Fsf-friends March 2007

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

34 participants
41 discussions

Airtel Data Card on Ubuntu
by Javed Rahman 31 Mar '07

31 Mar '07

Hi, Has anyone used an AirTel Data Card on Ubuntu to access the internet? Any tips on how to do this? I haven't bought the card yet. I just wanna make sure it works before i buy it. Just in case this is helpful : I am using ubuntu edgy on a sony vaio vgn-fe48g. Thanks in advance, Javed.

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Torvalds 'pretty pleased' with new draft.
by Debarshi 'Rishi' Ray 30 Mar '07

30 Mar '07

>From the ILUG-Cochin mailing list: Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 09:24:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Binny V Abraham Subject: [Mailinglist] Torvalds 'pretty pleased' about new GPL 3 draft To: ILug Cochin Mailing List <mailinglist_AT_ilug-cochin_DOT_org> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 According to CNet, Linus Torvalds is 'pretty pleased' with the current GPL v3 draft. He said, 'Unlike the earlier drafts, it at least seems to not sully the good name of the GPL any more.' After his earlier criticism, some had questioned whether such controversies would lead to rifts in the community, especially if the kernel ended up under a different license than the GNU tools. But with the latest revisions, Linus will entertain moving the kernel over to the GPL v3. Read more here... http://news.com.com/2061-10795_3-6171300.html That's good news! Binny V A http://binnyva.blogspot.com/ -- GPG key ID: 63D4A5A7 Key server: pgp.mit.edu

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Re: [Fsf-friends] With Vista, Microsoft could effectively hasten the obsolescence of half the world’s PCs ...
by Ajay Pal Singh Atwal 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

A little addition. ----- Frederick Noronha <fred(a)bytesforall.org> wrote: > http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?newsid=8226 > > > That's because, according to a report by the Department of Government > Commerce about Open Source Software Trials in Government, open source > software has lower hardware requirements and needs less frequent > hardware refreshes. Not a unique feature of GNU/ Linux but because we have the freedom to tailor **our** OS as per our hardware. Maybe it is a feature we get with GNU GPL. ---- snip -------- > The report continued: "Open Source operating systems such as Linux do > not usually have the regular major upgrades that are a feature of > Windows, and thus do not have the requirement that goes with these > upgrades for a new or upgraded computer to run them." It is pure economics. If MS aint selling software from where the money will come. Anyway MS need to **force** the users to upgrade (read as to force them to shell out money) somehow; and also create a monopoly. -- snip -- > > Greenpeace went on to argue that Microsoft should have considered > this > when producing its new OS. > So what do you want a poor bill? -- Sincerely Ajay Pal Singh Atwal Dept of CSE & IT BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib Punjab, INDIA -------------------------------- http://www.bbsbec.ac.in http://www.ajaypal.com -------------------------------- ajaypal[at]bbsbec.org, ajaypal[at]acm.org

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posting from news << >> mail gateway
by Mahesh T. Pai 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

For the list admin(s) - what prevents opening up posts to this list via gmane news <> Mail gateway? You can enable this from here ``list administrative interface'' > ``Mail << >> News geteway'' -- Mahesh T. Pai <<>> http://paivakil.blogspot.com/

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With Vista, Microsoft could effectively hasten the obsolescence of half the world’s PCs ...
by Frederick Noronha 28 Mar '07

28 Mar '07

http://www.techworld.com/opsys/news/index.cfm?newsid=8226 [GNU] Linux makes for greener computing By Manek Dubash, Techworld The UK Government reckons that servers with Linux installed are greener than those running Windows. That's because, according to a report by the Department of Government Commerce about Open Source Software Trials in Government, open source software has lower hardware requirements and needs less frequent hardware refreshes. In particular, it said that: "for equivalent open source and Microsoft Windows systems, the open source system will require less memory and a slower processor speed for the same functionality." It points out that Windows needs a hardware refresh every three to four years, while a Linux box might need a new platform as infrequently as every six to eight years - half as often. The report continued: "Open Source operating systems such as Linux do not usually have the regular major upgrades that are a feature of Windows, and thus do not have the requirement that goes with these upgrades for a new or upgraded computer to run them." The report then concludes that the reduction in hardware demands brings environmental benefits, because it translates into lower energy requirements and less waste, "reducing landfill requirements and costs arising from disposal of redundant equipment." The report also coincides with Tory shadow chancellor George Osbourne's call for the use of more open source software in government. He said that the UK government could save in excess of £600 million a year if more open source software was deployed across various departments. But if the timing of the report is good news for the open source community, it's possibly less welcome for others. Microsoft Windows Vista has just been released to a flurry of criticism from environmental groups such as Greenpeace who slammed Microsoft for the hardware-hungriness of Vista, saying that upgraders will "will trigger a deluge of e-waste in developing countries." Beau Baconguis, Greenpeace's southeast Asia toxics campaigner, argued that: "With Vista, Microsoft could effectively hasten the obsolescence of half the world's PCs, especially in the absence of fully-functioning global take back systems for PCs. Companies will feel the need to upgrade more computers sooner - and when they do, the world is unfortunately not prepared for the massive e-waste the upgrades will generate." Greenpeace went on to argue that Microsoft should have considered this when producing its new OS. It's a problem for which a solution will need to be found eventually. While most enterprises have few if any plans right now to move their desktops onto the new OS, most will eventually be forced to migrate as Microsoft starts to implement its phased withdrawal of support for Windows XP under its public life-cycle policy. This is some way off, although the company has announced that the availability of licences for Windows XP Professional would be withdrawn for OEMs after 28 January 2008, and for system builders a year later. Mainstream support for XP Pro ends on 14 April 2009 while extended support - in other words, paid-for support - ends five years later. Before that happens, Vista - or maybe even its more hardware-hungry successor - will have become the only commercial OS choice. SEE: http://www.arb.ca.gov/oss/articles/Report-v8d.pdf -- FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1300IST please) http://fn.goa-india.org http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com What bloggers are saying about Goa: http://planet.goa-india.org/

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Fwd: FW: Query on ICT tools for the blind
by Frederick Noronha 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Can someone help pls? FN ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: sajan venniyoor <s.venniyoor(a)unesco.org> Date: 27-Mar-2007 17:57 Subject: FW: Query on ICT tools for the blind To: frederick.noronha(a)gmail.com Dear Rico, Dipendra Manocha of the National Association for the Blind has raised an important query concerning ICT tools for the blind (see below). Since you have a considerable knowledge of the kind of ICT tools that Manocha is referring to, could you kindly respond to his query? I would really appreciate an early reply. Warm regards, Sajan Sajan Venniyoor Resource Person and Moderator ICT for Development Community UN Solution Exchange UNESCO House B-5/29, Safdarjung Enclave New Delhi - 110 029 Ph: 91-11-26713000 Extn: 207 Query: ICT tools for Visually Impaired Persons-Examples.Reply by 2 April 2007 Dear Members, Information Technology has the potential to revolutionize the way blind people read and write, and make them totally independent for all their reading and writing needs. ICT is a revolution for persons with vision impairment. A computer becomes a basic reading and writing tool for the blind or persons with low vision; thus it means much more to them than it does for persons without vision impairment. For example, a computer can become a printed text reader for them if we combine the scanner, OCR (optical character recognition) and TTS (text-to-speech) engine technology. Unfortunately, all this is currently available only in English and other European languages. The TTS being made for Indian languages does not follow standards such as SAPI (Speech Application Programming Interface), which means these cannot be used "out of the box" with any existing applications. Until these technologies are available for Indian languages, persons with blindness in India will remain on the dark side of the digital divide and will be forced to remain dependent on others for basic tasks like writing and reading a letter, reading books or writing examinations. Most of the access technology tools built for people with blindness and limited vision are built on the two basic building blocks of OCR software and TTS engines, and any information on these would be invaluable for people with vision impairment. · Is the community aware of any good OCR software available for Indian languages? · Does anyone have information about text to speech engines for any Indian language which is fully SAPI compliant? I would be grateful if members of the ICTD community could provide examples of such software. Dipendra Manocha National Association for the Blind - Delhi State Branch New Delhi -- FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1300IST please) http://fn.goa-india.org http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com What bloggers are saying about Goa: http://planet.goa-india.org/

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Mumbai cyber cafe license requirement makes Microsoft OS mandatory
by Frederick Noronha 27 Mar '07

27 Mar '07

Have just learnt that under the recently announced licensing scheme for the cyber cafes in Mumbai, the Mumbai police under its list of requirement vide point no 14 insists on a copy of Microsoft Open License. This license fee is apparently prohibitive and apparently still unclear on the licensing term for public use, and, restrains cyber cafe operators from choosing any other alternative operating systems. I would like to hear from others who have more details. Specially someone in Mumbai. --FN -- FN M: 0091 9822122436 P: +91-832-240-9490 (after 1300IST please) http://fn.goa-india.org http://fredericknoronha.wordpress.com What bloggers are saying about Goa: http://planet.goa-india.org/

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never knew about so many voip programs
by Kussh 26 Mar '07

26 Mar '07

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_VoIP_software

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Malayalam & Google Summer of Code: Student Reminder!
by Anivar Aravind 24 Mar '07

24 Mar '07

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 With the usual apologies of X-posting Just a friendly reminder that the Google Summer of Code deadline for student proposals is extended to March 26th — that's Monday of this week. And remember the time zone difference. Up until now, we , Swathnthra Malayalam Computing have received 17 proposals, and it is crucial that you get it touch with us using the SMC-discuss Mailing list <http://groups.google.com/group/smc-discuss>, so we know that you are applying, and can guide you in your proposal writing. We have 5 mentors to help you, and we'll do our best to make your project a successful one. Know of anybody that is a part-time or full-time student and would like to earn $4500 this summer by participating in Google's sponsorship program, and make Malayalam Computing better? Tell them about this! :) Full details can be found in the original Summer of Code 2007 announcement: http://fci.wikia.com/wiki/SMC/SoC/2007 Thanks, and good luck! Anivar - -- Anivar Aravind Global Alternate Information Applications(GAIA) Peringavu.P.O Thrissur-680018 India Ph. +91 9446545336 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.3 (GNU/Linux) iD8DBQFGBX+YF+jWtLmEaycRAlq7AKCEXBz05BvVdDCei0gWS0ADa2ffFwCdFHoI iRsnWbDhJdO6t9Y38fiXO3Q= =1AsK -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Re: [Fsf-friends] The game may well be over...
by Ajay Pal Singh Atwal 23 Mar '07

23 Mar '07

----- Amol Hatwar <amol(a)hatwar.org> wrote: -- snip snip --- > We have Free Software, what about Free Hardware (Simputer ishtyle) or > > even a Free Network. Now thats thinking too far isn't it :o) Free networks are already there, don't forget the community wireless networks there are so many (though none in India), just make a search for it on any search engine. -- Sincerely Ajay Pal Singh Atwal Dept of CSE & IT BBSBEC, Fatehgarh Sahib Punjab, INDIA -------------------------------- http://www.bbsbec.ac.in http://www.ajaypal.com -------------------------------- ajaypal[at]bbsbec.org, ajaypal[at]acm.org

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Fsf-friends March 2007