08th Aug2014

Best way to manipulate images using PHP?

by Gyro

I have deployed lots of different solutions to manipulate images with PHP, but today I stumbled upon probably the best PHP library out there.

It is called WideImage (requires PHP 5.2+ with GD2 extension), and it makes resizing, cropping, rotating, adding watermarks. and much more super easy.

Check out WideImage, I'm sure you'll love it!

Enjoy! :crazy:

746

23rd Jul2014

Ubuntu: Autostart Dropbox during Boot / System Startup

by Gyro

Today, I wanted to autostart dropbox during boot, so it is loaded during system startup and not only after I login.

To accomplish this, I needed to create a file and execute a few terminal commands.

1. Get startup script

Go to: dropboxwiki.com and click on the "Debian/Ubuntu" bar, copy the code.

2. Create a new file, paste the code into new file, and adjust it a bit

$ sudo nano /etc/init.d/dropbox

You need to provide the username(s) that use dropbox.
Edit the follwing line in the code, replace user1 user2 with the correct username(s):

DROPBOX_USERS="user1 user2"

Save the file, close editor, and make the file executable.
$ sudo chmod +x /etc/init.d/dropbox

3. Add the file to the autostart with lower priority

$ sudo update-rc.d -f dropbox remove
$ sudo update-rc.d dropbox defaults 98 02
This will load dropbox near the end of the system startup, found it in the ubuntuforums.

That should be all, enjoy :crazy:

3713

11th Sep2013

Ubuntu Flash Player Plugin Update

by Gyro

Today YouTube and Facebook kept telling me that my flash player plugin is out of date and that I need to update.

However, when following the link in the warning, all I got offered was of some .rpm file I could download.

As I rarely need to use an .rpm file in Ubuntu, I figured I missed something. So I searched a bit more, and more, and more… and bingo, there is actually a package I can install via apt-get!

This is not really a ubuntu flash player plugin update, but rather an installation of the flash player plugin. It's a bit weird as this stuff used to come with the browser (Chromium) and I never had to update the flash player itself, nor install it. Seems that something has changed, and there is a package on launchpad called “adobe-flashplugin” package in Ubuntu: https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/adobe-flashplugin

Since it is there, you don't need to download anything, just open your terminal and type:
# sudo apt-get install adobe-flashplugin
And you are done!

You will have the latest flash player installed, and it works perfectly fine (for me) with Firefox and Chrome. I am guessing it will update just like any other package… time will tell.

Enjoy! ;)

1421

21st Feb2013

Speed up your WordPress with CloudFlare!

by Gyro

My web hosting services provider ServerPilot has integrated CloudFlare into the cPanel!

CloudFlare is Content Deliver Network (CDN) with 22 data centers across the globe, and according to google there are only 9 web services in the world that have more traffic than CloudFlare. It is free, and it will make your website's load lightning fast from anywhere in world!

Even if your website is hosted with a slow hosting provider elsewhere, you can use CloudFlare for free!

If you give CloudFlare a try, make sure you also get the CloudFlare WordPress Plugin! WIth it, you can turn on the "Developer Mode" from your WordPress admin panel -- a must when updating your site, as changes won't show up immediately if the Developer Mode is turned off.

Enjoy! :enjoy:

1174

23rd Jul2012

Install JDownloader for Ubuntu – DLC Download Container App

by Gyro

Install JDownloader, the DLC Download Container App for Ubuntu.

JDownloader is an open source software, written completely in Java and platform independent. Download files from One-Click-Hosters like Rapidshare.com, Share-Online, BitShare, FreakShare, or CloudNator.com — it works for users who don't pay, and users with a premium account can enter their account details to download with Full Speed. JDownloader can open DLC files and download multiple files at the same time, it has captcha recognition, and even extracts archives automatical once all files have been downloaded. JDownloader is absolutely free to use, as you would expect from Open Source software.

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4210

15th Jun2012

Download MP3s from GrooveShark™

by Gyro

I have long been a fan of GrooveShark. When I am not listening to Coast2Coast or other Talk Radio, GrooveShark is usually my choice for audio entertainment. Looking back, it's amazing how many new musicians I only know because of GrooveShark, and it almost hurts thinking about all the awesome music that I would have never had the opportunity to listen to otherwise.

While listening to some tunes, I though how awesome it would be to listen to them in the car… but how to I download music from GrooveShark?

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5159

14th Jun2012

Browser Wars: Chrome vs Firefox vs IE vs Opera

by Gyro

LifeHacker.com has released awesome Browser Speed Tests for Chrome 19, Firefox 13, Internet Explorer 9, and Opera 11.64.

(more…)

1141