The final version of XBMC has been out for a while now. The alpha/beta releases were buggy, but this final one, look stable. I’m on my way to switch from Mediaportal after 3+ years of use.

XBMC can be installed on various platforms including Xbox, Windows, Linux or Macintosh computers. It is intended to be used for media PCs (like the Xbox but with additional features) that stream the media to the television but it can be installed on any computer meeting the requirements obviously.

The interface has been designed with usability and wow effect in mind. Links to video, music, images, settings and plugins are available from the main menu. The first three entries lead to similar sections of the media center. The user has to first pick at least one data folder that contains files that can be read by the player. This takes a few seconds at most and it is possible to navigate with the keyboard, mouse or gamepad in the menus.

The media center will pick up metadata automatically but it can also search the Internet for additional information like movie posters, plot summaries or actors.

Plugins enhance the system further. They can add all kinds of new functions to the system like games, communication, news and service integration (Youtube, Apple Trailers, Podcasts).

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Ubuntu builds on a solid base of Debian Linux to create an award-winning operating system that’s light-years ahead of its competitors. Ubuntu consistently tops lists of the most popular Linuxes amongst professionals and enthusiasts; Dell recently embraced Ubuntu in its product lines after a user survey indicated overwhelming public support.

Ubuntu Kung Fu provides hints, hacks, tweaks and tricks for every level of user. Guaranteed to be free of the usual dross that fills tips books, Ubuntu Kung Fu is written to be entertaining and, above all, readable. Its 300+ concise tips utilize and exploit hidden or lesser-known features to boost day-to-day productivity. You’ll also find tips on tweaking Ubuntu, wrangling the system into shape, optimizing, enhancing security, and lots more. Learn what extraordinary things can be done with Ubuntu.

Written with the migrating Windows or Mac OS X user in mind, Ubuntu Kung Fu avoids the usual Linux/Unix folklore that can send most of us to sleep. The tips have one aim-to produce results as quickly as possible, in an environment where the reader can polish their skills as they read. This is the Linux book for the rest of us.

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If something goes wrong, roll up your sleeves, then troubleshoot and fix Linux yourself!

Commercial support packages for Linux can be expensive. This unique book gives you the power to diagnose and fix a wide range of Linux problems. Using Fedora Core Linux and Red Hat Enterprise Linux examples, Thomas Weeks and bestselling Red Hat Linux Bible author Christopher Negus offer you scores of step-by-step procedures and tools to resolve Linux hardware incompatibilities and system conflicts commonly encountered in workstation, server and networking environments.

Inside, you’ll find complete coverage of Linux troubleshooting

• Prevent failures with install-time troubleshooting
• Formulate solid backup and recovery strategies
• Automate, secure, and provision both client and server systems
• Create intrusion detection systems and firewalls
• Diagnose and resolve driver issues for video cards, modems, and other hardware
• Deal with file system corruption using emergency boot environments
• Perform server-side configuration and trouble-shooting of BIND9/DNS, Samba, NFS, FTP, Web (Apache), Mail (Sendmail/Postfix), printing (CUPS), and other servers
• Find special sections on Debian and SUSE troubleshooting techniques

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Deeper coverage of the command line and the GNOME GUI, including GUI customization
Coverage of important Ubuntu topics, such as sudo and the new Upstart init daemon
More practical coverage of file sharing with Samba, NFS, and FTP
More detailed, usable coverage of Internet server configuration, including Apache, exim4, and DNS/BIND
More state-of-the-art seczurity techniques, including firewall setup using firestarter and iptables, as well as a full chapter on OpenSSH and an appendix on security
Deeper coverage of “meat-and-potatoes” system and network administration tasks-from managing users to CUPS printing, configuring LANs to building a kernel
A more practical introduction to writing bash shell scripts
Complete instructions on how to keep your Linux system up-to-date using aptitude, Synaptic, and the Software Sources window
And much more…including a 500+ term glossary, five detailed appendixes, and a comprehensive index to help you find what you need fast

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