Playdeb; An Ubuntu Games Repository

Posted on January 22, 2009 by Ahmed Tawfik

The very famous http://www.getdeb.net website for providing a LOT of packages for Ubuntu including Games, Audio, Multimedia, Development…etc has created a project (still in beta stage till the time of this entry) which aims at providing a repository specialized in Games ONLY! This is so as to enable the website users to get the latest games and their updates without having to download them manually.

I think it’s a nice-to-have idea! Anyway, It was called Playbuntu at first, but due to some problems with Canonical (The company behind Ubuntu), it’s now called Playdeb.

To install the new repo in Ubuntu, you just need to download and install two extra packages:
apturl-package and the playdeb package. The first one is for solving a bug that existed in Ubuntu Hardy (8.04), but I found out that I have a newer version on my Ubuntu (Intrepid Ibex), so I just installed the second one. Have fun 🙂

The website URL: http://www.playdeb.net/

Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

StarDict, The Free Dictionary

Posted on January 20, 2009 by Ahmed Tawfik

I was searching for a good dictionary in my Ubuntu box, and after some googling, I found StarDict; first impression is nice, especially that there are many downloadable dictionaries availabe (especially the English-Arabic and Arabic-English ones I need) and provides full-text translation by connecting to the available translators from Google, Yahoo…etc. One of the BEST features is that you can just select ANY text on your desktop, and it will automatically pop-up the translation as in the screenshot below.

To install in Ubuntu, do the following:

  1. “sudo apt-get install stardict”
  2. Download the dictionaries you want from “http://stardict.sourceforge.net/Dictionaries.php” or from “http://www.ojuba.org/sharedfiles/قواميس” (This one is a third-party site), extract anywhere and run “sudo ./install.sh” as you must be root to do it.
Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Perfect Wireless Solution for Thinkpad T60 with Atheros Communications Inc. AR5212 802.11abg NIC on Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex)

Posted on January 19, 2009 by Ahmed Tawfik

There are many wireless drivers available for Linux: ath5k, madwifi, ndiswrapper…etc. For the model described in the title (Atheros), madwifi latest version exists in Ubuntu 8.10 by default, and I faced the following problems:

  1. Very weak signal, even if I’m very close to the access point!
  2. Cannot connect to ad-hoc networks (via Internet Connection Sharing from my home PC)
  3. Frequent disconnections

I have tried both ath5k and ndiswrapper; ndiswrapper ROCKS! I removed all my wireless drivers and installed the ndiswrapper module, attached my .inf file to it and worked GREAT! You must try it out if you face the same or similar problems

Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Adblock Plus Bug Fixed: No more Java Applets Crashes

Posted on January 18, 2009 by Ahmed Tawfik

Adblock plus was causing a very annoying crash whenever you run ANY website with a Java applet embedded!

Starting from the V1.0.1, this bug is finally fixed and for those who removed the adblock plus plugin from Firefox or the Java plugin for Firefox can now get both back safely, Hakuna Matata 🙂

Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

BlueProximity: Leave it – it’s locked, come back – it’s back too..

Posted on January 18, 2009 by Ahmed Tawfik

This is a MARVELOUS piece of software!! I couldn’t believe myself at first :S, here is its description from the official website:

This software helps you add a little more security to your desktop. It does so by detecting one of your bluetooth devices, most likely your mobile phone, and keeping track of its distance. If you move away from your computer and the distance is above a certain level (no measurement in meters is possible) for a given time, it automatically locks your desktop (or starts any other shell command you want).

Once away your computer awaits its master back – if you are nearer than a given level for a set time your computer unlocks magically without any interaction (or starts any other shell command you want).

You can find it in the Ubuntu repositories; just Applications -> Add/Remove Programs, Enjooy!!

Note: You should have a screensaver set, don’t set it to “Blank Screen” as this might cause the software not to work properly. If you’re using Compiz, then you’d better use a simple screensaver, such as “Deco” as it might crash your desktop.

Tagged , , | 1 Comment