Smart Home Blog

Yesterday the final version of LinuxMCE 0710 was released. Basically, it’s exactly the same as RC1 except just two thing. The first one is adding a few packages into debian cach to speedup installation. And the second one is updated version of ZWave interface. So, if you have installed RC1 there is no reason to upgrade it.

I have to find time to upgrade my 0710 Beta 4 and play with VDR 1.6. And waiting for the first version of 0804.

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Yesterday I released an updates for the LinuxMCE 0704 and Plutohome 2.0.0.44 Orbiters. Following changes were done:

• fixed a bug with running Orbiter from the application menu;
• fixed a bug with incorrect destroying of the Orbiter;
• modified a bit layout to fit captions for LinuxMCE version;
• added appropriate description for LinuxMCE version;
• fixed a few spelling mistakes in the ‘About’ section

Also, I’m planning perform following tasks next step: add all Orbiter’s dependencies to the Maemo extra repository and build a package for MS TrueType Fonts. The package for MS TrueType Fonts is needed because people usually forget to copy those fonts from the core to their Nokia. As result all dynamic captions are not visible.

The latest versions of the Orbiter for LinuxMCE and Plutohome can be downloaded as usual from the Maemo garage.

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LinuxMCE 0704 was released yesterday. Generally, improvements are related with installer and integration with KDE. The new version includes a new demo video which shows you major features and helps you setup your system.

To install the LinuxMCE you have to choices. The first one is to download and install Kubuntu Festy and after that download and install LinuxMCE on top. Another and maybe simplest way is to download DVD with Kubuntu and LinuxMCE and just follow by wizard.

The latest version of LinuxMCE can be downloaded traditionally from Torrent or from a few HTTP/FTP mirrors.

Release of LinuxMCE 0704 is a good opportunity to start automation of your home with modern open source system!

UPDATED: Don’t forget do a backup your Plutohome 2.0.0.44 or LinuxMCE 1.0 system to be able to restore it on the LnuxMCE 1.1.

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Plutohome development team released a version 2.0.0.43 last Friday. The changes are following:

• Orbiter improvements: added support ATI video adapters, a new GUI - UI2 is working better.
• Optimizations of UpdateMedia functionality: it saves now long attributes, coverarts and bookmarks.
• Ability to create software raid 0,1 and 5 (Advanced -> Configuration -> RAID from pluto web admin).
• Fully recompiling Xorg 7.1.1.
• Migrating most of the nfs shares to cifs.
• Window managers switching from icewm to xfwm4.
• Z-Wave extending with more commands and supporting PIR devices.

Plutohome 2.0.0.43 can be downloaded here: CD1, CD2.
If you already have Plutohome installation just reboot your core server. A new version will be downloaded and installed automatically. If you disable this feature (as I did) just login to the your core and run
/usr/pluto/bin/DownloadUpdates.sh
to download new packages and
/usr/pluto/bin/ApplyUpdates.sh.sh
to install them.
I’m downloading updates to my test installation. So, I hope today after lunch I’ll able to see and test it.

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It took just a 22 days since Plutohome 2.0.0.41 was released (I had time to review new version). But the 2.0.0.42 is ready!There are just few highlighted changes: orbiter improvments and bug fixes, new UI2 was updated by adding computing and DVD menu, media file management was improved, fixed GC100 detection, updated MythTV and ATI drivers. The full change log may be found here.

Unfortunatelly, there are not any words about VDR integration and supporting of Nokia 770 as an Orbiter.

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