Solid releases from GNOME and Firefox, bad news for custom Android ROM users, and a new container distro from Amazon. Plus Mozilla and KaiOS team up to bring the modern web to feature phones, and the surprising way Microsoft is shipping a Linux kernel. Support Linux Action News Links: Firefox 74 arrives with stricter add-on rules, TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 disabled — Starting with Firefox 74, users will need to take explicit action to install the extensions they want, and will be able to remove previo...
Mar 15, 2020•26 min
Let's Encrypt is forced to revoke customer certificates, the big change coming to FreeNAS, and the trick to running Android on an iPhone. Plus our concerns about Debian's future, and the unfixable Intel flaw announced this week. Support Linux Action News Links: Let’s Encrypt discovers CAA bug, must revoke customer certificates — On Leap Day, Let's Encrypt announced that it had discovered a bug in its CAA (Certification Authority Authorization) code. Let’s Encrypt changes course on certificate re...
Mar 09, 2020•19 min
Bruce Schneier puts his name behind Solid, Firefox starts to roll out DNS over HTTPS as default, and Microsoft's Linux first device ships to customers. Plus a birthday gift to Raspberry Pi users, Collabora comes to mobile, and more. Support Linux Action News Links: Collabora brings smooth editing to Android and iOS — This release fully integrates the iOS and Android apps into our Collabora Office product family. The Story of Collabora Office for Phones Firefox continues push to bring DNS over HT...
Mar 02, 2020•24 min
Microsoft Defender for Linux is in preview, Mozilla's VPN has a secret advantage, and why the community is calling out NPM Inc. Plus a new report about open source security, and more. Support Linux Action News Links: Microsoft: Linux Defender antivirus now in public preview — We're aiming to protect the modern workplace environment across everything that it is, being Microsoft or non-Microsoft. Microsoft Threat Protection stops attack sprawl and auto-heals enterprise Microsoft's Word, Excel and ...
Feb 24, 2020•28 min
The week was packed with major project releases, we go through each of them and tell you what stands out. Plus an update from Essential, and NetBSD's first big ask in ten years. Support Linux Action News Links: KDE Plasma 5.18 Released KDE Plasma 5.18 LTS Released, This is What's New MATE 1.24 released OpenShot 2.5.0 Released — Perhaps one of the most exciting changes in OpenShot 2.5.0 is our experimental support for hardware acceleration. OpenShot Video Editor Just Got a Massive Update Firefox ...
Feb 17, 2020•16 min
Why we're disappointed in the CoreOS Container Linux transition, Mycroft goes troll hunting and the complicated story brewing at the GNU Project. Plus, a few community fundraisers. Support Linux Action News Links: End-of-life announcement for CoreOS Container Linux — We know this timeline is aggressive. We've tried to provide the longest possible migration period consistent with our ability to maintain the OS Glass Enterprise Edition 2 now available for developers Mycroft's Position on Patent Tr...
Feb 10, 2020•23 min
The upcoming Linux kernels are packed full of goodies, Qt changes its licensing terms, and Thunderbird gets a new home. Plus our thoughts on IBM's CEO stepping down, and Google's new open-source security key project. Support Linux Action News Links: Qt offering changes 2020 — Moving forward, Qt Long-Term Support (LTS) releases will be restricted to commercial customers. Use our stuff for free and sell your application? That's Qt. Qt LTS Releases To Be Restricted To Commercial Customers About “Qt...
Feb 03, 2020•22 min
The real reason Rocket League is dropping support for Linux, Wine has a massive release, and the potential for Canonical's new Android in the cloud service. Plus, our take on the FSF's Upcycle Windows 7 campaign, and the clever Chrome OS strategy upgrade for education in 2020. Support Linux Action News Links: Rocket League will drop support for Mac, Linux versions in March | Ars Technica — Change comes eight months after Epic Games acquired the game's creators. Update on Refunds for macOS and Li...
Jan 27, 2020•27 min
Nextcloud's new release is so big it gets a rebrand, why Mozilla had a round of lay-offs, and the real possibility of Steam coming to Chrome OS. Plus, the sad loss of a community member, and more. Support Linux Action News Links: Peppermint project lead Mark Greaves has passed away. — His contributions to both Peppermint and to the desktop Linux world as a whole are incalculable and he will be sorely missed. Mozilla lays off 70 as it waits for new products to generate revenue — Mozilla has a str...
Jan 20, 2020•22 min
Are we overloaded with open source licenses? We consider a simpler future. Results from the Debian init vote are in, and why Amazon's new open source project might be worth checking out. Plus, our reaction to Google's search ballot scheme launch. Support Linux Action News Links: Bruce Perens quits Open Source Initiative amid row over new data-sharing crypto license — Distributed app platform's proposed agreement 'isn't freedom respecting,' he says Debian Developers Decide On Init System Diversit...
Jan 13, 2020•22 min
It's our annual predictions episode. We review how we did in 2019, and then set out to predict what we think will happen in 2020. Support Linux Action News
Jan 05, 2020•31 min
We review the major moments of the year's news, and discuss how they impacted our world. Support Linux Action News Links: Amazon takes aim at MongoDB with launch of Mongo-compatible DocumentDB MongoDB "open-source" Server Side Public License rejected Redis Labs raises $60 million for its NoSQL database Redis Labs changes its open-source license — again Keeping Open Source Open – Open Distro for Elasticsearch Chef goes 100% open source Google jumps into gaming with Google Stadia streaming service...
Dec 29, 2019•25 min
Canonical releases a "mini-cloud" on your workstation, the KDE ecosystem has some big news, and the smart home might have just become more open. Plus Firefox's new DoH partner, and signs of life from the Atari VCS. Support Linux Action News Links: Firefox adds 2nd DoH partner — Program Committing to Data Retention and Transparency Requirements that Respect User Privacy Apple, Google, and Amazon are teaming up to develop an open-source smart home standard Amazon, Apple, Google, and the Zigbee All...
Dec 22, 2019•27 min
The first desktop Office 365 app arrives, Ubuntu commits to current and future Raspberry Pi boards, and why the near-term future of Linux gaming looks a bit rocky. Plus, our concerns with Google's clever long-term Fuchsia strategy. Support Linux Action News Links: Microsoft Teams is now available on Linux — Starting today, Microsoft Teams is available for Linux users in public preview, enabling high quality collaboration experiences for the open source community at work and in educational instit...
Dec 16, 2019•32 min
Ubuntu Pro is a click away, and their kernel goes rolling on AWS. We process the range of announcements, while Mozilla cranks up the security and impresses us with DeepSpeech. Plus why Ubuntu is taking the Windows Subsystem for Linux so seriously. Support Linux Action News Links: Canonical announces Ubuntu Pro for Amazon Web Services — New premium Ubuntu images with extended security, kernel live patching and more Introducing the Ubuntu AWS Rolling Kernel Canonical Announces "Ubuntu Pro" For AWS...
Dec 09, 2019•30 min
We share Mozilla's concerns over Contract for the Web, and try out Kali Linux's new tricks. Also, our thoughts on the new Alexa Voice service coming to low-end IoT devices, and much more. Support Linux Action News Links: Contract for the Web officially launched — Inventor of web calls on governments and firms to safeguard it from abuse and ensure it benefits humanity Tim Berners-Lee launches Google and Facebook-backed plan to fix the web Mozilla and the Contract for the Web State of Mozilla 2018...
Dec 02, 2019•26 min
Google, Mozilla, and GitLab make serious upgrades to their bug bounty programs, insights into Debian's renewed systemd debate, and how Microsoft and IBM are working together to fight patent trolls. Plus our thoughts on LVFS for Chromebooks, and the recent Monero hack. Support Linux Action News Links: Updates to the Mozilla Web Security Bounty Program — To celebrate the 15 years of the 1.0 release of Firefox, we are making significant enhancements to the web bug bounty program. GitLab: We are inc...
Nov 25, 2019•19 min
Docker's surprising news, new nasty Intel vulnerabilities, and why Brave 1.0 changes the game. Plus, our thoughts on the PinePhone BraveHeart limited edition, and Stadia's potentially rocky launch. Support Linux Action News Links: Mirantis acquires Docker Enterprise — Mirantis, a prominent OpenStack and Kubernetes cloud company, has acquired Docker Enterprise product line, developers, and business. What We Announced Today and Why it Matters Docker’s Next Chapter: Advancing Developer Workflows fo...
Nov 18, 2019•32 min
Google steps up support for older Chromebooks, Microsoft Edge is coming to Linux, and the App Defense Alliance teams up to fight Android malware. Plus Google Cardboard goes open source, and a neat machine-learning tool to pull songs apart. Special Guest: Wes Payne. Support Linux Action News Links: Google gives most Chromebooks an extra year of software support — Seven Chromebooks from Lenovo recently had their support lifespan extended, and now Google has updated the EOL date for 135 more models...
Nov 11, 2019•21 min
Fedora arrives from the future, the big players line up behind KernelCI, and researchers claim significant vulnerabilities in Horde. Plus, Google's new dashboard for WordPress and ProtonMail's apps go open source. Support Linux Action News Links: Fedora 31 is officially here! — This release features GNOME 3.34, which brings significant performance enhancements which will be especially noticeable on lower-powered hardware. Fedora Server brings the latest in cutting-edge open source server softwar...
Nov 04, 2019•27 min
GNOME decides to fight, Ubuntu's desktop director steps down, GitLab backs off its telemetry plans, and we've got the data on Google's Project Treble. Plus, the latest Firefox has a new dashboard, and it looks like Disney+ won't work on Linux. Support Linux Action News Links: GNOME files defense against patent troll — Agreeing to this would leave this patent live, and allow this to be used as a weapon against countless others. We will stand firm against this baseless attack, not just for GNOME a...
Oct 27, 2019•42 min
A new Ubuntu has promise, Linux on Dex is dead, and our strong reaction to Google pulling two open-source apps from the Play Store. Plus a big boost for ARM on Linux, and our thoughts on recent Red Hat news. Support Linux Action News Links: Ubuntu 19.10 Released — Ubuntu 19.10 “Eoan Ermine” boasts an upgraded Linux kernel along with faster boot times, updated themes, and experimental ZFS file system support. Whether or not you upgrade, Ermine shows what to expect from Ubuntu’s next LTS release, ...
Oct 21, 2019•27 min
Richard Stallman's GNU leadership is challenged by an influential group of maintainers, SUSE drops OpenStack "for the customer," and Google claims Stadia will be faster than a gaming PC. Plus OpenLibra aims to save us from Facebook but already has a miss, lousy news for Telegram, and enormous changes for AMP. Support Linux Action News Links: FSF and GNU — GNU decision-making has largely been in the hands of GNU leadership. Since RMS resigned as president of the FSF, but not as head of GNU ("Chie...
Oct 14, 2019•28 min
Microsoft's CEO says Windows doesn't matter anymore, but do we buy it? Nextcloud 17 goes enterprise-grade and the Internet’s horrifying new method for installing Google apps on Huawei phones. Plus, Google finds an Android zero-day in the wild, and the Document Collective's new approach to earn revenue for LibreOffice. Support Linux Action News Links: Nextcloud 17 brings remote wipe, collaborative text editor — This release brings major new improvements, especially around security and team collab...
Oct 07, 2019•27 min
CentOS Stream and 8 have quite a bit for us to talk about, Docker's struggles go public, and the GNOME Foundation is facing a patent fight. Plus the best bit of Android 10 Go, Microsoft gives serious thought to bringing Edge to Linux, and Stallman's role at GNU comes into question. Support Linux Action News Links: CentOS 8 Released — Hello and welcome to the first CentOS-8 release. The CentOS Linux distribution is a stable, predictable, manageable and reproducible platform derived from the sourc...
Sep 30, 2019•22 min
Richard Stallman resigns, we share our thoughts and discuss the future for RMS and the FSF. Plus what systemd-homed is, why Debian is reconsidering init diversity, and some good news for CentOS. Support Linux Action News Links: Richard Stallman resigns from the FSF Richard Stallman resigns from MIT — I am resigning effective immediately from my position in CSAIL at MIT. I am doing this due to pressure on MIT and me over a series of misunderstandings and mischaracterizations. A reflection on the ...
Sep 23, 2019•32 min
Speed is the big story around GNOME 3.34, two new major Firefox security features start to roll out, and we explain the CentOS 8 delay. Plus our thoughts on the PineTime, and more. Support Linux Action News Links: GNOME 3.34 Released — Version 3.34 contains six months of work by the GNOME community and includes many improvements, performance improvements and new features. GNOME 3.34 Released with "Drastically Improved" Responsiveness GNOME Firmware 3.34.0 Release — With the new fwupd 1.3.1 you c...
Sep 16, 2019•25 min
Android 10 has a lot we like while the PinePhone is real and closer than we thought. Plus Red Hat's new desktop strategy, and what we think Mozilla is getting right. Support Linux Action News Links: Welcoming Android 10! — Today we're releasing the Android 10 source code to Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and making it available to the broader ecosystem. We’re also starting the official Android 10 rollout to all three generations of Pixel devices worldwide. Google Releases Android 10 With "Vu...
Sep 09, 2019•25 min
Microsoft continues to prove how much it loves Linux while Google tries to eat their lunch, mixed news from Mozilla, and good stuff from GNOME. Plus Telegram's cryptocurrency is definitely happening. Honest. Special Guest: Wes Payne. Support Linux Action News Links: exFAT in the Linux kernel? Yes! — It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence. To this end, we will be making Microsoft’s technical specification for exFAT publicly...
Sep 02, 2019•20 min
More tools to keep your Linux box and cloud servers secure this week, OpenPOWER responds to Risc-V competition, and we ponder the year-long open-source supply chain attacks. Plus our reaction to Android dropping dessert names, the Confidential Computing consortium, and more. Support Linux Action News Links: Today, 28 years ago Linus Torvalds announced Linux on comp.os.minix. — I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. Syste...
Aug 26, 2019•27 min
