PDF‘s, text files, HTML‘s and
directories in the KDE Desktop with previews (click to enlarge)

ver had the experience of staring at a collection of files, wondering which one is which and puzzled by the best way of finding the text or images you are after? This was a wide-spread operating system deficiency in the nineties (there was a brute-force barrier). Nowadays, directories reflect on their content and file previews are generated on-the-fly, even over FTP, i.e. remote data.

With a large enough icon size as shown above (an example from KDE), even entire documents reflect on their content. Similar types of previews exist for animations and — oddly enough — sound.

By obtaining this reflection on content, there is no longer a need to open files in vain. Location of content becomes an easier task as it can be done visually rather than relying on filenames. Files are simply more recognisable since they express their purpose in the most natural way. If a pictures is worth a thousands words, the user is able to scan more data, more quickly.

Preview are not the only way of improving productivity. Work is being done on extending the “drag-and-drop” functionality for items, e.g. animated folding and dropping (videos included) and richer desktop interactions. As a matter of preference, I like keeping my Desktop clean, making it a ‘yet-to-complete’ list. Previews on files cannot resolve the issue of clutter and scale; they can, however, compensate for the expressiveness of filenames.

For those who do not know yet, Windows Longhorn was intended to introduce WinFS. This new filesystem, rather than using filetables (notably FAT32), was aimed at getting rid of traditional file management and filenames altogether. Nevetheless, Longhorn ended up incorporating none of the promised innovative features though.

A guy called Derek posted photos from a personal project to nntp://uk.tech.home-automation. His work is inspiring and a lot of DIY was involved. Posted below are some specs and features, explained in his own words.

…

• Monitor mounted
• Fan and vent installed in cupboard
• Benchtop drilled
• Test fire of PC!

Some of the uses of this system:

• Recipe database (incl barcode scanning of ingredients for online supermarket ordering)
• Entertainment (MP3s, videos, TV etc from the LAN and internet)
• Web browsing
• VoIP calls
• Security (four cams around the house + alarm)
• Lighting control (possibly power down the track)

Awaiting additions:

• Globetech keyboard/trackball
• Install/config of Meedio

Looking a decade back, only a small proportion of homes had a computer. Nowadays, with costs that continue to fall and functionality that is on the rise, computers are lavishly bought, much like TV sets in the previous decade.

t has come to my attention that a few people purchase anti-virus software for Palm-powered devices. Buying virus defence for the Palm is much like buying premium insurance for a boy’s 50 watt toy motorcycle. Even free software, which claims to offer strong virus protection, will most likely hog resources for no justified reason.

In practical terms, anti virus software for Palm handhelds is utterly unnecessary. There are two known Palm viruses, which are “proof of concept”; nothing has been shown to be malicious beyond this fabricated illusion. Such viruses are created by anti-virus developers and vendors in order to create a scare and prove that Palm handhelds are potentially penetrable. The viruses have not been found “in the wild” yet and this state is unlikely to change any time soon. Remember that Palm handhelds have remote access capabilities (SSH, telnet, VNC etc.) but do not yet allow access and control from the outside. It is simply not practical because they are mobile — it is their nature to be the controlling device (master), not the controlled device (slave). You can use your remote control to affect your TV, but not the TV to affect your remote control.

There are a couple of Trojans which depend on naivety of the users. Most experienced users, however, are wise enough avoid downloading, installing, and running software which was acquired from some obscure Web site. If such applications are run, they can wreak their havoc but cannot spread from one handheld to another. Therefore, they are not infectious like the most devastating viruses which Windows users have become familiar with.

Similar selling tactics were used on the PC in the older days. Viruses like “Pong” scared users who would then purchase protection from the same people that introduced the illness in the first place. The bottom line is: do not bother with anti virus software for Palm.

Cited by: PalmAddict

LinuxDevices.com have put together a detailed review of the Aeronix Zipit instant messenger appliance which runs atop Linux and in many senses is a fully-functional PDA with WiFi built-in. The extremely low cost of $99 proves how advantageous free operating systems can be in terms of affordability. Hackers are already in the process of manipulting this device for other, more general purposes.

…priced at $99, in colors that include white, silver, blue, red, and pink. It includes an 802.11b WiFi radio, 16-color greyscale LCD with QVGA (320×240) resolution, and a thumb keyboard with rubber buttons. Also included is a stereo DAC (digital audio converter) connected to a speaker and headphone jack.

There is a growing trend which involves installing Linux on mobile devices, Palm handhelds included. It has already been determined that Palm O/S will migrate to sit in tandem with Linux if not be replaced by Linux.

Cited by: PalmAddict

t is relatively simple to incorporate valid printer-friendly versions into WordPress (see above for example). I coded up the feature early this morning; it did not require much time or effort. This involved little more than stripping of styles as well as other heavy features which contributed to clutter. More details and code at the hacks and themes page.

Contextually-related: PDF version of WordPress posts

uch a suggestion will be best addressed to everyone in possession of a single mail account. It is nothing beyond a trivial E-mail management tip. The problem in question: When an E-mail account gets checked frequently in order to detect important incoming messages, false alarms or recurring E-mail distractions lead to disturbance and interfere with persistent work.

This is where the Urgent E-mail Account becomes of great value. By creating a new account, which is designated solely for important mail, notifications about urgent messages can be raised within just minutes. If the urgent account resides on the same domain as the normal/casual mail account, a filter can easily be created. This filter can be based on the name of sender/s or rely on a special word like ‘urgent‘ embedded in the subject line. Whenever such a filter test passes for a given messages, the message should automatically be re-directed to the Urgent E-mail Account.

Using a mail checker program, E-mail accounts which contain important messages can also be checked without consuming much computer power. By setting up a vocal/musical alarm, important messages can be configured to wake up their recipient. This type of solution is valuable if, for example, server problems occur late at night. Computer systems can automatically generate an urgent E-mail message once catastrophic events get detected. Unlike human, they are unable to make a telephone call.

Separating boxes to discern important message from the mundane

Fujitsu have introduced the bendable electronic paper. It has plenty of advantages over thin displays in existence:

• No electricity is required for continuous display
• Minimal power consumption when changing screen image
• High-level display performance
• Flexible film substrate

…electronic paper can be conveniently used in conjunction with mobile devices as an easy-to-read and portable display device.

…

Text or images from mobile phones or other mobile devices can be transferred wirelessly to larger displays for easy viewing.

Use in the home can offer more convenient digital-media devices that can be carried from room to room.

Overall, it is a very exciting innovation. On the downside, it makes the dream of a paperless office slip away.