Here’s a short guide on how you can setup your Friendica to run on Nginx. So jump on in…

Note: This tutorial assumes that you already have your Nginx server and PHP running, if not, feel free to search online for instructions on how to ready your server. Without further ado, let’s begin.

1. Open your /etc/nginx/sites-available/domain.tld configuration file

2. Copy this to your file (or adjust it if you already have one):

   Code:

   	server {
   	listen 80;
   	server_name domain.tld;
   	root /path/to/your/website/domain.tld/public_html;
   	access_log off;                             # If you are using 'Analytics' type software for tracking, keep this 'off'
   	log_not_found off;                          # Turn on if you want to track "not found" errors
   	error_log /path/to/your/website/domain.tld/logs/error.log crit;          # valid values: debug, info, notice, warn, error, crit
   	#rewrite_log on;                            # Uncomment if you want to debug your rewrites (then change 'crit' above to 'notice')
   	# block stuff early
   	# Do not log favicon.ico and robots.txt stuff
   	location ~* /(favicon\.ico|robots\.txt) {
   	allow all;
   	access_log off;
   	log_not_found off;
   	}
   	# Return error 444 for these files
   	location ~* ^.+\.(bzr|git|log)$ {
   	access_log off;
   	log_not_found off;
   	return 444;
   	}
   	# Deny public access to ~ (bak) files
   	location ~* ~$ {
   	access_log off;
   	log_not_found off;
   	return 444;
   	}
   	#############
   	# Friendica #
   	#############
   	location / {
   	try_files $uri $uri/ @friendicacleanurl;
   	}
   	location @friendicacleanurl {
   	rewrite ^/(.*) /index.php?q=$uri last;
   	break;
   	}
   	#######################
   	# Security: Friendica #
   	#######################
   	# block public access to .htaccess and .htconfig.php
   	location ~* /\.ht {
   	access_log off;
   	log_not_found off;
   	return 444;
   	}
   	# block public access to .tpl files located in /view/ folder
   	location ~* /view/(.*)\.tpl$ {
   	access_log off;
   	log_not_found off;
   	return 444;
   	}
   	# block public access to /util/ folder
   	location ^~ /util/ {
   	access_log off;
   	log_not_found off;
   	return 444;
   	}
   	#################################
   	# Deliver static files directly #
   	#################################
   	# images (Friendica)
   	location ~* /(addon|images|library|spec|util|view)/(.*)\.(bmp|cur|gif|ico|j2k|jp2|jpe|jpeg|jpf|jpg|jpm|jpx|mj2|mng|png|svg|svgz|thm|tif|tiff|webp)$ {
   	add_header Pragma "public";
   	add_header Cache-Control "public";
   	access_log off;
   	log_not_found off;
   	expires 28d;
   	}
   	############################
   	# redirect 50x error pages #
   	############################
   	error_page 500 502 503 504 /50x.html;
   	location = /50x.html {
   	root /usr/share/nginx/html;
   	internal;
   	}
   	##############
   	# enable PHP #
   	##############
   	location ~ \.php$ {
   	try_files $uri =404;
   	fastcgi_split_path_info ^(.+\.php)(.*)$;
   	fastcgi_pass 127.0.0.1:9000;                       # Comment if you want to use sock instead of tcp
   	#fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php-fpm.sock;          # Uncomment to use sock instead of tcp
   	fastcgi_index index.php;
   	fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
   	include /etc/nginx/fastcgi_params;
   	}
   	}

3. Type in sudo service nginx restart

You’re done!

Take note however that this is a basic configuration only. There are other nginx settings that you can setup which isn’t covered by this tutorial simply because those settings are not Friendica-specific settings. But for your use, here are some useful configurations you may want to experiment on. Note that, all of the values are set to default.

Code:

If you found a good working setup, don’t forget to share it with the rest of us!

If you see any bugs, please don’t hesitate to reply back. Thank you, and expect new posts in the following days.

Back in the 3^rd of December 2009, I wrote about how to connect to next-gen Internet, if you haven’t read it, it was about IPv6 or Internet Protocol version 6.

IPv6 is the answer to our IPv4 problem - we ran out of IP addresses to give last year, in 2011! With more ISPs, businesses, and even individuals needing IP addresses to deploy their products, there is no stopping the growth of the Internet and the high demand for more IP addresses.

But with IPv4 depleted already, where do we get more IP addresses? Nothing left. Zero. What do you expect from IPv4 when it can only give 2³² IP addresses? That translates to 4,294,967,296 IPv4 addresses only. The answer is IPv6 and it’s launching this year, are you ready?

Last year, on the 8^th of June 2011 was the World IPv6 Day where concerned netizens tested IPv6 deployment on a global scale. It was very successful and it gave us the proof that the world will not blow-up to smithereens.

This year, the 6^th of June 2012 has been marked as the World IPv6 launch day. On this day, all companies, services, ISPs, and web hosts who have taken the time and effort to prepare for it will switch on IPv6 permanently. Countless of websites will be accessible via IPv6 and many more for sure, will turn-off their IPv4 and instead rely on tunneling those still stuck in IPv4 as a way of showing support and the need to migrate. And you must, because eventually, IPv4 addresses will be turned-off in the not-so-far future.

Just how many IP addresses can IPv6 provide anyway? What if we ran out again? There are 2¹²⁸ addresses or if you can read this: 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 IPv6 addresses. We can literally connect and assign a unique IPv6 address to every device in the world today and we are still not scratching the surface of 128-bit addresses, which is IPv6 (IPv4 is only 32-bit).

So go ahead, if you have the money, get a dedicated IPv6 address, in fact if you ask me, we deserve to have 2 free IPv6 from our ISPs. And speaking of ISPs, it’s high time that you tell them to upgrade and support this migration. Tell them you want a real/native IPv6 service and not some tunnel. For no extra cost! It’s mandatory, not an extra service.

But if like me, your ISP is still not yet ready to deploy native IPv6, then you can temporarily use a tunnel. For my Philippine readers, you can get a Philippine-IPv6 tunnel address via Globe Telecoms. Simply follow How-To Get A Philippine IPv6 Address I wrote last year on 6^th of June. While for my international readers, if you are a Linux user you can follow this post and get your tunnel working.

For the majority of end-users, you shouldn’t notice anything. If you do (like slow downs) and you read in online forums that the “solution” is to turn-off your OS or browser’s IPv6 - do not do that. One day, for sure you have forgotten about it, and you’ll end up not having a connection because your ISP probably switched you over to native IPv6. IPv6 is here to stay, the real solution to the dual-stack problem (that causes the slowness) is to switch to IPv6, ditch IPv4 - not the other way around.

Enjoy and always remember, there’s no place like [::1].

Official launch website: worldipv6launch.org

IPv6 Test sites: test-ipv6.com & ipv6-test.com

* IPv6 Launch logo by worldipv6launch.org is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported.

Back in 2^nd quarter of 2011 Google and AOL rolled-out their Google Talk and AIM interoperability feature. Meaning, users can add and communicate to users of the other network, similar to what then “MSN Messenger” (now “WLM“) and Yahoo! Messenger did years back.

It was great news in the Instant Messenger ("IM") world. Interoperability between separate networks is a must have today, especially when it comes to doing business globally. Imagine one IM account that can communicate with other IM networks, bliss right?

Yes.

Unfortunately, for Google Talk and AIM interoperability project, it isn’t. In a few months time, it will be a year already since they opened their doors to each other but the feature is still plague with bugs.

Bugs reported were: [1] contacts disappearing; [2] online/offline status not getting detected/shown correctly; [3] adding/invite/request-to-add not getting received by the other party; and even [4] failed communication or receiving of messages on both ends.

I tried it earlier today and I can only say that these bugs are still there. It is random, so if you’re lucky you will have a smooth sail. Personally, I doubt that the problem is on Google’s side, no, I think it is on AOL’s side.

Google Talk uses XMPP (f. Jabber), which have a built-in system for federating to other XMPP/Jabber networks. Closed-networks like AIM, WLM, and FBchat have been experimenting with it (though FBchat and WLM end-result and purpose is different). And AOL have been experimenting with it far longer than WLM and FBchat. This is the result of their efforts to translate AIM’s language to XMPP language. The bridge is on AOL’s side not Google’s.

Which could explain why Google Apps users (like me) can not use the interoperability feature. AIM probably whitelisted the @gmail.com domain only. Which also explains why despite the bug reports to Google, things are not getting better. All Google could probably do is forward the reports to AOL’s engineers.

That is why I am still not deleting my AIM account. The interoperabiliy is:

1. limited to @gmail.com domain only; and
2. still buggy

I hope one day I can say: “1 less IM account to maintain yet a million users gained". Oh, AOL should include ICQ ("I-Seek-You") as well, I have many contacts there too and it isn’t dead as most people assume.

Everytime I buy a new gadget (or install a new OS) is to replace the default applications. For my Android Samsung Galaxy Y GT-S5360 smartphone, I immediately searched for a replacement of the default “SMS", “Contacts", “Dialer", “Launcher", and “Keyboard” apps that comes with it.

I found GO Launcher EX (which comes with GO Store & GO Widget), GO Contacts EX (which comes with GO Dialer EX), GO SMS Pro, GO Keyboard, and GO Locker. I never looked back since.

GO Launcher EX

GO Launcher EX is the replacement for the default launcher that comes with Android. A “launcher” is the software (or application) that serves as your desktop and app drawer (or “program files” if you are a Microsoft® Windows user). It is what you always see and use.

The default is simple and it was left to the manufacturers and Android enthusiasts to develop their custom or better launcher, in effect creating an Android community and ecosystem. You, of course, want to have a better launcher right?

Some of the features are:

• 3 Dock rows
• Screen and App drawer transition effects
• App drawer search field
• App drawer folders
  
  
• App locking
• App hiding
  
  
• Better app sorting
• Close all running apps
• App history

Install GO Launcher EX via the official Android Market;
Get new themes here.

GO Contacts EX (with GO Dialer EX)

GO Contacts EX replaces the default contacts/phonebook app of Android. Although the default is more than enough for the average user, the added features that comes with this will surely convince anyone to download this replacement app.

• Themes
• Better Contact-Group management
• Favorite contacts
• SMS all
• Email all
• Backup contacts to SD
• Restore contacts from SD
• Transition effects

GO Contacts EX also comes with GO Dialer EX which replaces the default dialer of Android. Not much is different between GO Dialer EX and the default dialer that I noticed, except the ability to change the theme of your dialer.

Install GO Contacts EX via the official Android Market;
Get new themes here.

Continue to page 2…

Or go back to: myAndroid Hub

Rooting your Android smartphone has its benefits, otherwise there’s no point in rooting. Rooting is simply similar to JailBreaking in iPhone and related products. The terminology comes from the fact that Android was based on GNU/Linux where the root “user” is the be-all, end-all powerful user that will allow you access to the whole operating system.

Which means, it is dangerous if you do not know what you are doing. So for this tutorial, if you are not comfortable with doing these simple and short steps, then don’t do it. Let somebody else do it for you.

Lastly, make a decision. Do you really want to root your Android phone? You can read this article for the pros and cons of doing so: Why You Should (Not) Root Your Android Phone.

Before we begin, back up your phone first if you already migrated your phonebook and messages, and whatever other information that is important to you. But if you are using Google Contacts as your phonebook, then there’s no need to do backup in that part. Just check your SMS section if there are any that you want to keep. Cool?

If you did not read Why You Should (Not) Root Your Android Phone, then as a reminder Rooting may void your warranty, are we clear?

Let’s begin…

1. Download one or both of these files:
   
   • Root: root.zip
   • Unroot: unroot.zip
2. Copy the file(s) to the root folder of your SD card (i.e. don’t put in any folders)
3. Shutdown your phone and wait for 30 to 60 seconds to make sure it is turned-off
4. Press Volume Up+Home button+Power On buttons simultaneously until it turns-on
5. By using your volume keys, choose: Apply Update from SD card. Choose the file you downloaded earlier: root.zip if you want to root your phone; unroot.zip if you want to unroot it
6. After it finishes, choose reboot
7. Go to your app drawer (i.e. “Program Files” if you are a Windows user) and check if you have the app Superuser
8. If you have it, go to Android Market and search for: Busybox. Download and install it.

Congratulations! You did it! Your phone is now rooted (if you chose root.zip) or unrooted (if you chose unroot.zip). Simple? I hope that your heart did not pound, eh?

If you unrooted your phone, then you should be aware that apps that requires root access will no longer work correctly. Unrooting is useful if you want to do a factory reset, so you can pass it on, sell it, or use your warranty for whatever reason.

If you rooted your phone instead, welcome to a whole new world! You will now be able to use applications that needs root access, which are plenty and which are dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. So be sure to read guides and tutorials like this one if you want to use a particular app with root access required. The last thing you want to do is mess up your phone to the point of you have to take it back to the store, which they’ll probably tell you that your warranty is void because you rooted your phone.

The most important reminder of all: If you want to do a factory reset of your phone, be sure to: [1] Re-install/Unfroze the system apps you uninstalled/frozen; and [2] unroot your phone. If you fail to do so, it may mess up your factory reset, especially if you uninstalled/frozen system apps.

All good? Great!

Go back to: myAndroid Hub

You bought your new Android smartphone. You played with it. Explored the features. Read forum posts that you can find online. And your friends kept on telling you to root your Android.

So what does it mean to root your Android smartphone? Should you even do it? What are the advantages and disadvantages of rooting your new phone?

In this short (hopefully) post, I’m going to list down the advantages and disadvantages of rooting your Android, to help you decide if you should even bother with it.

So what is rooting anyway? It simply means to gain access to the be-all, end-all user account on your Android which is ‘root’. Android is based on GNU/Linux which have a ‘root’ user that has all the access to the operating system. If you are familiar jailbraking, then that’s very similar if not exactly the same.

When you buy a new Android phone, you do not have any root access. Thus there are limited things you can do with your new smartphone. Which is fine and intentional. It is by-design, and has been the case with Linux. The reason is simple: security.

Security from unauthorize applications accessing your OS. Security from accidental changes. Security from viruses, trojans, malwares, that changes files and settings on your machine without you knowing it. This is the OS that Android grew out of. That’s your smartphone now.

So when you root your Android phone, you are opening yourself to a whole new world. You will gain access to the operating system. Make changes. Do things the manufacturer, and Android itself, did not design for you - ordinary user - to do.

The Disadvantages of Not Rooting Your Android

Here are the disadvantages of not rooting your android:

• Limited to what you can do
• You can not install apps that you probably want or need
• You’ll more likely reach the point of having not enough memory
• No way to optimize your phone
• You can not install custom mods which usually are better than the default/stock rom that your phone comes with

The Advantages of Not Rooting Your Android

If there is a disadvantage, there is an advantage right?

• You are safe from doing changes that you should not do
• You are safe from installing apps that are questionable or does more than advertised
• Your warranty stays intact (depending on where you are and where you bought your unit, most of time your warranty is void once you root your phone)

The Disadvantages of Rooting Your Android

Now let’s see the disadvantages of rooting your android.

• Your warranty is void in most countries and stores
• You need to be careful of what you download, and make sure you only provide root/superuser access to trusted applications
• You may change something that on your next boot will make your phone buggy or unusable

And I hope I did not scare you.

The Advantages of Rooting Your Android

Plenty! I’ll only mention a few, most important, and convincing reasons.

• You can do whatever you want! Yeah!
• You can install apps that can help you optimize your phone - which mostly requires root/superuser access
• You can download apps that will help you manage your phone’s RAM
• You can use applications that will allow you to move apps, cache files, and libraries from your phone’s internal memory to your SD card - avoiding seeing that dreaded “not enough memory” warning
• You can install aftermarket firmware like CyanogenMod and MIUI (pronunced as Me-You-I), which usually provides a better Android experience
• Backup your downloaded apps, so you don’t have to search and redownload again
• Use themes
• Change boot images. You know, that manufacturer logo that comes up everytime you (re)start your phone.
• Uninstall/Freeze useless stock applications that the manufacturer as well as your mobile operator adds.
• Restore your phone! Since you can backup your whole phone, you can also restore it. Saving you from starting all over again.

That’s just the beginning. Of course, “with great power comes great responsibility". Giving yourself root/superuser access is again dangerous if you are not careful and you have no idea what you are doing or installing. You are basically on your own. If you bricked it, don’t expect much of returning it to its working condition. More likely than not, it’s a goner.

Have you decided? It is up to you if you want to root or not. Don’t let anyone, not even your closest and most trusted of friends and relatives to decide for you. It is your phone. It was your hard earned money that bought that phone. You should be the one deciding if you will jump the bandwagon and join us, or stay and be left behind.

Think about it. Read. Ask around. Decide for yourself.

Go back to: myAndroid Hub

The Android Robot logo found on this page is a modification by Devlup, based on work created and shared by Google and used according to terms described in the Creative Commons 3.0 Attribution License.

If you are a PicasaWeb user, you probably noticed that you can not follow any PicasaWeb user whose accounts are Google+ activated. The reason simply is that viewing the public gallery of a Google Plus activated account redirects you to the new “Google+ Photos” web viewer.

Playing around with it, I found a very simple work-around…

By simply adding ?noredirect=1 after the user’s URL, you will be able to view the user’s Picasa albums via PicasaWeb’s viewer. The format is: https://picasaweb.google.com/[Google+ User Number]?noredirect=1. For example:

My Google Plus user number is: 107219430233856542092 taken from my Google+ URL: https://plus.google.com/107219430233856542092

Change the URL to this: https://picasaweb.google.com/107219430233856542092?noredirect=1 and you will be able to view my photos using the full-featured PicasaWeb viewer. You can also start following me and see my photo uploads the next time you open your PicasaWeb, the PicasaWeb way.

The only thing that you will probably miss is email notifications which stops working once a PicasaWeb account is Google Plus activated. Also, the ability for non-Google+ users to comment on your photos also disappeared… unless I missed some setting somewhere.

Until I found this video showing the one figure-8 method I haven’t tried - wrist movement. It is as simple as that, all I can do is laugh at myself for doing all the silly figure-8 movements I can think of.

Watch the video:

It works for all other phones with compass features like iPhone and Symbian based phones.

Go back to: myAndroid Hub

You can now follow us on Google Plus! Just click on the G+ icon on your left or click this link: plus.google.com/104687462186471779170.

That simple! Don’t forget to +1 our G+ Page!!