Using mencoder based solution to format video for my iPod

I was having trouble converting the videos I downloaded from my ReplayTV DVR into a format I could watch on my iPod. So, of course, google and ubuntu forums are indispensable. I tried a few ways, first using VLC which didn't produce any sound. Second I tried getting ffmpeg functional for this task. Finally the solution I settled on was found in this how to and here are the commands:

sudo aptitude install lsdvd mplayer gpac zenity mencoder
sudo wget http://diveintomark.org/public/2007/06/podencoder.txt -O /usr/local/bin/podencoder
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/podencoder
podencoder foo.mpg
podencoder foo.avi
podencoder foo.wmv
podencoder
podencoder --help

Getting my iPod classic working on Ubuntu

I couldn't put files on my iPod using gtkpod... discovered that I needed to turn off journaling on the HFS+ file system on the iPod. Fired up the family iMac and ran the following commands with the iPod mounted:

diskutil list
diskutil disableJournal disk1s2

done.

WoW on Ubuntu

Got WoW up and running on my ATI cards and HH 8.04. Here is how Follow the entire set of directions ... include all tweaks. I still had a nasty little flicker which stopped when I disabled Compiz by going to system>preferences>appearance>Visual Effects>None ... awesome

MOBO Info

Since I have been having lockup problems on my HH8.04 Desktop ... I am trying to collect as much information here as possible. So here is a link to my MOBO .

I was able to successfully flash the BIOS today using this page on Ubuntu Forums. I am now running on a FOXConn N570SM2AA motherboard with version 4.071.0101/16/07 version of code, file name 5C4W1P51.BIN. We'll see if I continue to have lockups.

How to spin through an array that is a hash entry in Perl

foreach $i (0 .. $#{$server_lookup_hash{$final_server}}) {
print "$server_lookup_hash{$final_server}[$i]\t";
}

changing the default editor for crontab in ubuntu

sudo update-alternatives --config editor

There are 3 alternatives which provide `editor'.

Selection Alternative
-----------------------------------------------
1 /usr/bin/vim.tiny
2 /bin/ed
*+ 3 /bin/nano

Press enter to keep the default[*], or type selection number: 1
Using '/usr/bin/vim.tiny' to provide 'editor'.

Field based sort in perl

Sort records in an array, sort first by the first field and then by the second field. Use a tilde as a field separator.

my @final_array = sort {
(split "~", $a)[0] cmp (split "~", $b)[0]
||
(split "~", $a)[1] cmp (split "~", $b)[1] } @formatted_sorted_array;

Kernel Panic tonight

Kernel panic tonight and I can't find any reference to it in my logs ... .what gives?

Easy steps to getting amarok to play mp3 on Ubuntu 8..04

enable the multiverse and universe entries in /etc/apt/sources.list

sudo apt-get install amarok
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras

go play mp3s.

Hardy Heron Lockups: interesting reading

I've started following some threads on the ubuntu forums website and the launchpad website. My primary desktop and my laptop are both running Hardy 8.04 with the -16 kernel, and I have had lockups on the desktop but not on the laptop. We'll see where this gets me.

Dual Monitors on Hardy Heron (Ubuntu 8.04)

I purchased a new monitor (Envision G2016wa2 20" Widescreen) and a new graphics card (ATI Radeon X1650 Pro).

Here is a copy of the xorg.conf I needed to use to get both my old Dell 19 inch monitor and my new envision working on the same ATI Radeon with the right resolution (different) on both ...

xorg.conf to follow .

................................

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by failsafeDexconf, using
# values from the debconf database and some overrides to use vesa mode.
#
# You should use dexconf or another such tool for creating a "real" xorg.conf
# For example:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen 0 "aticonfig-Screen[0]" 0 0
EndSection

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "Module"
Load "glx"
Load "GLcore"
Load "v4l"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
Option "VendorName" "ATI Proprietary Driver"
Option "ModelName" "Generic Autodetecting Monitor"
Option "DPMS" "true"
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "DesktopSetup" "horizontal"
Option "Capabilities" "0x00000800"
Option "DDCMode" "true"
Option "MonitorLayout" "tmds,secondary monitor"
Option "PairModes" "1280x1024+1680x1050"
Option "VideoOverlay" "on"
Option "OpenGLOverlay" "off"
Option "ForceMonitors" "auto,auto"
Option "Mode2" "1680x1050"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "aticonfig-Screen[0]"
Device "aticonfig-Device[0]"
Monitor "aticonfig-Monitor[0]"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Depth 1
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Enable"
EndSection