Korora 21 Darla is finally here -- Linux fans, download the 'Fedora Remix' now!
There are so many Linux-based operating systems nowadays, that it can be maddening to try and settle on one. For many home users, sticking with Ubuntu or Mint is probably for the best. Why? These distributions are beginner-friendly while also powerful for experts too. In other words, you can grow with them without fear of hitting a ceiling.
My personal favorite is Fedora, because it is powerful and stable, while offering frequent updates to various packages and the actual kernel too. Even Linus Torvalds, the father of Linux, uses Fedora. The problem with this operating system, however, is that it is not beginner friendly. This is because Fedora is so strictly focused on being entirely free; not in price, but in licensing and other things. A beginner may face trouble getting media to play; a non-starter to say the least. Korora is designed to fix this dilemma. It is essentially a "remixed" Fedora, which makes it better for beginners by including things -- repositories, codecs, proprietary software -- that are not normally included. Heck, Fedora experts may even prefer it, as it can be tiring to frequently configure vanilla Fedora installs.
Hate NFL football? Here are 5 nerdy things to do instead of watching Super Bowl
Today's the day; Super Bowl Sunday is officially here. The game should be exciting, as the Patriots are rather hated outside of New England. Why? The "DeflateGate" controversy has many NFL fans considering the team to be cheaters. Actually, the team has been caught cheating in the past -- and penalized for it -- but in this case, the footballs have not been 100 percent proven to be intentionally deflated. Still, even though the accusations are only alleged, many think it is serendipitous for the Seahawks to win, as it would right a wrong.
Even with this interesting back story, not everyone likes football. You know what? That's OK -- different strokes for different folks as they say. If you are a computer nerd who wants to do something other than watch the Super Bowl today, here are 5 things you should do instead.
Warning! Linux is being haunted by a G-G-G-GHOST vulnerability -- are you at risk?
Recently, I declared that the Linux Desktop was dead, something that I stand by. However, Linux still dominates in the mobile device and server categories. And yes, a relatively minuscule number of people -- including myself -- will still continue to use Linux on the desktop. Why? People trust Linux-based operating systems to be safe and secure.
Because of Linux's popularity for servers and smart phones, it is imperative that it remains safe, and free from malware and vulnerabilities. Sadly, we learn today that Linux is being haunted by a g-g-g-ghost -- a ghost vulnerability, that is. Qualys explains that it is calling the vulnerability a "GHOST" because "it can be triggered by the GetHOST functions". In other words, Linux isn't as safe as we thought.
Windows 10 is the final nail in the coffin for the Linux desktop
For years now, we Linux fans -- yes, myself included -- have been dreaming of the fabled "Year of the Linux Desktop". What does that mean? To have Linux-based operating systems snag a bigger piece of the desktop pie, if not a majority. While a majority share of the desktop is admittedly absurd, a respectable share was always something I considered a possibility.
For some, this desire stems from a hatred of Microsoft and Windows; that is not my stance, however. No, I love both Linux-based operating systems and Windows; I just want Linux distros to get a bit more respect. A lot of work goes into Ubuntu, Fedora and others and it is sad that they are not used by more people. While the consumer hatred of Windows 8 seemed like an opportunity for Linux to grow, sadly, it did not happen. Even sadder? Windows 10 closes the door entirely. The year of the Linux desktop will never happen. Rest in peace.
CompuLab MintBox Mini is a cute and diminutive Linux Mint computer
When it comes to Linux desktops, there are a few routes to go. The most common is to buy a Windows desktop and either replace Microsoft's operating system or partition the drive with your favorite Linux distro. If you are a bit more technical, you can build your own machine, but this can sometimes be costly (depending on your needs).
The coolest option, however, is to buy a pre-built Linux computer. Why? Well, it is a great way to show your support for the open source movement and can also financially support the makers of the pre-loaded operating system. Today, the Linux Mint team announces the MintBox Mini; a tiny computer running that distro. The cute PC is even mint-colored to create a unique experience.
Linux Mint 17.1 'Rebecca' Xfce finally available -- download now for old computers
Linux Mint is on a roll lately; last year saw the official release of 17.1 'Rebecca', with the Mate and Cinnamon desktop environments (DEs). Both of the aforementioned environments are wonderful, but not everyone likes them. With Linux, there are many DEs to choose from, and each has its own fans.
A few days ago, the Mint Team released a KDE flavored version of 17.1, which made many people -- mostly with modern PCs -- happy. You see, as great as KDE is, it is not designed for older machines. Sure, Mate is arguably appropriate for a less-powerful machine, but there is yet another desktop environment that can better breathe new life into older computers -- Xfce. It is now available for Mint 17.1, featuring "Xfce 4.10, MDM 1.8, a Linux kernel 3.13 and an Ubuntu 14.04 package base".
Linux Mint 17.1 'Rebecca' KDE Edition is here -- Linux fans download it now!
The year 2014 proved wonderful for Linux; however, it was not the fabled 'Year of the Linux Desktop". Quite frankly, that year may never come, but that is OK. The open-source kernel is dominating the mobile space with Android, and that is arguably more important anyway.
Linux Mint in particular shone brightly last year, with wonderful releases and updates. Today, the distribution is continuing that trend in 2015 with the all-new Linux Mint 17.1 'Rebecca' KDE Edition. If you are a fan of KDE, your time is now -- get downloading!
Santa Claus has Linux in his sack -- PCLinuxOS 2014.12 is here
Christmas is almost here, and I am so excited! Yes, I am looking forward to getting gifts, but more importantly, I like giving them. When you reach a certain age, a gift becomes just another thing taking up space in your home. The gifts I really want -- processors, RAM, graphics cards -- are too expensive to ask friends and family for. Some nice underwear and socks will do me just fine -- my current pairs are holier than Christmas itself.
Luckily, Linux is free, and makes the perfect gift for the nerd in your life. Today, Santa Claus pulls Linux from his sack a bit early -- PCLinuxOS 2014.12 sees release, and it looks awesome. If you have never tried a Linux-based operating system before, this is a great choice.
Windows and Linux are the same thing
Want to know a secret? Linux-based operating systems and Windows are the same thing -- crazy right? I know! I was shocked to learn this myself, but it is true. They are both a means to run software, called programs. Sure, the types of programs available for each are not identical, but they could be. You see, if developers wanted to, they could write their software for both operating systems. Sadly, Linux has a very small user share in the home, so it is not always financially possible to do so.
Still though, they are the same thing. Well, the same thing to some people at least, admittedly not all. One particular type of software is available for both Windows and Linux-based operating systems, making them the same thing for some -- the web browser. Yes, many home users utilize web browsers, like Chrome and Firefox, for all of their computing needs. In this sense, Windows and Linux are simply a means for running a web browser, and it doesn't matter which OS they choose.
Countdown to Armageddon -- Google Earth API will be dead in 1 year!
In the grand scheme of things, we aren't far removed from a time when most people thought the Earth was flat. Yes, we went from thinking a boat could sail off of the edge of the world, to landing a spacecraft on a comet -- crazy, right?
When Google Earth was first released, it was a mind-boggling program. It allowed users to easily navigate a virtual Earth; a high-tech globe, if you will. While people take it for granted, the search-giant's offering remains wonderful. Unfortunately for developers, Google is killing the Earth API.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 7.1 Beta available now!
Fans of Linux-based operating systems have been experiencing a deluge of quality releases in the last quarter of 2014 -- Ubuntu, Mint and Fedora to name a few. While I still think there are too many distros nowadays, the lesser-quality releases can be tuned-out as noise.
Today, one of the most significant enterprise Linux distributions, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), reaches Beta for the upcoming 7.1 version.
Fedora 21 is here -- Linux fans get an early Christmas gift
There are so many Linux distributions nowadays -- arguably too many -- that it often feels like resources are being spread thin. After all, many Linux contributors don't get paid for their work -- they do it for love. With that said, it is a bit silly that this free labor is not being maximized to its potential. It is reminiscent of Android ROMs, where much of the work is duplicated, and everyone wants to offer their own for Internet fame. The Linux community has become like a vomit-bucket, where developers puke up distros that come and go; a trip to Distrowatch can make you dizzy.
Luckily, not all Linux distributions are fly-by-night operating systems; quite the contrary actually. There are still dependable distros like Ubuntu and Fedora, with the latter being my personal favorite (Linus Torvalds' favorite too). Today, Fedora 21 reaches final release. Yes, the wait has been long, but good things come to those that do so.
Macs and Linux come under attack as the threat landscape shifts
The latest monthly report from internet security specialist Doctor Web shows that whilst Windows and Android users have no cause for complacency, November saw substantial numbers of malicious programs aimed at Mac OS X and Linux platforms.
Trojans remain the most popular form of attack making up 8.7 percent of all malware detected. Trojan.InstallCore.12, which installs different adware, toolbars and browser extensions, ranks first. BackDoor.Andromeda.404, which downloads other malicious programs into an infected system when commanded to do so by intruders, ranks second.
Creator CI20 is an Android or Linux-powered Raspberry Pi competitor
Small is beautiful, and this is something that the Raspberry Pi demonstrates perfectly. But now there's a little competition. The Creator CI20 is a new diminutive micro-computer which offers more power than an existing Raspberry Pi, as well as a choice of operating systems -- Android or Linux.
The company behind the barebones computer is another UK chip manufacturer, Imagination, and at just $65, it's a perfect stocking stuffer. Or at least it would be if units were going to ship before January 2015. Like the Raspberry Pi, the Creator CI20 is a fully loaded board designed for use in all manner of DIY computing projects.
Do you smell the minty goodness? Linux Mint 17.1 'Rebecca' is finally here!
Christmas is coming, which means lots of festivities are about to happen. For me, however, the holiday is all about one thing -- smells. No, I'm not crazy, although many will disagree. What I mean to say is, the smells of Christmas resonate with me more than any other aspect. Of course, the smell of pine trees conjure images of decorated trees with gifts underneath, but don't forget the smells of cookies baking and grandma's perfume. All of these scents comes together to culminate Christmastime.
While it is not typically associated with the holiday, the smell of mint makes me as giddy as a child on Christmas morn. Why? It makes me think of Linux Mint, one of my favorite distros. Fans of the operating system are getting an early Christmas present, as the release of 17.1, "Rebecca", is here.
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