Showing headlines posted by the_doctor

No matter your ethical or societal bent, it's impossible to escape the daily headlines of companies heading down dark paths or the discovery of unethical practices. This happens in every sector from car manufacturers to mobile technology. Every once in awhile, however, a company arises to break free from that mold and show that modern businesses can, in fact, sell products that do not skirt around ethical practices in the name of bottom line.

The discovery of a sizeable Linux botnet may be worrying some new converts to the open-source OS.

I'll preface this by reminding everyone that I've been a huge fan/supporter/advocate of Linux since the mid- to late '90s. That being said...

Microsoft and peripheral and tablet maker I-O Data Device have renewed and extended their patent agreement to cover various I-O Data Linux and Android devices.

Your files saved on Google Drive are encrypted by default. However, when you you need to send a file to a user, you download (to a specific file format) and then send that file to the user. That file you just sent is unencrypted.

If you want a super cheap Linux based computer, now is the chance to get it. Chip, a $9 Linux-based, super-cheap computer that raised some $2 Million beyond a pledge goal of just $50,000 on Kickstarter can soon be yours. After its successful Kickstarter campaign, now, the first run of devices is beginning to be distributed to backers.

More than 90 percent of the PCs in China run Windows, be it XP or 7, but it’s no secret that one of the reasons behind this absolute domination of Microsoft’s operating system is possible mostly because of the high level of software piracy in the country.

Twenty-four years ago this month, a Finnish developer with a sharp tongue who’s regarded by some as one of the most influential programmers alive today released version 0.01 of the Linux kernel to the Internet.

This project focuses on advanced and experienced computer users, in contrast with the usual proprietary software world or many mainstream open source projects that focus more on average and non-technical end users.

You know the drill. Over the last couple of years, each major and minor Ubuntu upgrade has been, well, boring. There's been little to report on, save for the constant droning of "When will we finally see Unity 8?" In fact, I can't remember the last time Ubuntu had an exciting upgrade to roll out. That, in and of itself, says a lot about where we are as consumers and technologists. We live very much in a show me something exciting state. When a company or platform has nothing exciting to offer in an upgrade, the product loses its appeal.

One of the longest-held beliefs is that the Linux desktop comes with invulnerable and foolproof security system.

Whenever someone asks me if a smartphone is truly secure, I find myself feeling vexed. On the one hand, anything that connects to the Internet could become a security concern. By the same token, if someone is aware of commonsense practices for avoiding data leakage and exploitation, then today's smartphones are very safe to use.

Windows 10 is a wonderful operating system. Every day, I boot a computer running Microsoft's latest operating system to get work done. On the surface, everything is peachy-keen. Sadly, under the hood, there are some legitimate privacy concerns. There is a bunch of information being sent to Microsoft, and you may not even know it. This has caused programs like the wonderful O&O ShutUp10 to be created.

Microsoft has built a Linux-based operating system for datacenter switches. Does this mean a Microsoft Linux distribution is just around the corner? Um... no.

Linux: For most people it’s just a pretty word to say. But for programmers its still a remarkably relevant operating system given that the Linux kernel, the part of the OS managing input/output requests, arrived on September 17, 1991. It was a big deal, the dawn of the open source age for the OS world.

On my Windows 10 machine, this is how I've come to start my day: I slowly open my laptop lid, cautiously peer at my screen and wonder what is no longer working like it did yesterday.

Cyanogen's CEO says the coming Cyanogen Android distribution will include MIcrosoft's Cortana built into the base OS platform.

Open-source software is especially trustworthy compared to closed-source software because you can see the source code of the program you’re running.

Every ten months or so, a small distribution starts with the goal of making Linux look more like Windows. Among the latest are ChaletOS and Apricity OS, which if nothing else look like thoughtful exercises in design. Yet after so many similar efforts, I have to wonder whether a Windows-like desktop will do a thing to encourage users to try Linux. Maybe the goal should be something different.

The man behind Popcorn Time, the popular and free BitTorrent-based video streaming platform, has decided to reveal his true identity in an interview with Norwegian website DN.no.