Full Circle LINUX LABS: THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU LINUX COMMUNITY Pivos XIOS DS ISSUE #66 - October 2012 Media Play RREEVVIIEEWWSS OOFF:: NEXUS 7 & PEPPERMINT THREE full circle magazine #66 1 Full Circle Magazine is neither affiliated with, nor endorsed by, Canonical Ltd. contents ^ HowTo Full Circle Opinions THE INDEPENDENT MAGAZINE FOR THE UBUNTU LINUX COMMUNITY My Story p.38 Learning LaTeX p.06 Columns LibreOffice - Part 18 p.08 Command & Conquer p.04 Ubuntu Game News p.56 What Is... p.40 Do Backups p.11 Ask The New Guy p.27 Ubuntu Games p.57 Review p.43 Letters p.49 Kdenlive - Part 3 p.18 Linux Labs p.30 Q&A p.52 Inkscape - Part 6 p.20 Ubuntu Women p.54 Closing Windows p.34 Web Dev p.23 Graphics Web Dev 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#nd6o6rseme2nt. contents ^ EEDDIITTOORRIIAALL This magazine was created using : Welcome to another issue of Full Circle! couple of changes this month. Firstly, Greg has had to take the month off, so no Python this month, but he'll be back next issue. I've created a new 'What Is' column where, after receiving a few emails about it, I've explained (as best I can) A what UEFI is, what it does, and where it came from. Please, join in and tell us 'What Is [fill in the blank]'. Details are on page 40. Also, please welcome Pensador Louco who is drawing the Tuxidermy cartoon especially for FCM. The first strip is on page 51. LibreOffice continues with a brief explanation of its Base (database) component. We also have a quick tutorial on using LaTex, and a lengthy piece on restoring your system – Full Circle Podcast using either a backup or a reinstall. If you're thinking of buying a media player for your Released monthly, each episode covers all the latest Ubuntu news, mancave, you might want to take a look at Charles's Linux Labs column this month where he opinions, reviews, interviews and explains the Pivos XIOS DS media player. At half the size of a DVD case, it's certainly small! listener feedback. The Side-Pod is Speaking of hardware, I've included a review of my Google Nexus 7 tablet, and Art has a new addition, it's an extra reviewed Peppermint Three (OS) which certainly looks interesting. Oh, and if you've ever (irregular) short-form podcast which is intended to be a branch had the problem of a PC that won't boot from USB (I certainly have), then you'll want to of the main podcast. It's read Gord's Q&A Tips and Tricks piece on using the Plop boot manager. somewhere to put all the general technology and non-Ubuntu stuff that doesn’t fit in the main podcast. All the best, and keep in touch! Ronnie Hosts: [email protected] • Les Pounder • Tony Hughes • Jon Chamberlain • Oliver Clark http://fullcirclemagazine.org full circle magazine #66 3 contents ^ CCOOMMMMAANNDD && CCOONNQQUUEERR Written by Lucas Westermann WWuunnddeerrlliisstt && AAiirrDDrrooiidd his month, instead of my (without extra coding), and, unless Other options are: Today, Overdue, to mobile devices, and, possibly, usual command-line I plan ahead and Starred, Done, Tomorrow, Next 7 lightweight/minimized views, or ramblings, I've decided to favourite/download the files on my Days, Later, No Due Date. You can widgets, for normal PCs. If, T share with you two very phone, unavailable to me without configure notifications for your however, you have no issue useful pieces of software I've Internet access. Beside that, not important tasks, and forgo it on unlocking your phone to check the started using: Wunderlist, which is everyone wants to piece together any less important (or time- widget, or opening the program on cross-platform, and AirDroid, a system like this. sensitive) tasks. The only feature your PC/laptop (or leaving it open which is an Android app. For those I'd like to see implemented is the constantly), you'll find this to be a of you wondering whether this Enter Wunderlist. It's a program ability to see your tasks for today great little tool to better organize article is worth reading, I leave available for everything from iOS on your lock screen when it comes your (work) life. that up to you. To save you reading and Android to Linux and Windows. the entire article though, I will It requires you to create a free explain that Wunderlist is a To-Do account, after which you can sync list application that offers syncing your lists amongst any and all among most any commonly found systems that you are logged into. It OS, and AirDroid is a web-based also offers a web-based login, so interface for managing your you can check it from computers android device. This is especially outside of your usual circulation useful for tablets like the Asus (library, public area, work, Transformer (TF101), which borrowed computer, etc). The doesn't play nicely with Linux due astute amongst my readers may to it using MTP. If you have no want to point out that Dropbox need for either, feel free to move allows similar access to files, onto the next article. however, I've found formatting issues abundant when using In the recent few months, I've Windows or OS X text editors, due looked for a method of managing to them using different formats for To-Do lists on the go. My usual non-printing characters. system of Dropbox, a text file, and conky/geekTool (on OS X) is The main menu will drop you lightweight, but doesn't offer the into an area called “Inbox”—this is ability of actual reminders where all of your tasks are listed. full circle magazine #66 4 contents ^ COMMAND & CONQUER An alternative to Wunderlist is, as anything else you do online. recommend giving AirDroid a shot. possibly desperately needed) of course, Remember The Milk. The Transfer rates, of course, depend However, if you're a stickler for alternatives/solutions. If you have upside to Remember The Milk is upon the LAN you're using on security (or have alternatives), I any comments, questions, or the plethora of third-party, and either end of the line would suggest using something suggestions, feel free to email me command-line, software available (sending/receiving), but will else. As always, if you want the at [email protected]. If you for it. That being said, I do find the generally be slower than USB. That best transfer speeds, using a wired decide to do so, please include interface on Wunderlist to be a being said, I was able to put a 4 GB option will serve you best. Lastly, I FCM or C&C in the subject line, so little nicer. If, after continued trial movie on my tablet via a regular ol' should note that quitting the app that I don't overlook it. of both options, I make a distinct 802.11g network in about 5-15 (and killing the server) is done by decision, I will make a note of it in minutes, depending on whether hitting the back button when at Command & Conquer. If anyone my source device was connected the main window. I, at least, has a preference (or another via ethernet or wirelessly. needed a minute to figure that one out. Lucas has learned all he knows from option I haven't named), feel free repeatedly breaking his system, then to email me about it—see the If you're unable to connect your having no other option but to concluding paragraph for my email. tablet to Linux, or the trade-off of As always, I hope you've found discover how to fix it. You can email security for ease (no cables) is my opinions useful—and that I've Lucas at: [email protected]. The other piece of software I worth it to you, I highly introduced you to some new (and want to tell you about today is AirDroid. It's a web-based interface for Android, which allows managing of all multimedia, files and apps on a device. For those of you having a mini heart-attack at the thought of all that information being available on a network—relax, at least a little. AirDroid requires a QR Code to be scanned, or the password from the device to be entered at the login screen. Now, this doesn't mean I would use the program in a publicly accessible network, but for home use, so long as your network is encrypted/password protected, it should be just as safe full circle magazine #66 5 contents ^ HHOOWW--TTOO Written by Victor Moisey LLeeaarrnniinngg LLaaTTeeXX example: "\title{Learning Don't kernel panic Python fans.