Linux: February 2006 Archives

Although I've had a Palm (Tungsten T2) for quite some time I haven't really been using it actively. However I've found recently that I need something that falls between my mobile phone and my laptop in terms of mobility and power, so it's been dusted off and is coming back into use. By default the Palm comes with software to integrate with Windows and Mac, but there doesn't seem to be any sign of official support for linux. Since I use Ubuntu as my desktop on both my laptop and my non-work pc I needed to find a solution to allow syncing of files etc., While the Ubuntu forums and wiki are usually helpful they weren't overly so on this occasion, as they took quite a convuluted approach to a relatively simple issue (at least in my view) The simplest solution was to install kpilot, which is a KDE replacement for the palm desktop. From what I can see it does an admirable job and is pretty much idiot proof (ie. I got it working in less than 5 minutes). Installation is simple a matter of running: sudo apt-get install kpilot The application should end up under: Applications > Accessories > Kpilot The first time you run it you will be asked to configure it for your Palm, so make sure that it is sitting in its cradle and is connected to your PC. Once you've done the initial setup you may want to tweak your settings a bit. To install software onto your Palm (which is one of the reasons I wanted the software) simply open Kpilot and click on "File Installer" and then "Add file" to add file(s) to be installed. To complete the installation depress the hotsync button on the Palm's cradle. For some reason I always get an error about /dev/tty/USB0 not existing, but the hotsync works perfectly, so I would presume that the error is not important.

The fourth milestone CD released as part of the Dapper development cycle is now available. Although the CD images are not production ready, they are described as being "reasonably free of showstopper CD-build or installer bugs" More information on the developments and changes here, while downloads of the isos are available here, here and here

I really like GAIM as an IM client, but some of the functions are a bit hidden. To get a multiuser chat going in MSN isn't as obvious as it could be. It's not hard to do, but it is a little obscure :)

Is there a way to invite more than one person to an MSN chat? Yes. Right click a buddy on your list and choose "Initiate Chat". In the conversation window that appears, choose "Invite" from the "Conversation" menu to invite another user. When the conversation framework gets another rewrite, it is possible that this will be simplified.

From the official GAIM FAQ