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1825 Monetary Lane Suite #104 Carrollton, TX
Do a presentation at NTLUG.
What is the Linux Installation Project?
Real companies using Linux!
Not just for business anymore.
Providing ready to run platforms on Linux
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(Two Column)
- U-Boot v2025.07 released
The U-Boot universal bootloader projecthas announced the release of version 2025.07. It has multiple new featuresincluding "uthreads" (inspired by the "bthreads" coroutines in the barebox bootloader), exFAT support,new architecture and SoC support and improvements to existing platforms,cleanups, better testing, and more. Project leader Tom Rini took theopportunity to mention his effortstoward getting some help with the project and more formal governance:As this is a full release, and not just a release candidate I'm hopingfor a few more people to read this and then read what I'm linking to aswell. For the overall health of the project, and the community, I'mhoping to find a few people within the community that can help withoverall organization and management. I would like to long term be ableto move us to being under the Software Freedom Conservancy umbrella andthat in turn means having a organizational structure that's not just asingle person.
He also noted that there is a community meeting on July 8th, 2025 at 9am (GMT -06:00) onGoogle Meet.
- Bash-5.3-release available
The GNU project's Bourne AgainSHell (Bash) has released version 5.3, with some significant newfeatures, including some from the associated Readline 8.3 release, which providescommand-line editing and other features for Bash and lots of otherprograms. Bash 5.3 has a "new form of command substitution that executes the command inthe current shell execution context", pathname-completion sortingwill be handled based on the GLOBSORT shell variable, generatedcompletions can go to a shell variable instead of to stdout, the sourcecode has been updated to C23, and more. Meanwhile:Readline has new features as well. There is a new option that allowscase-insensitive searching, a new command that executes a named readlinecommand, and a new command that exports possible word completions in aspecified format for consumption by another process.
- [$] A tour of the niri scrolling-tiling Wayland compositor
Niriis a relatively new Rust-based compositorfor Wayland with a different take on tiling window management: windowsare placed onscreen in an "infinite" row that can expand beyond thebounds of the visible workspace. It is not a full-blown desktopenvironment, but niri may be a suitable option for Linux users whowant tiling features and the minimalism of a window manager forWayland.
- Security updates for Monday
Security updates have been issued by Debian (thunderbird and xmedcon), Fedora (darktable, mbedtls, sudo, and yarnpkg), Mageia (catdoc and php), Red Hat (java-1.8.0-ibm, kernel, python-setuptools, python3, python3.11, python3.12, python3.9, socat, sudo, tigervnc, webkit2gtk3, webkitgtk4, xorg-x11-server, and xorg-x11-server-Xwayland), SUSE (alloy, apache-commons-fileupload, apache2-mod_security2, assimp-devel, chromedriver, clamav, clustershell, corepack22, ctdb, curl, dpkg, erlang-rabbitmq-client, ffmpeg-4, firefox, firefox-esr, flake-pilot, fractal, gdm, ggml-devel-5699, gio-branding-upstream, git-lfs, glib2, glibc, go1.23, go1.24, govulncheck-vulndb, gpg2, grafana, grype, helm, himmelblau, icu, jgit, jq, jupyter-bqplot-jupyterlab, jupyter-jupyterlab-templates, jupyter-matplotlib, jupyter-nbclassic, jupyter-nbdime, jupyter-panel, jupyter-plotly, keylime-ima-policy, kubernetes1.30-apiserver, kubernetes1.31-apiserver, kubernetes1.32-apiserver, libbd_btrfs-devel, libetebase-devel, libmozjs-128-0, libprotobuf-lite31_1_0, libQt5Bootstrap-devel-static-32bit, libsoup, libsoup-2_4-1, libsoup-3_0-0, libspdlog1_15, libssh, libssh-config, libsystemd0, libtpms-devel, libwireshark18, libwx_gtk2u_adv-suse16_0_0, mirrorsorcerer, moarvm, nix, nodejs-electron, nova, oci-cli, opa, openbao, ovmf-202505, pam, pam_pkcs11, perl, perl-32bit, perl-CryptX, perl-File-Find-Rule, perl-YAML-LibYAML, podman, polaris, postgresql-jdbc, pure-ftpd, python-furo-doc, python-requests, python310, python311, python311-Django, python311-Django4, python311-jupyter-core, python311-Pillow, python311-pydata-sphinx-theme, python311-requests, python311-salt, python311-urllib3, python312, python313, python314, python39, radare2, redis, samba, SDL, SDL2, sudo, teleport, thunderbird, tomcat, tomcat10, tomcat11, traefik, traefik2, valkey, velociraptor, vim, xorg-x11-server, and xwayland), and Ubuntu (linux-ibm, linux-intel-iotg, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11, and linux-oem-6.14).
- Kernel prepatch 6.16-rc5
The 6.16-rc5 kernel prepatch has beenreleased. Quoth Linus: "Please keep testing, but this all feels fairlyregular for this phase of the release".
- [$] Python audio processing with pedalboard
ThePyCon US 2025, which was held in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania in May. He started from the basics of digital audio and thenmoved into working with pedalboard. There were, as might be guessed, audio examplesin the talk, along with some visual information; interested readers may want to view the YouTube video of thepresentation.
- Security updates for Friday
Security updates have been issued by AlmaLinux (.NET 9.0, container-tools:rhel8, ghostscript, git-lfs, grafana-pcp, pandoc, perl-FCGI:0.78, ruby:2.5, ruby:3.3, tigervnc, and varnish:6), Debian (jpeg-xl and mediawiki), Fedora (darktable, guacamole-server, mingw-gdk-pixbuf, and yarnpkg), Oracle (gimp, kernel, libsoup, python-tornado, python3.12, and thunderbird), Slackware (php), SUSE (libgepub), and Ubuntu (libtpms, linux-aws-5.15, linux-intel-iot-realtime, and linux-bluefield).
- Richards: Introducing tmux-rs
Collin Richards has announced version0.0.1 of tmux-rs, a port of the tmux terminal multiplexerto Rust.
For the [past] 6 months or so I've been quietly porting tmux from C toRust. I've recently reached a big milestone: the code base is now 100%(unsafe) Rust. I'd like to share the process of porting the originalcodebase from ~67,000 lines of C code to ~81,000 lines of Rust(excluding comments and empty lines). You might be asking: why did yourewrite tmux in Rust? And yeah, I don't really have a goodreason. It's a hobby project. Like gardening, but with more segfaults.
Richards says that the next goal for the project is to convert itto safe Rust. It is currently "not very difficult to get it tocrash", but he wanted to share the project with other Rust fansnow. The project is available onGitHub.
- [$] Kernel API specification and validation
The kernel project makes a strong promise to its users: the kernel ABI willnot be changed in ways that break user-space code. The occasional failurenotwithstanding, kernel developers do try to live up to that promise. Theyare handicapped by one little problem, though: there is no description ofwhat the kernel ABI is, and no comprehensive way to test whether a givenchange breaks it. The kernel APIspecification framework proposed (in its second revision) by SashaLevin addresses some of those concerns, but the solution is incomplete anddoes not come for free.
- PANZER-LITE93 with Ubuntu 24.04 Ready for Compact AIoT Edge Computing
MayQueen has introduced the PANZER-LITE93, a compact fanless edge computing device built on the NXP i.MX93 processor, featuring integrated neural network acceleration and flexible connectivity in a lightweight 3D-printed enclosure for AIoT, IIoT gateways, robotics, and other low-power edge applications. The device integrates a dual-core ARM Cortex-A55 running at up to 1.7?GHz alongside a Cortex-M33 […]
- LibreOffice Begins Landing Markdown File Import Support
While coming a few weeks too late for making it into the LibreOffice 25.8 open-source office suite release, merged today to LibreOffice Git for next year's LibreOffice 26.2 is adding initial support for importing Markdown files into the LibreOffice Writer word processor...
- Setup Hyprland with ML4W Dotfiles 2.9.8.7 on CachyOS 250530 via Pamac-GUI
We start with attempt to install Pamac-GUI on CachyOS 250530. When install of Pamac-GUI succeeded we synchronize instance with AUR and make sure that ml4w-hyprland-git shows up via interface Add/Remove Programs. Next step is building ml4w-hyprland-git utilizing Pamac-GUI. When done reboot and attempt to run ml4w-hyprland-setup .
- Waymo Starts Robotaxi Testing In Philadelphia and NYC
Waymo has launched new "road trips" to Philadelphia and New York City, "signaling the Alphabet-owned company's interest in expanding into Northeastern cities," reports TechCrunch. While these trips don't guarantee commercial launches, they follow a pattern that previously led to deployments in cities like Los Angeles. Other road trips this year are planned for Houston, Orlando, Las Vegas, San Diego, and San Antonio. From the report: Typically, the trips involve sending a small fleet of human-driven vehicles equipped with Waymo's autonomous driving system to map out the new city. Then Waymo tests the vehicles autonomously, though still with a human behind the wheel, before taking any data and learnings back to its engineers to improve the AI driver's performance. In some cases, these road trips have led to commercial launches. In 2023, the company made a road trip to Santa Monica, a city in Los Angeles County. The company now operates a commercial service in Los Angeles, including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood. For its Philadelphia trip, Waymo plans to place vehicles in the most complex parts of the city, including downtown and freeways, according to a spokesperson. She noted folks will see Waymo vehicles driving "at all hours throughout various Philadelphia neighborhoods, from North Central to Eastwick, University City, and as far east as the Delaware River." In NYC, Waymo will drive its cars manually in Manhattan just north of Central Park down to The Battery and parts of Downtown Brooklyn. The company will also map parts of Jersey City and Hoboken in New Jersey. Waymo applied last month for a permit to test its AVs in New York City with a human behind the wheel. The company has not yet received approval.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Jack Dorsey Launches a WhatsApp Messaging Rival Built On Bluetooth
Jack Dorsey has launched Bitchat, a decentralized, peer-to-peer messaging app that uses Bluetooth mesh networks for encrypted, ephemeral chats without requiring accounts, servers, or internet access. The beta version is live on TestFlight, with a full white paper available on GitHub. CNBC reports: In a post on X Sunday, Dorsey called it a personal experiment in "bluetooth mesh networks, relays and store and forward models, message encryption models, and a few other things." Bitchat enables ephemeral, encrypted communication between nearby devices. As users move through physical space, their phones form local Bluetooth clusters and pass messages from device to device, allowing them to reach peers beyond standard range -- even without Wi-Fi or cell service. Certain "bridge" devices connect overlapping clusters, expanding the mesh across greater distances. Messages are stored only on device, disappear by default and never touch centralized infrastructure -- echoing Dorsey's long-running push for privacy-preserving, censorship-resistant communication. Like the Bluetooth-based apps used during Hong Kong's 2019 protests, Bitchat is designed to keep working even when the internet is blocked, offering a censorship-resistant way to stay connected during outages, shutdowns or surveillance. The app also supports optional group chats, or "rooms," which can be named with hashtags and protected by passwords. It includes store and forward functionality to deliver messages to users who are temporarily offline. A future update will add WiFi Direct to increase speed and range, pushing Dorsey's vision for off-grid, user-owned communication even further.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Samsung and Epic Games Call a Truce In App Store Lawsuit
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: Epic Games, buoyed by the massive success of Fortnite, has spent the last few years throwing elbows in the mobile industry to get its app store on more phones. It scored an antitrust win against Google in late 2023, and the following year it went after Samsung for deploying "Auto Blocker" on its Android phones, which would make it harder for users to install the Epic Games Store. Now, the parties have settled the case just days before Samsung will unveil its latest phones. The Epic Store drama began several years ago when the company defied Google and Apple rules about accepting outside payments in the mega-popular Fortnite. Both stores pulled the app, and Epic sued. Apple emerged victorious, with Fortnite only returning to the iPhone recently. Google, however, lost the case after Epic showed it worked behind the scenes to stymie the development of app stores like Epic's. Google is still working to avoid penalties in that long-running case, but Epic thought it smelled a conspiracy last year. It filed a similar lawsuit against Samsung, accusing it of implementing a feature to block third-party app stores. The issue comes down to the addition of a feature to Samsung phones called Auto Blocker, which is similar to Google's new Advanced Protection in Android 16. It protects against attacks over USB, disables link previews, and scans apps more often for malicious activity. Most importantly, it blocks app sideloading. Without sideloading, there's no way to install the Epic Games Store or any of the content inside it. Auto Blocker is enabled by default on Samsung phones, but users can opt out during setup. Epic claimed in its suit that the sudden inclusion of this feature was a sign that Google was working with Samsung to stand in the way of alternative app stores again. Epic has apparently gotten what it wanted from Samsung -- CEO Tim Sweeney has announced that Epic is dropping the case in light of a new settlement. Sweeney said Samsung "will address Epic's concerns," without elaborating on the details. Samsung may stop making Auto Blocker the default or create a whitelist of apps, like the Epic Games Store, that can bypass Auto Blocker. Another possibility is that Epic and select third-party stores are granted special access while Auto Blocker remains on for others, balancing security and openness. A "more interesting outcome," according to Ars, would be for Samsung to pre-install the Epic Games Store on its new phones.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Nintendo Wants To Keep 'Traditional Approach' To Development as Costs Skyrocket
Nintendo plans to maintain its "traditional approach" to game development while managing rising costs during the Switch 2 transition, company president Shuntaro Furukawa said during a recent shareholders meeting. "Recent game software development has become larger in scale and longer in duration, resulting in higher development costs," he said, adding that "rising development costs are increasing that risk" in what has always been "a high-risk business." Nintendo's development teams are "currently devising various ways to maintain our traditional approach to creating games amidst the increasing scale and length of development," Furukawa said. The company believes, he said, "it is important to make the necessary investments for more efficient development." The early Switch 2 lineup reflects increased ambition, with Mario Kart World introducing open-world structure to the racing series and Donkey Kong Bananza adding destructive elements to 3D platforming. Mario Kart World sells for $79.99, $10 more than most Nintendo games, while the Switch 2 costs $449.99, a $100 increase over the Switch OLED.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- New Delhi Forced To Withdraw Plan To Scrap Old Cars After Public Backlash
An anonymous reader shares a report: Delhi's government has been forced to reverse a controversial plan to effectively ban older vehicles from city roads after public backlash and concerns over how the policy would be implemented. The plan would have seen "end of life vehicles" -- petrol cars over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10 -- denied fuel at petrol stations using automatic number plate recognition cameras, or ANPR, and, potentially, impounded on the spot. The policy was set to come into effect this week but state environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said last week the government would halt the plan following widespread complaints. Mr Sirsa said the administration would not allow vehicles to be seized and cited "technological integration challenges" and a lack of coordination with neighbouring states sharing traffic with the capital.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- BRICS Demand Wealthy Nations Fund Global Climate Transition
Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations addressed the shared challenges of global warming on Monday, the final day of their summit in Rio de Janeiro, demanding that wealthy nations fund mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in poorer nations. From a report: In his opening remarks, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who will host the United Nations climate summit in November, also blasted denialism of the climate emergency, indirectly criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to pull his country out of the 2015 Paris Agreement. "Today, denialism and unilateralism are eroding past achievements and harming our future," he said. "The Global South is in a position to lead a new development paradigm without repeating the mistakes of the past." Trump took issue on Sunday with veiled criticism from the BRICS group, accusing the bloc of having "anti-American policies" and threatening them with extra 10% tariffs.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- The Downside of a Digital Yes-Man
alternative_right writes: A study by Anthropic researchers on how human feedback can encourage sycophantic behavior showed that AI assistants will sometimes modify accurate answers when questioned by the user -- and ultimately give an inaccurate response.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Apple Links Directly To Web in Full-Screen TV App Ad, Ignoring Rules for Other Developers
Apple displayed a full-screen ad for "F1 The Movie" in its TV app that linked directly to a web browser for ticket purchases without showing warning screens that the company requires other developers to include when directing users outside their apps. The "Buy Tickets" button sent users to the F1 movie website in their default browser without confirmation dialogs or interstitial warnings. Apple mandates that third-party developers show scare sheets when linking out of apps to sell digital content, but considers movie tickets a "real-world experience" exempt from its In-App Purchase system. Further reading: iPhone Customers Upset By Apple Wallet Ad Pushing F1 Movie.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Netflix Says 50% of Global Users Now Watch Anime
An anonymous reader shares a report: Netflix doubled down on its global anime strategy over the weekend, unveiling a slate of new titles and fresh footage during its showcase at Anime Expo in Los Angeles. The company also shared updated viewership data highlighting just how far Japanese anime has come in expanding from its former niche into a powerhouse global content category. According to Netflix, more than 50 percent of its members -- amounting to over 150 million households, or an estimated 300 million viewers -- now watch anime. The company says anime viewership on the platform has tripled over the past five years, with 2024 marking a record-breaking year: 33 anime titles appeared in Netflix's Global Top 10 (Non-English) rankings, more than double the number in 2021.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- OpenAI Says It Has No Plan To Use Google's In-house Chip
An anonymous reader shares a report: OpenAI said it has no active plans to use Google's in-house chip to power its products, two days after Reuters and other news outlets reported on the AI lab's move to turn to its competitor's artificial intelligence chips to meet growing demand. A spokesperson for OpenAI said on Sunday that while the AI lab is in early testing with some of Google's tensor processing units (TPUs), it has no plans to deploy them at scale right now.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
- Nuclear reactors smaller than a semi truck to be tested in Idaho
Forget small modular reactors. Microreactors are the new hotness
The new nuclear age of small modular reactors may not have materialized yet, but that's not stopping the US Department of Energy from getting to work on even smaller, more modular reactors with a couple of new commercial partners. …
- CoreWeave's $9B Core Scientific acquisition is a bid for more power
All the GPUs in the world aren't worth much if you don't have a place to put them
CoreWeave just added 1.3 gigawatts of datacenter capacity to its rent-a-GPU scheme with the $9 billion acquisition of crypto-mining outfit Core Scientific, the companies announced Monday.…
- Apple tries get €500M EU fine tossed
The iMaker's fight with European regulators continues
Apple is on the hook for a €500 million (US $587 million) anti-steering fine in the EU, so it's reportedly doing what any profit-driven enterprise in such a position would do: Appealing.…
- Move over bit barns, here come Japan’s floating bit barges
As power concerns beset builds, this floating datacenter can plug into powership next door
Japanese shipping biz Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) is planning to fit out a ship as a floating datacenter that can draw energy from the shore or from an accompanying powership.…
- Game, set, botch: AI umpiring at Wimbledon goes long
Line-judging tech flubs crucial point, leaving players and fans seeing red
"You cannot be serious" was likely uttered by more than a few folk watching Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova versus Britain's Sonay Kartal at Wimbledon yesterday after the tennis tournament's AI line-calling tech dropped the ball.…
- 'Cyber security' behind decision to end defense satellite sharing of hurricane data
Official notice confirms delay to cutoff until the end of July. Not to worry, AI modelling's in the wings
The US defense department satellite service that's cutting off the flow of data used for hurricane forecasting is doing so "to mitigate a significant cybersecurity risk" to government "high performance computing environments."…
- Security: Why Linux Is Better Than Windows Or Mac OS
Linux is a free and open source operating system that was released in 1991 developed and released by Linus Torvalds. Since its release it has reached a user base that is greatly widespread worldwide. Linux users swear by the reliability and freedom that this operating system offers, especially when compared to its counterparts, windows and [0]
- Essential Software That Are Not Available On Linux OS
An operating system is essentially the most important component in a computer. It manages the different hardware and software components of a computer in the most effective way. There are different types of operating system and everything comes with their own set of programs and software. You cannot expect a Linux program to have all [0]
- Things You Never Knew About Your Operating System
The advent of computers has brought about a revolution in our daily life. From computers that were so huge to fit in a room, we have come a very long way to desktops and even palmtops. These machines have become our virtual lockers, and a life without these network machines have become unimaginable. Sending mails, [0]
- How To Fully Optimize Your Operating System
Computers and systems are tricky and complicated. If you lack a thorough knowledge or even basic knowledge of computers, you will often find yourself in a bind. You must understand that something as complicated as a computer requires constant care and constant cleaning up of junk files. Unless you put in the time to configure [0]
- The Top Problems With Major Operating Systems
There is no such system which does not give you any problems. Even if the system and the operating system of your system is easy to understand, there will be some times when certain problems will arise. Most of these problems are easy to handle and easy to get rid of. But you must be [0]
- 8 Benefits Of Linux OS
Linux is a small and a fast-growing operating system. However, we can’t term it as software yet. As discussed in the article about what can a Linux OS do Linux is a kernel. Now, kernels are used for software and programs. These kernels are used by the computer and can be used with various third-party software [0]
- Things Linux OS Can Do That Other OS Cant
What Is Linux OS? Linux, similar to U-bix is an operating system which can be used for various computers, hand held devices, embedded devices, etc. The reason why Linux operated system is preferred by many, is because it is easy to use and re-use. Linux based operating system is technically not an Operating System. Operating [0]
- Packagekit Interview
Packagekit aims to make the management of applications in the Linux and GNU systems. The main objective to remove the pains it takes to create a system. Along with this in an interview, Richard Hughes, the developer of Packagekit said that he aims to make the Linux systems just as powerful as the Windows or [0]
- What’s New in Ubuntu?
What Is Ubuntu? Ubuntu is open source software. It is useful for Linux based computers. The software is marketed by the Canonical Ltd., Ubuntu community. Ubuntu was first released in late October in 2004. The Ubuntu program uses Java, Python, C, C++ and C# programming languages. What Is New? The version 17.04 is now available here [0]
- Ext3 Reiserfs Xfs In Windows With Regards To Colinux
The problem with Windows is that there are various limitations to the computer and there is only so much you can do with it. You can access the Ext3 Reiserfs Xfs by using the coLinux tool. Download the tool from the official site or from the sourceforge site. Edit the connection to “TAP Win32 Adapter [0]
- Windows 11 finally overtakes Windows 10s user share
As of today, Stat Counter reports that Windows 11 now has 50.88% of the Windows market, with Windows 10 dropping to 46.2%, giving it a comfortable lead over its predecessor. Windows 11 has been on the market since 2021 but had only amassed less than 10% of the market by 2022. Its been a slow but steady climb since then, growing from 18% to 28% in 2023, with similar growth to 36% in 2024. Its this year where Windows 11 really started taking off, likely aided by the fact that Microsoft is now pushing`Windows 10s end of support`hard. ↫ Zac Bowden at Windows Central Up to 50% of all Windows users, mere months before Windows 10 is no longer supported, and it took them 4 years to get here. Windows users really dont like Windows 11, do they?
- Microsoft broke Windows Update on Windows 7 (again)
The developers of Legacy Update, the tool that allows users of older Windows versions to keep downloading updates from Microsoft, recently discovered that users of the tool on Windows 7 were having issues. After doing some debugging they figured out it was DNS it was an expired Microsoft certificate. This certificate was set to expire on 1 July 2025, and when it did, nobody at Microsoft bothered to correct it until a few days later. As you can see from 8lt;ExpiryDateb, it definitely stopped working because the expiry date lapsed. As seems to happen too often in our industry, apparently nobody set a reminder to make sure it would be updated in advance of the date. You might notice that it has an 8lt;IssuedDateb of 2017-12-01. That’s fairly recent! After digging further, we learned that this already happened once! On the 4th of that month, Bleeping Computer covered an error Windows 7 users were receiving when checking for updates. That error is 80248015 pretty familiar, right? Microsoft allowed this file to expire, not on the 1st but rather on the 4th (more specifically, 35 seconds before midnight in US Pacific time, or 8:00 PM UTC), and did not manage to upload a new file until the 6th at 10:02 AM Pacific (6:02 PM UTC). This left Microsoft Update broken for 3 days. ↫ Adam Demasi Microsoft moved the expiry date up to 2033, thereby fixing the problem. Legacy Updates developer Adam Demasi expected that once 2033 comes around, Legacy Update will probably have to add Widnows 7 to its proxy server that its already using for older versions, as improvements in TLS and ciphers will probably lock Windows 7 out of Windows Update definitively. But hey, 2033 is decades away. Right?
- WinUAE 6.0.0 released
WinUAE has released version 6.0.0 of the Windows version of the UAE Amiga emulator, packing a truly terrifying number of changes, improvements, and fixes. Major update to custom chipset emulation. Internally almost everything in main chipset emulation has been rewritten. Fastest possible/JIT mode chipset timing/sync had major changes which can cause side-effects. Bugs are very possible, especially in very rarely used features. ↫ WinUAE website Going through the changelog is dizzying, ranging from an almost complete rewrite of the main chipset emulation for internal cycle accuracy, to running the emulation of the Denise/Lisa chips in a separate thread for better performance, to a ton of fixes and smaller updates.
- MacOS icons keep getting worse every time Apple touches them
With macOS 26, Apple has announced a dramatically new look to their UI: Liquid Glass. Solid material icon elements give way to softer, shinier, glassier icons. The rounded rectangle became slightly more rounded, and Apple eliminated the ability for icon elements to extend beyond the icon rectangle (as seen in the current icons for GarageBand, Photo Booth, Dictionary, etc.). With this release being one of the most dramatic visual overhauls of macOSs design, I wanted to begin a collection chronicling the evolution of the system icons over the years. Ive been rolling these out on social media over the past week and will continue to add to and update this collection slowly over the summer. Enjoy! ↫ BasicAppleGuy Every single one of these icons is getting progressively worse with almost every design change. They go from beautifully crafted, easily readable and supremely distinguishable icons to generic, repetitive blobs of colour, void of any personality, artistry, or usability considerations. Also, Apples new icon design language makes the icons look fuzzy, like theyre not being rendered properly. Its very unnerving. The one exception is probably the generic folder icon, which looks fine in all of its incarnations. Then theres the classic Platinum, pixelated version from Mac OS 9 and earlier, which, together with icons from Windows and BeOS from the same time period, are a whole different style that I dont think most people would accept anymore these days, but that I absolutely adore. Mostly Im just sad that the craft of making exquisite icons for operating systems is dying, replaced by what almost look like AI! generated blobs of indeterminate meaning, that rely more on preexisting knowledge of the operating system and its applications in question than on being recognisable and decipherable by anyone. I truly hope Windows and the various open source desktops dont follow in Apples footsteps here.
- Tone-deaf Xbox executive urges laid off employees to talk to Copilot for emotional support
A couple of days ago, Microsoft announced 9,000 layoffs across its global workforce, impacting its engineering, Xbox, sales, and management teams. This move also affected various initiatives, resulting in the cancellation of at least three Xbox games, job cuts across various studios, and even the shuttering of one game studio, The Initiative. In the wake of this dark day in the the tech industry, a tone-deaf Microsoft executive urged laid off workers to turn to AI tools for emotional support. ↫ Usama Jawad at Neowin These corporations are raking in massive amounts of profit, theyre doing better than ever, the cup of money runneth over, and yet, they keep laying off thousands and thousands of people almost every few months. The incentives in modern-day capitalism clearly arent working out for the vast majority of people, and then to give that final kick when youre already down, some asshat manager tells you to talk to! sparkly autocomplete for emotional support. Fuck this guy.
- NVIDIA is full of shit
Since the disastrous launch of the RTX 50 series, NVIDIA has been unable to escape negative headlines: scalper bots are snatching GPUs away from consumers before official sales even begin, power connectors continue to melt, with no fix in sight, marketing is becoming increasingly deceptive, GPUs are missing processing units when they leave the factory, and the drivers, for which NVIDIA has always been praised, are currently falling apart. And to top it all off, NVIDIA is becoming increasingly insistent that media push a certain narrative when reporting on their hardware. ↫ Sebin Nyshkim Out of all the issues listed here and there are many, and each is bad enough on their own its the frame generation and related pressure campaigns on reviewers that really get on my nerves the most. Technologies like DLSS (rendering at a lower internal resolution scaling that up) and frame generation (injecting fake AI! frames to jack up the frame rate) can be fine technologies when used at the consumers discretion to find a balance between improved perceived performance in exchange for blurry image quality and artefacting, but weve now reached a point where NVIDIA will only boast about performance figures with these technologies enabled, downsides be damned. If that wasnt misleading enough, the company is also pressuring reviewers who dont enable these technologies, and focus on real frames, real resolutions, and this, real performance. If you dont comply, youre not getting the next crop of GPUs in early access. Its the kind of shit Apple pulls all the time, and we need less of it, not more. Just dont buy NVIDIA. Theyre already a terrible choice if youre running anything other than Windows, but the companys recent behaviour and serious missteps have made the choice for AMD or Intel only more obvious.
- Redox gets network booting, work on UNIX domain sockets continues
Redox continues to make progress, and as another month has passed us by, its time for another monthly update. This past month, the focus has been on UNIX domain sockets, which are needed for Redox goal of running Wayland. As we continue to move forward with our plans for Wayland, a key technology for Wayland support is the ability to send file descriptors over Unix Domain Sockets. File descriptor sending is also an important part of many other OS features, including Capability-based Security. Our Redox Summer of Code project to implement that ability has been progressing very well. Ibuki, a new member of the Redox team, has jumped right into the deep end, and implemented the sendmg and recvmsg functionality, and continues to move forward with work on UDS. ↫ Ribbon and Ron Williams You can read more about the UNIX domain sockets progress in a detailed post on the Redox website. Redox now also supports network booting through PXE, but for now, only UEFI is supported. Of course, all of this work is topped off with the usual slew of fixes in relibc, RedoxFS, various drivers, and more, as well updated ports across the board.
- Is an Intel N100 a better value than a Raspberry Pi?
All of this to say: value is complicated. The Pi 5 is`much`more compact and slightly more power efficient (especially at idle) compared to the cheapest N1XX Intel systems. The Intel systems are better suited for a desktop use case. The Pi 5 can be run off PoE power, for easier one-cable networking + power. The Intel systems are more compatible with a wider range of software (not the least of which is`anything requiring Windows). ↫ Jeff Geerling Intels N100 and N150 are vastly underappreciated. The mini laptop I reviewed over a year ago is built around the N100, and I still use it every day for watching YouTube, writing OSNews posts, and so on. I never run into performance issues, battery life is excellent, and I dont have to deal with the annoyances of using ARM. The catch is that youre going to want to use Linux I use Fedora KDE because Windows performance on the N100 is dreadful. I dont think the jump from the N100 to the N150 is worthwhile enough to buy the new version of my mini laptop, so Ill stick with what I have. I do hope Intel continues the Nxxx line or processors, because it offers something no other x86 chip offers: more than reasonable performance at low power usage for an incredibly low price.
- Ubuntu 25.10 to drop support for effectively all existing RISC-V hardware, focuses on future RISC-V hardware instead
A recent bug report filed against Ubuntu’s upgrading tool confirmed a major change with regards to the RISC-V requirements for the upcoming Ubuntu 25.10 release — most existing RISC-V devices will`not`be able to run Ubuntu 25.10. How come? ↫ Joey Sneddon at omgubuntu.co.uk RISC-V just isnt delivering. Thats the cold and harsh truth more and more people are having to deal with, such as Chimera Linux dropping RISC-V support because the ecosystem is simply lacking the kind of powerful and available hardware to sustain itself (Chimera got lucky, though, and gained access to a Milk-V Pioneer through Adélie Linux). The number of systems and boards that are both powerful and available is close enough to zero that it might as well be zero, and if neither users nor developers can buy RISC-V hardware, whats the point in supporting it? The issue for Ubuntu specifically is that version 25.10 of the distribution intends to target only the RVA23 baseline RISC-V profile, while currently Ubuntu supports RVA20 as the baseline. This higher baseline profile requires a number of extensions to the instruction set that no existing hardware yet supports, making 25.10 effectively a clean break for all existing RISC-V hardware. In other words, if youre running Ubuntu on RISC-V hardware today, you wont be able to upgrade to 25.10 or higher. RISC-V really needs vastly improved hardware availability, because right now its just not delivering on the years of promises.
- The Amiga 3000 UNIX and Sun Microsystems: deal or no deal?
Amiga lore is full of exciting tales. Many of them are retold to demonstrate how the incompetence of Commodores management destroyed a platform that, by rights, was destined for success.`Coulda, shoulda,`and the Amiga`woulda`risen as rightful ruler of all other computer platforms, forever and ever. Amen. One of those stories is about how Sun Microsystems allegedly showed interest in the Amiga 3000 during the early 1990s. Its a classic Amiga anecdote, usually recounted without much reflection, and one`Ive certainly helped perpetuate. Alas, the more I think about it, the less it adds up. Fact or factoid? Lets speculate! ↫ Carl Svensson Great speculation with some solid reasoning and sourcing. Considering that had been some minor joint marketing between Sun and Commodore, my money is on the talks around that deal birthing rumours about more extensive Sun involvement in the Amiga 3000. At this point in time, however, decades after the fact and with several conflicting account, its unlikely well ever get a solid answer.
- openSUSE Leap 16: Bridging Enterprise-Grade Stability with Community-Driven Innovation
by George Whittaker
openSUSE Leap 16 marks a significant evolution in the openSUSE project, integrating the robustness of SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE) with the dynamism of community contributions. This release aims to provide a stable, adaptable, and secure Linux distribution suitable for various environments, from enterprise servers to developer workstations.
Foundation: SUSE Linux Framework One (SLFO)
Leap 16 is built upon SUSE Linux Framework One (SLFO), formerly known as the Adaptable Linux Platform (ALP). This modular architecture allows for a more flexible and maintainable system, enabling users to tailor their installations to specific needs. By leveraging SLFO, Leap 16 inherits the enterprise-grade stability and support lifecycle of SLE 16, ensuring a reliable foundation for critical workloads.
Key Features and Enhancements1. Modern Installation with Agama
Leap 16 introduces the Agama installer, a web-based, modular installation tool that replaces the traditional YaST installer. Agama offers a cleaner user interface and supports features like remote installations and scripting for automated deployments, enhancing the installation experience for both new and experienced users.
2. Enhanced Security with SELinux
Security-Enhanced Linux (SELinux) is now enabled by default in Leap 16, aligning with SLE's security practices. This change provides a more robust security framework, offering fine-grained access controls and improved isolation. For users preferring alternative security modules, AppArmor remains available as an option.
3. Transition to Wayland Display Server
Leap 16 adopts Wayland as the default display server, moving away from the legacy X11 system. Wayland offers improved performance, security, and support for modern graphics hardware. While X11 components are still available for compatibility, the shift to Wayland represents a step forward in graphical session management.
4. Updated Desktop Environments
Users can enjoy the latest desktop environments with Leap 16, including GNOME 48 and KDE Plasma 6.3. These updates bring new features, performance improvements, and enhanced user experiences to the desktop.
5. System Management Tools: Cockpit and Myrlyn
With the deprecation of YaST in Leap 16, system management transitions to Cockpit and Myrlyn. Cockpit provides a web-based interface for managing system settings, services, and performance monitoring. Myrlyn serves as a new Qt-based front end for software management, offering a streamlined experience for package installation and updates.
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- Manjaro 25.0 “Zetar”: A Bold Leap into Flatpak Integration and Gaming Optimization
by George Whittaker
Manjaro Linux has long been celebrated for blending the power of Arch Linux with user-friendly features. With the release of Manjaro 25.0 “Zetar”, the distribution takes significant strides in enhancing application management through Flatpak integration and optimizing the system for gaming enthusiasts. This update also brings advancements in desktop environments, file system choices, and hardware support.
Flatpak Integration: Streamlining Application Management
One of the standout features of Manjaro 25.0 is its enhanced support for Flatpak, a universal package management system. This integration allows users to install and manage applications in a sandboxed environment, improving security and ensuring that applications have access only to the resources they need. The inclusion of Flatpak support means users can easily access a vast repository of applications, including those not available in traditional repositories, directly through the Pamac package manager.
Gaming Enhancements: A Focus on Performance
Manjaro 25.0 places a significant emphasis on gaming, introducing several features aimed at improving performance and compatibility:
Linux Kernel 6.12 LTS: The default kernel in this release offers improved hardware support, including better compatibility with newer GPUs and CPUs, which is crucial for gaming performance.
Enhanced Graphics Support: Updates to graphics drivers, including the latest Mesa and NVIDIA drivers, ensure that gamers have access to the most recent improvements and bug fixes.
Manjaro Summit Initiative: Although still in its alpha phase, the Manjaro Summit project introduces a semi-immutable version of the distribution, aiming for greater system stability and consistency—an essential factor for gaming systems.
Desktop Environment Updates: GNOME 48, KDE Plasma 6.3, and Xfce 4.20
Manjaro 25.0 offers updated versions of its three main desktop environments, each bringing unique enhancements:
GNOME 48
Notification Stacking: Improves organization by grouping notifications from the same application.
Dynamic Triple Buffering: Enhances animation smoothness and reduces screen tearing.
Battery Charge Limiting: Introduces an option to cap battery charging at 80%, prolonging battery lifespan.
HDR Support: Initial support for High Dynamic Range displays, offering richer visuals.
KDE Plasma 6.3
Improved Fractional Scaling: Provides sharper visuals on high-DPI displays.
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- How Questing Quokka (25.10) Ushers a New Era of Rust-Based Tools
by George Whittaker Introduction: A New Chapter for Ubuntu
Ubuntu 25.10, affectionately codenamed Questing Quokka, represents more than just the latest iteration of Canonical’s flagship Linux distribution. It marks a decisive step towards modernizing the foundation of Ubuntu by integrating Rust, a systems programming language renowned for its safety, performance, and modern design. This bold move signals Canonical’s commitment to security, reliability, and future-proofing its desktop and server operating systems.
The release of Questing Quokka aligns with a growing trend across the Linux ecosystem: embracing Rust as a key technology for building low-level components. But what does this mean for Ubuntu users and developers? Let’s explore the significance of this change, what tools are being rewritten or introduced in Rust, and how this positions Ubuntu for the future.
Why Rust? The Language of Safety and SpeedThe Need for Safer Code
For decades, core components of Linux distributions—including Ubuntu—have been written predominantly in C. While C offers unmatched control and performance, it also exposes developers to a range of memory-related errors: buffer overflows, use-after-free bugs, and data races, to name a few. These flaws are among the leading causes of vulnerabilities that compromise system security.
Rust was designed specifically to address these issues. It offers:
Memory safety without garbage collection: Rust’s ownership model and borrow checker ensure that memory errors are caught at compile time.
Fearless concurrency: Developers can write multithreaded code that’s safe by default.
Modern tooling and ecosystem: A robust package manager (Cargo), modern build tooling, and vibrant community support.
Linux and Rust: A Growing Bond
Ubuntu is not alone in recognizing Rust’s advantages. The Linux kernel itself has started to accept Rust code, with drivers and modules being prototyped in Rust to enhance safety. Projects like GNOME, System76’s COSMIC desktop, and various networking utilities have already begun leveraging Rust.
By adopting Rust-based tools, Canonical is aligning Ubuntu with this broader movement—ushering in a future where critical system software is both fast and secure.
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- From Windows to Freedom: How Zorin OS Eases the Transition to Linux
by George Whittaker
In today's digital landscape, where privacy, customization, and performance are paramount, many Windows users are exploring alternatives. Linux, long regarded as a powerful yet complex option, has matured into a user-friendly ecosystem. However, the switch from Windows to Linux can still seem daunting. That's where Zorin OS comes into play—a Linux distribution meticulously designed to simplify this migration and empower users to take control of their computing experience.
The Windows-to-Linux Migration Challenge
For decades, Windows has been the default operating system for millions. Familiarity with its interface, applications, and workflow creates a comfort zone that's hard to leave. However, concerns about:
Privacy and data collection
System bloat
Forced updates
Licensing costs
have pushed users to consider alternatives like Linux.
The challenge? Linux can feel alien. Terminology, desktop environments, file systems, and software management differ significantly from Windows. Many distributions, while powerful, don't prioritize a gentle learning curve for Windows converts. This is precisely the problem Zorin OS aims to solve.
What Sets Zorin OS Apart?
Founded in 2008 by the Zorin brothers, Zorin OS was created with one mission: to make Linux accessible to everyone, especially Windows refugees. Unlike general-purpose distributions, Zorin OS focuses on:
Familiarity: Replicating the feel of Windows
Ease of use: Minimizing reliance on the terminal
Polish: Delivering a cohesive, attractive, and stable experience
Zorin OS 17.3, the latest stable release as of June 2025, represents the most refined iteration of this vision yet.
Zorin OS 17.3 Features That Simplify MigrationA Windows-Like Desktop, Out of the Box
Zorin OS 17.3 ships with a default layout that feels instantly familiar to Windows 10 and 11 users. From the bottom taskbar to the start-menu-style launcher, even the system tray icons and window controls mimic what Windows users expect.
The result?
Users spend less time figuring out "where things are."
The psychological barrier of switching is dramatically lowered.
Zorin Appearance: Customize with a Click
Want your system to look more like macOS? Or classic Windows 7? Zorin OS 17.3's Appearance app lets you change the entire desktop layout and theme with a single click. No tinkering with config files, no additional extensions—just straightforward personalization.
This tool:
Helps users ease into Linux at their own pace
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- Elementary OS 8: Where Privacy Meets Design Simplicity for a Better Linux Experience
by George Whittaker
In the world of Linux distributions, many projects aim to strike a balance between functionality, aesthetics, and security. Few, however, have achieved the level of polish and principled focus that Elementary OS brings to the table. With the release of Elementary OS 8, the developers have doubled down on their vision of an operating system that champions privacy and design simplicity without compromising usability. This article takes a look at how Elementary OS 8 prioritizes these values and why it deserves attention from privacy advocates and design enthusiasts alike.
A Fresh Take on Privacy: Built into the Core
Privacy isn’t just a feature in Elementary OS 8 — it’s a foundational principle. The developers have carefully considered how user data is handled at every level of the system.
AppCenter: A Curated, Privacy-Respecting Store
Unlike many popular app stores that may include proprietary apps with invasive tracking, the AppCenter in Elementary OS 8 focuses on open-source, privacy-friendly applications. Every app available through AppCenter undergoes a review process to ensure it adheres to the platform’s guidelines: no ads, no tracking, and no questionable data collection practices.
What sets AppCenter apart is its pay-what-you-want model, which allows users to support developers directly, eliminating the need for ad-supported or data-harvesting monetization schemes.
Flatpak Sandboxing
Elementary OS 8 ships with first-class Flatpak support, enabling apps to run in isolated sandboxes. This technology ensures that applications can only access the data and hardware resources explicitly granted by the user. For example, a note-taking app installed via Flatpak won’t have access to your microphone, camera, or sensitive directories unless you allow it.
The adoption of Flatpak aligns perfectly with Elementary’s privacy goals, as it provides clear boundaries between apps and the rest of the system.
Zero Telemetry, Transparent Feedback
Elementary OS 8 does not include any hidden telemetry or automatic data collection. Unlike some mainstream operating systems that quietly transmit usage statistics, crash reports, and device identifiers back to central servers, Elementary’s philosophy is that your data belongs to you.
When feedback is requested, such as through the optional Problem Reporting tool, users are clearly informed about what data will be sent and must opt in consciously.
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- Discover Linux Mint 22: How Cinnamon Became the Sleek, Speedy Desktop Champion of 2025
by George Whittaker
Linux Mint has long held a cherished place in the hearts of Linux users seeking a balance between elegance, ease of use, and rock-solid stability. In 2025, that reputation is only strengthened with the release of Linux Mint 22, a version that brings not just incremental updates, but substantial improvements — particularly in the form of the latest Cinnamon 6.x desktop environment. Sleeker visuals, faster performance, and thoughtful refinements mark this release as one of the most polished in Mint’s history.
In this article, we’ll take a look into what makes Linux Mint 22 with Cinnamon a standout — from under-the-hood performance boosts to user-facing enhancements that elevate daily computing.
The Legacy of Linux Mint and Cinnamon
Linux Mint has consistently been among the most recommended distributions for both newcomers and seasoned Linux users. Its mission: to deliver a desktop experience that “just works” out of the box, with sensible defaults and a traditional desktop metaphor.
At the heart of this experience is Cinnamon, Mint’s flagship desktop environment born as a fork of GNOME Shell over a decade ago. Cinnamon has matured into an independent, cohesive environment that champions:
Simplicity.
Customizability.
Consistency.
Linux Mint 22’s release continues this tradition while embracing modern UI trends and leveraging powerful performance optimizations.
Cinnamon 6.x: A New Standard of Sleekness
Cinnamon 6.x introduces a suite of visual and functional improvements designed to make Mint 22 feel both contemporary and familiar:
Refined Visuals: The theming engine has received significant attention. The default theme sports cleaner lines, flatter icons, and subtle gradients that provide depth without visual clutter.
Polished Animations: Transitions between windows, workspaces, and menus are noticeably smoother, thanks to improved animation handling that feels natural without being distracting.
Modernized Panels and Applets: Applets now integrate better with the system theme, and their configuration interfaces have been streamlined. The panel is slimmer, with better spacing for multi-resolution icons.
These changes might seem small on paper, but together they give Cinnamon 6.x an air of maturity and refinement, reducing visual noise while enhancing usability.
Performance Improvements: Speed Where It Counts
Where Linux Mint 22 truly shines is in its performance optimizations:
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- Fedora 41’s Immutable Future: The Rise of Fedora Atomic Desktops
by George Whittaker
The Fedora Project has long stood at the forefront of Linux innovation, often acting as a proving ground for transformative technologies later adopted by the wider Linux ecosystem. With the release of Fedora 41, the project takes another major leap into the future by fully embracing immutable desktops through its newly unified and rebranded initiative: Fedora Atomic.
This bold shift represents more than a technical update — it signals a philosophical evolution in how Linux desktops are built, managed, and secured. Fedora Atomic is not just a feature of Fedora 41; it's the flagship identity for a new kind of Linux desktop. In this article, we explore the origins, architecture, benefits, and implications of Fedora Atomic as it makes its debut in Fedora 41.
What Are Immutable Desktops? A Paradigm Shift in OS Architecture
An immutable desktop is a system whose core filesystem is read-only, meaning the foundational components of the operating system cannot be altered during regular use. This design flips traditional Linux system management on its head.
In mutable systems — like the standard Fedora Workstation or most desktop Linux distributions — the root filesystem is writable, allowing users or software to modify system libraries, configurations, and services at will. While this provides flexibility, it introduces risks of accidental misconfiguration, malware persistence, or system instability.
Immutable desktops tackle these issues with several key principles:
Read-Only Root Filesystem: Ensures the core system is consistent and protected.
Atomic Updates: System updates are applied as a whole, transactional unit. If something breaks, you can simply roll back to the previous working version.
Separation of Concerns: Applications are isolated in containers (e.g., Flatpaks), and development environments run in dedicated containers (e.g., Toolbox).
Reproducibility and Consistency: Identical environments across systems, ideal for testing and deployment pipelines.
Fedora Atomic is the embodiment of these principles — and Fedora 41 is the foundation upon which it stands.
From Silverblue to Atomic: The Evolution of Fedora's Immutable Desktop Vision
Fedora Atomic is not built from scratch. It is the evolution of Fedora Silverblue, Kinoite, and Sericea, which previously offered immutable desktop environments with GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Sway respectively. In Fedora 41, these projects are now rebranded and unified under the Fedora Atomic name, creating a streamlined identity and experience for users.
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- Breaking Barriers: How Pop!_OS 24.04 Revolutionizes Hybrid Graphics for Linux Users
by George Whittaker
In the realm of Linux desktop distributions, few names stand out as prominently as Pop!_OS, the custom-built operating system from System76. Known for its user-centric design, seamless hardware integration, and a progressive attitude toward Linux usability, Pop!_OS has earned a special place in the hearts of developers, engineers, gamers, and power users alike.
With the release of Pop!_OS 24.04, System76 boldly pushes the limits of what Linux desktops can do—particularly in the domain of hybrid graphics. This version introduces a host of under-the-hood improvements and user-facing enhancements aimed at solving a long-standing pain point for Linux laptop users: managing systems that have both integrated and dedicated GPUs.
This article dives into what makes Pop!_OS 24.04 a game-changer, focusing especially on its sophisticated, yet user-friendly approach to hybrid graphics.
A Leap Forward: What’s New in Pop!_OS 24.04
Pop!_OS 24.04 is based on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, meaning it inherits long-term support, stability, and updated software packages. But Pop!_OS never simply repackages Ubuntu; it transforms it. Here are some of the standout features introduced in this release:
COSMIC Desktop Enhancements: System76’s in-house desktop environment has matured, delivering better window management, smoother animations, and more customization options. COSMIC is designed from the ground up using Rust, and this release brings faster performance and reduced resource consumption.
Kernel and Driver Upgrades: Linux kernel 6.8+ ensures better hardware compatibility and performance, especially for newer CPUs and GPUs. The latest NVIDIA and Mesa drivers are pre-integrated and optimized.
Refined Installer and Recovery: The Pop!_OS installer now includes better detection for hybrid graphics setups and offers system recovery options right from the boot menu.
However, the crown jewel of 24.04 is undoubtedly its radical improvements in hybrid graphics support.
Understanding Hybrid Graphics and Why It Matters
Most modern laptops come with two GPUs:
Integrated GPU (iGPU) – Built into the CPU (e.g., Intel Iris Xe, AMD Radeon Graphics), offering energy-efficient graphics rendering.
Discrete GPU (dGPU) – A powerful standalone GPU (e.g., NVIDIA RTX, AMD Radeon), ideal for gaming, 3D modeling, and heavy computation.
This setup, known as hybrid graphics, allows users to conserve battery power when performance isn’t needed and tap into powerful hardware when it is.
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- Ubuntu 25.04 “Plucky Puffin”: A Bold Leap Forward with GNOME 48 and HDR Brilliance
by George Whittaker
Ubuntu has long stood as a bastion of accessibility, polish, and power in the Linux ecosystem. With the arrival of Ubuntu 25.04, codenamed “Plucky Puffin”, Canonical has once again demonstrated its commitment to delivering a modern, forward-thinking operating system. This release isn’t just a routine update — it’s a confident stride into a future where Linux desktops are visually stunning, developer-friendly, and brimming with potential.
From the sleek new GNOME 48 desktop environment to the long-awaited HDR (High Dynamic Range) support, Ubuntu 25.04 introduces meaningful innovations for casual users, creative professionals, and hardcore enthusiasts alike. Let’s explore this release in depth.
The Spirit of “Plucky Puffin”
Ubuntu releases are known for their quirky animal-themed codenames, but “Plucky Puffin” feels particularly fitting. The word plucky denotes courage and determination — a nod to the OS’s bold push into new visual territories and its refined user experience. The puffin, a resilient seabird, suggests adaptability and elegance — both apt descriptors for Ubuntu’s trajectory in 2025.
Canonical has positioned Ubuntu 25.04 as a springboard for technological maturity ahead of the next long-term support (LTS) release. While it’s a standard, short-term release with 9 months of support, it packs significant under-the-hood improvements and user-facing features that elevate it beyond expectations.
GNOME 48: The Best Desktop Yet
One of the crown jewels of Ubuntu 25.04 is GNOME 48, the latest iteration of the popular desktop environment. GNOME 48 continues to refine the modern, minimalist ethos that has become its signature — but this time, with more responsiveness, better gesture support, and improved multitasking.
Visual Enhancements and Layout Tweaks
The Activities Overview is smoother and now integrates multitouch gestures on laptops and touchscreens. Swipe-based workspace switching feels intuitive and immediate.
New settings panels have been reorganized for clarity, especially in areas like display, accessibility, and power management.
The Files (Nautilus) app has received subtle UI updates and performance boosts, with quicker load times and enhanced file indexing.
Performance and Accessibility
GNOME 48 is noticeably lighter on RAM, thanks to backend improvements in Mutter (the window manager) and GTK 4 refinements.
Accessibility tools like screen readers and magnifiers now offer smoother integration for users with visual or physical impairments.
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- Transform Your Workflow With These 10 Essential Yet Overlooked Linux Tools You Need to Try
by George Whittaker
Linux is a treasure trove of powerful tools, many of which remain undiscovered by casual users. While staples like grep, awk, sed, and top dominate tutorials and guides, there's a second layer of utilities—lesser-known yet immensely powerful—that can dramatically improve your daily efficiency and control over your system.
In this article, we dive into 10 underrated Linux tools that can help you streamline your workflow, improve productivity, and unlock new levels of system mastery. Whether you’re a developer, sysadmin, or Linux hobbyist, these tools deserve a place in your arsenal.
1. fd: Find Files Fast with Simplicity
The traditional find command is incredibly powerful but notoriously verbose and complex. Enter fd, a modern, user-friendly alternative.
Why It Stands Out
Cleaner syntax (fd pattern instead of find . -name pattern)
Recursive by default
Colorized output
Ignores .gitignore files for cleaner results
Example
fd ".conf"
Finds all files containing .conf in the name, starting from the current directory.
Use Case
Quickly locate configuration files, scripts, or assets without navigating nested directories or crafting complex expressions.
2. bat: cat on Steroids
bat is a drop-in replacement for cat with superpowers. It adds syntax highlighting, Git integration, and line numbers to your file viewing experience.
Why It Stands Out
Syntax highlighting for dozens of languages
Git blame annotations
Works as a pager with automatic line wrapping
Example
bat /etc/ssh/sshd_config
You’ll get a beautifully highlighted and numbered output, much easier to parse than with cat.
Use Case
Perfect for reading scripts, configs, and logs with visual clarity—especially helpful during debugging or code reviews.
3. ripgrep: Blazing-Fast Text Search
Also known as rg, ripgrep is a command-line search tool that recursively searches your current directory for a regex pattern, similar to grep—but much faster and more intuitive.
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