Cant find the screensaver in Ubuntu 11.10

Questions and Answers : Unix/Linux : Cant find the screensaver in Ubuntu 11.10
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Jeffree Homicyde

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Message 1214110 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 1:20:21 UTC

Obviously Im very new,but extremely happy to join and help out. I am not quite sure how to get it up and running. Got Boinc installed and the box pops up. I also add Seti@home as a project... but nothing past that. Any help would be awesome. Thanks in advance!

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Message 1214113 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 1:50:49 UTC - in response to Message 1214110.  

IIRC there is no linux screen saver available


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Message 1214115 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 1:55:43 UTC - in response to Message 1214113.  

So exactly what is my cpu doing?? Just downloading randomness to my computer and I do nothing?!
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Message 1214122 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 2:32:57 UTC - in response to Message 1214115.  
Last modified: 5 Apr 2012, 2:33:36 UTC

The screen saver is just a pretty graphic, it doesn't actually do the processing.

The science app that is downloaded after you attach to a project runs calculations in the background and records the results to a file that is later uploaded.

... and yes, you do nothing but let it run.
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Message 1214124 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 2:37:29 UTC

If you want something more interactive look into SETIlive
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Message 1214125 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 2:46:16 UTC

This question of "what does it do" comes up a lot. Perhaps a linux version screensaver is in order. Or maybe a boinc plugin that could "play" the work units as analog audio? Anything to encourage more people to participate in shared computing.
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Message 1214128 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 3:03:19 UTC - in response to Message 1214125.  

This question of "what does it do" comes up a lot.


I think a big part of the problem is in the fact that most people don't know that there's more than 1 SETI project out there, which causes major confusion and false assumptions on the user's part.

For example, on more than one occasion I've told users in this help forum that SETI@Home needs donations and lots of patience, and several have said "But doesn't Paul Allen fund SETI?" To which I have to tell them that Paul Allen funds the SETI Institute (which runs SETILive), and that SETI@Home does not see a dime of Paul's money.


Many of the most recent users have been seeing the SETI Institute's videos on the Learning Channel or History Channel, and they hear they can help out so they do an internet search for SETI, but SETI@Home is the number one hit... or they remember hearing about SETI@Home back in 1999 and think it's the same thing they just saw on TV.

Except that SETI@Home does not have the money to run TV spots or advertising, and is in no way affiliated with the SETI Institute. With the SETI Institute pushing SETILive and "an interactive user participation", its easily confused with SETI@Home.



By the way, there have been several requests for an audio plug-in, which SETI@Home Classic used to have from a third-party developer. There has never been an official SETI@Home audio plug-in, and more often the plug-in would be a lame novelty that would quickly wear off. You would never actually be able to hear a signal, and its literally the same noise as tuning a radio in between AM stations. There's no point in wasting programming effort to create it or support it other than the novelty effect which most people would simply turn off (unless they're the type that likes to sleep with TV static).
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Message 1214130 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 3:12:59 UTC - in response to Message 1214128.  

I think their are two main reasons for no Linux screensaver. The first being the multitude of Linux flavors and the second being the video drivers.

the first is a problem because each linux version is unique even though they all pretty much have the same basic programing. I assume the S@H guys have better things to do than make a screensaver for each flavor then make sure it runs on each.

The drivers are probably the biggest problem. For the uninitiated installing drivers and hardware can be a bit daunting. the OS will install basic (3rd party) drivers to make the card work. Newer cards really need the drivers created by the chips manufacturer. Installing a driver manually is nothing like a Windows install. I've done it multiple times and still need a walkthrough.


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Message 1214131 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 3:14:08 UTC
Last modified: 5 Apr 2012, 3:22:55 UTC

I wouldn't use it. Lol I don't even have a monitor on my server let alone speakers.

But, everyday people like features and flash. Most of us here are very big geeks and very happy knowing that our equipment is doing it's job. This is not the case with the average person.
Too bad more university students aren't making these (semi-worthless) plugins, it would at least attract interest.

If I was a programmer I'd already be working on GPL license plugins for boinc. :-)
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Message 1214132 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 3:20:36 UTC - in response to Message 1214130.  

the first is a problem because each linux version is unique even though they all pretty much have the same basic programing. I assume the S@H guys have better things to do than make a screensaver for each flavor then make sure it runs on each.

A linux screensaver is just a c coded executable. That should work across the spectrum of distros shouldn't it?
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Message 1214139 - Posted: 5 Apr 2012, 3:35:44 UTC - in response to Message 1214131.  
Last modified: 5 Apr 2012, 3:39:35 UTC

But, everyday people like features and flash. Most of us here are very big geeks and very happy knowing that our equipment is doing it's job. This is not the case with the average person.


I like flashy things too, and I consider myself a geeky tech. I really wish the Windows screen saver would work better because I would love to leave it running on my 55" LCD TV in my living room, mostly as eye candy and a conversation starter. :-)


If I was a programmer I'd already be working on GPL license plugins for boinc. :-)


I'd be re-writing the BOINC interface. No offense to David Anderson or ROM, but some of the UI design elements don't follow conventional intuitive design rules. E.g., a button should never read what happens if you press it; for those types of options you should have a slider or check box. The local preferences, if changed by the user, should automatically be uploaded as a "web based preference" on next server contact, and I'd re-write the options menu as it makes some of the same design mistakes as the rest of BOINC. I'd also completely take out the "retry" button because I think its abused and unnecessary. I would institute an auto-update routine that is setup on installation (perhaps defaulted to "off").

...and I'd like to add a lot of "flash" to it because I like flash and so does the average user [edit] so long as the flash doesn't distract from the simplicity of the interface. Even web browsers have added a bit of flash and have gone very "minimalist" in the interface department.
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Questions and Answers : Unix/Linux : Cant find the screensaver in Ubuntu 11.10


 
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