Thursday, May 29, 2014

GIT 2.0.0 Released

Junio C Hamano has just announced the availability of GIT 2.0, a major release of the popular distributed SCM tool used by Linux Kernel project and many other open source projects. I even used it in many of my own projects (both open source and personal projects).

This major release brings some big changes, but it has been introduced since 1.9.x, so the transition period should be easier for everyone who have been using 1.9.x. In overall, the changes are scattered everywhere: UI, workflows, performance, documentations, and code clean-ups.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

New Sync Protocol in Firefox

If you are a Firefox users and you happen to use their Sync feature which was introduced back in Firefox 4, you might be pretty upset when the design is so confusing and hard to use since you have to have access to the other browser in order to set up a sync account.

Well, great news for you since Mozilla has changed their Sync protocol mechanism in the latest version which was released last April (Firefox 29). The new system only requires you to sign up using the new Firefox account and it's password-based system (two-factor authentication is now being developed, with a possibility of using Google Authenticator App and SMS).

Here are the easy step to migrate to the new sync protocol:
  • upgrade everything to FF29
  • disconnect old browsers from Sync
  • create a Firefox Account
  • sign all browsers into your new account with the same email and password
That's it. You are now synced using the new Firefox account and all your data remains safe during migration.

For those who are still using the old sync, please note that they will end the old protocol at the end of ESR release maintenance period (14-Oct-2014), so what are you waiting for? Upgrade now :)

Here's some warnings:
pairing-based Old Sync and password-based FxA-powered New Sync don’t mix: if you used pairing to connect two FF28 browsers together, you won’t be able to connect a third FF29 browser to them, even if you upgrade them all to FF29.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

digiKam 4.0.0 Released

It's been some time since digiKam released a new version and this time, it's a new major version 4.0.0. There are lots of new feature on this release, including so many bug fixes:

NEW FEATURES:

General  : New Tags Manager window for easy tags management.
General  : New images quality sorter tool, based on blur, noise, and compression analysis.
General  : Multiple selection and multiple drag-n-drop capabilities on Tags Manager and Tags View from sidebars.
General  : Drop of Qt3Support classes. Now digiKam is pure Qt4 implementation.

Metadata : Nepomuk Service fixed to use current Api. Enable it from digikam metadata settings.
Metadata : Support for writing face rectangles in Windows Live Photo format.

Editor   : Port of canvas to Qt Model/view.
Editor   : LocalContrast tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : Sharpen tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : Blur tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : Charcoal tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : OilPaint tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : Emboss tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : Raindrop tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : FilmGrain tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : NoiseReduction tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : BlurFx tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : DistortionFx tool support multicore CPU.
Editor   : DistortionFx tool support zoomable preview.

Showfoto : Port of Thumbbar to Qt Model/view.


BUGFIXES FROM KDE BUGZILLA (alias B.K.O | http://bugs.kde.org):

001 ==> 325702 - digiKam crashes when deleting photos.
002 ==> 307146 - Build against shared LibRaw.
003 ==> 326368 - Can't make digiKam from git with test enable : error with libraw 5 ubuntu precise.
004 ==> 302810 - Crash when closing digiKam during face recognition.
005 ==> 289931 - digiKam crashed after trying to open the geolocation sidebar.
006 ==> 285250 - digiKam crashed after saving changed file.
007 ==> 256050 - digiKam crashed after modifying tag name.
008 ==> 324425 - How to switch off (get rid of) thumbnail preview?
009 ==> 326953 - Add loadEmbeddedPreview reading from QBuffer.
010 ==> 309061 - digiKam crash when moving tag.
011 ==> 327124 - Add loadHalfPreview reading from QBuffer.
012 ==> 326959 - digiKam crash while scanning pictures for thumnails maintenance.
013 ==> 318873 - digiKam crashes when clicking on image in thumbnails [patch].
014 ==> 263299 - Need a Tags Manager.
015 ==> 312373 - Deleting all the tags known to digiKam at once.
016 ==> 326542 - Tagging some face then go to tag manager and test tag manager UI.
017 ==> 158791 - Multi-select tags (i.e. to delete more than one at a time).
018 ==> 256252 - Assign Tag with Drag and Drop doesnt work since Version 1.2.0.
019 ==> 196927 - No easy way to expand or collapse deep tag hierarchies [patch].
020 ==> 317943 - Auto-rotate/flip using EXIF Information destroys pictures.
021 ==> 327242 - EXIF tags sorted in the reverse order (not alphabetically).
022 ==> 199975 - Issues in Album view on Windows.
023 ==> 327143 - TableView: Crash on image metadata change.
024 ==> 326525 - Severe memory leak during maintainance scan for rebuild thumbnails.
025 ==> 321403 - digiKam Crashes When Trying to Start.
026 ==> 327707 - Custom list of metadata cannot be customized.
027 ==> 180322 - Compute 35mm equivalent focal length.
028 ==> 320185 - Compatibility issue with hierarchical tags between Digikam and WLPG (and perhaps other software).
029 ==> 327957 - Text Filter Returns All Videos Regardless of String.
030 ==> 277928 - Database upgrade v4 to v5 failed : digiKam fails to start properly, lost albums.
031 ==> 325112 - Hang when opening folder of images to view thumbs.
032 ==> 314774 - When staring, error message "" occurs.
033 ==> 140175 - Mishandling of symbolic links [patch].
034 ==> 301284 - Crashed at exit of digiKam.
035 ==> 261526 - Other applications to edit the photos cannot be added in the "open , "others" - error: path is not correct.
036 ==> 306782 - Rotating several times quickly corrupts images.
037 ==> 323891 - Tooltips are blank (while using gnome).
038 ==> 255523 - digiKam shows html in notification after moving pictures.
039 ==> 230060 - Delete Album is an absolutely terrifying procedure.
040 ==> 181727 - digitaglinktree does not work if albumdir is not on root-partition.
041 ==> 275687 - Artifacts when scrolling in album GUI.
042 ==> 293297 - Digitaglinktree does not process any photos even if tags exists under People category + new option for year subdirectory [patch].
043 ==> 240048 - Open images with double instead of single click.
044 ==> 278664 - Image Names are not displayed completely in the AlbumUI.
045 ==> 187654 - Photos should be in reverse chronological order in default view.
046 ==> 317731 - digikam crashed while adding tags to images.
047 ==> 320455 - Tip of the Day dialog don't show digiKam icon.
048 ==> 328018 - Face-related XMP metadata not displayed.
049 ==> 142813 - No clock while processing display with color management.
050 ==> 138446 - Add "Assign ICC profile" entry to 'Image' menu.
051 ==> 293832 - Digitaglinktree - Multi tag level combination - find any image though directory browsing [patch].
052 ==> 309393 - Modify date and time changes the previous changes picture too.
053 ==> 236850 - Export iptc to file.
054 ==> 103201 - Wish: easy transport of albums, including tags, comments, etc.
055 ==> 228376 - Tags filter should tick checkbox on 'enter'.
056 ==> 289184 - "Toggle auto" in Tag panel does not remember settings between restarts of digiKam.
057 ==> 218824 - Allow state of the tag tree to be saved.
058 ==> 261566 - Cannot right-click below tree in tag sidebars.
059 ==> 278908 - Create new tags in category not possible.
060 ==> 117810 - Dates view sidebar does not take into account tag filters.
061 ==> 307848 - digiKam import mtp, failure.
062 ==> 306454 - Rotated images gets wrong permission.
063 ==> 270159 - Tag replaced instead of added.
064 ==> 273180 - Enable Fingerprints Rebuilding For Specific Albums....The Same As Reloading Thumbnails.
065 ==> 328294 - bootstrap.local invokes wrong shell [patch].
066 ==> 315881 - Cmake misplaces local KDE graphics components.
067 ==> 224038 - Thumbnails not shown on launch of digiKam.
068 ==> 294835 - Albums are listed with (0) photos, but Database Statistics shows correct numbers of photos.
069 ==> 186672 - Zoom slider should change amount of pictures, not picture size directly.
070 ==> 305104 - digiKam does not show some jpg images in files.
071 ==> 317669 - Two alert windows on overwrite alert.
072 ==> 320249 - Table view crashes when adressing tags.
073 ==> 309578 - crash importing images from an android usb storage.
074 ==> 322360 - Camera found as PTP Device, but if importing Images abort with "connection error".
075 ==> 328362 - Crash on start (macports install on OSX 10.9) - Exception Type: EXC_GUARD.
076 ==> 301371 - Exiv2 mix library strangeness.
077 ==> 328500 - Less unused space in Configure dialog.
078 ==> 328124 - digiKam extremely unresponsive and slow (probably related to tags).
079 ==> 273519 - When adding rating portrait images are rotated to landscape.
080 ==> 315156 - CR2 files from Canon PowerShot G1 X the colours are messed up.
081 ==> 228239 - Raw import tool: meaning of the Esc.
082 ==> 287102 - digiKam does not show selected album at startup.
083 ==> 307330 - digiKam does not connect to the album folder automatically unless it has been preselected in my folders.
084 ==> 163293 - Only generate thumbnail when needed [patch].
085 ==> 328632 - "Save change" create a new file with filename_v1.jpg.
086 ==> 233657 - Thumbnails are created for thumbnails.
087 ==> 328034 - Preload the next photo in the folder in a memory cache to speed up transitions.
088 ==> 196649 - Very poor usability when browsing JPEG and RAW files.
089 ==> 308343 - Tag FolderView Icons are blurry when using 48px setting.
090 ==> 328578 - Crash when opening settings.
091 ==> 307281 - digiKam crashes while scrolling list of photos previews.
092 ==> 146318 - Usability: goto next item/ forward buttons are inconsistent between edit and view mode.
093 ==> 293194 - Disable versioning side panel if versioning disabled in preferences.
094 ==> 328818 - 4.0.0-beta1 - Build Errors (kevix2.h).
095 ==> 328830 - digiKam compile error because of commit f3e488b56e4d56be0bb1022e32258add72c3c68a.
096 ==> 292120 - Batch rename returns 'file does not exist' during rename.
097 ==> 198100 - ACDSee XMP sidecar from Raw pictures is not loaded.
098 ==> 303194 - Filemanagement xml-files.
099 ==> 313856 - Re-enable the possibility to set up the shortcuts for rating and labeling (color and pick).
100 ==> 294580 - Unclear status of jpg-pics: how to check for hidden or even malicious data in jpg?
101 ==> 322652 - Crashes on camera import.
102 ==> 312285 - Crash in image editor when moving to the next image.
103 ==> 299755 - After latest X upgrades the Level Tools upgrade is a solid color (black, white, gray).
104 ==> 328835 - Crash when opening "Configure Digikam" settings.
105 ==> 329127 - Remove Tag menu entry is enabled if a picture has no Tags.
106 ==> 297804 - Saving an image loses portait orientation.
107 ==> 279996 - Crash while running face detection.
108 ==> 278049 - Crash during tagging while scanning run in background (Digikam::ImageModel::removeRowPairs).
109 ==> 262596 - Crash when finding faces (Digikam::ImageModel::removeRowPairs).
110 ==> 329323 - Compile time error: flandmark_detector.cpp: No such file or directory.
111 ==> 308734 - digiKam/kioslave: a lot of "KIO::Slave::timeout: Houston, we lost our slave" and "slave died".
112 ==> 304207 - Progress manager: more control on appearance/disappearance.
113 ==> 313678 - digiKam fails to know which images in my camera is new.
114 ==> 314952 - Import window should not lock the interface while reading photos.
115 ==> 282728 - Importing photos with "Date based subalbums". The folder name "date" is wrong.
116 ==> 320398 - Select Album window should remember last used destination.
117 ==> 313880 - "Sort items" choice not respected in the import Dialog box.
118 ==> 323937 - Sorting of several camera types is missing or wrong.
119 ==> 329652 - import (ctrl+n) does not import.
120 ==> 329608 - Thumbnail of picture in dolphin never updated after picture manipulation.
121 ==> 307844 - digiKam import, ignore the user selection, replaces it by "all selected".
122 ==> 292318 - digiKam marble maps does not work.
123 ==> 198406 - Xmp not synchronized, uncomplete.
124 ==> 147921 - Gps widget in French please.
125 ==> 330230 - Memory leak in Image Quality Sorter.
126 ==> 227530 - Album-sorting gone from menus [patch].
127 ==> 218023 - Albums tree does not remember sorting order (ascending/descending).
128 ==> 126116 - Keep directory hierarchy when albums are view by category.
129 ==> 225786 - Proposed digiKam Menu Changes.
130 ==> 246903 - Editor Canvas : not updated when zoom level changes in plugins.
131 ==> 129941 - Editor Canvas : Ability to Drag and Drop an image.
132 ==> 224246 - Editor Canvas : displays useless scroll bars.
133 ==> 233773 - Editor Canvas : ctrl + shift + e doesn't enable scrolling.
134 ==> 170364 - Editor Canvas : Expand selection rectangle by dragging sides in image editor [patch].
135 ==> 288761 - Cached image corrupted after modifying metadata.
136 ==> 326018 - Freezes when I attempt to use the sharpen/refocus tool.
137 ==> 330947 - Icons for protected/unprotected pictures too similar on import.
138 ==> 305079 - Please allow nepomuk digikam service being installable separately.
139 ==> 323284 - Compile 3.3.0 failed - lensfuniface.cpp undefined reference.
140 ==> 302422 - Slideshow info is displayed too high.
141 ==> 292114 - Showfoto not capable for drag-and-drop?
142 ==> 159220 - Non printable characters in IPTC keyword set by digiKam (UTF-8 support with IPTC metadata) [patch].
143 ==> 331700 - Some metadata are written with corrupted encoding of non-latin characters.
144 ==> 331578 - digiKam deadlocks on batch renaming/moving images.
145 ==> 257933 - digiKam zoom slider resets to minimum when returning from image preview [patch].
146 ==> 311936 - FindKdcraw.cmake is outdated and causes digikam to fail building against KDE 4.10.
147 ==> 331714 - Showfoto crash when opening RAW.
148 ==> 332280 - freerotationfilter.cpp:92: (style) Same expression on both sides of '||'.
149 ==> 332346 - Cannot delete (or Download & Delete) from the import dialog.
150 ==> 327676 - Automated picture cutting produces _quadratic_ pics.
151 ==> 306283 - Browsing large pic collections and select subsequent subsets of these: workflow?
152 ==> 250213 - Wish for automatic area selection from irregular contours.
153 ==> 279544 - Tag image for unsharp pictures.
154 ==> 279543 - Filter pictures by "average" brightness.
155 ==> 249023 - Running the batch queue twice on same target directory fails with "Failed to save item...".
156 ==> 332663 - Wrong location of documentation translations.
157 ==> 332287 - digiKam crashes repeatedly while tagging faces with names.
158 ==> 281785 - No prohibition warning while tagging thumbnail above preview.
159 ==> 329313 - WISH: howto update installed version _stable_ without harming existing system?
160 ==> 333299 - Crash segmentation fault at starts.
161 ==> 333386 - Tags manager: '' shown in dialog box when removing a tag.
162 ==> 333388 - Tag manager: Tags removed from images without confirmation dialog.
163 ==> 333385 - Selecting a month in the tree view shows a different month in calendar and icon view.
164 ==> 329697 - digiKam crash when browsing albums.
165 ==> 331597 - Tags are not sorted in UI [patch].
166 ==> 334183 - Face recognition folder selection scans all available folders.

i'm building it right now on my computer and soon in my VM and when it's done, i will push it to my SlackHacks and also submit to SBo repository as well.

Thursday, May 01, 2014

Master PDF Editor

For a long time, i have been searching for application that can be used to edit PDF files that really works. I know that LibreOffice also has this feature, but it's not really functioning well on some documents.

When browsing the web today, i found a nice application called Master PDF Editor that could be used to create, edit, preview, encrypt, sign and print XPS and interactive PDF documents. It's quite magnificent and it's free for use in Linux for non-commercial use.

Here are the list of features:
• Create new PDF and XPS files or edit existing ones.
• Add and/or edit bookmarks in PDF files.
• Encrypt and/or protect PDF files using 128 bit encryption.
• Convert XPS files into PDF.
• Add PDF controls (like buttons, checkboxes, lists, etc.) into your PDFs.
• Import/export PDF pages into common graphical formats including BMP, JPG, PNG, and TIFF.

Since this is a binary repackaging only, it's not that hard to make a build script for this and i have submitted a SlackBuild script for this package and hopefully it will be included in the next batch of update and it will be available in SBo project under office category.

Note:
x32 version - requirements: Qt 4.6.2 or later
x64 version - requirements: Qt 4.8.1 or later