Make SeaMonkey 1.1.1 Usable

I wanted to write an updated article of my endeavours to make SeaMonkey 1.1.1 compliant to my daily computer needs. SeaMonkey –not only should cover new ground, if only in a new fashion but– needs to replace or offer alternative functionality idiosyncratic to that of Firefox, if only in the way of commonly used extensions.

As mentioned in on a previous article of mine, some Firefox extensions listed at the SeaMonkey add-ons site fail to install or function properly. Moreover, the site’s search utility fails to find particular extensions while a manual search does not. For instance, searching for “Sage” (or “sage” for that matter) fails, yet it is listed under Recommended Add-ons. This sort of inefficiency needs to be pruned, if SeaMonkey is to gain user confidence –let alone be given a fair chance to become a viable and competitive browser.

Back to the point of how to make SeaMonkey viable. One approach would be to build upon (accentuate) SeaMonkey’s attributes. The other approach is to replace missing elements.

Broadcom Email 2-Airport Extreme

Concerning Releasing Airport Extreme Source Code

This is the second set of my email dialogs with Broadcom concerning Free Software support (or lack thereof) for hardware they produced. I’ll let you decide if they are unco-operative. In the interest of keeping the correspondence in as pristine condition as possible, I’ve left them in WinTel email form, or lack of form. I’ve added a few editorial comments in red.

Maurice,

Broadcom is in the process of reviewing our linux support policy. As it stands now there are solutions on the market for linux users to use Broadcom equipment [Really? What viable alternatives are there? Read below for one that might have been viable if the manufacturers had complied with GPL obligations.]. And we do comply with all open-source regs [Well then release the source.]. However, to get open-source code you will have to go to the manufacture of the product [Don't you make the Airport Extreme chipset?]. I’m sorry I am not familiar with the Apple product specifically, but I know that Linksys has post source for their Broadcom base wireless router [Are you suggesting that they passed the buck to yourselves or are you passing it to them? Regardless, here is an admittance that the Airport Extreme is based on Free Source code. It presumably refers to the Linksys WRT54G, which used Free Source code as per <http://www.ussg.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/0309.3/0904.html>; The article mentioned details how Linksys has NOT complied with G.P.L. obligations and withholds static kernel module source code. This lack of co-operation has hindered the Free Source development of the code, and corresponding hardware support. To add to this fiasco, the creator of Snort alleges that the Broadcom 4300 series wireless nic violates his program because,

Broadcom Email 1-Airport Extreme

Concerning Releasing Airport Extreme Source Code …

This is the first set of my email dialogs with Broadcom concerning Free Software support (or lack thereof) for hardware they produced. I’ll let you decide if they are unco-operative. In the interest of keeping the correspondence in as pristine condition as possible, I’ve left them in WinTel email form, or lack of form. I’ve added a few editorial comments in red.

Early 2004 iBook Review

I seem to recall Apple advertising that the plastic that composes my iBook’s case was shatter resistant space age technology. Well for something so advanced, it scratches like hell. Even my case scratches it. I gather this serves as motivation to purchase over priced “official” cases and sleeves. Upon plugging in my earphones, I noticed the female receptor cover popped out; This required the the motherboard to be replaced. At about the same time I noticed the screen bezel had a bubble. I was told that the screen “might” have to be replaced. I waited sometime and finally the L.C.D. screen arrived, but broken.

Install Fest. Pamplet

Sept. 2005/06
Philosophy Committee

Gnu-Linux is Free as in Libre/Liberty.
* GPL’d software such as GNU-Linux is primarily about digital rights, an extension of human rights issues
* Why is this a rights issue? This is complex, but for the end user the proprietary model pushes onto its consumers a position of empowerment/disempowerment, rather than an equal footing. To clarify, proprietary (closed) software holds the source code (instructions for building the software) secret, thus the user can never be sure if there are hidden agendas behind closed software. The closed commercial model asks the consumer to trust them but does not allow itself to trust the customer to use their software ‘fairly’ (ie., making backup copies). Restrictive electronic licensing agreements are evidence of this. Furthermore, Free OSes do not hold updates/fixes ransom, meaning that needed updates/fixes for buggy software are not dispensed to only those who can afford them. Nor do they actively seek to create a dependence on closed source by keeping hardware specs secret as Apple/Broadcom does with Airport Extreme. Currently, iBook owners who wish to use the Airport Extreme wireless card must reboot into Apple’s OS (Operating System). Owners are boxed in, and thus their freedom impinged.

Setting Xmms & USB Sound

Get started with XMMS (audio player) and use an USB sound device (the Xitel MD-PORT AN1 digital to analogue converter). I use it to send digitalized music, via USB, either to my head-phones or a minidisc recorder. This results in better quality audio. This set-up has worked for me on Woody/Sarge Debian-PPC (2002/2005), and Warty/hoary Ubuntu-PPC (2004/2005).

Sync Palm with Evolution

I was unsatisfied with the official Ubuntu wiki on Palm sync’ing as it resulted in a error. Thus, here is my HowTo.

Ubuntu Hoary/Warty Sound Errors

I have noticed a two sound errors with Ubuntu. First there is a problem with Rhythmbox. It reports, “Could not pause playback”.The First Problem
The solution seems to be either:

Scribus/Aqua Templates

June 17, 2006
I promised a friend to help her with a pamphlet for her grandfather’s restaurant. I noticed that the default Scribus/Aqua came with few templates, but I found two template files searching through the Scribus site. One is called scribus-temp-all-1.2.1.tar.bz2 and the other, scribus-temp-all-1.2.tar.bz2. [Tiger's de-compressor (BOMArchiveHelper) doesn't open the file. Use OpenUp.]

Printer Trouble-Shooting

I’ve noticed some people have problems printing. Rather than resorting to changing permissions, or other ‘drastic’ acts, I thought I’d share my trouble shooting techniques (which I’ve previously posted on a forum). This article assumes you can configure a printer in gnome-cups-manager or kprint.