openSUSE Linux 11.4 Countdown Timer

TeamViewer 5 for Linux released!

TeamViewer extends its multiplatform solution to Linux .

This allows cross-compatibility between Windows, Mac OS, iPhone / iPod Touch and Linux for desktop sharing, remote support and online-presentations.

If you are already familiar with Teamviewer and would like to download it for Linux, use the link below:

TeamViewer for Linux

If you are not familiar with Teamviewer and would like to know more about it, read on...

What is TeamViewer?

TeamViewer is our solution for easy and friendly desktop sharing. You can remote control a partner’s desktop to give online assistance, or you can show your screen to a customer - all without worrying about firewalls, IP addresses and NAT.

• One solution for everything:
  While most competitors offer different packages for remote support, remote administration, training and sales (and also charge for them...) TeamViewer is the one-stop solution for everything you need: TeamViewer includes all modules in one simple and very affordable package.
  
• Remote support without installation:
  With TeamViewer you can remotely control any PC anywhere on the Internet. No installation is required, just run the application on both sides and connect - even through tight firewalls.
  
• Remote administration of unattended servers:
  TeamViewer can also be used to control unattended computers and servers. System service installations even allow remote reboot and reconnect.
  
• Remote presentation of products, solutions and services:
  TeamViewer allows you to present your desktop to a partner. Share live demos, products, and presentations over the Internet within seconds.
  
• File transfer:
  TeamViewer comes with integrated file transfer that allows you to copy files and folders to and from a remote partner - which also works behind firewalls.
  
• Works behind firewalls:
  The major difficulties in using remote control software are firewalls and blocked ports, as well as NAT routing for local IP addresses.If you use TeamViewer you don't have to worry about firewalls: TeamViewer will find a route to your partner.
  
• Highest security standard:
  TeamViewer is a very secure solution. All versions feature completely secure data channels with key exchange and AES (256 Bit) session encoding, the same security standard used by https/SSL.
  
• Browser based access:
  On the road and need to control a remote computer? Why don't you use TeamViewer Web Connector? The purely html and flash based solution can be used from nearly any browser and operating system.
  
• Online status display:
  Are your team members in many different locations? Need to present your desktop or collaborate on a document? In the TeamViewer partner list you can see who is available and connect with them in one mouse click.
  
• Very competitively priced, free versions available:
  TeamViewer offers great value for low prices. TeamViewer even offers a free version for non-commercial use.
  
• Optimized performance:
  Whether you have a LAN or dial-up connection, TeamViewer optimizes display quality and speed depending on your network connection.

Once again, you can download Teamviewer for Linux from:

TeamViewer for Linux

Ubuntu Linux 10.04 Lucid Lynx

CANONICAL'S UBUNTU has a lot of hype to live up to. First released in 2004, Ubuntu has established itself as one of the most intuitive and accessible Linux distributions and has never shied away from giving both Microsoft and Apple a run for their money. Ubuntu 10.04, dubbed Lucid Lynx, builds on previous iterations by integrating social networking and cloud services directly into a slick looking and responsive desktop.

Slick and responsive doesn't however preclude some questionable choices visually. There was much rejoicing upon the announcement Canonical would be updating Ubuntu's design from the earthy tones that had featured on previous releases. Unfortunately, as if to provide further proof of their all-inclusive nature, Ubuntu's apparently daltonic design team came up with a violet theme unlikely to be everyone's cup of tea, unless the tea is laced with hallucinogens.

Surrounding the purple haze are dark taskbars and window frames, which make the desktop feel noticeably smaller. In a polemic move that further exacerbates this claustrophobic feel, buttons have been moved to the top left corner, opening up vast amounts of unused space on the right hand side.

Canonical has said the change is a preemptive move, and that the resulting no-app's land will be filled with innovative features in future releases, but it all sounds a bit like selling a car with no wheels in the hope future models will fly.

One of the big calling cards for Lucid Lynx is the integration of social applications into the desktop's new Me Menu. This essentially comprises three apps - Empathy, Evolution and Gwibber for chat, email and microblogging respectively. All three blend in nicely with the desktop and share an indicator applet in the taskbar, removing much of the clutter of running the processes individually.

While integrating application suites has many benefits, problems arise when any one of the provided services is just not good enough. Empathy seems like a solid alternative to Pidgin. Evolution is unlikely to be a very popular choice among a userbase most likely using Thunderbird, Claws or Mutt already. Gwibber feels slow, and might seem overly simplistic when compared to other microblogging clients. Changing any of these applications as your default messaging client will immediately render your desktop a little less pleasant to use.

Hopefully with time applications might be integrated interchangeably in Gnome, but for now you're stuck following online hacks which might or might not be of use six months down the line. Fortunately, unlike using Outlook on Windows or Mail.app on Mac OS X, there is no reason competing applications cannot work as seamlessly as those provided by Ubuntu.

In parallel, Ubuntu 10.04 provides tighter integration with Canonical's cloud-based efforts. Despite having a multimillionaire benefactor, Canonical has no doubt heeded Yahoo's warnings on the need for diversification by developing Ubuntu One, a service which provides both 2GB of free Dropbox-like storage and an online music store.

Alas the online music store, while potentially providing some much needed revenue for Canonical, will likely remain unused by most users. To distance itself from the many anonymous online music stores, Canonical provides the same limited catalogue in the same proprietary format.

Furthermore with Jamendo, Magnatune and now Ubuntu One, Rhythmbox is quickly becoming more cluttered with stores than many local high streets. Disabling any of them is a case of unloading the appropriate plugin, but you can't help but think Canonical is needlessly investing time and effort on a feature likely to be met by resounding silence.

Where Ubuntu should shine is in providing access to Linux's endless software repositories. The Ubuntu Software Centre provides a visually attractive front-end for aptitude, which does all the heavy lifting interfacing with the APT package manager, but chip away at the veneer and you'll find Canonical has done very little beyond providing basic functionality. User ratings, ranking by popularity or suggesting similar packages to replace currently installed duds are all notably absent, making sifting through the immense catalogue cumbersome unless you know what you are looking for.

Admittedly, no other package management system provides all of these, but Ubuntu is squarely focused on the inexperienced. Furthermore, Canonical plans on providing paid apps through the Ubuntu Software Centre in the near future, in which case feedback on an application's quality will be essential.

Ubuntu evolved at a blistering speed. When you experienced the wealth of improvement from Breezy Badger to Feisty Fawn, it was hard not to wonder whether a Linux-based OS might finally usurp its commercial rivals as the ultimate desktop experience in the near future. Canonical has put a lot of effort into catching up with both Windows and Mac OSX and on many fronts has largely succeeded. However, as in Zeno's paradox of Achilles and the tortoise, merely closing the gap on each iteration is insufficient to overtake your rivals entirely.

Canonical has largely focused on toning down bleeding-edge applications to run smoothly in a stable, hassle-free operating system. The challenge facing Ubuntu is no longer merely attracting users from commercial rivals, but also to stem the loss of users to rival Linux distributions. The Me Menu is a good indicator of how Ubuntu can evolve, innovate and differentiate itself from internal competition such as Archlinux, Debian, Fedora, Suse, Mandriva and others, despite building on the same open source components.

Whether Ubuntu is the right distribution for you is largely down to personal preference. From the ivory tower of tech journalism most reviewers are quick to point out Linux is a pain to install and use, and Ubuntu has somehow overcome this crippling heritage to become an easy to install and usable OS. Most likely this condescending attitude derives from never actually having used Linux - most distributions now provide Live CDs and easy installers, with access to the same software through their own package management systems.

In Short
Ubuntu's one-size-fits-all nature makes it a good initial introduction to Linux-based operating systems. Visually, it keeps improving, but it is not quite all the way there yet. While many can argue whether Linux is ready for the desktop, there's little doubt that Canonical packages up Ubuntu better than the vast majority of distributions out there. The biggest compliment one can pay to Ubuntu is that it feels like a professional product in its installation, look and feel and above all updates. If nothing else, you should give Ubuntu a try to give you some perspective on how well your own OS suits you.

The Good
Maturity and popularity aid in usability, integration with cloud services, long-term support (LTS) release, painless update from previous version.

The Bad
Might be too Mickey Mouse for hardcore Linux users, strong branding and colour scheme.

The Ugly
Nothing.

BitTorrent Admin Monitored by US Government, Forced to Dump GNU/Linux

Scott McCausland (sk0t), the ex-administrator of the EliteTorrents BitTorrent tracker isn’t having much luck lately. Back in September 2006, he pleaded guilty to two charges – ‘conspiracy to commit copyright infringement’ and ‘criminal copyright infringement’. Both charges relate to him uploading ‘Star Wars: Episode III’ onto the internet hours before the theatrical release, earning him 5 months in jail and 5 months home confinement.

Sk0t has now been released from jail but this doesn’t mean that everything is back to normal.

Back on 17 July, sk0t had to see his Probation Officer for the first time and two days later he had to have a special ankle bracelet attached. This monitoring device is there to enforce the terms of his release: Monday to Friday 08:30 to 21:00 he is free to do as he pleases. Weekends are more restrictive – freedom is allocated between 08:30 to 17:00. The one good thing about this device is that it will be removed before Christmas (Dec 19th).

According to a post on his blog, following another meeting with his Probation Officer, it seems sk0t is having more trouble:

So, I am getting shafted by the Justice Department again…”

sk0t was informed by his Probation Officer that he has to have special software installed on his PC so that the government can monitor his online activities. However, what is a more bitter pill to swallow for him is that the monitoring software is Windows only and as sk0t is an Ubuntu user, the Justice Department is forcing him to switch operating systems.

I had a meeting with my probation officer today, and he told me that he has to install monitoring software onto my PC. No big deal to me, that is part of my sentence. However, their software doesnt support GNU/Linux (Which is what I use). So, he told me that if I want to use a computer, I would have to use an OS that the software can be installed on.

Sk0t is left with a tough choice. Give in to the evils of the monitoring software, format his hard drive and install Windows – or be barred from using a PC completely.

Sk0t told TorrentFreak: “I think that this whole situation is just one more way that they can impose their will onto me. I have contacted my attorney, and we are going to fight this. It isn’t the fact that I have to be monitored that bothers me, it is the fact that I have restructure my life (different OS, different software on that OS) and that they would require (force) me to purchase software while I a currently unemployed and relatively unemployable with the 2 felonies that they gave me. It is just a ridiculous situation. Why should I conform to them when I am consenting to the software… they should have software that conforms to me.”

Unfortunately, thanks to the Family Entertainment and Copyright Act, some BitTorrent users are considered criminals these days, which means these unusual measures can be forced upon them. In a society where ‘the punishment should fit the crime’, you can’t help but think that somewhere along the line there’s been a big miscalculation when regular citizens are turned into criminals for sharing files.

70 Excellent Logo Design Tutorials and Resources

An effective logo sets the tone and public perception of your brand, and therefore careful thought and creativity must be put into constructing it.

In this article, you’ll find a large collection of tutorials and resources on the topic of designing logos by some of the most well-respected logo designers in the industry.

Logo Design Tutorials

Step-by-step logo

Designer/Author Chuck Green shows us the general process he takes when designing a logo.

Big Bocca - Illustrative Logo

This downloadable tutorial goes through the process of designing an illustrative logo.

Piranha’s Revenge - Illustrative Logo

Artist Von. R. Glitschka discusses his creative process for designing an illustrative logo.

Logo Frustration

Take a peak into a real-world project to see an actual logo designer in action.

Creating the Logo / Identity for “Blackberry Creek Community Church”

You’ll see, from start to finish, the creation of a logo for the "Blackberry Creek Community Church".

Drawing a Good Logo

UX Developer Nathan Smith discusses his method for creating an iconic logo design.

The process of redesigning a logo

Kristof Saelen discusses an effective course of action for updating an existing logo.

Day 30: Designing a Logo

Learn how to create a logo design in Illustrator via this step-by-step tutorial.

My logo design process

Graphic Designer David Airey shares his logo design process, including the very important step: the design brief.

Constructing the Perfect Logo

This short tutorial goes over the general methods for constructing a logo.

Logo Design Galleries for Inspiration

LogoPond

LogoPond is a logo design gallery where users can upload and share their logos. Members can leave comments/critiques, so it’s a helpful place for getting feedback.

Logo Of The Day

Logo Of The Day features one logo a day picked by a panel of judges.

The Identity Archives Project

The Identity Archives Project is a searchable database of logos and brand identity designs, it’s useful for getting inspiration on particular topics such as "technology" or "web 2.0".

Logos & Logotypes on deviantART

deviantArt has a section on user-submitted logos/logotypes that you can browse through for logo design inspiration.

Logo Faves

Logo Faves is a logo design gallery that seeks to present the best logo designs. Check out their "Highest Rated Logos" section to see what the top logos on the site.

FAVEUP

FAVEUP is a design inspiration gallery that has a wonderful Logos section. Users are able to vote on designs that are featured on FAVEUP.

Logo Galleria

Logo Galleria (currently) has over 400 logos featured in their gallery.

LogoFury.com

LogoFury.com is a frequently updated logo design gallery featuring thousands of logos. Check out the Top Rated section to see what their users like the most.

Logospire

Logospire is a logo design gallery where users can vote on, comment on, and upload logo designs.

LogoMoose

LogoMoose is a logo design showcase site. They have a monthly "Logo of the month" award for submitted logo designs.

LogoSauce

LogoSauce is a logo design gallery. Check out the "top 6" section to view the most popular designs on the site.

lo8os

lo80s is a highly-categorized logo design gallery. You’ll find categories like "Symbols" or "Household Items" on here.

LogoSurf

LogoSurf is part of BuzzShout is a logo design aggregate that displays tons of logos in one page to reduce the number of clicks you have to perform to see logo designs.

logoed

logoed is a blog-style logo design showcase for graphic designers that posts logos from various designers.

goodlogo!com

goodlogo!com is a database of logo designs. Check out the Logo Top 250 section to see the most popular logos on the site.

Logo Design Articles

30 Brilliant Vector Logo Designs, Deconstructed

Graphic and web designer, Chris Spooner, analyzes how one would construct the featured logo designs.

branding firefox

Acclaimed creative team Hicksdesign discusses the method in which the Firefox logo was selected.

What Makes a Great Logo

This is an excellent article on the fundamental elements of a good logo design.

how do designers create unique identities?

Logo designer and author Jeff Fisher ponders on the ways designers go about creating unique brands that stand out from the crowd.

Logos with a meaning

This article on creativebits examines logos that have a symbolic meaning to them, such as the FedEx logo and Sun Microsystems logo.

5 vital logo design tips

Acclaimed graphic designer David Airey shares his tips on designing logos.

LogoBee’s Top 10 Logo Design Tips

Logo design company, LogoBee, shares some basic things to consider when creating a logo.

Color as Logo

Peter Windett discusses using color as your logo.

The Five Types of Marks

This back-to-basics article discusses the five main categories of logos.

Logos, Flags, and Escutcheons

A classic piece on logo design: Paul Rand discusses the meaning of logos and what makes it effective.

What makes a good logo design?

David Airey shares his thoughts on what makes a logo design great.

7 Logo Design Trends that have Withstood the Test of Time

Styles and trends of logos have changed throughout the years, but as this article shows, there are certain logo design elements that are as popular today as they were back in the day.

The Secret Life of Symbols

Maggie Macnab discusses the history of symbols and what they mean to us as a culture.

Branding Basics Create a Great Logo and Tag Line

This article shares some basic tips on creating a logo and a tag line for it.

How Google Got Its Colorful Logo

Wired News tells us the history of Google’s legendary logo.

The Power of RED

This article discusses the meaning of the color red and the emotions and perceptions it invokes upon the viewer.

Logo Design Revisited.

Designer Dmitry Kirsanov revisits and analyses some of the logos he’s done in the past.

Logo Design Showcases

Top 10 Rock Band Logos

Logo Design History

Logo Design & Branding Trends 2009

10 handwritten logo designs

10 Examples of Simple, Effective Logos

20 Inspirational Logo Designs

50+ Kick Ass Logos for Inspiration

35 Green, Leafy Logos

30 Dual Element Logos

15 wonderfully simple logo designs

The Logos of Web 2.0

A showcase of logos that have the "Web 2.0" look and feel.

Logo Design Flickr Groups

Design the Logo

Design the Logo group is a popular Flickr group with over 4,000 members and 8,000 items.

Brands, Marks & Logos

This 2,000+-member strong Flickr group showcases brands, marks, and logos from around the world.

Identity + Logo Design

With close to a thousand members, the Identity + Logo Design group on Flicker is a great place to hang out and gather design inspiration.

Logo Design Books

Designing Brand Identity

An excellent book on the topic of creating effective and successful strong brand identities. It also outlines strategies for maintaining your brand through time and throughout the company.

Logo, Font & Lettering Bible

A wonderful and pragmatic guide to working with logos. If you are new to the world of logo design and want to read about designing logos - this is a great starting point.

Logo Design That Works: Secrets for Successful Logo Design

This book analyzes 100 logos to see what features makes for an effective logo design. It also examines the evolutions of popular logos throughout the years, and why changes to them were made.

LogoLounge: 2,000 International Identities by Leading Designers

This book is a showcase of logos from around the world. It’s a great book to have around to gather inspiration: I look through it before sketching and firing up Illustrator to get the creative juices flowing.

Design Matters: Logos 01: An Essential Primer for Today’s Competitive Market

This book is about designing effective logos in today’s competitive market where consumers are baraged with plenty of options. How do you stand out from the sea of other logos? Read this book to find out.

30 Must-Have Logo Books

Here is a great set of books compiled by freelance graphic designer Gino Orlandi.

Logo Design Blogs and Sites

David Airey: Logo Design Category

David Airey has a section on his personal site that has a whole bunch of great logo design related posts.

Logolog

Denis Radenkovic runs a weblog where each post is focused on a particular logo which is analyzed and critiqued.

Logo Design Blog

Logo Design Blog shares news and information on logos and logo design companies.

LogoLounge.Com

LogoLounge.Com is a site dedicated to logos and is a great hang-out for logo designers.

Brands of the World

Brands of the World is a site that indexes the most popular, famous brands and logos around the world. Aside from using their search, you can also find designs by "Author", by "Country", and other sorts of filters.

The Logo Factor

The Logo Factor is a logo design weblog that discusses news and information on designing logos.

Brand New

Brand New is a site that shares opinions on brand identity, usually in the corporate setting.

Logo Notions

Logo Notions is a web column by Jeff Fisher that has essays on the topic of designing logos.

Got more?

Leave your favorite logo design tutorials and resources, or talk about the ones above, in the comments.