Devuan GNU/Linux 2.1 “ASCII” Operating System Released for Init Freedom Lovers

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November 26, 2019

The Dyne.org foundation has announced the general availability of the first point release of the Devuan GNU/Linux 2.x “ASCII” operating system series. Coming one and a half year after the release of the Devuan GNU/Linux 2.0 “ASCII” operating system series, Devuan GNU/Linux 2.1 is here as the first major point release to add the latest software and security updates, as well as various improvements around the installer and the installation mediums.

Still based on the Debian GNU/Linux 9 “Stretch” operating system series, Devuan GNU/Linux 2.1 comes with an improved installer that makes the option to choose the OpenRC init system more prominent so you can’t miss it and no longer requires an Expert install.

[Source: Softpedia]

Galaxy S11 could feature laser autofocus on top of PDAF

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Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 26, 2019

It’s never too early for a new Samsung Galaxy leak, especially considering the next flagship could be unveiled as early as February. That actually leaves less time to form a complete picture of the Galaxy S11. Thanks to a few renders and common expectations, we may already be prepared for what’s coming next. And that may include a subtle change to an already unfamiliar new camera system for the next Galaxy. Looking at some of the recently released 3D renders of the Galaxy S11, @Ice universe noted the presence of what could be a laser-assisted autofocus system, or simply Laser AF, at the bottom right grid of the new camera array.

[Source: SlashGear]

7 great Linux gifts for the holiday season

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Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 26, 2019

Linux is a great operating system that gives us both power and far more privacy than any of its rivals. And it’s fun too! Here are some gift suggestions to help give your Linux-using friends and family members a happy holiday season. To start with, every Linux fan should have at least one stuffed Tux, Linux’s mascot, in their home or office. Tux stuffies aren’t as common as they once were, but Linux PC vendor ZaReason still has a very nice Tux who is perfect for cuddling.

If you want — and this would be very open-source of you — you can make your own Tux using one of several open-source patterns.

[Source: ZDNet]

PinePhone Linux phone can somewhat run regular Linux desktop apps

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Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 26, 2019

Granted, Linux-based phones have always straddled the “daring” side of the mobile market. Canonical’s Ubuntu Touch platform, now continued by the community-developed Ubports, did have support for running some regular Linux software on a phone, with an external screen attached. But thanks to some technical details and poorly-made decisions, the implementation was barely usable.

A new generation of Linux-based smartphones could finally fulfill that geek dream of convergence. The PinePhone, in particular, has recently been demonstrated to run Linux desktop programs like GIMP and the desktop version of Firefox for ARM.

[Source: SlashGear]

Google finally unveils Ambient Mode for ‘select’ Android handsets

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Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 26, 2019

AFTER A TEASE at this year’s IFA, Google has finally taken the covers off its new ‘Ambient Mode’ for Android. The feature allows you to display information such as diary entries and notifications on the lock screen and interact with Google Assistant, all without touching the phone, which sits safely on a dock or just on charge.

If that sounds suspiciously like a Google Nest Hub, then go to the top of the class and have a toffee, because that’s exactly what it is – a way of turning your phone or tablet into a smart display. It also acts as a sneaky way of making us forget all about those “Daydream” screen savers that never really worked properly.

[Source: The Inquirer]

Oracle, Red Hat See the Value of Kubernetes for Channel Partners

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Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 26, 2019

In just five years, the Kubernetes container orchestration platform has grown from a Google startup project into an important tool being used by more and more midsized to large businesses to automate the deployment and management of their applications using containers.

That growing popularity has also caught the attention of a wide range of major technology companies, including Oracle and Red Hat, who spoke with Channel Futures about how Kubernetes should be embraced by the channel to drive new services and revenue as customers build out their cloud computing strategies into the future.

[Source: Channel Futures]

Google Cloud Print will fold in 2020

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Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 25, 2019

GOOGLE’S GRIM REAPER has struck again, and this time its swung its scythe at the thousands of ancient printers given a new lease of life by Google Cloud Print. The company has sent out emails to GSuite admins telling them they have just over a year to say their goodbyes to the decade-old service. It’ll stop working on 31 December 2020, meaning you’ll have time to show off your clipart skills with one last set of New Year’s Eve party invites before the service finally runs out of ink.

“Beginning January 1, 2021, devices across all operating systems will no longer be able to print using Google Cloud Print,” the company’s support page says. “We recommend that over the next year, you identify an alternative solution and execute a migration strategy.”

[Source: The Inquirer]

webOS Open Source Edition 2.0 keeps Palm’s spirit alive in cars and IoT

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Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 25, 2019

Palm’s name may have recently been revived in a small way, quite literally, with a tiny companion Android phone. Ever since it got bought then sold by HP, however, Palm has been nothing more than a historical footnote in the consumer tech market. That’s not to say its legacy doesn’t live on today and at least one effort is trying to keep it on life support thanks to version 2.0 of the webOS Open Source Edition. webOS was born in a time when Android and iOS didn’t yet have a duopoly on the mobile market.

[Source: SlashGear]

Linux that fits anywhere: 15 very small footprint distros

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Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 25, 2019

If you have an older PC, or a small single board computer-based system, you probably want to run a version of Linux that’s light on resources and easy to download. Tale a look at very small footprint Linux distros. With the exception of Damn Small Linux, all have been updated relatively recently. Each distro can run on machines with less than 1GB of RAM and most can run in a much smaller footprint.

[Source: ZDNet]

Linux 5.4 Kernel Released With exFAT Support, Faster Radeon Graphics, New Hardware

By

Swapnil Bhartiya

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November 25, 2019

Linus Torvalds has officially released the Linux 5.4 “Kleptomaniac Octopus” kernel as was expected. Linux 5.4 is the last major stable kernel release of the year and brings a lot of new hardware support particularly on the graphics processor front, Microsoft exFAT support is finally available, and a plethora of other new features and improvements to existing functionality.

Linus Torvalds wrote in the 5.4 announcement, “Not a lot happened this last week, which is just how I like it. And as expected, most of the pull requests I got were for the 5.5 merge window, which I’ll obviously start working through tomorrow. What little there is here is mostly some networking updates (mix of network drivers and core networking), and some minor GPU driver updates.”

[Source: Phoronix]