Winamp Open Source Story Is Over: A lesson in what open source actually is

In the last five months, Winamp, the iconic music player from the recent past, has been on quite a journey. It started with exciting news, which caused great enthusiasm, but sadly, things didn’t turn out well in the end. Without warning, Winamp deleted its entire GitHub repository, effectively ending the whole story around open-sourcing the music player code.

Clearly, the organisation had no clue what open source is actually about. The right to fork, modify, etc is all enshrined within open source.

The linked article unpacks a little of how that all went wrong.

See https://linuxiac.com/winamp-open-source-story-is-over

#technology #opensource #music

4 reasons your cloud provider should be using end-to-end encryption

We're all pretty dependent on cloud services nowadays, with everything from our email inboxes to game streaming services storing our data somewhere other than on our physical computers. But with that ever-increasing dependency comes inherent risk. Your cloud provider could be using unsafe practices, like not encrypting data, or they could be a smaller provider that might disappear one day. Or it could be both of those and a whole host of other issues you might not think of. To keep your cloud storage private and secure, you need to choose a provider that uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) in their design, and preferably one that also uses a zero-knowledge model so that your data is encrypted everywhere it goes unless it's on your personal devices where the decryption keys are stored.

Clouds are attractive targets for hacking as there is just so much data stored there from private individuals, to corporate entities, to governments etc. Once you've got the keys to the kingdom, and there is no E2EE, you can browse through what you want. However, where there is E2EE then you have to crack each one individually, or you have to hack the user's end device to get to their cloud data.

I remember at one time, Microsoft was offering E2EE for government, where government would choose their own encryption key to use. But for example with Google all that data needs to be exposed to them for searching and adverts.

Others like Proton Drive you provide your own encryption password, and if you want to search for example your email, it first does a download dump of your data to do the search locally.

The common theme here is, the more secure and E2EE there is, the less convenience, fewer cloud features, no option of recovery there is for a lost encryption key. If there is an easy way to do a password reset, AI features that work across your cloud data, or data sharing with a simple link, the chances may be that your cloud data is visible to the provider.

The best case scenario is that that data is being used just to empower features for you (or serve relevant adverts) but the worst case is it is hacked by a 3rd party, it is exposed to a foreign government, or is it being sold off to data brokers or other upstream suppliers (looking at Facebook and WhatsApp here).

Even a person's data in Apple's Cloud was visible to Apple, which is why Apple could be compelled to hand over this data to any law enforcement agency, and why some celebrities had their nude photos stolen.

If you don't hold the keys yourself, then you don't have an E2EE cloud data service. If your cloud data is being stored by a foreign owned company, or outside of your country, you may want to worry even more about it. That said, based on being in a country that has a PATRIOT Act or a CLOUD Act, storing your data elsewhere may actually be a big plus for you.

See https://www.xda-developers.com/4-reasons-your-cloud-provider-should-be-using-end-to-end-encryption

#technology #cloud #security #privacy

Shutter Encoder is an open source converter designed by video editors

Handbrake may well immediately come to mind. This is similar in what it does (conversion based on FFmpeg in the background) but it looks a lot better and easier to use, and has quite a few functions that do not convert video for example: Cut without re-encoding, Replace audio, Rewrap, Conform, Merge, Extract, Subtitling, Video inserts.

It also categorises the video conversions by separating editing formats for output type formats. It is cross-platform for Windows, macOS, and Linux (including AppImage format).

Furthermore, it also has a Watch Folder feature to watch where you may render videos too, and when that render is completed, Shutter Encoder can auto convert e.g. for output say of DaVinci Resolve on Linux, this can do the conversion to H.264.

See https://www.shutterencoder.com

#technology #opensource #video

7 reasons Photopea is the best free alternative to Photoshop and Lightroom, and 1 why not

Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom have long been the benchmarks in the industry. However, their ongoing subscription costs can be a burden for students and hobbyists. If you're seeking an alternative to Adobe’s creative suite, consider trying Photopea. Unlike other free alternatives, Photopea isn’t just a watered-down solution with limited features. It’s a robust powerhouse that goes toe-to-toe with Photoshop and Lightroom, offering a surprising amount of advanced features without costing a dime.

So, whilst some very good reasons are given to use it, and many will want to because of the intuitive UI and cross-platform support, they are very clear that the product is free because it is paid for by adverts in the app. Adverts can be annoying, but they may also be intrusive in terms of privacy. That said, they do not look like they take over the interface.

While Photopea won’t rival the likes of Canva, its graphic design tools can surely challenge the likes of Krita and Illustrator. You can create vector graphics using pen, shape, and text tools, explore path manipulations, and use web design tools to create mockups. You surely won’t have a hard time sketching concepts, designing logos, and creating illustrations.

See https://www.xda-developers.com/reasons-photopea-is-the-best-free-alternative-to-photoshop-and-lightroom

#technology #graphics #editing #alternativesto

GSConnect is KDE Connect for GNOME desktop users

For Linux, KDE has developed a solution called KDE Connect. It works better in the KDE environment and hence we have the GSConnect extension for GNOME desktop users.

GSConnect is an implementation of KDE Connect itself. While KDE Connect may already work on GNOME, GSConnect gives a better experience for GNOME users.

Hopefully, this makes the rich experience of KDE Connect a bit more seamless and enjoyable for GNOME desktop users.

See https://itsfoss.com/gsconnect

#technology #Linux #KDEConnect

Pi-Apps: The Unofficial but Definitely Better App Store for Raspberry Pi

Though not popular, Raspberry Pi OS does provide a GUI method for installing and uninstalling applications. It's the Add/Remove Software tool, introduced in 2016 as a GUI-based method for installing applications.

Unlike the traditional Add/Remove Software tool, Pi-Apps is faster, more reliable as less chance of getting confuse between packages with similar names, and packed with useful features. While designed for Raspberry Pi OS, Pi-Apps works seamlessly with other operating systems like Ubuntu for Raspberry Pi.

See https://itsfoss.com/pi-apps-store

#technology #raspberrypi

Android 15 Private Space and Samsung Secure Folder: A Side-By-Side Comparison

For years, Samsung users have enjoyed the convenience and privacy of Secure Folder, a separate space on their Samsung Galaxy phones for sensitive apps, media, files, and data. With Android 15, Google joins the party with Private Space.

The linked article below put them to the test on a Google Pixel 8 and a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, diving into their setup, functionality, security, and user experience.

I suppose it is true that a product that has been out longer, should have a better rounded experience.

See https://www.androidpolice.com/android-private-space-vs-samsung-secure-folder

#technology #security #privacy

What I'd read now seemed quite specific mentioning E2EE and loss of that data if the password was forgotten

Samsung Backups and Cloud Sync can be End-To-End-Encrypted, but you need to Enable it

Buried in the settings of certain Samsung Galaxy devices, there's a feature Samsung calls Enhanced Data Protection. This is a fancy, branded name for end-to-end encryption. It means that when you back up or sync data to Samsung servers, that data will be encrypted before leaving your device, and it won't be unencrypted until it returns to your phone. If anyone tries to look at your data on any device other than yours, all they will see is gibberish.

Why isn't this enabled by default? The caveat is pretty severe. When you first enable the feature, Samsung generates a lengthy recovery code for you to store in a safe location. If you forget it, there's no way for anyone to restore your data. It's gone for good.

I love (not) how companies think we will all forget our passwords, and they need to protect us from ourselves. This is why we don't always have effective security and privacy. We have quite a few messengers and social networks that already operate this - you forget your private key, and your profile is gone forever (well it will be there, but you won't ever post from it again).

This "feature" for Samsung devices just needs to be flipped on, and you need to ensure you've saved that unlock key somewhere safe.

See https://www.howtogeek.com/theres-a-safe-way-to-back-up-and-sync-samsung-galaxy-phones

#technology #E2EE #privacy

How you can use Kanban boards in Obsidian to manage personal projects

Thanks to its offline-first approach, graph views, canvas, backlinks, and Markdown support, Obsidian has been quite popular among productivity seekers these days. Although Obsidian offers a robust set of features right out of the box, it misses one critical element that many users seek in a versatile platform – Kanban boards. Here is where third-party plugins come into play to enable Kanban boards in your Obsidian vaults.

If you already use Obsidian as a personal knowledge management tool to store your to-do lists, thoughts, and project ideas, you can create a flawless tracking system in the same vault for a better workflow. Here is how you can unlock Kanban in Obsidian to boost productivity and achieve your goals.

The projects are still stored in plain Markdown format so will always be viewable in the distant future long after Obsidian has been forgotten about. This plugin has enough basic (and some additional) functionality to make it worthwhile keeping all your ideas and projects in one place.

See https://www.xda-developers.com/how-i-use-kanban-boards-in-obsidian-to-manage-my-personal-projects

#technology #projects #organising #Obsidian

Google Is Cracking Down on Ad Blockers, But Here's How You Can Fight Back

In the interests of fighting terrorism and child pornography... oh wait, no not those, in the interests of improving your own security the following changes are being made. It's corporate BS as we all know Google's big business is selling ads, and showing to advertisers who they can target. It's the same with Facebook, which is why Facebook and Google Search are just becoming a worse and worse experience for so many users.

On both you need to wade past all the adverts, and feeds get so cluttered and confusing. It's a good reason why Google should not be able to sell adverts and run a search business at the same time.

The linked article below gives some pointers on what to try to make your browser experience a bit better in the future (yes, including using Firefox, which is not affected by any of these changes by Google).

We'll still need to see how badly the alternative Chromium based browsers will be impacted.

See https://lifehacker.com/tech/google-cracking-down-on-ad-blockers

#technology #privacy #adblocking

A Phone? A Ham Radio? Relax! It’s Both!

A lot of hams like to carry a VHF radio. Of course, nearly everyone wants to carry a phone. Now, thanks to the kv4p HT, you don’t have to carry both. The open-source device connects to your Android smartphone and turns it into a radio transceiver. You can build it yourself for about $35.

The device uses an ESP32 and only transmits one watt, but it has lots of features like APRS and scanning. I do like the text transcription service that the phone provides, which is really great for those who can't hear clearly.

I can see more and more now why having a 3D printer can be really useful.

See https://hackaday.com/2024/10/15/a-phone-a-ham-radio-relax-its-both

How to Install ZRAM to Boost Ubuntu Performance

If you’re using Ubuntu and want to improve your system’s performance, especially on machines with limited RAM, ZRAM is a great solution, as it creates a compressed block device in RAM, which helps to manage memory more efficiently.

ZRAM is a Linux kernel module that allows you to create a compressed block device in RAM, that effectively increases the amount of usable memory on your system by compressing data stored in RAM, which can be especially useful for systems with limited physical memory, allowing them to run more applications simultaneously without slowing down.

And of course ZRAM works for any other Linux distro too. I've long been using it on my Manjaro Linux platform.

This guide will walk you through installing and configuring ZRAM on Ubuntu.

See https://www.tecmint.com/install-zram-ubuntu

#technology #Linux #opensource #ZRAM

DC Releases New Range of Webcomics Formatted for Mobile Devices

DC Comics has announced DC GO!, “a new frontier of webcomics” available exclusively on the DC Universe Infinite app—the company’s official digital subscription service for web, iOS, and Android.

Comics have long been able to be read on eReaders and mobile devices, but the layouts have largely stayed the same as when comics appeared in paper format. The navigation was somewhat improved with being able to just swipe left and right, but this new format will be far friendlier for the vertical aspect ratios of mobile devices.

See https://gizmodo.com/dc-releases-new-range-of-webcomics-formatted-for-mobile-devices-2000512107

#technology #comics #reading

Hyperlapse night photo showing stars movement - without star trails

https://video.nostr.build/5abc5567aab882848f058a225cac001e1f8aed72f1bf012df60ee30f816e5be8.mp4

Stayed at #MontevueNatureFarm other side of #Montagu in #SouthAfrica. No other humans in sight and no cellphone nor Internet. A relaxing break, and absorbing some nature again. We took long walks along the 4x4 trails across the farm, enjoyed the hot tub, braaing, and the outdoor shower.

https://video.nostr.build/def754468f105df47e54505be296f23d3dbd2208b7283a1789f2ae21c72a2510.mp4

https://video.nostr.build/abbebc90fa89b75d128b07cd2d90109b17d45799827a30aa145fb20197addab1.mp4

https://video.nostr.build/c383256d44b160462c1bb130258de61eecde2ec2fd42572b2f2e8fced8725af6.mp4

South African doctor building breakthrough apps - Real Innovation is needed for Change

A South African doctor hopes to transform the medical field by developing products and services that solve problems typically experienced by remote and underfunded state hospitals and clinics, reports Rapport.

One of these projects solves two of the most significant issues facing South Africa’s medical industry — the lack of job placements for new graduates and understaffed and underfunded state hospitals and clinics.

Dr Juandre Klopper and two friends, Dr Matt te Water Naudé and mathematician Freddie O’Donnell, developed an app that pairs hospitals seeking locums with young doctors looking for work.

But it was not only this app, there is also innovation around cheaper and more effective medical devices, as well as managing nursing care, all taking into account South Africa's unique challenges.

With dwindling financial resources, increasing demand on medical care, things will only get worse and worse over time if real innovation (technology as well as procedural) is not applied. I've seen the same thing happening with public benefit charities getting smaller grants from government (where are the ever-increasing taxes going? I have no idea...) and having to innovate themselves to survive. Some charities have even raised grant funding from foreign countries.

South Africans have always been very resilient in the face of overwhelming challenges. In one way these will benefit everyone globally, but from another perspective this is extremely sad too that such adversity needs to be overcome. Yes, I know you're thinking now: Imagine if governments themselves could be this innovative! Imagine more better services at every lower tax rates... Governments the world around today seem to be the least efficient businesses of all.

See https://mybroadband.co.za/news/software/565029-doctors-apps-decrease-burdensome-cost-of-medtech.html

#technology #health #SouthAfrica #southafrica

😂

Away for the weekend and only place to get a signal is to climb a hill called Signal Hill! https://nostrcheck.me/media/42a41978c51cb00695a18de6c9754b90e208dd31d2851e7c69104899c1aea03e/af01801127f8554eb03a10a8a13271d6f0c94692c19a6ce12520a96f5491e4f7.webp https://nostrcheck.me/media/42a41978c51cb00695a18de6c9754b90e208dd31d2851e7c69104899c1aea03e/4f82a66f6ab2c083446ac4e012d1093237e10bbff7597f6f596602f97ea318b4.webp https://nostrcheck.me/media/42a41978c51cb00695a18de6c9754b90e208dd31d2851e7c69104899c1aea03e/1c6ee6cd9c64b3c7455af443188e9071945354889850afbd91373abf90abcdaa.webp https://nostrcheck.me/media/42a41978c51cb00695a18de6c9754b90e208dd31d2851e7c69104899c1aea03e/347c9a1d21bbce6c1dca5c59586ce2249f3661d5a0a6455390eaa5679dae1d0d.webp

Oui, je pense que c'est bien adapté à ce type de publication et aux personnes qui souhaitent simplement consulter une seule application.