The Latest Linux, Open Source, And Tech News
Leftovers Part 5
A Guide to Today's Top 10 Linux Distributions
One of the most confusing things for the newcomer to Linux is how many distributions, or versions, of the operating system there are. Ubuntu is the one most people have heard of, but there are hundreds of others as well, each offering some variant on the basic Linux theme.
Choosing the distribution--or "distro"--that's right for your business will depend in large part on five key factors, as I've already described. It's also helpful, however, to have a basic understanding of how the major Linux distros differ.
What follows, then, is a roundup of sorts of the top 10 Linux distributions today. more
Choosing the distribution--or "distro"--that's right for your business will depend in large part on five key factors, as I've already described. It's also helpful, however, to have a basic understanding of how the major Linux distros differ.
What follows, then, is a roundup of sorts of the top 10 Linux distributions today. more
"Synaptic Is Going Bye Bye Soon"
Synaptic is a graphical package management program for apt. It provides the same features as the apt-get command line utility with a GUI front-end based on Gtk+.
We all knew this was going to happen at some point since there is a lot of work going on for the Ubuntu Software Center, but here's a confirmation: Paul Tagliamonte, an Ubuntu LoCoCouncil and BeginnersTeam Council member confirmed in a comment on Reddit that Synaptic will soon be removed from Ubuntu. more
We all knew this was going to happen at some point since there is a lot of work going on for the Ubuntu Software Center, but here's a confirmation: Paul Tagliamonte, an Ubuntu LoCoCouncil and BeginnersTeam Council member confirmed in a comment on Reddit that Synaptic will soon be removed from Ubuntu. more
Five Reasons Linux Beats Windows for Servers
Rapid growth in the market for x86 servers over the past year brought good news for both Linux and Windows, as research firm IDC reported last week.
What's not always appreciated, however, is just how significant a portion of the market Linux servers are getting to be. Whereas unit shipments of Windows servers increased 28.2 percent year over year in the second quarter of 2010, Linux server revenue grew 30.0 percent to $1.8 billion when compared with the second quarter of 2009. Linux servers now represent 16.8 percent of all server revenue, up 2.5 points over 2Q09.
That's no accident. Linux is eminently better suited to server use than Windows is--better than most any other competitor, I'd argue. Why? Let's count the ways.
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What's not always appreciated, however, is just how significant a portion of the market Linux servers are getting to be. Whereas unit shipments of Windows servers increased 28.2 percent year over year in the second quarter of 2010, Linux server revenue grew 30.0 percent to $1.8 billion when compared with the second quarter of 2009. Linux servers now represent 16.8 percent of all server revenue, up 2.5 points over 2Q09.
That's no accident. Linux is eminently better suited to server use than Windows is--better than most any other competitor, I'd argue. Why? Let's count the ways.
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Review: The Official Ubuntu Book
If you haven’t used Linux before, are new to Ubuntu, or would like a quick update on the latest in open source advancements for the desktop, then The Official Ubuntu Book is a great place to start. Authored by a group of some of the most experienced open source administrators and developers, this 400-page user guide details everything you need to know about how to make the most of your Ubuntu, Kubuntu (Ubuntu with KDE), and Xubuntu (Ubuntu with Xfce) computer.
Title: Review: Official Ubuntu Book Author: Benjamin Mako Hill, Matthew Helmke, Corey Burger ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0137081301 Reviewer: Dave Wreski <[email protected]> Review Score: 4.2 of 5 Penguins Publisher: Prentice Hall Professional
Sample Chapter: Chapter Three: Using Ubuntu on the Desktop
Available for standard PCs, more advanced and current 64-bit computers, as well as for the ARM platform, typically found in cell phones and smaller devices, and this book details all of them. The first chapter discusses the basic philosophy, design goals, and background on open source and Linux, and the role that it plays with Ubuntu. More experienced users would probably skim or skip entirely these first few pages. more
Title: Review: Official Ubuntu Book Author: Benjamin Mako Hill, Matthew Helmke, Corey Burger ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-0137081301 Reviewer: Dave Wreski <[email protected]> Review Score: 4.2 of 5 Penguins Publisher: Prentice Hall Professional
Sample Chapter: Chapter Three: Using Ubuntu on the Desktop
Available for standard PCs, more advanced and current 64-bit computers, as well as for the ARM platform, typically found in cell phones and smaller devices, and this book details all of them. The first chapter discusses the basic philosophy, design goals, and background on open source and Linux, and the role that it plays with Ubuntu. More experienced users would probably skim or skip entirely these first few pages. more
Hold The Celebrations; H.264 Is Not The Sort Of Free That Matters
While the "free for web use" claims for H.264 by MPEG-LA sound great and have deceived many commentators, they are nothing new and contain no good news for open source software.
At the end of last week, the MPEG-LA consortium announced they were extending the arrangement whereby they allow 'web uses' of the patents reading on the H.264 standard that they administer for their members to be licensed without charge. The arrangement, which runs in five-year periods, has now been extended to the expiration of the patents in the pool.
At first sight, this sounds great. Headlines have popped up all over the place which might lead one to believe that everything is now fine in the area of video streaming on the internet and we can all proceed without fear of having video taxed. But I'd suggest leaving the champagne corked for now. more
At the end of last week, the MPEG-LA consortium announced they were extending the arrangement whereby they allow 'web uses' of the patents reading on the H.264 standard that they administer for their members to be licensed without charge. The arrangement, which runs in five-year periods, has now been extended to the expiration of the patents in the pool.
At first sight, this sounds great. Headlines have popped up all over the place which might lead one to believe that everything is now fine in the area of video streaming on the internet and we can all proceed without fear of having video taxed. But I'd suggest leaving the champagne corked for now. more
Corporate America's Cruel Linux Hoax
I propose companies take a closer look at the Linux desktop and consider its potential return juxtaposed with the return they see from Linux servers in the back room. If they can save money and make money from Linux servers, surely they can see potential returns by using Linux desktop.
Corporate America is playing a cruel joke on Linux desktop. Businesses benefit from free Linux, improving their bottom line on the shoulders of Linux -- all the while ignoring (and damaging I think) the Linux desktop.
Linux servers toil in back rooms bringing big bucks to companies smart enough to use them. What do these companies install on their employees' desktops? Windows, of course! It is no small irony that some (if not most) of Linux's biggest beneficiaries are Linux desktop's worst sponsors.
This hardly seems fair, and worse, seems almost unethical. The ultimate irony is that Corporate America spurns a technology it loves -- a technology poised to reap benefits much like the benefits of Linux servers.
Why Windows? Why Not Linux? The last time I looked for a job, it had been so long since I last looked I figured the chances were good I could land a position somewhere where Linux was the desktop for employees. I quickly learned it was Windows everywhere. more
Corporate America is playing a cruel joke on Linux desktop. Businesses benefit from free Linux, improving their bottom line on the shoulders of Linux -- all the while ignoring (and damaging I think) the Linux desktop.
Linux servers toil in back rooms bringing big bucks to companies smart enough to use them. What do these companies install on their employees' desktops? Windows, of course! It is no small irony that some (if not most) of Linux's biggest beneficiaries are Linux desktop's worst sponsors.
This hardly seems fair, and worse, seems almost unethical. The ultimate irony is that Corporate America spurns a technology it loves -- a technology poised to reap benefits much like the benefits of Linux servers.
Why Windows? Why Not Linux? The last time I looked for a job, it had been so long since I last looked I figured the chances were good I could land a position somewhere where Linux was the desktop for employees. I quickly learned it was Windows everywhere. more
Ubuntu 10.10 Software Center - Application That Received Maximum Attention Perhaps
Ubuntu Software Center is something we all overlooked for long. Even while writing tutorials about installing different applications in this blog, I prefer to provide command line instructions only. But a lot of Ubuntu users are new comers and Software Center means a lot to them. Ubuntu is gradually waking up to this fact and have finally started focusing on bringing a lot of polish and usability to Software Center.
In my opinion Software Center is one among the most *important* applications in Ubuntu and its time that it's given its due attention. Lets explore a bit more on the changes that are happening with Ubuntu 10.10 Software Center. more
In my opinion Software Center is one among the most *important* applications in Ubuntu and its time that it's given its due attention. Lets explore a bit more on the changes that are happening with Ubuntu 10.10 Software Center. more
Is Oracle Becoming the New Microsoft?
In the span of just one week, Oracle made two major moves that sent open source aficionados into fits: It sued Google over alleged misuse of Java and shut the door on OpenSolaris. "Oracle is an enemy of everyone," said blogger Martin Espinoza. "It is in their best interest to keep their fork of MySQL weak, and indeed to do anything they can to sell seats of Oracle, the world's most overpriced RDBMS."
"Oracles are dumb," the great John Milton once wrote, and though it may not be the meaning he intended, that's a fair description of the prevailing sentiment in the Linux blogosphere these days.
It's a single Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) being referred to today, of course -- Oracle Corporation, that is, owner of Sun, jealous protector of Java and Solaris, and just possibly the most widely despised company in the FOSS arena of late, excepting of course Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT).
Is it any surprise? Between its little lawsuit against Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and its decision to pull the plug on OpenSolaris, it surely must have expected at least a little Linuxy wrath.
Let's just say it can't be disappointed. more
"Oracles are dumb," the great John Milton once wrote, and though it may not be the meaning he intended, that's a fair description of the prevailing sentiment in the Linux blogosphere these days.
It's a single Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) being referred to today, of course -- Oracle Corporation, that is, owner of Sun, jealous protector of Java and Solaris, and just possibly the most widely despised company in the FOSS arena of late, excepting of course Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT).
Is it any surprise? Between its little lawsuit against Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and its decision to pull the plug on OpenSolaris, it surely must have expected at least a little Linuxy wrath.
Let's just say it can't be disappointed. more
How To Install GMail Video Chat In Linux?
GMail recently announced the availability of GMail Video Chat for linux platforms too! In this article we present you with a 4 point guide that will help you set up your Linux system for GMail Video chat in No time! The Video chat feature for GMail in Linux is currently supported only on Ubuntu and Debian based systems. (RPM releases to come soon). more
Microsoft: 'We Love Open Source'
No longer calling Linux a ‘cancer,' Microsoft open source strategy continues to shift
Everyone in the Linux world remembers Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's famous comment that Linux is a "cancer" that threatened Microsoft's intellectual property.
Ballmer is still CEO of Microsoft, but that comment occurred in 2001, a lifetime ago in the technology market. While Microsoft hasn't formally rescinded its declaration that Linux violates its patents, at least one Microsoft executive admits that the company’s earlier battle stance was a mistake. Microsoft wants the world to understand, whatever its issues with Linux, it no longer has any gripe toward open source.
In 2010 Microsoft is trying hard not to be public enemy No. 1 to open source proponents, in some cases by making key contributions to open source code and in other cases by making Microsoft products interoperable with open source software. more
Ballmer is still CEO of Microsoft, but that comment occurred in 2001, a lifetime ago in the technology market. While Microsoft hasn't formally rescinded its declaration that Linux violates its patents, at least one Microsoft executive admits that the company’s earlier battle stance was a mistake. Microsoft wants the world to understand, whatever its issues with Linux, it no longer has any gripe toward open source.
In 2010 Microsoft is trying hard not to be public enemy No. 1 to open source proponents, in some cases by making key contributions to open source code and in other cases by making Microsoft products interoperable with open source software. more
Remote Access in Linux
If you want to give remote support to a friend who uses a Linux computer then you can use SSH and VNC together for secure remote access. This recipe was developed on Linux Mint 7 but should also apply to other Debian-based Linux distributions, including Ubuntu and, of course, Debian itself. more
How to install Mint Style Gnome Menu in Ubuntu
For those of you who ave ever tried Linux Mint, a distro which is run off the back of Ubuntu, you will have noticed that it has it’s own special and somewhat unique gnome menu to select your applications to run, folders to browse etc
NOTE: This is not the same menu as the “gnome-main-menu” which can be installed via the official Ubuntu repos. Although it is very similar, the Mint one is much more customisable and innovative. more
NOTE: This is not the same menu as the “gnome-main-menu” which can be installed via the official Ubuntu repos. Although it is very similar, the Mint one is much more customisable and innovative. more
The Beat Goes On: Open Source Multimedia Tools Part 2
Last week, I started to share information on FOSS multimedia tools, covering some integrated multimedia distributions and some audio tools. This week, in part two, I will cover video editing, scanning, converting from one format to another, and publishing your creative arts.
First, a bit of theory on why FOSS often creates better programs for artists. It is valuable for artists not only to use the programs but to also, with a little programming knowledge, be able to make the changes to the programs and at least actively help to guide the design. Often I tell people one of the reasons why people write Free Software is because the programmer wants to “scratch an itch," to solve a problem that they have. Having a programmer who is also an artist means the artist can design into the program the features and patterns of operation that is best for what they are doing.
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First, a bit of theory on why FOSS often creates better programs for artists. It is valuable for artists not only to use the programs but to also, with a little programming knowledge, be able to make the changes to the programs and at least actively help to guide the design. Often I tell people one of the reasons why people write Free Software is because the programmer wants to “scratch an itch," to solve a problem that they have. Having a programmer who is also an artist means the artist can design into the program the features and patterns of operation that is best for what they are doing.
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DreamScene for Ubuntu? Ta very much.
Ever wanted to set video as your desktop wallpaper a la the quickly-ditched Windows DreamScene? With 'Video Wallpaper' it's easy.By using Video Wallpaper you will be forfeiting the ability to use the 'desktop' as normal - no icons, files etc will show. Any drop shadows present on panels will also disappear. If you're tuff enuff to cope, here's how...
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Study: Big Biz Falls in Love With FOSS, but Not Just 'Cause It's a Cheap Date
A study conducted by Accenture has found that the majority of enterprises it surveyed planned to increase their investments in open source technology in 2010. Many of the firms involved in the study did cite open source's lower costs as a main driver of that decision, but even more cited factors like quality and improved reliability.
Open source software is poised for rapid growth in enterprises over the next 12 months, but cost is no longer the primary driver behind open source adoption.
That's according to a new study from global consultancy Accenture, which based its findings on interviews with 300 executives at organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland with annual revenues above US$500 million. more
Open source software is poised for rapid growth in enterprises over the next 12 months, but cost is no longer the primary driver behind open source adoption.
That's according to a new study from global consultancy Accenture, which based its findings on interviews with 300 executives at organizations in the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland with annual revenues above US$500 million. more
Linux light - PCLinuxOS 2010.7 Openbox
Ok, there are smaller, leaner distributions out there like Tiny Core or these two if you prefer a system that's in many ways similar, but PCLinuxOS Openbox is pretty good while still providing a full set of applications for the consumer desktop, incl. flash, multimedia codecs, wireless. More on that later. I thought of that line while deciding whether to go for the Openbox or the Lxde version. I've had a look at both, but Lxde (short for the light weight desktop environment) is always the same set of apps and the panel strikes me as not quite as elegant. I like the flexibility of modularity and in this case dropped for the Openbox version with the Tint2 panel. Apart from this both spins are almost identical, and for those that don't know, the Lxde desktop is also using Openbox for window management. more
Canonical Begins Tracking Ubuntu Installations
Just uploaded to the Ubuntu Lucid repository for Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (and we imagine it will appear shortly in Maverick too for Ubuntu 10.10) is a new package called canonical-census, which marks its initial release. Curious about what this package provides, we did some digging and found it's for tracking Ubuntu installations by sending an "I am alive" ping to Canonical on a daily basis.
The canonical-census v0.1 description is simply "canonical-census - send "I am alive" ping to Canonical." When looking at the Debian package source to this Python program, "Send an "I am alive" ping to Canonical. This is used for surveying how many original OEM installs are still existing on real machines. Note that this does not send any user specific data; it only transmits the operating system version (/var/lib/ubuntu_dist_channel), the machine product name, and a counter how many pings were sent." more
The canonical-census v0.1 description is simply "canonical-census - send "I am alive" ping to Canonical." When looking at the Debian package source to this Python program, "Send an "I am alive" ping to Canonical. This is used for surveying how many original OEM installs are still existing on real machines. Note that this does not send any user specific data; it only transmits the operating system version (/var/lib/ubuntu_dist_channel), the machine product name, and a counter how many pings were sent." more
Clementine Music Player
For many users (me included), Amarok is the music player of choice. However, the Amarok 2 series introduced a radical change in Amarok for the earlier series and has found many haters. As a result many people still refuse to upgrade to Amarok 2 series and are sticking with Amarok 1.4. For those people who want to have Amarok 1.4 along with the new technologies that Qt4 brings, there is a new music player called Clementine made for the Gnome desktop. Clementine is my new favorite linux music player ! more
Open Source Projects that Changed the World
To many, open source software isn’t just about getting something for free, it’s a statement about how the world should be. With almost religious fervor, open source evangelists have been fighting the good fight for freedom of code for nearly as long as there have been computers. Here are seven projects that have, quite literally, changed the world. more
10 best Linux distros for 2010
Hardware compatibility, ease of use, the size of a software repository. These three attributes are unique to each Linux distribution. But at the same time, each Linux distribution is at liberty to take and mix whatever it wants from any other.
This creates a rather unique situation, where good ideas quickly spread, and bad ones fail. And as a result, there are dozens of distribution updates each month, hundreds each year, in a race to leap-frog the each other in the race to the top of the DistroWatch.com charts.
This is why the answer to the question, of which distribution is best for you, changes with the tides, and why we're keen to keep on top of distribution developments. What follows is our recommendations for this year, split by typical users. Try them yourself. They're all free. more
This creates a rather unique situation, where good ideas quickly spread, and bad ones fail. And as a result, there are dozens of distribution updates each month, hundreds each year, in a race to leap-frog the each other in the race to the top of the DistroWatch.com charts.
This is why the answer to the question, of which distribution is best for you, changes with the tides, and why we're keen to keep on top of distribution developments. What follows is our recommendations for this year, split by typical users. Try them yourself. They're all free. more
Throwing down the gauntlet
I’ve been covering Linux and open source since 1999 and using Linux exclusively since around 1996. I’d say that earns me some credit - at least in certain circles. Through those years I’ve pretty much seen every trend, every success, and every failure. I’ve also evolved from and through every stage of Linux user. From blind fan-boy, to staunch advocate, to mentor, to guru (some would say), and everything in between. During said time I have tried very hard to remain PC and let the criticism just roll off my back. I have said some things only to retract them and held back certain opinions out of fear I might offend.
Not this time.
Recently I have had a lot of people comment (on this forum and other forums) that Linux isn’t user friendly, that Linux will never make it to the average user’s desktop, that “Windows rulez and Linux droolz”. Among most of those detractors hardly a one will offer a solid reason to back up their statement. So this time I am throwing down the gauntlet of challenge to say “prove to me that Linux is not user friendly”.
Of course, this must begin with a definition of user friendly. From my perspective, in order to be user friendly, an operating system must be usable. It must be such that any level of user could sit down and take care of the average daily tasks they are charged with without issue. It must have a graphical environment that is stable, pleasing to brain and eye, as well as be intuitive so those average daily tasks are made even simpler. But what are the average daily tasks? According to the Digest of Education Statistics, the average tasks (ranked in order) are: more
Not this time.
Recently I have had a lot of people comment (on this forum and other forums) that Linux isn’t user friendly, that Linux will never make it to the average user’s desktop, that “Windows rulez and Linux droolz”. Among most of those detractors hardly a one will offer a solid reason to back up their statement. So this time I am throwing down the gauntlet of challenge to say “prove to me that Linux is not user friendly”.
Of course, this must begin with a definition of user friendly. From my perspective, in order to be user friendly, an operating system must be usable. It must be such that any level of user could sit down and take care of the average daily tasks they are charged with without issue. It must have a graphical environment that is stable, pleasing to brain and eye, as well as be intuitive so those average daily tasks are made even simpler. But what are the average daily tasks? According to the Digest of Education Statistics, the average tasks (ranked in order) are: more
This Is Your Brain on Linux Desktop
This is your brain. This is your brain on Linux Desktop. It is a good thing.
To borrow and twist the old "brain on drugs" PSA, your brain on Linux Desktop could be one of the best things that could happen to you for your computer fix.
Linux Desktop continues its ascent into users' collective consciousness with great graphics, powerful applications, and seamless interfaces. Linux Desktop frees your brain to think about the work (or the fun) at hand. Imagine -- transparent computing , and it's free!
Linux Desktop Is Here NOW.
To borrow and twist the old "brain on drugs" PSA, your brain on Linux Desktop could be one of the best things that could happen to you for your computer fix.
Linux Desktop continues its ascent into users' collective consciousness with great graphics, powerful applications, and seamless interfaces. Linux Desktop frees your brain to think about the work (or the fun) at hand. Imagine -- transparent computing , and it's free!
Linux Desktop Is Here NOW.
Digg, dug, buried: Linux
A liberal blogger has uncovered that a "group of influential conservative members of the behemoth social media site Digg.com has just been caught red-handed in a widespread campaign of censorship, having multiple accounts, up-vote padding, and deliberately trying to ban progressives." The blogger, Ole Ole Olson, infiltrated a group that called itself Digg Patriots. His proof is quite damning.
Those of us who follow Digg have long known that Digg has long been susceptible to external gaming. While Digg's leader Kevin Rose has tried to keep this type of thing from happening, the company's biggest efforts to clean up its social bookmarking system have ended up vexing some of its biggest fans. In the meantime, as Digg Patriots has shown, Digg's popularity contest for stories remains easy to corrupt. more
Those of us who follow Digg have long known that Digg has long been susceptible to external gaming. While Digg's leader Kevin Rose has tried to keep this type of thing from happening, the company's biggest efforts to clean up its social bookmarking system have ended up vexing some of its biggest fans. In the meantime, as Digg Patriots has shown, Digg's popularity contest for stories remains easy to corrupt. more
Drupal 7: Everything you need to know
Drupal is a content management system (CMS) and also a content management framework (CMF). Hence it’s both an application that enables non-programmers to build complex websites, and a framework that developers can use to quickly create custom functionality. There is a large and rapidly growing community that has developed around Drupal, which is passionate about improving the software and supporting its usage.
More than two years in the making, and containing 6,600 community-contributed commits, the release of Drupal 7 is imminent. Major changes have been made which impact end users, site builders and developers. This article explores the most notable new features, but first some Drupal basics for the uninitiated… more
More than two years in the making, and containing 6,600 community-contributed commits, the release of Drupal 7 is imminent. Major changes have been made which impact end users, site builders and developers. This article explores the most notable new features, but first some Drupal basics for the uninitiated… more
Purpose-built: Five specialised Linux distributions
We’ve all heard of Ubuntu, OpenSuse, Fedora and Mandriva. But how about RIP, Damn Vulnerable and Zeroshell Linux? Here are five specialised Linux versions worth bookmarking. more
Guitarix - A simple Linux Rock Guitar Amplifier for jack
guitarix is a simple Linux Rock Guitar Amplifier for jack (Jack Audio Connektion Kit) with one input and two outputs. Designed to get nice thrash/metal/rock/blues guitar sounds. There are controls for bass, middle, treble, gain (in/out), compressor, preamp, tube’s, drive, overdrive, oversample, anti-aliase, fuzz, balance, distortion, freeverb, impulse response, vibrato, chorus, delay, crybaby(wah), ampselector, tonestack, and echo. For ‘pressure’ in the sound you can use the feedback and feedforward sliders. more
How to Revitalize Mature Computers
In previous OSNews articles I've claimed that discarded computers up to ten years old can be refurbished and made useful to someone. They shouldn't be discarded. They should be refurbished -- fixed up and reused -- rather than recycled -- destroyed and separated into their constituent materials. So how does one do this? In this and several subsequent articles, I'll describe how to revitalize older computers. more
Workstation Benchmarks: Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu Linux
As I alluded to recently, the second round of Windows 7 vs. Linux benchmarks -- with the first round consisting of Is Windows 7 Actually Faster Than Ubuntu 10.04 and Mac OS X vs. Windows 7 vs. Ubuntu benchmarks -- are currently being done atop a Lenovo ThinkPad W510 notebook that is quite popular with business professionals. With the high-end ThinkPad W510 boasting a dual quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU with Hyper-Threading plus a NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics processor, we began this second round of cross-platform benchmarks by running a set of workstation tests. In this article we are mainly looking at the workstation graphics (via SPECViewPerf) performance along with some CPU/disk tests.
The Lenovo ThinkPad W510 being tested had an Intel Core i7 720QM clocked at 1.60GHz with a total of eight logical cores (four physical cores + Hyper Threading), 4GB of DDR3 system memory, a 320GB Hitachi HTS72503 7200RPM SATA HDD, a 1600 x 900 display panel, and a NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics processor with 1GB of video memory. The Intel Core i7 720QM continues to be one of the fastest quad-core notebook processors available with a max Turbo Frequency of 2.8GHz, 6MB of Intel Smart Cache, SSE4.2 support, and is built on a 45nm process. The NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics processor has 48 CUDA cores, a 550MHz core clock, 1GB of 128-bit 790MHz DDR3 video memory, OpenGL 3.2 support, and supports OpenCL 1.0. The NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M is based upon the consumer-grade GeForce GT 330M mobile GPU. more
The Lenovo ThinkPad W510 being tested had an Intel Core i7 720QM clocked at 1.60GHz with a total of eight logical cores (four physical cores + Hyper Threading), 4GB of DDR3 system memory, a 320GB Hitachi HTS72503 7200RPM SATA HDD, a 1600 x 900 display panel, and a NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics processor with 1GB of video memory. The Intel Core i7 720QM continues to be one of the fastest quad-core notebook processors available with a max Turbo Frequency of 2.8GHz, 6MB of Intel Smart Cache, SSE4.2 support, and is built on a 45nm process. The NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M graphics processor has 48 CUDA cores, a 550MHz core clock, 1GB of 128-bit 790MHz DDR3 video memory, OpenGL 3.2 support, and supports OpenCL 1.0. The NVIDIA Quadro FX 880M is based upon the consumer-grade GeForce GT 330M mobile GPU. more
Why Linux Is More Secure Than Windows
"Security through obscurity" may be a catchy phrase, but it's not the only thing that's catching among Windows users.The expression is intended to suggest that proprietary software is more secure by virtue of it's closed nature.If hackers can't see the code,then it's harder for them to create exploits for it--or so the thinking goes.Unfortunately for Windows users,that's just not true-- as evidenced by the never-ending parade of patches coming out of Redmond. In fact, one of Linux's many advantages over Windows is that it is more secure--much more. For small businesses and other organizations without a dedicated staff of security experts, that benefit can be particularly critical. more
15 Useful Bash Shell Built-in Commands (With Examples)
Bash has several commands that comes with the shell (i.e built inside the bash shell). When you execute a built-in command, bash shell executes it immediately, without invoking any other program.
Bash shell built-in commands are faster than external commands, because external commands usually fork a process to execute it.
In this article let us review some useful bash shell builtins with examples. more
Bash shell built-in commands are faster than external commands, because external commands usually fork a process to execute it.
In this article let us review some useful bash shell builtins with examples. more
Distro Hoppin`: Pinguy OS
Yes, yes, ANOTHER Ubuntu based distribution... what can one do? Ignore them? No. Especially when they come with enough elements to make you consider choosing them instead of the "plain" Ubuntu. The thing is, if you are a regular user of all the applications and utilities bundled in Pinguy, you'll love it. If you are going to appreciate only a small percentage of them, then meh. But what I think Pinguy is great for is new users, particularly those that are hard to impress. I am very skeptical about these distributions that pour all kinds of ingredients into the mix, as even if each ingredient is great on its own, they are bound to give the finished product a horrible taste. But this is not the case. Pinguy feels surprisingly stable and fast.This OS is based on the latest release of Ubuntu - 10.04 - and comes with both 32- and 64-bit editions. Though usually I go with 32-bit, this time I decided to make good use of my hardware and install the more advanced version. more
Debian and Plymouth
I've used Ubuntu for the past few years, and I've watched it become more and more bloated, to the point that it was almost unusable on my work PC (P4, 2GB RAM). So I took a friend's advice and installed Debian Squeeze, and oh boy, what a difference it has been! More snappy, and half the RAM. Anyway, since then I've been adding stuff to my installation, and Plymouth was one of them. Here are the instructions to get it installed just in case someone actually uses Debian: more
Why I prefer the Linux desktop for software development
I’ve been a full time Linux user for the past 6 years. In this post I’ll try to explain why I prefer the Linux desktop for doing all my software development work. I will try to stay as objective as possible about the other OS’s when making my comparison. more
Linux again
In 2003 I gave up on Microsoft Windows 98. It was old and I was frustrated at having the "Blue Screen of Death" (BSOD) and being unable to turn the thing off properly. 12 months previously I had a conversation with my brother and he introduced me to Linux and the whole open source philosophy. Although I have no background in programming (and still don't) I understood what he was going on about, namely that software which is open for anyone to contribute to is less likely to have security flaws or bugs and, if they do, then they are patched up quickly. Compared this to closed sourced proprietary software, where security flaws and bugs can go unnoticed for months or even years before virus writers begin to take advantage of them, and then being dependent upon the software owner to fix it (which they may not do since such actions might not be profitable and because keeping the bugs and flaws there might force people to buy their brand new software).
My first foray into Linux was Mandrake 9.1. 2003 was still early days for desktop Linux and I found it difficult to work on - which admittedly was also because I had newly migrated from Windows and had to learn a whole new set of tricks to use. While I enjoyed the change, Mandrake didn't suit me and I got frustrated enough to make a wholesale change to Kubuntu - Ubuntu using KDE - in 2006. In 2008 KDE 4 came out and I was one of those who decided to ditch it. I then discovered Xubuntu - Ubuntu running Xfce - and made that my new Linux desktop. Now I have migrated to the most popular Linux distribution - Ubuntu, which runs GNOME. more
My first foray into Linux was Mandrake 9.1. 2003 was still early days for desktop Linux and I found it difficult to work on - which admittedly was also because I had newly migrated from Windows and had to learn a whole new set of tricks to use. While I enjoyed the change, Mandrake didn't suit me and I got frustrated enough to make a wholesale change to Kubuntu - Ubuntu using KDE - in 2006. In 2008 KDE 4 came out and I was one of those who decided to ditch it. I then discovered Xubuntu - Ubuntu running Xfce - and made that my new Linux desktop. Now I have migrated to the most popular Linux distribution - Ubuntu, which runs GNOME. more
Users are sticking to Windows XP
DEVELOPER OF MERELY GOOD ENOUGH SOFTWARE Microsoft is having some trouble luring its customers off Windows XP.
Even after dumping support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2), the Vole is still finding it hard to get people to move off Windows XP and onto Windows 7. According to figures released by Netmarketshare, usage of Windows Vista and Windows 7 combined fails to eclipse that of Windows XP. That's a disappointing statistic, given that Windows 7 has been available, in one way or another, for well over a year and Windows Vista has been knocking around for nearly four years.
Microsoft was hoping that ending support for Windows XP SP2 would light a fire under Windows 7 uptake, but at this point it seems that the Vole's plan isn't working. With a combined market share of 29 per cent, Windows Vista and Windows 7 aren't even in the same league as Windows XP, which has over 61 percent of the total installed base.
While the figures are a source of embarrassment for Microsoft, it's still pretty impressive to see one of its hairball operating systems that is almost a decade old having such a large share of the market. more
Even after dumping support for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2), the Vole is still finding it hard to get people to move off Windows XP and onto Windows 7. According to figures released by Netmarketshare, usage of Windows Vista and Windows 7 combined fails to eclipse that of Windows XP. That's a disappointing statistic, given that Windows 7 has been available, in one way or another, for well over a year and Windows Vista has been knocking around for nearly four years.
Microsoft was hoping that ending support for Windows XP SP2 would light a fire under Windows 7 uptake, but at this point it seems that the Vole's plan isn't working. With a combined market share of 29 per cent, Windows Vista and Windows 7 aren't even in the same league as Windows XP, which has over 61 percent of the total installed base.
While the figures are a source of embarrassment for Microsoft, it's still pretty impressive to see one of its hairball operating systems that is almost a decade old having such a large share of the market. more
ATM hack gives cash on demand- Windows CE-based machines can easily be made to dole out cash, a security researcher says
Barnaby Jack hit the jackpot at Black Hat on Wednesday. Twice.
Exploiting bugs in two different ATM machines, the researcher from IOActive was able to get them to spit out money on demand and record sensitive data from the cards of people who used them.
He showed the attacks on two systems he had purchased himself -- the type of generic ATM machines typically found in bars and convenience stores. Criminals have been hitting this type of machine for years, using ATM skimmers to record card data and PIN numbers, or in some cases simply pulling up a truck and hauling the machines away. more
Exploiting bugs in two different ATM machines, the researcher from IOActive was able to get them to spit out money on demand and record sensitive data from the cards of people who used them.
He showed the attacks on two systems he had purchased himself -- the type of generic ATM machines typically found in bars and convenience stores. Criminals have been hitting this type of machine for years, using ATM skimmers to record card data and PIN numbers, or in some cases simply pulling up a truck and hauling the machines away. more
As many as 4 million people downloaded data-stealing Android app
A seemingly innocuous Android app that let users change their phone's wallpaper has actually been stealing private user information and may have been downloaded millions of times.
Mobile security firm Lookout unearthed the truth behind the deceitful app and presented its findings at the Black Hat security technology conference in Las Vegas, as reported by Venture Beat. more
Mobile security firm Lookout unearthed the truth behind the deceitful app and presented its findings at the Black Hat security technology conference in Las Vegas, as reported by Venture Beat. more
Ten Reasons to Dump Windows and Use Linux
Now is a particularly good time to ditch Windows for good, for workstations as well as servers. For instance, now that Microsoft stopped supporting Windows Server 2003 on July 13, you'll need to find something different to use for your servers. Whether it's switching from Windows Server 2003 to 2008 or to Linux-based servers--or changing out tired and faulty Windows Vista desktops for the alien Windows 7 or something more user-friendly--Linux provides you with freedom and freedom of choice. more
Build a $200 Linux PC
Times are still tough out there, but our needs and desires don't always flag just because the economy does. If an accident or an equipment failure has punched an unexpected hole in your computing life, you may be in need of a system—any system—to fill it. Or maybe you've discovered that your family just needs one more box to use as a Web terminal to keep the more powerful systems free more often. Whatever the circumstance, you may be tempted to drop $500 or even more on one of the cheaper, pre-fab models you can find at Costco, Wal-Mart, or from one of the major manufacturers. But once you've factored in all the attendant costs, taxes, and shipping, you could be spending a lot more than you planned—and that's something to avoid, especially when every penny counts.
Even if you need a computer right away, there are plenty of good reasons to build one rather than buy one. You control the parts, so you get exactly what you need at the price you can best afford. You're assured of being able to upgrade any (or all) of the pieces later, when you have more money to spend. And, perhaps most importantly, you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself and maintaining complete control over it from the very instant you open the boxes. No matter how little you want to drop, building your own computer is still the best way to go. more
Even if you need a computer right away, there are plenty of good reasons to build one rather than buy one. You control the parts, so you get exactly what you need at the price you can best afford. You're assured of being able to upgrade any (or all) of the pieces later, when you have more money to spend. And, perhaps most importantly, you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself and maintaining complete control over it from the very instant you open the boxes. No matter how little you want to drop, building your own computer is still the best way to go. more
Winff - a FFmpeg based graphical audio/video converter
I have talked a lot about various capabilities of FFmpeg over the past few months. But if you are not comfortable with command line and wish for a graphical media converter then Winff is the right tool for you.
Winff is a graphical audio/video converter which makes use of the giant, FFmpeg. Although it can't compete with the kind of flexibility a command line provides, but is still a pretty good tool for handling your day to day multimedia conversions. more
Winff is a graphical audio/video converter which makes use of the giant, FFmpeg. Although it can't compete with the kind of flexibility a command line provides, but is still a pretty good tool for handling your day to day multimedia conversions. more
A Linux experiment gone horribly...perfect!
The other day someone who knows I am in the computer business came to me with a very sick laptop (Gateway W340 with Intel graphics chip and Broadcom wireless). The machine was a fairly innocuous little guy that had some serious issues. I’ll list them out:
- The operating system was Windows Vista (he did not want to shell out the money for Windows 7).
- There was a root kit.
- Numerous malware issues.
- Chock full ‘o viruses.
- Wireless was flaky (at best).
- Machine was horribly slow (presumably because of the above).
- Wireless was still flaky (at best).
- Machine was still slow. more
Microsoft extends Windows XP downgrade rights until 2020
With 74% of business PCs running XP, the move is more proof that it's the OS that won't die Just a day before Microsoft drops support for Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) , the company announced on Monday that people running some versions of Windows 7 can "downgrade" to the aged operating system for up to 10 years.
The move is highly unusual. In the past, Microsoft has terminated downgrade rights -- which let customers replace a newer version of Windows with an older edition without paying for two copies -- within months of introducing a new OS. more
The move is highly unusual. In the past, Microsoft has terminated downgrade rights -- which let customers replace a newer version of Windows with an older edition without paying for two copies -- within months of introducing a new OS. more
Simple Time Saving Scripts
We've all got them, the one liners, the aliases, the time savers that we use to ever so slightly tweak our environment. The handful of shell scripts that we use every day to speed up simple tasks. I have several, but these three are by far my most used. Many of my scripts rely on a master list of server names in /etc/servers that I put on my control system, and keep up to date with servers that I'm responsible for. These simple scripts have saved me thousands of keystrokes over the years. more
Is Chrome OS a Threat to Ubuntu or Windows?
Since late 2009, talk of how Google's Chrome OS is being positioned to "take on" Microsoft Windows has been promoted by individuals who I believe have no idea what they're talking about.
By Google's own admission, Chrome OS is being designed for near exclusive use on netbook computers, due to its minimalist nature. And as we know, netbooks make up a small piece of the collective PC market. This clearly leaves out of desktops and laptops, which will remain dominated by the Windows OS (near term, at least). more
By Google's own admission, Chrome OS is being designed for near exclusive use on netbook computers, due to its minimalist nature. And as we know, netbooks make up a small piece of the collective PC market. This clearly leaves out of desktops and laptops, which will remain dominated by the Windows OS (near term, at least). more
SMPlayer and GNOME Mplayer - Two Incredibly Good Mplayer Based Media Players For Ubuntu
If you like mplayer, you will love SMPlayer and Gnome-Mplayer. Both SMplayer and Gnome-Mplayer are really good MPlayer front-ends and they do work great. SMplayer has long been my favorite multimedia player in Ubuntu and we have even featured SMplayer among the most wanted multimedia apps for Ubuntu. more
Four reasons you'll want Firefox 4
Firefox has begun to feel slow and dated. But Firefox 4 may change all that. Here are four reasons you'll want to switch to Firefox 4.
It's faster
Once upon a time Firefox felt fast. But Chrome, Safari, and Opera all display Web pages far more quickly. In this beta Firefox is still slower than those browsers, but it's closed the gap. In my tests, the beta of Firefox 4 showed to be about 30% faster than Firefox 3.6. Given that it's a beta, you should expect that it will become even speedier at launch. It's still slower than Opera, Chrome, and Safari. But Firefox has a massive library of add-ons, that none of those browsers do. more
It's faster
Once upon a time Firefox felt fast. But Chrome, Safari, and Opera all display Web pages far more quickly. In this beta Firefox is still slower than those browsers, but it's closed the gap. In my tests, the beta of Firefox 4 showed to be about 30% faster than Firefox 3.6. Given that it's a beta, you should expect that it will become even speedier at launch. It's still slower than Opera, Chrome, and Safari. But Firefox has a massive library of add-ons, that none of those browsers do. more
Microsoft seeks relevance as open source era passes it by
Microsoft’s top flack, Frank Shaw, recently offered the most fascinating blog post I (and other reporters) have seen in some time. It’s mostly a collection of numbers, meant to show that no matter how big you think other tech companies are, or how important, Microsoft is still the biggest, the IBM of the PC era.
It’s also, as MG Siegler of TechCrunch correctly notes, a cry for help.(Image from the Gates Foundation.)
A decade ago there was Microsoft and there was everyone else. A tech journalism site without a Redmond bureau (or a clued-in freelance) wasn’t worth reading. The question was whether progress could happen without Microsoft.
The government tried, and failed, to change that. Open source succeeded where the government could not. .
Open source has made Microsoft appear, from the outside, to be a very old company. Its Elvis, Bill Gates, has left the building. And like IBM after the Watson era, Microsoft has struggled for an identity beyond that. more
It’s also, as MG Siegler of TechCrunch correctly notes, a cry for help.(Image from the Gates Foundation.)
A decade ago there was Microsoft and there was everyone else. A tech journalism site without a Redmond bureau (or a clued-in freelance) wasn’t worth reading. The question was whether progress could happen without Microsoft.
The government tried, and failed, to change that. Open source succeeded where the government could not. .
Open source has made Microsoft appear, from the outside, to be a very old company. Its Elvis, Bill Gates, has left the building. And like IBM after the Watson era, Microsoft has struggled for an identity beyond that. more
Google out-FUDs the FUDmasters
For decades Microsoft has lived by Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt (FUD). Now, in an ironic twist of fate they’re being strangled with it, and by a Linux distro. That’s what Chrome OS is, you know. A Linux. Google’s strategy has always been to use Chrome against Microsoft’s desktop monopoly, and through a series of selective leaks that strategy appears to be coming together. more
SCO appeals against Stewart ruling
Just a few days before its own liquidation hearings, The SCO Group has lodged an appeal against the judgement that pulled the rug out from under the company's numerous ongoing legal battles. Groklaw reports that SCO now plans to appeal the judgement handed down by judge Ted Stewart. Stewart upheld a jury verdict made after oral hearings that Novell had retained the copyright to Unix when it sold its Unix business to The SCO Group (at the time operating as The Santa Cruz Operation). Stewart also rejected SCO's application to have the case reheard. more
HandBrake: The Best Beginner DVD Ripper
It seems like I have a lot to talk about these days when it comes to digital media, and this article is no exception. As I discussed in a previous article, I feel that physical media (CD’s, Blu-Ray, DVD) is going away and in the future digital media will rule all. While this is a blessing since less shelf space would be taken up by stacks of media, it is also a curse since companies will likely push DRM. However, what if you wanted to adopt digital media on your own terms, using free software? Well, Handbrake is here to take care of digitizing your DVD collection. more
Sidux 2010-01: Rolling Release KDE Goodness
I have always had a thing for distributions with KDE, and checking out how all the leading distributions choose to implement it. My latest foray into the world of KDE distro’s this time brings me to Sidux, which is a rolling distribution based on Debian Unstable. I’ve been meaning to review it for a while, but have been holding off until the time the latest version hit the streets. That time is now, as Sidux 2010-01 is (finally) upon us. more
Five best non-free Linux games of 2010
Oh, we did talk about top payware games, but which ones are truly the best? If I had to narrow the list down to just five games, which ones would those be? And how do you decide? Well, the price is one thing. If you're willing to shell out a few drachma without hesitation, then it's the first good sign. There's the excitement, of course. Nostalgia factor plays a lesser part here, compared to free games, but it might just be the extra incentive you need.more
Firefox 4 beta sports Chrome-like UI
Mozilla on Tuesday released the first beta of Firefox 4, a major upgrade expected later this year that features a revamped interface, support for a wide range of Web technologies, and performance increases.
Firefox 4 Beta 1, which missed its original end-of-June ship date by less than a week, is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux , although the most obvious changes -- the reworked interface -- is only offered automatically to Windows users.
more
Firefox 4 Beta 1, which missed its original end-of-June ship date by less than a week, is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux , although the most obvious changes -- the reworked interface -- is only offered automatically to Windows users.
more
A system based on Debian
The idea of a Linux Mint desktop based on top of Debian Testing is quite seducing. It’s much faster than Ubuntu and the current Linux Mint desktops, it uses less resources, and it opens the door for a rolling distribution, with a continuous flow of updates and no jumps from one release to another. It’s something we’ve always been tempted to do. Needless to say, whether it’s been because of our lack of communication on that topic or not, this has been a source of numerous rumors within the community.
A while ago, we released an ALPHA non-installable liveCD based on Debian. Then, last August I announced I was working on a new installer, and recently, I was joined by Ikey Doherty to work on the Debian base again.This time we’re producing our own liveCD, straight from the Debian Testing repositories, and it also comes with its own installer. What we’re aiming at, this time, is a fully working and fully installable liveCD which behaves in every way as similarly as the main Linux Mint edition. more
A while ago, we released an ALPHA non-installable liveCD based on Debian. Then, last August I announced I was working on a new installer, and recently, I was joined by Ikey Doherty to work on the Debian base again.This time we’re producing our own liveCD, straight from the Debian Testing repositories, and it also comes with its own installer. What we’re aiming at, this time, is a fully working and fully installable liveCD which behaves in every way as similarly as the main Linux Mint edition. more
OpenSUSE 11.3 delivers spit, polish, and niggles
Tabs, windows, and hiccups
The latest version of openSUSE hit final code last week and is not due for official release until July 15, but The Reg is here to give you a tour of its pro and cons.
The free operating system has been somewhat maligned for its association with Novell, the Linux company that partnered with Microsoft and is now touting itself for sale, so it's perhaps unsurprising that the release comes on the heels of a new mission statement that seeks to create a bit of distance between openSUSE and Novell's commercial projects. more
The free operating system has been somewhat maligned for its association with Novell, the Linux company that partnered with Microsoft and is now touting itself for sale, so it's perhaps unsurprising that the release comes on the heels of a new mission statement that seeks to create a bit of distance between openSUSE and Novell's commercial projects. more
Open Source is Inherently More Secure, Says Red Hat
At the Red Hat Summit in Boston last week, Josh Bressers, a senior security engineer at Red Hat, explained why open source really is the best model for building secure software.
"We don't have clothes on," said Bressers.
He didn't mean that they sit around Red Hat central naked - let's hope that's not what he meant. No, what Bressers meant was that in the open source world everything is visible.
"We have no secrets," he said. "We can't sneak a security patch in. You can just look at the source code." more
"We don't have clothes on," said Bressers.
He didn't mean that they sit around Red Hat central naked - let's hope that's not what he meant. No, what Bressers meant was that in the open source world everything is visible.
"We have no secrets," he said. "We can't sneak a security patch in. You can just look at the source code." more
Clonezilla LiveCD 1.2.5-32
Clonezilla Live is a Debian-based specialist live CD with software that enables users to clone the content of hard disks. more
5 popular open source eCommerce platforms
There are so many off-the-shelf web solutions out there, many website owners are asking: Why should I bother building it myself? When thinking about their eCommerce platform, a site owner faces three key choices: the Software as a Service hosted solution, download and install an open source or purchased solution, or just build it yourself. more
Three video transcoding applications for Linux worth knowing
If you are a movie junkie like me, chances are you have quite a number of movies on your computer that would be nice watching on your DVD player or home theater system, mobile phone or portable multimedia device.Being a Linux user, the following three applications should help you with your transcoding task without resorting to the terminal. more
