ReviewSaurus – Technology Rocks!

For those of you using a Linux OS, you might have wanted to start a particular program or application at start up – when you login.

Windows has a StartUp folder, and placing a shortcut there does the job. What about Linux?

This is something I have done on my setup – Ubuntu Feisty Fawn. But I am sure that it is available in other Linux distribution, because it is a reminiscent of Unix.

Here is what you need to do. Go to the home folder, and edit your login’s .profile file. In Ubuntu, the steps would be as follows:

(There is a easy way in Ubuntu. Skip the steps and read the end of the post).

1. Application > Accessories > Terminal
2. Open the file in VI Editor.
   vi .profile
   You can use any editor that you are comfortable with.
3. Go to the end of the file.
   [Shift]+g
   If the .profile was never changed after the install, then just follow these steps. But if you had edited it, then you know what we are doing. We are just going to the end of the file where all the environment setups are completed.
4. Enter the command-line syntax of the application. Every Linux application has one. For me, I wanted to fire up the IM client.
   gaim &
   That fires up the GAIM. The ‘&’ is to specify it to make it a background process.
5. Save it.
   [Esc]
:wq
[Enter]
   That is it. Next time you login, the application you specified would have started up. You can choose any application you want and if you have more than one application to be put on startup, put them on separate lines.

In Ubuntu, there is a simpler way. Go to System > Preferences > Sessions. Then, with the ‘Startup Programs’ as the selected tab, click on Add. Give the name and command, and hit OK. You are done.

So, why do we need to know the hard way when there is a simpler solution? Well, the GUI setup does not have facility to order startups of more than one application. By working with the .profile, you have much more programmatic control over it.

Update :  Andy has shared with us the tip to do the above mentioned task (i.e. configuring startup programs) in Kubuntu and most likely these steps will work with any KDE. Here are the steps mentioned by Andy.

PS: To find more posts by Vyoma, visit Splat and KalaaLog.com.

Couple of posts back, I was asking everyone about a new web host because I felt that my current web host will not be able to satisfy my needs as I required more bandwidth and a web host which will be Digg proof, which unfortunately wasn't the case with my old host. However, if you have basic needs and if you are looking for a decent host with excellent support and low prices then Computing Host is the best in that.

Although, other hosts which were recommended by various readers were :

1. Dreamhost (referral link of Venu)
2. Bluehost (No one left the referral link but it got the maximum votes)
3. LunarPages (Link to Thilak's page which explains that why he chose LunarPages).

Now, I've shifted to Media Temple (mt) and I'm on their Grid Server and here are the reasons for that :

1. Reliability : (mt) has been around from last 9 yrs. and they've proven that they are good and their customer list proves that they are PRO in this field. The biggest blog in Technology (i.e. TechCrunch) is also hosted at (mt) only. So, you've got another reason to believe them.

2. Customer Support : I actually got sick of chat support. They provide a toll free number where you can call and talk to a human rather that chat with a human. I called them twice just to clear up some doubts and they provided prompt solutions and they know what they are talking about. So, you'll get the proper answer in the most professional way.

3. Clustering Technology : Grid Server package works on clusters and that way the load is balanced between 1000 servers and not 1 or 2 shared servers. So, when you get spikes you'll be safe and you won't have to worry about losing the traffic.

continue reading »

With the release of Microsoft Office 2007 came a new format DOCX. Yes, all the word documents created in Microsoft Word 2007 will be saved in DOCX format until and unless you specifically save them in DOC format using the SAVE AS format.

There are few ways through which you can convert the DOCX files into DOC format, so that they can be opened using older version of Microsoft Office or may be with OpenOffice.Org :

1. Convert the file using ZamZar : You can simply go on ZamZar.com & then upload the DOCX file and then select the option of exporting it to DOC format.

2. Convert using DOCX2DOC : Another online converter and this one is specifically for converting the files from DOCX to DOC. Visit DOCX2DOC.COM

3. Compatibility pack by Microsoft : You may download the compatibility pack from Microsoft which will allow you to open, edit and save the DOCX format in the older version of MS Office.

continue reading »

GTalk, which needs lots of updates and that’s been said every now and then. The reason for that is because the widget of GTalk has got more features as compared to the main application. Most of the users are not happy because there has been no update from long time and I’m amongst those users. However, these are the features which I would love to see in GTalk in the next update :

1. Group chat & Conference calls : Group chat is now a feature of Google Talk’s gadget but still it is missing from the main application and GMail Chat. It is a much needed feature and many people will just fall in love with it, if it gets this feature.

2. Grouping of Friends : If I can group friends in GMail, then why not in GTalk. GTalk and GMail share the contact book, then group feature should be part of GTalk as well.

3. Support for emoticons : We have to accept that we all love smilies and so, it will be wise to have better smilies instead of the text based ones only. At least, smilies which are in GMail are also better than the GTalk’s smilies.

4. Better text formatting : There is no harm if GTalk will allow simple text formatting. Sometimes I wish that I get the facility of making the text bold and that too without the use of asterisk (*). If you type any text in between two * then it becomes bold in GTalk. For e.g. *Hi* then it will look like Hi.

5. Video conferencing : Well, if Google wants to define the communication then where’s the harm in providing free Video calls ? It is also much needed feature, although not everyone is dying for it, but with Video feature, it will become a complete solution and many people will start using it more often.

continue reading »

iTasveer is an online photo printing and personalized schwag printing service in India. It’s run by four ex-IITians (Delhi) and is based in Gurgaon, Haryana, India (where I’m located). iTasveer has already been recognized by fantastic deal in the past with Microsoft and their excellent feature called DoodlePad and when they were chosen as the best web service in India in the photo printing section by PC World.

iTasveer is the only service in India which is listed under the Online Print Wizard of Windows Vista and if you’ve selected the location as India, then you can get the photos printed directly from Windows Photo Gallery.

Apart from that what really sets iTasveer apart from other printing services in India is the feature called DoodlePad. This flash based feature lets you add various call-outs, add frames around the pictures and make collage so that you can get them printed either as Big posters or on T-shirts and mugs. You can also order handmade photo albums and the money involved in those handmade albums goes to the NGO Parichay (who make those albums).

Another feature which impressed me was the option of sharing the photos with friends and family members, I know this is nothing new but what is interesting is that provide unlimited photo sharing. You don’t have to worry about how many photos you upload and all that for free. They have integrated Picasa and Flickr too, so you don’t have to re-upload the photos which are already lying in your other accounts.

continue reading »