Category: Uncategorized

Published on by Echdee

Wi-Fi @ University of Mauritius: How Soon Is Now?

The Mauritius Wi-Fi project was approved by the minister last July. Objective: Every one of us can benefit from free internet. There will be a pilot project, whereby 10 Wi-Fi spots will be installed across the island. One in each district and one in Rodrigues. The most common Wi-Fi spots so far are, Mc Donald’s (Port-Louis), Dias Pier (Caudan Waterfront) and Rose-Hill Transport.

While they’re busy making big plans, the University of Mauritius itself doesn’t have a proper Wi-Fi system. We’ve been told that they will soon implement the Wi-Fi system but how soon is now?

We have assignments, research and so on to do, we can still get access to the internet in the library and in labs; but there’s lot of waiting. But what will you do when all the labs are occupied and you have to wait like a really long time before you can use the computers in the library? What are we exactly suppose to do? Use Skype  for group assignment at home?

I probably wouldn’t have written this article if we didn’t have the means to use Wi-Fi. But many of us own laptops, smart phones and tablets. But at some point, these gadgets become useless without an internet connection.

We, the students will benefit a lot from the Wi-Fi, and we can get all our research/group assignment done at the University itself. But how long do we have to wait?
It wouldn’t be so bad if the government think of us first, before implementing Wi-Fi spot across the island. But to be honest, I don’t see it coming anytime soon.

 

-Echdee

Published on by Nayar

DTC: The New SMS

Since last week in Mauritus, SMS prices of Orange and Emtel has risen up to 70cents/- and for MTML 10cents/- i’ve heard. So, instead pf using SMS, why not make calls of 0.5-1 mins known as Do Tiny Calls :P. Call rate is 1.20/min.

Pros:-
  • Information can travell in both directions
  • Costs almost the same or even less.
  • Only the person needing you pays

 Cons:-

  • It is cheaper for people on the same network only
  • Girls might have a *little* difficulty to have conversation of less than 1 minute 😀
Published on by Nayar

1st day of Semester 2 at UoM

Our first class with Zakobi got canceled as another lecturer was doing lecture in the class we were supposed to work. It is not unusual for Zakobi to cancel any class at anytime.

Afterwards. We did a labsheet on Python which went rather fine.

Then we were supposed to have another practical from 12:30 to 14:30. But since we did not do any theory for the module, the lecturer only introduced the module and the class finished around 13:30. We were allowed to go anywhere we want but on the campus itself till 14:20. She told us to come in her office at that time so as she’ll check who are the one who left. WTF!? This is just abuse of power by lecturers :@

Published on by Nayar

Mauritian Holiday Files for KDE

Wanna have our National Holidays and special days get shown in your KDE calendar?

Here’s the way to get it:

You can checkout from git here or download the files here (might not be up to date):

git clone https://github.com/Nayar/KDE-for-Mauritius.git


Copy the contents of “Holiday Files” to “/usr/share/kde4/apps/libkholidays/plan2″. You will need administrative permission to do so. Open the destination location with this command (kubuntu). Then you will be able to paste the files

sudo dolphin /usr/share/kde4/apps/libkholidays/plan2


Right click on the time widget in the lower-right section of your screen and select “Digital Clock Settings”


Now go to calendar, nect to Mauritius, select “Days Off”


U’r Done! :)


Notes:
1. This calendar is only valid for Year 2012 only. The following Holidays won’t appear in the following years:

Spring Festival
Thaipoosam Cavadee
Maha Shivratee
Ougadi
Assumption // This holiday did not appear in year 2011. I did not put it reccuring for this reason cause i’m not sure when they decide to put it
Ganesh Chaturthi
Divali

If you know in advance when the above events will occur, please let me know. Events like Eid-Ul-Fitr and Eid-Ul-Adhia are approximated yearly like this:

“Eid-Ul-Fitr” weekend on hijri 1 shawwal // weekend makes it appear as a Day off
“Eid-Ul-Adhia” on hijri 10 thualhijjah // this will appear in green in the calendar as it is not a holiday

2. Send me a list of cultural days which mauritian celebrate such as St. Valentine’s day, Father Laval day and birth of Sir Ramgoolam etc.

3. If you want to help, here’s my project page hosted on github code: https://github.com/Nayar/KDE-for-Mauritius

Next, i’ll be doing a calendar for the Major activities organised by The University of Mauritius. Stay tuned to the SVN :P