Aristotle said: “If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development.”. I don’t know if this statement is completely true, but surely when talking about internet, it is (at least) interesting to know how this vital tool (for many of us) was born and developed to what is today. So here is IMO the simplest and well explained version of the history of the internet (having over 1 million views on youtube):

Read more

I’m sure that many of you noticed that Google has a new favicon. On their blog, you can find an anouncement aboutthis change. At the end of the article, the VP of the Search Products and User Experience department writes:

“We hope you like the new favicon, which nicely integrates all of our original criteria: distinctive in shape, noticeable, colorful, timeless, and scalable to other sizes.”

Well, I’m not an expert in design, but … it’s just me, or this new design is far away from Google’s “original criteria” as it is perceived by us, the users. Is’nt Google about simplicity, and eficienty? Think about their website. Can you describe it as being “colorful”? Is this somehow complex and color-packed favicon a fit symbol for Google? What do you think?

View Poll

Here is a list with the most used torrent clients for Linux. While a few other exists and are listed elsewhere, I think the software presented here represents the big players, and a wide range of interfaces and features. I’m just sharing, I don’t profess to be an expert. Anyway, I hope this list will be of help to you in choosing a better torrent client.

Azureus (now Vuze)

The most future rich torrent client for Linux, but being based on Java, is also a memory and performance hogger.

“Azureus implements the BitTorrent protocol using java language and comes bundled with many invaluable features for both beginners and advanced users” read more…

“Woopra is the world’s most comprehensive, information rich, easy to use, real-time Web tracking and analysis application. And it’s free!“  This is how the guys behind Woopra are describing their product.

Here are some of the application’s futures:

• live tracking and web statistics
• rich user interface
• real time analytics
• manage multiple blogs and websites
• deep analytic and search capabilities
• click to chat
• visitor and member tagging

Find more about this tool, on Pavs review: Woopra: Web Analytics Desktop Client for Linux.

Mr. Stephen Fry , introduces you to free software and reminds you of a very special birthday.

What is Free Software? This is how gnu defines it:

“Free software” is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of “free” as in “free speech”, not as in “free beer”.

Free software is a matter of the users’ freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

• The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
• The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.

The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).

I have compiled a list with the most useful websites about Linux (the distro specific sites are not included). They are great resources you can learn from or to find answer to your linux questions. These should be in any linux user bookmarks, so go ahead and look through these links and bookmark your favorite ones:

1)www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux

Provides information on Linux, Linux resources, and Linux development.

2)www.howtogeek.com

Includes help, tutorials, tips and how-to guides for Linux.

3)www.linuxquestions.org

LinuxQuestions.org offers a free Linux forum where Linux newbies can ask questions and Linux experts can offer advice. Topics include security, installation, networking and much more.

4)www.tldp.org

The Linux Documentation Project is working
towards developing free, high quality documentation for the Linux operating
system. The overall goal of the LDP is to collaborate in all of the issues
of Linux documentation.

5)www.linux.org

Comprehensive information and resources about the Linux Operating System.

6)www.linux.com

Our goal is to provide all the information necessary to make your use of Linux a success.

7)www.linuxforums.org

The Linux Software Resource, providing Linux Forums, Linux Server Distro info, Linux Training, Linux Help, Articles, Tutorials, News, Downloads and more!

8 )www.lwn.net

Linux Weekly News:Covering the Linux and free software communities since 1998. Provides information from the development community in an objective manner.

9 )www.linuxjournal.com

The monthly magazine of the Linux community, promoting the use of Linux worldwide.

10)www.pendrivelinux.com

Covering how to Install, Boot and Run Linux on a USB Flash Pen Drive.

11)www.fsdaily.com

FSD is a hub for news and articles by and for the free and open source community. FSD is a community driven site where members of the community submit and vote for the stories that they think are important and interesting to them.

12)www.linuxhomenetworking.com

Linux quick fixes for systems administrators, students and professionals. Simple answers when the solution is at the tip of your tongue.

13)www.linuxtoday.com

News related to Open Source software and community.

14)www.tuxmachines.org

Do you waddle the waddle?-Linux guides, tutorials and howtos.

15)www.linuxlinks.com

Comprehensive links to information and resources about the Linux Operating System.

16)www.howtoforge.org

HowtoForge - Linux Howtos and Tutorials.

17)www.lowfatlinux.com

Short tutorials for people who want to learn the basics of using Linux, and thereby Unix, without getting bogged down in too much detail.

18)www.tuxfiles.org

Linux command line tutorials, help and tips for the new Linux users, helping them to get familiar with the Linux command line and shell.

19)www.linux-tutorial.info

The place where you learn Linux. Hundreds of articles, “Test Your Knowledge” quizzes, popup glossary, and much, much more help you learn Linux the easy way.

20)www.linuxcommand.org

LinuxCommand.org is a web site devoted to helping users of legacy operating systems discover the power of Linux.

and…

21)www.linuxplanet.com

LinuxPlanet — a world of premium information for Linux newcomers! We welcome people jumping from Windows and other Operating Systems to the latest sensation based on the Open Source software model.

22) www.ostatic.com

OStatic’s goal is to increase the adoption of Open Source Software by helping users find viable projects and applications that fulfill specific needs

This list is not complete, so if you know other websites, please mention them.

As we approach the launch of Ubuntu 8.10, it’s time to create space for

future plans, and so I’m writing to introduce you to The Jaunty Jackalope.

Jaunty, the code name for what will most likely become Ubuntu 9.04, will

be the focus of our efforts from November through to April next year.

This is the message that Mark Shuttleworth sent it yesterday announcing the codename of the april 2009 Ubuntu release.
What are some of the major goals for these release? Mark stated:

There are some specific goals that we need to meet in Jaunty. One of
them is boot time. We want Ubuntu to boot as fast as possible - both in
the standard case, and especially when it is being tailored to a
specific device. The Jackalope is known for being so fast that it’s
extremely hard to catch, and breeds only when lightning flashes. Let’s
see if we can make booting or resuming Ubuntu blindingly quick.

Another goal is the the blurring of web services and desktop
applications. “Is it a deer? Is it a bunny? Or is it a weblication - a
desktop application that seamlessly integrates the web!” This hare has
legs - and horns - and we’ll be exploring it in much more detail for
Jaunty.

Read the original message here.