Brian Fagioli

Open source is the future of computing. Don't believe me? Three of the most important technology companies -- Microsoft, Apple, and Google -- not only license open source software, but they contribute to open source projects too. While closed source will likely never go away, it is becoming less important.

Today, popular anti-virus and security company, Avast, announces that it too is contributing to the open source community. You see, it is releasing the code for its machine-code decompiler on GitHub. Called "RetDec," the decompiler had been under development since 2011, originally by AVG -- a company Avast bought in 2016.

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When you think of speed and overclocking, a desktop computer probably comes to mind. After all, for enthusiasts and gamers, a tower is the best option for a PC. Not everyone goes that route, however. Instead, some consumers opt for laptops, mini-desktops, and all-in-one PCs.

When you don't choose a traditional desktop, and go with one of those aforementioned alternatives, you cannot use normal RAM sticks. Instead, you must buy SODIMM memory which is physically smaller and typically slower. Today, however, Corsair is launching what it calls the world's fastest DDR4 SODIMM 32GB Memory Kit (the company sells a faster 32GB desktop RAM kit). How fast is it? This new Vengeance kit runs at an insane 4,000MHz! Before you get too excited, please know it is very expensive and your computer probably can't run them at that speed.

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Some people think we are living in the golden age of television. Whether or not that is true is debatable. What is certain, however, is that there are a lot of great TV shows both on traditional channels and steaming services. Quite frankly, there is so much exceptional content, it is simply impossible to consume it all while working a full time job. Hell, even if you watched television 20 hours per day, you'd still miss out.

But what exactly are the most popular shows? This is hard to say for sure, as people consume television in so many different ways nowadays -- including piracy. IMDb has come up with a rather clever way to rank the top 10 TV shows, however -- page views. Yes, the company has compiled the top 10 television shows based on its own website traffic. Number one is Game of Thrones -- that should come as no surprise. After all, it was number one the last five years in a row based on this metric. What did shock me though, is number two!

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Not everyone needs top-of-the-line hardware. Quite frankly, outside of bragging rights, many enthusiasts don't even use their processors and RAM to their maximum potential. Laughably, people buy octa-core processors and 32GB of memory to surf the web. Yeah, Google Chrome is bloated, but even that web browser doesn't need that type of hardware!

Smarter system builders opt for value -- matching both their needs and wants to their budgets. Hell, sometimes it can be very rewarding to do more with less. After all, there is no skill in blindly throwing money at a build -- what's the fun in that? Today, Intel launches new "Gemini Lake" desktop and laptop processors aimed at computer users that want reasonable performance without breaking the bank. Despite eventually finding their way into budget builds and low-cost notebooks, these new Pentium Silver and Celeron chips should prove to be quite capable. In fact, Intel claims they are 58 percent faster than entry-level computers from four years ago.

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There is a notion that installing a Linux-based operating system can be hard. In 2017, this is absolutely false (with the exception of Arch, that is). Many years ago, installing a distribution could be difficult, but nowadays, it can be downright easy. Quite frankly, installing Linux can sometimes be easier than Windows these days, since you don't have to go hunting for drivers and software all over the web. If you have been fearful of replacing Windows 10 with an operating system like Linux Mint -- don't be.

But OK, understandably, some people have anxiety about changing their computer's operating system. If that is you, I am happy to say Linux Mint has a brand new installation guide that should quell any fears. Not only does it help with technical aspects, but it can guide you to the best edition for your needs. Mint in particular is a great alternative to Windows 10.

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The Xbox One X is the best gaming console on the market -- from a raw power perspective, that is. Despite having lesser specs, many people would argue that the Nintendo Switch is the superior machine. Why? Mario and Zelda. After all, when it comes to video games, content is king -- fun trumps frame rate. Not to mention, Microsoft's latest is wildly expensive at $500 while only working with a TV. The Switch costs less and doubles as a mobile console.

If you can't afford an Xbox One X, but really want one, I have good news. Microsoft is giving some of them away -- three to be exact. The company is running this contest as a way to promote Digital Gift Giving. To make this giveaway even sweeter, the prizes are the fairly rare "Project Scorpio Edition" variants. Best of all, entering is insanely easy.

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Toshiba is one of the most trusted names in storage. Not only does it offer class-leading products, but it is constantly pushing boundaries. A few days ago, the company unveiled a 10TB NAS hard drive that focuses heavily on reliability. A few months ago, it announced a single-disk 1TB 2.5-inch HDD at a very slim 7mm.

Today, Toshiba does it again. The company shows off a beautiful new 3.5-inch hard disk drive (model MG07ACA) with a monstrous 14TB capacity. While not the first drive to offer that capacity, it is the first 14TB drive that uses conventional magnetic recording (CMR) as opposed to shingled magnetic recording (SMR). This technological breakthrough is an important accomplishment, and Toshiba deserves major kudos.

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I love my Apple TV. A lot. Actually, I have two of them -- the 4th generation in my bedroom and the new 4K model in my living room. It is a great way to consume media --  I regularly use it to watch Netflix and listen to Apple Music. Yesterday, it finally got Amazon Prime video support. Heck Apple TV even doubles as a legit video game console with proper gamepad/controller support too.

How could it get better, you ask? Howard Stern! Yes, the legendary shock jock and the rest of SiriusXM are now available on Apple TV thanks to a new official app that hits the App Store today. Stern aside, there are also countless commercial-free music channels and tons of talk channels, making this a huge win for Apple TV owners.

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Wireless headphones are rather common nowadays, especially with many manufacturers removing the traditional 3.5mm audio jack from smartphones. While you can opt for a set that connect by USB-C or Lightning, Bluetooth is much more elegant. True, they have to be charged regularly which is a valid pain point, but for many, the benefits simply outweigh the negatives.

One group of consumers that can benefit greatly from wireless headphones are those that exercise, including runners. When working out or running, traditional wired headphones can get tangled, caught on machines, or pull on ears -- very annoying. Today, JBL and Under Armour unveil a new set of Bluetooth headphones that should have athletic consumers giddy. Called "UA Sport Wireless Flex," they rest around your neck for maximum comfort. To make them stand out, they have a pretty cool feature not found on most other headphones -- LED lighting for nighttime safety.

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We are right in the middle of the holiday shopping season. If you haven’t yet started buying Christmas gifts for friends and family, you should probably start soon. After all, you don’t want to be stuck on long lines because you waited until the last minute, right?

If you are stumped regarding what present to get for that technology enthusiast in your life, Logitech is hoping to inspire you. You see, today, the company launches three new bundles built around its popular Circle 2 Wi-Fi camera. Even better, the bundles will get big discounts starting this Sunday.

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Two of my favorite things are dogs and Linux. No, really. When I am not having fun with my Linux box, I am playing or cuddling with my dog. And so, whenever there is a way to mix these things, I am all for it. That's probably why Puppylinux is so endearing to me. Make no mistake, however, the operating system is much more than a cute name. Actually, it is a solid distro for breathing new life into ancient computers.

Today, Puppylinux 7.5 sees release. Named "Xenialpup," the ISO is an insanely small 330MB. Well, that is a diminutive operating system by today's standards at least. Heck, you can even burn it to a CD rather than a DVD -- very useful for an old PC without a DVD drive. You don't need to install it to the hard drive if you don't want -- it can be used as a live environment from optical disk, memory card, or flash drive. Despite its focus on being lightweight, it is still very capable too.

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Not all hard drives are created equally. When you are in the market for a storage drive, there are many things to consider. Most importantly is brand -- if you are storing important data, you want a product from a company with a good reputation. Next, you want to target the capacity that meets your needs and fits your budget. Obviously the more capacity the better, but there is no point in buying much more than you need. In other words, if you only need to store 1TB of data, an 8TB drive would be a foolish buy.

Another thing to consider when buying a hard drive is reliability. Some drives are rated for more use than others, with NAS drives often topping that rating. Why? These drives are quite literally designed for network attached storage where they could be in constant use -- including serving as a personal "cloud." Today, Toshiba unveils a beautiful new SATA 3.3 NAS drive with a massive 10TB capacity and impressive 256MB cache/buffer. Called "MN06ACA10T," it is designed for 24/7 usage and workload transfer-rated for 180TB per year.

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There is this stereotype that Linux is not conducive to creativity, and I want you to know it is totally false. True, some photographers, videographers, and other types of artists may opt for a Mac or Windows machine, but they can be just as creative with open source and Linux. Not to mention, if you are a maker, engineer, or other type of creator, Linux is probably your best option.

The folks over at System76 have been preaching about the benefits of Linux and open source for many years, and its excellent Linux-powered computers are used by many creative professionals -- including Pixar. This year, however, the computer seller decided to take things a step further by creating its own Ubuntu-based operating system. Called "Pop!_OS," it aims to inspire its users. The company wants to get more people using the distro, so today, it announces a really cool new contest. By simply trying the operating system and sharing your experience with System76, you could win some sweet prizes, including a trip to the company's headquarters in Denver, CO!

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Holiday shopping is here, which means many consumers are visiting popular retailers like Walmart, Kohl’s, and Target. True, more and more shoppers are opting for an online experience from websites like Amazon, but the brick-and-mortar sellers are still wildly popular. Yeah, waiting in line stinks, but it can sometimes be more rewarding to see products in person. Shoes and clothing in particular can be tried on before buying.

Regarding those long lines that shoppers despise, Target has found a way to make them move a bit quicker. You see, starting today, the Target app for Android and iOS gains a new Wallet feature that makes the act of paying even faster. Better yet, it makes it easier to manage and use coupons.

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Linux Mint is a great operating system that I recommend highly. It is based on the rock-solid Ubuntu 16.04, meaning it is stable and compatible with many packages. For Windows converts in particular, Linux Mint with the Cinnamon desktop environment can be a very inviting first-time distribution that should offer a positive experience. The Mate DE variant is a solid choice too -- if your hardware is a bit anemic, that is.

Two desktop environments are probably the most that a Linux operating system should officially offer. Why? Too much choice can sometimes be bad, as it fragments the user experience and strains developer resources. Thankfully, the Linux Mint team seems to be seeing the light on this, as it will soon be ending the KDE version of the OS. There is still one final version of Mint that will offer KDE, however, and that is 18.3 Sylvia. Today, the beta version featuring that environment sees release.

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