Fabián Rodríguez

Today while helping a friend boot from BIOS so he could you-know-what I found this great guide illustrating how to set your BIOS to boot from CD-ROM… for 11 different BIOSes in one page! Booting from CD-ROM and actually burning an Ubuntu CD or DVD image remains the first (often) most difficult step when someone is moving to or trying Ubuntu.

That’s really awesome if you ask me. But how does one take screenshots of BIOS ? Well, you don’t. You just take note of the text positioning, colors and other details AND YOU HAND CODE IT IN HTML! Use your broser’s “View source” functionality to see that code. ANSI anyone ?

Man, let’s buy this person a camera so he/she spends more time doing other useful documentation, not hand-coding screenshots! I am still in shock.

This is an invitation to all who will be in or around Montreal, QC, Canada next April 24th. Full party info and details at:
http://www.ubuntu-qc.org/ubuntu-804-invitation

We’ll be partying real hard at St-Sulpice bar and I hear other parties are organizing in Quebec province.

I’d also like to challenge other party organizers, do you think you can have the biggest party out there ? Last time we had close to 200 people in Montreal, this time we are a bit better organized. One specific thing that has helped us a lot is inviting people IN ADVANCE and PERSONALLY We welcome all to copy and improve our french and english invitation.

We are also using a Facebook event for RSVPs, local mailing lists and contacting media. We’ve lined up a few sponsors too for swag (and more). Any further ideas ?

PARTY ON!

Combien seriez-vous prêt à payer pour un bidule qui:

• Permet de charger 4 piles AA (donc, chargeur)
• Inclût ces 4 piles AA
• Permet de brancher un fil usb normal, fournissant 5 V à 8 types de connecteurs pour étirer la charge d’un appareil “mort” (donc permet aussi d’y brancher tout autre bidule se chargeant sur une prise USB)
• Se branche dans une prise murale (combiné à la fonction antérieure, devient essentiellement un convertisseur 120VAC -> 5V USB universel)
• Inclût un file USB vers mini-USB (le fil mentionné auparavant, avec un des adaptateurs)

Combien ?

80 $ ?
50 $ ?

Mmmhhh… 24.95 $ chez Canadian Tire, ou chez tout vendeur de bidules utiles.

Plus d’information dans le manuel d’usager du Noma RX4:

• Noma RX4 User’s Manual

Passez le mot, et pour la faillite des autres fabricants d’adaptateurs, je suis persuadé qu’on va attendre.

The HP Linux Imaging and Printing (HPLIP) project really makes it easy to install and manage HP printers (and their extended functions like scanning and faxing) under Ubuntu. I only wish Samsung and Brother provided the same!

On Dapper and Edgy, the hplip package is available and provides command line configuration (very handy when assisting someone via ssh!). You can also optionally install the python-qt3 package if you want to use a GUI configuration.

On Feisty, HPLIP is installed by default but invisible from menus. Go to System > Preferences > Main Menu and then enable HPLIP Toolbox under System > Preferences. A bug report (now solved) details why python-qt3 is not a dependency in case you wonder:
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/hplip/+bug/86893

Since Gutsy there is now an hplip-gui package that should be used when wanting full GUI love.

For network printers, from command line, first make sure your printer is visible to your workstation (either ping it or visit its management tools via web at http://”ipaddress”).

Then:
sudo hp-setup IP_ADDRESS

and follow the prompts. The default values for each question are fine. You may reject the proposed PPD driver file and specify the absolulte path to a new PPD file you download if you wish to use one from the OpenPrinting database.

You may also configure fax headers if your printer supports faxing. You can access all the printer functions (scan, copy, fax, status, etc) using the /usr/bin/hp-toolbox GUI to HPLIP.

To scan via network from your workstation, access Applications > Graphics > XSane Image Scanner. You can also insert scanned images directly into an OpenOffice document for example: Insert > Picture > Scan > Request (’Select Source’ should be pointing to the printer/scan device).

So, if you or a friend / relative / colleague are looking for printer suggestions for Ubuntu, you know what to recommend if you are “the Ubuntu guy” in their neighborhood

If anyone has suggestions or other printing tricks (for HPs or else), I’d be glad to hear about them.

It’s been a few weeks already that I joined the Maemo contributor program, which entitled me to a good discount to get a Nokia N810 Internet Tablet.

While I’m proud I was chosen among 500 other contributors-to-be, it really was an ordeal to just get the device. I imagine it’s not easy to set this kind of program up, including coordinating discounts in differents currencies, inventory, shipping, etc. But this being Nokia and their third time running this kind of program, it’s very sad they chose not to tell when problems and delays occured, letalone the fact those happened in the first place.

Unfortunately the holidays came and went and the devices were available at full price for a good time before any contributor got their device. Combine that with dog-slow online stores filled with hungry Flash animations, rude customer service reps and it’s almost a miracle the N810 made it my door. I can’t see what the greater plan is in terms of building a contributor community. Maybe this is some kind of “Amazing Race” obstacle course, for sure the few remaining are the bravest.

Some of you will hunt me down and spam me with threaths and “die, ungrateful spoiled kid” messages, but in the end this won’t change my opinion that this is the worse consumer experience I’ve had in a long time, and I think it is unfair to just go about it like it doesn’t matter. I reminds me of the OpenMoko debuts. Who cares if a product is a precursor in technological freedom if it can’t even be delivered to developers on time ?

Now, going back to the topic of blogging about the N810…

As a full-time Ubuntu user at work and home, I am planning to report about everyday use with an emphasis on VoIP, free media formats use and support (or lack thereof) and generally its “level of freedom” in terms of applications and sync’ing. I don’t intend to write a single line of code - instead I chose to help with bug reports, documentation and some blogging.

For now I am just putting together any links directly related to Ubuntu or LInux in general at the Mobile Devices / Nokia page on the Ubuntu community docs wiki, and trying some of them. If anyone’s interested in contributing to that resource or just finding out about its updates, consider registering to the Ubuntu docs wiki site and subscribing to that resource.

I’d love to see Ubuntu installed and working on the Nokia devices, but just to be clear, I don’t intend to work on that nor do I have any personal or professional plans to do so. To be super-extra clear, I just want to see how well the open Internet tablet scores with Ubuntu - while making it better at it, hopefully. And no, this has nothing to do with Ubuntu Mobile.

Sad as it sounds, there may never be a “year of the Linux Desktop. Linux world domination by 2008 as Eric S. Raymond described it will most probably happen with mobile and embedded devices.

OpenMoko a officiellement annoncé leur nouvel appareil open-source Neo FreeRunner. Le Neo FreeRunner pourrait avoir un air familier - mais peut-être parce que c’est une version grand public du Moko 1973 à base de Linux. Le Neo FreeRunner a gardé l’ensemble du design, bien qu’il y ait eu des améliorations : un processeur 500Mhz, le support graphisme 3D, ainsi qu’une nouvelle collection d’applications mobiles open-source. Les autres caractéristiques comprennent le support tribande GSM, connectivité WiFi et technologie à base de gestes. Le prix et la disponibilité ne sont pas connus pour le moment. Pour en savoir plus, voyez le communiqué de presse ici.

Étrangement, je ne retrouve pas le communiqué sur le site officiel d’OpenMoko. Le CES 2008 a lieu la semaine prochaine, donc on ne tardera pas à avoir plus de détails! Ça tombe bien, mon téléphone mobile a passé dans la laveuse la semaine dernière!

via Ubergizmo

It’ s been some time now that Savoir-faire Linux made available their Ubuntu Online Training courses, using Moodle. After trying their demo preview course (registration reqd’) I was very impressed and Yanick Cyr, a good friend of mine at SFL gave me access to the first level full course.

Shameless plug ? You bet. SFL is one of our local FLOSS success stories. I know Yanick worked his ass off on this and the result is a very complete, polished course with excellent resources. Not only do you get access to content from the official Ubuntu Training material (as SFL is an Ubuntu training partner), but SFL has gone as far as setting up regular live chat sessions, acces to a virtual Ubuntu server, quizzes, video screencasts and even a dynamically generated certificate… which you only get if you score high enough in the quizzes! And they have many other courses available.

I’ll save some of the excitement for next week when I get time to gather the screenshots I have and give a virtual tour of their course.

Well done Yanick and SFL!

I got an email from the FACIL “forum” mailing list telling me about Dawson College in Montreal putting together a Free and Inexpensive Adaptive Technology Database through the Adaptech Research Network.

The Adaptech Research Network consists of a team of academics, students and consumers. We conduct research on the use of computer, information, and adaptive technologies by Canadian college and university students with disabilities. We are based at Dawson College and are funded by both federal and provincial grants.

Our work is guided by an active and enthusiastic cross-Canada bilingual Advisory Board. Our goal is to provide empirically based information to assist in decision making that ensures that new policies, software and hardware reflect the needs and concerns of a variety of individuals: college and university students with disabilities, professors who teach them, and service providers who make technological, adaptive, and other supports available to the higher education community.

I am not the usability and accessibility expert for software in Gnome or KDE that is included in Ubuntu, but I am going to contact them and make them aware of it. I’d also like to ask anyone more knowledegable about this to also contact them. Here’s the quick explanation of what this resource is:

One concern that has been repeated throughout all of our studies has been the issue of the high cost of adaptive software and hardware. In response to this, we have undertaken the compilation of a list of free and/or inexpensive hardware and software alternatives that might be useful. Some of these are long-running demos, while others are fully functional.

We in no way are suggesting that these replace the higher end hardware and software currently on the market. However, as a short-term solution, or for the purposes of trying out different adaptive technologies, we think they are a good place to start.

How can you help? If you use or know of software that is either free or inexpensive ($200 or less) that you feel would be beneficial to students with disabilities, we want to hear about it. Please send the name of the software and, if you have it, the name of the company which makes it and a web site to catherine.fichten@mcgill.ca. Read more about Adaptech’s search for free and inexpensive software. View our Free and Inexpensive Computer technologies video (WMV support required).

Most of the listed software has no clear indication on its licensing or is clearly non-free/open-source, which I believe would be another way to help them.

And I know the videos are not in any open format. I’ve already contacted them offering help in transcoding them.

(version en français aussi disponible ici).

The Ubuntu-QC team would like to invite all those who have been eagerly awaiting the release of Ubuntu 7.10 “The Gutsy Gibbon” to join their fellow Ubuntu enthusiasts on October 18th at 1800h at Bar St.-Sulpice on Rue St-Denis in Montreal. Welcome the latest release of your favorite distro with your fellow travellers on the path to software freedom!

This event is open to users of any OS, distribution, or language. New users will have the opportunity to meet and speak with veterans. It’s like a free car mechanic! With beer and food!

Bar St-Sulpice offers free wifi Internet connections, so be sure to bring your laptop. There will be the chance to install Gutsy as soon as it is released. Stickers, CD’s, t-shirts, and other swag will also be dispensed.

Beer. Food. A geek to upgrade your laptop for you. Ubuswag. The only thing missing is YOU!

The St-Sulpice bar is located at 1680, Saint-Denis, Montreal, QC H2X 3K6 Telephone: (514) 844-9458

Ubuntu is a community developed operating system that is perfect for laptops, desktops and servers. Whether you use it at home, at school or at work Ubuntu contains all the applications you’ll ever need, from word processing and email applications, to web server software and programming tools. Ubuntu is an African word meaning ‘Humanity to others’, or ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. The Ubuntu distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world.

On behalf of the Ubuntu-QC team,

Fabian Rodriguez
André Cotte

For more information:
FabianRodriguez - 514-812-5615

* Ubuntu official site: [WWW] http://www.ubuntu.com
* Ubuntu Quebec local community team : [WWW] http://www.ubuntu-qc.org (mostly french)
* Ubuntu 7.10 download site : [WWW] http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download starting October 18th, official release day
* For any formal press inquiries please contact: pr@canonical.com

En français

Ubuntu-QC invite tous ceux qui attendent avec impatience la sortie de la nouvelle version (7.10) de la célèbre distribution Linux Ubuntu à venir fraterniser, le 18 octobre prochain à partir de 18h, au Bar Le St-Sulpice, rue St-Denis à Montréal. Ces rencontres sont devenues une tradition au sein de l’univers des utilisateurs d’Ubuntu. On salue entre amis et utilisateurs l’arrivée des nouvelles versions de la distribution.

Pas besoin d’utiliser Ubuntu ou même Linux pour y participer, les curieux autant que les utilisateurs et les experts sont invités à fraterniser et à échanger. Le Bar St-Sulpice se prête bien à ce genre de rencontre puisqu’on peut également y manger.

Ubuntu est une distribution Linux basée sur Debian et destinée à proposer un système convivial et ergonomique. Son fondateur, Mark Shuttleworth, a promis qu’il restera libre et gratuit y compris pour les entreprises. Le mot Ubuntu est un mot bantou qui signifie « Je suis ce que je suis grâce à ce que nous sommes tous ». Une invitation à vous joindre à Ubuntu-QC pour cette petite soirée improvisée.

Le Bar St-Sulpice offre, grâce à Île sans fil, l’accès gratuit à Internet. Apportez donc vos portables. Vous en profiterez pour y installer la toute dernière version d’Ubuntu, Gutsy Gibbon. Des T-shirts, autocollants, et CD-ROMs d’Ubuntu 7.10 seront disponibles.

Pour l’équipe d’Ubuntu-QC

Fabian Rodriguez
André Cotte

Pour plus informations :
FabianRodriguez - 514-812-5615

Le Bar St-Sulpice est situé au 1680, rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, QC H2X 3K6 Téléphone: (514) 844-9458

* Site officiel d’Ubuntu : http://www.ubuntu.com
* Site officiel de la communauté québécoise Ubuntu : http://www.ubuntu-qc.org
* Site francophone de ressources pour Ubuntu : http://www.ubuntu-fr.org
* Site de téléchargement de la version 7.10 d’Ubuntu : http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download à partir du 18 octobre, jour du lancement officiel
* Pour toute demande formelle d’information ou contact de presse, adressez-vous à: pr@canonical.com

Jeudi: En ville, sans ma voiture ! - Chaque année, en septembre, près de 1 500 villes dans 38 pays à travers le monde célèbrent la journée En ville, sans ma voiture ! autour de trois types d’action : encourager l’usage de modes de transport et de déplacement alternatifs; sensibiliser et informer les citadins sur les enjeux liés à la mobilité durable et aux risques liés à la pollution; montrer la ville sous un autre jour grâce notamment à un trafic motorisé réduit au sein de périmètres réservés.

Vendredi: Masse Critique - La Masse Critique est un évènement qui se déroule dans des centaines de villes en Amérique du nord et a travers le monde le dernier vendredi de chaque mois, été comme hiver, au soleil ou sous la pluie. C’est une grande randonnée collective à vélo dans les rues du centre-ville de Montréal; une fête ambulante ouverte aux gens de tous âges et de toutes capacités physiques.

Samedi: Die-In Montreal 2007 - Le Die-in est un évènement symbolique (au même titre qu’un sit-in ou un bed-in), revendicateur et médiatisé à caractère théâtral. Le die-in demande à ses participants de mimer la mort à l’intersection de deux rues. Faux sang, bandages, masques à gaz ou autres éléments significatifs sont les bienvenus. Nous désirons ainsi commémorer les décès, les blessures et les problèmes de santé causés par les véhicules motorisés, de milliers de montréalais(es) et de millions de gens dans le monde chaque année.

Merci encore à Nicolas qui nous a interpellé sur Forum @ FACIL.