Techie Blogger

We are very familiar with Linux and its relation with UNIX. But most us of don’t actually know what are differences between the two.
Linux is called Unix-like and is not a true Unix operating system. Linux is a Unix clone written from scratch by Linus Torvalds.
Unix is popular operating system, developed by AT&T in 1969 whereas Linux was first released in 1991. Note that the time difference between the introduction of the two is a long 22 yrs. It is a myth that Linux is a GUI for the UNIX core. However, GNOME and KDE are GUIs for GNU/Linux. UNIX is the foundation for a number of operating systems, with Linux being the most popular one.

1.DIFFERENT AT THEIR KERNEL LEVELS
UNIX kernel is not freely available. So a geek, named Linus Torvalds, at the age of 21 sat down and wrote a kernel right from scratch borrowing ideas from UNIX. This later came to be known as Linux Kernel which he licensed under the GPL (GNU General Public License). Linux kernel is freely available. Hence Linux is called UNIX-like. He later said in an interview that “This is the best thing I have done in my life”.

2.HARDWARE
Linux runs on many hardware platforms, including Intel x86 computers. On the other hand, UNIX is proprietary-hardware-bonded and this hardware is much more expensive than a typical PC.
Unix requires a more powerful hardware configuration. It will work in large mainframe computers but not in an x86 based personal computer. Linux will work on both a large mainframe computer and an x86 based personal computer.
Putting it in simple words, UNIX will not run in the normal desktops or laptops that most of us use.

3.LICENSE
Unix is a proprietary software and you would need to buy it if you want to use it.
GNU/Linux is licensed under the GPL (GNU General Public License) which is an open source license. This means that the kernel-code is available for anyone to use or change as long as the changes are again licensed under GPL.

4.LINUX – JUST A KERNEL & UNIX – A COMPLETE OS
Linux is just a kernel. All Linux distributions (Fedora,Ubuntu,OpenSUSE etc.) includes GUI system,GNU utilities and various other applications (such as OpenOffice, Firefox) and of course the kernel. It is the distributions that make Linux a complete, usable Operating System.
However, UNIX operating systems are considered as complete operating systems.

5.EASE OF USE
Linux was built with the common user in mind, therefore most Linux distributions provide users with a very capable GUI ( that also eats up a portion of the computer’s processing power). Owing to Linux’s flexibility, the GUI can be removed.

6.SUPPORT FOR FILESYSTEMS
Most commercial version of UNIX supports two, or possibly three, different local filesystem types. Linux, however, supports almost all of the filesystems that are currently available on any operating system.

SIMILARITIES

• Both Linux and UNIX use same shells (eg. bash and korn).
• Both are capable of using a command line and a GUI.
• Linux is used in many applications that need to maintain up-time because Linux, like UNIX, can run for months at a time without rebooting. While the typical method of solving Microsoft problems is to “reboot”, that particular requirement does not seem to be appropriate in a Linux/Unix environment.

Appendix

Having said so much about kernel, let us see briefly what actually a kernel is.
Kernel is a bridge between applications and the actual data processing done at the hardware level. Its responsibilities include managing the system’s resources. Hence it forms the most vital part of an operating system.
A kernel has facilities to receive requests (eg.commands from user) and grant access to resources such as allocating space for a new file or creating a network connection (which mainly deals with hardware). Kernels use a system call (or syscall) interface to handshake with applications [Applications ==> syscall(INTERFACE) ==> Kernel]. At the user level the device details are not visible. The kernel recognizes what a device is (eg. I/O devices,RAM etc.) and how to communicate with it at the lowest level.
Generally, the boot loader starts executing the kernel in supervisor mode. The kernel then initializes itself and starts the first process. After this, the kernel does not typically execute directly, but only in response to external events (e.g., via system calls used by applications to request services from the kernel).

Popularity: 27% [?]

Encoding videos has always been time consuming task. Time consumption has been so long because of the CPU’s inability to use its raw power for image processing, which has always been below par when compared to GPU. Traditionally the encoding was done by the CPU with playback assist from DirectX. But with the introduction of Nvidia’s CUDA and Ati’s Stream  parallel processing power video encoding wont be the lazy bit of task anymore. GPU video encoding not only reduces the load on the CPU but also reduces the time for encoding, since GPU is more powerful than the CPU for image processing. Reducing the CPU load makes it possible to all possible things along with the encoding processes which were unimaginable otherwise.

Even though transcoding Blu-ray movies isn’t exactly at the top of everyone’s list, but one can significantly reduce its size using H.264/x264. x264 is the new DivX and its usefulness extends far beyond just ripping HD movies. Its use isn’t going to increase unless encoding using the codec gets faster. Elemental Technologies has been working on a technology they called RapiHD, which is a GPU-accelerated H.264 video encoder. This is introduced in Nvidia’s CUDA.

Many Software’s are already in market capable of using this raw GPU power.

Some of them are

1)Badaboom: Badaboom is a blazingly fast media converter that formats video files for a variety of devices, including iPod, PSP, Blackberry, and YouTube, by using your system’s graphics processing unit (GPU). In a practice that used to take several hours, Badaboom converts feature-length movies in a matter of minutes while keeping the videos looking crisp and clear. By harnessing the power of NVIDIA CUDA-enabled GPUs, Badaboom offloads the CPU to allow users to continue browsing the Internet or checking email without decreased system performance, making transcoding high-quality video fast, easy, and painless. Have a look at it here.

2)ATI Avivo Video Converter: ATI Avivo Video Converter supports transcoding between H.264, VC-1, WMV9, WMV9 PMC, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX video formats, as well as formats used in iPod and PSP. Earlier versions of this software uses only the CPU for transcoding, but have been locked for exclusive use with the ATI X1000 series of GPUs. Software modifications have made it possible to use version 1.12 of converter on a wider range of graphics adapters. The ATI Avivo Video Converter with GPU transcoding acceleration is now also available for use with HD 4800 and HD 4600 series graphics cards and is included with the Catalyst 8.12 drivers. Support for Vista x64 is available via a separate download starting with Catalyst 9.6. The new software is faster than Badaboom, an encoder that uses NVIDIA’s CUDA to accelerate encoding, but has a higher CPU utilization than Badaboom.Have a look at it here.

3)CyberLink MediaShow Espresso: MediaShow Espresso’s support for NVIDIA® CUDA™ and ATI ® Stream™ technology delivers huge gains when transcoding high-definition video content. Delivering up to 10X FASTER performance, MediaShow Espresso leverages the power of the GPU to the maximum and produces faster results. With faster speeds for HD video transcoding, you’ll spend less time converting home videos to H.264, and more time enjoying your movie masterpieces. MediaShow Espresso allows the output of H.264 content for playback on PSP, iPod, iPhone and PS3 and a choice of video profiles for high quality or small file sizes.Have a look at it here.

Popularity: 25% [?]

For detailed camera troubleshooting@omegle webcam check  How to change Flash Player Settings

I used to just wander on the WEB when I have got nothing better to do and recently during one of my strolls, I cam across a website omegle. I would suggest you to just check it out, when you just want to kill your time somehow. It’s a website where you can have a personal chat with someone complete stranger around this globe and “make friends” as it goes. Just as any other chat-rooms, girls are preferred here by everyone and mostly just after connecting you will get a question from the stranger on the other side “asl?”. And if your answer is “m 20 india” chances are high that the stranger will disconnect.

Don’t misunderstand this as yet another chatrooms where all are just shouting aloud and even if you try personal chat, just after a few secs you will realize that the guy on the other side was nothing but a BOT which is trying to promote most probably a porn site promising live Cam view I had this experience often using YAHOO messenger.

So just  check it out, frankly speaking, do it only if you haven’t got anything better to do !!

VISIT OMEGLE

Now Omegle has got even more better with the video chat feature enabled. You can chat with anonymous people around the world with your web-cam. If there are any problems with viewing your webcam properly, try this. Right Click on the part the screen where you camera is supposed to be working and try changing the various options.

For more detailed camera troubleshooting check How to change Flash Player Settings

Popularity: 28% [?]

Wikipedia defines man pages as “extensive documentation that comes preinstalled with almost all substantial Unix and Unix-like operating systems”. Just as the definition goes sometimes the documentation is so extensive that you are unable to find the data you need.

Actually it’s not a big deal to find a particular word. You would have noticed that the usual Ctrl+F won’t work here.

For finding a particular word just access the man pages by man command.

Then for finding a particular ‘word’ type /word followed by Enter.

Now the first word will be highlighted. For the finding the instances of that word in next pages of the man page press Space and the ‘word’ in the next page will be highlighted. That’s it.

This same method also  can also  be used in vi for searching words.

Here is an example.

Popularity: 30% [?]

Do you think you could have created AVATAR if you don’t had to pay hefty sum for the licenses of Autodesk 3D max or the Adobe Creative Suite they may have used. Then here is Free and Open Source 3D content application for you. Yeah, it’s BLENDER 3D. (I know my earlier promise is a bit exaggeration)

Blender is a 3D content creation suite available free under the GNU General Public License. Blender is simply an incredible 3D modeling and animation program that provides you with everything for your own Pixar Movie. Blender is available for most of the Operating System used today. The interface though seem to be complicated actually provides more room for personalizing your interface compared to other usual commercial softwares. Don’t worry if you are not familar with this application. The Official Website of blender provides excellent tutorials for beginners in every aspects. The comparison of blender with other 3D applications can be found at CGS. Also don’t forget to check out these cool works done using Blender.

Installation of Blender in Ubuntu

In Ubuntu, Blender can be easily installed with the command

sudo apt-get install blender

Check out this short movie made with Blender

Kajimba – snippets from Kajimba on Vimeo.

Popularity: 19% [?]