My Ramblings and experiments

Ubuntu Blog » libdvdcss2 and w32codecs for Ubuntu

Ubuntu Blog » libdvdcss2 and w32codecs for Ubuntu

You need codecs (decoders) and software to read the contents of DVDs to be able to see multimedia files of different formats, as well as DVDs. These software are provided free for use in Ubuntu – however due to restrictions on distributing these modules in countries like the USA, they are not always easy to find. This post will tell you how to find them to install them on your Ubuntu computer.Update: you can add the PLF repository to your sources.list to get the required multimedia codecs and binaries through apt-get (Synaptic).

The line to add to your /etc/apt/sources.list file would be:
deb http://packages.freecontrib.org/ubuntu/plf/ breezy free non-free

After you have done this, do
$sudo apt-get update

To read more click on the link above

AppleInsider | MacBook Pro announcement may pave way for dual-core iBooks

AppleInsider | MacBook Pro announcement may pave way for dual-core iBooks

Apple’s announcement today that it has dropped the 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo processor from its professional MacBook Pro line — in favor of using faster chips — presents the possibility that the company may now adopt that low-end 1.67GHz dual-core processor for use in its forthcoming consumer iBook notebooks.In recent months, sources reported on several advancements and design changes expected with the first Intel iBooks, but were for the most part mum on specifically which Intel processors the notebooks would include. (Quite possibly because this spec may be loose and subject to change at the drop of a dime, as today’s announcements have proven.)

Typical, just posted one thing, now I see they have different ideas to what I had last read. Oh well, I’ll see. 😆

Instant On – Wired News

Instant On – Wired News

For the first time, researchers have created a working prototype of a radical new chip design based on magnetism instead of electrical transistors.As transistor-based microchips hit the limits of Moore’s Law, a group of electrical engineers at the University of Notre Dame has fabricated a chip that uses nanoscale magnetic “islands” to juggle the ones and zeroes of binary code.

Wolfgang Porod and his colleagues turned to the process of magnetic patterning (.pdf) to produce a new chip that uses arrays of separate magnetic domains. Each island maintains its own magnetic field.

Because the chip has no wires, its device density and processing power may eventually be much higher than transistor-based devices. And it won’t be nearly as power-hungry, which will translate to less heat emission and a cooler future for portable hardware like laptops.

Apple ships notebook with Intel chips – ITWeb

Apple ships notebook with Intel chips – ITWeb

Apple Computer starts shipping its first portable computers made with Intel chips this week, after announcing last year it would switch from IBM chips.advertisement
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Apple shares climbed nearly 4% to a session high of $67.22 yesterday, making it the second biggest percentage gainer in the Nasdaq 100 index as the news appeared to calm investors’ worries that Apple’s sales might suffer during the shift to Intel chips.

“Their announcement this morning that they have begun shipment of the MacBook Pro [has] alleviated concerns about speculated delays in shipment,” said Steve Lidberg, analyst at Pacific Crest Securities. “This is a transitional quarter for them and the market is reacting to that.”

Now I am waiting to see how much the iBook replacement will cost. Dual Core is not needed for my use, yet 🙂