7
Sep

WordCamp Philippines 2008: Status Report

7 September 2008

To: Head of Logistics

Subject: Volunteer’s Status Report

—–

Arrived at De la Salle College of Saint Benilde‘s Augusto-Rosario Gonzalez Theatre 30 minutes behind schedule. The Head was not pleased. Started by helping out with the badges. Assigned to handle the sponsors’ badges at first, but was reassigned to the food instead. The Head was in charge of THE BADGE TO RULE THEM ALL.

Then the people started streaming in, and I saw myself holding a bar code scanner and scanning camper badges. Don’t ask me how that happened. I had to leave the sponsor badges to Rein. Afterwards, it was all a blur, until THE ONE came in. The Head shouted for volunteers to buy bottled water for THE ONE. The Head insisted that she gets to give the bottled water to THE ONE. But fate, and myriad issues along the way, intervened.

The Head of All Heads bellowed for bottled water to be delivered to THE ONE. But The Head was attending to another pressing matter, and so it was left to me to deliver the bottled water to THE ONE. And what an experience that was – to meet THE ONE face to face; THE ONE who created the blogging platform that I am using right now. I just hope now that I did not babble something stupid that time.

I wasn’t able to sit into any of the breakaway sessions. Was too busy with myriad details, like tending to lost sheeppointing campers to rooms and other menial tasks. Then we had to decide on how to distribute food from Chowking. I trust that the campers liked the arrangement. And the food. And the dessert provided by Spot.PH. Too bad drinks were not provided for. Kudos to the food gang – Fitz, Gwen, Jonel, and CSB student volunteers.

I made sure that I get to attend THE ONE’s State of the Word keynote. After lunch, I got to stay at one of the doors leading to the theater. While prizes were being raffled off, THE ONE went out and got into the VIP room. Looking for something, he approached me for some bottled water. I mumbled that I would hand him a bottle or two, and he said thanks. Gave him two bottles, but he got to drink just one, methinks.

Many are amazed by version 2.7 of WordPress. I find the user interface quite cool, though I have no beef against the current (and the previous) interface. One-click upgrade and plugin install? Count me in. Web hosts won’t be happy, though (security issues and all).

Then we planned on how to distribute the kits. I hope it went well. Kudos to the CSB student volunteers at the lobby for a good job.

After the Q-and-A with THE ONE, the campers just went nuts. Flashes from cameras left and right. That’s how the campers appreciate THE ONE’s work. Well, not only did I have a picture taken with him (thanks, Markku), I had his autograph. How shameless of me.

Seriously, WordPress has revolutionized blogging. If not for WordPress, I would still be blogging at LiveJournal. It is a useful, nifty software, and it’s beauty is in it’s openness. It is easily customizable and extensible, that it can fit any requirements. It led to some sort of blogging revolution here in the Philippines.

I had to skip the after-party due to fatigue, and the fact that I have been lacking in sleep for weeks now.

I can say that WordCamp Philippines is a BIG,HUGE, HUMONGUOUS success! Congratulations to the organizers for such a successful event! Congratulations to all the volunteers, the cogs in the wheel; cogs, maybe, but the wheels won’t turn without them.

I am attaching as appendices the reports made by campers and other volunteers.

Appendices:
* WordCamp Philippines 2008
* WordCamp Philippines 2008
* WordCamp Philippines 2008 : A Success!
* Thoughts on Wordcamp Philippines 2008
* Experiencing WordCamp Philippines 2008
* WordCamp Philippines 2008
* WordCamp Philippines , First Southeast Asia WordCamp
* WordCamp Philippines ’08
* WordCamp Philippines 2008
* WordCamp Philippines
* Matt Mullenweg Highlights from WordCamp Philippines 2008
* WordCamp Philippines Report
* Notes and photos: WordCamp Philippines, a success
* The First WordCamp in Southeast Asia — WordCamp Philippines
* A Goodie from Japan + some WordCamp Philippines 2008 afterthoughts
* WordPress enthusiasts meet for WordCamp Philippines
* LiveBlogging at WordCamp Philippines (6th Sept. 2008!)
* Live Blogging from Wordcamp Philippines 2008
* My WordCamp Philippines 2008 Experience
* the wordcamp in philippines
* WordCamp 2008 Philippines
* My WordCamp Experience
* My WordPress WordCamp Experience
* On WordCamp 2008 and Meeting Mr. WordPress
* Wordcamp Manila 2008, I was there!
* WordCamp PH 2008 and Afterparty
* For the love of WordPress
* Wordcamp Pilipinas Success!
* Wordcamp 2008: for healthy & wealthy blogging
* WordCamp Philippines 2008: Winners and Bloopers
* Live from De la Salle CSB… Marocharim is at WordCamp!
* Just got home from Wordcamp 2008; Meeting Matt Mullenweg
* Word Camp 2008 Philippines Success
* WordCamp, Meeting Matt Mullenweg
* Meeting Matt at WordCamp 2008
* Finally, Wordcamp Philippines 2008
* Toothache v WordCamp Philippines
* Wordcamp Philippines 2008: Aftermath
* Wordcamp Philippines 2008: I Got Wordcamped!
* Bakla Goes to WordCamp Philippines 2008
* My Wordcamp Philippines 2008 Experience
* Postscript to a Camp and a world premiere: WordCamp Philippines 2008
* WordCamp Philippines 2008: On Meeting Mr. WordPress, Web Standards, and Other Stuff

11
Mar

gOS/Ubuntu laptops heat up considerably?

One major observation that I can share about gOS/Ubuntu over MSI VR320 K2 is that the laptop generates more heat as compared over the same machine running Windows XP. Sure, under WinXP, it heats up, too, but for laidback use like Web browsing and music, the heat is minimal. It only heats up that much when playing WarCraft III.

However, whenever I use gOS/Ubuntu for Web browsing and music, the heat is more considerable. I am using gOS’ Enlightenment desktop as a matter of preference, so it should not be using the advanced graphics effects of Ubuntu (though I am not sure).

Has anyone experienced the same on Ubuntu-powered portables?

29
Jan

Installing gOS over Ubuntu

If you want to install the cool gOS look over Ubuntu Linux, do the following.

1. Edit your software repository list to include gOS. Open a terminal window (Applications>Accessories>Terminal), and type sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list.

2. Enter the following:
deb http://packages.thinkgos.com/gos/ painful main

3. Save the file.

a. You must also add the key so that aptitude will not warn you that the source is untrusted. At the terminal enter
wget http://www.thinkgos.com/files/gos_repo_key.asc

b. Add the key by entering the following on the terminal
sudo apt-key add gos_repo_key.asc

c. Update aptitude through this command
sudo aptitude update

4. To install gOS via terminal, I suggest using aptitude instead of apt-get. It makes the removal easier (in case you want to revert to plain Ubuntu). Note that you need an Internet connection for this one. Enter the command
sudo aptitude install greenos-desktop

5. After installation, log out. In the login screen, press F10. Click on Select Sessions, then click on Enlightenment. Click Ok.

6. After entering your user name and password, you will be prompted whether to make Enlightenment as the default desktop. If you are just checking, click Just this time.

And you will now see the default green theme.

Enlightenment desktop

To remove gOS, issue this command at the terminal:

sudo aptitude remove enlightenment

Aptitude will automatically remove greenos-desktop package.

ADVANCED MODE:

Enlightenment DR17 is the environment used by gOS. If you want the latest version installed, add this line to the repository list (follow step one above):

deb http://e17.dunnewind.net/ubuntu gutsy e17

On the terminal, use aptitude to install the latest Enlightenment:

sudo aptitude install enlightenment

Note that DR17 is still under heavy development, and may be buggy. The upside is that you get the latest modules and gadgets (like the mixer and network gadgets).

If you want to try the beta of the new version, named Rocket, add this to the repo list instead of the one stated at step 1:

deb http://packages.thinkgos.com/gos/ reloaded main

Be warned, though. According to a post in Ubuntu Forums, installing Rocket will remove several packages, including network-manager.

(Steps taken from the unofficial gOS Forum.)

24
Jan

Impressions on Enlightenment over Ubuntu

I have been using Ubuntu (technically, more later) for the past month on an MSI VR320 K2 laptop. I have three desktop environments and one window manager installed – Gnome, KDE, Xfce, and Enlightenment (which comes as default desktop for gOS).

I first installed Ubuntu, and I experienced two problems with the default environment – GNOME. One was that nagging ad infinitum drum sounds; I had to mute the sound to get rid of it. One solution offered somewhere was to include the Gutsy backport repository and do an update, but Synaptic and apt-get always report that the repository is empty.

Second, the WiFi. I connected the laptop to a WiFi area secured by WPA. So I entered the passphrase and it connected fine on the first try. I just couldn’t connect again afterwards.

Then I tried installing gOS, which is just basically Ubuntu with another window manager. I liked the UI, but the network manager I did not. So i reverted to Ubuntu.

Enlightenment desktop
Anyway, as stated earlier, I had installed 3 environments and 1 window manager. Currently I am using Enlightenment with the default gOS theme. I was able to recreate the dock, but with several gadgets installed. I have 3 shelves on the desktop. On top contains an iBox (if you minimize a window, its icon is placed in this gadget). At the middle right is the iClock gadget. And the shelf below contains an iBar (gOS’ dock), the Pager (desktop pager), and temperature, battery, and CPU monitors.

This setup works for me, since the desktop is easy to the eyes, looks great, and is not cluttered. And I can play music without the nagging sound that I always get when I use GNOME.

I was also able to install GNOME PPP. This means I can use my 3G phone as modem, which is nice. I don’t have to use Windows just to browse the Web when I’m home. I haven’t tested the WiFi yet, but will do so when I get the chance.

I will post more impressions next time. Suffice to say that I like my Enlightenment setup now.

I will try to use KDE and Xfce in the next weeks, and will post my impressions soon. Will save GNOME for last, as I intend to savor Desktop and Rotate Cube effects. Take that, Windows!

And oh, don’t forget – unless you are very sure, do not press Shift+Backspace.

GLOSSARY:
Shelf – technically, a container where you can place gadgets
Gadget – a piece of software that can convey information (like a battery meter) and contain several icons (iBar and iBox)
Synaptic – the graphical package manager for GNOME
Repository – a central location where you can find packages
Packages – applications that you can install