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Tails 1.4 released
by Peter Reutemann 13 May '15

13 May '15

'Tails, The Amnesic Incognito Live System, version 1.4, has been released. The new version of the Debian-based live disc offers users a number of new features, including an updated copy of the Tor Browser and the Tor anonymity software has been upgraded to version 0.2.6.7. Tails 1.4 also ships with Paperkey, a program which allows users to print physical copies of their security keys. "Tor Browser 4.5 now has a security slider that you can use to disable browser features, such as JavaScript, as a trade-off between security and usability. The security slider is set to low by default to provide the same level of security as previous versions and the most usable experience. We disabled in Tails the new circuit view of Tor Browser 4.5 for security reasons. You can still use the network map of Vidalia to inspect your circuits. Tails OpenPGP Applet now has a shortcut to the gedit text editor, thanks to Ivan Bliminse. Paperkey lets you print a backup of your OpenPGP secret keys on paper."' -- source: http://distrowatch.com/?newsid=08941 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

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Ubuntu Core Drone Is the First Drone That Has Apps
by Peter Reutemann 11 May '15

11 May '15

"The Erle-Copter was presented a couple of weeks ago, but now its makers have returned with more details about this amazing piece of technology. This is not the average drone you can get at your mall and that can do basically three things, fly, crash into walls, and break. It's what you might call a smart drone, and it's powered by Ubuntu core." -- source: http://news.softpedia.com/news/Ubuntu-Core-Drone-Is-the-First-Drone-That-Ha… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

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Meet Lakka, a Linux OS that Turns any PC Into a Retro Game Console
by Peter Reutemann 11 May '15

11 May '15

"Lakka is a lightweight distribution of GNU/Linux that has been designed to transform any computer into a full-blown retro game console. It is derived from the well-known OpenELEC project and built on top of the well-known RetroArch retro game emulator tool. The Lakka Linux distribution is capable of emulating a wide variety of hardware. Additionally, it includes attractive features like video streaming, joypad hotplug, and Braid-like rewinding." -- source: http://www.linuxtoday.com/infrastructure/meet-lakka-a-linux-os-that-turns-a… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

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Ubuntu jumps into Internet of Things with Acer, GE, and Microsoft
by Peter Reutemann 11 May '15

11 May '15

"Old enemies are becoming new allies as technology shifts from the PC/desktop model to first mobile computing and now the Internet of Things (IoT). Canonical, Ubuntu Linux's parent company, is partnering with Acer, DataArt, and Microsoft." -- source: http://www.zdnet.com/article/ubuntu-jumps-into-internet-of-things-with-acer… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

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The $9 Computer
by Lawrence D'Oliveiro 10 May '15

10 May '15

1GHz ARM processor, half-gig RAM, 4-gig flash, full-sized USB port and composite video out, for $9. Meet the CHIP, from Next Thing Co, intended as the core for a range of sub-$99 products. <http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/05/move-over-raspberry-p…>

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Ubuntu 15.04 review: Beauty or “boring” is in the eye of the beholder
by Peter Reutemann 06 May '15

06 May '15

'Snow melts and trees blossom, but nothing really says spring around the Ars Orbital HQ like the arrival of a new version of Ubuntu Linux. Right on schedule, Canonical has recently released Ubuntu 15.04, also known as Vivid Vervet. Ubuntu 15.04 arrived in late April and has, judging by other reviews, largely underwhelmed. According to the popular storyline, there's not much new in 15.04. Of course, a slew of changes and unforeseen features in 15.04 could have just as easily earned a negative reaction, probably from the same people calling the actual release boring. The top of the Linux mountain is a lonely, criticism-strewn place. The truth is, this line of thought is partially correct. There isn't much new in 15.04, at least not in terms of visible changes to the Unity desktop. But for most users this is a good thing—change doesn't mean better. Frankly, Ubuntu 15.04's Unity desktop is mature, stable, and not really in need of many improvements. There are still some design inconsistencies (mostly GTK3 issues) and small problems here and there, but for the most part 15.04 delivers a great desktop experience. Those clamoring for big changes will have to wait. But more than likely, when those seismic shifts coming in Unity 8 arrive around this time next year, these same people will be reminiscing fondly about 15.04. Everyone will forget they once found this release "boring."' -- source: http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/05/05/ubuntu-15-04-revie… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

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Google’s Dart language on Android aims for Java-free, 120 FPS apps
by Peter Reutemann 03 May '15

03 May '15

"Non-game Android apps are normally written in Java, but a group inside Google is experimenting with a whole new way of writing Android apps using Dart, Google's in-house Web development language. It's Android apps with no Java, a focus on speed, and deep integration with the Web." -- source: http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/05/01/googles-dart-language-on-android-… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

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New Multi-Core Raspberry Pi 2 Launches
by Peter Reutemann 01 May '15

01 May '15

'Coming in at the same $35 price-point that has come to be expected from the Raspberry Pi, it looks like the new Model 2 will be packing a quad-core ARM processor with a GB of RAM. From the article: "The Raspberry Pi Foundation is likely to provoke a global geekgasm today with the surprise release of the Raspberry Pi 2 Model B: a turbocharged version of the B+ boasting a new Broadcom BCM2836 900MHz quad-core system-on-chip with 1GB of RAM – all of which will drive performance "at least 6x" that of the B+."' -- source: http://build.slashdot.org/story/15/02/02/0134211 And also in the news: "Microsoft Announces Windows For Raspberry Pi 2 Microsoft is expanding their Windows Developer Program for Internet of Things by delivering a version of Windows 10 that runs on the Raspberry Pi 2. This release of Windows 10 will be free for the maker community through the Windows Developer Program for IoT. With an official partnership with the Raspberry Pi Foundation, Microsoft is bringing development tools, services and ecosystem to the Raspberry Pi community. More details will be shared in the coming months. You can already join the program and be amongst the first to receive product information and beta software releases." -- source: http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/15/02/02/1326225 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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Spam-blasting malware infects thousands of Linux and FreeBSD servers
by Peter Reutemann 30 Apr '15

30 Apr '15

"Several thousand computers running the Linux and FreeBSD operating systems have been infected over the past seven months with sophisticated malware that surreptitiously makes them part of a renegade network blasting the Internet with spam, researchers said Wednesday. The malware likely infected many more machines during the five years it's known to have existed." -- source: http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/04/30/spam-blasting-malware-infects-th… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

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The Top 11 Best Linux Distros for 2015
by Peter Reutemann 30 Apr '15

30 Apr '15

"Linux is omnipresent, even if you don't realize it. I have been using Linux as my only OS since 2005 and with every passing year I come to realize that it has much more to offer than I initially, back in 2005, understood. There is something for everyone. In this article, I have picked some of the best Linux distros to help you get the job done." -- source: http://www.linux.com/news/software/applications/810295 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174 http://www.data-mining.co.nz/

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