Changes to Ubuntu Release Cycle Support

This news is a few days old but I thought it worth mentioning. Canonical has announced that the non-LTS (Long Term Support) release cycle is being reduced from eighteen to nine months. The primary reason seems to be the resource load for supporting non-LTS releases.

The changes start from 13.04 (scheduled for April 25 2013): LTS releases will be supported for five years.

Sources & References:

• Ubuntu Fridge: Changes in Ubuntu releases decided by the Ubuntu Technical Board
• Ubuntu Wiki: Rearing Ringtail Release Schedule

@komphix

So happy am I that I've integrated my Twitter feed into my new website, I've decided to add the widget to my blog!

Sources & References:

• None

Fixing the Twitter Feed Widget

I've been building a new website (more of that in a later post!) and I wanted to integrate my (new!) Twitter feed. Usefully, Twitter provides a handy way of producing java script that can be copied and pasted into your html document.

The only promlem is...

... it doesn't work! Or at least, it didn't work for me.

It turns out that the fix is simple: copy the code into a text editor of your choice (my current favourite is Bluefish) and look for the element starting

id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"

between the script tags. Insert http: between the " & // in the source reference - your code should now look like this:

id=id;js.src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"

I'm grateful to @fjmdesigns for the solution! Oh, my Twitter feed (if anyone is remotely interested) is @komphix

Sources & References:

• Twitter Developers: Discussion #10808 @fjmdesigns post

Looks Like A Winner

It looks as though I may have found my replacement for Google Reader.

I had spent a week with Good Noows and it was ok - but only ok. It has a different look and feel to Reader and I guess that I just couldn't get on with the unfamiliar layout. Oh, and for some reason, it couldn't get the feeds from Grough (a deal breaker!).

So, onto Feedly for a trial run and I immediately fell in love with the interface: familiar, accessible, and logical! The best news is that it comes with an Android equivalent that integrates with my Samsung Galaxy so it consolidates my feeds and keeps them up to date for me.

I'll give it a week, but I think we have a replacement!

Sources & References:

• Good Noows: Home
• Feedly: Home

There's an Irony

Maximum PC is reporting that Google is retiring it's rss feed, Google Reader. I checked his source and it seems that he's right: Google Reader is going with effect from 01st July 2013. It's ironic that I should hear the news of the demise of Reader whilst reading one of the feeds on Google Reader; but I guess that's life!

Paul Lilly asks if anyone will miss Reader when it's gone: well, I will!

Time to start searching for a replacement.

Sources & References:

• Maximum PC: Google Reader is a Dead RSS Walking - Paul Lilly
• The Official Google Reader Blog: Powering Down Google Reader - Alan Green

Wallpaper of the Month

Well, I suppose that it was inevitable: having rebuilt my Ubuntu desktop, I felt that it was time to have a new wallpaper!

The Roman Road in the Ogwen Valley © John Dexter All Rights Reserved

This picture, taken by your host, looks east-south-east toward Capel Curig from (approx) SH 683 602. Gallt yr Ogof is in the distance to the right.

Sources & References:

• None

Ubuntu 12.04+ CD Install Problems

I've been struggling to re-install 12.04 on my desktop all day. I'd previously used the upgrade path from the Update Manager, so I hadn't experienced the problem before. Try as I might, I couldn't get the PC to boot from the install CD. Changing the CMOS settings and boot order had no effect and I was plagued by a Drive not Available error message.

I tried resetting the BIOS - no effect.

I checked that the drive cables were properly seated - they were

I even checked that the drive was working - it was!

In an act of sheer desperation, I tried the install disc for 11.04 LTS and it installed flawlessly! I'm now in the process of upgrading.

I've checked the Ubuntu downloads pages for clues and found nothing that matched my circumstances, but I suspect that it's a hardware problem and the BIOS simply doesn't support the bootstrap. Anyway, if you're experiencing similar problems, it may be worth downgrading first.

Sources & References:

• Ubuntu Documentation - Boot From CD

Just So I Don't Forget....

Getting the WiFi driver installed on the DELL Inspiron 6400 (and the 1501) is:

sudo apt-get install firmware-b43-installer

You'd think that I could remember that by now, wouldn't you?

Sources & References:

• Ubuntu Documentation - Wifi Docs/Driver/bcm43xx

GSettings Data Error

If you've upgraded to Ubuntu 12.10 and you're getting an error message at boot that reads:

GSettings Data Conversion has closed unexpectedly

The problem seems to be related to the onboard keyboard. Uninstalling the onboard package should resolve the issue (assuming that you neither want nor need your onboard keyboard!).

sudo apt-get remove onboard

For information, see Ubuntu Bug #1047859.

I've actually given up trying to get 12.1 working: I'll wait until Canonical decides how it wants to manage virtual files.

Sources & References:

• Launchpad Bugs - Bug #1047859