Brian Fagioli

Over the years, I have suggested leaving Windows for Linux many times, with some readers saying I sound like a broken record. In hindsight, however, that was arguably a foolish thing to suggest (in some cases, at least). No, that doesn’t mean I have soured on Linux -- quit the contrary. Actually, I am as enthusiastic as ever!

So, have I changed my tune? Well… not entirely. I still think people should install Linux, but instead of replacing Windows, I would suggest dual-booting instead. This way, you get the best of both worlds -- Linux and Windows on one machine. I suppose if you find you don’t ever use Windows, you could get rid of it down the line. But even if you don’t use Windows, why bother getting rid of it? You might find having a Windows installation handy one day. Hey… you never know.

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As a fat and nerdy guy, two of my favorite things in the world are technology and food. And so, when Apple announced News+ Food today, my tummy rumbled in anticipation.

But what exactly is it? Quite simply, News+ Food is a new section of the Apple News+ service that is dedicated to -- you guessed it -- food! This new section encompasses all things culinary, such as recipes, restaurant reviews, and healthy eating, to name but a few.

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Amazon has announced that is finally pulling the plug on its Android Appstore, and that’s not all -- Amazon Coins are going down with it too. From August 20, 2025, Amazon says the Appstore on Android devices will be no more. That means no new downloads, no updates, and good luck expecting your existing apps to keep working. If you’re still relying on it, now’s the time to move on.

If you have subscriptions through the Appstore you will be able to manage or cancel them for now, but once the shutdown happens, it’s all over. That said, Amazon isn’t shutting down the Appstore entirely. It will still exist on Fire TV and Fire tablets, which makes sense since those are Amazon’s own products. But if you’re using a regular Android phone or tablet? Sorry, you’re out of luck.

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Microsoft is moving closer to quantum computing supremacy with the arrival of its new Majorana 1 chip, a development which could potentially have a far-reaching impact on cybersecurity. While the Windows-maker touts this as progress, the reality is far more concerning. The encryption that protects banking transactions, government data, and personal communications could soon be worthless.

Microsoft's advancement comes down to Microsoft’s new topoconductor material, which enables a type of quantum computing that scales far beyond anything possible today. “We took a step back and said ‘OK, let’s invent the transistor for the quantum age. What properties does it need to have?’” said Chetan Nayak, Microsoft technical fellow. “And that’s really how we got here -- it’s the particular combination, the quality and the important details in our new materials stack that have enabled a new kind of qubit and ultimately our entire architecture.”

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Kioxia, in partnership with Sandisk, has introduced a super-cool 3D flash memory solution that boosts NAND interface speeds to an insane 4.8 gigabits per second! This has the potential to transform AI-powered tasks and data centers.

This advancement integrates state-of-the-art features like Toggle DDR6.0 for NAND flash, alongside the SCA protocol (short for Separate Command Address) which streamlines command handling. Additionally, the PI-LTT system, or Power Isolated Low-Tapped Termination, slashes energy use.

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Amazon has some good news for fans of its eero routers. The retail giant has just added two new models to its Wi-Fi 7 lineup -- the eero 7 and eero pro 7. These new devices promise fast multi-gigabit speeds at prices that won’t empty your wallet.

The eero 7 is a dual-band router running on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and offers wireless speeds up to 1.8 Gbps and wired speeds up to 2.3 Gbps with its two 2.5 GbE ports. Its small size means it should fit neatly on a shelf or desk, perfect for tighter spaces, and a single unit covers 2,000 square feet, which will be enough for an apartment or modest home. A twin-pack will cover 4,000 square feet, while a triple-pack will stretch to 6,000 square feet. Pricing starts at $169.99 for one, $279.99 for two, or $349.99 for three, which feels like a steal for Wi-Fi 7.

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As someone who loves watching sports and placing a good bet now and then, I know how important it is to have easy access to live games. FanDuel Sports Network is making that even simpler by launching as an add-on subscription through Prime Video. Starting today, fans in FanDuel Sports Network markets can sign up for $19.99 per month and get access to tons of local sports content and live events.

Eric Ratchman, President of Distribution and Business Development for Main Street Sports Group, said, “This relationship with Prime Video gives fans another way to watch their favorite local teams and underscores the essential role our distribution partners play in driving our future growth. We’re excited to offer a seamless and convenient way to stay in the game.”

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If you’re the type of person who loves to dive into a good book, Google has just made things simpler for you on your iPhone (and iPad). Historically, Play Books has been great for reading ebooks and audiobooks, but buying them on iOS was less than ideal. That’s changing now.

Google has introduced a new “Get Book” feature in the Play Books iOS app, which now directly navigates you to the Google Play website for a seamless purchase. Gone are the days of navigating through confusing mazes; just tap, buy, and start your reading without distractions.

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If you need to connect multiple displays, you'll be pleased to know that Plugable has just released the USBC-MSTH3, a new USB-C hub designed for that very purpose. The hub uses Multi-Stream Transport (MST) technology, which allows users to spread their Windows desktop across three external screens.

The hub supports HDMI 2.1, offering various display configurations:

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Infinacore has released the P3 Pro, its latest portable charger and power bank designed to meet the charging needs of modern users. Following a successful Kickstarter campaign, the P3 Pro is now available for purchase.

The P3 Pro features two USB-C ports, one USB-A port, and MagSafe-compatible Qi2 wireless charging, enabling users to charge up to three devices simultaneously. It is designed to work with a variety of devices, including laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, and cameras. For travelers, the charger includes interchangeable adapter prongs for US, UK, and EU outlets, making it a practical companion for international trips.

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The integration of Fedora into Microsoft’s Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) is on the brink of completion, and the Fedora crew is rallying the community for assistance. A testing event is pegged for Monday, February 17, 2025, offering enthusiasts an opportunity to experiment with Fedora under WSL prior to its formal release. If you’re equipped with either Windows 10 or 11 and have some free time, here’s your moment to make a contribution.

This Fedora testing event is essentially a community-organized quest for bugs. It welcomes all -- whether you’re a die-hard Fedora supporter or simply intrigued by the idea of Linux within Windows. Requirements include an x86 or AArch64 setup with virtualization capabilities, a readiness to adhere to guidelines, and the capacity to handle downloading large test images.

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If you have been waiting for a powerful, AI-driven mini PC, ACEMAGIC has some big news -- its F3A AI 370 MINI PC is now available for pre-order! This thing isn’t just another underpowered compact PC -- actually, it Is built for serious computing such as AI workloads and content creation.

At the core of the F3A is AMD’s brand-new Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, based on Zen 5 and Zen 5c architecture. It has got 12 cores and 24 threads, with a turbo boost up to 5.1GHz, so multitasking and heavy workloads won’t slow it down. But what really makes this machine stand out is its AI-focused hardware. The third-gen Ryzen AI NPU, built on XDNA2 architecture, delivers up to 50 TOPS of AI power. When combined with the CPU and GPU, that number jumps to 80 TOPS, making this mini PC a beast for machine learning, AI inference, and other cutting-edge tasks.

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Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the much-anticipated 20250214 update for Chimera Linux is here! This version introduces an improved package manager, a more modern kernel, and broadened hardware compatibility.

A key highlight is the upgrade to apk-tools, now boasting variable expansion and a system-wide /usr file structure. This change simplifies mirror switching by eliminating the need for manual edits to repository configurations. Additionally, the update adopts a new v3-style index naming, ensuring backwards compatibility.

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Let’s be honest -- exercising sucks. While some people enjoy fitness, many people (such as myself) absolutely detest it. Whether you love or hate being active, however, it is undoubtedly an essential part of good health. In other words, a fully sedentary life is destined for tragedy.

If you want to make fitness more enjoyable, listening to music can do the trick. Put on a pair of headphones, crank your favorite tunes, and you just might find yourself more motivated.

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AVerMedia has released its newest capture card, the Live Gamer ULTRA S, model GC553Pro. This device is primarily designed for gamers who livestream. AVerMedia says it offers recording at high frame rates, captures true-color RGB24, and provides 5.1-channel surround sound.

Streamers are often looking for equipment that can improve their broadcasts and engage their viewers more effectively. The Live Gamer ULTRA S aims to meet those demands with support for 4K60 HDR/VRR pass-through, capturing at high frame rates up to 4K60, 1440p144, 1080p240, and HDR up to 1440p30. The utilization of RGB24 format promises color accuracy, maintaining the visual integrity of the content.

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