Google Chrome for Linux and Mac Developer release

Google Chrome for GNU / Linux and Mac has finally arrived! However it is only an early version for developers and lack features that would make it usable in production environment.

Google Chrome Logo

Missing features from early release of Linux & Mac Google Chrome are :

  • Can’t view Youtube videos
  • Missing TIFF support
  • Loads of memory leaks
  • Does not have bookmark manager
  • No Java plugin support
  • No printing
  • Problem with rendering certain websites
  • Occasional crashes and freeze up
  • and many more…

So if you are just an average user, do not download this release just yet! Instead, wait for a few months for a much more (?) BETA release to be available.

The developer channel release was made in order to elicit responses and bug reports from users to prepare for a more stable BETA release.

[Google’s original announcement]

How to Use Launchpad account as OpenID URL

OpenID is a standard that allows you to log into many websites or services using a single identity as oppose to memorize several different username and password on different websites.

Websites that provide OpenID identity are called OpenID providers. There are many OpenID providers, and one of it is Launchpad. Launchpad users can use their Launchpad account URL as OpenID URL in order to access OpenID-supported websites or services.

For example :
https://launchpad.net/~mypapit

The general form of Launchpad OpenID URL is: https://launchpad.net/~your_user_name.

Where I can use OpenID for authentication?

You can use your Launchpad URL for authentication at websites or services that feature OpenID logo. Examples of such services is Blogger comment form, Sourceforge and Facebook.

OpenID Logo

How to use Launchpad account as OpenID provider?
On website that supports OpenID, enter your Launchpad account url : https://launchpad.net/~your_user_name, replace your_user_name to your own username. Then, you will be directed to your launchpad account, enter your password and you will be automatically authenticated for the current service.

Screenshot example :

Using Launchpad Account as OpenID

The favorable side-effect of using your Launchpad account as OpenID is that you can indirectly promote (and probably brag) about your contribution (aka karma) towards Ubuntu.

Catch me at MSCOSConf 2009 – a talk about mobile application development

Hey guys, a quick update, I’m going to give a talk on MSC Malaysia OSConf 2009. For your information.

MSC Malaysia Open Source Conference is an international forum for sharing and exchanging ideas and thoughts on the advancements, business opportunities and the development of open source application development. The conference is organized into 3 tracks (Business, Developers and Community) which feature speakers from their respective fields.

Among the prominent speakers will be featured on MSC OSConf :

  • Chris DiBona
  • Anthony Baxter
  • Wai Kit Lau
  • Dinesh Nair
  • Redhuan D. Oon
  • Gen Kanai

More importantly I will also present a paper (titled: Mobile application development using Open Source Software) at the conference, my talk is featured on day 4 in the Developers Track.

Please refer to MSCOSConf main website and the microsite for more information on how to participate in the conference.

Appointment as Ubuntu member: Congratulations to Harisfazillah Jamel aka linuxmalaysia

Although it’s kinda late, I still want to congratulate linuxmalaysia (Harisfazillah Jamel) for his appointment as an official Ubuntu Member on the last Asia Oceania Regional Board meeting on 28 April 2009.

The current official members in our local community (Ubuntu-my) as follows :

1. BuffaloSoldier
2. fenris
3. GunbladeIV
4. linuxmalaysia
5. nbliang
6. zarul

Hopefully with this appointment, our community will continue to flourish with activities that would benefit free and open source users as a whole.

What’s the advantage of being an official Ubuntu members?

  • An @ubuntu.com email alias that forwards to your real email address
  • An ubuntu/member/your_nick hostname IRC cloak on Freenode.
  • The right to print business cards with the Ubuntu logo – The business cards can be found at the BusinessCards page, you will need to take care of the printing yourself.
  • Syndication on Planet Ubuntu of your Ubuntu blog or the Ubuntu category posts in your blog, if you have one. Follow the registration instructions on PlanetUbuntu to add your blog!
  • An Ubuntu Member title at the Ubuntu Forums. See this post for more information.
  • A subscription to Linux Weekly News – see this page for instructions on how to apply.
  • Ability to join the Official Ubuntu Members group on LinkedIn.

For more information please refer to Ubuntu Membership wiki page

Does Twitter kills my blog?

This is probably the first thing that I thought of when I first started of this blog two five years ago… that is the probability that I might find other hobby or work that much more appealing than paying attention to this blog.

The first culprit would be twitter, because ever since I started to hook up with it, I’ve beginning to post updates less frequently than I usually do, until it reaches a point that I stopped posting updates altogether, even though there are loads event that are worthy for me to blog with.

Maybe I’ve lost my passion of updating blogs with my daily hacking activities, or may I simply haven’t got the hang around of updating my blog while juggling with my new work, updating tweets and working on my research projects. Whatever the reason is, it is my intention to keep my post coming out fresh despite having to adjust to my new environment, and for that to happen I need to discipline myself to post regular updates on my blog.

Twitter is nice to use, as it requires less effort to post updates about my activities and make it easy for me to keep updated with my friends, but it greatest advantage seems to have taken a toll on my blog and I’ve nothing to blame but myself :p

Holy, It’s raining all over Malaysia!

It’s been raining all over Malaysia today —

Cloud over malaysia

That was Malaysian map taken over Google Earth, notice the cloud covering almost 70% of the Malaysian region? its been raining all over Malaysia! woohoo!