luv-talk July 2012

luv-talk@luv.asn.au

28 participants
24 discussions

by Edward Savage

Evening all, I want to setup a new MythTV media computer as a present and I'm looking for a hassle free HD TV Tuner that I can buy in Australia. The last few I've bought have required binary blob drivers or load-on-use firmware and have painful reliability issues as a result. I'm after something I can plug in, maybe at worst compile some libraries, and then expect to work well forever. I'd prefer an internal card though ease of use will win in my choice and a LIRC compatible remote control would be a bonus. I am well aware of the wiki lists of 'compatible' cards and used the V4L one for my last two purchases which turned out to be rubbish. So is anyone aware of a tuner card they can recommend that meet my requirements? Thanks guys, Edward

9 years, 7 months

How to discover my email redirection

by Carl Turney

Hi All, I currently own the domain name boms.com.au A friend in NZ is currently hosting that website for me (actually a contact of his in South America, I think). I don't know how it's done, but all mail addressed to "boms" is auto-redirected to an email account I have with my old NZ-based ISP. My pal hasn't responded to my recent request, to change that redirection to the email account I currently have with my new AU-based ISP. In the off chance that something drastic has happened to my pal: How can I "wrest control" of my email handling? Feel free to reply off-list, and/or just point me to a relevant website to RTFM. Cheers, Carl Turney Bayswater, Vic. Home 9720 3975 Mobile 0427 024 735

9 years, 9 months

Re: [luv-talk] Urgent / Important: Is "Computer Science" Science?

by Edward Savage

On Thu, Jul 19, 2012 at 5:59 PM, Donna Benjamin <donna(a)cc.com.au> wrote: > Hi all, > > Submissions regarding the Draft Senior Science Australian Curriculum > close **tomorrow**. > > This article in today's age made me think... > http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/science-subject-comes-under-fir… > > Hang on - Where's computer science? Oh that's right it doesn't exist in > the brave new world of the new Australian Curriculum. It's a general > capability (ICT) or a "Technology" along with design, woodworking, > cooking and agriculture - in a strand called "Digital Technologies" > > I've been to a couple of Google sponsored workshops advocating for the > promotion and redevelopment of computer science in high school. #CS4HS > > So I have some thoughts on this. Perhaps you do too? > > You have less than 24 hours to make a submission with your thoughts. > I don't think it really exists now. As many are aware the transition from Information Processing Technology (IPT) to Information Communication Technology (ICT) was completed in most states over half a decade ago. While ICT does cover programming and computer design the focus on 'how computers work' is replaced with 'make computers do work'. The difference is subtle (and I have oversimplified it!) however computer science requires an interest in the lowest levels of computer operation and that is no longer something students are exposed to. The transition in high schools has already had a very negative impact on the computer science departments of at least two universities I know of. The computing department of the university I attended is now almost empty and many of the courses were moved to the Business faculty. I know from friends who are now in their first and second years at other universities that this is not an isolated trend. As a result I think that just setting a syllabus that exposes high school students to computer science may not be enough any more. The root causes of why school boards have been moving away from computer science for the last decade are still there. And, those students that do express an interest may find their options for tertiary programs have been greatly reduced. I will still make a submission however, I fear community action is years too late for submissions to make a difference. While it may be a good start I think it's time the information technology community took an active roll in solving the issues computer science faces in schools. Edward

9 years, 9 months

Google Fibre -- Kansas City [US]

by Andrew McGlashan

For $70 per month, you get symmetric 1gbps speeds AND 1TB of online storage as well as unlimited data -- add $50 for Google TV. https://fiber.google.com/plans/residential/ Oh and if you want free Internet at 5mbps/1mbps, also unlimited data, then you only have to pay the $300 "construction fee", which is waived on the $70 plan. -- Kind Regards AndrewM Andrew McGlashan Broadband Solutions now including VoIP Current Land Line No: 03 9012 2102 Mobile: 04 2574 1827 Fax: 03 9012 2178 National No: 1300 85 3804 Affinity Vision Australia Pty Ltd http://www.affinityvision.com.au http://adsl2choice.net.au In Case of Emergency -- http://www.affinityvision.com.au/ice.html

9 years, 9 months

Using 'master-files' in StarOffice/OpenOffice/LibreOffice

by Rohan McLeod

Assembled cognoscenti ; I have a 'literary project', which resembles a book; in that I have decided to approach it, as a number of modules, each consisting of one StarOffice document, .odt format. Apparently there is some kind of meta-document called a 'master-file'; ( the same nomenclature seems to exist in LibreOffice and OpenOffice) which seems to be just a file of links to the component documents; so far so good. Problem is the result thus far, (after extensive consultation with the relevant help-files and googling), is litttle better than concatenating the individual documents. -' chapters' don't start on odd pages or even at top of page and - 'chapter' headers (originally the document headers) get completely lost ! I don't regret my original decision, because it isolates the layout of each document and thus reduces work. Probably the same result can be achieved in a single document; if one is much more proficient at 'driving' word processors than myself, but I would prefer to continue with this approach for the time being. So has anyone done something similar with greater success ? thanks Rohan McLeod

9 years, 9 months

cheap dual-core systems

by Russell Coker

http://www.graysonline.com/sale/410789/computers-it-equipment/ex-lease-leno… small-form-factor-desktops?spr=true The above URL has an auction of Lenovo E2160 desktop systems with 2G of RAM which are offered at $9. So far no-one has bid! The actual payment would be $9 + $1.50 auction fee + something like $30 delivery. But you are still looking at less than $50 for a quite decent dual- core 64bit system. A couple of my relatives have such Lenovo systems, they are nice. If you want to build a test network then a few of those would be a nice setup. The postage per system is often cheaper if you buy several systems. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/

9 years, 9 months

Re: [luv-talk] Urgent / Important: Is "Computer Science" Science?

by Jason White

Donna Benjamin <donna(a)cc.com.au> wrote: > Hang on - Where's computer science? Oh that's right it doesn't exist in > the brave new world of the new Australian Curriculum. It's a general > capability (ICT) or a "Technology" along with design, woodworking, > cooking and agriculture - in a strand called "Digital Technologies" It was more than this when I was in secondary school. Then, at least, everybody did a little programming (in BASIC or Logo). Some of us learned Pascal too. I don't know what the computing subjects in years 11-12 would have entailed, as I didn't choose them. As to whether computer science is science strictly so-called, I think it's a similar question to whether mathematics is. At university, mathematics tends to have an interesting relationship with both the science faculty and the arts faculty; at some universities it used to be (and perhaps still is) open to arts students and science students, though it was formally part of the science faculty. Computer science tends to be regarded as an engineering discipline. Irrespective of where it best fits, it belongs in the school curriculum. It lies at the base of much of the technological change that is affecting twenty-first century societies in most of the world. To use the technology effectively and to shape its future requires understanding, and this begins at school.

9 years, 9 months

wireless mouse

by Keith Bainbridge

G'day All. Anybody using a wireless (USB type) mouse? Those I have seen only talk about windows & MacOSX. Thanks Keith Bainbridge PO Box 324 BELMONT Vic 3216 Australia +61 (0)408 522 706 keith.bainbridge.3216(a)gmail.com

9 years, 9 months

Re: [luv-talk] wireless mouse

by Tim Hamilton

> From: Michael Scott <luv(a)inoz.net> > To: Keith Bainbridge <keithrbau(a)gmail.com> > Cc: luv-talk(a)lists.luv.asn.au > Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 11:23:48 +1000 > Subject: Re: [luv-talk] wireless mouse > I've been using all sorts of wireless mice for the time I've been using Linux (2005). > > I went into Harvey Norman one day looking for a wireless mouse. Looked on the Logitech boxes and they basically all said they were compatible with Windows and Mac. A sales assistant happened to be sitting at a desk nearby so I asked him if that meant they wouldn't work with Linux. He replied "probably". I just picked one up and bought it knowing that every mouse I've used has been compatible with Linux. > > Michael > > On Thu, Jul 26, 2012 at 8:41 AM, Keith Bainbridge <keithrbau(a)gmail.com> wrote: >> >> On Wed, 25 Jul 2012 21:42:02 +0800 Tim Lyth <tcl(a)tcl.homedns.org> wrote: >> > I'm using the Logitech M305 cordless mouse - it has a >> > "micro-receiver" unit which plugs in to a USB port. >> > Debian picked it up just fine in the USB 2.0 port on my Medion brand >> > laptop. >> >> Thanks Tim. >> >> That is logical, but some times logic doesn't count. >> >> >> Keith Bainbridge >> PO Box 324 >> BELMONT Vic 3216 Australia >> +61 (0)408 522 706 >> >> keith.bainbridge.3216(a)gmail.com >> _______________________________________________ Just to echo what Michael et al have said. I use a Logitech MX-something (I don't have it with me). It is a 6 button mouse that has a search button in addition to the regular 3 + forward/back. Everything, even the search (which under Gnome is desktop search) works out of the box. I'm also sure I could configure the search to do a Google search like you can with the Mac/Windows drivers pretty easily if that's what I wanted. Cheers Tim -- Vote NO in referenda.

9 years, 9 months

The Apple design from 2004

by Peter Ross

.. which is used to ban Samsung's tablets in Europe: http://esearch.oami.europa.eu/copla/design/data/000181607-0001 Unfortunately I threw my scribbing on the napkin away, in the late 80ies after half a dozen beers, as I remember clearly;-) Chiers Peter

9 years, 9 months

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luv-talk July 2012