Digital City

Four, major themes influence the content, The City, Social Justice, Education and Digital Literacy. There is a focus on Linux Operating systems because most are free and a gateway into code for the general public.

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The digital City twitter account was hacked

The twitter account associated with this site was hacked.  The content posted was nothing to do with this site or the contributors. The twitter account is no more. 

[ditigalcity]

Ubuntu 16.04 via Crouton on a Dell Chromebook 11.  After a Chrome )S update the old Debian Jessie XFCE chroot on the chromebook also needed updating.  While using Ubuntu as opposed to Debian prickled my digital ethics, the chromebook is mostly a travel and leisure tool.  It is not my main workspace for professional work or learning.  I will give Xenital a spin and see if adding PPAs and the like will ease use will be at odds with my digital ethical framework.  I was weaned on Mandrake and Ubuntu, however the fact remains that Canonical is a corporation that uses FOSS and Debian is a social justice movement.

[ditigalcity]

#Debian Jessie via Crouton

Numix blue icons

#xfce4

Optmised for an 11 inch Chromebook

[callow-and-jejune-deactivated20]

Conky for Chromebooks using Lubuntu

I had an old Manjaro Conky in my files so I adapted it for Chromebook users who use lubuntu. I used the Manjaro layout because it helps users with key commands.  Because chromebook keyboards are unique, I thought I would learn the Lubuntu and Crouton key commands better with a cheat sheet. It is not finished as it only shows 1 core cpu and the colours need a bit of tweaking to fit desktop themes.  I use it on a Chromebook 11.  Feel free to play with it for yourselves.

# Manjaro Openbox-Lite Conky Configuration Script # # Written by Carl Duff of the Manjaro Team # Email: carl[at]manjaro[dot]org Website:www.manjaro.org     - Forum: http://forum.manjaro.org/ # # Feel free to alter, distribute, etc., this config file as you wish. # #  Basic Settings background yes use_xft yes xftfont sans:size=11 xftalpha 1 update_interval 1.0 total_run_times 0 own_window yes own_window_transparent yes own_window_type desktop own_window_hints below,sticky,skip_taskbar,skip_pager double_buffer yes minimum_size 450 1 maximum_width 600 draw_shades no draw_outline no draw_borders no draw_graph_borders no default_color Black default_shade_color 000000 default_outline_color d9d7d6 alignment tr gap_x 40 gap_y 20 no_buffers yes uppercase no cpu_avg_samples 2 override_utf8_locale yes # Fancy Conky display TEXT ${font sans:size=35}${alignr}${color #696969}${time       %H:%M}${voffset -27}${voffset -45} ${font sans:size=15}${alignr}${time %a %d %B %Y}${voffset -15} ${font sans:bold:size=8}${alignr}${color #006400}CPU    ${color #696969}${cpu cpu0}% - ${color #006400}RAM  ${color #696969}$mem - ${color #006400}HD ${color   #696969}$fs_used - ${color #006400}BAT ${color  #696969}$battery_percent% - ${color #006400}UP ${color #696969}$uptime_short ${hr 1}${voffset 5} ${font sans:bold:size=9}${alignr}${color #B22222}Control+Alt+D ${alignr}${color #696969}Launch PCManFM ${voffset -5} ${font sans:bold:size=9}${alignr}${color #B22222}Control+Escape ${alignr}${color #696969}Open LXDE menu ${voffset -5} ${font sans:bold:size=9}${alignr}${color #006400}Control+Alt+T ${alignr}${color #696969}Launch Terminal ${voffset -5} ${font sans:bold:size=9}${alignr}${color #006400}Alt+Tab ${alignr}${color #696969}Next Window ${voffset -5} ${font sans:bold:size=9}${alignr}${color #006400}Alt+Shift+Tab ${alignr}${color #696969}Previous Window ${voffset -5} ${font sans:bold:size=9}${alignr}${color #006400}Shift+Ctrl+Alt ${alignr}${color #696969}Switch to Chrome${voffset -5}

[ditigalcity]

Dell 11 Chromebook + Lubuntu..more small things

Overall the new experience of using Crouton to switch back and forth between Chrome OS and Lubuntu has been smooth.  I usually research using Chrome OS and write using Lubuntu.  Any activity unrelated to work is also done on the Lubuntu side.  Here are some pros and cons.....

Pro

1.  Having 2 Oses is just cool

2. My productivity has increased due to the portability and long battery life of the Dell

2. One can write and save documents off-line without using Google Drive

3. Ubuntu and its myriad software

4. Lubuntu and Firefox (with multiple tabs open) is far lighter than Chrome OS with multiple tabs open

Cons

1. Sudo lives in both Oses that is it applies to Gentoo based Chrome OS and Lubuntu.....root in Lubuntu mostly requires command line interaction (eg:synaptic)

2. While working playing media and switching back and forth media play stopps upon switch.

3. Lxkeymap for GB english was not started upon entry

4. The Chrome browser chews memory and cpu use when left open (even when working in Lubuntu)....consumption is around 50% memory, 15-20% cpu

5.  Lubuntu updates need to be done manually

A fix

To set your keyboard settings to auto start simply add the following line in order to autostart lxkeymap to your autostart file....

@setxkbmap -layout "gb"

The file is located in your ~ or home folder (in a hidden file)

Go to home hit ctrl + h to see hidden files then go to

/home/-your username folder-/.config/lxsession/LXDE/autostart

and add the above line.  Be sure to include the @ sign for it to work.....

Add on

I am now using Numix circle icons and a new blue wallpaper

[ditigalcity]

Dell Chromebook 11 + Lubuntu, small things

There are a few small things that make using Lubuntu via Crouton a little different than a standard Lubuntu install. Here is a quick list:

small annoyances

1. One must start Synaptic using the terminal --> sudo synaptic

2. Conky does not play nicely (however the 11″ screen is small for a conky)

3. Keyboard language settings via lxkeymap needs to be reset often (it defaults to US English)

4. Update Manager quits (one must update using the terminal -->

sudo apt-get update then sudo apt-get upgrade)

5. Printing does not work.  Cups is installed, however, cups is not recognised when connecting networked printers (not on cloudprint)

small wins

Compton works, Terminals are transparent and windows have shadows and it is lightweight. (please find the tutorial HERE)

Has anyone else had similar issues?

[ditigalcity]

Dell Chromebook 11 + Lubuntu

A new solution to my writing block woes.  I like to write in the library.  My laptop, while awesome, is heavy.  It is very old and solid.  Traveling around London and beyond by bike with a heavy laptop is not pleasant.  Much of my bag is occupied by the laptop and long, clunky cord.  Recently I purchased a Dell 11 Chromebook from ebay for £90.

Chrome OS is very nice.  It is based on Gentoo Linux as well.  However, everyday tasks like writing is an issue.  Reading Microsoft dox. documents is problematic.  Comments and other edits are not visible.  Working offline in general seems clunky.  I decided to install Lubuntu Linux using crouton. The processor in the Dell is an intel Celeron (which makes it great for Lubuntu) but it is not very powerful.  Crouton installs Debian and Ubuntu flavours by default.  Lubuntu is based on Openbox (LXDE really) and it is very light weight so it will not stress the processor too much.  Unity, KDE, Gnome, Cinnamon and Mate are alternative Ubuntu flavours but they are a bit too bloated for the processor, I reckon.  I only chose Lubuntu for the Ubuntu extra PPAs. I believe in the  Debian social contract and I use Debian, but I wanted quick configuration.  

Lubuntu and Chrome OS share drivers and the downloads folder, this really makes the Chromebook a productive little machine for research, writing and programming.  My Chromebook is used for writing and research.  I got help from here, here and here.

lubuntu on chromebook via crouton

1. install crouton in Chrome OS (it will download to the Downloads folder)

2. install lxde..-r trusty -t lxde ( this is done in the Chrome terminal environment.)

The Process:

Hit Ctrl +Alt+t

To enter a terminal environment type shell

To navigate to crouton in your Downloads folder and install Lubuntu try the following command:

sudo sh ~/Downloads/crouton -r trusty -t lxde

This will install Lubuntu 14.04 the long term edition that will be supported until 2017.  I do not want to do too many upgrades in the next few years.  The -r is the trusty 14.04 version and -t is the ubuntu flavour.  Let it all install and watch it in the shell.  To start Ubuntu type

sudo startlxde

Making LXDE Lubuntu

You will have a vanilla install of LXDE.  In order to get the Lubuntu desktop, open a terminal and install the Synaptic Package Manager by typing,

sudo apt-get install synaptic

3. install synaptic...one must use the command, sudo synaptic in a terminal to open it.

4. install lubuntu.....In Synaptic install the lubuntu-desktop package

My desktop looks like this..

5. I  installed 2 PPAs for eye candy...numix icons and ravefinity themes

6. I installed Lubuntu 13.04 artwork for the wallpaper from synaptic

7. I then installed the screenshot app Shutter  from synaptic

8. I then created documents and pictures folders in ~

9. This is important if you use a UK keyboard, one must install

lxkeymap

from synaptic in order to use a UK keyboard

Use

To switch back and forth between Chrome OS and Lubuntu press shift+ctrl+alt+the back and forward arrows at the top of the keyboard

shift+ctrl+alt+the forward key

The crouton works smoothly on the Dell.  The sound video and ports work well.  To solve my writing delima I had to install LibreOffice Writer, but not the whole bloated suite. 

[ditigalcity]

Numix themmed Xubuntu with openbox.  The tint2 code follows....  Here is the Conky...It looks a bit like the Chrome OS theme or the Budgie desktop, but openbox style.

# Tint2 config file by Kexolino

# Background definitions

# ID 1 rounded = 0 border_width = 1 background_color = #2D2D2D 100 border_color = #484848 100

# ID 2 rounded = 0 border_width = 0 background_color = #D64937 100 border_color = #000000 100

# Panel panel_monitor = all panel_position =  bottom center horizontal panel_size = 104% 31 panel_margin = -2 -1 panel_padding = 0 0 10 panel_dock = 0 wm_menu = 1 panel_layer = normal panel_background_id = 1

# Panel Autohide autohide = 0 autohide_show_timeout = 0.2 autohide_hide_timeout = 1 autohide_height = 0 strut_policy = follow_size

# Taskbar taskbar_mode = single_desktop taskbar_padding = 0 0 10 taskbar_background_id = 0 taskbar_active_background_id = 0

# Tasks urgent_nb_of_blink = 20 task_icon = 1 task_text = 1 task_centered = 0 task_maximum_size = 200 32 task_padding = 10 4 task_background_id = 0 task_active_background_id = 2 task_urgent_background_id = 0 task_iconified_background_id = 0

# Task Icons task_icon_asb = 100 0 0 task_active_icon_asb = 100 0 0 task_urgent_icon_asb = 100 0 0 task_iconified_icon_asb = 100 0 0

# Fonts task_font = Droid Sans 9 task_font_color = #dcdcdc 100 task_active_font_color = #FFFFFF 100 task_urgent_font_color = #FFFFFF 100 task_iconified_font_color = #dcdcdc 80 font_shadow = 0

# System Tray systray = 1 systray_padding = 0 6 15 systray_sort = left2right systray_background_id = 0 systray_icon_size = 16 systray_icon_asb = 100 0 0

# Clock time1_format = %H:%M time1_font = Droid Sans 9 clock_font_color = #FFFFFF 100 clock_tooltip = clock_padding = 10 6 clock_background_id = 2 clock_lclick_command = gsimplecal time1_timezone = time2_timezone = clock_tooltip_timezone =

# Tooltips tooltip = 0 tooltip_padding = 2 2 tooltip_show_timeout = 0.0 tooltip_hide_timeout = 0.0 tooltip_background_id = 2 tooltip_font = Droid Sans 9 tooltip_font_color = #FFFFFF 100

# Mouse mouse_middle = none mouse_right = close mouse_scroll_up = toggle mouse_scroll_down = iconify

# Battery battery = 0 battery_low_status = 20 battery_low_cmd = notify-send "battery low" battery_hide = 96 bat1_font = Liberation Mono 8 bat2_font = Liberation Mono 8 battery_font_color = #B5B5B5 100 battery_padding = 2 0 battery_background_id = 0

# End of config

[ditigalcity]

The second laptop of the year, a Dell Inspiron 1525, is now running openbox (via:xubuntu).  The laptop was donated as it would not run Windows 7 smoothly on 2 gigs of RAM.  I started using Xubuntu 64 bit to write and research. The Laptop is able to run 64 bit Oses but it should have 4 gb of RAM.  I only have 2gb.  Running Openbox speeds up most operations except Chrome.  Firefox is speedy, but Chrome  to see if this old laptop  is not.

Openbox looks very nice as it draws from the Xubuntu themes and icons and it is able to run gtk3.  I am saving for 4gb to make the most of the 64 bit capabilities and apps.  Openbox does rock.  I grabbed the  tint2 config from DeviantArt.  One may follow this guide for Xubuntu/Openbox. One nerely needs to install Openbox from Synaptic and configure it to your liking.  I like to keep the Debian menu item as it displays most of your Xubuntu apps. 

Lastly an Xubuntu/Openbox set up has far less privacy issues than bloated Unity desktops. 

[ditigalcity]

Hello! May I ask what country you are teaching in? I just added a Country column on the International spreadsheet of our updated Tumblr Teacher Roll Call. Let me know either way (entirely optional), so I can update your entry with your country. Thanks!

UK, thank you

[ditigalcity]

A nice set of icons

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The FOSS phone playing a podcast via a Bluetooth speaker.

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Knowledge Matters: the public mission of research universities

Professor Calhoun is a world-renowned social scientist whose work connects sociology to culture, communication, politics, philosophy and economics.

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Open Thread: The Digital Humanities as a Historical "Refuge" from Race/Class/Gender/Sexuality/Disability?

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Humanities Computing as Digital Humanities

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Conky-Elune by zagortenay333 on DeviantArt

This conky is especially tailored to fit into the Elune cinnamon theme but it should look awesome with any theme!It was inspired by this awesome mod: -d...

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Reading on the FOSS Phone on Ello