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Resetting the KDE Desktop on Debian Wheezy

Note to self: tinker less with the desktop set up and just get some work done.

After seriously messing up the KDE Plasma desktop on my Debian box while adding a second monitor to the setup, I needed to reset the desktop and get some semblance of order again. Turns out that it took a bit of Googling to figure out so I thought I’d put the steps here so I can find them the next time I bust the desktop.

Start by firing up your favorite console. Then just enter these commands, no need to be root:

kquitapp plasma-desktop
rm ~/.kde/share/config/plasm* -fv
plasma-desktop &

This stops the Plasma desktop making the desktop disappear, then removes the config files associated with Plasma, and finally starts the Plasma desktop as if it were the first time you are running it. This seem a bit drastic, but KDE Plasma has a lot of configurable pieces and if it goes sideways it’s a heck of lot easier to wipe it out and start over than it is to try and back it out.

 

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Lifehacker’s Guide to Flashing a ROM on Your Android Device

Android is great, but sometimes, the version you get with your phone—whether its vanilla Android or something like Samsung’s TouchWiz—leaves a bit to be desired. Here’s how to install a new version of Android (or ROM) on your device for an even better Android experience.

via How to Flash a ROM to Your Android Phone.

Good article for getting started with the fun that is rooting and flashing your Android device. Lots of links to more in depth stuff make this a great starting point for those interested in getting total control over their Android device.

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Did You Know That Amazon Provides Free AWS Training Videos and Labs?

New to AWS and looking to gain a foundational knowledge about key AWS services? Our “Introduction to AWS” series includes free, on-demand instructional videos and labs that enable you to learn about AWS in 30 minutes or less. Start by watching a short video about an AWS service to learn about key concepts and terminology and see a step-by-step console demonstration. Next, get hands-on practice using the AWS service with a free self-paced training lab.

via AWS Training – Free Online Videos and Labs.

I didn’t, but I do now. These are great for learning about the fundamentals of AWS cloud computing. Topics covered include intros to Simple Storage Service (S3), Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), Identity and Access Management (IAM), Relational Database Service (RDS), and Elastic Load Balancing. Used along with the AWS Free Tier these represent an excellent for anyone to become more familiar with running servers and systems and getting a better understanding of cloud computing.

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Google Rolling Out Activity Stream Feature For Drive

Now Google is announcing an update to Drive, which brings new, and much needed functionality to its offering. The service allows for easy collaboration on projects, but until now, it was difficult to track the various changes being made. Google is adding an activity stream to solve that issue.

via Betanews: Google Drive update adds an activity stream.

This will be helpful for keeping track of who is working on what as we share Google Drive documents. Watch for the feature to appear over the course of the next week.

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My Twitter Digest for 01/13/2014

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