Posts published in “Software”

Open Source Bionics Promise: Affordably Make Lives Better

By Phil Shapiro on June 14, 2016 |

Open Source Bionics Promise: Affordably Make Lives Better

We already know that open source gives us better and more secure software. But with the advent of 3D printing, the open source model shows even more meaningful promise in areas like open source bionics.

The Video Screening Room

Learn about the promise and economically disrupting effect of 3D printed prosthetics in this short, engaging video about open bionics.

Phil Shapiro

For the past 10 years, Phil has been working at a public library in the Washington D.C.-area, helping youth and adults use the 28 public Linux stations the library offers seven days a week. He also writes for MAKE magazine, Opensource.com and TechSoup Libraries. Suggest videos by contacting Phil on Twitter or at pshapiro@his.com.

Microsoft to Acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion

Microsoft to Acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 Billion

By Christine Hall on June 13, 2016 |

Business, Internet, News, Social Networks and Software

With today’s announcement of Microsoft’s planned purchase of LinkedIn, it appears that the business oriented social site will soon become a platform for connecting with Redmond’s proprietary products.

Are you ready for MS LinkedIn? Too bad. It’s coming. Today Microsoft announced in a press release that it’s purchasing the social network for $196 per share in an all-cash deal worth $26.2 billion. Although the sale will require shareholder approval, that’s evidently not going to be a problem.

According to a PDF presentation posted by Microsoft, LinkedIn’s board has unanimously recommended the deal and the social site’s board chairman, co-founder and controlling shareholder, Reid Hoffman, is supporting the transaction and intends to vote his shares “in accordance with the Board’s recommendation.” The deal is expected to be completed by year’s end.

Christine Hall

Christine Hall has been a journalist since 1971. In 2001, she began writing a weekly consumer computer column and started covering Linux and FOSS in 2002 after making the switch to GNU/Linux. Follow her on Twitter: @BrideOfLinux

FOSSForce.com

Software Freedom Conservancy’s Karen Sandler On FOSS and the IoT

By Phil Shapiro on June 10, 2016 |

Hardware, Software and Video

As an increasing number of our devices become connected to the Internet, Karen Sandler explains, the openness of open source becomes more important than ever.

The Video Screening Room

A fascinating interview conducted by Jenn Webb at this year’s OSCON with Karen Sandler, open source evangelist and executive director of the Software Freedom Conservancy, was uploaded to YouTube this week. These thoughts of hers really hit home — “We’re only as safe as our weakest leak…. With the Internet of Things, all the software that seems not-so-critical is becoming critical — because everything talks to each other and interacts with each other. And so free and open source software has never been so important.”

Phil Shapiro

Bruce Byfield Talks ‘Designing With LibreOffice’

Bruce Byfield designing with LibreOffice

Bruce Byfield Talks ‘Designing With LibreOffice’

By Robin "Roblimo" Miller on June 9, 2016 |

Interview, Software and Video

Byfield’s thoughtful book on design using LibreOffice can help improve the quality of both online and print material you create with LibreOffice — or even…

Using Inkscape in Cartography

By Phil Shapiro on June 7, 2016 |

Software, Tutorial and Video

There are literally thousands of practical uses for the free and open source Inkscape vector graphics editor. Here, we get a glimpse at how mapmakers can use it in combination with another FOSS tool.

The Video Screening Room

Michele Tobias, an environmental scientist with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, gave a fascinating talk last month at the FOSS4G North America conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. She spoke about cartography and Inkscape, explaining the process of bringing GIS (geographic information systems) software data into Inkscape. Her tips and insights are available for all to learn from in this YouTube video. Viewing this video, you not only learn some GIS, you learn some Inkscape features too.

Phil Shapiro

ownCloud Forked as Nextcloud & More…

By Christine Hall on June 4, 2016 |

Distros, Gaming, Software and Web Apps

Also included: Four new distros, the quote of the week, Steam Machine lacks steam, Ubuntu’s tool for making Snaps, and ArchAssault changes its name.

FOSS Week in Review

The week ahead looks exciting. Again this year, I’ll be going to the SouthEast LinuxFest and will be turning in reports from the conference. Also, FOSS Force will have a booth at this year’s event, a first for us at any conference. So if you’re going to be there, remember to keep an eye out for us.

Meanwhile, it’s been an interesting week in the world of FOSS…

Christine Hall

FOSSForce.com

FOSS and Grits With Southern Fried Linux

FOSS and Grits With Southern Fried Linux

By Christine Hall on June 3, 2016 |

Community, Operating Systems and Software

There’s a component to the SouthEast LinuxFest that’s not seen at most other free and open source conferences, as the conference seeks to celebrate not only FOSS, but Southern culture as well.

The SouthEast LinuxFest is the conference that dares to be different. That’s because along with “Linux” and “FOSS,” “hospitality” is always a keyword at SELF, which will get cranked up next Friday, June 10. Hospitality — as in the “bless your heart” version known as “southern hospitality” — is sure to be on full display. That’s a given.

I point this out not for the benefit of good ol’ boy or girl FOSSers who call the Southeast home — ’cause y’all already know — but for those who live outside the area who might not be aware that SELF allows attendees the chance to not only be immersed in the culture of free and open source software, but in the culture of the New South as well.

The folks at SELF like to call this mixture of free tech with southern culture the “Gnu South.” Clever, eh? And to make sure that everybody has the opportunity to get some learnin’ about all things southern, the team behind the event always includes some southern fried extras to help you experience some of our culture while you’re here.

Christine Hall

FOSSForce.com

Building an Artificial Pancreas Using a Raspberry Pi

By Phil Shapiro on May 20, 2016 |

Hardware, Software and Video

The Video Screening Room

DIY health care is here. Open source is providing the ways and means for amazing and affordable advances, like an artificial pancreas built using a Raspberry Pi, and letting people take charge of their health care in the process.

If you love open source, you’re going to love browsing thru the many OSCON 2016 videos being uploaded to YouTube. The one I found most fascinating is this short clip in which Dana Smith explains about an artificial pancreas built using a Raspberry Pi.

Phil Shapiro

SourceForge Tightens Security With Malware Scans

SourceForge Tightens Security With Malware Scans

By FOSS Force on May 17, 2016 |

Business, News, Security and Software

After taking down the controversial DevShare program in early February, the new owners of popular software repository, SourceForge, have begun scanning all projects it hosts for malware in an attempt to regain trust that was lost by Dice Holdings, the site’s previous owners.

It appears as if the new owners at SourceForge are serious about fixing the mistakes made by the site’s previous owners. FOSS Force has learned that as of today, the software repository used by many free and open source projects is scanning all hosted projects for malware. Projects that don’t make the grade will be noticeably flagged with a red warning badge located beside the project’s download button.

According to a notice posted on the SourceForge website this afternoon, the scans look for “adware, viruses, and any unwanted applications that may be intentionally or inadvertently included in the software package.” Account holders with projects flagged as containing malware will be notified by SourceForge.

Learning OpenToonz the Easy Way

Learning OpenToonz the Easy Way

By Phil Shapiro on May 17, 2016 |

Software, Tutorial and Video

The Video Screening Room

Especially when dealing with a visual art, it might be easier to see how it’s done rather than read about it.

Some of the OpenToonz animation software tutorials being uploaded to YouTube are excellent. I’m fond of Phil Ray’s explainer videos — especially this one.

Phil Shapiro

PayPal’s Failure an Opportunity for FOSS Money Apps?

PayPal’s Failure an Opportunity for FOSS Money Apps?

By Christine Hall on May 16, 2016 |

Business, Operating Systems, Reviews and Software

What started off as a quest to evaluate FOSS money management apps ended up revealing an issue with PayPal that plagues even highly funded proprietary money management programs running on that other operating system.

This is both a review and a complaint, which often seems to go hand in hand in the tech world.

I’ve been looking for a financial management app recently. Since I closed a bricks and mortar store back in 2012 — after eight years it became yet another victim of the 2007 recession — I’ve been letting my business and personal bank accounts, along with my PayPal account, sort themselves out separately. Business has improved a bit recently, and the time has come to once again put all of my accounting eggs in the same basket, so to speak.

My plan was supposed to be easy, but you know what they say about well laid plans.

Christine Hall

FOSSForce.com

All Things Open AI

The Linux Foundation Member Summit

Open Networking and Edge Summit

RIoT Developer Day

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon Europe 2025

Posts published in “Software”

Open Source Bionics Promise: Affordably Make Lives Better

We already know that open source gives us better and more secure software. But with the advent of 3D printing, the open source model shows even more meaningful promise in areas like open source bionics.

The Video Screening Room

Software Freedom Conservancy’s Karen Sandler On FOSS and the IoT

As an increasing number of our devices become connected to the Internet, Karen Sandler explains, the openness of open source becomes more important than ever.

The Video Screening Room

Bruce Byfield Talks ‘Designing With LibreOffice’

Using Inkscape in Cartography

There are literally thousands of practical uses for the free and open source Inkscape vector graphics editor. Here, we get a glimpse at how mapmakers can use it in combination with another FOSS tool.

The Video Screening Room

ownCloud Forked as Nextcloud & More…

Also included: Four new distros, the quote of the week, Steam Machine lacks steam, Ubuntu’s tool for making Snaps, and ArchAssault changes its name.

FOSS Week in Review

FOSS and Grits With Southern Fried Linux

There’s a component to the SouthEast LinuxFest that’s not seen at most other free and open source conferences, as the conference seeks to celebrate not only FOSS, but Southern culture as well.

Building an Artificial Pancreas Using a Raspberry Pi

The Video Screening Room

DIY health care is here. Open source is providing the ways and means for amazing and affordable advances, like an artificial pancreas built using a Raspberry Pi, and letting people take charge of their health care in the process.

SourceForge Tightens Security With Malware Scans

After taking down the controversial DevShare program in early February, the new owners of popular software repository, SourceForge, have begun scanning all projects it hosts for malware in an attempt to regain trust that was lost by Dice Holdings, the site’s previous owners.

Learning OpenToonz the Easy Way

The Video Screening Room

Especially when dealing with a visual art, it might be easier to see how it’s done rather than read about it.

PayPal’s Failure an Opportunity for FOSS Money Apps?

What started off as a quest to evaluate FOSS money management apps ended up revealing an issue with PayPal that plagues even highly funded proprietary money management programs running on that other operating system.