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Archive for January, 2007


Posted on January 31, 2007 - by jono

Another win

Wow, kudos to the Novell team for their recent roll out of Linux desktops and servers, and great timing too! It is case studies like this that are really helping Linux and free software to shape the IT world. :)


Posted on January 30, 2007 - by jono

How To Herd Cats And Influence People…video action

Well, the video of the very first, virgin performance of How To Herd Cats And Influence People is now available. This is a talk I will be trotting around the world at conferences. This was filmed on Thursday 18th Jan in Sydney at linux.conf.au. The talk discusses some of the core issues in building strong community, covers aspects of the Ubuntu community and some other things.

Download:

Thanks to Pickle, Oojah, Matt East and Chris Rose and for mirroring. If anyone else can contribute a mirror, please [mail me](mailto:jono AT jonobacon DOT com) and I will add it to the list. Thanks!

I had some excellent feedback about the talk at LCA, and as usual, I will be refining it for each performance, so if you are due to see me speak at a conference, rest assured, there will be plenty of new content in the talk.


Posted on January 29, 2007 - by jono

Seraphidian videos YouTube’d

First I get myspace.com/jonobacon and now I am using with YouTube. Wow, watch me go! Next I will need a Faceparty and Livejournal account…

So yes, last night I uploaded some content to YouTube, and it is all video footage, music videos and a documentary about my band Seraphidian. This was all filmed when we recorded our first album Caged back in 2004.

Go and get your peelers feasting on:

Lots of live, studio, interview and stupid footage. :)


Posted on January 29, 2007 - by jono

Interviewed on Linux Action Show

The other day I did an interview with the fellas on the Linux Action Show. They are nice guys, good fun, and the interview covered my work with Ubuntu, Jokosher, my new book and lots of discussion.

Go and download it.


Posted on January 28, 2007 - by jono

Solo music MySpace site launched

Well, it was only a matter of time. I have joined the MySpace revolution and set up myspace.com/jonobacon for my solo music project housed at Recreant View.

This year I have set myself the goal of growing awareness of Recreant View, and MySpace seems like one piece of the puzzle. We already have a Seraphidian MySpace site, and it has really helped in spreading the band, so I am sure the new MySpace site for my solo work will also help spread the word.

I plan on using the MySpace site for a few things:

  • Growing a network of listeners and friends
  • Showcasing my best tunes via the MySpace music player on the page
  • Using the blog to keep people updated
  • Get to know other musicians and bands that are all drinking the MySpace loopy juice
  • Get an impression of how well Recreant View is growing, in conjunction with my Google Analytics data

One question for the geek army – does anyone know if there is an easy way to automatically update my MySpace blog with the content from my Wordpress blog over on Recreant View? Would be nice to publish in my Recreant View blog and it automatically update my MySpace blog.

If you MySpace, add me as a friend, and as ever, keep your peelers on Recreant View for the latest updates on the rollercoaster of adventure that is my solo music project.


Posted on January 28, 2007 - by jono

Annoyed, really annoyed

I am astonishingly pissed off. Really, really pissed off. Ten minutes ago I discovered that Decapitated (my second fave death metal band) and Hammerfall (second fave power metal band) played 12 miles away from me this week and I never even knew about it. How incredibly frustrating.


Posted on January 27, 2007 - by jono

N800 shazaa

Like many others, my N800 has arrived after I was also one of the lucky few who got recommended for the get-an-N800-on-the-cheap developer programme.

Nice device, and a big improvement on the 770. It feels more sturdy, is much faster, and the UI feels more mature. It is nice to see that Nokia commissioned a second device – I assume the 770 sold reasonably well. I really do think Maemo is an awesome platform, and it is great to see it on another device. :)

Others have summarised the N800 pretty well, so I won’t bore you with that here, I just wanted to give my thumbs up to Nokia with it. :)


Posted on January 27, 2007 - by jono

Usability and GNOME video from LCA

On the Monday at LCA, there was a GNOME Love session as part of gnome.conf.au. In this session a bunch of us shouted out things to discuss, and I shouted out ‘application design and usability’. What I didn’t realise was that shouting out a suggestion mean’t volunteering to talk about it. Oof!

So, I got up and discussed my views on usability, good design and making better applications. There was some interesting banter with the other folks in the room, and I think the (completely unprepared, unexpected) session raised some interesting issues that would be of use for most application authors.

As with the rest of LCA, this was videoed for your online viewing kicks, so go and download the video – my bit kicks in at around 12 minutes.


Posted on January 25, 2007 - by jono

OpenXML sneaks up behind ODF – lets make it stop

OpenDocument Format. Everyone seems to love it. It is a guiding light in a heavily locked down world, in which it can secure the freedoms of document interoperability and prevent against the often unknown risks of vendor lock-in. With ODF, you can make the decision about what you do with your data by using an open and extensible document format that any software can implement. With the playing field levelled, you take control of your information. This is what freedom in software and freedom in document formats is all about.

And lets face it, we are all beginning to feel the ODF love. Not only is OpenOffice.org growing, but companies such as IBM and Sun have thrown their weight behind it, the ODF Alliance which represents over 210 organisations in 30 countries are behind it, and importantly, in May 2006 ODF became a ratified ECMA standard. So, ECMA determine a standard, and the world is a happy place right. Well, nearly.

It seems that Microsoft are working to “fast track” their OpenXML format to become a new European ISO/IEC standard. This standard has been submitted to ECMA, and the deadline is a bit tight to say the least. Graham Taylor from OpenForum Europe hits the nail on the head about the problem:

“There are major difficulties with ECMA’s standard, which if accepted will affect future formats of all documents on which all office and word processing software depends, and ultimately convenience and cost. It will reinforce the current supplier monopoly position, limit customer choice and increase costs for European business and consumers.”

I was under the impression that there could not be competing standards as part of ECMA, so this move is a little unusual. Not only that, but OpenXML proves to be a far more complex standard, weighing in at around 6000 pages – are Open Source applications authors really likely to inflict such eyeball glazing misery to implement such a ridiculously large standard?

So what do we do? Well, we have until 5th Feb 2007 to make complaints. Write to your local standards organisation, contact ECMA, blog about it or otherwise raise the issue that a 30 day fast track process is not exactly reasonable for a standard that weighs in at 6000 pages. We have worked so hard to make OpenDocument Format come as far as it has, lets not let it fall at the last hurdle.


Posted on January 25, 2007 - by jono

Metal drummer required, enquire within

As some of you may know, I am in a metal band called Seraphidian. We play thick, chugging metal that is fat, rhythmic and groovy. We inspire from bands such as Nevermore, Overkill, Pantera, Messhuga, Fear Factory etc. We have recorded two EPs and a full length album called Caged which you are welcome to download here. We have also toured extensively around the UK, supporting acts including Anthrax, Raging Speedhorn, Kill 2 This, Skindred, Knuckledust, Defenestration, Area 54 and more.

Anyway, our drummer has recently departed the band, and we are looking for a replacement. Candidates should have the following criteria:

  • Technically proficient with strong double-bass drumming abilities
  • Good timed, tight player
  • Equipment and travel
  • Ability to attend a weekly rehearsals in Wolverhampton as well as performing live shows around the country
  • Fun sense of humour and easy going – Seraphidian is a loose and social band
  • Commitment to the band

We are based in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands in the UK,and this is where we rehearse. If you or someone you know may be interested, [mail me](mailto:jono AT jonobacon DOT org). :)