Photo Management software in Linux

As Iam running low (no?) on windows  boxes at home and with my primary data disk connected on the linux (only functional desktop),  …

The choices seem to  be

1. Picasa [**]

Pros: Known interface
feature complete
web interface
Cons: Resource hog
not a native linux app
SLOW

2. digiKam [****]

Pros: build index fast
almost feature complete
basic image editing
cons: some options (like export) are not available in my install [Fixed by installing additional pkgs]
Image editing not intuitive (have not played much  yet)

3. F-Spot [**]
    Pros: neat tags management (People, Events, etc)
    Cons: not intutive interface
    slow to bld db

4. KPhotoAlbum [*]
    Cons: basic interface

GThumb

Other s/w

gphoto2
JAlbum (look under /opt)

Useful thunderbird extensions

• GMailUI: Provides powerful search option that alone is worth the install.
• Remove Duplicates: esp useful after merging mail accounts of folders
• Couple of Contact Management extensions I have not tried yet.
• EnigMail: keep it safe. OpenPGP encryption and authentication
• Lightning: Calender extension (or use Sunbird standalone,though of late I use Google Calender for its ease of use and web based availability. Oh wait! this extension looks interesting)
• SignatureSwitch: Useful for managing multiple email a/c.
• AddressBookSync and KolabSync

Useful Firefox Plugins

This is a subjective list of Firefox Plugins I find useful in random order. This is just a place holder for me so I don’t have to search for them on each install.

• AdBlock (tried before)
• Add bookmark here 2
• DownThemAll
• Flat bookmark editor
• Google Bookmarks
  
• or Google Bookmarks
• GTDInbox (tried and got tiered)
  
• Mozex for firefox 2.0
• No Script
• QuickRestart
• Scrapbook
• Tabs Menu

Vim Plugins

• TWiki Editing (has not configured to work yet)

Sharing linux file system on Windows

Linux Version: Ubuntu 7.06 (server)
Windows: XP Pro (Toshiba laptop)

Samba ofcourse is the answer.

Add these to /etc/samba/smb.cfg:

You can change server_string if you want to.
server string = Samba server on %h

[nram]
path = /home/nram
available = yes
browsable = yes
public = no
writable = no

[tmp]
path = /tmp
comment = /tmp on kanakangi (linux server)
available = yes
browsable = yes
public = no
writable = yes

[music]
path = /media/music
comment = Music
available = yes
browsable = yes
public = no
writable = yes

/etc/init.d/samba reload|restart

Create password for user with
smbpasswd <user> as root

When I tried smbpasswd as <user> it failed.

I also added this to
/etc/samba/smbusers

nram = nram
(format unix user = samba user)

Also on Network changed domain to home.raaga.net

Also tried System -> Adminstrator -> Shared Folder. This is supposed to add the samba file sections to smb.conf ? Not much help.

Tried gsambad … Not sure what it does. There are tons of empty fields. Worse than editing a text file.

Tried TkSmb to make sure Iam able to view the samba share atleast on the local box.

On Windows Box

My Computer -> Tools -> Map Network Drive

Try Explore when the samba server (kanakangi) shows up.

If the dir doesn’t show up on double clicking server name, Just give the path
\\kanakangi\music

That worked

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Keeping ssh sessions alive

nram@marvin:~/.ssh$ cat config
Host *
Protocol 2
TCPKeepAlive yes
ServerAliveInterval 60

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Is VoIP Moving slow?

James Seng seem to think so in his blog… and Om seem to concur. I wonder why  .. Is innovation really slowing on the VoIP front? In my opinion VoIP really is the next  big thing. But most of the companies seem to be focusing on just few products mainly in the cheap services (Vonage, ooma..) or on mimicking the old TDM services (coutless fax, conference services). Both are bad. Some enhanced services (GrandCentral, etc) did come along the way. But Iam sure more is in store for VoIP and we would see more interesting services and companies with mobile convergence.

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Accessing icecast (and other services) from behind firewall

Use ssh-tunneling

workmachie $ ssh -L 8423:your.home.machine:8423 username@your.home.machine
Now access http://localhost:8423/
Cool!
soruce:

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Media sharing apps in linux

To stream:
icecast

streaming client
ices (use 0.4 to stream mp3s)

http access to mp3s
gnump3d

uPnP server
gmediaserver
mediatomb

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Convertng wav to mp3

lame file.wav file.mp3

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Mounting iso image

Mounting iso
mount -o loop /path/to/file.iso /path/to/mount/point

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