Miro 2.5 Improves Speed & Performance for Windows, Linux, and Mac Versions

Miro 2.5 Improves Speed & Performance for Windows, Linux, and Mac Versions:

"If you’re looking for a free and easy to use desktop application for managing online audio & video content, it’s worth checking out the newest version of Miro. The last time we looked at the Open Source video player and podcast client was just under a year ago and they have since improved it a lot.

Using Miro 2.5

When installing you can choose Easy or Custom installation where the biggest difference is being able to select which files to associate with Miro with a custom install.



After installation is complete you get a First Time Setup Wizard where you setup how it will work with video downloads and content.





If you have used previous versions the first thing you will notice is a more slick user interface that loads a lot faster.



The video player has a nice refined look and includes a pop-in or out options when watching.



It allows you to download videos from YouTube, Torrents, Music Blogs, and other video download sites. To download content from YouTube you first need to create a link on the sidebar by clicking Sidebar and New Site.



Type in the URL for YouTube and click OK.



Now that it is included in the sidebar when you watch videos on YouTube there will be a Download this video button at the top of the browser.



This newest version of Miro is much faster, supports more ways to download content, and a new audio podcast category.



While it is not perfect yet…version 2.5 is definitely a great improvement over the previous versions and worth checking out. Miro is a cross platform app that will work on Windows, OS X, Ubuntu and other distributions of Linux."



Download Miro for Windows, Mac, or Linux

The Stylish Ubuntu Desktop

The Stylish Ubuntu Desktop [Featured Desktop]:
Reader naaamo2004's Ubuntu desktop proves that Linux can be slick, stylish, and functional all at the same time.
The desktop is a combination of:

• Ubuntu with a custom theme.
• Avant window navigator with custom icons.
• Conky with custom scripts for resource usage, clock, and now playing.

Great job, naaamo2004!
Want to see your own Linux desktop featured here? Read up on how to customize Conky for ambient Linux productivity, and then post your productive desktop over in the Lifehacker Desktop Show and Tell Flickr Group complete with a description of the programs and tweaks you used (and preferably links as well!), and we just might feature it here.

The Stylish Ubuntu Desktop [Flickr]

The Stylish Conky Desktop

The Stylish Conky Desktop [Featured Desktop]:
Reader naaamo2004's Linux desktop shows off the beauty and power of a painstakingly tweaked desktop—and he even included a video demonstration of how it all works.
The desktop is a combination of:

• GTK/Metacity theme: by me (slightly reworked)
• Icons: folders/devices 'iNiZe'
• Dock: AWN with the 'token' theme
• Wallpaper: 'a conversation', colored by me
• Conky for the music widget and panel extension.

You can check out the video to see the desktop in action, including mouse gestures, the Conky system stats panel, and the music widget.


Want to see your own Linux desktop featured here? Read up on how to customize Conky for ambient Linux productivity, and then post your productive desktop over in the Lifehacker Desktop Show and Tell Flickr Group complete with a description of the programs and tweaks you used (and preferably links as well!), and we just might feature it here.

The Stylish Conky Desktop [Flickr]

Stream your Entire Music Library to Any Computer

Stream your Entire Music Library to Any Computer:


Serious audiophiles like to be close to their music. Our previous DIY Multi-Room Wireless Music Remote was just one way to take your music anywhere you want. With these two free programs and a bit of configuration, you can stream your own music from anywhere you’d like. With the two program setup, you can also stream songs over the internet for friends to enjoy.

The tutorial guides you through the 6 steps of launching your stream:

1. Install an Apache server
   
   

Setup your PC as a server platform with the installation of Apache. Use XAMPP, the open source and cross-platform web server package. XAMPP packages MySQL, PHP and Perl in a single zip or exe file. Download and run with minimal configuration of the various components that make up the web server.


2. Install netjukebox
   

netjukebox is an open source, flexible, web based Winamp/httpQ media jukebox. It can be configured as a client/server to stream music from any computer that’s a part of the network. The downloaded netjukebox needs to be extracted in XAMPP’s htdocs directory. Provided codecs along with netjukebox go into another subfolder. The login screen of the media jukebox is accessed by typing a URL in the browser.


3. Secure your server
   

Securing your server installation is a priority. The tutorial walks through the steps needed to setup a secure admin username and a root password for the XAMPP and MySQL host. Passwords also sets-up XAMPP directory protection for protected access through browsers.


4. Setup netjukebox
   

The media player is configured (just a few lines in Notepad) to locate the music library and read the codecs. This step also configures web access for the administrator with the correct server password.


5. Link your music library
   

Log on to the netjukebox administrator page with the browser and use the configuration panel to index all your songs in the music library. The user friendly program also updates your music collection with album covers automatically or manually using online databases.




6. Stream your music remotely
   

Log in to your music library from anywhere using a browser and typing in your IP with the /netjukebox/ extension. Dynamic DNS is another option to access your songs without the hassle of IP addresses. For those behind a home router, the port forwarding technique solves the issue.

The how-to goes into each step in detail. Using the flexible freeware and a comparatively hassles free setup, you can play your tunes anywhere.

We have a vast gallery of tutorials for audio enthusiasts to enjoy. Check them out!

• Build your own Wireless Audio Streamer


• Full DIY Home Theater Build: Start to Finish


• Home Made Noise Cancelling Headphones