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MicroClient, Affordable Compact Embedded Linux Box

I surfed the internet and found a website which sells embedded computers for networking purpose. What caught my eyes is this box that they doubt MicroClient Jr. a compact computer with a nice casing.

By default MicroClient Jr has two COM ports, 3 USB, wifi , CF card slot, audio jacks and a Ethernet RS-232 port which can added. The unit is priced at USD120 for average order and USD90 per 1,000 unit ordered. The company producing it use Puppy Linux as demonstration of its capabilities, personally i think most of us would run Linux distros that are better tuned to handle networking environment.

Although it doesn’t sports a powerful processor (SiS550 166Mhz SoC), an embedded system like this can be useful for your experimental / hobby project which requires easily configurable embedded system.

You can view full specification of MicroClient Jr at its company website, NorhTec MicroServers (might be offline)
p/s: i don’t think this system is fast enough to play MPEG-4 based video files :p

[tags]embedded, linux, compact, atx, itx, real-time, gnu/linux, puppylinux, damnsmalllinux,embedded device, firewalls[/tags]

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Freedom Toaster Kiosk- Free and Open Source Software Dispenser !

I think many of you already familiar with vending machine that dispense soft drinks and chocolates. Now meet another type of ‘vending machine’ that dispense free software. Yup, that’s right, just bring your CD-R and the Freedom Toaster will take care the rest.

The term vending machine might be misleading as you can get free and opensource software for free from a Freedom Toaster kiosk. It is powered by none other than GNU/Linux operating system and the selection of software is only limited to the total harddisk space on the toaster.

The project was sponsored by Shuttleworth Foundation (the guy behind Ubuntu Linux) and it started as one solution to overcome the difficulty of obtaining Linux and other Open-source software in South Africa, where the restrictive telecommunications environment makes downloading large software files through the internet expensive.

What’s interesting is, the Freedom Toaster specifications is also release for free! That means anybody can duplicate the Freedom Toaster functionality to dispense free software. And this makes me wonder when I could a Freedom Toaster within my university compound.

All the specs and information about the kiosk can be obtained from Free Toaster Project website, which currently run by a group of volunteers. Check it out, it’s a cool way to provide free download.
[tags]free software, open source, opensource,linux, foss,embedded,kiosks[/tags]

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How to Boot Linux from USB Drive

Looking for a way to boot linux from USB drive? Then you’re in luck, I found just the right website for your, It’s pendrivelinux.com. The website lists tutorials on how to boot various GNU/Linux distributions out from USB drive.

The tutorial is easy and simple to use, and currently features :

  • Knoppix Linux
  • PCLinuxOS
  • SLAX
  • PuppyLinux
  • Damn Small Linux
  • Runt

However, most of the tutorial assume you have 1GB USB, bios that can boot from USB drive and some basic Linux skills. The website also feature online store which sells preloaded Linux USB drive at an affordable price.

Visit PenDriveLinux.com for more information

[tags]linux,gnu/linux,usb drive,usb,pendrive,embedded,damnsmalllinux,knoppix,slax,pupy linux[/tags]

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Cool WordPress stats plugin with Google Map support

Sorry for the sparse post last week, this is because I’ve been busy with other chores and personal things that i’ve to take care of.

But look, I’m back! And I’ve modded my blog with this cool wordpress plugin. This plugin is basically does what a normal statistic plugin should do; display your last visitors, your most read post, top referrers and their ip address, etc. What makes this statistic plugin stand off is it visualise the location of your visitor by using Google Maps api.

That’s right, you can visually see your latest visitor on the Google map and measure how your website is internationally recognisable over the globe. You can see the plugin in action by clicking “website statistic” link at my sidebar.

The plugin can be downloaded from its project website and it requires MaxMind GeoCityLite.dat file (about 25MB) uploaded to your server.

It’s one of the best wordpress plugin i have for now (the other is Related Post plugin). Thanks aizatto for introducing GeoTrack plugin to me !

[tags]google, google map, google maps, plugins, wordpress, statistics, stats,counter[/tags]

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Localise Ubuntu Edgy Eft into Malay Language


I don’t know if you already heard about this, but the Ubuntu project is giving you a chance to localise your favorite GNU/Linux applications to your native language. To get involve, all you need to do is register a Launchpad.net account and proceed to Ubuntu Edgy Eft translation page.

From there you can choose which ubuntu apps that you want to localise. The current Malay localisation is about 25% and increasing steadily.
Translation is easy enough, you will be given a list of application to translate and it’s up to you to translate parts that you felt easy to translate with. In addition, you’ll be rewarded ‘karma’ for each translation you made.

Additionally, if you’re involved in localising Ubuntu, then you should add yourself in http://aizatto.com/wiki/index.php/Ubuntu_Team to make it easier for people to reach you. The Malaysian Ubuntu team also has its own IRC channel #ubuntu-my at irc.freenode.net server, feel free to drop by anytime you like, we usually hang around there during .my night-time.

OK, i guess that’s all for now. I’m going to continue translating Ubuntu apps
[tags]ubuntu,debian,linux,l10n,launchpad,wiki,myoss,foss,open source,gnu/linux[/tags]

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Request Free Linux CD!

Another brave soul has started a project that give free linux cd worldwide, this time it is backed by The Linux Store , a canadian based online Linux CD shop.

Among CDs that you can request for free are :

  • OpenSUSE
  • Fedora Core
  • Mandriva
  • Gentoo
  • Debian
  • Knoppix

Unlike The Free Linux CD Project, the CD are of latest version and newly processed just for you. The free linux cd can be requested through http://free.thelinuxstore.ca/. Please consider making donations for the project to ensure its continuality.

Ubuntu CDs however can be requested through its Shipit interface for free, courtesy of Canonical Ltd.
[tags]free,freebies,free linux cd, linux, gnu/linux[/tags]