CheckGmail is a nice little utility for... well, I'm sure you can guess what for. The version in the Debian Squeeze repository wouldn't let me log in and kept telling me the username or password was wrong.
The update command that's supposed to cure the problem according to the website didn't work on my system, I think because I don't have Sudo set up.
There's a method of manually updating the program described on this site.
That didn't work until I'd applied a patch as described here.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Monday, January 9, 2012
Debian 6.03 install niggles
I installed Debian 6.03 on my laptop recently. I found a couple of niggles post-installation.
The first was that the external hard drive wouldn't mount. I found the solution here.
The next was that the protocols in Pidgin were greyed out. I found a work around here, but the real problem was that Network Manager wasn't working- the install had configured an Ethernet connection leaving Network Manager obsolete. I had a connection but no way of enabling wireless. I found the solution here.
Despite the niggles, Debian really is rock-solid. Even after just a year it feels dated compared to Fedora 16 which I've been using recently, but it doesn't have the same huge updates every few days, or any of the minor crashes.
I am missing Gnome 3, and looking forward to seeing it in Debian 7, hopefully in a similar rock-solid state by then.
The first was that the external hard drive wouldn't mount. I found the solution here.
The next was that the protocols in Pidgin were greyed out. I found a work around here, but the real problem was that Network Manager wasn't working- the install had configured an Ethernet connection leaving Network Manager obsolete. I had a connection but no way of enabling wireless. I found the solution here.
Despite the niggles, Debian really is rock-solid. Even after just a year it feels dated compared to Fedora 16 which I've been using recently, but it doesn't have the same huge updates every few days, or any of the minor crashes.
I am missing Gnome 3, and looking forward to seeing it in Debian 7, hopefully in a similar rock-solid state by then.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Firefox 9 crashes
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols has a report that Firefox 9 was prone to crashes. I did notice Firefox crashing two or three times recently. 9.01 apparently fixes the problem (or more accurately removes a bug fix which caused the unexpected problem). I have 9.01 now on Fedora and haven't noticed any more crashes.
9.01 is also claimed to show noticeable speed improvements. I can't say I have noticed. When I do notice the internet being slow, it's usually because of some third-party content that won't load. Anything on Wordpress takes forever to load.
9.01 is also claimed to show noticeable speed improvements. I can't say I have noticed. When I do notice the internet being slow, it's usually because of some third-party content that won't load. Anything on Wordpress takes forever to load.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The safest web browser? Part III
Accuvant Labs has a new study out on browser security. The report (commissioned by Google) says Chrome is the most secure browser, because it has a well-implemented sandbox. Well, maybe.
But the report also contains data on browser vulnerability statistics, along with some very sensible caveats on using these to make any claims about security:
Unfortunately, actually reading the report seemed to be too much trouble for ZDNet.
As usual, the partisans pick up the FUD and start spreading it around:
I don't know which is more depressing: that a news source can so casually misrepresent a report they are writing a story about, or that there are so many gullible idiots around that will lap up the misrepresentation.
But the report also contains data on browser vulnerability statistics, along with some very sensible caveats on using these to make any claims about security:
Given all this information, we can conclude that the browsers are different. Development methodologies, corporate structure and patch release infrastructure all play a role in making dissimilar graphs. However, none of these pieces of information can be used to draw a security related conclusion.They seem to be saying, "please don't use our vulnerability graphs to imply that one browser is more secure than another".
Unfortunately, actually reading the report seemed to be too much trouble for ZDNet.
Either they didn't read the report, or they couldn't resist a bit of sensational journalism. Either way, they are doing a gross disservice to their readers.[A]ccording to the report Mozilla’s Firefox has the highest vulnerability count compared to Google’s Chrome and Microsoft’s Internet Explorer. Would you switch browsers over the results from a comparative review such as this one commissioned by Google?
As usual, the partisans pick up the FUD and start spreading it around:
Firefox fails miserably.Avast! forum.
I don't know which is more depressing: that a news source can so casually misrepresent a report they are writing a story about, or that there are so many gullible idiots around that will lap up the misrepresentation.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Gnome extensions site
Gnome how have a web site where users can install shell extensions, just like Firefox users can install add-ons at the Mozilla site. What I really want to see there is an extension that will allow me to get the functionality of Alt Tab with a mouse click on the panel, maybe next to Activities.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Gnome users are revolting less
Or should that be less revolting?
Seems that Gnome 3 isn't that bad after all
I'm trying to check out the dock extension now. Seems to be in the Fedora repository, but how to enable it is another questions.
Update: OK, you have to install gnome-tweak to activate the dock. Which is a turd. There may be some things Gnome 3 could do better, but this is like nailing a lump of wood onto the side of a new car to help you find the door handle more easily.
Seems that Gnome 3 isn't that bad after all
Hey, with gnome-tweak-tool and the dock extension, gnome-3.2 is starting to look almost usable.InternetNews.com
I'm trying to check out the dock extension now. Seems to be in the Fedora repository, but how to enable it is another questions.
Update: OK, you have to install gnome-tweak to activate the dock. Which is a turd. There may be some things Gnome 3 could do better, but this is like nailing a lump of wood onto the side of a new car to help you find the door handle more easily.
Alt Tab in Gnome 3
Alt Tab is a very useful keyboard shortcut in Gnome 3. But why isn't it available with a mouse click? Using the the 'Activities' button or hotspot is just too busy when switching between applications.
I've been using Windows 7 a bit recently and I quite like the way Windows does application switching: application icons appear in the bottom panel and hovering over the icon brings up images of open documents.
Gnome is more minimalist, and doesn't show running applications in the panel. But why not have a button in the panel for application switching, with the same function as Alt Tab for us mouse-bound users?
I've been using Windows 7 a bit recently and I quite like the way Windows does application switching: application icons appear in the bottom panel and hovering over the icon brings up images of open documents.
Gnome is more minimalist, and doesn't show running applications in the panel. But why not have a button in the panel for application switching, with the same function as Alt Tab for us mouse-bound users?
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