The New Linux Mint!

The team behind Linux Mint, a user-oriented Linux distribution, has released recently version 13, codename Maya, of their Linux distribution. Upon downloading the 32 bit edition, I jumped right in in a few days.

I'm very impressed. Linux Mint, based on the technology of Ubuntu, the third most popular operating system in the world, Linux Mint replaces the slightly buggy Gnome 3 desktop in version 12 with a new, streamlined interface. Here's a picture of the new desktop after I added a new panel to the top of the screen and changed the default desktop image:

As with previous versions, you can have multiple workspaces, emphasized by the workspace switcher at the top-left of the desktop. Simply click, and you have a new workspace. It's like having multiple monitors in one monitor.

One thing I love about Linux is your ability to customize where everything is. Oh, sure, in Windows and OS X you go get a certain amount of customization, but Linux, being owned by no one and for the world to share, caters to whatever you like. Want the widgets on the top, like they are in OS X? I'll move the clock, just to demonstrate:

And the interface for adding changing where everything goes:

Linux Mint, being free software, is contributed to by many of people from around the world, hoping to create the ultimate desktop OS, and is currently the number version of Linux on the market (http://www.distrowatch.com).

And this is just the Gnome desktop. You can install others, like KDE (an alternative to Gnome) and Xfce (a small, lightweight desktop) to name a few, from packages available once Linux Mint is installed.

Linux Mint can be the sole operating system on a computer, or partitioned to play along with Windows and OS X. In fact, the CD version (containing less applications so it can fit on a standard CD-ROM), contains a Windows installer so the Linux Mint can be tried and then removed from Add and Remove Programs if it doesn't suit your needs. No partitioning necessary.

Linux Mint is available in the form of an ISO image file at its official website. Linux Mint 13, the one reviewed here, can be found here, this is a direct download link to the version I used.

Simple Document Viewer: A Help Utility for My Projects

Considering I’m starting a large toolkit of tools for computer users, I’d figure I’d start by posting about my newest complete utility: a Simple Document Viewer designed to view online help for the rest of my toolkit in a fast and efficient manner. It renders pages in basic HTML, sadly CSS is not supported. I was going to add the Firefox renderer in, but that’s too large for my purposes here.

Here’s a screen capture:

As you can probably see, its GUI is more sophisticated and involved than that of my simple File Incinerator tool. It consists of the standard back and forward navigation buttons, as well as an HTTP address bar. This address bar, however, is most likely going to be removed and replaced with a label showing the current address. The drop-down options dialog box is used to view the About text as well as choose the application of which help will be displayed.

Any comments on how the GUI looks will be much appreciated and welcome in the comments form below.

Mint Linux: The Open-Source Future!

I just downloaded Linux Mint, one of around 300 active Linux distributions, onto a Live CD which I can boot from. I played with it, and really love it. I think that Linux is a fine and dandy OS. The first time I used it, I went like lightning. It did go a bit slower the second time, because I tried to download a bunch of stuff from the built-in package manager, even though it was running on a DVD.

I had to plug it directly into my Internet, and when I did, bang! Firefox was the fastest I’ve ever seen it. On my first run-through, I also played music directly from my Windows drive, which was great.

I’ll post screenshots in the future. You can download Linux Mint at http://linuxmint.com/.

Invasion Alpha 2 Released!

DOWNLOAD

The download link is above. Thanks to MediaFire for providing hosting! Also, you can see the Unity forum topic if you want to post there.

File Incinerator

Have you seen large pizza vans with small, opaque windows? That same van has been following for ages? Getting that weird feeling from your gut someone’s watching?

You need File Incinerator, a new tool by me. It securely shreds file so there’s no trace of them on your disc. Soon enough, you’ll want to get rid of something securely: only something my tool can do for you.

So Why Do I Need It?

Excellent question. When you delete a file, it isn’t actually gone. Using tools like Recuva, it is possible to go over a seemingly empty disc and potentially recover loads of files.

So It Removes any Trace of the File on My Disc?

Indeed it does, though this is not guaranteed. Due to the way the operating system handles files, it may be possible for some file data to remain – but likely not. So in all honesty, you probably have nothing to worry about.

Where Can I Find It?

You can find a command line version for Windows and Macintosh computers in the attached archive. A graphical user interface (GUI) version is nearing completion for Windows, but has not been started for Mac OS X.

Is This Illegal?

No. Incinerator works by writing over the selected file with random pieces of information equal to the size of the old file. All technology utilized in this software is legal, but how you use it is up to you. Just keep in mind I’m not responsible for how you use it.

Can I See Screenshots of the GUI?

Sure:

A screenshot of the basic, beta version of the GUI. The progress bar is not functional as of this time.

I hope you enjoy what you see.

What Are Your Planned Features?

Here’s a short list of planned features and how likely they are to be added:

1. Secure Empty Recycle Bin: Emptying the recycle bin only regularly deletes the file, so anything in there will be recoverable. Incinerator will soon be able to overwrite all files in the recycle bin. Likelihood: Excellent
2. Ability to customize the deletion process through the GUI. This can already be done through the command line version as a command line argument passed to the program (up to 32 iterations is supported). Likelihood: Good
3. Ability to incinerate the file, but not delete it (i.e allowing you to inspect its contents in a program like a Hex Editor). Likelihood: Good

Download:

You can download the files below in this ZIP archive.