Mac
Liberating PCs and "Mac"-branded PCs
Submitted by Roy Schestowitz on Wednesday 24th of August 2016 10:23:03 PM Filed under



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Reviving Old Macs Using Linux
All Macintosh computers from about 2006 onwards were made using Intel CPUs and installing Linux on these computers is a breeze. You don’t need to download any Mac specific distro — just choose your favorite distro and install away. About 95 percent of the time you’ll be able to use the 64-bit version of the distro. On CoreDuo Macs, from 2006, you’ll need to use a 32-bit version.
Here is a screencast video I made on a revived Macbook that came into my hands recently. I downloaded Linux Mint 18 Xfce 64-bit ISO, burned it to DVD, inserted it into the Macbook (after the Macbook was turned on) and then booted the Macbook from DVD by holding the the letter “C” (which tells the Mac to boot from the optical drive).
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Linux breathes new life into old Mac computers
Apple is known for its planned obsolescence strategy that encourages customers to upgrade their Macs every so often. This can result in older Macs that can't update to the latest version of macOS, but are still perfectly functional computers that can perform many everyday computing tasks such as web browsing, word processing, image editing, etc.
So what can you do with an older Mac that no longer gets macOS updates? You can install Linux and breathe new life into that old Mac computer. Distributions such as Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora and others offer a way to continue using an older Mac that would otherwise be cast aside.
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The EFF Calls Out Microsoft's Ongoing Bullshit On Windows 10 Privacy Concerns
While Windows 10 is generally well-liked by reviewers and users, it's relatively clear that it's not the OS to choose if you actually want to control how much babbling your OS does over the network. While a lot of complaints about Windows 10 have been proven to be hyperbole or just plain wrong (like it delivers your BitTorrent behavior to Hollywood or it makes use of menacing keyloggers), Windows 10 is annoyingly chatty, sending numerous reports back to Microsoft even when the operating system is configured to be as quiet and private as possible.
While Microsoft has been criticized for this behavior for some time now, the general response out of Redmond has been to tap dance over, under and around most of the key complaints.
Enter the Electronic Freedom Foundation, which last week effectively called on Microsoft to stop bullshitting everybody in terms of what gets collected and why. The EFF does a good job reiterating how Microsoft used malware-esque tactics to get users to upgrade, then once installed, Windows 10 collects user location data, text input, voice input, touch input, web browsing history, and general computing telemetry data, including which programs you run and for how long -- which would be arguably less of an issue if you had full control over how much of this data was collected and funneled back to the Redmond mothership.
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Android vs. iPhone for Business Users: 8 Key Points
Submitted by Roy Schestowitz on Tuesday 16th of August 2016 12:08:28 PM Filed under

Which mobile operating system is best for business? We compare iPhone vs. Android in eight different categories, including hardware, apps, storage, customization, security, backup, management and personal assistant.
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Android Apps Turn Chromebooks Into Macbook Killers
Submitted by Roy Schestowitz on Wednesday 29th of June 2016 06:38:38 AM Filed under

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Android Apps Turn Chromebooks Into Macbook Killers
When Chromebooks launched in the summer of 2011, they seemed destined to fail, much like the underpowered, internet-dependent netbooks that came before them. But in the five years since, Chromebooks have defied expectations, becoming the most used device in US classrooms and even outselling Macs for the first time this year. Still, people complain about their inability to run useful software, but that’s all about to change.
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Android apps could turn Chromebooks into MacBook killers
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Apple Lock-in
Submitted by Roy Schestowitz on Thursday 23rd of June 2016 08:06:51 AM Filed under
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Former Apple engineers' startup wants to help enterprises better manage the cloud
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Ex-Apple employees aim to revolutionize open-source network standards
A team of ex-Apple employees, led by former global data center network manager Jason Forrester, are aiming to overturn the ancient regime of proprietary standards for basic switches and routers and replace it with truly open-source standards that any user can customize.
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A former Apple manager explains why he couldn't deal with the company’s secrecy anymore
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Android vs. iOS: Key Features Android Lacks
Submitted by Rianne Schestowitz on Thursday 16th of June 2016 09:02:48 AM Filed under
Despite the things I feel are missing from Android, I believe it remains the best mobile operating system for my needs. It's got the apps I want, allows me control over my phone and I get to choose my default applications. Perhaps best of all, I get to choose my user interface thanks to launchers like Nova. Toss in the fact that I get to choose my phone hardware vs having it dictated to me and I can't fathom returning to iOS – ever. My needs have simply outgrown it.
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Android vs. iPhone: Pros and Cons
Submitted by Rianne Schestowitz on Monday 9th of May 2016 08:06:05 PM Filed under

Despite its painful shortcomings, Android treats me like an adult. It doesn't lock me into only two methods for backing up my data. Yes, some of Android's limitations are due to the fact that it's focused on letting me choose how to handle my data. But, I also get to choose my own device, add storage on a whim. Android enables me to do a lot of cool stuff that the iPhone simply isn't capable of doing.
At its core, Android gives non-root users greater access to the phone's functionality. For better or worse, it's a level of freedom that I think people are gravitating towards. Now there are going to be many of you who swear by the iPhone thanks to efforts like the libimobiledevice project. But take a long hard look at all the stuff Apple blocks Linux users from doing...then ask yourself – is it really worth it as a Linux user? Hit the Comments, share your thoughts on Android, iPhone or Ubuntu.
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Openwashing of Apple
Submitted by Roy Schestowitz on Tuesday 9th of February 2016 12:10:53 AM Filed under
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iPhone vs Android: Almost Half Of iPhone Users Think Android Phones Are More Advanced
Submitted by Rianne Schestowitz on Friday 5th of February 2016 09:59:32 AM Filed under

Forty-five percent of iPhone users say they believe Android phones are "more advanced" than iPhones, a survey of smartphone owners released Wednesday indicated. Thirty-one percent disagreed while the rest were unsure.
The survey was conducted by OnePulse, a London startup, which surveyed 1,500 iPhone and Android users via its app. Overall, including iPhone and Android users, 40 percent of those surveyed said Android was more advanced than iPhone.
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Why switch to Windows 10 or a Mac when you can use Linux Mint 17.3 instead?
Submitted by Roy Schestowitz on Wednesday 3rd of February 2016 02:16:06 PM Filed under



Yes, I'm serious. I use all the above desktops -- yes I'm a Windows 7 and 10 user as well as a Linux guy -- and for people I think Mint 17.3 makes a great desktop.
I've been using Mint as my main Linux desktop for years now. Unlike some desktops I could name -- cough, Windows 8, cough -- Linux Mint has never had a flop. Every year that goes by, this operating system keeps getting better. The other desktops? Not so much.
Let's take a closer look.at Windows 7 vs. Linux Mint 17.3
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Satire and Prose: Apple and Microsoft
Submitted by Roy Schestowitz on Tuesday 2nd of February 2016 12:23:46 PM Filed under

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[Satire] Jono Bacon urges users to ditch Linux and move to Mac OS X
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Jono Bacon introduces Bad Voltage spin-off Mac Voltage at SCaLE 14x
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Redmond Admits Using Microsoft Supported Windows Is ‘Risky’ [Ed: back doors as standard]
In previous visits to Claude and Jane’s house I had cautioned both of them that if the messages they got for any reason seemed to be pushy or if those messages are telling you that you are in danger of infection, that is more than likely malware designed to get you to click a link. Evidently, Jane had listened. Since the “Upgrade to Windows 10” was a clickable link, she stopped what she was doing and signed out of Windows and booted back into Linux. From those friendly confines she began to do a bit of research as to what malware might be threatening her.
Turns out, she discovered that malware was Windows 10.
She called me to see if I was busy and would I come over and take a look at this for her. She wanted to make sure she was going to be safe in Windows — or as safe as anyone can be in Windows anyway.
Jane had taken it on herself to see what this was all about and in that look around the internet she found what she suspected to be true. Microsoft Windows it seems, is in the business of trying to scare old ladies or anyone else who doesn’t really feel comfortable in a technology environment. When I was able to get over there, she showed me what she had found.
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