Monday, January 28, 2013

BLU Desktop GNU/Linux SIG Meeting - Home Server - Weds, Feb 6, 2013

When: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 6:30PM

Location: MIT Building E51, Room 372

Updates

1) Room confirmed (Room 372).
2) Additional presenter, Stan Livitski, will demonstrate
a "free as in freedom" alternative to cloud services like
Dropbox and Google Drive, called Data Bag a.k.a.
"the uncloud."

Summary

Learn how to build a home/media server with GNU/Linux.

Abstract

Part 1
Brendan Kidwell will show us how to use our favorite
GNU/Linux distribution to build a personal home server
for data storage and/or media serving.

Brendan will also discuss the dangers of entrusting your
data to the "cloud," in particular a cloud service that
you don't control. As an antidote, the home/personal
server solution that Brendan will present shows how you can
free yourself from a dependence on proprietary cloud services
such as Dropbox and Google Drive.

Part 2
Stan Livitski will demonstrate Data Bag -
http://www.data-bag.org/ - a secure and "free as in freedom"
alternative to using cloud services like Dropbox and
Google Drive.

Meeting outline:
- Motivation / why you should have your own personal server
- Introduction to the components and what they can do
-- Your home router - providing optional off-site access.
(Also Dyndns.org or similar service to provide a friendly
Internet hostname.)
-- Hardware - any old box or not-hot-running laptop will do
-- Operating System: Ubuntu Server
-- ownCloud - Personal file sharing, syncing; Calendar;
Photos
-- Subsonic - Audio / Video storage with browser-based
playback
- Demo
-- ownCloud
-- Subconic
- Q&A for Brendan
- The "Uncloud" - Stan Livitski demonstrates Data Bag
- Discussion / Questions (open ended)

Transportation & Parking

Our meeting location is a short walk from the Kendall
Square T stop and other public transportation. There is
also free parking in the building's parking lot.

Volunteer Opportunities

We're still looking for volunteers to:
-- speak at upcoming meetings (full talks and lightening talks)
-- design a business card and/or flyer
-- help spread the word at local campuses
-- write blog posts for http://desktop-sig.blu.org/
-- contact media (newspapers, radio, etc.)
-- spread the word via Social Media

If you're passionate about the free software movement and
looking for a fun project, please let me know.
_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
Announce@blu.org
http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Boston Linux Meeting Reminder, tomorrow Wednesday, January 16, 2013 - Android Sensors or what can your android sense for you

When:January 16, 2013 7PM (6:30PM for Q&A)
Topic: Android Sensors or what can your android sense for you
Moderators:Greg Millette and Adam Stroud
Location: MIT Building E51, Room 315


Summary
A discussion of the use of Android Sensors

Abstract
Based on Greg and Adam's book, "Android Sensor Programming", this will
be a discussion of how to program the Android to use its rich set of
sensors, but will be targeted toward a more general audience.
Greg and Adam will show how Andrid's Sensors can:
- See Android Logos
- Hear claps and singing
- Understand obscure words with speech recognition
- Do stuff with NFCs

Book URL: http://tinyurl.com/8n7eq92
About the presenters:

Adam Stroud is the lead developer for the Android version of
RunKeeper. He is a self-proclaimed "phandroid" and is an active
participant in the Android virtual community on StackOverflow and
Android Google groups.

Greg Milette is a programmer, author, entrepreneur, and musician who
loves writing practical Android apps, wiring Arduino hardware, and
implementing great ideas. He is the founder of Gradison Technologies,
Inc, contributor to StackOverflow, drummer, and father of two.

For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site
http://www.blu.org
Please note that there is usually plenty of free parking in the E-51
parking lot at 2 Amherst St, or directly on Amherst St.

After the meeting we will adjourn to the official after meeting meeting
location at The Cambridge Brewing Company
http://www.cambridgebrewingcompany.com/

--
Jerry Feldman <gaf@blu.org>
Boston Linux and Unix
PGP key id:3BC1EB90
PGP Key fingerprint: 49E2 C52A FC5A A31F 8D66 C0AF 7CEA 30FC 3BC1 EB90

Friday, January 11, 2013

Boston Linux Meeting Wednesday, January 16, 2013 - Android Sensors or what can your android sense for you

When:January 16, 2013 7PM (6:30PM for Q&A)
Topic: Android Sensors or what can your android sense for you
Moderators:Greg Millette and Adam Stroud
Location: MIT Building E51, Room 315


Summary
A discussion of the use of Android Sensors

Abstract
Based on Greg and Adam's book, "Android Sensor Programming", this will
be a discussion of how to program the Android to use its rich set of
sensors, but will be targeted toward a more general audience.

Book URL: http://tinyurl.com/8n7eq92

For further information and directions please consult the BLU Web site
http://www.blu.org
Please note that there is usually plenty of free parking in the E-51
parking lot at 2 Amherst St, or directly on Amherst St.

After the meeting we will adjourn to the official after meeting meeting
location at The Cambridge Brewing Company
http://www.cambridgebrewingcompany.com/

--
Jerry Feldman <gaf@blu.org>
Boston Linux and Unix
PGP key id:3BC1EB90
PGP Key fingerprint: 49E2 C52A FC5A A31F 8D66 C0AF 7CEA 30FC 3BC1 EB90

Friday, January 4, 2013

BLU Desktop GNU/Linux SIG Meeting - Home Server - Weds, Feb 6, 2013

When: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 6:30PM

Location: MIT Building E51, Room TBD

Summary

Learn how to build a home/media server with GNU/Linux.

Abstract

Brendan Kidwell will show us how to use our favorite
GNU/Linux distribution to build a personal home server
for data storage and/or media serving.

Brendan will also discuss the dangers of entrusting your
data to the "cloud," in particular a cloud service that
you don't control. As an antidote, the home/personal
server solution that Brendan will present shows how you can
free yourself from a dependence on proprietary cloud services
such as Dropbox and Google Drive.

Meeting outline (working):
- Motivation / why you should have your own personal server
- Introduction to the components and what they can do
-- Your home router - providing optional off-site access.
(Also Dyndns.org or similar service to provide a friendly
Internet hostname.)
-- Hardware - any old box or not-hot-running laptop will do
-- Operating System: Ubuntu Server
-- ownCloud - Personal file sharing, syncing; Calendar;
Photos
-- Subsonic - Audio / Video storage with browser-based
playback
- Demo
-- ownCloud
-- Subconic
- Discussion / Questions

Transportation & Parking

Our meeting location is a short walk from the Kendall
Square T stop and other public transportation. There is
also free parking in the building's parking lot.

Volunteer Opportunities

We're still looking for volunteers to:
-- speak at upcoming meetings (full talks and lightening talks)
-- design a business card and/or flyer
-- help spread the word at local campuses
-- write blog posts for http://desktop-sig.blu.org/
-- contact media (newspapers, radio, etc.)
-- spread the word via Social Media

If you're passionate about the free software movement and
looking for a fun project, please let me know.

_______________________________________________
Announce mailing list
Announce@blu.org
http://lists.blu.org/mailman/listinfo/announce