Fast & Automatic EDGE internet in Ubuntu 8.10

I have just installed the Ubuntu 8.10 and very much surprised with the fast & automatic internet detection in my mobile EDGE connection. In previous versions I entered "wvdial" command each time to connect interent with my Nokia 5700 phone. But this time Ubuntu 8.10 -  the Intrepid Ibex is so smart to detect it automatically.

Here is the steps to get automatic EDGE connection:

1. Right Click the "Network Connection" icon from the top panel (near date/clock) and select "Edit Connections".
2. Select "Mobile Broadband" tab and click "Add" button.
3. A new window will appear with "Welcome" message, just click "Forward" button.
4. Now select your country and choose your internet service provider. In my case I choose "Bangladesh" as country and "Grameen Phone" as provider.
   
5. Click "Forward" button, enter any name for connection and hit "Finish" button.
6. You will find a new connection available in "Mobile Broadband" tab. Select it and click "Edit" button.
7. Another window will appear. Here set your username & password for this connection. In my case no username/password is required for my provider. 
8. Select "Connect automatically" and click "OK".
9. Now connect your mobile phone to PC with USB data cable.
10. Done! You will see it detects your connection automatically.

After doing the above steps for first time you won't need to do anything to connect internet. Just plug in your mobile phone with data cable and you will see the internet will connect instantly and automatically.

Isn't it cool!

Install Apache Server with PHP and MySQL

To install apache server with PHP & MySQL support go to:
System >Administrator > Synaptic Package Manager

Mark following packages for installation and then click "Apply" button from toolbar:

• apache2.2-common
• php5
• php5-common
• php5-gd
• php5-mysql
• phpmyadmin
• mysql-client-5.0
• mysql-common
• mysql-server-5.0

After completing installation open your browser and go to: http://localhost .
If everything installed successfully you will see "It works" message.

How to change default external protocol in Firefox

Generally if you click on a rtsp:// link from Firefox then a popup appear displaying "External Protocol Request" with default player as totem to play that streaming media. But if you want to run a media with RealPlayer or with other software then do the following:

1. Open firefox and type following in the location bar:
   about:config
   
2. Right click any where and select New->String and type following name:
   network.protocol-handler.app.rtsp
   
3. Enter following value if you want to play it with RealPlayer:
   /usr/bin/X11/realplay

Now whenever you will click a rtsp:// media, RealPlayer will appear instead of default Totem player. To check with a media go to http://m.vtap.com and click a video to see it in an action.

How to connect Internet with Nokia Data Cable

Connecting Internet with Nokia Data Cable is fairly easy compared with Bluetooth connection. It works instantly with my Nokia 5700 mobile phone & GrameenPhone GPRS/Edge connection, Bangladesh. I hope it will work for other model of Nokia. I found this help in ubuntuforums.org. Thank you guys for making our life easier.

Here you go:

1. Open terminal and edit /etc/wvdial.conf file with following command:
   $ gksudo gedit /etc/wvdial.conf
   
2. Replace existing text with following:
   [Dialer Defaults]
Init1 = ATZ
Init2 = ATQ0 V1 E1 S0=0 &C1 &D2 +FCLASS=0
Modem Type = USB Modem
Baud = 460800
New PPPD = yes
Modem = /dev/ttyACM0
ISDN = 0
Phone = *99#
Password = A
Username = B
Stupid Mode = 1
   
3. Replace "A" & "B" from the above code your internet connection Password & Username. If there is no password necessary then leave the above code unchanged.
   
4. Save & close the editor.

Now plug in your data cable into your phone & run the following command from terminal each time you want to connect internet:

• $ wvdial

Done! But if you fail to connect internet then do one of the following:

• Unplug mobile cable, wait few seconds, plug again and run wvdial command
  
• Or open /etc/wvdial.conf and replace Phone = *99# with Phone = *99***1#

Hope this will help you to connect internet with your Nokia mobile phone. Enjoy browsing!