For some reason I can’t access Google Adsense site since yesterday with Ubuntu Firefox, on the other hand Konqueror have no problem at all. See the picture below, Firefox can’t load Adsense properly : no pictures, no login form.

FYI :

• it’s Firefox 3.0.10
• I did not change any setting in Firefox since the last time I successfully accessed Adsense,
• already clear the cache and cookies
• other site can be displayed properly

 

above : Firefox
below : Konqueror

 

Whose fault is it? Google Adsense, Firefox, me?

 

 

keyword : firefox, adsense

Sierra Aircard 881u is a great little device. It’s a gps enabled 3.5G modem. As already mentioned on my previous post, Ubuntu 9.04 easily detects it as a modem (and a modem only) and it works great. Unfortunately the GPS function is unusable in Ubuntu, sad.

But hope is not lost, thanks to Virtualbox. I can use GPS on Ubuntu, well sort of.

Have same problem? Here’s what you need :

• install Virtualbox PUEL Edition 2.2.2, make sure you do have PUEL  edition installed, since Virtualbox OSE Edition that is included in Ubuntu repository do not have USB detection ability. After installation run Virtualbox and enable USB on Setting. You may have to uninstall older version of Virtualbox first but don’t worry you don’t have to reinstall Guest OS, you can use it on your new Virtualbox.
  • On Ubuntu create a group called usbusers.
    Go to System-> Administration-> Users and Groups. Type in your password and then click the Manage Groups button and then click the Add Group button and name it usbusers. Include your username.
    
• Windows
• Sierra Wireless Watcher, provide basic GPS function i.e: where you are.
• Garmin Mobile PC, not necessary if you satisfied with basic function. Garmin Mobile PC + your local map will make a good travelling companion.

Installation procedure on Guest OS is of course similar to real PC. The only difference is you must enable USB on Virtualbox setting.

 

For further reading:

• what is PUEL?

 

keyword : gps, ubuntu, virtualbox

Got this news from Ubuntu forum that HMR Group use a logo that looks like Ubuntu's. Here see the screenshot and decide (click the picture for bigger size).
So what do you think?

And no, I won't link there.

keyword : ubuntu logo, hmr

I've been lucky enough to try several GSM modems with Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope. Here I list all of them and their status on Ubuntu. Luckily all the modems I've tried are all work out of the box (and thanks to contributed readers, I can expand the list), without any hack involved .
So here they are :

 

Make	Type	Connection	Note
Huawei	Huawei E220	USB
	Huawei E156G	USB
	Huawei E169*	USB
Sierra Wireless	Sierra Aircard 881u	USB	modem works GPS not yet (the only solution that works for me is Virtualbox PUEL edition)
Motorola	Motorola V3XX	USB
	Motorola L7i	USB
Nokia	Nokia 6500 slide	USB	connect as PC Suite when asked by the phone
	Nokia 5610	USB	connect as PC Suite when asked by the phone
	Nokia 6230	Bluetooth
	Nokia E51 *	USB	connect as PC Suite when asked by the phone
LG	LG KF310*	USB
Option	Option ICON 225*	USB

 

* = reader contribution

 

And no need to install special software, nice.
Now imagine if I ran Windows, at least I need 5 different software to use all the modems listed above. what a heck of drivers mess. I know and I count, I tried them on Vista too. You need Mobile Partner, Mobile Connect, Sierra 3G Watcher, Motorola Phone Tools and Nokia PC Suite. And why all these default connection manager software run painfully slow and sometimes unresponsive too?
This post will be more useful for someone who's planning to buy one if you left a comment or two about your own experience and I'll update this post accordingly.
update :

May 20, 2009 : list updated,thanks to readers who left helpful comments.

keyword : working usb modem on ubuntu 

Just got myself a nice and surprisingly cheap USB 3.5 G modem (which can be upfraded to 3.75G). What makes this modem more interesting is, it comes with built in GPS chip. And all that only for 675.000 IDR (that's around 67 US$).
Now the modem function works out of the box, no need special hack or file editing, just plug it and let network manager does its magic. As shown in this picture below.

That's the good news, now the bad news is Ubuntu can not automatically detect its GPS unit. I've tried several methods but still no go and it's frustating. The best I could get is gpsman (GPS Manager) says it's online along with many error messages I don't know how to fix. I've tried it on Vista machine and it works (so there's no hardware issue), it even works  charmingly with Garmin Mobile PC. Now I know where I am on Earth :)
I saw many tutorials on using GPS on Ubuntu but most of them are for GPS only, not a modem+GPS device like mine.
Are there some one out there know how? I really hate dual-booting Vista just to get a GPS to work.

keyword : sierra 881u | ubuntu | gps

I just realized how minority Ubuntu are.
Earlier this day, I attended a stock analysis workshop, long story short : from all the attendees I see many Windows-es and 1 Mac and 1 Ubuntu (me). But here's the great part : when the speaker handed out a file to be copied, all the Windows users carelessly copied from each others with USB flashdisk unawarely passing virus(es) to each other. Some did virus scan first, but most weren't.
Me (and the Mac guy)? You know how it is, no worries :)

It's a rewrite of previous post. Now that my hp 540 notebook has been being tested for about  a week without freezing, I'm feeling brave to shout it to the world and maybe offer some help for fellow freezee (=freeze victim, :) ).
On my last post I wrote it in a way that I wouldn't understand when I was my first week with Ubuntu. So here's the easy step by step fix. But I am not sure if this is a universal fix, but at least it works on hp 540 notebook with Ubuntu 9.04 installed.

Victim :
hp 540 notebook (an Intel graphics based system) and Ubuntu,

Symptoms :

• Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope freezes, with only mouse can be moved around
• happens randomly, for no apparent trigger(s)
  

The Culprit :
Intel graphics driver.

The Fix, there are 2 steps :

1. use latest stable Intel Graphics driver, this is how :

• Go to System -> Administration -> Software Sources, type your password,
  
• Click Third-party Software tab, click "Add"
• add this line (without the quotes) :
  "deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntujaunty main"
  click Add Source
• go to this page  then save it as key.gpg
  
• click Authentication and then Import Key File, choose the file you saved on the previous step
  
• after that click reload,
• open your update manager, now your xserver-xorg-video-intel can be updated

2. edit xorg.conf :

• after the download and installation succeed, open your file manager as a root from Accessories -> Terminal and type sudo nautilus, open and edit /etc/x11/xorg.conf so it looks like this.
  ...
  Section "Device"
      Identifier    "Configured Video Device"
      Option "AccelMethod"    "UXA"
      Option "AccelMethod"    "XAA"
      Option "AccelMethod"    "EXA"
  EndSection
  ...
• save and restart your Ubuntu, done (hopefully).
  

This fix has a drawback however, it breaks suspending function. But I'll choose stable OS over suspending function any day, hope some updates will fix this without side effect.



keyword : ubuntu 9.04, jaunty jackalope, hp 540, freeze fix, mouse only