How To Install Skype in Fedora 15?

Despite the fact the Microsoft recently purchased Skype... yet it is one of the most widely used VOIP applications in the GNU/Linux community without a doubt. As with Ubuntu, installing Skype in Fedora Core ain't that hard actually. All you gotta do is just download the package from official Skype page and double click on it to install.

Or you can use the previously mentioned Easy Life GUI tool that lets you install almost all major proprietary software in Fedora Core 15 with ease.  If you're a total GNU/Linux geek, then you can ditch Skype and install the cool SFLPhone (a simple yet powerful VOIP utility) but if your "partner" at the other end doesn't have it... well then, it's pretty much useless.

Anyhow, if you want to install the latest beta version of Skype for GNU/Linux (2.2) in Fedora Core 15, then first download the package from here and simply double click on it and follow the instructions. That's it!.

A Skype Status Menu Gnome Shell Extension is Available!

If you use Skype heavily in Gnome3 then wouldn't it be nice if you could just customize few of Skype related settings (well only one with this app) such as setting your online "status" with ease... then thanks to the power of the Gnome shell extensions... finally a simple script is been written that does exactly that.

This simple app uses the D-bus protocol to access Skype and then "extract" it into a menu for ease of access.

How can I install this Skype Status shell extension?

Open your Terminal and enter the below command.

git clone https://github.com/MrTheodor/gnome-shell-ext.git

mkdir -p ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions

cp -r gnome-shell-ext/SkypeNotification@krajniak.info ~/.local/share/gnome-shell/extensions

This works in Fedora Core 15 but not sure if there are issue with your Gnome3 in a different distributions. And thank you Mr Teodor the cool, for this useful utility :).

How To Install Miro 4.0.1 In Fedora Core 15 ?

Now I previously talked about installing Miro 4 in Ubuntu but it won't work in Fedora Core (really Gayan!, oh I didn't know that :P). And to be honest when comparing the both operating systems, although I have a few issues with Canonical, yet these days thanks to the PPA (personal package archive), you can install almost anything (codecs, etc) in Ubuntu using as low as three commands.

But with Fedora Core things are a bit hard, well, they've always been. But you certainly don't have to get frightened, since Miro developers are kind enough to maintain an official package for Fedora Core in their repository.

Since I've already talked about it I'm not gonna write a complete list of its new features all over again. Yet as an introductions, Miro is both an excellent multimedia player + converter that comes with a gorgeous looking GUI... and with the update to the latest version 4... now you can easily share your multimedia files with Android devices, purchase MP3 online (via Amazon), etc.  So it's more than just another "player".

To install Miro 4.0.1 in Fedora Core 15, just open your Terminal and enter the below command.

yum install Miro

That should do it. Enjoy!. 

How to Add Shutdown/Hibernate Menus in Gnome 3 (for Fedora Core 15)

Gnome developers haven't forgot to include the "Shutdown" button/option from their desktop menu (accessed through the right-side corner in your desktop as anyone knows)... in fact in the name of better control over your GNU/Linux PC-Laptop desktop, they've decided to remove it!.

So, by default when you click on that corner we only have the ability to log-out of the system or suspend it, no hibernate or Shutdown functions are available. Although you can press the "Alt" key on your keyboard while accessing that menu which should change the "suspend" menu to "shutdown" (finally) but still, as far as I know you can't get that "hibernate" option.

This is typical Gnome behavior... although they do "explain" it by saying its their "job" to let users have the ability to control their desktop at its best, yet in truth...

Here's an important quote from one of the most prestigious software developers called, Joel...

"To make people happy, you have to let them feel like they are in control of their environment. To do this, you need to correctly interpret their actions..." Via: Joel on software.

Now I may sound like an arrogant assho*$ but I'm not (okay, I do have a little pride me self as well :P). In fact, if you read that post you'll be amazed by the depths that Joel takes you which is hell of an article/insights.

But at the end (you'll understand this if you read it) nobody gives a damn about yours or mine's "freedom". But at the end, we are all driven by this primary need to control others using our own "means", even if it's visible in the most subtlest sense, one way or the other.

Okay, enough of this shit, let me get back to the topic (that actually rhymed :P)

So, if you're looking for a way to add both these functions into your Gnome3 or the shell (I'm using FC15 for this example), then we can use one of the plugins that comes as a part of the excellent Gnome shell extensions called "alternative status menu" which does exactly that.

Finally!...

You can easily install this alternative status menu shell extension in Fedora Core 15 by using the below command in your Terminal (note:- if you've already installed the Shell extension pack, then this should be automatically installed).

yum install gnome-shell-extensions-alternative-status-menu

That's it. Now you should have both Shutdown and Hibernate options in that menu. Enjoy (I know you will :P).

Install Mailnag in Fedora Core 15 - An Email Notifier for Gnome Shell!

Computer desktops are drifting more and more towards touchscreen based devices than the conventional LCD/Monitor panels. Both the Unity desktop and Gnome3 are one of the best examples for within the GNU/Linux community. They both put a very little "weight" on the "conventional" menus, etc because navigating a menu after menu in a Tablet PC for instance, by using your fingers ain't gonna be that exciting.

So the basic idea behind a modern desktop is to let users "get" what they want with minimal of distractions which the "old" desktop modules will fail to achieve, again on these touchscreens. Canonical started their own "menu delivering" protocol called libappindicator which basically helps to "control" applications within the notification area of your desktop once minimized with ease. Gnome3 has a menu system of their own.

Although both these desktops are quite new yet we're seeing all sorts of apps already taking advantage of these indicator protocols. Few days ago I wrote about an excellent e-mail notifier called Popper. But Popper is only for Natty users because it's designed to use the libappindicator.

But for Gnome3 users, if you were looking for similar e-mail notifier then let me present you the one called Mailnag!. This is written especially for Gnome3 which uses its menu system and integrates quite well it seems. So after installing and setup it with your e-mail account, whenever you receive an e-mail, Mailnag will notify you about 'em with less distractions :P.

This is actually a Launchpad project but fear not, you can get it via a utility called "bzr" (a program which helps to "locate" a software, especially if it's "parts" are "scattered" in different locations, etc).

So lets first install "bzr" in Fedora Core. To do that open your Terminal and enter the below command.

su -c 'yum install bzr

Now let's install Mailnag. Again enter the below command in your Terminal.

bzr branch lp:mailnag

I should be thankful to cool Andrew for this app news. 

Fedora Core 15 Is Officially Released!

Oh yeah... few minutes ago, Fedora Project developers announced the official availability of the latest version of Fedora Core 15!. As mentioned before, this is one of the main release for FC developers as with Ubuntu Unity because this is the first time where FC users are getting the long awaited Gnome 3 (also known as Gnome Shell) desktop which replaces the, now "old" 2.3+.

With the introduction of Gnome3... which also brings us the GTK3 toolkit for the first time in FC officially as well. Although I won't be going into full details about FC because I've been writing related information for sometime now.

Here are the main hardware requirements for running Fedora Core 15

400Mhz or a faster processor (supports 32/64-bit versions).

Just an image, actual, links below (no disrespect intended at your "common senses" :) )...

768MB or RAM at least (1GB recommended).

10GB of free space (although for the default packages, usually won't need this much .. you can get away with 6GB, I think).

Anyhow, just remember, as I say always, if you find these official downloading servers are pretty damn slow, then I highly recommend you to try this official torrent channel. But remember, the torrents may not be at their full throttle yet since it's been few minutes...

... but seriously, if you have very slow FC servers or can't pause/resume downloads through them, then you should try the Torrens, they're awesome :P. Oh, I almost forgot, congratulations FC developers... you guys are bloody amazing!.

Wanna Add A Fedora Core 15 Countdown Banner to Your Web Blog/Site!

Not everyone is interested in Fedora Core these days. Since Ubuntu took over the "reputation" FC is now the second most popular GNU/Linux distribution behind Ubuntu. But since looking at few of the criticism about Ubuntu Unity desktop in this little blog itself, who knows, Fedora may have a chance, or maybe not (not that easy to let go our identities :D).

Anyhow, for Gnome fans, Fedora Core has always been one of the strongholds (starting with the Redhat Linux) from the beginning. For me personally, I do have a little thing for it because RedHat Linux was actually the first GNU/Linux that I ever came across with.

Although compared to Ubuntu, FC may feel a bit "rough" and hard to "configure" but I personally learned a lot about GNU/Linux thanks to that! and when properly configured, oh she's quite tough!. At first I didn't even know that GNU/Linux didn't come with proprietary codecs and had to figure out everything all by myself (almost)... no internet... nothing... nada. OK, enough bragging let me get back to the topic.

One of the main difference that the FC 15 carries is the Gnome 3 or Gnome Shell interface which is aimed more likely at touch screens related devices + brings a whole new computing experience. Although I personally hate that by default G3 makes your "mouse right click" irrelevant (no right click in Gnome 3!... even in earlier Gnome desktops.. it was hardly visible).

Fedora Core 15 is scheduled to be released in May 24, 2011 which is about 9 days from now on :D. So if you're a FC enthusiastic then you might wanna showoff a Fedora Core 15 countdown banner on your website (I just added one to this blog). If you want to know how to add it... then please visit this official Fedora countdown banner page for more information. Save some of that excitement, we're gonna need it :).


Steps for Blogger Users: 

1. Now go to that above mentioned FC page and copy the code (shown below).

2. Log-in to your Blogger account.

3. Go to "Page Elements" in Blogger.

4. Click on "Add a Gadget" and from the menu click on "HTML/JavaScript" (as below screenshots).

5. Now simply paste the code into the HTML/JavaScript box and click "Save" button. That's it" for bloggers.