PocketSword 1.0

While browsing The Sword Project site I was happy to see PocketSword has been released.  PocketSword is the Sword app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.  If you have never heard of The Sword Project here is their statement: The SWORD Project is the CrossWire Bible Society's free Bible software project. Its purpose is to create cross-platform open-source tools-- covered by the GNU General Public License-- that allow programmers and Bible societies to write new Bible software more quickly and easily. We also create Bible study software for all readers, students, scholars, and translators of the Bible, and have a growing collection of over 200 texts in over 50 languages.  PocketSword is built on the Sword backend and is a free download from the iTunes store.


PocketSword takes a moment to load then you are presented with Genesis 1:1 in the KJV.  Across the top of the app is a back arrow, the book chapter and verse, and a forward arrow.   Tapping the center button brings up a click wheel to quickly select book, chapter and verse.  On the bottom of the screen there are five buttons; Bible, Commentary; Modules, Bookmarks, and More. The Bible button brings up the current Bible module.  The Commentary button loads the current commentary module if there is one installed.  (I do not use the commentary feature so get a blank page stating, No modules installed.  In Modules all installed modules are listed either under Biblical Texts or Commentaries; with the tap of a finger you can switch between modules.  The Bookmarks page has two buttons across the top, Edit and a plus sign.  Edit allows you to delate any bookmark and the plus sign adds the book, chapter and verse use selected with the click wheel.  More has three options; Downloads, Preferences, and About.  Downloads allows the installation of both Bible modules and Commentary modules. 


The overall feel is snappy with no lag between page loads.  Things that are lacking include a search feature, Strong's numbers, Dictionaries, copy-paste, and a Notes feature. While not complete Version 1.0 is a good start.  (PocketSword has now been updated adding, history, search, dictionaries, and copy-paste.  According to the developer the next update will support Strong's numbers. 2-8-10)

Arch Linux Part 4

In Part 3 I mentioned my file system was Read only.  On this installation, I did not make any changes to the default configuration files and my file got configured as read-write, allowing me to continue the Arch Linux install.  As a guess I would say the Read only file system problem was caused by the noatime line in the fstab file. I had followed this under the fstab instructions: Note: The 'noatime' option disables writing read access times to the metadata of files and may safely be appended to / and /home regardless of your specified filesystem type for increased speed, performance, and power efficiency (see here for more).

The next thing I had trouble with was the touchpad, which did not work when I tested X.  Then I tried to configure Xorg to see if that would help. When I started X this time I got a blank screen.  So got rid the X11 directory and tried again.  This brought me back to where I had started, Xterm showed up in the upper left corner but no response from keyboard or touchpad.  After much frustration I found a usb mouse, plug it in, started x and the mouse worked.  At this point the touchpad was still useless.

After installing a Desktop Environment (LXDE), I started X and the desktop loaded with out any problems.  Now I have a base system with a trackpad that does not work, no wireless, and no applications.

I now know a little about Arch Linux.  If you decide to try Arch make sure you have lots of time and patience and follow the wikis.

Arch Linux Part 3

Using BJ's Toshiba Satellite I started a new install of Arch Linux.  Again the first mirror I tried did not work but the second one did.  I was able to complete the install up to "Configuring the network".  At this point I received the "unknown host" error.  Using Nano I opened rc.conf but it was read only even though I was root.  After searching for a solution I finally started the install over.  Again I ran into problems when I went to configure the network, at this point I realized Arch Linux it self was in read only.  The message that comes up is cannot.... : Read-only file system.

The Kernel is 2.6.32-ARCH.  A couple of things I did during the install was installing sudo and using sda4 and noatime for my / and /home directories.  I cannot change the configuration files because they are read only so looks like another install is ahead.

Pendragon's Tech Stuff News...: New un-patched IE flaw found a day after latest hotfix

Pendragon's Tech Stuff News...: New un-patched IE flaw found a day after latest hotfix

For those still using IE 6 you should read this post and watch the Video (after you update to IE 8).

Arch Linux Part 2

Things have been busy lately so I have not had time to post on my experience installing Arch Linux.  I started the install and had made it to Step 4 (Add a user and setup groups) of the Beginners Guide when I ran out of time.  My plan was to take up where I had left off when time allowed.  In the mean time I got a call from the owner of the computer I was installing Arch Linux on.  He had posted the Laptop on Craig's list and someone wanted to buy it, so there went my install.  Then last week got a call from BJ and he mentioned he could no longer boot into Linux Mint.  BJ described the problem like this, "All I get is a black screen with white letters".  I saw my chance to try another install of Arch Linux on his computer.  I have it now and from the error message from the Mint Install looks like his file system is corrupt.  I plan to install Arch in the next few days.

Arch Linux

For sometime I have been intrigued with Arch Linux but have not taken the time to figure out how to install it.  One time I tried a installation using the knowledge I had from other distros and found out more knowledge was needed.  I finally took the time to read both the Official Arch Linux Install Guide and The Beginner's Guide and see these guides do a good job of walking a person through their first install.  Both guides are needed to get the complete picture.

With my new found knowledge I have started a net install.  So far I ran into 2 problems: Number one. The first 3 mirrors I chose timed out.  I finally picked one from Australia and it worked fine.  Number 2 I could not figure out how to select packages, the answer is the space bar. (The install guide mentions this)

Hope to have a successful install to write about later.

Moving to GNU/Linux from Windows

My Brother the writer of "Model Airplanes & R/C Flight" has decided to build himself a new computer and go completely to Linux for his home computer.  After doing the math, the money he will save not buying Windows persuaded him to try GNU/Linux again.   In the past he has played around with different distros of Linux but never stuck with any after running into problems he did not want to take the time to figure out.  He has over 5 years of IT experience with Windows and has been a Windows user since he was a child so he knows all about Windows and it problems. Most of his experience with Linux has come using Ubuntu. Currently he is playing with Ubuntu 9.10 on a dual booted 7 year old computer as he wants to know what he is getting himself into before he builds his new computer.

 (Side note:  My Brother is a much better writer then any of us who write on this blog.  If you like good writing even if you are not interested in R/C flight click over to his blog.  We hope to have a couple of guest posts from him about his experience.)

Another Linux Help Site

If you are looking for help getting started with Linux you might want to check brunolinux.com.  The write ups are listed by subjects for quick browsing plus there is a search.  Help starts with some of the basics such as getting software to burn an ISO file (you will need this to burn your own Linux CD) to using the Terminal plus distro specific articles

Readability

A while back we wrote about Printliminator, a bookmarklet for cleaning for cleaning up a web page.  Recently on practicalhacks.com I read about the Readability bookmarklet. After choosing your settings with one click you have a clean page for easy reading.  Read about it from practicalhacks.com.

As you can see there is a big difference.

Frozen Bubble 2 Port OS X Screencast

Frozen Bubble was installed using Macports.  As you can see it works but the color is not right.  Read previous post to learn more about Macports.