Prolong Laptop Battery Life in Linux by Limiting Charging Levels
“In case you didn't know it already, regularly charging the battery to 100% or fully discharging it puts your battery at stress and may lead to poor battery life in the long run. Well, to control the battery charging on Linux, you have a few options:
* KDE Plasma has this as an in-built feature. That's why KDE is ❤️
* GNOME has extensions for this. Typical GNOME thing.
* There are command line tools to limit battery charging levels. Typical Linux thing 😍”
It is well worth using these available settings if you use Linux on a laptop. The article linked below goes into more detail on how to use each option.
See https://itsfoss.com/limit-battery-charging-linux
#technology #Linux #batteries
Notesnook is a cross-platform end-to-end encrypted open source note-taking alternative to Evernote
Notesnook is a free (as in speech) & open-source note-taking app focused on user privacy & ease of use. To ensure zero knowledge principles, Notesnook encrypts everything on your device using XChaCha20-Poly1305 & Argon2.
I've not tried the app myself, but what does stand out for me is the free plan does have unlimited notes, and I must say that the Android UI looks very good. Too many note-taking apps (e.g. Obsidian) have a difficult to use mobile interface.
A possible downside of the free plan is that there are no attachments or images, and tags are limited to only 5. That said, I suppose about US$2 per month is not too band for the Pro version, and that also works out to about half of Obsidian Notes' Pro version.
It supports Markdown and basic rich text formatting. A further plus is block based linking (like Logseq does) where you can link directly to headings or paragraphs in remote links.
Exports are limited to text only for the free version versus the Pro version with PDF, HTML, and Markdown.
But the open source code is really only getting you the client app. So this is not the same as say Joplin where you also get the code to self-host the sync server.
See https://www.androidpolice.com/tried-encrypted-all-in-one-productivity-app-blew-my-mind
#technology #opensource #notes
Bitfocus Companion buttons can show status info from OS commands or OPNsense firewall on Stream Deck
This video will help if you need to execute various OS commands from a Stream Deck and you want to have your buttons show what the status is of what was executed. I demonstrate how a button that toggles the mute status of a microphone, or the speakers, can change the button between green and red colours to indicate the status.
The only proviso is that there should be an OS command that can query the status of whatever you want to monitor.
A further example shown uses a curl command to fetch information via the API from OPNsense to display the OPNsense firewall temperature and disk space used on the Stream Deck. This could be expanded to use any of the other available API functions too.
So whilst having some connectors provided by Bitfocus and the community, there is no need to be limited to only having those to use on Bitfocus Companion. Using script files and curl commands, can open up a whole new world of possibilities.
If any other Stream Deck app (or any app) can execute OS commands and do something with the feedback, this video may also be of use for that type of scenario too.
This video follows on from my first video I did about Bitfocus Companion. It is worth watching the first video if you want to get a better overview of Companion and how it works with some existing connectors to VLC, Home Assistant, opening apps, etc.
Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkRjt2kCHJE
#technology #bitfocuscompanion #streamdeck
Yes but those T&Cs were amended after that. From what I saw of the wording, it looked like the standard we use the data you input into the browser to process and retrieve info off the Web. I did not see anything like Meta's T&Cs stating the data is shared or sold to partners or advertisers...
ExpressVPN Finally Gives Linux Users Split Tunnelling and a GUI
“The ExpressVPN on Linux GUI, now available in beta, will enjoy a general release with the v4 update later this year. It's essentially a 1:1 port of the ExpressVPN GUI that Windows and macOS users have enjoyed for some time. It's got the same interface, it offers dark mode support, and it works in 17 languages.”
Very nice, and this would put ExpressVPN ahead of Proton VPN on Linux. Proton's VPN client is a GUI client, but it lacks some of the Windows client's features, such as the split tunnelling. Linux users can add manual routing to their GUI Network Manager to achieve this, but I'm sure novice users will be unsure how to do this.
So, well done ExpressVPN!
See https://www.howtogeek.com/expressvpn-linux-gui-beta
#technology #VPN #Linux
Ente Photos is an Open Source End-to-End Encrypted Cloud Management Photo Management Service
Ente is a service that provides a fully open source, end-to-end encrypted platform for you to store your data in the cloud without needing to trust the service provider.
Ente Photos is a paid service, but they also offer 5GB of free storage, and there is the option to self-host yourself too.
It has built-in machine learning, much like Immich has. What may be more unique is their Legacy option, allowing pre-determined family members or friends to gain access to your account if you have passed away.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/ente-photos-favorite-open-source-photo-management-tool
#technology #photography #photomanagement #opensource
Top 7 Best Open Source Skype Alternatives In 2025
Skype feels like it has been around forever but “May 5 2025, is the day Skype will cease to exist as Microsoft retires it, pushing people to switch to their Teams offering. The death of Skype was a slow one, but one that has been coming for quite some time now.”
But there are some excellent alternatives. I've long been using Jitsi myself, and even if you don't want to self-host it, you can use their cloud hosted version for free (with no 40 minute limit).
See https://itsfoss.com/open-source-skype-alternatives
#technology #videoconferencing #opensource
Too true! I think with Google's clamping down on Manifest v2 there will be more Firefox users. Also, good to ensure there is always strong and active competition.
4 reasons I choose Firefox over Brave for maximum security
“Brave and Firefox are two of the most secure browsers out there. Brave has made privacy its key selling point, integrating features that block ads, prevent tracking, and stop fingerprinting. Firefox, on the other hand, is the OG secure browser, challenging Chrome’s dominance for as long as we can remember. Both Firefox and Brave offer strong security, but if you’re looking for the most secure option, Firefox takes the lead.”
Ironically enough, I did not move from Brave to Firefox for the security considerations. In my case, there was an annoying UI issue creeping in, supposedly inherited from Chromium. But regardless, I did check out the Firefox privacy and security considerations and was happy with them. One feature I really like is the master password for the Firefox profile that locks and unlocks the whole browser.
The other thing I like is that Firefox still runs a fully functional uBlock Origin extension, along with its own built-in protections.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/reasons-why-use-firefox-not-brave-secure-browser
#technology #security #privacy #browsers
I can't recall now whether I used true Debian or not. I did use Ubuntu way back in the day, that was of course derived from Debian. But I'm pretty settled now on Manjaro and am happy with it the last few years.
How Noise-Cancelling Headphones Work—and Why You’ll Never Go Back
“Have you ever wondered about the magic behind noise-canceling headphones? It's an amazing feature to have for headphones, shutting you out from outside noise that can be distracting. The truth is, I can't ever go back to regular ones anymore.”
So very true. I forgot my noise-cancelling earbuds at home a week or two back, and I was amazed at the constant barrage of music, announcements, and noise at my local shopping mall. Once you've used noise-cancelling headphones/earbuds, it is very difficult to go back. The same goes for a vacuum cleaner operating nearby.
What I also like is that without that background noise, it is also possible to listen to quieter music like classical music.
It may be that the sound quality is slightly affected, but certainly not that I've ever noticed. For me, the absence of background noise is far more important.
See https://www.howtogeek.com/how-noise-canceling-headphones-workand-why-youll-never-go-back
#technology #audio
Although for Arch and Manjaro, the “compiling” is really happening in the background as part of the update. No actual manually triggered compiling. The Chaotic AUR is another option that installs binaries.
Forget about Excel — You can self-host open source Grist to manage your spreadsheets
“Excel may be the dominant spreadsheet-editing software, but there are plenty of alternatives that can fulfill your data analysis and number-crunching needs. Whether you’re paranoid about storing your precious files on Microsoft’s servers or want a neat app that doesn’t force you to pay subscription fees, you’ll find plenty of decent Excel alternatives. Grist is one such option that you can self-host on your local hardware, and here’s a byte-sized guide to help you integrate this neat utility into your workflows.”
Grist is definitely NOT an Excel clone. It does things quite differently. My biggest pain was to ditch the “=sum(formula)" type approach. It's easy once you realise you must use the + to add a new column and choose formula.
Another key difference is the way that you set a format for currency. Excel (or LibreOffice) would be a right-click and select currency. With Grist you pick a type as numeric, then click on spinner, and then select the $ symbol.
Because it is powered on the backend by a database, a column is essentially a field name and type, whilst the rows would be records. One advantage of this is that by changing a column to be say hyperlinks, the whole columns records instantly become hyperlinks.
The reasons why it is different, is partly because although it is a spreadsheet UI, it can have relational database tables working from the spreadsheet view, and it also supports Python syntax. It has various widgets, or you can also build your own for various custom views.
There is a paid enterprise service, but the core version is fully open source. Docker is also not the only way to install and run this app.
Yes, there is LibreOffice, FreeOffice, etc but if you want a modern looking and solid cloud based spreadsheet service, this looks pretty interesting.
Actually, it is pretty good to see a “spreadsheet” that looks and works differently!
See https://www.xda-developers.com/grist-guide
#technology #spreadsheets #opensource #selfhosting
Breezy Weather is an open source Android weather app with many local weather services supported inc 17 African states
More than 50 weather sources are supported (none of which are pay only sites), and it has a large selection of home screen widgets, and even live wallpapers.
Very importantly (especially for weather type apps), it is privacy respecting.
Of course, weather forecast data is very relative to the location it is being used, so mileage will certainly vary depending on where you are. But even so, this app does give many options to choose from for weather data sources.
See https://github.com/breezy-weather/breezy-weather
#technology #weather #opensource
Poynting Antennas is an internationally recognised manufacturer of antennas based in South Africa
“Poynting Antennas founder and CEO Andre Fourie is not only an entrepreneur and former Wits University professor; he and his team are arguably the top antenna engineers in the world. Poynting has over 50 patents and registered trademarks, including 12 registered patent families consisting of 26 registered patents, and 41 registered designs.”
Many of us have likely seen the brand around, but probably don't realise this was some really solid engineering design and building that came out of South Africa. They have been around for many years and their products have stood the test of time.
I remember having one of their outdoor fixed wireless LTE antennas when I used fixed wireless for my Internet connection at one time. I sold that antenna about 2+ years later, and it was still like new.
#technology #southafrica #antennas #radio
Firefox continues Manifest V2 support as Chrome disables MV2 ad-blockers
“Mozilla has renewed its promise to continue supporting Manifest V2 extensions alongside Manifest V3, giving users the freedom to use the extensions they want in their browser. Despite the intentions, Manifest V3 places restrictions on certain types of add-ons, like ad-blockers, that can render them less effective. As Manifest V3 enforcement is rolling out, extensions not compatible with it are being disabled from people's browsers, depriving users of the choice of functionality over risk.”
I moved back to Firefox about a month ago, not due to the Manifest V3 roll out, but rather because the mouse right-click was broken on Brave browser (it kept triggering the menu actions when I released the mouse button).
I can say that everything I need to do, works just fine on Firefox. It also has a very rich selection of extensions to choose from. Firefox actually had vertical tabs before Chrome did, which an extension implemented very well.
Firefox, not being Chrome at all, is also a positive factor for many.
#technology #browsers
I monitor my home network by self-hosting ntopng - here’s how
“If you’re into the server ecosystem, you may already have a couple of monitoring tools set up on your home lab. While Uptime Kuma and Prometheus + Grafana configurations have their perks, you’ll require something more advanced like ntopng to keep tabs on the network resources of your local server. Since ntopng can seem intimidating for newcomers, here’s a detailed guide on how you can deploy and use this neat utility to monitor every aspect of your home network.”
Docker is of course not the only way to run this service. Mine actually installs as plugin on my OPNsense firewall appliance. Either ways, it is a really useful tool and some quite basic alerts can also be set to just warn you when any device is granted DHCP connectivity outside a range you have specified, e.g. unknown guest devices.
It is especially useful for drilling down into what traffic flows from which interfaces or VLANs, who the top talkers are, what sites are being most visited, and I do like the GeoIP map showing where connections are being made to/from.
It has also helped me identify which applications on a device were trying to access a specific port on my server's old IP address. This is otherwise difficult to do with basic port scanners that don't do packet inspection.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/ntopng-guide
#technology #networks #opensource
Clicks keyboard comes to Android to give your Galaxy, Pixel, or Moto that BlackBerry look
“Remember Clicks? The iPhone keyboard accessory that can help you relive the early 2000s Blackberry charm? Yep, the slab-like case that gives you access to a physical QWERTY keyboard on your latest iOS device. Upon the accessory's initial launch, it was only available for the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, it soon expanded to the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, and the iPhone 16 series. Now, a little over a year later, Clicks has its sights set on the Android market.”
It looks like it will be coming out for the Motorola Razr (2024), Motorola Razr+ (2024), Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro, and the Samsung Galaxy S25.
I suppose a challenge with Android for physical devices, whether camera lenses, lights, keyboards, etc is that there is no “standard Android size/shape”.
But still, for many this might be quite welcome (or have today's users all got over losing their physical keyboards?). Initially, I was a bit frustrated when I had glitches or stutters with early on-screen keyboards, where the physical keyboards always just worked. But I have to say that was a long time ago. Today's on-screen keyboards are pretty smooth and fast, and of course will also apart their layout, theming, and lots more.
That said, these Clicks keyboards do add a quite funky and quirky splash of colour to the phones, and look like they will also be quite good protectors for the phones themselves.
See https://www.androidpolice.com/clicks-keyboard-cases-now-available-for-android
#technology #keyboards
9 hidden features in VLC you might not know about
“If you're one of the millions who already know that VLC is one of the best media players around, maybe you also know a few of the hidden things on this list. But if you've never experienced one of the best open-source media players to replace Windows Media Player in your daily routine, you're in for a treat.”
VLC is an amazing app with its cross-platform support, multilingual UI, and many features packed into it. I knew about the streaming option as I've used it to view my Wi-Fi cams before, but oddly enough, I always wondered about why there is no scrubbing options on the UI. Well, this article below put that wonder to rest — it's actually quite simple to scrub back and forth. I'd also never used the subtitle downloading before.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/hidden-features-in-vlc
#technology #VLC
5 ways ZFS is superior to Btrfs for storing data
“ZFS and Better File System (Btrfs) are two popular modern file systems. Both are designed with advanced storage features and offer snapshot capabilities, data integrity protection, and highly efficient storage management. However, ZFS has been the more reliable option for both personal and enterprise-level usage.”
I found this interesting as I did try a switch to Btrfs myself a while ago, but seem to remember I had speed issues as well as an inflated storage requirement. I liked the concept though. It is something I want to revisit in the future again, but I'll probably give ZFS a more serious consideration then.
Right now I'm back on EXT4 with daily mirrored backups to two separate locations, and a selected cloud backup of critical data.
See https://www.xda-developers.com/how-zfs-is-superior-to-btrfs
#technology #filesystems