Category Archives: Reviews

Closer Look on Gimp 2.7 – Gimp 2.8

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we used to see Gimp with triple windows view with the last stable release of Gimp for tool box, editing window, and ” layers, patterns, channels, undo, brushes”. But Now with the development release it’s just single window mode for all three windows, and it’s fully customizable for dragging elements all over this window.

compiling operation for the development release is annoying for me a little bit, cause it has some extra dependencies specially with gegl and babl packages, you will find installation readme file on gimp folder follow instruction there to get it right. Download Gimp Development release.

check these posts reviewing the development release of Gimp 2.7.1 and How is Gimp 2.8 look going to be!

GIMP 2.8: A preview of the new features! – April 2010

Hands-on: new single window mode makes GIMP less gimpy

Episode 118: Looking in the Crystal Ball at GIMP 2.8

[Reviews]: Sidux Hypnos 2010-01 Xfce Review

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Debian based distribution comes with two Desktops KDE, Xfce and this one going to review today here. most packages with Xfce version is upgraded to last version. Fully customized with xfce window manager, will show exactly how to fully customize many things on Sidux Hypnos.

Check the Release Notes Here

Download Sidux Hypnos 2010-01 Xfce version Here

using it on virtual box with these hardware specification:

  • Single core processor 2.1 GHz
  • 512 MB of RAM
  • 12 MB of video memory

Starting with the boot menu for the Grub 1.98 installed and you will be able choose between running sidux 2010-01, booting from first Hard drive, memory test. and extra options for languages command line. check the small bar down there.

Really cool splash background for the new sidux 2010-01, it’s fully customizable from session and startup from Xfce settings, you will be able to choose from other splashs there, configure the splash for sidux and you always able to add more splash backgrounds.

after the first boot will open iceweasel to show the new release notes for Hypnos Xfce version.

Showing main installed applications on Sidux Hypnos 2010-01

Xarchive, squeeze applications for archiving ways. Thunar file manager coming with xfce window manager. most packages installed integrated with Xfce window manager.

Multimedia: applications included burning applications Brasero multi burning ways for CDs and DVDs, Gxine simple audio video player, mixer, and Xfburn simple burning tool for xfce.

Network applications: Ceni simple tool running using Terminal for choose network interface and customize it. Elinks non graphics web browser awesome to easily use specially using Keyboard. Iceweasel web browser as same as mozilla firefox web browser. pppoe configure: to configure your internet connection.

Also you will find IRC applications, SSH, Transmission torrent client, and xchat application.

Office applications: installed applications for word processor AbiWord, and Gnumeric simple application for spreadsheet.

System Menu: you will find a lot of options for setting a password, Removing extra kernel installed, Htop for show processing application on your session right now, sidux installer, sidux manual, and you are able to install using USB from there.

Settings menu: you can fully customize and control your distribution using this menu or simply open Xfce 4 settings manager, from there you will find a lot of options for customize you display resolutions, icons, splash backgrounds, network connections, appearance, window manager Tweaks, session and startups for controling staring up applications, and splash, and even more.

Sidux Hypnos 2010-01 Screenshots:

That’s it for now.

[Reviews]: Ubuntu 10.10 Alpha 1 Review ” Maverick Meerkat “

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Ubuntu 10.10 Alpha 1 Maverick Meerkat you won’t  notice a big difference between it and 10.04 LTS, fixed many bugs check bug tracking on launchpad for more information.

….

…

Latest Reviews for Ubuntu 10.10

Main Enhancement On Ubuntu 10.10 Alpha 1

  • check the Blueprints for Maverick to know fixed bugs and upgraded packages for Maverick
  • upgraded to gnome 2.31 and for Kubuntu KDE upgraded to version 4.5 beta 1
  • Kernel version 2.6.34-5.12 based on Kernel 2.6.34

check the release announcement and release Notes

Download Ubuntu 10.10 Alpha 1

Testing Environment using Vbox with these Hardware specification:

  • Single core processor 2.1 Ghz
  • 384 MB of RAM
  • 12 MB of video memory

First impression

Same looking as Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, quick booting time, same installed default themes, and backgrounds, but many applications upgraded to last release.

Ubuntu 10.10 Alpha 1 screenshots

Overall about Ubuntu 10.10 Alpha 1

still quite early for this release to notice changes between it and older version 10.04 LTS. but it’s working really good i didn’t got any problem with at all so far.

Waiting for Alpha 2 according to schedule will be released July 1st, That’s it for now.

[Reviews]: Quirky 1.2 Review

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Quirky distribution built using Woof builder for Puppy Linux, looks as same as puppy linux 5.0 but more lighter, we already reviewed Puppy Linux 5.0 check it for more information.

Many upgrades comes with Quirky 1.2 for utilities packages, network, editors for light inkscape package, multimedia applications ” libdvdread, libdvdnav, Gutenprint 5.2.5, Sane-backends 1.0.21, Xsane 0.997 “, integrated local help by HTML viewer using libgtkhtml.

Download Quirky 1.2 form here

check the release announcement also for more information

Testing environment using virtual machine vbox with these hardware specification:

  • 2.1 Ghz single core processor
  • 384 MB of RAM
  • 12 MB of video memory

These specifications is really high for such distribution it able to work on lower hardware specification and that’s a good thing you will be to install it and use on old machines with really good performance.

after booting asking you to set your language, clock, location, and configuring xorg for resolution setup. then installation process toke no time.

really simple interface and fully customizable using GTK themes chooser and JWM configuration manager.

simple Local help center using HTML with libgtkhtml, and really helps you out to understand how to easily use quirky 1.2

comes with a lot of installed packages for photo editing, multimedia players, basic web browser sea monkey. and a lot more check the release announcement for more informations.

Overall About Quirky 1.2

Really good distribution, lightweight window manager JWM, it’s a really good choice for your older machines even decent ones. give it a try you won’t regret it just 111 MB distribution.

That’s it for now.

[Reviews]: Qimo 2.0 Review Great Linux Distribution For Kids

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Qimo 2.0 Linux distribution based on Ubuntu designed specially for kids with Xfce window manager, looks really simple to use and suitable for small kids and integrated with many games will help the kid to improve his/her skills. Mathematical, typing, drawing, learning ABCs. will show you all that in the review.

To Download Qimo 2.0 follow this link

It’s really lightweight distribution you can use it in really low hardware specification used it on vbox:

  • 384 MB of RAM
  • 2.1 GHz single core processor
  • 12 MB of video memory

First booting to choose how do you want to use Qimo as a live session or fully installed. used it as a live session.

Really cool collection of Qimo backgrounds suitable for kids, and customized dock for main Games installed on Qimo 2.0.

Tux Typing game, cool game to improve typing skills with many levels, and you choose a specific words to type for animals, numbers, colors, more …

Tux Math game, cool game for mathematical equation calculations. Tux Painting: painting application with simple tools for stamps, brushes …

And other games for learning alphabetical.

Overall it’s a really good distribution for kids, it’s a really good choice to install it on your machine for your kid.

That’s it for now.

[Reviews]: Fedora 13 Gnome Review

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A lot of Things coming up with the new release Fedora 13 for improving the distribution itself, even extra package added, fixing many bugs reported by the users for many applications such as wine, printer problems with older fedora versions,… “, even more we will fully discuss it now.

Before we go any further let’s check the release Notes, Release announcement for fedora 13, and Download Options.

Release announcement Release Notes

Download Fedora 13: you will find a lot of download options there for Gnome, KDE, LXDE, XFCE Desktops for 32 bit or 64 bit processors

We already make listed the main enhancement and what’s new with fedora 13

Using it as a live session on Virtual machine “sun virtualbox” with this hardware specifications

  • Single core processor 2.1 Ghz
  • 384 MB of RAM
  • 12 MB of video memory

Booting time and loading time to login screen take a while but not that long with this hardware specifications, expecting to get better booting time to get to the login screen.

Looks really good some upgrades added to gnome 2.30 integrated with fedora 13, some changing for time and date menu for better navigation.

Printer manager new upgraded added to fedora 13 to auto identify the printer type and installing the suitable driver for it, that’s solved a lot reported problem with printers for many users.

Pino new integrated package for social media to be able to connect with social media like Twitter, identi.ca and more but you will need to know the API for this social media to be able to use it on pino, remembering me with Gwibber social media application for ubuntu now. But gwibber much more better than pino so far. waiting for more upgrades.

Supporting IPhone and IPod now available to be able to auto sync up with your device to control you music and multimedia libraries.

will be reviewing other desktops for fedora soon.

That’s it for now.

[How To]: Install LXDE Desktop On Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

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LXDE is really lightweight desktop and that what this desktop name stand for, a lot of distributions right now using LXDE desktop, if you was a windows user you will feel it looks similar to it a little bit. But this is not the idea, LXDE comes with a lot of integrated packages with it for file manager “PCMan file manager”, and music player LXmusic, and many other packages.

LXDE menu panel

File manager for LXDE

Music player and themes manager for LXDE Desktop, also you will be able to change themes and icons

Installation process:

you download it and install it from  LXDE website This way recommended to other distribution or

for Ubuntu 10.04 LTS

Go To Terminal and type:

sudo apt-get install lxde

## will ask you for the administration password

then it will take some time for the installation process

after the Installation over, Log out and log in with LXDE Desktop

Enjoy LXDE on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx

That’s it for now.

[Reviews]: Linux Mint 9 Isadora Review

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Linux Mint 9 Isadora is one of the best Ubuntu based distributions, a really cool distribution if you used Ubuntu 10.04 LTS you find out it has many things on common with Linux Mint Isadora with extra packages installed on it. before we go any further will list the release announcement and download options for it here

release announcement and download options so far it’s available to download with Gnome desktop on CD, DVD for different CPUs AMD, intel, 32 bit or 64 bit

Download

Using Isadora on virtual machine ” virtual box ” with this hardware specifications:

  • single core processor 2.1
  • 384 MB or RAM
  • 12 MB of Video memory

Same great look for linux Mint with green color, and many new wallpaper we mentioned it on this post

Featured improvements in this release: 30,000 applications catalogued and reviewable both online and in the new software manager, brand new incremental backup tool for both data and software selection, menu transparency and editable items, USB and Windows installers, 3 years support, look & feel improvements.

A lot of new features and software packages integrated with linux mint 9 isadora check this release announcement for more information.

Using live session on the virtual machine, so it’s not expected to know exactly if this good booting time or not. but overall working good.

a really cool backup tool for linux mint some kind like apttocd application, to backup specific packages installed on the machine and you can restore it later.

also improves linux mint main menu with extra look for transparent, and same other features usually see for 3d and cube and fading…

Awesome software manager a really cool organized way to pick your applications you would like to install, and optimized with different categories and subcategories. also you can add your own review on the listed applications there and make a vote for it.

Overall it’s a great distribution working great, and still waiting for FluxBox window manager version that will come from Linux Mint community soon.

That’s it for now  :)

[Reviews]: Puppy Linux 5.0 Review

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Puppy Linux 5.0 or called Lucid Puppy it a minimal distribution based Ubuntu 10.04 LTS release, built on binary packages on Lucid Lynx. comes with a lot of installed packages even you can get more using “Puppy package manager”, using JWM desktop really cool window manger ” Joe’s window manger ” to get more information about JWM desktop follow this link

Using it as a live session on SUN VirtualBox with this hardware specification

  • Single core processor 2.1 Ghz
  • 384 MB memory RAM
  • 12 MB Video memory

First Impression

Really quick release with a really small size distribution just 128 MB it’s not the smallest distribution released but it comes with a lot of installed great packages and internet applications,

Graphics packages ” light inkscape application “, Network manager, Multimedia applications “burn ISO to cd/dvd, Pburn for cd/dvd/blue-ray, ISO master to modify ISO files. and a lot of multimedia application ” Asunder audio CD ripper, Gxine media player, Pmusic player, Pcdripper CD songs ripper, Zmixer audio mixer, mhwave edit audio recorder/editor ” default writing application abiword, Gnumeric spreadsheet application.

First run configuration window comes up with first time boot up that help you out to modify you keyboard layout, languages, Location, time and date, and resolution setting.

when first used it felt it’s messy a little bit with all these icons on the desktop and after using it  for a while and getting used to JWM desktop you will find out that distribution is really cool.

Chthemes GTK themes chooser with GTK+ 2.0

Installing extra packages using Puppy packages manager. you will find a lot of recommended applications listed under many categories and Repo s ” Ubuntu lucid-main, Ubuntu-Lucid- multiverse, puppy-woof, puppy-5″

before turn off the live session it will ask you to save your files and settings you already done on the live session.

Who should use this distribution

This distribution is really light weight distribution, if you have an old laptop or any machine with really low hardware specification this will be a really good choice for you, cause it’s totally awesome and quick. that’s not mean decent computers can’t use it. working great on all.

More information, release Notes and Download Options Follow this link

Direct Download link for Linux Puppy 5.0

6 Things I like about Ubuntu 10.04 LTS

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With the new release of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS many changes comes up, using it for 3 days so far and it’s working great, even after I installed many applications still working great, really nice looking themes with it ” Radiance and Ambiance “.

so here are things I like about Ubuntu 10.04 LTS

1. Nautilus upgrade comes with Gnome 2.30

that help you to split your windows. using extra pane to activate it press F3 or go to view and choose extra pane.

The good thing about it you use it to easily move or copy files and folder form pane to other.

2. Social Drop down menu

a quick access to change your empathy or Pidgin status, also access your empathy accounts, Gwibber accounts and ubuntu one.

also you update your twitter, facebook, or any other social media by typing there any thing there it will be automatically updated by Gwibber to you active accounts there.

3. Gwibber Social broadcast messages

you connect to your social websites easily using Gwibber such as Facebook, Twitter, Identi.ca, Flickr, Digg, Feedfriend,….

I had a lot of problem with in ubuntu 10.04 beta 1, but now it working great. I love it.

4. Ubuntu one Music Store

Ubuntu one Music store integrated with Rhythmbox, really cool you can listen and download music using it.

5. Themes and background

” Radiance and Ambiance ” new themes comes with Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, both of them looks really good. comes with a really cool wallpapers collection. this link for who want to download ubuntu 10.04 LTS wallpaper.

6. Booting time and ext4 performance

Really awesome booting time, even after I installed many applications still booting time is great. processing time for many applications is quick. installed on ext4 formate partition. I used to use ext3 on ubuntu 9.10. but with this release ext4 performing really well.

That’s it for now. enjoy Ubuntu 10.04 LTS it’s for HUmans :)

Review : xPUD 0.9.2 Review light distribution

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xPUD 0.9.2 Review

xPUD distribution light wight distribution using simple web interface called plate user interface. this is a really good choice distribution to use if you want to get a quick access to internet or directories, multimedia files, document files, …..

You can install it in your USB, laptop, Notebook, Desktop, …  the good thing is the boot time really good booting time even in this review i was using it in my virtual machine “sun virtualbox”.

  • screenshots

main installed application mozilla firefox, mplayer, document reader, also you can get extra application using opt-get software center, it’s like synaptic package manager we using on ubuntu or mint distributions. you can find openoffice, skype, extra codecs for playing multimedia files, ….  all this application located on opt-get software center.

  • System requirement for this distribution

256MB RAM and 64MB free disk required.

also check the full video review “screencast” play in HD for better quality

To download xPUD 0.9.2 here

enjoy it, Thumb up if you like it  :)

Mobile : HTC EVO 4G

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Sprint announced the release of HTC EVO 4G this summer 2010, a lot of new features with this device will make it the best device so far. say hello for the first WiMAX device with android operating system with sprint contract. I believe it won’t take long time to be unlocked or released by another carrier.

so HTC EVO 4G with 4.3 inches TFT capacitive touch screen 480 x 800 pixels, 1 GHz snapdragon processor but with different model installed on HTC HD2 I believe it just improvement to processor structure to be able to do other features specially this device comes with 4G technology or WiMAX.

8 Mega pixel camera able to 720p video and 1.3 mega pixel camera in front for video calling and application required in front webcam. Built in 1 GB of memory and 512 MB of RAM and customizable microSD card slot but not sure if it will be upgradeable to 32 GB like HTC HD2 or maybe more.

Also you will be able to watch high definition movies with HDMI output. 1500 mAh Bigger battery life than HTC HD2 .

Android operating system installed version 2.1 with new sense UI version installed.

Sprint didn’t announce any details about pricing or when exactly it will be released this summer. rumor said it will be released this month April 2010 with 3G working only.

Thanks engadget for HTC evo 4G Hands on, and comparison HTC evo 4G vs Iphone 3gs vs nexus one :)

Also check engadget hands-on for HTC EVO 4G