Manas T

Came across this new Linux distribution called Linux Mint.  Linux Mint is an Ubuntu-based distribution which provides a complete out-of-the-box experience by including browser plugins, media codecs, support for DVD playback, Java and other components with the default install.

Ubuntu rocks as a Linux distribution but it somewhat falls short of the expectations of users who are switching to Linux from Windows. No multimedia codecs, no DVD support and a orange theme for default. So if you are a Ubuntu fanboy and want a fully multimedia capable Linux distro with a fresh and bright Mint theme then try Linux Mint.

Here are 5 great reasons to swap your Ubuntu distro with Linux Mint :

• You get all multimedia codecs with the default install. You can even play YouTube videos by default. So no hunting around sites and doing apt-get install.
• Get rid of the Ubuntu brown theme. Linux Mint ships with a fresh and bright Mint theme.
• The latest release Linux Mint Daryna is also compatible with the Ubuntu Gutsy repositories. So you can still use you favorite Gutsy softwares.

After using it for the last 10 days, I am impressed with the experience. The tag line for Linux Mint “From future freedom came elegance” aptly fits the distro which builds upon the solid foundation provided bu Ubuntu Linux. Linux Mint has not only added upon the features of Ubuntu Linux but also gone in for an aesthetic makeover something like Flock is for Mozilla Firefox.

So if you want a full-featured Linux distro which is usable right from the beginning try Linux Mint.

Linux Mint Home

Linux Mint Screenshots

Want to improve your vocabulary or just want to test how strong is your English vocabulary ? Here is a nice little way.

Just go to FreeRice and start playing. For every word there are four options. Choose the one which is the correct meaning of the word in the question. Besides you also donate 10 grains of rice to the UN every time you get a word correct.

Just by playing everyday for about 5 mins you will end up donating a good amount of rice to those who need it.

So jump in and start improving the lives of many others !

Visit FreeRice

Everyone loves Google Reader. And everyone loves the feeds they subscribe to in Reader. Now its time to show to the world what blogs you read.

From Google Reader Blog

As a blogger I like to include a blogroll on my site so that friends, family and other readers can take a look at what I like to read. It’s also a nice way to give a shout out to the authors of the blogs that I like. However, maintaining a blogroll can be a bit of a pain as your subscriptions ebb and flow.

As a heavy user of Google Reader, I figured that the best way to get a blogroll would be to have Reader generate it for me, based on my subscriptions.

Google Reader has added a feature which enables you to make a blogroll right out of your subscriptions list. Here’s how to do it :

1. Go to Settings — > Tags.
2. Make the tag public whose subscription list you want to share.
3. Then click “Add a blogroll to your site”.
4. Get the code and paste it where you would like to display the blogroll.

That is it. Simple…. Get your blogroll now !

Google Reader Blog – Attack of the %20′ers

Microsoft has now opened sign-ups for the much awaited @live.com e-mail address. Most of the e-mail addresses you want will still be available, but you will not be able to sign-up now. Because as with all new things by Microsoft, the sign-up process is showing an error now.

So keep looking at the error, until Microsoft repairs the bug.

Two weeks ago, Google had given a sneak peek of better ad management in Adsense accounts. Today the feature has started rolling out. And now I have got that Simplified ad management enabled in my account.

What does Simplified Ad Management mean ?

Using the new ad management feature, you generate the same Adsense code but now you will give your ad unit an unique name. So the next time you need to change the colors, you just go to your Adsense account —> Manage Ads and change the ad unit from there. The changes will automatically be reflected in your blog / website.

No more editing your blog’s template files. Simple isn’t it ?

Do I need to update my existing Adsense code ?

Any ad code you’ve generated in the past will continue to work as normal. However, the old ad code will not be automatically updated to include this feature.

Is this new ad management thing useful ?

Now that this thing is enabled in my Adsense account, I have got a taste of it. And from what I have seen it is not going to much useful. The only thing you can change for your ad units is the colors, or the channel. You cannot change the size or the type of the ad unit (text / images / link ).

Anyways if you have a WordPress blog and do not like to edit the template files every time you need to change the ad code then I would recommend Google Adsense Deluxe. It does a much better job as an ad management system.

What do you think ? Is this new Ad Management thing useful ?

Inside Adsense - Simplified ad management is rolling out now