Smooth Flash Playback By Hacking Firefox

Everyone knows that Flash playback is the Achilles heel of Linux. It's hard to make the switch when web apps and videos do not work like they do in Windows or OSX. Coupled with the mangled Intel video driver, Flash on the Mini 9 has sucked. This hack will help improve Flash playback in Firefox.

One of Firefox's features is to keep a snapshot of all open tabs in case your browsing gets interrupted and needs to restored. By default, Firefox refreshes this snapshot every 10 seconds. This over-caching can causes errors in Flash and unnecessarily takes up processor cycles.

What this hack does is reduce the interval in Firefox's open tab caching. Instead of 10 seconds, we are going to have Firefox take it's snapshot every 100 seconds.

To access Firefox's Configuration File
Type about:config into the URL address bar

The red lines highlight the url box.
The blue lines highlight the filter box.
The filter box allows you to search your about:config file and is where you type the blue text commands.

Go to the text box for the Filter and type in: browser.sessionstore.interval
Double click the line, to change the integer value.
- 10,000 is the default value (every 10 seconds)
- change the integer value to 100,000 (every 100 sconds)

For other Firefox hacks, take a look at our "Customizing Firefox for Netbooks" article.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Intel Video Performance in 9.10 Alpha 3

I don't know whether to categorize this article as good news or bad news

Phoronix is a Linux technology website focusing on product reviews, distribution screenshots, interviews, and news. It is one of my favorite Linux sites and the best site for info on Linux graphic drivers. Friday Phoronix published an article detailing Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 3's Intel video driver's performance on the Dell Mini 9's, it wasn't completely positive:

"We also wanted to deliver new OpenGL results from Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 using an Intel 945 IGP found in the Dell Mini 9, but that was to no avail. The Intel graphics performance was bad in Ubuntu 9.04, but at least World of Padman, OpenArena, Tremulous, and Urban Terror were able to run successfully. With Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 on the Dell Mini 9 and with each of these games being run through the Phoronix Test Suite, the system would lock-up at various points. None of the tests had finished successfully even when trying to run them multiple times"

Good thing misery loves company, because they said the same thing about the performance of Intel G43 chip in their test machine:

"This same problem had then occurred with the Intel G43 too. Mesa 7.5 has regressed badly in this area, but hopefully hitting in time for Ubuntu 9.10 will be Mesa 7.6 or at least more updates and patches to Mesa 7.5.x."

I agree Mesa 7.5 has brought some serious regressions. Even the Mesa developers recommend waiting for the Mesa 's 7.5.1 bug-fix release. There is some good news that at the end of the Phoronix article that should bring hope to Mini 9 users:

"While it cannot be told via benchmarks, Ubuntu 9.10 is running better with Intel graphics using UXA and is certainly more stable, artifact-free, and causing less problems. As Canonical's Bryce Harrington recently shared, the bug count for the Intel driver within Launchpad has dropped quite a bit. Hopefully though these Intel 2D/3D performance problems will be fixed within the next three months for Ubuntu 9.10."

I have personally found that Karmic's Intel video and flash playback performance is much smoother than 9.04. I am running Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 3 on both my Dell Mini 9 and my media box with an Intel X4500HD integrated chip and loving UXA's performance and stability for the first time since Ubuntu 8.04.

With Mesa 's 7.5.1 bug-fix or 7.6 release around the corner, there still is time for Ubuntu's developers to get Intel video driver working properly. I'd like to know how anyone else is finding UXA and Intel performance on 9.10 Alpha 3.

Source: http://www.phoronix.com

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

What Was Dell Thinking With the Mini 10v

Mini 9 owners know how easy it is to mod your system, upgrading the RAM takes less than 5 minutes. This is what pulled me to the system. When Dell released the Mini 9 service manual I had a geek-gasm. The Mini 9 was the perfect netbook for Linux newcomers and enthusiasts. Unfortunately this is not the case for The Dell Mini 10v. It's a nightmare to mod.

These videos detail how many steps it takes and the components you have to remove to get to the RAM. It's not just the RAM, getting to any of the components require you to dismantle the 10v. I personally don't want to pry off the keyboard and palm rest to get to my machine. I can't believe Dell has the nerve to recommend the 10v as suitable replacement to the Mini 9. I feel sorry for 10v users who can't order a machine with more than 1GB of RAM because of Microsoft's Windows XP OEM restrictions and then have to take 27 nerve racking minutes to disassemble and reassemble their machines. I have no problem with taking things apart, but this turned me off to buying a Mini 10v all together.

Remember that you can still get some great deals on a used Mini9 and that the Dell Vostro A90 is available from Dell's business division. It's is just a black version of the Mini 9, the layout and components are exactly the same.

The 3rd Video, wasn't worth embedding because it's just him putting everything back together.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Skype on The Dell Mini 9

Get Skype
You can download Skype for Linux directly from the Skype website or install it from the Medibuntu repository. I prefer and recommend, downloading it from Medibuntu. They have packaged Skype specifically for the newest versions of Ubuntu in both the i386 and lpia architectures. To install the Medibuntu repository follow the guide for yor specific version of Ubuntu, 8.10 or 9.04.

To install Skype after setting up the Medibuntu Repository,
In a terminal type:
sudo apt-get install skype

Configuring The Dell Mini 9's Audio
Left click the volume control icon on the gnome panel and click the Volume Control... button.


This will bring up the HDA Intel (Alsa mixer) Volume Control Panel:

- Select Preferences

This will bring up the Volume Control Preferences

Make sure the:
- Master
- Internal Mic Boost
- Capture
- Input Boxes
are checked, then close the dialogue box

Go to the Recording Tab

- Turn your capture slider up and make sure the mic icon on the bottom of the dialogue box is not X'ed out. It is not necessary to turn the volume completely up, if you experiencing a lot of static or feedback try turning the volume down.

Go to the Options tab

-Set yor Input Source to the Front Mic

Configuring Audio In Skype
Go to the Options menu, under Sound Devices

Set:
- Sound In to HDA Intel (hw:Intel,0)
- Sound Out to HDA Intel (hw:Intel,0)
- Ringing to HDA Intel (hw:Intel,0)
Then:
- Uncheck the box that says "Allow Skype" to automatically adjust your mixer levels.
- Apply the settings


To Setup Video In Skype
Go to the Options menu, under Video Drivers

- Check the Enable Skype Video
- Check the Start my video automatically when I am in a call box.
- Select Integrated Webcam (/dev/video0)
Apply the settings.

Skype will now work with the Mini's internal mic and speakers. Configuring other devices to work with Skype is up to you. I haven't had much luck with my PS3 Bluetooth headset.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope Beta on the Mini 9

Installing Ubuntu on the Dell Mini 9 was never hard, but getting everything working was. Ubuntu 9.04 Beta does not require any extra fixes or patches. Audio works out of the box (you just need to turn up the speaker volume) and there is no longer a drive mounting problem after a LiveUSB install. Installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix doesn't require adding any extra repositories or adding items to your start-up programs.

I tested both the Ubuntu 9.04 Beta i386 and the Ubuntu Netbook Remix USB 9.04 Beta i386 Image for this article.

If you need need help making a LiveCD.

Installation
If you select the "Try Ubuntu without any change to your computer" option and then try to install Ubuntu on your Mini, there is a minor issue. The windows are too large for the screen and get cut off. You will not be able to completely see the buttons on the bottom of the window to make your selections.

It does not hinder your ability to install Ubuntu on the Dell Mini 9 or and you can see what the buttons say. If you want to be able to move the windows and see the complete selection.
Go to System>Preferences>Appearances. Under the Visual Effects Tab select None.
- This will allow you move the windows up (click the window while holding down the alt key) and see the bottom of the buttons.

Video
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 driver has received some significant upgrades since Intrepid's release. Video playback is better, Compiz is running smoother and flash video is actually bearable to watch again.

Ubuntu Netbook Remix
Installing Ubuntu Netbook Remix used to require a little bit of work and extra know-how. In Jaunty, the Netbook Remix packages have been added to the official Ubuntu repositories and the included ubuntu-netbook-remix-default-settings package configures everything for you.

To install Ubuntu Netbook Remix
in a terminal type:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-netbook-remix

Note: The desktop switcher program is still slightly buggy. It has a tendency to crash when switching back from the normal desktop to Netbook Remix.

Compiz
The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 950 runs compiz without any special setup or configuration.

To get the most out of Compiz install the advanced configuration tool.
In a terminal:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager

Note: You can find the Compiz Settings Manager under System->Preferences once you install it

Wireless
The Broadcom STA wireless driver was activated after install and connecting to both WEP and WPA poses no problem.

Wired
Worked out of the box. There was a Kernel Bug that prevented the wired Ethernet connection from working in Ubuntu 8.10 but the bug has been squashed and the Dell Mini 9's wired connection works perfectly.

Audio
Unlike Intrepid, audio works out of the box in Jaunty. You just need to turn up the speaker volume in the Volume Control on your first boot.


Webcam
Worked out of the box. To test the webcam, install Cheese.
In a terminal type:

sudo apt-get cheese

Note: The video may seem slow, you just need to adjust the webcam's resolution under Edit>Preferences

Bluetooth
Worked out of the box and includes the ability to enter the device PIN code through the GUI.


Card Reader
Worked out of the box. Secure Digital (SD) & SDHC (High Capacity), MultiMediaCard (MMC) and Memory Stick all worked.

Brightness & Volume
Brightness and volume keyboard short-cuts both work with any extra configuration.

Suspend & Hibernate
Suspend works incredibly well. I suspended my computer over and over without a problem.
Hibernate will not work if you do not have a swap partition. If you have a swap file, hibernate works well.

Video Out
Worked out of the box, you don't have to edit your xorg.conf file anymore. Just plug your external monitor/projector into your Mini 9 and send the video out.
Video has a tendency to jitter while Grub is loading and during the Ubuntu splash screen once you load into Ubuntu, the video corrects itself and all is smooth.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.

Ubuntu Netbook Remix

Ubuntu Netbook Remix is a 'respun' version of Ubuntu optimized to run on small internet-centric devices called netbooks like the Dell Mini 9, the Asus eeePC and the Aspire One. Canonical, Ubuntu's parent company, has collaborated with Intel on the Moblin Project to develop Ubuntu Netbook Remix. This collaboration has enabled Ubuntu to work better on devices with Intel components, smaller screens and limited functionality.

Netbook Remix is not another edition of Ubuntu, like Kubuntu, or Edubuntu, but rather a collection of seven packages that are installed on top of a standard Ubuntu image. You can see the majority of these seven packages in action in the above video.

The Netbook Remix packages are:

go-home-applet
This applet will display the desktop and also act as an active drag-and-drop area to which you can drop files, folders, and URLs. Upon dropping a valid link, the applet creates a new icon/laucher in the ume-launcher.

ume-launcher
The new graphical user interface developed by Canonical for a netbook's smaller screen. It's a functional launcher that encompass the whole desktop. It's large icons and grouped tabs allows you to access all your programs without having to scroll through pull down menus. On the left side of the launcher you'll find your applications and on the right side your home folder and any disks.

human-netbook-theme
A new theme was made to offset the smaller screen of netbooks. I think the darker color will help icons and colors stand out.

maximus
Like the Human theme maximus is designed to make using a smaller screen easier. Maximus maximizes a window when you open it and removes the title bar. This allows to work around the smaller screen. The title bar isn't needed seeing how Canonical created a new window picking applet for Ubuntu.

window-picker-applet
Seeing how windows will be drawn without tilt bars when maximized, the window-picker-applet is designed to help you easily navigate these maximized windows. In the upper left hand corner of the screen you will see the applet at work. It uses an icon to represent your unseen windows. Notice that the Remix does not use a bottom panel.

Ume-config-netbook
This module was made specifically for netbooks running the Intel Atom Processor and is a direct result of the Moblin project. ume-config-netbook will make sure Ubuntu is properly configured to take advantage of Intel's architecture.

Have a question or problem that this article doesn't cover? Ask our Ubuntu Mini 9 Google Group for help.