WebcamStudio
I’ve heard about this app a while ago on Ubuntu forums. Back when I did, the installation process was really borked and to be honest, I don’t think I even tried it. Checking on it today though, there is a a nice and relatively easy guide on it, so I gave the program a try.
The function that the program does is a very useful one, and I admit, it does it rather well. You can have several video inputs, several outputs, and the program can ‘connect’ them for you. For example, you can use your desktop, or a movie, or some text as the video input – organize them how you want in the main screen of the program. Then you can either record a movie, stream it live or take a snapshot with what you got.
So the general concept is quite nice and in the interface implements it well, but it does limp in certain places. For one, the native Java look really doesn’t cut it with my nice GNOME desktop. It does use Tango icons, but I’d prefer a native look to go along with that. Some of the dialogs presented lack in usability too – either by design, layout, or even labelling.
Overall though, I was impressed with the app since the first time I heard about it. With a bit of work, I even got my stream on the internet via ustream.tv. (once. Can’t again.)
My rating: ★★★☆☆
Add comment November 11, 2009
Why not expand on the usability…
Why not also offer gedit, which is installed by default? Or Geany, my preferred editor?
Add comment November 10, 2009
Back In Time – easy, schedulable backup utility
You may have heard about Apple’s Time Machine, or the equivalent Linux desktop backup solutions like TimeVault, FlyBack, rsync, sbackup, and a host other other various solutions.
All are geared for making backup easy, but unfortunately some of them don’t work (sbackup can’t restore) or are unmaintained (TimeVault, FlyBack).
Back in time main window
Enter Back In Time. Available for both Gnome and KDE, it is well-maintained, featuring snapshots, automatic backups, and a Ubuntu & Fedora repositories to install from.
Download: http://backintime.le-web.org
BIT features automatic schedules snapshots, inclusion / exclusion rules, removal of old backups and notifications of a completed update – making it a perfect drop-in replacement for sbackup and FlyBack.
It doesn’t compete yet with TimeVaults history browser functionality – it simply displays the snapshot list organized by weeks on the left side, which is quite good enough.
5 comments April 11, 2009
Launchpad 2.2.3 now up!
Here are the highlights of what’s new in this release:
* Additional Personal Package Archives for yourself and your teams
* Translation template imports directly from your project’s Bazaar branches
* More juicy Ajax to speed up your workflow
Add comment April 2, 2009
The quick way of annoying users
Apparently Github now thinks that having a bolded “Pricing and Signup” text was not enough. They went further!
I get the point already.
Seriously – it’s going over the top and is making me less willing to consider github for open source or private coding hosting.
3 comments April 2, 2009
Yo Frankie! Level Design Competition Winners Announced!
Catapults, ziplines with baskets, lava waterfalls, lighthouses and tight areas are in the top 3 maps picked. Download the game (for free) and the levels (for free) and check them out!
1 comment March 20, 2009
Awesome screenshot app for Linux released!
Shutter is a user-friendly app to take screenshots (of a window, fullscreen, a custom selection or even a site), edit them (apply a plugin effect, draw directly, or use an external editor like GIMP) and upload! + more features inside.
3 comments March 6, 2009
Howto: Upgrade Adobe AIR to 1.5.1
Adobe AIR recently released a version. A small guide is below on upgrading it:
Step 0.5: Update flash if on 64bit
If you’re using the alpha version of the native 64bit flash plugin, you need to update it first.
Step 1: Download
Go to the downloads page, and press the big yellow Download Now button.
Step 2: Allow installer to run
Right-click on AdobeAIRInstaller.bin, select Properties, Permissions, and enable “Allow execution of file as program”.
Step 3: Run the installer
Open the terminal, drag AdobeAIRInstaller.bin, and press Enter to start the installation.
Step 4: Get some AIR
Head over the AIR Marketplace to download AIR programs, or RefreshingApps.com for reviews of some of them.
Enjoy!
2 comments February 26, 2009
