Favored Freeware: Pianochords

Pianochords [is a Dashboard widget which] shows and plays all the musical chords you can think of. Just press a key on the keyboard to set the root of the chord and click the display to select the derived chord. It’s as simple as that!

Pros: Pianochords is an excellent tool for those of you who are studying and/or practicing music theory, music composition, or general music.

Cons: None significant.

Blogroll Dive: 6/12/06

Here are the highlights from today’s Blogroll dive:

  • Owen ruminated on Net Neutrality.
  • Jim released his first WordPress theme.
  • Michael released Bad Behavior v2.0b1.
  • Angsuman reported on the launch of Google Spreadsheets.
  • Khaled reviewed X-Men 3: The Last Stand.
  • Mark discussed the necessity of upgrading to WordPress v2.0.3.
  • And, Tom announced the success of the IT@Cork Web 2.0 half-day conference.

Favored Freeware: Ubuntu

Ubuntu offers you a complete Linux-based operating system, including all the major applications you need to play and work. With a strong focus on a desktop that “Just Works”, Ubuntu is a great choice for home or the office. The base system and all included software is free, and support is available from the community or by professional support providers.

Pros: Ubuntu is a powerful and free operating system. The default installation process is incredibly user-friendly and includes almost every application that you would ever need to get started in the world of Linux, an easy-to-use installer for additional applications, and an easy-to-use software update engine. Ubuntu is a cross-platform operating system for PowerPC Macs, Intel x86 PCs, and AMD64 PCs.

Cons: Ubuntu does not support AirPort Extreme cards at this time. The blame for this lies entirely with Broadcom, as they have refused to provide native Linux drivers and specifications for the chipset that powers the AirPort Extreme cards.

Note: The default desktop environment for Ubuntu is GNOME. If you prefer KDE over GNOME, try Kubuntu.

Blogroll Dive: 6/5/06

Here are the highlights from today’s Blogroll dive:

  • Owen announced a new WordPress feature, introduced by v2.0.3, which prevents accidental administrator actions.
  • Michael Heilemann briefly reviewed X-Men 3: The Last Stand and The Da Vinci Code.
  • Jim launched a new version of jimmitchell.org.
  • Michael Hampton called American democracy, specifically the 2004 presidential election, into question.
  • Sarah announced the successful premiere of two of her original compositions.
  • Angsuman discovered detailed cheat sheets for WordPress plugin and theme development.
  • And, Mark fixed three bugs introduced by WordPress v2.0.3.

Library Update: June 2006

Since June typically represents the middle of the year, I have decided to upload the latest version of my Personal Library. This catalogue of my library is technically complete, but I’m always purchasing new books, movies, music, and games. If you would like to trade or purchase, please contact me, and we’ll work something out. Current library stats:

  • Books: 350
  • Movies: 163
  • Music: 98
  • Games: 10
Note: The fore-mentioned library was getting far too large, so it is no longer available, but it was fun while it lasted.

Favored Freeware Updates: May 2006

The following Favored Freeware applications have been updated since the beginning of May 2006: