Onlyblog... sample blog

Recently, Mozilla made it mandatory that each add-on hosted on AMO (addons.mozilla.org) be reviewed. To comply, I had to upload the latest version of my Thunderbird addon - Empty 'em to AMO.

As pointed in my earlier post, I was not so much for it, since AMO wouldn't allow a coarser control on maxVersion of the add-on.

But in any case, Empty 'em is now reviewed and available from AMO:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/empty-em/

If you notice, the add-on is still marked experimental. This is because I only did a preliminary review of the add-on. I'll wait until I get some more user feedback until I request a full review - after which, the add-on will come out of its experimental phase.

On the positive side though, the add-on will get automatic updates. And I've also seen increased number of downloads in the past few days. I guess it always hurts to be in the search results on AMO.

As usual, for support on the add-on, head to the Empty 'em Support Group.

Just enabled the complimentary Verizon Wireless 3G service for my Cr-48. It took about 5-7 minutes but it was painless.

Only thing that beats me is why I had to enter my credit card information to get the free service - they say it is for confirming the identity. Couldn't Google/Verizon use Checkout account to do that?

Now I should really make a folder for text-only/mobile versions of websites I frequent. It's only been a few minutes and I've already used up 5MB of data!

Speed seems good though. I am switching back to Wifi, and keep this service for the rainy day.

Originally posted at http://post.mahesha.com/verizon-wireless-3g-on-cr-48

I am making version 0.76 of Empty 'em - my Thunderbird add-on - available on GitHub at:

https://github.com/downloads/asolkar/emptyem/emptyem-0.76.xpi

Only change in this version is that maxVersion of Thunderbird is bumped to 3.3a* - so it installs on latest nightly builds from the comm-central branch.

I am not updating the add-on on the addons.mozilla.org (AMO) since it does not allow maxVersion to be 3.3a*. Which means that I will have to update the add-on on AMO for every alpha release. I'd rather release it now for all alphas, later for all betas and eventually for the final release of Thunderbird 3.3.

I've been using Empty 'em on 3.3a* versions of Thunderbird for a while now. It seems to be working fine. Then again, I've only tested it with Gmail(IMAP) and MS Exchange (IMAP) accounts.

Take it for a spin and let me know of any issues on the Empty 'em Support Group.

I almost do not have a printer at home - I have an old one, but I use it so rarely, the cartridges are always dry. So when I need to print something, I usually print it to a file on my Linux laptop - a .pdf file. Then take that file to work/FedEx Kinko's - via Google Docs/Dropbox/other cloud service/USB drive - and print it. I am sure there are many who do that.

Also for archiving online transactions, like bank transfers, purchase acknowledgements, etc. - when you don't necessarily need a print out, but just want some kind of a digital confirmation you could print later if needed - 'print to file' is such a convenient feature to have.

Just wondering why Chrome OS got rid of the print to file feature of the underlying Linux OS? Google cloud print is cool and all, but if you don't have a Windows PC with a printer connected, you are really out of luck. Am I missing something, or Chrome OS indeed does not have a print to file option?

Google recently hosted an event about Chrome OS. During the event they announced a pilot program for developers/testers to try the reference hardware - the Cr-48 prototype. I applied for it, and within 48 hours, the thing was at my doorstep.

They really do mean speed!

Thanks Google for the surprise gift.

Now let's get to using it and sending some constructive feedback - using just Chrome OS. No Vim to type posts, no Gimp to get and edit screenshots, no FTP client to upload images. Will see how that goes.

Much more to come...

After a recent upgrade of Minefield (nightly trunk version of Mozilla Firefox) my Sync was completely broken. All I got was the following error message when I started Minefield:

One installation of Firefox kept working fine for me, all the others failed to sync after that particular update.

It turns out, the old Sync Key we all cherry picked is no good. A Minefield update probably changed my key to a longer, harder-to-remember key - I must say without any indication/notification. I reckon harder-to-remember also means harder-to-guess, so its a good thing for the security of my data in the cloud. However, on the flip side, I will need to print the key and keep it is some safe place - there's no way I am going to remember that one! Or even better, I'll put it in my Passpack.

Once I figured that the Wrong Sync Key error was not because of broken Minefield, but because Minefield indeed changed my key, I could quickly bring all the other installations of Firefox in sync again.

All that needs to be done is, grab your new key like so:

• Open Minefield (or Firefox) button → Options → Options (Which is Minefield (or Firefox) button → Preferences → Preferences in Linux).
• Go to the Sync tab
• Expand the Manage Account group
• Click on the My Sync Key item
• Copy/Print/Write down/Passpack your Sync Key displayed in the dialog that shows up

Then in the installation of Firefox where you get the Wrong Sync Key error, update the Sync Key with the new key. This pretty much involves resetting Sync information and setting it up anew, like so:

• Open Minefield (or Firefox) button → Options → Options (Which is Minefield (or Firefox) button → Preferences → Preferences in Linux).
• Go to the Sync tab
• Expand the Manage Account group
• Click on the Stop Using This Account item
• Select Reset All Information in the dialog that shows up.
• Now setup Sync afresh in the Sync Preferences - using the new Sync Key

I hope when this changes makes into the Beta, there will be a proper notification and process to upgrade the keys in all Firefox installation. Until then, hope this helps...

If you are a Gnome Desktop user on Linux and use Nautilus File Manager to browse your files, here's a handy tip.

When you access your files via the Places menu, (e.g., Places → Home Folder), there are two ways you can view your files (among many other ways, I guess):

• The file manager window has a browser pane on the left. This pane (also called the Side Pane) provides easy access to your bookmarks, mounted drives, etc. This is my preferred way. Here's what it looks like:
  

  File manager with browser pane
• The file manager window does not have a browser pane. One of the reasons I am not so comfortable with this is that it opens a new window when you double-click on a folder. Too many windows can result if you are browsing around. And here's how it looks:
  

  File manager without browser pane

It is a matter of personal preference. Since I use Ubuntu extensively, and its default is to show the file manager with the side pane, I am kind of used to it. So when I started working on another computer where the default was without the side pane, I wasn't very comfortable.

But as it turns out, like with many other customization options on Linux, this was easy to change.

All it takes is to set the configuration key /apps/nautilus/preferences/always_use_browser to be true. There are a couple of ways you can do that.

With the Configuration Editor GUI

You can start the Configuration Editor from the Application → System Tools menu. Or use the gconf-editor command in the Terminal. Once in the Configuration Editor, navigate to the /apps/nautilus/preferences/always_use_browser key in the left side pane:

Check the checkbox to enable the preference.

With gconftool-2 command

Much easier way, for folks who are not so much against the Terminal. Open the Terminal and use this command:

gconftool-2 --set --type=bool /apps/nautilus/preferences/always_use_browser true

So there. And while we are at it, a quick poll, may be?

Now, this is something I am really looking forward to in the upcoming Ubuntu 10.10 release (a.k.a Maverick Meerkat):

• OneConf Wiki entry
• OneConf to rule them all - blueprint

Idea is to store the state of your Ubuntu installation in the cloud, so that it can be cloned on some other machine, or used to restore after a brand new installation.

This is especially relevant because of the 6-month release cycle. I've spent many hours - if not days - to bring my system back to where I like it to be, after every fresh install. Furthermore, it may encourage folks to do a fresh install (versus an upgrade), thereby avoiding many problems that often arise after an upgrade. This is great for anyone who provides support on the the Ubuntu Forums - or other support avenues.

Another reason I like this is that, features like this truly justify Ubuntu One. Ubuntu One needs more ideas like OneConf to harness its great potential, and distinguish it from the other online storage/file sharing services. Not to mention the value it adds to Ubuntu as a desktop Linux distribution.

Somehow, all this sounds very familiar!

Can't wait...

Problem statement:

Grab HD clips from Sony HDR-HC7 HDV camcorder and convert them to HD videos on the web (Vimeo, YouTube, etc.) fairly easily on Linux - specifically, Ubuntu

I've been trying to address this problem for a while now. It has been about a year since I tried last. I remember using Kino and giving Cinelerra a shot. For variety of reasons, I did not like either and I gave up on the effort.

Recently, when Ubuntu 10.04 shipped with PiTiVi as the default video editor, I decided to give it another go. Since I had used OpenShot briefly in Ubuntu 9.10, I thought it would be educational to try both the video editors to accomplish the task. So I created a short sample video in both these editors - embedded below.

I am a video pro by no means. I am just a novice user trying hard to shoot least shaky HD movies and sharing them with family and friends - while not embarrassing myself! So please take my input and opinions with a grain of salt. But at the end of it all, I think I prefer OpenShot - at least for my camcorder, my level of skill and expertise using video editors.

Now that the result is out of the way, here's the rest of the story...

Workflow

Workflow I would like to set up is simple:

1. Grab clips from the camcorder
2. Convert clips to a format the video editor likes (I would rather not, but necessary with some editors)
3. Import them into the video editor
4. Edit/mix the clips and compose the video
5. Export it to desired target

Grabbing clips from the camcorder

This is something I learned from my previous experience with Kino. I use dvgrab to grab clips from the camcorder. Here is the source of the script I use:

Sony HDR-HC7 is an HDV camcorder. As such, the above script grabs the clips in form of a sequence of MPEG-2 transport stream (.m2t) files. I use the -timestamp option so that the names of the files include the time when the video was recorded. I also store the output of this script for later use. It includes useful information about the clips - like the timecode, length of the clip in frames, size of the clip etc. Here's a sample output:

Using OpenShot

Importing video

One thing I really loved about OpenShot is the fact that it can consume .m2t files! Kino did not, Cinelerra did not, PiTiVi does not. So this is great. It completely eliminates one step in my workflow.

Import function in OpenShot (the big green '+' sign in the toolbar) allows you to add video (my .m2t files), audio and other media files.

Editing video

For a simple video, like the one I created for this experiment, all you need to do is drag the clips into the timeline - the lower part of the interface - and position them to define the sequence of scenes in the movie.

Here are some editing/mixing features of OpenShot I used in the making of the sample video:

• The razor tool can be used to snip clips at any given position
• Markers can be added on the timeline to mark significant positions in the timeline
• Video in a clip can be turned ON or OFF
• Audio in a clip can be turned ON or OFF
• Effects like Fade in/Fade out can be applied to individual tracks
• There are many transitions and effects, which I did not use in the sample video

I did not play with titles, credits or subtitles, so I cannot say much about those features. All in all, you can do some basic editing and mixing really well.

Exporting video

Another thing you got to love is that OpenShot comes with canned export profiles. Profiles have export parameters set to work with DVD, Web (Vimeo, Youtube and the likes) etc. The fact that export to Vimeo-HD and Youtube-HD worked so well, make me feel very optimistic about DVD export - which is going to be my next endeavor.

Here's a screenshot of the export dialog.

And finally, here are the videos out of OpenShot, on both Vimeo (exported with Vimeo-HD profile) and Youtube (exported with Youtube-HD profile).

OpenShot Vimeo HD video:

OpenShot Youtube HD video:

Using PiTiVi

Importing video

Like I mentioned, PiTiVi does not consume .m2t files. Apparently, it has the capability, but there's probably a bug currently, that keeps it from recognizing the files correctly. So there's hope!

But for now, you must convert the .m2t files into a format that PiTiVi can read. I used ffmpeg to do so. Here's the command (and its output) I used for .m2t to .mpg conversion:

Converted .mpg files can now be imported and worked with in PiTiVi.

Editing video

Much like OpenShot, PiTiVi allows you to add video, audio and other media files to a project. You then drag the clips in the time line and position them to define the sequence of scenes in the movie.

Here are some editing/mixing features of PiTiVi I used in the making of the sample video:

• The scissor tool can be used to snip clips at any given position
• I could only add one marker (the cursor), but I am sure there is a way to add more. I just did not try to find it
• Instead of Fade In/Out effects or completely turning ON or OFF a clip, PiTiVi allows you to set track levels (brightness for video tracks, volume for audio tracks). The levels can vary through the track depending on the levels in the beginning and the end of track. I think this provides an added level of flexibility. But also, at the same time, makes simple Fade In/Out slightly harder to implement. I like it though
• Audio from a video track can be separated into an independent track. This, also, I think is a very handy feature

Again, I did not play with titles, credits or subtitles, so I cannot say much about those features. I also did not easily find any transitions or effects, that could be applied to tracks.

I had trouble synchronizing audio and video in PiTiVi (synchronizing the 'gong' with dropping of CD sleeve). I was finally able to synchronize the two with a lot of trial-and-error. The one that rendered kind of synchronized (one below) does not actually look synchronized in the preview. The preview in PiTiVi did not seem very accurate.

Exporting video

PiTiVi does not come with canned export profiles. Although I found a way to export to Vimeo-HD on the Vimeo help sites. It is left to the users to do the research. As you might notice though, the audio/video out of PiTiVi is a bit choppy at times. I probably did not get all the export parameters right. But then again, PiTiVi does not make it any easier.

Here's the screenshot of the export dialog of PiTiVi:

And here is the resulting Video:

Conclusion

I tend to compare video editors in three different categories - Import, Editing and Export. A good video editor should support a wide variety of input formats. It should have a good balance of powerful and easy-to-use editing features. It should export video in formats that can be played flawlessly on popular targets like the Web (Youtube, Vimeo, etc.) and media players (DVD/VCD players, desktop media players, etc.).

At the time of this writing, I think OpenShot trumps in all the three categories.

• In my case, PiTiVi could not import .m2t files. This added a step in my workflow. Hopefully this is temporary and will be fixed soon
• PiTiVi has some neat editing features, but lack of transitions and effects shifts the balance in OpenShot's favor. Also everything you can do in PiTiVi can be achieved in OpenShot to some extent.
• OpenShot has export profile for popular targets. This is a must for anyone who doesn't want to get lost in the many gory details of conversion parameters and their optimal values - certainly for me

Looks like the Linux video editor scene is starting to look up. I hope it only gets better from here.

If something I mentioned in this post is inaccurate/wrong, please point it out in the comments. Hope this helps!

It's been around a week since Ubuntu 9.10 - Karmic Koala was released. Both my Linux systems are now up-to-date.

Linux systems

One of the two machines is a Sony Vaio Laptop (VGN-T140P) and other is a desktop built on a Asus P5K-e Wifi/AP motherboard with an Nvidia 8400GS video card.

Install strategy

In both cases I chose to do a clean install. I always keep /home on a separate partition, so clean installs are not much of a hassle. I usually move all the dot-files (and directories) from /home/me out of the way before a clean install. After the install, I bring the ones I need manually. This, I believe, prevents any configuration issues arising from new versions of applications adding/removing/changing any configuration items. I do have to configure some applications - like compiz - all over again, but it is not a big deal most of the time.

I also make a copy of /etc directory before a clean install, just in case I need to refer to the hacks that worked around bugs in the previous release.

Trends

If I look at the way thinks are working on the two of my systems since Ubuntu 8.10 - Hardy Heron, I see pretty consistent trends. My laptop was at its best in Hardy, things are not quite that good now. The desktop, however, is at its best in Karmic! I wonder if it has to do with the video hardware (Intel in laptop, Nvidia in desktop) or wireless usage (I use it in laptop all the time, never on the desktop).

Suspend/resume has gotten worse on the laptop, but almost perfect on the desktop.

Laptop is plagued with wireless issues, but I know I am not alone there (Launchpad bug reports as of today).

Sound, at least on my systems, has greatly improved. It worked out of the box on both of them.

Laptop experience

The general feel of the OS has definitely improved. With the new boot experience, artwork, new themes, Karmic looks pretty neat. It is snappier than ever, even on the laptop with mediocre specifications. All that good stuff is marred by the issues that have come up in this release - from back in the alpha days.

There has always been a problem with the laptop hardware, that when it resumes from suspend (to RAM), the backlight is missing. In the past, I have been able to work around it by setting quirks in suspend/resume scripts. Those hacks don't work anymore. I haven't found any work-around for Karmic yet. Launchpad bug #417599.

An even worse issue that has come up is with the wireless networking. In my case, it just doesn't connect. Even when it does, it doesn't stay connected for long. It is extremely annoying. Launchpad but #429035. So its mostly wired network for now. I know, laptop wired to the router? That sucks :( I hope not for very long though.

Desktop experience

On the desktop, Karmic is just sweet. Out of the box, everything just worked. Sound, video, suspend/resume, everything!

The only thing worth mentioning is that when I first rebooted the system after installing Karmic, Windows entry was missing from the Grub2 menu. All I did to fix this was:

  % sudo update-grub

I wonder why it missed the Windows entry during installation. I am sure it runs update-grub as an installation step, doesn't it? In any case, if you see Windows entry missing from your Grub menu after installing Karmic on a dual-boot machine, just run the above command.

One more thing I haven't checked is if wake-on-lan works. If it doesn't I'll need to do what I usually do after clean Ubuntu installs - Howto: Wake on LAN with ASUS P5WDG2 WS Pro in Debian/Ubuntu. Hope it works this time too!

Well, there. Now that the computer are all working, time to get some work done!

Incidentally, I set up a github account for all my little hobby projects. Check it out. All the projects are purely experimental and educational. Nothing is going to blow your mind.