Computing

These instructions will walk you through installing and setting up Debian 3.1 (sarge) on an older Apple iBook. Here I am installing a Linux-only system. That is, there is no Mac OS X system installed on this computer anymore (indeed no Apple software at all). This is a straight Debian GNU/Linux system running on Apple hardware. If it sounds like something you want, read on...

The iBook:
Firewire SE - Graphite "clamshell" - 466MHz G3 - 20GB HD

The System:
Debian 3.1 (sarge - currently Debian "testing") Continue reading "Installing Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 (sarge) on Apple iBook"

I am using Debian Linux (3.0 Woody) on my iBook (G3 SE w/FW). The other day I decided I was bored with Konqueror and Mozilla. I felt like I really wanted the features and usability of Apple's Safari on Mac OS X. I realized that Firefox had most of the features I wanted. Unfortunately Debian Woody does not have Firefox as a package (Sarge does), and I didn't want to use apt to compile a backport. I went to the Mozilla website to download a Linux binary but they only had Linux i686 binaries available! Continue reading "Building Firefox from Scratch"

Just Released:

Lexikon - Konfabulator Widget for Macintosh! (version 1.0)
by Latcarf and NeurolithicTechnology();

Lexikon offers a tiny interface to search for definitions and synonyms using public dictionary and thesaurus websites. Over 10 different websites are currently supported so you can choose your favorite one. Lexikon searches can be initiated by the keyboard or the mouse and the interface is unobtrusive so as not to interfere with your daily activities. As an added bonus, Lexikon offers special features to allow searching Google.com or the iTunes Music Store! Use Lexikon to define unknown words and add to your own mental lexicon.

You must have Konfabulator installed to use this widget.

Thanks alot to NeurolithicTechnology(); for handling packaging and release distribution for me!

Download Lexikon.
UDIF-CRC32 Checksum: $FEA92523

Enjoy!

I searched long and hard for good DVD Database applications for Mac OS X. I was surprised not to find too many out there. On top of that, the ones that I did find were either too expensive or lacking in features. My ideal candidate needed to offer easy DVD info and cover art download, a Cocoa native interface (toolbars, drawers, etc), easy manipulation of fields, fast database access, and Palm OS integration.

While I never did find my ideal candidate (maybe I'll write it someday - anyone know Palm OS programming?), I did find something that satisfied some of my requirements (namely easy information and cover art capture, and fast database access).

DVD Database X! It has an IMDB lookup, an Amazon.com lookup, and UPC bar code scanning support. I must say it's got the ease of data entry requirement pegged! Unfortunately, it is made with Real Basic (RB) and therefore feels like an RB app (kinda like cheap plastic). The price is maybe a bit too high at $20 but it is still pretty affordable. The author keeps the IMDB extraction script updated so if IMDB changes their layout, you will still be able to download DVD info and cover art.

Given the weakness of the other choices out there, Valencio Productions got my dollar vote for DVD Database X and its strengths. I'm still searching for the ideal candidate though...