It's time to celebrate!!

Who cares the exam when the Christmas eve and New Year 2009 is coming?!!
Letz enjoy!!

Here's a very special card from et to all of you! Cheers!!

And there's an Ubuntu greeting card as well! Spread the Ubuntu love!!

Feel free to send them to your friends, unless you edit them! :)







Stamp for all!

So here's the latest release from et....... et-stamps!
I have designed four little stamps featuring the thinking et.

Below them are the embed codes you can use to put et on your blog or site!

For embedding them in your blogger sidebar:
*Go to your blogger dashboard
*Select Layout
*Select Add a Page Element in your side bar section
*Select HTML/Java script
*Paste the desired embed code from below... and Yippee!

Put the et stamp!
"Think Beyond Imagination..












Why Boy's Can't be Angry With Girls?

A simple illustration of a simple fact! :)
Featuring et and evy..

By the way.. evy is et's girlfriend, which I designed much before but didn't get a chance to post here!

Enjoy!

(Click on the images to see larger version)

Case 1:




Case 2:




Case 3:

Security,Privacy and Recycle Bin

This is some little old trick that I am gonna talk about. Even I knew this much before. But why I am talking this now is because I found a fairly good use of this Windows trick last day!

We are security conscious while working with our PCs, especially when we have the so-called sensitive private information in our hard disk. Well, we use a number of tricks to hide them, or lock them.. which includes simply hiding them to using Folder-lock softwares. Now a case when all these protections go in vain is when we write these files to a CD-ROM, or while transporting them with a usb drive. I bet you have burned your heads on this at some point if you had such need of privacy!

So here's the very simple solution.

The basic operation involves two batch files. For ease I have created them by myself and you can download them here:
Download lock.zip

Now I will explain what each of the batch files do. The two batch files in the archive are lock.bat and unlock.bat. Double clicking them executes the files. You can right click->Edit to edit the source of the batch files.

The code in lock.bat is:
ren et ".Recycler.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"
attrib +h +s ".Recycler.{645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}"

The first line renames the folder et(the private folder) to
.Recycler.645FF040-5081-101B-9F08-00AA002F954E}

When the renaming occurs the folder is disguised as Recycle Bin! It will have the
name .Recycler
It has icon of the Recycle Bin and clicking on it launches the Trash itself.

We can probably stop here and even put the Recycle Bin on the desktop!
We can safely write this Bin to a CD as well!!

Now look at the second line. It adds extra protection by making this a system folder. You can't view a system folder even when viewing hidden folders is enabled!

Take a look at unlock.bat as well:
It does nothing but the reverse of what lock.bat did.
It disables the system folder attribute of Bin and then renames into the original folder.

You can rename et to your folder's name or do vice versa!
You may also rename .Recycler anything you like!
Note that lock.bat and unlock.bat should be located in the same place as the private folder.


When you change anything, change it in both the batch files.

Now a little word on Ubuntu:
It's still not safe when you use this with an Ubuntu system. It doen't undersatnd Windows tricks! I am not sure even Vista supports it or not!
Ubuntu shows the folder like this:




That is why I have put a dot(.) before the folder name. This hides the folder in Ubuntu unless Ctrl+H is pressed. Temporary protection.
Anyways assuming common people and more Windows users, this is the best we've got!!

Go on.. Recycle for Privacy!

Knock Knock.. College fest..

 I took charge of the technical exhibition by Computer science batch. There were pretty less number of items. There was a LAN competition of Need For Speed Most Wanted. Then it was all about softwares. Lets see some of them:
VirtualBox was the first item of exhibition. Actually I needed to tell you about this before, when I installed it in my own system. We used it in Ubuntu for the demo. It was running Windows XP in Ubuntu. We can do even the converse. The basic thing is we set up a virtual computer system in the host OS.
The thing is very useful when you want to try any new distros without any partitioning of your harddisk. Some little problem about virtualization is that it can use up a lot of your RAM, which is obvious and it is none of a problem to the new generation computers which comes with a minimum of 2GB RAM.

See details on installing virtulbox in Ubuntu here

And don't miss to watch some screenshots of installing Windows XP in Ubuntu Hardy (by me!)






Another interesting thing I came to know was the gOS. It's a Google widgets and services based operating system which comes all preloaded with many Google gadgets and easy links to web services even in the live CD. This is handy whenever we have to use a new system and is facing tough time configuring all our favorite web services. Google helps us port our every documents and schedules over the web and provides access to it anywhere in the world. gOS just makes it even easier!




Then there was this ManyCam software which enables cool effects on out webcam videos. It presents an amazing face recognition and eye detection technology. Simple awesome!


Download manycam

A Pretty Day's Randomness

After I bought my cell phone it has been of good use. Anyway the little guy never got that busy in my hand as it is supposed to be. Well it have one or more capabilities.. and that anyways keep it busy. It have a 1.3 MP cam, well not excellent though, it is handy to capture your pretty moments, and rather your crazy and spontaneous ideas!

Here I am posting some of the not-so-natural pics I captured in the 1.3MP cam:



Every ceiling fan in my home in still position shows it's 3 leaves!




Patriotism : Even ready to take weapons




That's my own part of decoration at my little cousin sis' B'Day!




A water-colour work attempted by me on a boring day..




et Rules!... @ my classroom's door

My ubuntu Apps 3 : Back to the Windows

Well you were enjoying the beauty and power of Ubuntu after you dumped aside your M$ installation, right? Or, are you?
Windows miss lots of Ubuntu functionality, but it's a fact that Ubuntu too miss something you may get easily in Windows. I plan to make a separate post on that. Anyways, for now, I'll talk about some ubuntu apps which will give us some feel of Windows and some usefulness.

#1 Wine Windows Wine-doors
Just think, what all Windows apps would you still like to be run inside ubuntu? Well you may even feel hopeless about some of the bigger programs. But ubuntu has the solution. And that is.. Wine, for Windows. Install wine, and no more talking.. just install your Window apps and run them.. don't even doubt! For my experience I've installed Flash 8, and run many simple exe's! And I even played Grand Theft Auto!(But no trainer hacks!). Wine-doors is associate of Wine. It enables you to download the top rated Windows applications and install them in ubuntu. And the best part is.. You can fool them saying "I do have a Windows Genuine license". Windows and genuine! Lot more a joke.

terminal commands:
sudo apt-get install wine
wget http://www.wine-doors.org/releases/wine-doors_0.1-1_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i wine-doors_0.1-1_all.deb


Wine doors is still not the complete solution. Lets discuss it later!



Wine in action: See it's flash player and Photoshop installer on Ubuntu!
+ I made that flash movie.. my first one
;)

#2 Oh!I can't mount anymore!

Install Ubuntu. Configure your music player with all those huge playlists. Set a photo from D: drive as the Ubuntu wallpaper.
Make shortcuts for your favourite folders on the desktop or top panel. All done.. ha?!
Now.. restart Ubuntu.

Watch out!

You see the blank ubuntu desktop. No custom wallpaper!
You are pale to see the favourite folder shortcuts as invalid locations!
Finally you take the music player.. and.. no Music!

:( you are sad!

You feel really bad..
Like i felt..

And then.. you figure out. Your hard disks have not been mounted yet. You double clicked on them, mounted, and everything is back! :)

Wait.

It happens again, the very next reboot. You mount again, again, and obviously.. again! Somebody praised Windows?
So tell me now what you want.. yeah I hear.. wanna auto mount the hard drives?

One simple solution: Pysdm

terminal command:
sudo apt-get install pysdm

Type pysdm in terminal to run. One time configuration, and the rest part is clear!
If you are asked for any root privileges..

terminal command:
sudo su
Type in your user password, and yippee.. you are root!

So well, try 'em. :)
Happy computing. :)

Private trailer ahead..

This is a trailer based on a currently spread sms among our batch! :D
This makes best sense to a small group of people, while it still is compatible with a larger group out there! Check out!





Wishing U the best B'day...

Thinking of birthdays.. someday before I came across a lovely website specialized in making cakes! Yummy ha?! You must be thinking about all those cupcakes and birthday cakes you have seen. But this is something more. They have a wonderful collection of custom made cakes, and is always ready to make the special cake for your occasion! :D

So what's so special about custom made cakes? You have to see a bunch of 'em for this. See how skillfully have they made those cakes and decorated them...




Oh! I loved the Google cake! Check more cakes at pinkcakebox. Zoom into see the attention they have given to even the slight details.

So enough cakes for the sweetest birthday, alright?
Enjoy another delicious year of your life!!

One thursday at home

Today I didn't go to my college. This fever is a very irritating thing. Anyway I decided to watch WallE...

WallE was awesome!
It's such a cute movie I saw after Kunfu Panda . It was beautiful in every aspect. The animations and character design were excellent. And the story, was such sweet! It was a wonderful mix of entertainment.

caution:story ahead !!
WallE features the future after 700 years. The humans had left the earth and living their ultra modern life in a massive space shuttle arrangement. WallE is left on the earth with other forbidden things, where the robot finds it's own world of fun. It is then the robot Eve is sent to earth for recovering evidence of life. And the awesome part is, WallE falls in love with Eve! But Eve had to return after she found the little plant preserved by WallE. The adventure begins when WallE manages to get into the space vehicle which took back Eve. Filled with lots of funny and exciting events, WallE helps humans to come back to earth and restore their normal life. And his love is fulfilled as well!
the end

A must watch!

Watch some nice shots from WallE the movie:









My Ubuntu apps 2 : Do it in style!

So we have ubuntu, all the very essential applications and a happy and smooth computing! Ubuntu is a beautiful girl. But let's make it more stylish. Or who doesn't need to, right? So here are some mind blowing apps for your ubuntu which make your love for ubuntu more deep..
Well I also needed to say that I can't really say 'ubuntu apps'. These are apps for all linux distros including fedora and open suse. Just meant to say "use Ubuntu, it's more lovely!".

Exhibit #1: The Compiz Effect
Compiz Fusion, that's the name! It's the application which transforms your ubuntu desktop into a magical experience, which boost your user experience to the peak. Compiz simply adds a whole lot of extra effects to the ubuntu interface. This includes stunning window effects like burning windows, rotation, folding, the mac style magic lamp and lot more! Compiz provides excellent management of multiple workspace with the masterpiece desktop cube and many extra features like expo, unfolding the cube etc. It allows you to draw with fire on your wall, and allows some wobbly water on it as well.

terminal commands:
sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager
sudo apt-get install fusion-icon

sudo apt-get install emerald


Emerald is a windows decorator which allows you to apply charming window boarders and buttons.



Desktop cube in compiz
(I was watching SAW V then!)




Unfold the desktop with Expo (I was watching Rock on then!)

Exhibit #2: Dock it!
Ever thought of having a Mac style dock in Ubuntu? Or a dock like the various Windows docks like Objectdock or Rocketdock? Well, Ubuntu has the solution. The name is not much 'docky' though. It's Avant Window Navigator, or AWN. Just dock all your favourite shortcuts and there are even more applets available ready made in AWN. Just delete off the bottom panel in ubuntu and put your AWN dock there!

Installation requires two repositories to be added to the ubuntu download sources list.

First open software sources manager:
System->Preferences->Software Sources

Now select the Third Party tab and click Add button to add new repositories. Add the below two repositories, one by one.
1) deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu hardy main
2)
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/awn-testing/ubuntu hardy main

Click Close and in the coming dialog box don't miss to select Reload.

After all these steps are done, type in the terminal command:
sudo apt-get install awn-manager-trunk awn-extras-applets-trunk

You are done!


Exhibit #3: Where is the terminal?
So in all the above installation processes and for much more extra tasks the terminal is of much importance in Ubuntu. The way to access the terminal is from the Applications menu. Further a quick launch can be achieved by adding the launcher to the top panel or even to the AWN! But just pause for a second and think of those console thingy in our cool PC games. Yeah! there is a terminal application in ubuntu working in the same way! Just a click of a button(preferably the '~'), and here the terminal slides down from the top of the screen. Another cool thing about this console, called Tilda is that it's completely customizable! From background colour to text colour to transparency, font and also the size and position on the screen, it's now a much lovable console for you.. together with an instant access!

terminal command: sudo apt-get install tilda

Now do it in style when you are in Ubuntu!!



AWN and Tilda illustrated

Saw V : Play the Jigsaw!


So last day I saw Saw V. I only had watched the 1st version of this movie, that too somewhat incomplete. Well now the 5th version is too much developed from the 1st, anyhow. But I realised violent movies are not always cool. The unrated edition was too much of blood and gore, really too much. The Jigsaw games took more of effort and sacrifice. It was 2.5 hours of violence! Practically there is only violence, more than the movie. People killed and tortured.. and little less of story too. But I don't recommend the uncut version. Better watch it when it comes in HBO or star movies. It didn't give me any nightmares though! :)

BSN-hell !!

Today has been a really nice day with BSNL!
It was a total screwed up state today morning when i tried to access the web. When i typed in orkut.com and mozilla loaded, there goes.. redirection to a bsnl site! All the site and every search redirected to this same site! And what it said.. " You have exceeded the 1GB limit. Please login to continue". Alright, if so.. let us login. Then came the real heck. No ID or password accepted! So what you plan to do in this situation ha?

The site is of this address: Re-direct here!

You noticed the url? http://172.30.19.134:8080/ssssportal.war/exceedlimit.jsp
Portal.war? Like they are waging war with the customers ha?(Sorry I don't know what it actually means!) :P



Cute ha?!! So thinking how I posting this now? Hmm.. it got well around a 5.00 or 6.00 int he evening. So dudes, I have torrent downloads tonight too. What if this happens again??

Or is it some phishing site??
Not just me has experienced it, but this was hot topic at the broadband forums too!
They talk of some alert system and all. Well, alert system is okey. But why should it keep rejecting our login ha?!

Hell with BSNL!

EDIT:
* I have a Home 500c plan, for your reference.
* Not all sites redirect! We can load https sites like addons.mozilla, yahoo login page etc.

* It happened again! I am so damned!
* I am currently blogging from H's computer through Remote desktop! Thanks teamviewer.
~ H, you don't need a thanks ha?! :)

EDIT #2:
* Well the net is up again, for now.. :P
* Information from the India broadband forums tells that this so called 1GB-exceed-limit phenomenon is likely to happen 1st of every month! Goddammit!
* Check the forum here

My Ubuntu apps 1 : Media

Ubuntu has been awesome for my computing! These days I discovered how to make ubuntu more beautiful and more useful for my needs. I fell in more love with ubuntu. In ubuntu I found many applications so as to get my work done. Anyway I agree to the fact that certain things still have to develop to completely dump Windows! For instance getting voice chat and webcam support done in ubuntu is a heck of work. Well, I mean for newbies like me. Although it can be configured with much work, I dropped it in half way getting all irritated. I guess other newbies also tend to do so.

So we still need Windows for those webcam sessions and some pretty games as well, as far as i am concerned.Oh! and one more thing is that I got all sad by the Remote desktop in ubuntu. I could 'remotely' view my own computer in my own compter(err..think on it!). But when I tried viewing my friend's computer it's a big failure. Hats off to Teamviewer in Windows in that case. Well you can connect Ubuntu to Windows using teamviewer,where the graphics is all screwed up, which further prevented me from trying Ubuntu to Ubuntu. And don't even think about Windows to Ubuntu! Well, leave it! :D

Well this post is primarily about the title specified - my ubuntu apps. Let's see the et-recommendations on ubuntu apps for newbies. This is exclusively for newbies coming after me. Let's get it done together!

Exhibit #1 : The media

Let me assume you installed ubuntu and configured internet conenction somehow, or at least you know to get it done.
For broadband connection which uses a password to login, type the following command in terminal(Applications->Accessories->Terminal) and press enter.

sudo pppoeconf Now follow the instructions which are too easy to follow.

So let's configure the media thing!

Teh Video:

type in the terminal: sudo apt-get install vlc press enter

That's it! It installs vlc player in your ubuntu, which is a complete media solution. Still a light weight music player will be handy.

Teh Music:

Light weight:
The audacious music player is too minimal, but easy to use for frequent music playback.

terminal command: sudo apt-get install audacious



Managing complete music:
Songbird is the complete music solution. Huge libraries which gulps all your music files, sorts out to any given criteria, kills repeatability, even display lyrics and provide excellent theming and surprises you with it's functionality.



Download the package Here
Extract it and install by clicking the file named songbird. Afterwards you may have to install additional plugins to play all your file formats. Songbird automatically gives link to those plugins, don't worry!

So that's all for now. Let me watch American Pie 4.
Watch out for more ubuntu apps!

Game on!

Itz all set!

My PC motherboard's display problem repaired with a 256 Azus graphics card! Now that means even more. Let's go for some higher gaming with the 3D graphics card!

Bad news is that our semester 3 university announced to be conducted starting from December 9th. Hey! it's not so bad in other sense. After all we have one more semester there in 1 year and there are still more exams. Let the hell finish soon! Talking about exam, it's all going to be fun! Plus, here's my new graphics card and lot more gaming. I realize how much time does computer eat up everyday..

Last night I installed ubuntu again. And all set in one night! See my ubuntu desktop with my art work using compiz fusion!

et on fire!



Haven't tried ubuntu yet?

Happiness: the constant product of your day-to-day little pleasures

It's been a while.. no.. a loong time since I've posted. I know. But you know what, I have a genuine reason for that. My very own PC had been shut for all the last month! Motherboard problems..anyway I am not going into the boring technical details. The basic problem was complaint with the display part. Now it can be corrected only with this extra graphics card. Even the latter is not a simple thing when it's done practically. Product mismatch and all. Now I am running on a poor 800x600 VGA card. And no Ubuntu in the near future!Only M$ Windows survive!

So here is my advice on complaint of motherboard. If you still want to keep in touch with your computer and the related things, NEVER send it for a repair. Just try any extra accessories(like graphics card in my case) or buy a new one! Yeah!you heard it right. So no big news until now. Even I may be thinking of a new motherboard with processor soon.

Anyway good news all around except the computer affair. New 26"LCD TV. Great marks in the last series. More active and successful life. And even more!See how the mighty god balances every little happiness of our life!

A More Human Approach

So are you still using your Windows XP - Teh Pirated version?? Well, then it's too bad that you haven't yet given a try for the whole new Ubuntu 8.04! Guess what.. I came to the Linux platform, ultimately!! Ubuntu 8.04 LTS is the orange beauty.. and I have fell in love with her. Oh! pretty 1 week I haven't booted to my Windows XP.



Being a total noob to the Ubuntu community it's obvious that I am totally embarrassed. The wobbly windows and burning screen enabled by Compiz fusion, the rotating cube of my desktop, opening windows apps in the Wine-effect.. and a lot more user experience. The terminal thingy rocks! They say Fedora is more popular.. but it's a fact that i can't part this pretty girl soon! Ubuntu, in addition to all it's amazing graphics and Linux power, provides you with a huge storage of packages with desirable download speeds to reach out any application so that you can do literally anything with your system. Now that's very particular to Ubuntu and it's daddy Debian apart from any other Linux distros. Now browse with no fear when you are in Ubuntu.

It's true that you may miss some of your favorite games when you use Linux alone. I haven't checked any games on wine either. And you will miss those error messages always coming here and there in your Windows. And it may seem strange when Ubuntu is working cool even when you try out all complex apps at the same time! Only thing i say about Ubuntu is.. just try it.. use it to get some work done.. then it's like magic that you'll forget about any other OS on your system!

47 - The Olephant's tale

I've been a great fan of agent 47 since I played the first game - Hitman:Codename 47. I actually lived with him in the 3rd game - Hitman:Contracts. I missed the middle version anyway, which is called Hitman:Silent Assassin. And I am looking hopefully towards the day when I can play Hitman:Blood Money or even Hitman 5! The silence of killing, the stealthy way, is a lot more enjoyable than the blasting guns and open battlegrounds. Certain factors why I like Hitman includes his perfect built-for-kill way,his baldy head and bar code on it, well..his red tie, and his silenced silverballers, and straight forward attitude.

Hitman movie, well talking about this, considering my love for Hitman games, I was just dying for the movie. I don't know exactly how many Hitman movies have been released. I believe it counts just one.
I got the movie today and before even getting into the movie, just take a second. Man, this movie is made out of hardly four versions of a computer game! I may not be sure how many movies have been made of games alone, without any video clip of Marvel comic pages being flipped. But this truly is a rare honor for the game.. like " Based on the EIDOS game Hitman".


Now to the movie. Timothy Olephant was almost appreciable but the twist in the story is not at all, i mean, for true Hitman fans. Our hero is a genetically made killer guy and never had to fall for a girl and her dragon tattoo. We can justify everything else in the movie. Just the game. Food poisoning, fiber wiring, sniping and Oh! the karate was also fun and new. The movie is for persons who've played the game once or, we the Hitman fans don't want you to tell "What the hell he's doing!". And dear actor.. DON'T smile please, because 47 is not supposed to..

Come to me

Here's a little math trouble originally put forward by my sister and brought from her tuition class. The objective of this little game is simple. First you take integers starting from 1. Take three of the same number.

Like this: 1 1 1

Now use any functions between them, so as to make out an answer of 6!
Hey there are rules..! You CAN'T USE any other number in multiplication or division or addition and subtraction as well. And be sure you DON'T USE square root or cube root or any 'n'th root. Feel free to use any other functions!

Now the game is meant for numbers up to 9. Well if you are Einstein or some sort of ultra genius, just work your way up! :D

A little example for any confusions you may have in this:

Considering 6 itself..

6 + 6 - 6 = 6 :)





Answers in next post.. and as I myself workout!