“Open Source” collection
Discover the best in free, community-driven software and transparent digital platforms. These evaluations focus on versatile, accessible tools that empower users through open collaboration and innovative digital freedom.
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →December 19, 2006
Software review a day (?)
It seems like recently, probably due to the holidays, that I have not been posting regularly. So last night, I made a decision (who knows if it will stick) to try to review one piece of "software" a day. I realize that it is ambitious, but I would rather make the attempt than have my blog turn stale. So, I'm…
Read more →November 13, 2006
Dual-boot: Mac OSX and Ubuntu (Part II)
Well, I'm making this post from my 12" Powerbook G4, wirelessly connected to the internet using Ubuntu. Yep, you guessed it, I got the wireless working. Not the most elegant of solutions, but it works. I have have a fully functional, dual-boot, Mac OSX 10.4.8 and Ubuntu 6.10 system. So, here is what I did...and the guides I followed: Step…
Read more →November 12, 2006
Dual-boot: Mac OSX and Ubuntu (Part I)
OK, I admit it...I was bored. And a bit envious of those Intel-macs that can dual boot to Windows (or run Parallels). So, I figured that I would have some fun with my 12" Powerbook and set it up to dual boot with my favorite Linux flavor (next to OSX, of course) Ubuntu. Yes, don't forget, OSX is unix ((Please…
Read more →November 6, 2006
Way behind on my posts
Just been way to busy. Here are some highlights of things that I have done: Update my activeCollab site to the latest Release Candidate Fixed my wife's computer (issues with RAM upgrade and Windows XP) Helped a friend get reconnected on their wireless network Helped another friend get their Powerbook on their wireless network as well as got them off…
Read more →October 24, 2006
How to combat Phishing Scams
So, I previously posted about Phishing scams and what they look like (with screen shots). I figured that I would continue my Public Service Announcement with some tools that you can use to be sure that you don't get "caught." Option #1 - There is a new site that you can go and report Phishing scams on called PhishTank. On…
Read more →
October 13, 2006
Helper apps for the Mac (specifically Remote Desktop Connection)
I'm sure that if you are a mac user and you use Microsoft's Remote Desktop (RDC) to connect to other PCs, that you have become frustrated on how limited the capabilities are. I found a couple of tools that may help with that lack-luster experience. First, there is RDC Menu. " RDC Menu adds an icon to your menubar, allowing…
Read more →October 10, 2006
Fun with PHPSurveyor v1.08a2
I'm finally getting back to testing out other opensource software. I just installed the latest version of PHPSurveyor (1.08a2) and ran into some .htaccess madness. No matter what I did, after initializing the security features (which depend on .htaccess and .htpasswd), I could not get passed the login prompt. Also, I noticed that my .htpasswd file showed my password in…
Read more →October 3, 2006
“All your base are belong to us” – 1and1.com’s version…
My grumble factor about one of my hosting providers is getting higher. I have had a series of exchanges with them about the possibility of upgrading their mySQL servers to one that is more current (and one that supports activeCollab and SugarCRM). The saga continues... First, they sent me a link to what versions they currently have installed (which I…
Read more →October 3, 2006
activeCollab releases 0.7RC1…but 1and1.com refuses to comply!
One of the more promising OpenSource apps that I have been following is that of activeCollab (aC for short) has posted the first Release Candidate for their next version. I mentioned this program earlier as a direct competitor to BaseCamp. The new features look great (from reading them). Unfortunately, my hosting provider (1and1.com) has a version of mySQL that will…
Read more →September 25, 2006
Evaluating two Open Source Apps: Vanilla Forum & CraftySyntax
First one that I was looking at was Vanilla forums by Lussumo. What I was looking for was a forum that was different from all of the others out there. A looong time ago, I played with SnitzForums and phpBB. They seem to be ok, full featured, highly configurable...there are many others out there but they all look the same.…
Read more →September 20, 2006
Fun with OpenSource
Some interesting opensource items that I have been playing with: JitterBit Integration Server - pretty nice stand alone integration server with various types of hooks activeCollab - a flat out opensource "attack" at BaseCamp SugarCRM - an extremely solid implementation of a CRM solution (although I'm slammed with a upgrade error due to my hosting provider having an old version…
Read more →November 4, 2005
…a new respect…
I've been playing around with MediaWiki...it is quite a bit of work! However, for someone new to it, it is a but overwhelming. Trying to find documentation on how to modify skins and such proved a bit daunting... Trying to get my teeth into it. WP (WordPress) seems to be a pretty nice piece of work. I find that any…
Read more →
