How Un-safe Will Windows XP Really Become?

The post I will link you to from my Twitter account sums this question up very nicely.  It really will be only a matter of time before the exploitation goes full throttle, and the people who drag-their-feet about migrating to a new or different system will ultimately take the full onslaught.

The team I follow at MAKEUSEOF have a great article well worth reading.

Shop Workhorse Now Running Trusty Tahr

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS

Comes with a few really nice wallpapers by default, I was immediately drawn to this particular one.

I have been hard at work getting things on the old Dell GX520 "Tweaked" back to the way I like them and have learned to accept some of the nicer features of Unity over my usual changes... one of which is the use of the Unity Social Lens over the use of Gwibber.

The simplified integration of the Google account makes the default calendar on the panel a much more useful tool... It also accepts the Tweaks to make the the Menu transparent.

I still prefer the 2x2 workspace layout and always set the lower right corner to toggle the wall.  I do like the ability to choose the selected color of the working desktop.

Even in the shop there is the occasional need to catch up on some of the more recent Movies or recorded TV show episodes.  XBMC " Frodo" as installed from the Software Center.

After having given Ubuntu Gnome a decent trial for a week on the netbook, I have decided that for the majority of uses I still prefer... (even though a few short years ago I wouldn't have been caught saying this) ...the navigational ease of Unity.

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS

Moving to a triple-boot system

It really is that close a decision for me at this point. I find myself constantly switching back and forth between three different releases of Ubuntu and have decided to utilize my Acer Aspire One Netbook as a test platform for all three. The old faithful Ubuntu 12.04LTS

Precise with the Default Unity interface which has been proven both reliable and simple to navigate.

The new version of the same Ubuntu 14.04 LTS Trusty Tahr.  The updated Unity interface adding many low key, yet beautiful tweaks that give it a more refined feel and a great deal of transparent usability. It has taken Unity to the next level for sure.

A totally different route and dive into the depths of the New Ubuntu Gnome 14.04 Trusty Tahr with a more elegant and refined Gnome interface. Decisions, decisions.




I suppose I will continue to tweak and explore them both for a number of weeks before I get anywhere close to making a decision.

Ubuntu One Shutting Down

No, It wasn't and April Fools Joke.

It was most definitely one of my most favourite apps for Ubuntu, and one I came to rely on more than I ever thought I would. Running multiple computers and wanting to access the same documents on any of them at any time, the  'built-in' file sync service known as UbuntuOne was the perfect fit. Designed to be nearly transparent to the user it was the perfect 'set-and-forget' app. There was no doubt that your files would be exactly where you needed them when you needed them, regardless what computer you sat down in front of.

I received my notification e-mail just this morning:

Hi,

We are writing to you to notify you that we will be shutting down the
Ubuntu One file services, effective 1 June 2014. This email gives
information about the closure and what you should expect during the
shutdown process.

As of today, it will no longer be possible to purchase storage or music
from the Ubuntu One store. The Ubuntu One file services apps in the Ubuntu,
Google, and Apple stores will be updated appropriately.

As always, your content belongs to you.  You can simply download your files
onto your PC or an external hard drive.  While the service will stop as of
1 June, you will have an additional two months (until 31 July 2014) to
collect all of your content. After that date, all remaining content will
be deleted.

If you have an active annual subscription, the unused portion of your fees
will be refunded. The refund amount will be calculated from today's
announcement.

We know you have come to rely on Ubuntu One, and we apologise for the
inconvenience this closure may cause.  We've always been inspired by the
support, feedback and enthusiasm of our users and want to thank you for
the support you've shown for Ubuntu One. We hope that you'll continue to
support us as together we bring a revolutionary experience to new devices.

The Ubuntu One team

I would now like to publicly thank the team behind UbuntuOne for their work on the service... It was a great ride, Good luck to all in your future endeavours. 

Looking ahead I do all ready have alternatives in place that I use on a regular basis and have proven to be reliable on the Ubuntu Linux platform.

Drop Box

Tried and true, Dropbox is certainly up to the job, although it only has 2GB free not the 5GB that UbuntuOne did. If you are only dealing with Documents and not a lot of photos or any large video files the 2GB will suffice for most users. The dropbox package is available through the Ubuntu Software Center which makes its installation a little easier than some of the alternatives. The interface is just as transparent as UbuntuOne.

Google Drive

Grive as Linux knows it can be installed but it is not as straight forward as the others (yet). The .deb packages are out there but installation is not as simple as just letting the software center do its thing. Some sites do have tutorials that walk you through the process quite well. If you are familiar with Linux and take your time it can be installed and set up with little headache. The transparency of Grive is better now than it was as the developers are still tweaking it into shape. Once the packages hit the software center it will be good to go. For those who need more space than the free 2GB that Dropbox offers Google Drive is a much more appealing choice at a whopping 15GB!

Bitcasa

As a totally alternate route, certainly one that takes much more knowledge to get set up, is an on-line storage site like Bitcasa.  They are currently working on a beta Linux Client, although it can be installed and does run well enough it does not have a GUI, so for the average user it may not be the right choice yet. It is a very good choice for those needing even more space offering 10GB free and up to 10GB additional for taking part in the "Bit Bonus" program they have... So with a possibility of 20GB free... it is worth looking into. Once the Bitcasa team has the Linux Client out of the beta stage I will be sure to "reimplement" it and give it a review.

Another Look At Gnome

Ubuntu Gnome 14.04 LTS

I haven't been a big fan of Gnome Desktop since the days of Gnome2... but with the availability of Ubuntu Gnome 14.04, I am giving it another go.

Installation to my Old Acer Aspire One went without a hitch.

Once I had it rebooted to the fresh install

 

I explored some of the basics...

To learn the layout.

It really is visually simple, and actually very elegant.

I think for now I will leave this as a boot option on the netbook and of course I will delve into the realm of customization as I get time to poke around. Perhaps my next post on Gnome will have a short video of it in action.

Congratulations!

To Another Convert!

My friend Alex has just had his Dell Inspiron 531,  SetUp! on Ubuntu 12.04. It's on its way back to ya! (UPS)

Coupled with a decent AMD processor, fortunately.... it has the best of Graphics... NVidia is where its at people!

The install went flawlessly... another older PC brought back to life by Ubuntu! Ready for another 5 years at least!

The first $25 gadget I've ever bought that actually works...

... and far beyond my expectations.

Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker

There really isn't much to the device... a couple heating elements with a sliding divider sandwiched between two rings all coated in a nonstick surface... but it actually works! The pre-cooked frozen sausage patties that you can pick up in a resealable bag of 12 are the perfect size, likewise Canadian Bacon as well, Microwave the patty for 30 or so seconds prior to use, along with an English muffin or a biscuit, a slice of cheese and a beaten egg... you have a breakfast sandwich ready in only 5 minutes. 

The one major drawback is that most Bagels are too large for use in this device... if you can find the mini-bagels they work with a minimal amount of trimming. Things like bologna are good to use but again... the size requires a bit of trimming... if they could make it the size of a bagel, then you would have more options for ingredients. If you have issues with the egg sticking to the slide... you need to increase the cooking time a bit, if it is cooked thoroughly it releases with no problems I find that 5 minutes is usually sufficient.

I must give Hamilton Beach a thumbs up on this one! I think I'll buy a second one so I can make two at the same time.