Howto: Subscribe to TV and Radio shows using Miro on Ubuntu
Some on-line content such as radio or TV shows gets updated with new shows on a regular basis. Miro is a very handy piece of software that allows you to keep track of your favorite shows, and get the latest episode, every time it is released. All you have to do is subscribe to those shows, so the content can be automatically and conveniently downloaded to your hard-drive, ready to be enjoyed whenever you want. This way you get to choose what to watch (or listen to), and when to do so. Pretty much like having your customized TV / Radio Network.
Howto: Fix Spotify sound problems on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala
After installing Spotify on my Ubuntu 9.10 system I found that I was having some sound issues, popping, cracking and sound crashes. I'll walk you through my settings and point you to the Spotify FAQ for the suggested settings (they didn't work for me, but they could for you) So here we go...
Howto: Install Adobe Flash 10.1 (pre-release) on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala
As most linux users know Adobe Flash isn't particularly good, it's choppy and hogs your CPU. Well Adobe has a pre-release of Flash 10.1 which is really really good. It's pretty easy to install.
Step 1
Note: Download it to somewhere easy to access it like your Desktop
Quick Tip: Getting your mic working with alsamixer
After installing Skype flawlessly if time around I was messing around with some sound settings and managed to muck something up and stopped my microphone from working. It was either me or an update, but more than likely it was me. After using alsamixer to fix my previous gripe with the pc speaker beeping and not finding a way to fix my problem in the Sound Preferences application found under System -> Preferences I turned back to alsamixer.
When I opened up alsamixer pressed tab until I was viewing [All] I saw that there were two options both called analog and I figure well everything else seems to be on why no see what they do, anyway, I ended up pressing up once to change them both to Digital and that seemed to fix my problem instantly!
Howto: Fix ATI Video Playback *UPDATE*
In my previous article you where made use VLC as your default media player if you wanted to have a good video playback experience. While I think VLC is a really good media player, I'm sure not every shares my enthusiasm for it and that's okay. I've found a way to fix this. I discovered a application that is installed with your Gstreamer codecs called "Multimedia Systems Selector". This method removes the need to switch you media player (eg. Totem) of choice.
Step 1
To access the program, run in the terminal:
gstreamer-properties
Or (for you GUI people)
Go to "System" -> "Preferences" -> "Main Menu". Then select the "Preferences" under the Systems directory. Look down the list and tick the box next to Multimedia Systems Selector" and "Close". You can now access the application throught "System" -> "Preferences" -> "Multimedia Systems Selector"
Step 2
Now in the program go to the "Video" tab and under "Default Output" use the dropdown menu for the "Plugin" option and change it from "Autodetect" to "X Window System (No Xv)" and "Close" the program.
You're all set, now you can use whatever media player you like!
If you have any problems, questions, suggestions please leave a comment.
Howto: Fix ATI Video Playback
If you've come from my post on Howto: Fix Ubuntu 9.04 ATI Driver Issues and the drivers installed successfully congratulations. Although now you've found in Movie Player (Totem) when playing video and moving the window the video starts to tear or when you click on a window that covers up Totem the video plays on top of every other window. The reason this occurs is simply because the ATI drivers suck! (I'm using the driver that are accessed through "System" -> "Administration" -> "Hardware Drivers")...however there is a way to fix this!
Update: I've written an update to this fix here.
Step 1
Firstly we need to install VLC media player, I personally think this is the best video player out there on any platform seeing as it will play just about anything under the sun. In your terminal run:
sudo apt-get install vlc
It shouldn't take too long to download and install.
Step 2
Once it's installed open up "VLC media player" from your "Applications" -> "Sound & Video" menu.
Click on "Tools" -> "Preferences" -> "Video". Where is says "Output" the current value is "Default", change this using the drop down menu to "X11 vidoe output". Click "Save" and exit the window.
Step 3
You're going to want to make VLC your default video player, this can be done by right clicking a video and going to "Properties" -> "Open With" and select VLC, if VLC is not there go to "Add" and select it from the list of applications, click "Add" again and set it as the default video player.
Note: You might have to repeat this step for different video formats eg. avi, xvid, mp4. You only have to set VLC as default to that video format once on any file of that format, after that it'll know to open up those formats in VLC. Although if you do run into a video that opens in Totem, you know what to do.
If you have any problems, questions, suggestions please leave a comment.
Howto: Fix AVG + iTunes Update = Small.BOG Trojan Horse
UPDATE: AVG has updated there virus database so you shouldn't have any problems with just, just make sure you've updated your AVG.
Don’t worry, Apple hasn’t really given you a Trojan Horse! Basically what’s happening is AVG is scanning the iTunes Installer, iTunes and iPod directories and thinking you’ve been infected with a “Small.BOG Trojan Horse”. This prevents you from downloading the installer, because AVG just deletes files inside it and even if you mange to download the installer without AVG deleting files from it, it will just delete files from the directories where iTunes is installed. Enough of that, here how to fix it...
This fix will work for both Windows XP and Vista (I’m assuming it’ll work on 64-bit version also).
Step 1
We first need to create expectations in AVG, this will stop it from scanning and deleting files from the /iTunes and /iPod directories in C:/Program Files.
Open up AVG and right and click on resident shield, select open and uncheck resident shield active.
Click “Manage Exceptions”, then “Add Path” and navigate to both (you’ll have to do this one at a time):
C:/Program Files/iTunes/
C:/Program Files/iPod/
Note: If you have uninstalled iTunes at this time you won’t see the iTunes or iPod directory. Simple navigate to where they should be (C:/Program Files/) and create a new folder and call them iTunes and iPod.
Click “Apply”, then “OK”, then “Save Changes”.
Step 2
Now we have to disable AVG from starting up (we will re-enable this once iTunes is installed), because if we don’t it will just delete files from the iTunes installer straight after we download it.
Right click on “My Computer” (either in the Start Menu or Desktop icon) and go to “Manage”. Double click “Services and Applications” and then double click on “Services”.
Look for “AVG Free8 WatchDog” and right click on it and go to “Properties”. Where is says “Startup Type” it should say “Automatic”, change this to “Disabled” via the dropdown menu. Click “Apply” and then “OK”.
Close all windows and restart your computer.
Note: don't worry about the security warnings you get when you boot back up, this is normal and we will amend them once we have fixed iTunes.
Step 3
If you tried to reinstall iTunes but it didn’t work, follow the instructions in Fix A. If you did not uninstall iTunes and just left it the way it was, follow the instructions in Fix B. If you don’t have the “Apple Software Update” program needed in A or just aren’t sure follow the instruction in Fix C (This one is pretty much bullet proof, if all fails try Fix C).
Fix A
If you uninstalled iTunes when you found it had stopped working and tried to reinstall it, but found that didn’t work either. Open the “Apple Software Update” program in your Start Menu (if you don’t have it follow the instructions in Fix C) and check the box for “iTunes + QuickTime” and click install. Follow the on screen prompts. It should download and install. Just quit out of the updater when it's all done, run iTunes to make sure it's working and move on to Step 4 if this didn’t work try Fix C.
Fix B
If you did not uninstall the program, run iTunes from the Start Menu (or icon), I found that in Vista (not sure about XP, but assuming) it knew there was a problem and fixed it. Again just follow any prompts and make sure when its finished iTunes is working. If this doesn’t work try Fix C.
Fix C
If you don't have “Apple Software Update” installed currently or have completely removed iTunes you can just go to http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/ and download iTunes. Make sure you've selected the right version for your system (32-bit or 64-bit) and download it. Once it has downloaded simply double click the setup installer and follow the on screen prompts, it should install fine. If no errors occur during the install just run iTunes and make sure it works.
Step 4
Return to the “Services” window (see above; right click on My Computer->Manage->Services and applications->Services) and find “AVG Free8 WatchDog” again. Right click on it and set the “Startup Type” back to “Automatic”.
Restart your computer and everything should be fine working fine. Open up AVG, and then open the “Resident Shield” and check the “Resident Shield Active” box. You're all done now. iTunes should not have any more problems with AVG.
I followed these methods on both a Windows XP and Vista machine (both 32-bit). I assume this will work with 64-bit versions as long as you follow my instructions.
This is just a work around to stop AVG from deleting iTunes. Lets hope AVG update there database soon. Once they do we can remove the Exception paths we add so that AVG can scan those directories for actual malicious files.
Please post in the comments if this helps you or if you have any problems.
Note: At the time of this post the conflicting software versions where; AVG version 8.5.392, Virus database version 270.13.28/2259 (Release Date 24 July 2009) conflicting with iTunes Version 8.2.1.6.