Links 12/07/2008: Impressions of KDE4; New GNU/Linux Appliances
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz
- 2008-07-12 20:03:19 UTC
- Modified: 2008-07-12 20:03:19 UTC
KDE
Fedora/Red Hat
Distributions
- New Wolvix website up and running
- Ubuntu: Challenge the Mac
- SliTaz, a mighty micro Linux distro
- Ubuntu 8.10 Alpha 2 Screenshot Tour
As the Ubuntu developers failed to deliver a Live CD with this alpha version (it will be available in Alpha 3), we've tested one of the current daily Live builds. Here is the screenshot tour of this second alpha version of Ubuntu 8.10...
- I converted to Ubuntu…
I was really surprised when it automatically downloaded a driver for my wireless card, without the need of me to look for it. Now I have to admit that Ubuntu is the No.1 Linux distro for desktop user.
Oh, good bye XP…
- Sabayon 3.5
- ELive
- Mandriva Linux Community Newsletter #129
- Distro Review: Linux Mint 5 Elyssa
Overall I would say Mint 5 is more a case of evolution than revolution, there are of course improvements here which are welcome but it feels more a case of fine tuning things than adding big new features. The distro already does so much that it's hard to see what new features are really needed, though I'm sure the developers have plans. It should also be noted that this is based on Ubuntu 8.04 which is an LTS release and itself could be considered quite conservative on the feature front, it's about stability and consolidation which makes sense.
GNU/Linux: General
- Finally, Notes on Linux is here and ready
- [Wine 1.1.1 Released]
- A new way to use Linux.
- Linux in schools: a teacher speaks
Catching them young is a popular slogan and one that yields dividends too, no matter whether one applies it to the adoption of software or the learning of a language. And with a small window seemingly open for Australia's FOSS community to push for the use of free and open source software in schools, the question arises - how does one go about making the first inroads?
- A Simple Guide to Making the Perfect Recording in Audacity
- New Compiz plugins
Besides these additions, Freewins plugin from our one and only C-F dev/journalist SmSpillaz has improved leaps and bounds, keep up the great work. Freewins plugin allows you to rotate any window in any direction (yes including in 3D).
- Another reason to love FOSS - Software Kill Switches
One thing I hate above almost anything else is when a vendor tells you what you can and can't do with your software. That drives me bonkers. Sure, they wrote it and it's theirs to do with as they wish, but once they sell/give it to me, it's mine to do with as I see fit - within the confines of the software itself. Unceremoniously switching me off or making me pay more, forcing me to upgrade, stopping me from using the software, or making me bow to other ludicrous demands is just blatant power mongering and extortion. If they want me to do something, they had better have a really good reason why I should do it, and it had better not be "just because we want more money."
So what brought on this little bout of ranting and bitterness? Well, several things really, but the biggest is the ever infamous software kill switch. It's been around for years, but really didn't start coming into its own until Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) came onto the scene. Since then, proprietary vendors have looked at Microsoft's success with the Software Kill Switch and realized the money making potential of it. They also have seen the power it can give them and it's become an intoxicating drug to them.
- What is so good about Linux?
- Is Linux ready for your Small Business?
Devices
Firefox
F/OSS
Bad Day for Apple
Leftovers
Recent Techrights' Posts
- TV Licensing Used to SPAM Your Postbox, Now It Does the Same to E-mail
- First they ask for your E-mail address; then they start nagging you via E-mail
- Our Priority is Still Tackling Software Patents and Corruption in Patent Offices
- Meanwhile we got compliments on our recent articles, which means that they are effective
- Slopwatch: Another Day, Another Slopfest, LLM Slop Scrapers Slow Down Our Site
- We too have some slop issues; this past day this site and the sister site had to answer about 2.5 million requests (not counting Gemini Protocol) and it's slowing things down for everybody
- Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part IX: Minimum Wages For You (Experienced Scientist), Alicante/EU Paydays For Me (Unproductive, Corrupt Official)
- Does UPRP maladministration extend to the false belief that qualified and experienced scientists can play the role of circus clowns?
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- EPO's Central Staff Committee (CSC) Scrutinises the Man Who Illegally Grants (and Forces Others to Illegally Participate in Granting) Software Patents in Europe
- EPO compels examiners to break the law in the name of obeying illegal "rules" or "orders"
- The Latest Rumour Says The Next (as Correctly Predicted Before) Wave of Layoffs at Microsoft is 3 Weeks Away, "Larger Than the First Wave"
- Step 2
- The Toxic Playbook
- Either you support Prince Mohammed bin Salman or you're a nazi
- It's Possible That BetaNews Got Cracked, But Nobody Talks About It, The Site Contains an Outdated Old Image, No Activity
- It's possible that they will never explain what happened to the site and users' accounts
- Links 12/06/2025: Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson Dies
- Links for the day
- Gemini Links 12/06/2025: Video Game Diegesis and Steam Next Fest
- Links for the day
- "The Liberating Power of Simply Telling People the Truth."
- 'polite' bullying
- Why the Militants Have Lost Every Battle Since 2022 (When Attacking My Wife and I in Various Ways, Even Attacking Our Employers)
- This takes patience, sure, but at the end most evildoers face the consequences for their actions
- Politics Will Impact Software Choices
- Will those systems respect users' freedom?
- EPO: Neglecting Children to Promote American Monopolies by Shielding Them From European Competition
- Yesterday the Central Staff Committee at the EPO spoke about another "reform" at the Office
- Over at Tux Machines...
- GNU/Linux news for the past day
- IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
- IRC logs for Wednesday, June 11, 2025
- Links 11/06/2025: More Vulnerabilities Found in 'Smart' Phones, China Extends Reach in the Pacific
- Links for the day
- Gemini Links 11/06/2025: Grain and Steam Next Fest
- Links for the day
- Links 11/06/2025: "Quantum" Hype From IBM, US Closer to Martial Law, and “The Nation” Celebrates Milestone
- Links for the day
- IBM's CEO Roasted, Sizzled and Grilled for Dumb and Inconsistent Vapourware Promises
- It looks like being a chronic liar is what it takes to lead the company once synonymous with computing
- IBM's Goal Is Not (and Never Was) Computer Users' Freedom
- More than 1.5 decades ago I found IBM to be an "ally of convenience" because of OpenDocument Format (ODF)
- Wayland Shows the IBM/Red Hat Way of Doing Things
- IBM is trying to 'kill' X
- Who Imitates Who? Plagiarist as Client (From Microsoft), 'Plagiarism' at the Law Firm?
- let's revisit the subject
- GitHub is Proprietary, Controlled by Microsoft, and GPL Violation Warehouse
- "IRS tax filing software [will be] released to the people as free software" ... In general this is good news
- Slopfarm Catastrophe
- Seems like BetaNews (or BetaNoise) has just suffered a major data loss and restored the site from a week-old backup
- Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part VIII: Illegal Working Conditions
- How many people need to die for these people to get their massive salaries?
- Over at Tux Machines...
- GNU/Linux news for the past day
- IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
- IRC logs for Tuesday, June 10, 2025
- Links 10/06/2025: Apple Hype and Physical Attacks on Bloggers
- Links for the day
- Gemini Links 10/06/2025: Loon Lake, Farming, and Forth
- Links for the day
- Links 10/06/2025: Jaws at 50 and US Democracy Crushed Very Rapidly (Martial Law Seems Imminent)
- Links for the day
- Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part VII: Washing Their Hands After Corruption and Abuse
- "Tragedy or comedy?"
- Culling Bad RSS Feeds of Bad Sites
- Not throwing out the baby with the bathwater
- If 'Microsoft v Techrights' is Dealt With by a 'Microsoft Court' (or a Court Outsourced to Microsoft)
- More on that later
- Over at Tux Machines...
- GNU/Linux news for the past day
- IRC Proceedings: Monday, June 09, 2025
- IRC logs for Monday, June 09, 2025
- Gemini Protocol Turns Six in 10 Days From Now
- If you haven't tried it yet, then give it a go today
- Live as You Preach
- technology is fast becoming dysphoric