Harsh J

On Windows, when I got to use my Webcam (Once every 3 years?) I got to fish out its disc from the archives, go through the tedious “Next” button processes and then face warning about the device drivers not being signed and that it could wreck my Windows (’sif it doesn’t auto) and then finally, the best part of Windows Installation processes, RESTART.

Ok, so instead of that I just plugged it in while running Linux and a nice popup saying a camera was detected (DETECTED, not “wanna detect and face the peril”) comes up and asks if I wish to import photos from it. My webcam is one of those Mercury junk (Kobian in some countries). Its a “3 in 1 Pencam”. Can be used as Webcam, a standalone battery sucking camera or video source.

Now to the reason of using it - Cheese. Been hearing about this application for a long time and that it was even included in many of the popular distros running GNOME got my curiosity running high. And when I finally did use it today, it was really worth it! The effects are fabulous, quick and exactly as goofy as one would desire. I loved the Warp effect personally

Of course, using it is just as easy as using any other Linux application. All you got to do is plug in your cam, start Cheese and you have its amazing effects at your disposal without any hassles.

You can easily install Cheese via your Linux flavor’s repositories. I currently use Ubuntu and for that you might just click this to get it done. Happy posing!

P.s. No comments on my photography unless you are talking about my screen-shot taking abilities.

I’ve never felt the need of a UPS for nearly two years until now.

Was gaming early at around 12:30 yesterday with Karthik and suddenly my Zebronics SMPS (400W PSU) goes *Bang*. Just like a balloon bang under a water tank, yeah that kind of a resonating noise. No sparks, no fire but it definitely blew up! Oh I did have the very irritating burning smell though.

06:00 AM - I didn’t pay much attention then as I was feeling sleepy and had college to go to but my dreams, they already started showing me the new rigs I might get if this one conked out entirely.

05:00 PM (After College) - A friend of mine, Jayahari, agreed to help see whats wrong and dissected the SMPS (He does this pretty fast for any hardware :P) and noticed some capacitors bulged and some stains on the circuit. Ok, so its definitely SMPS’s fault we thought and moved to Richie Street and got a new 500W PSU (The former was 400W).

07:30 PM - Hooked up the new SMPS and it still didn’t boot. Ok this is wrong, very wrong Then I noticed that none of the devices connected to my spike strip were functioning so I checked its fuse and it was kaput too. Damn, so it wasn’t my SMPS’s fault all the way, it was TNEB’s!

08:00 PM - Pulled out a newer spike strip from my electrical repository and used it to boot the PC, and it did fine. Jayahari couldn’t seem to forgive himself for not checking the power first rather than the SMPS. But he hooked the old SMPS to the main power, and it sparked out again, which made him quite content.

Now - Back online and need a new UPS to avoid another one of these *Bangs*

More:

Not one shop in Richie Street had any of the foreign brands Kalpik and others had recommended me to get. I had the budget and will to buy it while I had gone there but I just didn’t find any.

All seemed to be selling “Premium” Zebronics when asked about higher range stuff.