FOSS Weekly #25.50: Linux Power Users, Helium Browser, Two New Linux Phones, Ubuntu Starter and More

Last year, I started the "12 days of Tuxmas" series and introduced 12 feature changes, gifts (ebooks) for our readers, to make them get more out of what we do here on It's FOSS, which is to help more people use Linux and explore open source software.

I plan to do it again this year 🎅 I already have a few ideas that I am working on. At the same time, I am also open for ideas from your side. What would you like me to do for this year's Tuxmas? You can reply to this email or leave a comment. I am all pumped up to hear from you🕺

Here's the highlight of this edition of FOSS Weekly:

• A German state saving 15 million euros going the open source way.
• Canonical working towards offering ROCm in Ubuntu.
• AI increasing RAM prices.
• Signs that you have improved as a Linux user.
• GUI search tools compilation.
• Fedora doing away with decades-old kernel console.
• And other Linux news, tips, and, of course, memes!
• This week of FOSS Weekly is supported by AdGuard.

SPONSORED

With AdGuard you get a system-wide Linux ad blocker. Block ads and trackers at the device level, select from pre-installed filters, or add your own. There is also AdGuard apps for Android, iOS, Windows, and Mac. With them, you can block ads in browsers and apps, prevent websites and companies from tracking you, and protect yourself from phishing and malware. AdGuard also speeds up page loading, allows you to manage DNS servers and web requests, and has in-app support.

For Linux users, AdGuard also offers command line interface, like a true geek.

Explore AdGuard

📰 Linux and Open Source News

• Proton has come up with a solid Google Sheets alternative.
• Valve is showing everyone a better way to fund open source.
• A significant drag-and-drop vulnerability has been found in WebKitGTK.
• Calibre eBook reader now lets you chat about your eBooks using local AI.
• Come Fedora 44, the trusty kernel console will be replaced with a safer, modern alternative.
• The Agentic AI Foundation is here to provide neutral governance for developing agentic AI technologies.
• The German state of Schleswig-Holstein is on track to save €15 million each year after ditching Microsoft.
• Canonical is rebuilding the Ubuntu wiki from scratch and has announced a partnership with AMD to bring ROCm to Ubuntu.

And there is a new Linux smartphone in the making.

A Linux-Powered Smartphone That Has Features You Won’t Find on Most Phones

The Divine D. is set to come with LoRa networking, hardware privacy switches, and local AI processing.

It's FOSSSourav Rudra

🧠 What We’re Thinking About

AI is now coming for your PC components and its hunger doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

AI Craze Just Made Your New PC Build Way More Expensive

RAM and SSD prices are skyrocketing as manufacturers prioritize AI servers over consumer PCs.

It's FOSSSourav Rudra

We recently had an insightful chat with Alexander Linton, the President of the Session Technology Foundation.

🧮 Linux Tips, Tutorials, and Learnings

Find files faster on Linux with these powerful search apps!

9 GUI Search Tools for Desktop Linux Users Who Don’t Want to Use Find, Grep and Xargs Commands

Sure you can search in the Linux terminal. And sure, you don’t have to do that if you don’t want too. Use a graphical interface for your comfort.

It's FOSSRoland Taylor

If you love tiny CLI tools, Eget might become your new best friend.

Easily Install Binaries in Linux Terminal With This Tool

Easy way to get binaries from GitHub repositories and install the applications. Learn more about eget.

It's FOSSPulkit Chandak

Discover the five signs that mark the transition from Linux user to power user.

5 Signs You Have Become a Linux Power User

You probably do not even realize how much you have improved since your first day with Linux. Let me remind you of that.

It's FOSSRoland Taylor

And if you know someone who is trying Ubuntu Linux for the first time, please share our Ubuntu starter guide with them. With hundreds of tutorials on Ubuntu, I have compiled some of them in a way that should help a new Ubuntu user start their Linux journey.

Getting Started With Ubuntu

New to Ubuntu? Start here. Learn to use Ubuntu with these tutorials for beginners.

It's FOSSAbhishek Prakash

👷 AI, Homelab and Hardware Corner

A group of people who met on Reddit have now kickstarted a really cool Linux handheld project.

Reddit Strangers Built an Open Source Linux Handheld, And They Want Your Help

A fully modular development tool that you can build, modify, and extend yourself.

It's FOSSSourav Rudra

Seeing that we are on the topic, the Jolla Phone has returned after more than 10 years!

This Could Be The Linux Phone We All Have Been Waiting For

The Jolla Phone returns over a decade after the original 2013 launch.

It's FOSSSourav Rudra

✨ Apps and Projects Highlights

A browser that respects you and your time…

Is Helium the Browser Brave Was Meant to Be?

An in-depth look at ’another new Chromium-based web browser” that is “different from the other Chromium-based web browsers”.

It's FOSSRoland Taylor

Mental Math will make you forget doomscrolling.

📽️ Videos I Am Creating for You

In the latest video, I share a nifty open source software that I have been using for the past 20 years.

💡 Quick Handy Tip

In Nemo file manager, go to Edit → Preferences. Here, in the "Context Menus" section, enable the Duplicate, Copy to, and Move to options. Now you can right-click on a file and either duplicate it, copy it, or move it without needing to use keyboard shortcuts.

🎋 Fun in the FOSSverse

Can you guess the genius minds shown in popular Hollywood movies?

Guess the Genius Minds from the movies

You have probably seen the movies. Can you identify the personalities behind the characters?

It's FOSSAnkush Das

🤣 Meme of the Week: The easiest way to kill a dual-boot system is to update the Windows partition. 😶

🗓️ Tech Trivia: On December 13, 1991, the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC) launched the first website outside Europe, giving physicists direct web access to full-text pre-publication papers in the SPIRES database.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 From the Community: FOSSers are discussing the new BSD 15 release and how the recent RAM price hikes are absurd.

BSD 15 released!

For my fellow FOSS’ers who have any interest in Free BSD, in today’s Code Project Insider’s newsletter, there is an item about the FreeBSD 15.0-RELEASE Announcement. I hope this is helpful, Ernie

It's FOSS Communityernie

A discussion surrounding RAM price hikes and repairability

Over the years I have bought and installed more memory upgrades than I would care to mention. First stop has been either Kingston or Crucial. No préférence, usually price or availability of the product. But just read the price has rocketted by great amount due to all the demands of data centres and AI. So one has decided to stop direct sales After nearly 30 years, Crucial will stop selling RAM to consumers - Ars Technica Just left with Kingston, unless you know or use another ? But also have…

It's FOSS Communitycallpaul.eu (Paul)

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