How to mount a VirtualBox shared folder in Ubuntu guest

1. Click on VirtualBox VM Devices and Shared Folders... to create a shared folder, named it SharedFolder, for example.
2. On Ubuntu guest machine, open Terminal
3. Type sudo mkdir /mount/vboxshared
4. Type sudo mount -t vboxsf SharedFolder /media/vboxshared to mount the VirtualBox shared folder as read. To make it read/write, use this command: sudo mount -t vboxsf -o uid=1000,gid=1000 SharedFolder /media/vboxshared

If the shared folder is a permanent share and auto mount, make sure your user id in group vboxsf. To add a user id to group vboxsf, using command: sudo usermod -a -G vboxsf linuxuserid

Reference:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox/SharedFolders
https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=3201&highlight=share+folder

Apple iPad 2 vs. Toshiba Thrive vs. Acer Iconia Tab vs. Samsung Galaxy Tab vs. Motorola Xoom

There is no question that Apple iPad 2 is a leading table. Let compare it with other 16GB Wi-Fi tablets.

Tablet	Apple iPad 2	Toshiba Thrive	Acer Iconia Tab A500	Samsung Galaxy Tab	Motorola Xoom Family Edition
Operating System (OS)	Apple iOS 4, 5	Google Android 3.1, 3.2	Google Android 3.1	Google Android 3.1	Google Android 3.1
Screen Size	9.7-inch	10.1-inch	10.1-inch	10.1-inch	10.1-inch
Screen Resolution	1024x768	1280x800	1280x800	1280x800	1280x800
Processor	1GHz dual-core Apple A5	1GHz Dual-core	1GHz Dual-core NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2	1GHz Dual-core NVIDIA® Tegra™ 2	1GHz Dual core
Memory (RAM)	512MB	1GB DDR2	1GB DDR2	1GB	1GB
Storage (ROM)	16/32/64 GB	8/16/32 GB	8/16/32 GB	16 or 32 GB	16GB
Expandable memory	None	Full-size SD Card slot. Up to 128GB SDXC	microSD, microSDHC	None	Up to 32 GB microSD card
Back Camera	1MP. Video recording, HD (720p)	5MP with auto-focus, 720p video capture	5MP with auto focus and single LED flash	3MP auto-focus camera with LED flash. HD(720p) Video recording	5MP auto-focus camera with LED flash. 720p video capture
Front Camera	0.3MP VGA	2MP	2MP	2MP	1.3MP
Microphone	Yes	Yes	Yes		Yes
HDMI	No	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
USB	No	Mini USB 2.0 port, Full-size USB 2.0 port	1 USB 2.0	No	Micro USB
Wi-Fi	802.11a/b/g/n	802.11b/g/n	802.11b/g/n	802.11 a/b/g/n Dual-band (2.4GHz, 5GHz)	802.11b/g/n
Battery	10 hrs	11 hrs	8 hrs	9 hrs	10 hrs
Weight	1.33 lbs	1.60 lbs	1.69 lbs	1.25 lbs	1.43 lbs
Flash support		Yes		Yes	Yes
Price	$500/$600/$700	$380/$400/$480	$350/$450/$500	$500/$600	$400

How to remove exif tag

Each time we take a picture from a digital camera or smart phone, the exif tag and other photographic meta data are include in these pictures. These meta data contain info about your camera or your phone, GPS location,... To protects your privacy or reduce the picture size before publish the pictures on the web, you should remove exif data.

On Ubuntu: Using GPS Correlate
In the terminal:
To show the exif tags: gpscorrelate -s *.jpg
To remove the exif tag: gpscorrelate -r *.jpg

On Windows: Using a free software called IrfanView

How to completely disable Google Web History?

Google Web History records your key search and web activity after you log in to Google Account. When you create a Google Account at http://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount, you're given the option to enable Web History with your account. Visit Google Web History for more detail.

Many people choose to NOT enable Web History for privacy reason. However, when you activate Google+ service, you may accident enable Web History. For more information, read "Think You’ve Disabled Google’s Web History Tracking? Check Again" posted at TechCrunch.

To complete disable Google Web History, after login to Google Account, type this URL:
https://www.google.com/accounts/DeleteService?service=hist
(Source: Alex at Google Web Search Community)

Upgrade to Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot)

I upgraded my Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal to Ubuntu 11.10 beta 2, code name Oneiric Ocelot, on Oct. 12, before official release few days. Here are my own experience:

1. Make sure you know the admin password for PhpMyAdmin, if installed, before you upgrade. I forgot this password and it took me almost half hour to get out the infinite loop :(
2. An hour for download and another hour to install.
3. Remote desktop 'tsclient' was removed. Used 'RDesktop' or 'Remmina' instead. After using Remmina Remote Desktop client, I liked it. It's better than 'tsclient'
4. Somehow the trash icon in launchpad associated with VLC media. Uninstalled VLC resolve this issue.

How to upgrade VirtualBox 4.0.12 to 4.1.4 on Ubuntu 11.04

Oracle released VirtualBox 4.1.4, a maintenance release of VirtualBox 4.1 which improves stability and fixes regressions, on Oct 3rd, 2011. Using 'sudo apt-get update' and 'sudo apt-get upgrade' will not upgrade your Oracle VirtualBox (https://www.virtualbox.org/) from 4.0.12 to 4.14. To upgrade:

1. Backup your virtual machine by press <ctrl>-E to export appliance
2. Go to Ubuntu Software Center to uninstall current version
3. Install new version Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.1.4
4. Install Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
5. Run virtual machine and apply new version of Oracle VM VirtualBox Guest Addition 4.1.4r74291

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011. Jobs was 56.

Apple said in a statement on its website: "Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

Well said, I have nothing to add. But I would like to share "one more thing". One of the things I learn from Steve Jobs in WWDC 1997: “And you know the hardest thing is, when you think about focusing right, you think well focusing is about saying yes. No. Focusing is about saying no. Focusing is about saying no. And you got to say no no no. And when you say no, you piss off people… and the result of that focus, is going to be really great products, where the total is much greater than the sum of the parts.”

Rest In Peace, Steve.