So you’ve used Linux for years, but have you used it since the 90s? For the few that have, the rest of us must take a bow—you were right; Linux truly is the greatest, and you knew it from the start. But how much do you actually know about its origins? I’ve recorded the oldest distros still in use. 7Red Hat Enterprise Linux (Feb 2000) Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a commercial, subscription-based distro aimed at enterprises that comes bundled with additional support services....

Quick Links Cash App is a popular app that allows you to send and receive money online, but it may not always work properly. There are few things as frustrating as trying to access or send money and not being able to do it. Thankfully, there are a number of easy fixes if Cash App is not working. Restart the App The first thing you should always try when an Android or iPhone app is misbehaving is simply restarting it....

Summary ChatGPT changed the way many people around the world live and work, but those with a keen eye on model cadence have noticed it’s slowed down as of late. What’s going on with LLM development, and are we headed for an AI dark age in 2025 and beyond? ChatGPT: A Timeline When OpenAI launched its first public model, ChatGPT 3.5, in November 2022, it took the search and AI industries by storm....

Quick Links Summary The Arch Linux AUR repository contains community-driven software that’s safe to use if you take some simple precautions. Even if you don’t understand shell scripting, there are indicators that you can use to judge whether a package is safe or not. The AUR is one of the jewels in the crown of Arch Linux, providing thousands of additional software packages. But is this user-driven repository safe to use, or should you avoid it?...

Summary If you keep using your Nintendo Switch when it won’t charge, it eventually won’t turn on at all. This is possibly the result of an issue with its battery. However, before you buy a new battery for your Switch, you should take a close look and do some troubleshooting. Why Your Nintendo Switch Won’t Charge (or Turn On) There are a number of reasons your Switch refuses to charge that could lead toyour Nintendo Switch being unable to turn on....

Quick Links When we buy TVs, we try to get the biggest that we can afford. It stands to reason that bigger screens are better for watching videos. Yet time and again, I end up watching more on one of the smallest screens I own. TVs and Tablets Aren’t There When I Want Them We don’t have, nor do I want, a TV in every room. I grew up in that kind of home, and it isn’t for me anymore....

Liquid water on Earth is the reason humans can thrive on this planet. If we ever want to colonize the stars beyond our home world, we’ll need to find water out there. But that’s not the only reason finding water in space is so important. Water also informs our understanding of the great beyond. Water is Required For All Known Forms of Life Admittedly, humans are only aware of the forms of life we have discovered....

Summary Take a look at any science lab, and you might notice that the desktops and laptops scattered around the room are running Linux. Why is Linux so popular among scientists? Here are a few reasons why. Science Values Open Source Code The scientific world values cooperation. Read any scientific journal article, and you’ll often find that papers have multiple authors. Researchers frequently collaborate all over the world. Academic scientists pride themselves on their willingness to share information, both with each other and with the wider world....

Quick Links Why buy anew computerwhen the one you have just needs a little spring cleaning and some inexpensive upgrades to give you many more years of service? Here are some easy tips and tricks to rejuvenate your old PC. Is Upgrading an Old PC or Laptop Worth It? If you read tech publications or spend time on computer-centric forums, it seems like the topic of conversation is mostly focused on what’s new, what’s the best, and general chatter replacing old gear with something new....

If you’re still waiting for the Year of the Linux desktop, give up. Linux is never going to threaten Windows’ desktop share. The good news is, for Linux, that’s a pointless metric. The Myth of the Year of the Linux Desktop 2024 wasn’t the fabled Year of the Linux desktop and, spoiler alert, neither will 2025. Globally, Linux only just breaks thefour percent markof desktop operating systems. Linux will never threaten Windows’ dominance of the desktops....

Summary Mainline Pokémon games are excellent, but they’ve always been formulaic: pick a starter Pokémon, beat eight gyms and the Elite Four, and save the world. After a while, a Pokémon trainer needs something fresh. That’s where Pokémon ROM hacks come in. These ROM hacks are modified versions of Pokémon titles, where talented individuals have changed the code to make it their own—mixing elements of different games, changing plot lines, and, in some cases, building entirely new regions....

Adobe has just released a major new update for its Acrobat viewer and editor that adds ‘Acrobat Studio,’ a new platform that combines the PDF app with Adobe Express' creation features. It turns Acrobat into an AI-powered database and creation tool using your piles of PDF files. The new Acrobat Studio comes with a feature called PDF Spaces, which are work environments that let you turn a collection of PDFs, websites, and other files into “conversational knowledge hubs”....

Quick Links After years of waiting,Apple TV+finally has anative app for Android phones and tablets, and it’s a great start for those wanting to watch shows likeSeveranceon the go. That said, there are some features that I hope come to the app soon to make it even better. 5InSight One ofApple TV+’s most nifty features is InSight, which gives information about the actors, characters, and music on-screen at that specific moment....