No More Windows! Indian Defence Services are Switching to Linux: Indian Govt offices to use Linux distribution, replacing Microsoft Windows
https://void.cat/d/Urbb5BjHVWiY8v2T8LeGnh.webp
According to a recent report, the Defence Ministry of India has decided to replace Windows with an in-house developed Linux distro called 'Maya' on all computers that are connected to the Internet.
While details are very slim on this distro, we know that it is based on Ubuntu and has been developed locally within a very short 6-month period.
On this, an unnamed official from the Defence Ministry had this to add: "Maya has the interface and all functionality like Windows, and users will not feel much difference as they transition to it".
This is not really a new initiative, as BRICS countries have previously committed to implement their own Linux distributions. We've already seen the early initiatives from Brazil, China and Russia (South Africa has been the exception so far as their mid-2000's project had stalled). But it does take some time to create a stable own distro, and then there needs to be the training and resilience to see the roll-out through.
Unfortunately, the prevalence of cloud services makes such a desktop roll-out way easier, but the downside is that the user data is often locked into a proprietary cloud, and it is not easy to just migrate that user data into a usable form elsewhere.
See https://news.itsfoss.com/indian-govt-linux-windows/
#technology #Linux #India #opensource
14 podcasts to teach kids about history, identity, and current events: Easy ways to add to the education they're getting in the classroom
As your child heads back to school, you may be looking for appropriate ways to bolster the education they're getting in the classroom. But how do you determine what's suitable for their grade level while remaining inclusive and entertaining enough that they won't be bored to tears? Answer: Try podcasts.
There are many child-friendly podcasts out there that explore topics that aren't often included in traditional curricula. You can listen to them in the car on the way to school or sports practices, and they can spark questions around difficult topics like racism or identity — in an age-appropriate way.
Podcasts are not just about technology or fiction, as there is a lot of educational content too. We, as parents, should not be trying to mould our kids into miniature versions of ourselves. They are a generation younger than many of us, and times have changed. It is important that they get a variety of perspectives and get to make up their own minds. For example, I was a computer programmer (amongst other things), but my daughter is more creative by nature, and programming is just not her thing. She needs to explore options I don't necessarily understand myself.
Podcasts of course are also great in that they can be listened to whilst moving around or doing other things. They can often fill usually non-productive times.
See https://mashable.com/article/educational-podcasts-children-back-to-school
#technology #education #podcasts
ONLYOFFICE DocSpace: The Best Open-Source Collaborative Platform for Linux
Yes, there are a few good open-source office suites, but there are fewer that are server based, and actually collaboration based, like ONLYOFFICE DocSpace is (they also have a server version that installs from a Docker image).
Building a secure collaborative environment on a private Linux server definitely sounds like a good idea. Especially if you have to interact with other people and work with them on important documents, some of which might be confidential. In this case, you need a protected workplace with document editing and co-authoring features where you could set right the required access permissions for each collaborator.
ONLYOFFICE DocSpace is a new software tool that became available for local deployment not too long ago. In a nutshell, it’s a web-based collaborative platform designed to allow teams and individual users to manage and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and electronic forms in customizable rooms.
The platform is equipped with ONLYOFFICE Docs, an online office suite, that provides a complete set of formatting and editing tools for different content, including e-books and PDF files.
Moreover, the integrated office suite offers various features for real-time document collaboration, such as two co-editing modes, document review, version history, chat, comments, and video/audio calls enabled by the Zoom and Jitsi plugins.
And although there are paid hosted versions (that many organisations prefer to use for support purposes), you can also self-host a free community version, or even install on individual desktops for standalone use. Something I like about both ONLYOFFICE and FreeOffice, is that they both start up their apps just about instantly, whereas LibreOffice has a much longer lag to start-up. So it is always worth doing a bit of testing first before deciding on what you want to use.
See https://www.tecmint.com/install-onlyoffice-docspace-on-linux/
#technology #opensource #officesuite #collaboration 
Bots are better than humans at cracking ‘Are you a robot?’ Captcha tests, study finds
For over two decades, Captchas have been deployed as security checks by websites to block potentially harmful bots by presenting puzzles that are supposed to be straightforward for people to solve – but very difficult for computers.
Engaged in an arms race with bots, Captchas have since evolved into an annoying presence on the internet, becoming increasingly more and more difficult to solve for both bots and humans.
However, the new yet-to-be peer-reviewed research, posted in arXiv, finds bots are able to quickly crack Captcha tests with ease, suggesting global effort users put into cracking these puzzles every day may be more trouble than it’s worth.
The irony of this is just too much, and it's made me feel pretty stupid sometimes. I remember struggling for ages with the Epic Games website captcha (along with many others who were complaining). I see Cloudflare had been working on a more modern method (something to do with how the mouse moves to click inside the tick box) which is quicker and always seems to work for me.
But yes, I don't suppose the results of this survey will surprise anyone.
See https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/captcha-test-bots-better-humans-b2389998.html
#technology #captcha 
Well Nostr for actually owning one's identity on the network. I think the protocol has a lot going for it and it is more user-friendly and more discoverable than pure P2P networks where you also own your identity. At least Nostr identity also follows you across your devices.
Although podcast 2.0 has implemented tracking of listener engagement, probably to satisfy advertisers. Wondering if the user can disable that?
Have you tried Podverse? It's on nostr:npub1vyw6twg3kwef27wdffsxawmvcycy407cehx3kj8xn0v0v5nwrgps6plpqe.
Thing is, they seem to charge a subscription for syncing between devices. So there is definitely part of their service that is not fully open.
New AI-Driven Cyberattack Can Steal Your Data Just By Listening to You Type: Need to Blur Video and Mute Sound now!
https://void.cat/d/SNQk33izRqFr5TjGMERfEW.webp
A new study published by a number of British researchers reveals a hypothetical cyberattack in which a hacker could leverage recorded audio of a person typing to steal their personal data. The attack uses a home-made deep-learning-based algorithm that can acoustically analyze keystroke noises and automatically decode what that person is typing. The research showed that typing could be accurately de-coded in this fashion 95 percent of the time.
So yes if you're recording videos for YouTube, are in a Zoom call, etc and are busy typing your password in, just blurring the video is no longer sufficient. It's true too, that sound penetrates though walls, and does not need any direct line of sight either. I suppose you could start to randomly hit the shift key, while typing in passwords, to try throw off any analysis. Also using a password manager to auto-fill fields will eliminate this.
See https://gizmodo.com/ai-acoustic-cyberattack-deep-learning-hackers-1850714550
#technology #security #passwords #audio
Fluent Reader is a modern looking open-source desktop app for RSS News Reading
https://void.cat/d/TdkBFg91zBe9ZCwWzHzzH6.webp
Are you frustrated with trying to source news about your interests from busy social media bias, or all the clutter and distractions of actual news websites? Don't have time to visit 20 different websites to find your news? Or maybe your news for a site is only published every week or two, and you don't want to miss it? This is where a good RSS reader can help you!
Unlike most commercial online RSS reader services which have limitations, or self-hosted services which are a bit more complicated to install and set-up, a desktop RSS reader is quick and easy to get going with.
I explain in this video why you may want to use an RSS reader, and also demonstrate how easy it is to use Fluent Reader, and what it does. It is cross-platform for Windows, Linux, and macOS and can sync reading progress across devices and even with mobile apps.
Watch https://youtu.be/XLhZ-ROYv6c
#technology #fluentreader #opensource #RSS #news
If Zoom's ToS change worries you, there is always open-source Jitsi Meet video conferencing without the 40 min cut-off time
https://void.cat/d/BShCw3JHkHHmxbCwQsLpmV.webp
Zoom's March 31st terms and conditions Clause 10.4 change stating user conversations could be used in any way they wished, without an opt-out, had ruffled some feathers. It has again been updated to now state they won't use customer content to train their AI without your consent. Still, it has got many to reconsider their use of Zoom, and in fact there are many other excellent choices out there.
One of my favourites is Jitsi Meet. Not only is it open-source, and you can even self-host it yourself, but it is packed with many features you'd find in most other video conferencing platforms. There are gallery views, breakout rooms, virtual whiteboards, virtual backgrounds, screen sharing, recordings, polls, text chat, raise hands/GIPHY, moderation tools, live streaming, speaker time stats, etc.
What I especially like is the very easy one-link invites to others to join via their desktop or mobile web browser, and that it does not have that 40-minute limit that Zoom places on free meetings. For two weeks running now Zoom has cut off our weekly family meeting early, first it was 17 seconds and last week it was a full one minute early (despite what the meeting time clock showed).
Although it works very well in a browser, you can also install their desktop apps, or mobile apps for Android and iOS.
#technology #Zoom #JitsiMeet #videoconference
4 Big Positive Changes coming to Google Search – including removing Private Info and Images from Search
https://void.cat/d/9PrS3JUUmhsEAsdLZ8rB7a.webp
Google has announced several key changes to make its search platform safer for users by giving more control to South Africans (and other countries) over what personal information appears in results.
The internet giant said that it is bundling a host of new features that will allow users to remove their personal information from search and tackle explicit material posted without consent.
Google said that it is implementing major updates to this tool, making it easier for users to remove their personal contact information from Search. The tool will proactively monitor the web for results containing users’ contact information and enable immediate removal requests. Users will also be notified when new results appear containing their contact info.
Why this is also positive, is that it can also be difficult to get information removed from actual websites which are in many different countries. So being able to also just remove the indexed link, does help quite a bit as there is no longer something pointing most users to that information associated with you.
So will this be possible with DDG and Brave search too? I know some may decry the freedom of search is being encroached here, but it should also be remembered that it does often happen that the private information being published is also not legal. Just today, when testing this out I discovered my private cellphone number published (I know from the wording with it, that it was obtained from very likely a banking or insurance source, and my permission was not given for it to be published). In many countries, the right to privacy is also entrenched in their laws. The right to know does not usually override the right to privacy that individuals have.
#technology #privacy #search
AntennaPod is an open-source podcast app for Android with a 4.8 out of 5 stars rating
https://void.cat/d/MfHfHZzFa8BBzFVMZu3wNN.webp
AntennaPod is a podcast manager and player that gives you instant access to millions of free and paid podcasts, from independent podcasters to large publishing houses such as the BBC, NPR and CNN. Add, import and export their feeds hassle-free using the Apple Podcasts database, OPML files or simple RSS URLs.
Download, stream or queue episodes and enjoy them the way you like with adjustable playback speeds, chapter support and a sleep timer.
Made by podcast-enthusiasts, AntennaPod is free in all senses of the word: open source, no costs, no ads. And this is also clear from the aspect that they have an integration with gpodder.net, which allows you to sync your podcasts, as well as playback progress, between your Android device and a Windows, macOS or Linux desktop podcast player.
This app does look like a pretty good alternative to Pocket Casts (which upset a few people with their big subscription increase). The app is available both via the Google App Store (a 4.8 star rating from over 500,000 downloads and 43,800 reviews) as well as F-Droid. The source code was updated about 3 weeks back, so it shows the project is quite active.
See https://github.com/AntennaPod/AntennaPod
#technology #opensource #podcasts #AntennaPod #privacy
Neo Launcher is a free and open-source customisable launcher for Android
https://void.cat/d/56KL4JavtS9HHMBJ9Jo99z.webp
Apart from many of the usual customisations, Neo Launcher also The Dash, and can handle categories or folder in the app drawer.
Being true open source, the app is not available on the Google App Store, so you can get it from F-Droid store or directly from the Github project site (as over 76,000 other users have done).
See https://github.com/NeoApplications/Neo-Launcher
#technology #Android #opensource
I actually did find a 4G modem that looked like it was open source, so I think it is possible. He probably went with 2G because it was super cheap and still working in France.
Another X user “super pissed” that Musk ordered takeover of his account: There are only a few networks where you actually own your identity
https://void.cat/d/DGHKzmNBvjUv1mgPvyevTM.webp
Actually, with most server based social networks your identity is linked to theirs, and their admin has final control over everything i.e. whether your account stays up, whether you can use a specific identity on their platform, what you are allowed to post from that identity, etc.
Some decentralised networks like Friendica and Fediverse accounts can allow a server-based profile to be migrated elsewhere, but it needs access to the original account to do so. A possible exception is Hubzilla, with its channel-based posting. A Hubzilla channel can be mirrored to other Hubzilla servers, using its Zot protocol. If anything happens to your primary channel, you can switch to one of your secondary channels and carry on posting with all your old content, followers, etc.
With Bluesky and its AT protocol, they have introduced handles based on a personal domain name that you own. So it could be that you go to a different AT protocol server and retain that same identity. But we have not seen this in practice, and it may not retain all your followers and other data.
There are networks where you do truly own your identity, but those are serverless social networks such as the peer-to-peer Aether, Secure Scuttlebutt, etc networks. Your identity is kept at your peer on your own computer, and you connect to others directly without passing through any servers. But these networks are more difficult to discover others, as well as to use across devices (often each device is its own separate identity).
And then there is also Nostr which also tried to solve this issue in quite a clever way with their Nostr protocol. Your identity is tied to a cryptographic keypair like someone has a PGP public and private keypair for encrypted e-mail or documents. Only you know the keypair, and it replicates your identity as well as your posts through multiple relays. Unlike P2P networks, if you sign in on a different device with your keypair, your identity (photo, name, ID, followers, following) is all replicated to that device automatically, and you can post from there as if on your primary device. The account will operate seamlessly from multiple locations.
So much like security, the greater the ownership and control, the slightly more complex the ownership becomes.
I suppose for most people, the Fediverse (Mastodon, Misskey, Pixelfed, Friendica, etc) does what they need. You can pick a network and a server that most closely suites your own values, and if you still have access to your account, you can migrate it away to a different server. With Fediverse networks, you are certainly not held to ransom by just one network owner.
It is the job also of the various mobile app creators to try to make the sign-up and migration processes as simple as possible, and to also provide intuitive and easy to use user interfaces. We are seeing more and better quality apps now becoming available for Fediverse networks.
#technology #socialnetworks #X #Fediverse
10 Completely Free Linux Books That Will Make You a Linux Master
If you’re aiming to elevate your Linux learning process to an advanced administrative and expert level, we have meticulously curated a collection of 10 exceptional Free Linux eBooks.
These invaluable resources are designed to empower you in constructing an exceptionally robust foundation for your Linux skills. With these ebooks at your fingertips, you can confidently embark on a journey of profound Linux mastery.
Only one of the 10 books requires some registration for free access. The other 9 books are just click to download. Most of the books start at an introductory level, and what I really like about books versus Internet searches, is that reading a book is a more structured and logical process for building knowledge. You'll get a lot more value from actually reading these books versus just doing searches to try put many pieces of a puzzle together yourself.
The titles are:
* The Ultimate Linux Newbie Guide
* The Linux Command Line
* GNU/Linux Command−Line Tools
* Introduction to Linux
* Linux Fundamentals
* Linux Networking
* GNU/Linux Advanced Linux Administration
* Linux Shell Scripting Cookbook (trial subscription needed)
* Bash Reference Manual from GNU
* Advanced Bash Shell Scripting Guide
See https://www.tecmint.com/linux-books/
#technology #Linux #opensource #books
16-Year-Old Builds His Own Open-Source Cell Phone Based On An ESP32
https://void.cat/d/5yraPL8tGHfurEjz5KUk7U.webp
The phone uses an ESP32 at its core, with a SIM800L GSM modem to interact with the cell network, including retrieving the system time. A small battery is included as well as all of the support circuitry for charging it as well as a USB interface that can communicate to a PC. The operating system for the phone is built from the ground up as well, with a touch screen interface allowing the user to make phone calls, send text messages, store contacts, and a few other basic features.
Yes, the modem is 2G, but I'd imagine it would not be too difficult to get 3G or 4G modems, but I'm suspecting that may not be open-source. Of course, this is a 100% self repairable phone.
It runs the paxos_8 operating system written in C, and it looks like he is actively updating it, as it received commits just yesterday.
See https://hackaday.com/2023/08/03/open-source-cell-phone-based-on-esp32/
#technology #opensource #ESP32
How to use the grep command in Linux for searching for, and inside, files
https://void.cat/d/NAAFzpiWeibHXCYJZoAw8o.webp
In the vast realm of Linux, an open-source operating system, the grep command holds a significant place. An acronym for ‘Global Regular Expression Print’, the grep command is a widely-used Linux tool that gives users the power to search through text or output based on specific patterns. This command line utility is indispensable for efficient file and data management, serving as a cornerstone in Linux operations.
The grep command’s usefulness is in its versatility and power. Whether you’re debugging a problem by searching through logs, searching through code for a specific function, or even looking for files with a specific keyword, the grep command is an indispensable tool in a Linux user’s toolkit. Its ability to filter output makes it an ideal command for piping with other commands to refine output further.
This very week I used the grep command to search through over 200 desktop files to firstly check they each had a line inside starting with 'Exec=' and then I got that line extracted and printed out into an output file that I could examine (instead of opening each every one of the 200+ files).
And liked I used the grep command, it is often used in conjunction with the pipe symbol '|' to further process what grep has extracted, e.g. extract a sub-string or perform some other function.
In fact, the bash shell itself can really do a lot, from prompting for inputs, or reading variables passed to it at runtime, do/while loops, if/then statements, and a lot more. If you want to automate something, you can frequently just use a bash script file in place of a more complex language. But you won't know unless you just read up a bit on a few of the different commands. If you get stuck, ask Google Bard or similar AI for some help, and it will even spit out some sample code you can use.
See https://www.linuxcapable.com/grep-command-in-linux-with-examples/
#technology #Linux #bash #scripting #grep
How to read free e-books for your Kindle e-reader or Fire tablet: Expand your library beyond the Amazon book store
https://void.cat/d/UdUcxnsA8zo3BhajNhWoXP.webp
Amazon Kindles do wonders for streamlining reading on the go, storing your favourites from its massive library of content, safe and accessible via a compact and intuitive interface. It's no wonder they're ranked among the best e-readers on the market. While Kindle e-reading devices have access to most mainstream publishers available through Kindle unlimited subscription, there are typically some that you will not be able to access via normal means.
But lucky for you, there is a way to side-load e-books from outside the Amazon store directly onto your Kindle at zero additional cost!
See https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-find-read-free-books-kindle/
#technology #Kindle #reading
IronOS is open source software for making soldering irons more flexible
https://void.cat/d/53GJkRE3oVz1mQHqjrZzQ2.webp
Originally conceived as an alternative firmware for the TS100, this firmware has evolved into a complex soldering iron control firmware. The firmware implements all the standard features of a 'smart' soldering iron, with lots of little extras and tweaks.
What I really like about this software is, just like open source software for routers, it unlocks potentially lots of extra functionality you won't find with the factory firmware. Also, if you are in the market to buy a brand-new soldering iron, the project does recommend a few specific ones to consider. That will be a useful resource for me, knowing which ones may work best with open source software.
See https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS
#technology #opensource #solderingiron