Microsoft is nearing the finish line with the 2.0 releases of both the Windows and Mac OS X versions of its Silverlight competitor to Adobe Flash. by Mary Jo Foley
Putting a Linux Shine on Chrome
Sep 29, 2008 in
Software
A group of developers has raced to market with Linux and Mac versions of Google’s Chrome web browser. But does it work?
uTorrent for Mac leaks into Pirate Bay
Sep 29, 2008 in
Software
Get your Cocoa-based client here
A rough alpha version of BitTorrent client uTorrent for the Mac has tipped up on The Pirate Bay website.…
Why did you make the switch to Linux?
Sep 26, 2008 in
Linux
Lifehacker.com recently asked its readers why they chose Linux, and published some of the reasons and comments made by users. Of course, I thought this was a pretty good idea, and decided to steal it (with due credit!). I’ve included the poll below, but feel free to expand upon your answers in the comments.
I’ll start by saying that I’ve been exploring Linux (can’t say I’ve really “switched” since I use both my Windows OS and Mac on a daily basis) mostly just to have one more alternative. I’m not the geekiest person in the word, but I do like to feel like I’ve got a handle on what’s out there and learn a little more about the tools I use. And since my husband keeps up with all the newest tech stuff, I don’t want to meet his conversation with blank stares.
Take a moment to reflect on why you chose/tried Linux in the first place. Can you remember back that far? I know some of you have been bashing and forking since the cradle! It might also be fun to recount your “last straw” moment before you downloaded that first distribution.
Why did you decide to try Linux?
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Multimedia complications are a well-worn complaint with Linux users who have to figure out which hoops to jump through to get decent sound and video playback for all their movies and music. Ubuntu has made a couple of deals to offset these problems (more accurately, Canonical, Ltd., Ubuntu’s commercial sponsor), particularly for users who download Ubuntu for free, rather than buying the boxed version at BestBuy. The two software vendors are Cyberlink, which provides the DVD player application, and Fluendo, which offers audio codecs for Windows Media formats. Both of these packages will be made available in the Ubuntu store for “one-click” installation, and of course, a price. According to Canonical’s marketing manager, Gerry Carr in NetworkWorld’s report:
“We’re never going to make you pay for anything that is fundamental to the operating system. You do need this to play DVDs. You do need this to play certain types of audio. We are not diametrically opposed to anyone selling software to add on for Ubuntu users. We will be adding additional software to that store as we can. It’s entirely optional. It’s building that ecosystem.”
While I think Canonical is simply doing what it has to do to smooth over the experience for its users, it is unfortunate that once you buy your DVD or your music — I mean, it’s yours — you then have to turn around any pay again for the privilege of actually being able to watch or listen to it the way you want. That’s really annoying; in fact, it seems downright wrong.
On to other testy subjects, Ubuntu users and developers have been frothing at the mouth over Mozilla’s EULA, included in the newest build of Firefox, version 3.0.1. The latest word, after both Canonical CEO Mark Shuttleworth and Mozilla have been trying to smooth the waters, is that “Mozilla has admitted making a mistake and said it will strip the legalese from the browser’s next update,” according to the article in NetworkWorld.
Now if you really want to skip the Firefox controversy, you can download Codeweaver’s CrossOver “Chromium,” a port of Google Chrome, that does not require Windows XP or Vista to run. Google is still working on its version of the Chrome browser for Mac and Linux platforms. The downloadsquad notes:
Although CrossOver Chromium works, please note that this is not intended to be used as a default browser. CodeWeaver’s website even states that this is just “a proof of concept, for fun, and to showcase what Wine can do.”
I doubt that anyone here would really plan to make Chrome, much less Chromium, their default browser quite yet, but if you’re just looking to play around with it, you can download Chromium here.
