Intel 530 Series SSD trumps Kingston V300

I have two SSDs in my Debian GNU/Linux box. One is an Intel 530 series SSD and second is the Kingston V300 SSD (both are 240GB). The experience with Intel 530 series has been great while Kingston V300 has been flaky at best.

On the Intel, I have been able to update the firmware without any issues as they provide a bootable ISO file for all operating systems [
Intel SSD Solid-State Firmware update tool page]. While Kingston is only provides an .exe file for upgrades. On reading their upgrade instructions, the details include supported operating systems as Windows 8.1, Windows 7/Vista, Windows XP only! Does Kingston think that users only use Windows operating system or are they targeting their SSDs to only Windows users?

Even though my drive came with the 520 firmware version as opposed to 506/521, I will neither buy a Kingston SSD or recommend anyone to purchase it either. It does not matter if they are switching between synchronous and asynchronous NAND, not supporting non-Windows users is just not acceptable in the times of Android/Chrome OS.

PS: I have the Kingston V300 240GB SSD was only because it was purchased for someone else (Windows user) and he didn't want it in the end.

Logitech K830 HTPC keyboard

I recently got a Logitech K830 HTPC keyboard. Have not got a lot of time to play with it but here are some quick observations:

+ just WORKS with Linux (Kodibuntu = Lubuntu 14.04)*
+ Illuminated keyboard **
+ mouse pad on the keyboard
+ mouse pad recognises multi-finger gestures on Linux
+ well made: sturdy, and slim
+ unifying remote
- no indicator for Num/Caps lock
- non-replaceable battery

Has anyone tried to open it up and see what kind of battery it uses? From experience of using other mouse with unifying remotes, I expect it to last a long time between charges.

One thing that I can't understand is the illumination of multi-function buttons. One the product page, Logitech show the red/orange text illumniated (see image below) but mine does not. Is it a software function?

PS: this keyboard is a huge improvement in quality over the k360 graffiti family.

* - official specs on Logitech site do not list Linux as a supported operating system. Custom keys might not work, but the rest functions perfectly.

Updating Flashplayer in Debian GNU/Linux

Check for latest version

user@localhost $> sudo update-flashplugin-nonfree --status
Flash Player version installed on this system  : 11.2.202.442
Flash Player version available on upstream site: 11.2.202.451
flash-mozilla.so - auto mode
  link currently points to /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so
/usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so - priority 50
/usr/lib/gnash/libgnashplugin.so - priority 10
Current 'best' version is '/usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so'.

So a new version is available. To upgrade, use following command:

user@localhost $> sudo update-flashplugin-nonfree --install
--2015-03-16 00:21:59--  https://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/pdc/11.2.202.451/install_flash_player_11_linux.x86_64.tar.gz
Resolving fpdownload.macromedia.com (fpdownload.macromedia.com)... 23.72.80.8
Connecting to fpdownload.macromedia.com (fpdownload.macromedia.com)|23.72.80.8|:443... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: 7244055 (6.9M) [application/x-gzip]
Saving to: ‘/tmp/flashplugin-nonfree.tsRdJVFLnj/install_flash_player_11_linux.x86_64.tar.gz’

     0K .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........  0%  674K 10s
    50K .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........  1%  561K 11s
   100K .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........  2%  687K 11s
   150K ..........
    ........ ........ snip ....... ........
   7000K .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... 99%  548K 0s
   7050K .......... .......... ....                            100%  917K=12s

2015-03-16 00:22:11 (613 KB/s) - ‘/tmp/flashplugin-nonfree.tsRdJVFLnj/install_flash_player_11_linux.x86_64.tar.gz’ saved [7244055/7244055]

Check version again:

user@localhost $> sudo update-flashplugin-nonfree --status
Flash Player version installed on this system  : 11.2.202.451
Flash Player version available on upstream site: 11.2.202.451
flash-mozilla.so - auto mode
  link currently points to /usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so
/usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so - priority 50
/usr/lib/gnash/libgnashplugin.so - priority 10
Current 'best' version is '/usr/lib/flashplugin-nonfree/libflashplayer.so'.

Latest version installed.

In Mozilla Firefox, to check if it is using the latest version, open page about:plugins. If it is not the latest version, close Firefox completely and restart.

Reference & details see: FlashPlayer [wiki.debian.org]