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As a longtime Linux user, I remember hearing about netbooks for the first time. It was an exciting feeling — finally, Linux will be able to beat Microsoft and that too on a completely new platform. However, when Windows-based netbooks started coming out, I was thoroughly disappointed. Microsoft had once again managed to monopolize an emerging market, paling Linux back into insignificance. Furthermore, just when we thought that the netbook market was growing, iPad took the industry by storm, becoming the quintessential secondary device. And, as if all that wasn’t enough, Google announced Chromebooks giving another massive blow to the already-dying netbook market. So, the question remains, is this the end of Linux-based netbooks? Seems like it is.

At the request of our readers we have decided to revive our usual desktop customization tutorial for the Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) operating system, because of Unity!

Future versions of the Linux Kernel (such as 3.0) will include support for the Xen hypervisor. This means that Linux distributions will typically offer out of the box support for both hosting Xen and running as a guest operating system under Xen.

This tutorial explains the installation of a Samba fileserver on Debian Squeeze and how to configure it to share files over the SMB protocol as well as how to add users. Samba is configured as a standalone server, not as a domain controller. In the resulting setup, every user has his own home directory accessible via the SMB protocol and all users have a shared directory with read-/write access.

The Linux utility psacct is an excellent tool for monitoring your user activity and the resources used by processes and applications.

Ad Bard was a breath of fresh air in the already crowded advertising networks arena lead by behemoths like Google Adsense. In 2009 when Ad Bard network first came into existence, FSF proudly proclaimed, "The Free Software Community now has an ethical alternative to ad networks that promote proprietary software." Ad Bard was a truly promising venture. But it's all going to end in another month or so. Ad Bard is finally shutting down.

Dolphin is the default file manager in KDE and it features an easy to use interface, tabs, previews, three view modes (icons, details, columns), vertical window splitting, file and folder sorting, service menus, tags, two-mode location bar.

Welcome to the 152nd issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly!

The power of collaborative development is doing wonders in the world of computing. Open source software is no longer just a cheaper alternative to those premium software tools, but now they are technically superior and user centric too. There are open source alternatives now for all types of software’s in cloud computing, OS, editing tools, office suites and the list just goes on. Today we take a closer look into UM Player (Universal Media player), an Open Source media player which is in fact gaining huge user base in Ubuntu community too.

So I am reading this article about the big Apple malware fail and see this challenge in the comments: Hey, Linux luvvers: tell me how to install OpenType fonts so they're available to all apps and all users. Go ahead, I have pretty much the whole weekend…I am always up for a challenge.

LXer Feature: 20-Jun-2011

In the Roundup this week we have both the killing of the Linux Desktop and the fall of OpenOffice.org, Jeff Hoogland talks about the first time Linux experience, 10 ways in which Ubuntu can improve Unity, Graham Morrison's top 10 Linux distros of 2011 and our own Hans Kwint asks why Gnome and Ubuntu don't understand 'usability'. Enjoy!

DoudouLinux is a Debian-based distribution targeting young children, with a goal to make computer use as simple and pleasant as possible. The project's version 1.0,doudou_linux code name "Gondwana".

This document describes how to install a Postfix mail server that is based on virtual users and domains, i.e. users and domains that are in a MySQL database. I'll also demonstrate the installation and configuration of Courier (Courier-POP3, Courier-IMAP), so that Courier can authenticate against the same MySQL database Postfix uses. The resulting Postfix server is capable of SMTP-AUTH and TLS and quota. Passwords are stored in encrypted form in the database. In addition to that, this tutorial covers the installation of Amavisd, SpamAssassin and ClamAV so that emails will be scanned for spam and viruses. I will also show how to install SquirrelMail as a webmail interface so that users can read and send emails and change their passwords.

In SpaceChem you combine atoms to form molecules and move, grab, rotate them over a pair of circuits. You have to try to fit different types of actions for each level to get everything in tandem between both the circuits. On each of the circuit, you get a Waldos, a helper which executes the command you lay down on the circuit path. The ultimate aim is to create a reaction where the final result is creation of a chemical substance. The game contains over 50 mind twisting puzzles. Fans of chemicals, alchemy and periodic tables will find this game to be highly fun.

First of, I never ever been a fan of Adobe Air apps, their lack of integration with the native OS UI (At least on Linux) is a big turn off of me. Hence when Adobe announced that they would be pulling the plugs off adobe air for Linux. My reaction, similar to that of many Linux users, was Meh

Nailing down the Linux kernel power regressions (see Linux Has Major Power Regression and Another Major Linux Power Regression Spotted) has made a big step forward this weekend. Not only to fix up these major kernel power regressions that are hitting many mobile Linux users, but to look further into the state of Linux power management is now possible and to closely analyze other areas of the Linux stack to find other areas for improvement.

Well it looks like the incubator is working full time at 4D, as a new platform for Apps has just been pressed out, in less than 2 years and is waiting for developers to test their skills on it.

Google is activating some 400,000 new Android devices every single day now(source) and Android is already the fastest growing and most popular smartphone OS in many parts of the world. In tune with its rising popularity, Android's applications base is also showing stupendous growth. We have already featured a bunch of must have open source Android applications and now here is a collection of Android apps dedicated to travelers among you.

Yesterday, my kids were making a home movie to send to my mother in law. They'd made up some songs, which I'd recorded and were shooting the video to go with them. I suggested that they should edit the video in iMovie on my macbook pro. I figured that they should be able to cope fine with it - they've used macs at school to edit video and together with the "legendary" ease of use and "just works" approach of Apple software, it should be no problem. Sadly, they never got to try.

Do you have DVDs that you want to back up or take portable? Of course you do. Well, ripping those DVDs doesn’t have to be a major chore. In fact, ripping DVDs can be quite easy. If you’re a Linux user, you have a number of excellent options. And you can turn to the command line or go GUI. Going GUI can be a bit easier, especially if you only rip DVD once in a blue moon. With a GUI application, you don’t have to worry about remembering (or forgetting) lengthy command strings. Presented for your consideration OGMRip. It’s an easy-to-use and efficient GUI application for ripping DVDs. Let’s take a look at how to use it.