Recommended SQL Query Tool – Query Express

@ndy    Open Source    

I came across this standalone freeware. Very useful for those who are using home version of Operating System (Vista Home, XP Home) and also for those who want something light besides using the SQL Analyzer. I’ve been using it at my workplace for quite sometime and it does not require any installation.

And yes, the Query Express is a small (100KB executable), free, simple SQL Query Analyzer look alike. It can be run where the SQL Server client tools are not installed or licensed. It works for Oracle and other OLE-DB compliant databases too.

Just put it on your desktop and click!

Login to the database server

The interface. Quite similar with SQL Query Analyzer.

Let’s compare with this.

The SQL Query Analyzer

Almost the same! You should give it a try. It’s an alternative tool.

[Download here]

sql query analyzer, query express, sql, oracle, ole-db, freeware

Popularity: unranked [?]

Google Chrome Operating System?

@ndy    Open Source, Technology    

Wah! After less than a year releasing Google Chrome browser, now the Google people is coming up with a new project – Google Chrome Operating System!

Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we’re already talking to partners about the project, and we’ll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve.

This is technology.  Second half of 2010, I can’t wait for this to happen.

Extra reading update ( 9 July 2009 ) : http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/09/first-google-chrome-os-screenshots-leaked/

google chrome, operating system, google lab, technology, browser

Popularity: unranked [?]

The Matrix & The Windows XP

@ndy    Open Source    

Cool video! Seriously, watch until the end.

Gooood one.

windows xp, the matrix, neo, morpheus

Popularity: 8% [?]

Ubuntu Tee

@ndy    Life Log, Open Source, Technology    

I got this pos ekspress a day before Hari Raya, about 2 weeks ago. It was from ZULMALC !

A t-shirt?  Yes, it’s a Ubuntu T-Shirt which i ordered from melayubuntu. His blog is one of my favourites after Tombuntu, where I learned a lot about this distro, tips & tricks before I started to fall in love with Linux. Heh. I’m still new i must say, a 10-months old ubuntu user.

Ubuntu?! How to pronounce? Watch here .

Ok. Full stop.

Let’s have a look at the shirt.

At the back of the shirt, it’s printed there ” Ubuntu Malaysia, Linux For Human Beings“. Cool.

Now zoom..

..the front design. I like!

ubuntu, t-shirt, linux, human beings

Popularity: 26% [?]

FireFox 3 Out Now

@ndy    News, Open Source, Technology    

The latest version of Mozilla Firefox web browser, Firefox 3 released today. I’ve tried the beta version of Firefox 3 before in my Ubuntu (Hardy Heron) and what i can say, it’s not good enough. Few plugins/add-ons were not compatible (i dunno why Ubuntu 8.04 set Firefox 3 Beta as their default browser). Also a bit lagging when you open multiple tabs. Yea, i consider all that since it was a beta version. However it has improved! Still rocking lar, i must say. Much Better than IE7.

I’m sure this latest version of Firefox is getting better. Download for free. Hey! Don’t forget to spread the word about the Download Day, a mission to set a Guinness World Record for the most software downloaded in 24 hours!

Woot! I’m going to..

Update:

Extra reading : http://me.zestful.org/2008/06/first-look-at-firefox-3/

firefox 3, Guinness World Record, download day, mozilla

Popularity: 43% [?]

Google, Wine, Codeweavers & Adobe Photoshop

@ndy    News, Open Source, Technology     adobe, codeweaver, crossover, cs2, linux, Open Source, photoshop cs, wine

Woooot! Just another superb project from Google. They hired Codeweavers to make Photoshop CS and CS2 work better under Wine. A good news I must say for all Linux users as Google & Codeweavers are working hard to improve Wine for Adobe Photoshop in Unix platform. Yah as we know.. There are quite number of people who use “Photoshop” as an excuse not to switch to Linux 100% (including myself) . I still prefer dual-boot because of this single reason.

What is Wine, anyway?

Wine is an Open Source implementation of the Windows API on top of X, OpenGL, and Unix.Think of Wine as a compatibility layer for running Windows programs. Wine provides both a development toolkit for porting Windows source code to Unix as well as a program loader, allowing many unmodified Windows programs to run on x86-based Unixes, including Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X, and Solaris.

Thanks Google for this Open Source project! Wooot!

Extra Reading:
Google behind Photoshop’s new Linux compatibility
Google funds Photoshop-on-Linux work
Photoshop works better than ever in Linux, Thanks to Google

adobe, codeweaver, crossover, cs2, linux, Open Source, photoshop cs, wine

Popularity: 35% [?]

My Gutsy Gibbon Has Arrived

@ndy    Open Source    

After about 2 weeks of waiting, finally the Ubuntu CD (Gutsy Gibbon 7.10) I requested from their website arrived today! This is the second time i requested Linux CD from Ubuntu. The previous one was Ubuntu 5.04, 2 years ago.

Actually, i have installed the Gutsy Gibbon in my machine using the CD i burned from the iso image i downloaded from their official website early this year. . Aha, now i’m using Ubuntu as the secondary OS, dual boot with my Windows XP.

Why Linux you may ask? It’s for fun, plus I want to experience the power of Linux. Ho Ho! More serious now. I choose Ubuntu as my favourite distro to fulfill the purpose.

Oh ya. I was given 4 Ubuntu stickers together with the CD. Don’t wait. Request yours now.

ubuntu 7.10, gutsy gibbon, linux, request cd

Popularity: 20% [?]

Transfer your files using FireFTP, a Firefox extension

@ndy    Open Source, Technology    

I was desperately looking for a standalone FTP client last few days coz I misplaced my thumbdrive (where I installed my Portable Filezilla). Plus, I do not have the priviledge to install any software/freewares in my machine which I currently using right now.

Argh, need to upload few urgent thing for printing. I asked Mr Google and I found FireFTP, a Firefox extension.

What can I say? It’s a great tool, simple, fast and you can even do the file transfer in the browser tab. Quite useful and efficient, eh? If you are a Firefox user and uses FTP client for your daily work, maybe you need to consider FireFTP.

So far based on my experience, I think Filezilla is still the best FTP client for me. And now maybe I’ll treat FireFTP as an alternative for my Firefox version.

Download and Try? Or consider a donation.

ftp, fireftp, filezilla, firefox extension

Popularity: 27% [?]

Pidgin Goes Portable

@ndy    Applications, Open Source    

After Pidgin (formerly known as GAIM) being released officially weeks ago , I wonder if there will be any portable version of released by the PortableApps team soon. But yesterday i came across Ady’s blog (where i downloaded the New Blogger Plugins) and guess what? Ady managed to make a portable pidgin! Though he was planning just to use it personally but now he’d like to share with us. That’s cool, pal.

What is Pidgin, you may ask?

Pidgin (formerly named Gaim) is a popular multi-platform instant messaging client that supports many commonly used instant messaging protocols. Pidgin is free software available under the GNU General Public License. (source : WikiPedia)

It’s a freeware where you can run multiple Instant Messenger (Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Gtalk etc) at once.

Download Pidgin

Download the Portable Version

pidgin, gaim, ym, msn, gtalk, instant messenger

Popularity: 35% [?]

Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0 Released

@ndy    Open Source    

Mozilla has released the latest version of their award-winning email client Thunderbird 2.0.

What’s new?

• Message Tags: Create your own tags for organizing email. Messages can be assigned any number of tags. Tags can be combined with saved searches and mail views to make it easier to organize email.
• Visual Theme: Thunderbird 2’s theme and user interface have been updated to improve usability and maximize screen real estate.
• Session History Navigation: Back and Forward buttons allow navigation through message history.
• Advanced Folder Views: Customize the folder pane to show favorite, unread or recent folders.
• Easy Access to Popular Web Mail Services: Gmail and .Mac users can access their accounts in Thunderbird by simply providing their user names and passwords.

See more complete list

Personally, I prefer using Thunderbird than Outlook Express. In terms of filtering junk mails, for me Thunderbird is the best. I’m using it as my primary email client since last 2 years besides webmail. It’s easy to manage and you can also use it as a feed reader, if you don’t have one.

Gonna upgrade mine. Yearghh…!

Via TechBuzz

thunderbird, email

Popularity: 15% [?]