro UI smartphone (which is why many netbooks come a tablet OS with limited flexibility. smartphone time killers while OS mated to 7 Home Premium. with 7 Starter since it dispenses Is this going to be a wise decision? waiting for a plane or bus. Microsoft proudly proclaims how with the excess baggage that eats fast 8 boots, and it does get up and RAM). To be truthful, Ubuntu is a Think I'm being overly critical? running in 15 seconds, but it's secondary OS for most users who Being retired, I have an ample smoke and mirrors. While 8 is ready • Software compatibility is have suddenly discovered their amount of time on my hands and to rock and roll, 7 is still grinding questionable. At this time, 8 runs original OS has bought the farm. routinely visit local retail stores. As away for another minute or so in apps while 7 runs programs. As a Others, like me, are in the minority such, I've gotten to know the clerks the background (and that was on result, you have OS schizophrenia by using Ubuntu as their main OS in various electronics sections and my 2.2GHz dual core processor where the desktops flip back and (and blowing off Windows even on was mildly shocked to discover that with 8GB RAM – imagine it on a 1:1 forth depending upon what's open a new PC). Other than this, Ubuntu

full circle magazine #60 35 contents ^ MY OPINION hasn't exactly knocked the socks these programs. And that was on a And the Distrowatch numbers average sales tax in the U.S. is off the mainstream computing full computer, not some tablet. just keep fading. somewhere way south of 10%, with public. Care to remember the Dell California jacking up the debacle in which Ubuntu was Meanwhile the once faithful are I've seen this happen before percentage). For these users, the offered as a primary OS in lieu of flocking to other camps. when developers have failed to tablet is king because its lower Windows? I know of absolutely seek customer guidance. price means less in the way of nobody who bought one of these, Pardon the pun, but I haven't Remember the taxes. nor have I seen any for sale on the seen this much disunity since Lindows// fiasco secondary market. Windows issued Vista. where some group thought It's up to Canonical at this point customers would flock to an OS to choose their path wisely, and I But Canonical's decision to go Then you have the issue of that offered limited possibilities haven't seen that recently. tablet has met with less than Canonical's corporate policy of not and a software download system Abandoning Gnome and KDE for spectacular customer approval as offering proprietary codecs and called CNR (Click and Run) - which just Unity is proving to be an witnessed by the latest drivers, while others just don't was better titled Cut and Run since unwise decision, and it may be time Distrowatch ratings showing seem to care. This might be most of the listings were to consider going back to offering Ubuntu losing its top spot to Linux understandable if it wasn't for the overpriced and outdated? Don't more than just one dinner on the Mint, by a comfortable margin. fact that when you attempt to play worry, few do, and it's best left to menu. Unless tablets improve videos or music in Ubuntu, it the discarded OS graveyard along quickly, I'm afraid it could be Why? Ubuntu has gone to immediately offers to download with Corel's WordPerfect OS (which curtains for that technology in the offering Unity as the one and only what it considers offensive to was free but only if you bought the near future. desktop option, although users begin with. $40 book that had the DVD have the option of adding another, included), or the infamous K-Mart like Xfce, Gnome, Cinnamon, Meanwhile (and and Walmart computers that ran , etc - unlike others) just include the drivers and awful internet services on archaic Windows or Android. codecs right from the start. specs.

Unity may be great for tablets in But Canonical is going full In Canonical's favor, though, is a which program options are limited, into the tablet arena, and secondary issue that many but it has severe shortcomings even recently introduced a probably don't know. Ubuntu is when used on computers with a lot smartphone app that can run incredibly popular in European of programs. When I tested Unity - Ubuntu, albeit a reduced version countries where smartphones with openArtist packing over 1,000 that must be run on an attached outsell computers by a wide programs - I was mildly amused monitor via a dock (be realistic – margin, mainly due to high VAT while the Applications area smartphone screens barely run (value added tax) figures that can suffered a stroke attempting to Android let alone Ubuntu). add 20% to the price of new load icons and headings for all technology (meanwhile the full circle magazine #60 36 contents ^ MMYY OOPPIINNIIOONN Written by J.D. McCay

Google search for the The old way: I wonder if Larry is online for a not open, all I do is start typing newest version of Here I am back in 2010. The first chat. Back to the trackpad. Sure “Thunderbird” to open it. If it's Gnome's desktop thing I need to do is open up the enough, he's online. Back to the already open, I still just have to A environment will bring article that I am writing. I move my keyboard. He wants me to email start typing “Thunderbird.” up Gnome's website, Gnome's mouse up to the places menu, him “Document X.” Back to the Wikipedia page, images of Gnome, scroll down until I see my trackpad. I guess the case that I'm trying etc. But, after scrolling past the documents folder, double click on to make is this: If you love the obvious results, one can't help but my articles folder, double click on The new way: keyboard (and I'm guessing you do, notice the slew of slurs against a_case_for_gnome_3.odt. Now, I By now, I'm thoroughly otherwise you wouldn't be a Linux Gnome 3. A trip to any Linux blog, want to verify that Gnome 3 came frustrated with my computer, and user), then I think you'll love forum, or opinion page, will reveal out in 2011. My memory's not that all the wasted motions from Gnome 3. If you want to have the vast numbers of Linux users great, you know. So I move my keyboard to trackpad and back multiple applications running at who simply can't stand it. They say hands from the keyboard back to again. So I log back into Gnome the same time, and want to switch it's unusable. They say they want the trackpad, go up to the Shell and type: back and forth between them Gnome 2.x back. They threaten to applications menu, scroll down to quickly and easily, you'll be right at switch to XFCE. In fact, perhaps the the internet section, and scroll over Super > a case for... > Enter. home with Gnome 3. nicest thing I have read on the web to . Back to the Super > larry > Enter. about Gnome's new interface is keyboard, type wikipedia.org. Back Super > thu... > Enter. Not sure whether you're a that it, “at least handles better to the trackpad, click on the open keyboard connoisseur or not? than Unity.” Every now and then, document, back to the keyboard... What would have taken a Here's a test. When you use a menu after reading one of these blog considerable amount of effort in item in an application, do you make posts about how Gnome 2 was so Wait, I just remembered that I Gnome 2.x took a few keystrokes in a note of whether it has a keyboard much better than Gnome 3, I log was expecting an email. Back to Gnome 3. Switching back and forth shortcut? When choosing from a out of my current session, and log the trackpad, Applications > between the article and Larry's list of “auto-suggests” in a search back in to Gnome Classic. Maybe Internet > Thunderbird. Hmm, email would have meant switching engine, do you instinctively move the rest of the Internet is right, and Larry hasn't emailed me back yet, back and forth between the to the Tab key? If so, then I have a I've just forgotten how great so I'll just send him a reminder. keyboard and the trackpad several pretty good feeling that you are Gnome 2 was. Maybe I really will be Back to the keyboard. Once I've times. In Gnome 3, my hands never going to like Gnome 3. Give it a try, more productive using a tried-and- finished, I'll start working on that leave the keys. It's like keyboard and keep those fingers on the true desktop environment. article. Back to the trackpad, and shortcuts on steroids. I don't even keyboard where they belong. They then back to the keyboard again. have to remember whether my don't call it “Home Row” for email client is open or not. If it's nothing, you know.

full circle magazine #60 37 contents ^ Last month's question was: II TTHHIINNKK...... Ubuntu 12.04 will be released on the 26th of April. Will you be upgrading?

Cinnamon. Looking forward to Mint 13. GNOME3 and Unity don't Still not sure about the support my dual new Unity, and tired of monitors. having to reinstall drivers on every major upgrade. I dislike the "possibilities" given with Gnome 3. It's a Fedora or Linux Mint are huge step back. looking like better choices. Dislike direction Ubuntu is going, Changing distro. I usually give it a few months before taking the Ubuntu 12.04 will be I'll wait a little bit for the upgrade plunge. Not sure my older released on the 26th of early adopters to hit the computer can take it. April. Will you be wall. My 10.04 system is stable. Thank you. upgrading? Printer and Wifi may not work. Maybe 40 9% Yes 329 75% This month Jennifer (Ubuntu Games) would like to ask: No 71 16% Not sure if the pae kernel will install on my Intel With the recent boom of Kickstarter If not, why not? Single-Core Centrino games, have you donated to the creative laptop. cause, or do you prefer to wait and see? I'll do a clean install I've given up with Ubuntu instead. It is faster and because of Unity. I To give your tuppence worth go to: http://goo.gl/RPoJu cleaner than building on currently run Mint 10 as the foundations of a my main distro, but I've Closing date for this question is Sunday 13th May 2012. three-year-old system. been playing with Mint 12 with

full circle magazine #60 38 contents ^ full circle magazine #60 39 contents ^ RREEVVIIEEWW Written by Mohammad Kamil Nadeem DDeessuurraa

buntu, or, for that stated on read the README file, which will Log in, and you are off to installing matter, GNU/Linux, is http://www.desura.com/about . So provide you information on games - both free and paid. In the really an excellent how does one get on installation and other related game section, you will meet some U option for almost every Ubuntu and its derivative? Simply subjects. Once you have installed old friends like “Neverball”, job that computers may be used go to the Desura game client, run it, and “Warsow”, “”(which is a fork for (far better than Windows or http://www.desura.com/install and you will be asked to login. If you of ), “Alien Arena,” and MacOS) but gaming is one platform click on Install Desura for Linux. It have an existing Desura account, others. Also in attendance are top where we are indeed lacking when will download an archive, “desura- login with that, or register a new rated paid games. Just to name a it comes to a totally modern OS i686.tar.gz” in my case. Extract and one, as it is a fairly simple process. few: “Braid”, “World of Goo”, experience.

Luckily, progress is being made, and many game developers (especially developers) are realizing the available Linux market, and our readiness to pay for it, has already been proven many a time on releases where the average Linux user’s payment is always the highest. Today, we’re looking at Desura.

What is Desura?

”Desura is a community driven service for gamers, putting the best games, mods, anddownloadable content from developers at gamers’ fingertips, ready to buy andplay.”as

full circle magazine #60 40 contents ^ REVIEW: DESURA “Crayon Physics Deluxe”, graphically in comparison to your “Teamplay” and “Bank Robbery”. Testing and other developer “VVVVVV” (if you have trouble modern shooters, but what it lacks The games can be launched from related stuff. pronouncing it just say V 6 times), in graphics it makes up for in the the client itself, or from the “Trine”, “Frozen Synapse,” and sheer exciting gameplay. The game installation folder - as they are Go ahead, install it, have fun. If many more. I installed three games has two modes, Single and installed locally. Desura is also you are playing “Smokin' Guns” and from Desura: “M.A.R.S - A Multiplayer. about the community, and there some “MKN” hurls dynamite at you, Ridiculous Shooter”, “Vertigo” and you can interact with fellow chances are it will be me. “Smokin' Guns” (all of them are Multiplayer is where the game gamers , make friends, join groups, free). I have personally taken quite earns its money, just join any of the and read fellow users’ reviews. Good a liking to “Smokin' Guns” as it many servers present and jump Finally, there is also a Development • Major step in making Linux recreates the "Old West's" great straight into action. My favorite section where developers can attractive to gamers atmosphere. It does lack game types are “”, release their games, do Beta • Easy Installation • Is a social medium • Great integration with the Ubuntu desktop.

Bad • The game titles available for Linux are less in comparison to Windows.

full circle magazine #60 41 contents ^ Every month we like to publish some of the emails we receive. If you would like to submit a letter for publication, compliment or complaint, please email it to: LLEETTTTEERRSS [email protected]. PLEASE NOTE: some letters may be edited for space.

Ubuntu Salesman aggravation is hibernation. The last I've been using Linux for over 5 few releases stink! Every time I put years now, and I like to share my Join us on: have been using Ubuntu for my lid down the PC never recovers. Linux knowledge and get new the past year. I absolutely have It's a hard shutdown to get it back. people on board, but it is getting goo.gl/FRTMl nothing bad to say about it at harder all the time. The Linux all. If anything, I try my hardest I've switched to openSuse Linux community spends all its efforts facebook.com/fullcircle I 12.1, and have had NO issues. It's developing new User Interfaces, magazine to "sell" it to everyone I meet. more technical oriented to use, and and fighting over them, when what People in my workplace know that I twitter.com/#!/fullcirclemag love playing with computers, so the command line is different, but we need is support for the things they always come to me with it's a solid distro. I'd rather be on people really want, like: video .com/company/full- questions. How do I speed up my Ubuntu. support for MSN and Yahoo, and circle-magazine support for iPods out of the box. computer? What is a good ubuntuforums.org/forum I wonder if others have had the Everyone it seems has an iPod, antivirus? Why does this always display.php?f=270 happen? My answer: You need same issue? which Linux does not fare well Ubuntu. Or something along that with. cloud (office365). The existing line anyway. I even went as far as Matt Whittaker plugins are incompatible with this selling my "proprietary" media I really love linux, but the lack of didyou make any version. player, and buying one that works Gord says: support for these things will doom attempt to fix this?Providing the with Linux. I will never go back to this OS. brandandmodel ofyourlaptop is a After a very long search, I found the "Dark Side", I will always try to start. I wouldGoogle: laptop-model DavMail. From the site find a way around my computer Rob suspendsolved(Closing the lid (http://sourceforge.net/projects/d issues...in Ubuntu. shouldsuspend, not hibernate.) Gord says: http://ubuntu- avmail/): DavMail is a POP/IMAP/SMTP/Caldav/Carddav/L Matt install.blogspot.ca/2011/04/connec t-ipad-and-ipod-with-ubuntu.html DAP gateway allowing users to use any mail client with Exchange, even Gripes from the internet through Outlook Hibernation MS Exchange Web Access, on any platform, thought I would share some tested on MacOSX, Linux, and of my gripes with you about read the article about the use 've been a long time Ubuntu Windows fan until recently. No, this isn't Linux in general. of mail in combination with MS exchange. At my office they a Unity hate mail, though I'm I I now use davmail, and I have are using exchange in the I indifferent to it. My I almost nothing to complain about. full circle magazine #60 42 contents ^ LETTERS I wonder why I never read about it tries it. Ranger (below left) is what the Babybuntu (if it really existed) before. writer wants: logo! I would very much like for you to http://ranger.nongnu.org/. Martin Stolk include contact information on I'm thinking "Ubuntu for milk authors, unless they do not wish to Ludo Beckers teeth" instead of "Ubuntu for be contacted. I've published a few human beings". articles on online magazines, and More E17 wish the magazine would have sent Looks Familiar Evgeny Kozlov. me the feedback, or feedback rt Schreckengost would have been submitted his Canpolbabies Tricolour supplied a nice review of directly to me. water teether "Steering Bodhi Linux, but had a wheel" (below) looks like a A major omission. He Gerald L. "Moss" Bliss T stated that he knew of only one Ifanyone needs to other distro using E17 and Ubuntu. Ronnie says: contact a writer, drop me an email. I He missed the nicest distro out always pass along any feedback I get there (yes, my opinion), MacPup foran author. 528. MacPup uses E17, and is based on LuPu (Lucid Puppy, based on Ubuntu Lucid Lynx). Directory Opus I have tried Bodhi and agree that the learning curve is there, n FCM#59 the letters section and is a reason to rate Bodhi down had an entry on Directory a notch. There is no such learning Opus, asking for a similar curve to MacPup 528. I hope he I filemanager for Linux. I think

full circle magazine #60 43 contents ^ If you would like to submit a puzzle for publication, please email it to: [email protected]. Solutions are on PPUUZZZZLLEESS the second last page of this issue. No peeking!

Clues:

Across 2 Motorcycle on filth in this multilevel game (4,4) 4 Unreeling, Nom unravels a free MMORPG (6,6) 6 Fire eater's story's a little funny fantasy at several levels (6,5) 10 A bone in your leg or a pretty old fantasy game (5) 11 Substitute a text adventure interpreter (7) 13 Juggle rocker tick for a game set beyond our world (4,6) 15 Long race or game trilogy (8) 16 Shake a popular game - 4 versions out so far (5) 17 Stadium not closed for a first person shooting game (9)

Down 1 Twisted fortunes have ported a lot of games to Linux (8) 3 Snorkel garden has a multiplayer game in its infancy (6) 5 These games have lots of people shooting at the same time (6) 7 A boy, not Mr. Allan Poe, rescues his father in this 2D (5) 8 Imagine armored vehicles, play this online multiplayer game (5,5) 9 Plan your own city using this simulator! (7) 12 This is a-one in arabic (5,3) 14 You'll love this if you like rogue and Tolkien (5)

Crossword by Ilavenil Thirumavalavan The solutions to all the puzzles are on the second last page of this issue. No peeking!

full circle magazine #60 44 contents ^ If you have Ubuntu-related questions, email them to: Q&A [email protected], and Gord will answer them in a future Q&A Please include as much information as you can about your problem. Compiled by Gord Campbell issue.

Is the classic Gnome sudo apt­get install bumblebee bumblebee­nvidia desktop available in In Nautilus, select I have Ubuntu 11.10 Ubuntu 12.04? Edit/Preferences. Click desktop edition set up as Q sudo usermod ­a ­G bumblebee USERNAME on the Preview tab, Q a server. I want to run it (where you enter the username A change the "Only for "headless," no screen, Yes, install gnome- you log on with.) You can confirm files smaller than" value. mouse, or keyboard. When I try to panel, logout, click the that it's installed by running: control it using VNC, the resolution gear in the Greeter is too low. A window and select optirun glxspheres I upgraded to a GeForce "GNOME Classic". You will probably 520GT video card, and (Thanks to Cancelor in also want to install CCSM, To use the Nvidia adapter with a installed the drivers OK, the Ubuntu Forums) See specific program, precede the Q CompizConfig Settings Manager. but my second monitor is this message thread: program name with "optirun." For ignored. http://ubuntuforums.org example, "optirun vlc" for the VLC A /showthread.php?t=1929145 My laptop has Intel and media player. Run NVIDIA X Server Nvidia video adaptors. I Settings, and go into X understand something What tools Can I use to Server Display How can I keep up to Q monitor client computers called Bumblebee can Configuration. date with Ubuntu? on my network? A extend the battery life, by letting Q Q me disable the Nvidia adaptor. How can I install it in Ubuntu 12.04? I restarted Xubuntu Try ntop. 11.10 and Conky, that was Subscribe to the Ubuntu Q always on the right side, Weekly Newsletter: (Thanks to rodpott in now has moved to the https://lists.ubuntu.com/ the Ubuntu Forums) A left side. A mailman/listinfo/ubuntu Open a terminal and -news enter these commands: (Thanks to wojox in the A My jpeg files in nautilus Ubuntu Forums) Change: sudo apt­add­repository are just displaying as a How can I save directly to ppa:bumblebee/stable Q blank black box instead of a network drive from a thumbnail of the actual A sudo apt­get update own_window no within an application? image. Q to: own_window yes

full circle magazine #60 45 contents ^ Q & A You just need to do this I just built a home using an applet called f.lux, and I once: make sure your file theatre PC (HTPC) with an like it a lot. It's not very exciting: at Depending on the distro, I am manager is set to display Q Intel Atom 330 (1.6GHz, dusk, it reduces the brightness of prompted to install Samba, then A hidden files. In your dual-core) and NVIDIA my display, and makes it warmer. At start again. Home folder, scroll down to .gvfs, ION graphics processor. I believed dawn, it brightens my screen, and and right-click on it. Select "Make that this machine should play makes it cooler. No big deal, but it To access shared folders on Link." The Link will not be hidden, 1080p no problem, but it lags on enhances my computer usage. other computers, I start the file drag it onto your desktop. even 720p, and I get tearing with manager. I select, "Browse regular xvid playback. Of course, determining "dusk" Network." I double-click on a After making sure the network and "dawn" requires knowing my computer name, then on a shared drive is mounted, from your (Thanks to Michael37 in latitude and longitude. folder. At this point, I can copy or application's save dialogue the Ubuntu Forums) Try Fortunately, give me paste files. It all "just works." navigate to Desktop, select "Link to xbmc. I have an Acer that information. .gvfs" and the network drive will A Aspire Revo 3600 (dual- In Kubuntu, with the Dolphin appear in it. One more double-click core Atom 330 and Nvidia Ion). I Sharing Simplified file manager, I take the same steps, and you can save. don't have any problems playing although the details are slightly 1080p content. I am using the v190 On average, I try one new different. driver and VDPAU acceleration. version or distro of Linux a month. I'm building a new http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?titl One of the features I always try, is My wife is Chinese, so she computer, but I'm e=Installing_XBMC_for_Linux to set up a shared folder, and to requires the QQ video- Q keeping the hard drives access shared folders on other conferencing software -- which that I have now. Do I need computers. It always works, so I works only under Windows. When I to reinstall Ubuntu? don't understand why people have connect to her Windows 7 Ultimate Two Tips and trouble with this feature. computer, I am prompted to enter (Thanks to QIII in the a Windows username and Techniques Ubuntu Forums) To create a shared folder on any password. No problem. Day and Night Disable/remove all third distro which uses Nautilus as its file party drivers prior to manager, I create a folder called In the past three years, I have A 'm currently evaluating what shutting down for the last time. "shared". In Nautilus, I right-click never edited a configuration file. I version or distro of Linux I will Backup everything. It is a persistent and select "sharing options." I click have never used the Terminal for move to this spring. Even to myth that this "just works". I have on "Share this folder," "Allow anything to do with folder sharing. me, my parameters are had it work most of the time, but I I others to create and delete files in It has always "Just Worked." If your amusing. Here is perhaps the most have also had it fail. this folder", and "Guest access." experience is different, and you unusual. Then I click on "Create Share." All know why, I would like to hear from done. you. In Ubuntu 10.10, I have been

full circle magazine #60 46 contents ^ UUBBUUNNTTUU WWOOMMEENN Written by Cheri Francis CCaarreeeerr DDaayyss

he Ubuntu Women project msAdministrator More at: http://wiki.ubuntu- started Career Days in • What does a Systems women.org/CareerDays/Programm September of 2011 in Administrator do? A sysadmin may Jane Silber, Developer turned erToCEO order to help women in be called upon to help select and CEO T “I joinedas a s/w engineer, our community learn more about provision hardware, or work with Amber Graner, Community technical careers related to peers and management to movedin to team Manager Free/Open Source Software. engineer solutions to computing management roles, and “I usually just smile, and problems or changing expectations eventually became VP of remindthem just because I The inspiration behind Career within a company. the company.” don't write code doesn't Days was the lack of actual day-to- mean that I am not day information about various • What kind of training does a • Interest in computing began in technical. Nordoes it mean I am not technical jobs. I wanted to hear Systems Administrator need? Some high school, she majored in capable ofunderstandorlearning personal from women in people go to school, others are self Math/Comp Sci, and joined a the concepts andprocesses behind technical (or tech related) jobs to taught by running their own software startup after graduation. FOSS, nordoes it mean I can't get get a feel for what the jobs really servers at home or for their own involvedandmake a difference.” entailed. local organizations or projects. • She built a development career There are even Ubuntu training with jobs over the years in Japan, • She got to test all the latest The following are excerpts and opportunities, more details can be Washington DC, London, and more, automation that was being some details from the first three found here: before becoming a manager, and, developed for the intelligence sessions by women in our http://www.ubuntu.com/support/t eventually, CEO agencies (from '89-'93). Not only community who have stepped up raining that, she helped test J-Stars as to share details about their careers: • In many/most people's careers, well, as it replaced the older SLAR • On a day-to-day basis, she may there is a pivotal "stretch job" - the technology during the First Gulf Elizabeth Krumbach, Linux find herself working on: job that really pushes you beyond War. (Note: for her efforts in Systems Administrator configuration of firewalls, what you've done before. If she testing technology (J-STARS/SLAR) “A sysadmin is pretty much mailservers, webservers, were to offer advice, it would be to in deep attack missions during the learning all the time; monitoring, content filtering be open-minded, to look for the first Gulf War, she was awarded a technologies change systems, and high-availability (HA) stretch roles if that's what you Bronze Star). It was also in the rapidly, the open source virtualized clusters want, to remember that you don't Army where she was first tools available are ever-expanding, have to have done everything introduced to Unix, then Linux, via andthe needs ofcustomers change More at: http://wiki.ubuntu- before. slackware - through some testing overtime.” women.org/CareerDays/LinuxSyste that the 82nd Airborne Division

full circle magazine #60 47 contents ^ UBUNTU WOMEN was experimenting with. me, Cheri Francis, at [email protected]. • Ubuntu Women Project member CCOODDEEWWOORRDD and author of several Drupal While it is particularly inspiring Every number in the codewords grid is 'code' for a letter of the books, Emma Jane Hogbin told her to participants for the presenters alphabet. At the end you should have a different letter in each once: "Don't think everyone who to be women, these sessions are numbered box, and a word in English in each of the horizontal joins an open source project has to open to the whole community, and and vertical runs on the codeword grid. become a developer. Use the skills you don’t need to be a woman to you have, learn the ones you want, attend or present. andjust be yourself."AWESOME advice.

• Don't discount any of your experience - regardless of whether you got a paycheck to do it or you volunteered. Work is work regardless of whether you can deposit money for having done the work.

More at: http://wiki.ubuntu- women.org/CareerDays/Communit yManager

Our amazing presenters have also committed to being available for follow-up questions related to their area of expertise, so definitely check out the logs and ask any questions that come up!

If you’re interested in getting involved, please see the Ubuntu Solutions are on the second last page. Women Career Days wiki page at puzzles are copyright, and kindly provided by, http://wiki.ubuntu- The Puzzle Club - www.thepuzzleclub.com women.org/CareerDays or email

full circle magazine #60 48 contents ^ UUBBUUNNTTUU GGAAMMEESS Written by Dougn Redhammer NNEEWWSS

don’t know if you have Crimson Skies, etc) moments later, turning around and There's even a playable beta, not noticed but there seems to http://kck.st/HgUlMj. Initially, this pulling it, causing fan projects to sure if it’s available for Linux yet have been an influx of games was supposed to also have support be shut down. There was a King's though. I for Linux being announced at for Mac, Linux, and Windows, but, Quest fan project that suffered this the start of April. First off, there even though they have met and fate. EA gave its consent, and then, There are more crowdfunding are three (well two for certain, and surpassed their Kickstarter goal, mere days before the game was to game efforts on Kickstarter right one a maybe) via the donation the game will be available for only be released, pulled that consent. I now where the developers are crowdfunding service Kickstarter Mac and Windows upon launch. believe public outcry/bad publicity promising Mac and Linux ports. The which helped out Novacut. We They have said "maybe" they’ll do a eventually made them change their fact that more than have Tim Schaffers’s point-and-click Linux release after launch, usually mind. exceeded its goal by millions may adventure game "Double Fine when game devs have said this have something to do with this. I Adventure" (not sure if it’s been they mean never, for example the I almost forgot about the either don't really know much given a new name) folks behind both Bastion and upcoming RPG Age of Decadence about the folks behind them, or http://kck.st/A9k3jH. It comes out Magicka promised DRM-free by Iron Tower Studio they are out of my preferred game for most major OSs: Mac, Linux, versions of their games and http://www.irontowerstudio.com/ genres. For example there are Windows, and Android, and, I think, "maybe" a Linux port. Both of them that is now taking pre-orders. They some FPS and RTS games seeking IOS - thanks to the $3 million it have yet to appear. At least the have announced that the game will funding. raised via Kickstarter. folks behind Trine delivered on be across Mac, Linux, and Windows. their promise for a Linux and DRM- Next up is Brian Fargo's free version of their game (still (founder of Interplay) RPG, waiting on a Linux version). Wasteland 2, http://kck.st/yDcMry. This raised an impressive We also have a fan-made Wing $2.1million with 7 days still Commander which is officially remaining. This will be available endorsed by EA, which has a Mac, across Mac, Linux, and Windows, Linux (promised to be released when complete. shortly), and WIndows version. It’s called "The Darkest Dawn" Finally, there’s the Shadowrun http://www.wcsaga.com/download Pc game, for now simply called s/files/releases.html. The only "Shadowrun Returns" by Jordan problem being that EA is known for Wiseman (creator of Battletech, giving its support, and then, mere

full circle magazine #60 49 contents ^ UUBBUUNNTTUU GGAAMMEESS Written by Riku Järvinen SSNNEESS EEmmuullaattoonn PPtt22

et us continue our of writing. However, there is a compatibility profile mainly files located in ~/.config/bsnes. exploration on bsnes simple solution: just downgrade because my rig with E6750 Also, once you have customized (http://www.byuu.org/bsn back to 0.84 and stay there. processor, 4GB ram and 8800 gts the files, you can back them up for L es), an emulator striving Hopefully this annoying bug will be graphics card was not up to the later use or to another machine, for perfection when it comes to fixed in Precise 12.04. task of running accuracy mode. making the configuration portable. realism in playing snes games. In Therefore, all details presented If you place the files in the same the last edition of Full Circle, we Profiles below are tested for the directory where the bsnes discussed installation, rom compatibility profile only. executable is located (that is, purification, basic settings and first Bsnes has three modes /usr/games in Ubuntu 11.10 32-bit), impressions. I recommend you to (profiles) of operation: accuracy, Configuration files bsnes automatically uses those read that article before proceeding compatibility, and performance. files. into details presented shortly. This Accuracy is intended for relatively The bsnes user guide is month, we focus on different bsnes new high-end machines, and, probably thorough enough for I use VIM (http://vim.org) for profiles and the manual editing of according to the bsnes homepage, most users. Nevertheless, more editing, and highly recommend it configuration files for precise it is “almost twice as slow as the advanced tuning is possible by for any power-user or professional tuning. Chrono Trigger is used as a compatibility profile”. However, in manually editing the configuration working in the field. There’s a sample game. We address some practice, the differences between key points of the bsnes user guide, profiles are small, and it’s difficult which can be read at to determine which one is which - http://www.byuu.org/bsnes/user- unless you look very carefully (see guide/. figures below: the first one is for accuracy, second for compatibility, Bsnes not working after and third for performance). As an update? default, bsnes starts in compatibility mode. Accuracy and performance modes can be If you used the method launched by navigating into described in FCM#59 to install /usr/games and running the files bsnes (the workaround with .deb bsnes-accuracy or bsnes- files), you might have noticed that, performance. after an upgrade to version 0.87, bsnes fails to start. The reason for I decided to use the this is largely unknown at the time

full circle magazine #60 50 contents ^ UBUNTU GAMES - SNES EMULATION tutorial series on VIM starting in of shortcut keys for saving states, FCM #54 which I find quite full screen mode, pause, reset, etc, comprehensive. However, if you which you can customize. Too bad don’t want to spend weeks getting there’s (at least not yet) no used to VIM logic, any text editor shortcut for loading a cartridge. (e.g. gedit) will do just fine. Hopefully in the near future... • bsnes reads the rom file paths • The geometry file from paths.cfg which can be geometry.cfg can be used to adjust individually customized for interface, and also some extras. For is the extensive use of computer window positions (see figure different file types (i.e. you can instance, you can add a video resources. You must have an up-to- below). If you experience problems save your snes and nes roms in shader for better image quality by date machine to run the accuracy with disappearing windows, delete different directories). specifying the option: profile without glitches or tearing this file and run bsnes again. • settings.cfg essentially has the Video::Shader = of sound effects. Luckily, the • Inputs are defined in input.cfg. same information for general “/home/%USERNAME%/.config/bsn quality of emulation is also very es/shader/HQ2x.OpenGL.shader” At the end of the file, there’s a list settings as the graphical user good for compatibility and performance profiles, so you don’t The same thing can be necessarily need to upgrade just accomplished from Settings -> for playing snes. Video Shader -> HQ2x.

Note: do not edit config files while running bsnes. This might cause unexpected behaviour and loss of unsaved game data.

Final verdict on bsnes

As the program is clearly still in development, it is perhaps a bit unfair to call this ‘’final’’. All in all, bsnes gets the job done well. The Riku Järvinen (rierjarv) is a CS major experience resembles authentic student from Finland who delves into snes in a way that is uncommon for the Linux and Open Source gaming most emulators. The only drawback world once in a while.

full circle magazine #60 51 contents ^ UUBBUUNNTTUU GGAAMMEESS Written by Jennifer Roger TTrriinnee 22 QQ&&AA

t’s pretty safe to assume most it glitched was the easier way gamers have played around. This just goes to show, that ’s fantasy side- even today, one can expect to I scroller, Trine and Trine 2 on encounter some unexpected issues Xbox Live, PC, or Mac. But, now, on Linux, but also, the solutions to open-source gamers can get it on the issues can often be found, as the physics-based platforming someone has already come across experience too. Frozenbyte it and figured it out. released Trine 2 for Linux in early April of this year, online co-op gaming platform, and, as such, my personal experiences with Linux When and how was the included! With the recent release we're more likely to encounter are that it still requires a little bit decision made to work on the of the Linux version, I was curious various issues along the way. of do-it-yourself attitude - much Linux version? Mikael Haveri, PR as to how the whole porting Despite how well we get it working less than it used to be 10 years ago, (MH) experience went for the staff at on the development computers, though. Frozenbyte. Jukka Kokkonen (Lead there are probably going to be We teamed up with the Humble Linux Coder) and Mikael Haveri much more of those random cases, A good example of these Bundle guys for the first-ever (PR) were kind enough to answer where the game refuses to work unforeseen issues is that the disk company specific bundle, which some questions for the FCM properly for some player - so more and network performance of my was very well received. This also community. support requirement for the Linux Linux work computer kept strengthened our belief in the version was to be expected. randomly going totally down to the Linux community, and made us How does your mindset differ However, we are also hopeful that muds. Kernel logs helped pinpoint realize that there is a definite when working with Linux as the Linux community is probably the issue a bit, but I never figured market that we should cater to. opposed to other platforms? quite adept in solving these kind of out the exact reason, it was either Since we had to have Linux Jukka Kokkonen, Lead Linux issues, and thus we expected this a hardware issue or a versions for the bundle, at first it Coder (JK) to balance out the issues to some issue. And after some Googling, I was our priority just to create them extent. found a kernel workaround for it. for the campaign. Now, after that There probably isn't that much Unfortunately, it would have experience, I'm pretty sure the of a difference when working for We would really have hoped to required compiling a custom Linux versions of all the future Linux as opposed to other get it working "out-of-the-box" as kernel. Now, I've done that before, games will follow more closely platforms. But there perhaps is much as possible for every Linux nothing new there, but this time I after the releases on other some level of thought present that user - but a bit sceptical that it felt a bit lazy and decided that just platforms. Linux probably isn't the usual would be a feasible target. At least rebooting the computer every time

full circle magazine #60 52 contents ^ UBUNTU GAMES - TRINE 2 Q&A How was the overall process porting the game? (JK)

On specific parts, it was quite easy. On some parts, there were little surprises, like not having the audio middleware available on Linux. The fact that we already had the code in a basically compile- ready condition for the gcc toolchain made things easier. So we didn't have to start fixing some compile issue trivialities. Also, because we had the Mac OS X port done, which also used things like SDL and OpenGL, the transition from that implementation to the Linux implementation was quite easy. For example, the base OpenGL renderer port on Linux was up and running in about a day or two when we used the Mac OpenGL renderer as a base. Of course there were some bugs to things might have been different. users already show that there things took (such as the OpenGL iron out, and tweaking to be done, certainly are all kinds of small renderer or some other parts of etc, so it took much more than Then there was, of course, all issues, mostly focused on the the code), mainly since those could those few days to get the whole the random issues caused by issues caused by the differences be easily converted from the thing ready for release. different Linux distributions having between the desktop window existing Mac port. But then again, a little bit of different libraries, managers - but luckily, we've had there were some surprises that had Was there anything that really window managers, etc. But, these no major issues so far. There's been the opposite effect on the time for surprised you guys while working didn't really surprise us. Though we nothing that we couldn't fix - or at porting, like the audio middleware with this port? (JK) perhaps couldn't anticipate what least somehow have a workaround not being available on Linux. If we all of those little issues would be, past the issues, with the helpful would have had to do some code There were no major surprises, I we did know that there would be hints from the other Linux users modules for the port from the think. A little bit of a surprise was such. So far, the initial reports from who have already figured out how how little time porting of some scratch, like the OpenGL renderer,

full circle magazine #60 53 contents ^ UBUNTU GAMES - TRINE 2 Q&A to apply some workaround. for a couple of years on web portal their university studies. has already been done regarding technology back in the day, and Linux. (So I guess it mostly comes What were your personal that was basically all Linux Are you guys planning on to the the expected sales and experiences with Linux prior to development. I've also done some releasing your future games on economics on the platform really.) Trine 2’s port? (JK) minimal games, some of Linux as well? (JK + MH) which I also ported to Linux - but It is great fun to port to Linux Personally, my experiences with this was more than 10 years ago. From a technical point of view, I from the perspective that it is such Linux before the Trine 2 port were For the rest of the programmers see no problem here. As we already a proactive community - making that I do have a Linux server who were involved in the Linux have the engine ported on Linux, our efforts easier and more fun. running at my home, but I'm not port, most of them I think have had and assuming we'll continue to use But, from an economic perspective, really using it as my primary at least some level of contact with our own engine for the next it all depends on the amount of desktop computer. I've also worked Linux or other Unix systems during games, most of the porting work Linux copies we sell and how the market grows. Although everything is looking good so far, it is yet to be seen how far the Linux game market will grow.

You can get Trine 2 for Linux at http://www.trine2.com. The standard edition, which includes a Steam key, is available for $14.99. For $10 more you can get the collector’s edition, with some nice bonus items such as a digital artbook and original soundtrack. A huge thanks to Jukka and Mikael for their time!

full circle magazine #60 54 contents ^ Your chance to show the world your desktop or PC. Email your screenshots and MY DESKTOP photos to: [email protected] and include a brief paragraph about your MY DESKTOP desktop, your PC's specs and any other interesting tidbits about your setup.

For those users who want to preserve the look and feel of I am using Ubuntu 11.10 on an HP Mini 110 Netbook. The Ubuntu with GNOME 2.x, I provide this desktop. Xubuntu interface is a customized Gnome, by following the "How-To" with the original wallpaper from Oneiric (you can download it given in FCM#56. from: http://media.cdn.ubuntu- de.org/wiki/attachments/22/39/1110goneiric.jpg). I am finally feeling happy after making my Ubuntu look "classic". The end result is simple and lovely. The wallpaper is The font is Ubuntu (Regular), size 11 (Settings Manager > one of the preloaded set from Oneiric. I have removed extra Appearance > Fonts) panels, and made it look something like Windows. The Title font is Ubuntu (Bold), size 11 (Settings Manager > Window Manager > Style). All of my friends now think that I have applied some theme The Theme is greybird (it's default in Xubuntu 11.10). to my Windows OS. The Icons-Theme is Humanity (Settings Manager > Appearance > Icons) Murali Krishna

Martin

full circle magazine #60 55 contents ^ MY DESKTOP

Upon taking a required "Intro to Linux" class for my degree, I recently had the opportunity to try out Ubuntu. After My desktop is Ubuntu 10.04 with ambiance theme, learning the Linux command line, and getting comfortable screenlets, system monitor, and sensor applet in upper with another OS other than Windows, I fell in love with panel. I use my computer mostly for web browsing. Ubuntu. Now I run Ubuntu as my main OS, and occasionally use a Microsoft OS in my Virtual Machine. I've been using Ubuntu since Hoary, and I dual-boot with Windows XP - only to get a better picture from my analog tv Distribution: Sn0wl1nux/Ubuntu 11.04 natty tuner card. Desktop Environment: GNOME 2.32.1 Platform: i686 System specs: CPU: AMD Turion II Dual-Core Mobile M520 AMD Barton 2500+, 1.5 GB RAM, 120 GB HDD, and a 19" CRT RAM: 4 GB screen at 1280x1024 resolution David Darr gorski

full circle magazine #60 56 contents ^ PUZZLE SOLUTIONS O K U D U D S R 6 O 1 W X 6 E 1 D O C D R O W S S O

R Codeword and 16x16 Suduko puzzles are

C copyright, and kindly provided by, The Puzzle Club - www.thepuzzleclub.com

full circle magazine #60 57 contents ^ Full Circle Team

HHOOWW TTOO CCOONNTTRRIIBBUUTTEE Editor - Ronnie Tucker [email protected] Webmaster - Rob Kerfia We are always looking for new articles to include in Full Circle. For article [email protected] guidelines, ideas, and for issue translation, please see our wiki: Comms Mgr - Robert Clipsham http://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuMagazine [email protected] Please email your articles to: [email protected] Podcast - Robin Catling [email protected]

Editing & Proofreading Mike Kennedy If you would like to submit news, email it to: [email protected] Lucas Westermann Gord Campbell Send your comments or Linux experiences to: [email protected] Robert Orsino Hardware/software reviews should be sent to: [email protected] Our thanks go out to Canonical, the many translation teams around the Questions for Q&A should go to: [email protected] world and to Thorsten Wilms for the current Full Circle logo. Desktop screens should be emailed to: [email protected]

... or you can visit our forum via: www.fullcirclemagazine.org Deadline for FCM#61: Sunday 06th May 2012.

Release date for FCM#61: FULL CIRCLE NEEDS YOU! Friday 25th May 2012. A magazine isn't a magazine without articles and Full Circle is no exception. We need your Opinions, Desktops and Stories. We also need Reviews (games, apps & hardware), How-To articles (on any K/X/Ubuntu subject) and any questions, or suggestions, you may have. Send them to: [email protected]

full circle magazine #60 58 contents ^