Yearender: Favorite Podcasts for 2011

Once the darling of the media, podcasts have been supplanted by streaming video and Youtube instead.  Podcasts work hand-in-hand with RSS, but is most commonly accessed via Apple iTunes in Windows and Mac OSX.  In Linux, podcasts can be downloaded using Rhythmbox and Banshee.

Transferring podcasts to my Creative Zen was a laborious affair when I first got started with audio news. I quickly realized, however, that listening to podcasts is a relaxing and very informative way to absorb current events and learn new concepts and ideas.  Having recently acquired an iPod Touch this year, I've subscribed to video podcasts as well.  I was surprised to discover I still preferred audio over video podcasts not only because they're faster to download, but because it's not nearly as stressful to consume - video demands attention that I would rather devote to reading on my ebook reader.

Love or hate iTunes, it's pretty good with podcasts.

I've become more selective in subscribing to podcasts, having learned that not all of them are well-researched or accurate.  As 2011 ends, I find myself reviewing my favorite video and audio podcast channels and wondering whether I will keep my subscription with them for 2012.

1. BBC Best of Today - I was indoctrinated to podcasts via the large selection of channels available on BBC.co.uk.  Best of Today features discussions and highlights from BBC News.  Around 60% of the releases are extremely interesting and educational.  The remaining are boring, dry, and offensive.  Some of the BBC commentators and reporters are much too abrasive at times, verbally harassing everyone from politicians to specialists.  Most of the content revolves around Europe and the U.K. and isn't always relevant. Surprisingly, I found myself drawn occasionally to download Business news with Lesley Curwen despite its brain-numbing and dry content.

Best of Today

2. New York Times Bits: Tech Talk - I chose Tech Talk over CNET's podcasts because the hosts, J.D. Biersdorfer and Pedro Rafael Rosado, aren't as annoying or as pompous as the smug CNET editors.  J.D. Biersdorfer isn't as technical or as informed as any one of CNET's hosts and she comes off as an unpleasant person on audio.  However, she humors the self-deprecating and amicable Pedro Rosado and the idle and lighthearted talk keeps the episode going.  Tech Talk is more advertisement than IT in its selection of stories, but does provide an inside reach into the industry as only the New York Times can.  **Update: NYT Bits Talk aired their final podcast episode last December 2011.  Good luck and thank you for the great episodes! 

NYT Bits Tech Talk

3. HowStuffWorks.com: Brainstuff - I discovered HowStuffWorks after college and found it a useful and interesting site.  Although I haven't visited the page in years, I subscribe to Brainstuff for the short 3-5 minute casts explaining everyday scientific phenomena.  I have to admit I don't always understand Marshall Brain's exposition during the brief running time.  However, I'll take what I can get.  HowStuffWorks has several very interesting and fun podcasts, but not all of them are very accurate nor as well-written.

Marshall Brain

4.  CNBC Asia - Managing Asia, CEO Call - These two podcasts from CNBC focus on Christine Tan's interviews with managers and heads of huge international companies such as Heineken, Hilton, ANZ, and Symantec.  These sessions are interesting peeks into the movement of companies in Asia and gives insight to what's coming next.  Christine Tan may not be the most likable host in the world, but the length and sheer variety of interviews make for easy listening.

Christine Tan

5. English News - NHK World Radio Japan - Japan and world news from NHK Japan is as interesting as Japan itself.

6. NTD TV China News (video) - This is one of the better Chinese news agencies based in New York.  They present unbiased and thoroughly comprehensive news videos regarding events happening in China.  Free from the machinations of the Chinese government, NTD reports on even the worst news happening in the Middle Kingdom.  Like most running news, the program paints a very bleak look at Asia's dragon from an insider's point of view.  Plus, they have an Australian news anchor and a cute Chinese one, too.

NTD News Anchor (English)

7. New York Times World News (video) - NYT's World News Video isn't just any news program. NYT World News presents short video vignettes about pressing events in places all over the world such as the Middle East and China.  Short, intelligent, and to the point, this is one of best video news podcasts out there.

NYT

8. BBC A Point of View - BBC's A Point of View isn't a daily podcast but rather an infrequent release of audio essays from British intellectuals.  Some of the episodes are amazingly heartfelt and well-written while others can be downright disagreeable.  However, each session always provides a new perspective to very curious topics.

9.  CNN Talk Asia - This podcast revolves around interviews with Asian figures that may make or have made significant impact in recent events in the region.  Previous episodes featured Thai Prime Minister Yingluck and Michelle Yeoh.

10. BBC 60 Second Idea to Improve the World - Although this BBC podcast is neither educational nor informative, it is a short and whimsical look at ideas from various professionals as to how the world can be improved with simple albeit unrealistic suggestions.

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QuickFix: Create ePub files in two steps using Lyx and Calibre for eReaders and Tablets

With the proliferation of tablets and smartphone, everyone is now eager to create their own ebooks.  Writers who make use of Lyx can directly output to PDF, arguably the most popular format for ebooks.  Writers may also want to output to ePub, a format accepted in a variety of ebook reader applications including the popular iBook on the iPad.  The advantages of EPUB are reflowing text and a smaller file size compared to PDF.  Moreover, EPUB retains a very professional output that is as consistent as PDF. 

Although Lyx does not have options to output directly to EPUB, users can open the  resulting PDF in Calibre and convert to EPUB.  The process is fast even on a netbook and largely automated though users can modify plenty of options if they want to.

Lyx can't export to EPUB but can export to cross-compatible PDF.

Calibre efficiently converts PDFs to EPUB with a variety of available settings.

Users can change everything from default font size to customized profiles for specific hardware like the iPad and Kindle.

The resulting PDF converted as EPUB.

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Linux on Film: Revenge Episode 9-10

It's always awesome to see Linux on film.  One of the more popular TV shows of 2011, Revenge, actually showcased an unmistakable Linux desktop (on a laptop with a Windows sticker). 

One of the characters, a self-made tech founder, Nolan sports a high-powered system which he uses to monitor portable webcams and break into networks.  It's difficult to isolate which Linux distribution is installed but its definitely a customized distribution.  

• The printer and My Computer icons are very familiar to Mandriva users.
• The folder and mounted icons are from a Gnome theme set available on Ubuntu.
•  The desktop is more than likely LXDE with PCMANFM as file manager.

There are plenty of webcam and remote manager applications in Linux but for some reason, the application Nolan uses to open a recorded video looks like a skinned VLC or SMPlayer.

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Getting Started with Docbook using Lyx

Docbook is a document structure standard that is widely used and a useful tool for the technical writer.  The complexities of learning the markup isn't a big difficulty when using WYSIWYM (what you see is what you mean) document processing applications such as Lyx (Free and Cross-Platform) and Adobe FrameMaker.  Its open source roots allows users to edit and work with Docbook across various platforms.

Getting started with Docbook using Lyx is quick and easy.  Users just need to set up their document for Docbook (SGML) and can start writing away.

To set up a Lyx Document for Docbook markup:

1. Click File then New.
2. Click Document then Settings.

3. The left hand panel displays numerous settings for the new document.  Select Document Class and in the menu, choose between Docbook book (SGML), Docbook article, Docbook chapter, and Docbook section.

4. Most users can start working on the document already.  However, other settings users may want to set up are the following:

• Font - select font sets to be used
• Text Layout - set spacing and indentation settings  
• Margin Layout - set margins
• Page Layout - set the default page output
• Numbering and TOC
• Bibliography
• Bullets - users can optimize the bullet item used per level
• PDF Properties - allow the creation of bookmarks and navigation trees

Bullet characters can be changed.

PDF settings can be set.

5. Text can now be imported or pasted on to the document window.  

Users can import a variety of documents into Lyx.

6. Using Lyx's Environment choice box, text can be tagged and formatted as paragraphs, subparagraphs, subsubsections, Itemize, Enumerate, Code, Part, Section, Subsection, etc.
6. Once the document is finished, save the file in .lyx format by clicking File and then Save.
7. To create a Docbook file from the Lyx document click File then Export.  Since the Document Class Docbook was selected during setup, the document has options to be exported to either Docbook or Docbook XML.

8.   Lyx will automatically export the file to the same folder where the Lyx document was saved.

Linux users can review the Docbook markup using the text editor Gedit.  With the Docbook file exported from Lyx opened in Gedit, click View, then Highlight Mode.  Select Docbook or XML to highlight the XML tags.

Linux's Gedit text editor can highlight the XML markup.

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Linux Public Wi-Fi Compatible: Manila Peninsula Hotel

Linux Distribution: Fedora 15 (Gnome 3)
Portable: Asus EEEPC 1000H
*Login with room number and name via browser required
**Speed is average to good

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Happy Holidays - Don't let Hardware get in the Way

Holidays aren't about tablets, media players, and high-end laptops.

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Linux Tips for Connecting to Wireless Networks at Airports

Smartphones, tablets, and media players are excellent devices to have around in airports for connecting to the Internet.  However, there's nothing like having a portable or Linux netbook around for entertainment or booking a hotel or another flight.  Today, Linux distributions shouldn't have any problems connecting to public Wi-Fi especially in airports like Chicago O'Hare, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, JFK, and Suvarnabhumi Airport (Bangkok).  However, in case there's the odd chance Linux can't connect or is having trouble connecting, the list below may help.

1. Have more than one Linux distribution installed on the system - It seems an odd suggestion but it pays to have a dependable distribution like Fedora, Mint, or Ubuntu around.  A quick reboot to the alternate distro is all the user needs when openSUSE's Network Manager fails or Mandriva doesn't register wireless networks. 

An occasional issue with bad timing can knock out a Wi-fi connection.

2. Learn ifconfig.  The ifconfig command is as indispensable as ping when troubleshooting wireless networks.  There are quite a few tricks to ifconfig. 

3. Have the rfkill package installed before heading to the airport.  Rfkill is a command-line based command that allows the user to switch on wireless cards that have been "hard-blocked" or "soft-blocked." 

Rfkill can resolve hardware issues with the wireless card.

4. Have more than one browser installed.  Occasionally, there's an odd public Wi-fi connection that has a log in page that won't open despite a connected system.   Linux users should have at least two browsers installed.  Google Chrome, Chromium, Opera, and Mozilla Firefox all work equally well in Linux as they do in Windows.     

5. Have VirtualBox installed.  Making wireless work in a VirtualBox Guest can be a challenge but even if the Guest OS (say, Windows XP or Lubuntu) isn't configured for wireless, having a Guest OS is pretty handy when the Host OS can't seem to open the Wi-Fi page.  The issue happens more often than it may seem. 

Even if the host OS can't open a web page, the guest may be able to as long as the  system is online.

6. Have another User configured with Root User privileges.  When a Linux system is broken or improperly configured (e.g. firewall settings, NFS, Samba), Wi-fi and the Internet connection may be one of the issues that pops up.  Having a clean and untouched User account can resolve Internet connection problems in a pinch. 

7. Linux on a bootable USB.  PuppyLinux and Knoppix are frugal Linux distributions that have remained dependable and consistent over the years.  And they're great with wireless connections.  Pop in the USB flash drive and boot to a super fast Linux distribution.

Bootable USB Linux

7. Dual-boot to Windows 7, OpenSolaris, or FreeBSD.  Yes, it's sacrilegious.  And no, it's not a Linux tip.  However, having Windows around really is one of the fastest ways to resolve difficulties in connecting to a wireless connection.   

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Xfce vs. LXDE vs. Gnome(2,3) vs. KDE4 vs. Unity Part 2

Gnome (Classic)

• Linux distributions: previous releases of Ubuntu, Mandriva, Linux Mint, Fedora, openSUSE, Solaris
• Distinguishing Characteristics: Gnome menu, Panel on top, lower-right hand corner Pager

 
Quick Overview

1. Gnome will forever be associated with the classic Linux desktop.  In fact, most users introduced to Linux via Ubuntu would always remember Gnome's clean interface and mounted icons.  If KDE was incorrectly compared to Windows, Gnome was irreverently likened to Mac OSX's default interface.    

2. Gnome was easy to work with and its simplicity belied the difficulty experienced by developers in making it work with various applications, widgets, and themes.  Most Linux distributions, old and new, still use Gnome and it is undoubtedly the favorite of veteran Linux users despite the occasional user interface and library issues. 

Feature Highlights

1. I've had my fair share of system errors on Gnome but it was mostly because of the distribution/application itself rather than the Gnome environment.  In comparison to KDE4 and KDE3, there's a certain amount of security when working in Gnome.

Users can get a lot of work done in Gnome.

2. Gnome has a consistency with specific applications regardless of the distribution.  Mandriva 2010 Gnome and Ubuntu Maverick Meerkat both have Gnome managers that deal with power management, effects, startup, screensaver, display, and many more. These managers are easy to use and easily found in the Gnome Main Menu.  For a casual user focused more on productive or entertainment, everything's there and accessing the settings don't take much effort.

Work in Progress?

1. It's easy to call Gnome Classic boring because it took quite awhile before Gnome 3 changed everything.  I must admit I do find it somewhat bland at times even if Compiz Fusion was running. 

 

2. Gnome Classic always leaves the impression that it's somewhat lacking compared to KDE's more functional interface (though it isn't). 

LXDE

• Linux distributions: Knoppix, Lubuntu, LXDE releases of Fedora and openSUSE
• Distinguishing Characteristics: very short listings on main menu

Quick Overview

1. LXDE is Linux's lightweight, no frills, and functional desktop.  In most LXDE releases, frugal is taken to the next level.  There's a package manager, file manager, network manager, browser, e-mail client, torrent application, and a small desktop settings manager. 

2. LXDE can be used as a "base" system with the user adding whatever he needs.  New Linux users may be put off with the lack of customization, missing utilities, and minimal access to settings.  LXDE may seem crippled at times especially when that one application or utility isn't around but for veteran users who live by the Terminal, LXDE is an excellent desktop.

Feature Highlights

Fast and stable.

PCMANFM is one of the inclusions that make LXDE fast and efficient.

Work in Progress?

It took me awhile to find an LXDE-based Linux distribution that had the right amount of functionality and speed.  In some cases, like LXDE Mint, there was very little advantage to sporting a LXDE desktop.  openSUSE's LXDE release always leaves me dry.  On the other hand, I've been running Knoppix on a USB flash drive for years and works well for what I use it for (saving computers). LXDE's frugal approach is both its greatest strength and weakness.  

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MIT Open Course: Intro to Tech Communication

One of the best-kept secrets of Online Education is Masachusetts Institute of Technology's Open Courseware web site.  The site offers an extensive list of free course materials online.  The fields included are surprisingly expansive though the material available varies. 

The course Introduction to Tech Communications only provides a downloadable list of readings, online resources, and course syllabus.  It's a good overview and guide at most, but an invaluable resource for serious students who plan to take up the course in the academe in the near future.  

Other interesting courses for the technical writer are:

• Science Writing and New Media
• Survival Skills for Researchers: The Responsible Conduct of Research
• Technologies for Creative Learning
• Introduction to Technical Communication: Perspectives on Medicine and Public Health
• Introduction to Technical Communication: Ethics in Science and Technology
• Introduction to Technical Communication: Explorations in Scientific and Technical Writing
• Communicating in Technical Organizations
• Communicating in Cyberspace
  

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Xfce vs. LXDE vs. Gnome(2,3) vs. KDE4 vs. Unity Part 1

Surprisingly, graphical environments make a huge difference in productivity when running an Operating System.  The variety of desktops available in Linux is one of the benefits of running any of the hundred Linux distributions available today.  To understand the desktops in Linux, Lifehacker.com has an informative article about the how these environments work.  This article, on the other hand, is a personal review of the different desktop environments that come pre-installed with some of the more popular Linux distributions.   

Disclaimer

A lot of what makes a Linux distribution exceptional depends on how well the developers make the distro work with desktop environment.  For example, openSUSE is well-known for running well on KDE, while Ubuntu had previously been released consistently with a Gnome environment.  This review attempts to focus only on the merits of the desktop environment and not the Linux distribution itself.  Other elements not considered are:

1. performance in relation to the Linux distribution (varies considerably)
2. application selections (varies considerably)
3. distribution-specific customizations (e.g. Linux Mint's menu)

KDE

• Sample distributions: Kubuntu 11.10, openSUSE 11.x, Mandriva 2010, Mandriva 2011
• Distinguishing Characteristics: KDE Desktop Settings, Plasma Desktop
  KDE Kickoff Menu

Overview

1. KDE3 was unfairly compared to Windows during its run despite a superior interface and unique features.  The same could be said about KDE4, which stumbled during its initial releases, but has been refined to impressive results. 

2. KDE4 is characterized by an infinite number of user accessible GUI settings.  Every component can be changed and modified without having to access script files or open the Terminal.  This gives KDE4 both control and complexity, which may explain why others prefer Gnome2's simplicity and "hidden" configuration settings. 

3. Although Gnome2 had grown somewhat bloated itself during its final stage before the introduction to Gnome3, KDE has always felt considerably more bulky than its primary competitor.  The Activity Manager, dozens of widgets, the KDE Plasma Netbook Interface, the ROSA desktop (Mandriva), have all been included on top of KDE4 on some Linux distributions.  Even without the aforementioned features, KDE is loaded with numerous KDE-applications that have weighed down the desktop's install, update, and even user experience.

Feature Highlights 

1. I personally love the KDE Kickoff Menu.  I hardly use any type of Application Menu, but its smooth operation and well-suited icon set makes it more fun to use than any Dock or Widget.

Kickoff Menu

2. The highly organized and robust Desktop Configurations settings are more useful and more comprehensive than ones found in Xfce, Gnome2, Gnome3, and LXDE's.  Sections are clearly labeled and for added convenience there's a context-sensitive search bar too.  KDE4 shames Windows 7's Control Panel by a mile.

3. Plasma Desktop - I hardly use desktop effects.  I don't find widgets useful either.  However, if I had an extremely powerful machine, I'd probably be using widgets such as the Folder View and Hard Disk widgets (included in all KDE4 desktops).  I also find the newly-improved Plasma Netbook interface a great addition.

Netbook Interface

 Work in Progress?

1. I find Nepomuk/Strigi/Akonadi annoying and superfluous.   

2. KDE4 isn't the best for low-powered machines despite the inclusion of the Plasma Netbook interface. 

3. Startup time hasn't really improved with KDE4, which is understandable but still difficult to accept.  KDE-based desktops such as Mandriva 2011, openSUSE 11.4, openSUSE 12, and Kubuntu can't seem to match any LXDE or Gnome-based distro out there even after optimization (i.e. removing services, uninstalling applications, turning off effects, etc.). 

4. Some of KDE's applications are excellent.  My personal favorites are Ksnapshot and Dolphin.  Unfortunately, KDE also comes loaded with what could easily be seen as crapware - Ktorrent, KMail, KwalletManager, KAddressbook, and others.  

5. Although KDE4 doesn't crash as much as KDE3, it's still not unusual to have an application crash and a user assaulted by the KDE bug window.  

Hands down my favorite application in KDE is Dolphin

Xfce

• Sample distributions: PCLinuxOS, Xubuntu 11.01, Fedora Xfce Spin, Mandriva 2010 Xfce
• Distinguishing Characteristics: Application Finder, Application Launcher ("Dock"), XConf Settings editor
  

Overview

1. Xfce is the "other" lightweight distribution though many have noted that Xfce is as fully-featured as Gnome2.

3. Xfce attempts to present a fast desktop by including applications such as Gnumeric and Abiword, but the overall user experience and features is very similar to Gnome2.  Xfce actually straddles the line between the frugal LXDE and Gnome2 in this respect.

Feature Highlights

While looking for a lightweight distribution, I've tried Xfce several times and was burned every time.  LXDE succeeded in Lubuntu 11.10, but I have yet to try a Xfce release I like (not even Xubuntu 11.10).

The App Finder is very Mac OSX but seems redundant with a menu and Dock already available.

Some might like the included "Launcher Panel"

There is nothing wrong with Xfce and the desktop has plenty of followers.  It's a simple, straightforward desktop and in theory the features are tasteful, but doesn't really do anything for me.

Work in Progress?

1. My impression of using Xfce is that there is really no speed gains from running the desktop - it's only the Xfce application selections that make it "lightweight."  It's not exactly crippled nor frugal, but between a fully-powered Gnome desktop and a slightly reduced Xfce release, a user might as well pick Gnome and work from there.

Xconf can be somewhat obtuse.

Very limited Desktop Settings

2. When not implemented right, Xfce is a disaster.  The combination of Gnome and Xfce libraries made for an unpleasant experience in Mandriva 2010 Xfce.  PClinuxOS has notched a few misses with their Xfce spin.  openSUSE's Xfce releases have been bland and uneventful. 

3. The menu is plain and the included dock seems out of place for a lightweight distribution.  When shown to a non-Linux user, Xfce just doesn't elicit the "wow" factor of even Knoppix 6.5's tasteless Compiz effects.  For all of the criticisms against Gnome3 and Unity, the two at least impresses.

Mundane menu

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