Practical Technology

for practical people.

May 16, 2012
by sjvn01
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Chrome 19: The Best Web browser just keeps getting better

better and better. The just released Chrome 19 is a perfect example of this.

Besides fixing a slew of security problems, Chrome 19’s niftiest new feature is tab syncing. Chrome has long given you the power to sync your bookmarks, apps, extensions, history, themes, and other settings. Now, you can sync your open tabs as well between computers, and if you’re lucky enough to have an Android smartphone with Ice Cream Sandwich, which supports the beta Chrome for Android, you can sync them with your phone as well.

Here’s how it works. When you’re signed in to Google, your open tabs are automatically synced across all your devices. To get to them, simply open a new tab on your browser and on the bottom left there’s an “Other devices” menu on the center-left of the bottom of the page. From it, you can see all your other Chrome sessions and their open tabs. Want to open one on tabs from say your work computer? Just click on it and you’re on way.

This is neat. This makes it easier than ever to never lose track of what you were doing in your various browsers.

Chrome 19: The Best Web browser just keeps getting better. More >

May 16, 2012
by sjvn01
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Google to centralize Android development and sales

For all its popularity, Android programming, sales, and marketing has been… chaotic. Every hardware vendor makes its own Android mix, which more often than not is based on an older version, and each company sales and markets their smartphones and tablets independently of each other. That may be changing now. According to a Wall Street Journal report, “Google is shifting its strategy for its Android mobile operating system, in a bid to create a united front with smartphone and tablet makers to take on rivals like Apple and prevent wireless carriers from controlling the devices.”

Wall Street Journal reporter, Amir Efrati reports that “Google plans to give multiple mobile-device makers early access to new releases of Android and to sell those devices directly to consumers, said people familiar with the matter.” In the past, Google would pick a single vendor to introduce major Android updates in lead devices, and then all the other vendors would follow. These devices were then, as now, sold to end-users through wireless carriers or retail outlets.

By the holiday season though, there were be as many as five manufacturers creating a portfolio of “Nexus” lead devices that include smartphones and tablets. While the old sales channels will still be there, Google will sell the gadgets directly to consumers in the U.S., Europe and Asia via its website. These will run on be running Google’s next version of Android, Jelly Bean.

Google to centralize Android development and sales. More >

May 15, 2012
by sjvn01
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Linux at 21: A new Linux Foundation t-shirt contest

The Linux Foundation, in honor of Linux’s 21st birthday is having another t-shirt competition. So, if you really love Linux, can make cool t-shirt designs (That leaves me right out), then this contest is for you!

This year the theme is “Inspired by Linux” and calls on people from around the world to create a design with that in mind.

You can find the complete rules here, but to cut to the chase, it needs to be an original design.

Linux at 21: A new Linux Foundation t-shirt contest. More >

May 15, 2012
by sjvn01
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Red Hat celebrates 10 years of Red Hat Enterprise Linux

In 2002, Red Hat was perhaps the biggest of the Linux distributors, but the biggest? SUSE and Caldera–before its went over to the dark side and became Darth SCO–were also contenders for the top spot. Behind them, now struggling Linux companies such as Mandriva and deceased businesses Progeny Linux, which tried to take Debian Linux to market, were also potential players. Then, ten-years ago, Red Hat completed the move, which would take it from first among equals to being corporate Linux’s top dog: the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) to being the first billion-dollar pure open-source play company.

Today, Paul Cormier, Red Hat’s president of products and technologies said in a statement that “Red Hat is thankful to the worldwide Linux community and all our partners, and is proud to recognize the achievements we’ve made with Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Building on the last decade, today Red Hat enables the most advanced IT environments in organizations that offer products and services that truly enhance the way we work and live. Red Hat Enterprise Linux is a great example of making disruptive technology an industry standard.”

Indeed it has, but back when Red Hat first made its “disruptive” move, many Linux fans hated Red Hat’s change in direction. They did so because at the same time Red Hat was launching RHEL, it was closing down its low-end Linux distribution: Red Hat Linux (RHL)

Red Hat celebrates 10 years of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. More >

May 15, 2012
by sjvn01
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Will the Google Chrome Web browser come to Apple’s iPads and iPhones?

Macquarie (USA) Equities Research, a global provider of banking, financial, advisory, investment and funds management services, is speculating that Google will be bringing its popular Chrome Web browser to Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod iOS. Will Google do this? And, perhaps the more important question, “Will Apple let them do this?”

Macquarie’s analysts argue that Google will release a version of the Chrome Web browser for iOS. They see Chrome on iOS sometime in 2012 and as early as June 2012.

Why would Google do it? Well, the reason that immediately pops into my head is market-share. Macquarie spells it out in more detail.

Will the Google Chrome Web browser come to Apple’s iPads and iPhones? More >

May 14, 2012
by sjvn01
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Fedora 17 & GNOME 3.4: Return to a useful Linux desktop (Review)

I have been using Fedora, Red Hat’s community Linux distribution, since day one back in September 2003 when Red Hat split its commercial Linux, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). Back then, people hated Red Hat for this move, but businesses soon learned to love RHEL and Linux fans grew to love Fedora. But, then along came GNOME 3.x, Fedora’s default desktop choice, and it all changed.

GNOME 3.2, which was Fedora 16’s desktop, was dreadful. You don’t have to trust me on that though, just ask Linus Torvalds, Linux’s founder. He hated GNOME 3.2.

That was then. This is now. Fedora 17, with the ungainly name Beefy Miracle-no I’m not making that up, that really is its name-is now in late beta and it’s much better than it was.

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