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The Windows 10 experience has so far been very mixed for those who installed Microsoft’s new operating system, and while some claim this is the best OS version so far, others can’t even get the Start menu working after upgrading from Windows 7 and 8.1.

More than a month ago, Google announced the coming update for the 6th major iteration of its platform... Marshmallow. Of the anticipated updates, the Nexus line of devices would be the first to receive the gooey goodness that promised to bring the most significant updates to some critical Android components (think Now On Tap and app permissions).

As with the previous posts, I want to make sure that I am using the latest release and that it is well integrated with the Linux distribution, so this time I will be using Cinnamon 2.8 on Linux Mint 17.3 Beta (to be very specific, it is Cinnamon 2.8.5 at the time of this writing, once all available updates have been installed).

Those who know me best are quick to let me know: I'm a touch stubborn on certain matters. But there is one area where I've found myself caving to the pressures of reality. In this article, I'll make a case for why I believe ChromeOS might end up winning the OS wars.

The TrueCrypt whole-disk encryption tool used by millions of privacy and security enthusiasts is safer than some studies have suggested, according to a comprehensive security analysis conducted by the prestigious Fraunhofer Institute for Secure Information Technology.

Paul Smith, vice president and general manager of Red Hat‘s (NYSE: RHT) public sector business, has indicated that government agencies continue to explore open source software to drive innovation, Executive Gov reported Nov. 11.

As a programmer, I'm aware that I tend to make mistakes -- and why not? Even programmers are human. Some errors are detected during code compilation, while others get caught during software testing. However, a category of error exists that usually does not get detected at either of these stages and that may cause the software to behave unexpectedly -- or worse, terminate prematurely.

This is not the time for innovation in desktop environments. The memory of the user revolts against KDE, GNOME, and Unity are still too fresh for developers to attempt major changes. Instead, the preference is for tweaks and minor improvements in functionality that nobody is apt to get too upset about. All the same, I think the desktop is long overdue to switch to task-based design.

Speaking about the enhancements Microsoft has made to Windows 10 in terms of security, Nadella has called the company's latest product ”the most secure operating system,” explaining that it comes with significant improvements in this regard for both consumers and enterprises.

I have been using various Linux distros for many years now. One of the benefits is that I’ve seen many things improve and have been there to celebrate each success as it happened. Unfortunately, like any modern operating system, even the most modern Linux distributions are not without their challenges.

I will start this post with a disclaimer: I do not claim to be an expert on Linux desktops in any way, or by any stretch of the imagination. I am an ordinary Linux user, no more.

How do you choose a Linux desktop for beginners? The answer is more complicated than usually admitted. Besides ease of use, you should also think about first impressions, the quality of help, stability, and room to grow. These characteristics immediately eliminate distros like Gentoo or Slackware, but still leaves dozens of alternatives, none of which rate high in all these characteristics.

While Microsoft might be revved up about getting people onto Windows 10 as fast as possible, if you call your PC maker's tech support line, you might be advised to roll back to older versions.

Last year, I wrote how the number of Linux distributions listed on Distrowatch seemed to be declining. Specifically, the number had dropped from 323 in 2011 to 285 in December 2014.

Chromebooks are not for everyone and those wondering if Chrome OS will meet their needs now have a free method to check it out. All that's needed is a laptop that's not being used and an 8 or 16GB USB stick.

Mention the year of the Linux desktop, and you are guaranteed to get a laugh. The six words have become a catchphrase, with the implication that it will never happen. But, even more importantly, the laughter indicates a change in attitude.

Lately I've been pondering email clients. Yeah, something as simple and yet profoundly necessary as email. The whole of email has become a bit of a conundrum, as so many people are now getting their fix via mobile devices...or they're working within webmail.

Before you get too excited, Google is not preventing OEMs and carriers from adding their wretched bloatware to Android devices. However, Android 6.0 Marshmallow will include a brand new permission system that allows the end user to determine what systems and data an app can access.

An overly enthusiastic attempt to upgrade using Debian Unstable has temporarily left me without KDE. As disasters go, it's a small one, since I can easily restore from backup, but until I have time for repairs, I've fallen back on Linux Mint's MATE. The experience is making me aware of all that I miss in KDE.

The Linux Foundation recently put up a funny video showing what life might be like without Web search. It's tagline was "A world without Linux is hard to imagine." It also added, "A world without Linux would mean a world without the Internet."