Currently, my Laptop's BIOS version is 3.12 (latest version available: 3.19), the Embedded Controller is at version 3.03 (latest version available: 3.04).

The BIOS README tells me:

- This BIOS version will only work with Embedded Controller Program
  Version 3.04 (or higher). Please obtain the additional package,
  Embedded Controller Program Version 3.04 (or higher),
  and update Embedded Controller Program in the system with it.
- If you need to update Embedded Controller Program as well as the BIOS,
  update the BIOS first.

OK, so I guess I need to update the Embedded Controller Firmware first. However, the README for the Controller Update tells me:

- This version of Embedded Controller Program will only work with BIOS
  Version 3.13 (or higher). Please obtain the additional package, BIOS
  Version 3.13 (or higher), and update the BIOS in the system with it.
- If you need to update the BIOS as well as the Embedded Controller
  Program, update Embedded Controller Program first.

I think it's time to make use of my extended service contract and call their hotline. Or do I really have to update the BIOS from 3.12 to 3.13 first, then update the embedded controller to 3.04 before I can apply the latest BIOS update to 3.19? This is insane.]]> unknown (Lenz) 2006-02-13T08:24:00Z http://lenz.homelinux.org/blog/index.php?np_act=output_all#%3C58fce6839e.20060206164357%40newsposter.webhop.org%3E Justin and Roger for getting the book out and published! I helped tech editing a few chapters (which looked very promising) and I am looking forward to the complete works. Good job, guys!]]> unknown (Lenz) 2006-02-06T15:43:57Z http://lenz.homelinux.org/blog/index.php?np_act=output_all#%3C63f4ef8b81.20060131114435%40newsposter.webhop.org%3E Arjen already mentioned this in December, but let me remind you anway: we would like to showcase some Open Source projects that use or support MySQL in the MySQL Community Pavilion at our MySQL User Conference 2006 in Santa Clara, California.

So if you are a member of a project that utilizes MySQL in a cool way, here is your chance to show off!

Repeating Arjen's words here: Primarily, we would like to hear from projects which are not backed/run by a company, because companies of course already have the opportunity to become a sponsor/exhibitor.

Also, note that the conference is in Santa Clara, California - while we can provide space, we are unable to fund everybody's travel/accomodation costs. So if you are overseas and unable to make it, perhaps someone else more local who also works on the project can come...

Anyway, send message to community at our main domain name, subject "MySQL UC2006 Community Pavilion" telling us the name of your project, a description of the project, website URL, other relevant details, who is involved, and which people would actually be coming to the conference (and their email addresses). Someone from the community department (probably Colin) will collect all the info so we can plan from there.]]> unknown (Lenz) 2006-01-31T10:44:35Z http://lenz.homelinux.org/blog/index.php?np_act=output_all#%3Ca20dc3355b.20060130183731%40newsposter.webhop.org%3E Markus yesterday mentioned that he started reading "Producing Open Source Software" by Karl Fogel, a book that I plan to read some time, too. The table of content looks promising, he covers a wide range of aspects related to building up and running an OSS project.

In addition to Fogel's work, there also is another interesting book about this topic: Matthias Stürmers master thesis "Open Source Community Building". It takes a slightly more scientific approach and documents the results of actually interviewing the members of various OSS projects about their experiences. It has been around for a bit, Matt Asay wrote a nice review about it in September 2005. I just read the rewritten german summary Mattias created for the german Open Source Yearbook and found it an interesting read! If you are running or plan to found an Open Source Software project, you might want to consult these books for some good advice on how to avoid common pitfalls and how to attract and foster a community around your project.]]> unknown (Lenz) 2006-01-30T17:37:31Z http://lenz.homelinux.org/blog/index.php?np_act=output_all#%3C89468761e6.20060127160156%40newsposter.webhop.org%3E Open-XChange Groupware server about using MySQL as a storage backend. As it turned out, a long-standing bug report has just recently been picked up and the first patches have been posted. The procedure on how to get OX working with MySQL is also described on a Wiki page and there is a discussion about this in their Forum. So if you're interested in testing Open-XChange with MySQL, give this a try and provide them with feedback! Thanks for your support.]]> unknown (Lenz) 2006-01-27T15:00:46Z http://lenz.homelinux.org/blog/index.php?np_act=output_all#%3C7a267a7f00.20060120165351%40newsposter.webhop.org%3E twinkle has been under heavy developement since the last time I looked at it. To test it, I created an RPM for my local SUSE Linux 10.0 installation, which I have now placed into my RPM download section.

Unfortunately it's still unusable for me, as the sound is very choppy when using my Bluetooth headset, no matter which sound setting I choose. Which is sad, as twinkle is one of the very few OSS SIP phones that has native ALSA sound support :(]]> unknown (Lenz) 2006-01-20T15:53:51Z http://lenz.homelinux.org/blog/index.php?np_act=output_all#%3C1e031ecb3c.20060117181400%40newsposter.webhop.org%3E Kai Seidler, who is one of the people behind the very popular XAMPP project.

You can now read the interview on the MySQL Developer Zone - I hope you will enjoy it!]]> unknown (Lenz) 2006-01-17T17:14:00Z