Mar 172015
 

Guest post by Dane O’Leary

Home automation is all the rage. Over the past couple of years, this relatively new gadgetry has grown from a subset of consumer electronics into an extensive and thriving tech industry. Part of what makes home automation so popular is its promise of convenience, security, and its ability to streamline what, until recently, had been disparate, incompatible technology throughout your home. It doesn’t hurt that home automation has become more affordable with many of the available options being versatile, compatible with most products on the market, and just plain cool.

Many home automation systems are based on the Linux operating system. In fact, many of the earliest mainstream home automation systems — like CorAccess Companion and Control4 Home Controller — were developed based on a Linux variant. Today’s models offer built-in processors and much more power, but with a much more accessible price tag. Here are some of the best Linux-based home automation systems that $300 or less can buy.

Continue reading »

Flattr this!

Mar 102015
 

calibreReading books is still one of the most preferred activities by a lot of people, but with ebooks things became even easier. However, if you are an avid reader you do want to make sure that your books are organized efficiently, so this is where the importance of Calibre comes into play.

This application has been created with the main purpose of keeping your books in a single, organized place, but as time has passed, the app has definitely become much more than that. One of the things you will like in Calibre right from the start is the fact that it comes with complete support for a variety of ebook types. No matter if you use an Amazon device such as the Kindle, a Nook, Kobo or Sony based reader, you can easily organize and view the content of these files with ease.

Continue reading »

Flattr this!

Mar 012015
 

Quick, what’s the first thing you think about when you hear the term “Linux”? If your answer is among the lines of “old-fashion complicated-to-use operating system that’s anything but user-friendly”, you’re clearly thinking of what Linux used to be, and not about what Linux is today. You see, Linux has come a long way since the old-days, when you needed to be technically-savvy to use it. Linux has gotten better, faster, and more powerful than ever, and 2015 might just be the year Linux takes a serious swing at Microsoft’s domination when it comes to desktop computers. Here’s why.
Continue reading »

Flattr this!

Feb 232015
 

Not so long ago, the terms “Linux” and “gaming” had nothing in common. In fact, “Linux” didn’t have much in common with pretty much anything else in the field of entertainment, being considered an operating system for highly skilled individuals (which is just a fancy way of saying it was for geeks and nerds only). However, things have changed a lot lately, and not only did Linux bump up its game and became an operating system that’s quite user-friendly and intuitive, but it is also becoming known as a gaming platform, with more and more games being ported to Linux. One such game is Apotheon, a heroic action game you might want to check out.
Continue reading »

Flattr this!

Feb 192015
 

bitdefender-logo

Despite the fact that many might consider Linux as being one of the most secure platforms when it comes to fighting against viruses, the reality is that having a security application for your Linux based computer is very important.

The BitDefender Antivirus Scanner for Unices has been created specifically to protect all persons that run FreeBSD as well as Linux based computers against a variety of threats that might appear in the online world. The application has been designed with versatility and ease of use in mind, and it manages to include complete protection against viruses as well as spyware alike.
Continue reading »

Flattr this!