Author Archive

Want to build a high end desktop computer for a low end price (around $600 or less)?

Note: I don’t include Windows 7 in the default build, as you can just download Ubuntu, Fedora, or OpenSuSE Linux etc. for free. However, I’ve included links for Windows 7 (student and normal) in the Additional options section.

I would like to suggest the following components for people that want a really nice system without breaking the bank.

I just built a new machine that could support running multiple VMware instances, encode FLAC quickly, and surf the web etc. without breaking the bank. I didn’t need or want video gaming support since I use a PS3 for that.
However, I’ll suggest a view options (including gaming cards) that will allow you to alter the basic system we’ll be discussing.

This build is based on AMD/ATI since it really does perform well and saves a good chunk of money, but the parts can be swapped very easily to make it an Intel system that won’t break the bank either.

I’ll expand on why I chose the parts and provide direct links as well. (I use Newegg, but use anyone you like)

Read the rest of this entry »

PART – I:

Purpose:

The purpose of this guide is to provide general information on the following items.

Suggested software/codec’s for digitally archiving your CD’s for long term storage and without losing an ounce of quality. (I.E. Using the Open Source FLAC lossless encoder)

Encode from the Archived FLAC files for the most currently used/popular portable format currently being used; IMHO it’s still MP3’s.

Tools I Used:

Operating System: Windows 7

Secure Ripper/Encoder: dBpoweramp 13.3:  http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

Codec’s: Lossless = FLAC 1.2.1  and  Lossy = Lame 3.98.2 (included in the install)

Disclaimer:

I’m not responsible for anything period…..these are just my opinions
Read the rest of this entry »

If you missed my first rambling, see it here – Part-1

Now in Part 2, I’ve brought back more food for thought and some updated info between PS3′s ability to read MP3 tagging and AAC tagging as well.

So after some further testing, I’ve realized the broken part seems to be in iTunes MP3 tagging forArtwork only.

Setup used:

Windows 7 (and a few pre-encoded files from Vista for comparison)
iTunes 9.0.2.xx (latest as of Jan.5.2010) – Default ID Tag v.2.2 (but tested with 2.3 conversions)
dBpoweramp  13.3 using Lame 3.98.2 and ID Tags v2.3
PS3 – Fat and Slim models (tested on Firmware 3.00 and 3.15) which can read ID Tag v.2.1, 2.2, and 2.3

Here are the results I’ve found (based on MP3 encoding):

1. A song encoded with iTunes that auto grabs the Artwork and using ID Tag v.2.2 (or even altering the same song to v.2.3) doesn’t show up properly under the PS3 or Windows Explorer.
2. However, using that very same song encoded in step one, if I copy and paste a graphic from the internet etc. and drop it into the Album Artwork window in iTunes, it will then show up on my PS3 and through Windows Explorer!
3. I decided to move back to dBpoweramp and run some test encodes/tagging for comparisons. While using dBpoweramp, all ID Tagging worked out of the box, all art work pulled from the net and inserted correctly, which was readable by all applications (iTunes, Black Berry, PS3, Windows Explorer, iPod, Sandisk Mp3 player) etc.

Thoughts:

There’s obviously something different with how artwork is stored when iTunes grabs it from the web (automatically) versus when you copy/paste artwork into the album art window.

I know (and have known) iTunes kept a separate “Album Artwork” folder, but it never dawned on me that they wouldn’t also keep that info in the headers as well.  So it seems when you copy and paste Artwork (vs. Auto-grabbing) in iTunes, it then writes it / tags it in the headers properly.

I guess they were trying to achieve a better way of Artwork storage? I guess we’ll see when I send off my letter to Apple, if they write back.

AAC:

As for the AAC part of this….it’s Sony’s fault, mostly……

While iTunes does the exact same thing with Artwork as the MP3′s, the Artwork doesn’t show up properly no matter what you encode with (dbPoweramp, EAC, etc) as the PS3 is expecting the container to be a 3GP/AAC file! Arrrgggghhhhh my PS3 isn’t a damn cell phone.

So until Sony updates the PS3 (like the later PSP updates) to read the entire m4a container (and tags) properly, it seems we’re out of luck for AAC encoded files (unless you go through a huge mess)

Note: However, there are ways around all of this crap, you could just use a streaming media server, but then we wouldn’t have learned this little bit of info. 

This isn’t a guide or how-to article, it’s really just an informational blabber (in two parts), but maybe it will stir some thinking/experimenting with an old friend or two.

While messing around with my PS3 as an AAC/MP3 encoder, I quickly realized it doesn’t pull Art info etc. However, even if it did, I wouldn’t advise using the PS3 as your main ripper/encoder, as it’s always easier to replace standard PC DVD drives vs. a PS3 Blue Ray drive.

Over the years I’ve moved from app to app and codec to codec (Audio Grabber, Lam3 via CLI, batch processing, EAC, dbpoweramp, linux tools with Lam3, OGG and so on) always looking for a great rip/encode combo. It’s funny, I swore off iTunes for encoding funtions until they starting using better versions of an MP3 encoder etc, I also stayed away from AAC, not because it’s not good (as it’s VERY good) but there was so  few players (car/mobile) that could play them (except iPods) etc. Well…..years passed and lots of things started supporting AAC, so I moved to AAC a year or so ago.

Now days, I truly do love iTunes ability to encode AAC/MP3′s (plus managing my iPod Touch) and supposedly Apple supports and uses the standard tagging functions for MP3 ID Tags, well…..at least that’s what it looks like and feels like except for one little minor flaw I found recently.

However,  keep in mind, unlike MP3′s, the AAC group has never set an industry standard as far as tagging goes, but Apple implemented a pretty good format on their own.

ENTER PS3 and Windows Explorer issues:

Read the rest of this entry »

I'm providing the original text file for ease of use

Grab it here - ClamAV.on.Fedora

----------------------------------

Background:

This guide will use the ClamAV CLI scanner and the ClamAV-Update script (freshclam).
I wrote this to help all the Home\SOHO users (servers or desktops).
ClamAV has various tools/packages/plugins for email servers etc. but that’s another story.

If you wish to learn more visit their home site: http://www.clamav.net/

Obviously, you can change anything you want, but this should get you going.

Read the rest of this entry »

! WARNING ! – DO NOT VISIT THE SITES BELOW – ! WARNING !

I noticed some Pakistan site had pingbacks for some articles we wrote, but no comments from the person that copy and pasted them (verbatim) on their site.

Well, being the person that I am, I fired up “Wireshark” on my Linux box (of course) to investigate their site further.

I noticed they had various other sites tied to the same domain, so I visited another one (other than the blog) and low and behold something was a little fishy.

Their “photo” site tried to launch a little gift for me……an “IFrame exploit” and if you’re running Windows you get a special prize for the visit…..a worm.  ;0)

Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever been in a rush or just had a complete brain freeze with your MySQL passwords?

Well…..I have. 

——————————-

Step # 1 : Stop mysql service

SHELL> /etc/init.d/mysql stop

——————————-

Step # 2: Start to MySQL server w/o password:

SHELL> mysqld_safe --skip-grant-tables &

——————————-

Step # 3: Connect to mysql server using mysql client and setup the new root password:

SHELL> mysql -u root

mysql> use mysql;
mysql> update user set password=PASSWORD("$PASSWORD") where User='root';
mysql> flush privileges;
mysql> quit

——————————-

Step #4: Stop and Restart MySQL Server: (try your new $PASSWORD)

SHELL> /etc/init.d/mysql stop
SHELL> /etc/init.d/mysql start
SHELL> mysql -u root -p

——————————-

Note: There are other ways to reset the password, but I like this one.

Over the past few years several people on the VMware communities forums have released patches to fix the vmware modules for the next “fresh” release of the Linux Kernel / Distro. I’ve used them in the past with much success, but I generally like waiting for the official VMware support. However, I’m pretty excited about Fedora 11 (just to many new goodies not to play) and I noticed there’s a new updated patch for 2.6.29 and even 2.6.30 Kernels!

VMware Workstation 6.5.2 module patches/discussion: 2.6.29

VMware Workstation 6.5.2 module patches/discussion: 2.6.30

Sun has official Fedora 11 support (and now 2.6.31) with VirtualBox: VirtualBox 3.0.0 (if that’s your cup of tea)

Note: Obviously Fedora is the test bed for the QEMU/KVM merger so you can go that route as well, but I love VMware. ;0)
Here is a great article to get you moving on the QEMU/KVM way of life: Clik Me

HTH

Starting in Fedora 10 (but disabled by default) Red Hat Fedora started providing the KMS Framework.

Fedora – KMS page: Click Me

X.Org – KMS page :  Click Me

Now if you’ve upgraded/installed the new Fedora 11 (or even Ubuntu 9.x etc.) KMS is enabled by default and you may have noticed there are new/still some regressions in the kernel and certain Intel and ATI cards may have issues.

If you’re having some crazy issues, fear not, you may have an answer here.

Intel Video Issues: Click Me

Ati/AMD Video Issues: Click Me

Note: This isn’t Fedora specific, you may have noticed you cant even enable desktop effects in Ubuntu 9.0.4 under certain cards (without de-blacklisting)

This is just the natural progression of trying to make things better and part of the growing pains that going with non-enterprise distros of Linux can give it’s users……but end the end, it will be worth it.

HTH.

I hardly ever trust the coupon sites floating around on the net, but I figured what they hey, it can’t hurt to try one.

I’ve really been wanting a Dell Latitude D630 series (yeah it’s an older model, on the 800 bus etc.) but, it IS the perfect laptop when looking to run 100% of any version of Linux and works with all the major “Security Tool” CD’s.  ;0) Read the rest of this entry »