Mac, Password and local keyboard setting...

First time, just before to login to write this
post, I was stuck with Macbook, where
my user password in English character,
forgot to change keyboard back to English
(from Punjabi), while Close MacBook
(which I often do).
When I opened, it was asking for password,
tried 2-3 times, but failed, then I found that
keyboard layout is Punjabi (not English),
so it was not accpecting password.
I tried Keyboard Shortcut to change like
Fedora/Gnome did. (+ keys),
but it was not changing, Rebooted, but still
asking for password.

Finally I found solution, hard learning, but it
works
Press key + (also
key also w0rks).
may be helpful in very rare condition, but it is
working this way....

Snow leopard (Mac OS X 10.6), Punjabi and Unicode 5.1

Newly available Mac Snow Leopard, which suppose
to be supporting Unicode 5.1 standard.
After upgrading from Mac OS X 10.5 (leopard) to
Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), Finally
I got that it is not supporting Punjabi (Gurmukhi) with
Unicode 5.1 standard.

Please use This Test Page to test Gurmukhi Unicode,
where you will find that following characters are missing
from fonts.
0A01
0A03
0A33 //This Test case working on 1 Mac machine, not on mine
0A51
0A75

Need to test other Indian Languages, not sure about
Apple's statement about Unicode 5.1 support whehter
it is about Indic language or not.

For Gurmukhi, need bug, going to file after confirming
with more mac users.

Thunderbird Profile Migration: Linux to Mac

yesterday I need to migrate data from
Linux to Mac machine, while biggest problem was
Email Client configration. I have two gmail
account configurated in Linux Machine with
Thunderbird and don't like to configure account
and make 17-19 Filters again. I was very sure about
linux migration from one release (or distribution) to
another, but never tried Linux2Mac Thunderbird
before.

so, yesterday was test day for Migration Linux2Mac
thunderbird data.
just scp'ed content from (linux) ~/.thunderbird/* to
(mac) ~Library/Thunderbird/

but simple pressing thunderbird icon was not working,
but showing error like "Already running..."

then checked profiles.ini file in ~/Library/Thunderbird

aman$ cat profiles.ini //from Linux Machine
[General]
StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
Path=6x78h8j9.default

aman$ cat profiles.ini-mac //that was old Thunderbird profile on Mac Machine (just before scp from linux)
[General]
StartWithLastProfile=1

[Profile0]
Name=default
IsRelative=1
Path=Profiles/76c9imkz.default

So Difference was between PATH, where Mac machine has
Profiles Directory, but Linux don't have. It was easy to hack
and after fix, run thunderbird and it was working fine,
sorting, filter and everything was just Normal.

Firefox 3.1 Beta 1 - for Punjabi

Again Firefox available for Testing beta version. It is available
for Punjabi Version 3.1Beta1

Windows Download:
http://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-3.1b1&os=win&lang=pa-IN

Mac Download:
http://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-3.1b1&os=osx&lang=pa-IN

Linux Download:
http://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-3.1b1&os=linux&lang=pa-IN

If you have resource please download and Test once (for Punjabi), so
that we can make impact for locale [1]

More This Beta release Information:
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-beta.html

After Test, please send us your review, comment about
Translation to our mailing list Punjab-users so that
we can work to update as we have two week to finish before
Beta 2 release. I have one issue with me (which is sent by
Mr. A S Kang for copy/link issue)

[1] Mozilla Bug
ਬੱਗ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਔਸਤ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲਈ ਹਿੱਟ 100 ਰੋਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਹੈ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਥੋੜ੍ਹੀ ਹੈਰਾਨੀ ਹੋਈ ਕਿ 100 ਕਿੱਥੋ ਹੋ ਗਏ, ਸੱਚੀ
ਐਨੀ ਉਮੀਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਸੀ। ਬਾਕੀ ਮੋਜ਼ੀਲਾ ਸਿਸਟਮ ਐਡਮਿਨ ਦੇ ਸ਼ਬਦ ਖੁਦ ਪੜ੍ਹ ਲਵੋ ਜੀ! Check
Admin comment below about Punjabi

"For the most part it looks like we have about 100 Active Daily users for pa-IN.
There is a strange couple of days just recently where we had a huge spike.
aug 21,22... Can anyone think of what might have caused this? Holiday or any
other event? I could have just been an error in our reporting system...

Here is the data for those two days and the last 15.

2008-08-21 7,004
2008-08-22 533
...
2008-10-01 110
2008-10-02 94
2008-10-03 115
2008-10-04 99
2008-10-05 93
2008-10-06 107
2008-10-07 106
2008-10-08 114
2008-10-09 96
2008-10-10 119
2008-10-11 99
2008-10-12 102
2008-10-13 117
2008-10-14 113
2008-10-15 119"

Mac and Python Error for hg

I was trying with hg (hg is a distributed
version control ) for my Firefox translation Project. Python was installed previously on macBook
(Mac OS X 10.5.4), but while running hg command, it showed error like following:
-----------
amanpreet-singh-brars-macbook:~ Preet$ hg ****
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/local/bin/hg", line 18, in
mercurial.util.set_binary(fp)
File "/Library/Python/2.5/site-packages/mercurial/demandimport.py", line 74, in __getattribute__
self._load()
File "/Library/Python/2.5/site-packages/mercurial/demandimport.py", line 46, in _load
mod = _origimport(head, globals, locals)
File "/Library/Python/2.5/site-packages/mercurial/util.py", line 33, in
_encoding = locale.getlocale()[1]
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.5/lib/python2.5/locale.py", line 460, in getlocale
return _parse_localename(localename)
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.5/lib/python2.5/locale.py", line 373, in _parse_localename
raise ValueError, 'unknown locale: %s' % localename
ValueError: unknown locale: UTF-8
---------
last line was making some know hint, something wrong with locale setting.

Tried to set various setting from terminal, finally it is fixed and here are commands I used

-----
$ printenv LANG

$ export LC_ALL=en_US.UTF-8

$ export LANG=en_US.UTF-8
-----
if you want those changes each time you log-in then make ~/.bashrc file and add
those lines there.

Note: I have not reboot my machine after making those changes, please don't know
whether work or not;-)

Convert real audio to mp3 on mac...

I have very few real audio files, but don't have mp3 for those,
search on google was not heard, and FFmpegX
link is here

it is free Audio/Video convertor for Mac OS. It is good and quick,
Howto use those,
if it shows you for binary format installation, you can skip it
(you can try later if you want with FFmpegx->install binaries)
it is quite easy, just select .rm file and select format, which want to
be.
I got some my favourite song back.

MacBook, Mac OS 10.5 and OpenSUSE 10.3

I tried to install Linux (opensuse 10.3) on
my newest MacBook. Each Time I put
DVD or CD. It showed Blank Screens with
single cursor. What is this?
even tried with opensuse 11 Alpha2, but
same problem. I couldn't think that it was
Software Issue as Suse is best yet for me
to Hardware, but I used fedora 8 CD. Oh,
yes, it is also failed. so it was some new issue, which was not yet discussed in
any fourm or Mailing list (I searched 2 days on google, but not able to find).

while Windows Vista boot normal as Mac
support itself. This make me quite dispointted.

Finally I put my USB keyboard and mouse to start MacBook and by chance, rEFlt
boot from DVD and it started installation.

Cool, it worked, I verified 2 times later that during Boot rEFlt failed to boot from CD/DVD ROM if you have not Keyboard attached. Don't know if it is bug or not,
but now I have installed openSUSE 10.3
on my system as per instruction given
on THIS Page.

only problem I found after installation is
Sound, which is still not working, I tried
various solution.

Mac OS and Import Keyboard Layout

While I am using Mac in English (as Punjabi is not available),
but need Unicode Punjabi (Gurmukhi) Input, which is available
partially in Mac with Help of small variant of Incript and
Phonetic for Gurmukhi, but I was not use to any of those.

So, first issue to
How to Make New Layout (surely Import) in Mac OS?
Text input or any Editor available in Mac?

Where to Use that File and whether any Text or Binary File required?

and last issue how to Configure newly made Keymap?

from with google, I found very good Unicode Mac Keyboard
Layout Editor "Free"
Ukelele
it is Easy to copy present Keyboard layout and modified
as per required. Documentation is also good,
which help to fix me 3rd issue (where to)

good thing about Mac is to use XML file directly.
(2nd issue FIXED)

Just copy newly created layout in your Home folder 's directory
and it will start use immediately
~/Library/Keyboard Layouts/

so Path on my machine is following:
/Users/aalam/Library/Keyboard Layouts

Click on your Top-Right Side (Keyboard Indicator)
and Click to add new layout,
select Gurmukhi Jhelum and start using that.

My system working fine for me now. Biggest issue for
type Gurmukhi (Punjabi) FIXED, but few question still
in my mind

How to Import this layout in Upstream (in Mac OS by default)
and how to contact with Those people to improve Punjabi
support in OS. (surely Font Shape is Best among other
Oerating system including Windows XP, Vista, Linux
and other Free Fonts (Saab, Lohit or any other),
but I am missing 25cc (Unicode), dotted Circle in fonts.
Also want to improvement in Keyboard layout.

MacBook and my EC325 - Cost 1850Rs at Imagine

After getting MacBook (white), first challange was 19'' Dell Montior, whether
it work or now. Purchased Mini-DVI to DVI convertor and it works fine (because it
support 1400x990, while Mac only has
1248x1048). This was biggest issue,
which is actually Nothing.

While, I was sure about Reliance EC325 Modem that It would work fine (a it was
detected easliy under Linux).
but I was really in trouble, when it
was not detected under 'dmesg',
showing some error to detect device.

I asked Mac Center regarding that, Engineer Called me after 1 hour and told
"offically" Rs 1850/- need to pay to fix
issue, if you give me your home address, I will fix in Rs 1000/- "privately".
"What the hell you are taking and what whom?"
I told him to call later and start searching driver for EC325
you can download from here:
Huawei EC325 Driver for Mac OS
(Language is Thai, you may not read, but
Docuement is available for Intel machine, and
you can get Link to download driver from that document).
[Direct Download Mac OS Driver for Huawei EC325 (Zip file)]

Just install and restart your Mac and it will
detect your USB modem. (try to read
Image in PDF with driver.

It saves my 1000Rs(~25USD - Privately, and ~50USD offically), and help to
improve my experience for Mac as well as
for Hardware. But it was bad experience
only with Imagine (Mac Selling Center in
India).

Got New Mac Book - White, Apple, and Leopard

yes, I purchased Mac Book (ਆਮ). Yes, it was too costly,
but I was one of my biggest desire to work on it.

It is white one, it has an Apple on Top, It has very
different keyboard from normal. It has Very Very
Cool Graphic.

More feature include:
2GB RAM
Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz
160GB - HDD (SATA)
13'' (I like this very much)
Mac OS Leopard 10.5.2
DVD - RW (Dual Layer)
Built-in iSight camera


I had plan to take Mac OS Leopard, but they
said, it will take 2 week to make available, ok,
I asked my RH Friend Amit to give me DVD. After
3 Days, I got it. I wanted to install on my
Dell E1405 (with has Default Windows XP and
OpenSUSE installed). I collected all documentation,
whole patches, just ready to install, but shit,
Mac is providing DL DVD (dual Layer), while
my laptop has only DVD-RW.

Final I visited their Store (which is just next
building to my office). I liked Mac Mini
very much, It was Nice one with DL-DVD-RW.
it only need Monitor, keyboard and mouse.
4 USB port and 2GB RAM, it is really good idea to enjoy
Mac (although it is also costly than normal).

Final I make decision to buy Laptop only as
Kanwal need a laptop, so I can give Dell to him
(surely he will never like anything other than
Windows).
Whilte MacBook

so there is my choice: MacBook White (MB403LL)
Features are already give.
It cost me around 66,450Rs
Yes, it is costly, but it is super, it is best.

Accident, yes it was accident, which happened as my
Friend Jaswinder told. Office lift was not working, so
we visited to Mac Store and it happened.
We are out of money now totally.
CC has only Rs 23 left in balance.

Plan:
I have plan to install OpenSUSE with this, so
that Translation can continue with it. but will
wait if I can manage CVS, SVN from it.
ਹਾਂ, ਬੇਸ਼ਕ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਲਈ ਸੇਵਾ ਤਾਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਕੰਮ ਹੈ!!!
Still a lot of new challenges are ahead, lot of new learning,
and a lot of fun.
ਹੁਣ ਜੇ ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਕਹੀਏ ਤਾਂ ਕੀ?
ਬਾਕੀ ਗਲਾਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸੋਹਣੀਏ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਸਰਦਾਰ ਆਂ...