Showing headlines posted by the_doctor

Linux distributions like Ubuntu are release based, which means when a new version rolls out, everyone rushes to upgrade. Many folks do this without a care in the world, believing that if the previous version worked great then the latest version should also be free of bugs.

The O'Reilly Open Source Convention (OSCON) is an annual convention for the discussion of free and open source software.

Tablets are not the end-all, be-all of computing and eventually the laptop will take over. Again.

Linus Torvalds, the principal force behind development of the Linux kernel and overseer of open source development for the Linux operating system, has been named the 2014 recipient of the IEEE Computer Society’s Computer Pioneer Award “for pioneering development of the Linux kernel using the open-source approach”.

GNOME 3 is usually defended in terms of design excellence. However, while GNOME has been developed with close attention to design, that does not mean that its basic foundations are as grounded in design principles as you might infer.

"Open-source is not a free beer, it’s a free puppy," says Kenneth C. Green, who conducted the survey. "If I give you a free puppy, well, you have got some significant costs for that puppy in terms of attention, care, maintenance, and support."

In a rare move, the Homeland Security Department's Computer Emergency Readiness Team says to stop using Internet Explorer until Microsoft can plug a critical security hole.

The entire Silicon Valley tech scene is filled with ludicrous buzz phrases that are often decried by the media. Terms like "engagement," "disrupt," and "innovation" are commonly thrown around by those who want to be part of the Valley subculture.

Is the PC dead yet? No, but Microsoft-owned Nokia makes no bones about its increasing irrelevance.

Android is probably the most versatile mobile platform ever produced. It is so broad there are layers of features buried deep under the facade. These tips will help peel back those layers.

Earlier this month Canonical released a new, long term support, version of its popular operating system (OS), Ubuntu. Nicknamed Trusty Tahr, Ubuntu 14.04 comes pre-installed with tons of great software, but even more is available through the handy Ubuntu Software Center which users will find in the applications launcher. Popular video game Minecraft is also available for install on Ubuntu 14.04.

Valve just released an update for its Steam desktop client. This update addresses bugs and stability improvements across all platforms, and includes support for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. Gamers in Linux now can select a voice input device when using “Big Picture” mode.

The new rules, according to the people briefed on them, will allow a company like Comcast or Verizon to negotiate separately with each content company – like Netflix, Amazon, Disney or Google – and charge different companies different amounts for priority service.

Hoping to catch the attention of those upgrading from dead-end Microsoft operating systems, Canonical this week released Ubuntu 14.04 LTS for the desktop.

GNOME isn’t the desktop for everyone, yet it has clear advantages over competitors.

Canonical today is releasing Ubuntu 14.04, a Long Term Support (LTS) edition for desktops and servers and an update to the versions of Ubuntu for phones and tablets.

An independent audit of the open source disk encryption utility finds no backdoors, but dredges up other troubling issues.

Creating a network share on Linux is quite a bit different than on Windows, but that doesn’t mean that it requires a degree from Tux U. In this article, we take a look at installing and configuring Samba, creating some shares, and then accessing those shares across a variety of platforms.

It’s been my experience that, despite any progress, Ubuntu and distros like it have made in gaining new users, those in the tech media continue to get it wrong. In this article, I’ll examine how the tech media continues to spread misinformation about Linux on the desktop, why it happens and what we as users can do about it.

I've written about and reviewed mobile phones for almost a decade and a half. Everything from flip phones, to BlackBerrys, to today's hottest Android models, and yes, Apple iPhones, have passed through my hands. That experience is why, more than anything, I've ultimately settled on Google Android as my smartphone platform of choice.