Freeware is not the same as free software...

There is the misconception that just because you can get software free of cost, it means that it's free software. This is not the case, free software can cost money and still be free software; while close source source software can be given away.

What make software free software, is not the price. What makes it free software is that the user can freely study the source code, make modifications and distribute the resulting software without any restrictions whatsoever. The price of the software isn't what makes free software, is that fact that there are no restrictions to access it's source code.

When there are restrictions on imposed on the use of software, but it's given away for free, then it's freeware. Freeware can be both, open source or closed source(proprietary) software, since it just means that it's given away for no profit.

Free software can be for profit, if it allows their users free access to their source code to be studied, modified and distributed by users.

It's sad most people don't understand this difference, since proprietary software greatly restricts users freedoms by limiting how they can use software they own. And now more than ever, there is a need to move to free software since it's the best way to keep our freedoms and privacy.

Free software is not something for geeks, or technically proficient people. Free software can be easy to use, and easily accessible for people with any level of technical knowledge. Some examples of how free software that is easy to use are Firefox and Ubuntu, or Android on the mobile realm. The point is, that free software is the best tool people have to protect and enact their freedoms.

The governments has shown how willing is to take our freedoms, and some companies have shown that they are more than willing to help the governments who do so. Free software is the best, and perhaps, the only option to at least keep them at bay.

So, let's start by not confusing free software with freeware.

The importance of privacy...

The data that each individual generates, should belong only to the individual who generates. Thus, each individual should be the one who can access it and how much of it they can see.

Our privacy is based on our control over the data we create. So, we need to keep doing all we can to make sure that our privacy is kept intact. There is no valid reason why our data should be collected and shared without our consent and permission. Every time our data is collected and stored by a third party, we should be made aware of the fact, and our permission should be obtained to do so. If we don't give our permission, out data shouldn't be stored at all.

If the government wants to investigate on us, and gather data the data we have generated, they should always have to have prove that they have a probable cause. As such, if they can't prove a probable cause it should be illegal for the government to do so.

People should be able to presume some level of privacy every where they go, at all times. Each one of us should be at control of our privacy, as such our privacy should be legally protected. If someone takes intruded on it without our permission, or a legally valid motive to do so, we should be able to do something against that.

We all have things that we want to keep for ourselves, and we need to be reasonably confident that we can keep them that way. No all that we keep private is illegal, as such we need to be entitled to privacy.

Critical thinking...

It's sad how much critical thinking is lacking, sometimes as much as common sense it seems. The lack critical thinking brings several problems, the main one being that people just accept what they are told without actually analyzing the information given to them.

The fact that people don't apply critical thinking when they receive new information, means that misinformation, even lies, become accepted by many and continue to be passed on as if they are correct. What can be more problematic, is the fact that when those pieces of information become so rooted in people's mind that are near impossible to change.

One important aspect of critical thinking that needs to be understood, is that when applied correctly the person analyzes the information handed over. It isn't about criticizing the information just because, is filtering to see if it makes sense. In a way, we are compering with the information we already have in order to see if there is something that shouldn't be there or just odd.

If there is, we need to see what jumps us as odd to see why and make the necessary adjustments.

By being critical thinkers, we aren't out there to tell people they are wrong. We are just applying a filter to new ideas and information, in order to keep the those that actually useful to apply later. In many way, it helps us to better ourselves by making sure we are get what we need in order to become better.

It's important that critical thinking becomes an ability given to every person, in order not only to build a better world. But also to give people to become better by their own hand, by being able to know what's good information when they come to it.

Critical thinking is the best tool we can give our children to better themselves, and the world, in the long run.

Curiosity should be cultivated...

Humanity has come as far as it has, because we are curious by nature. We want to know more about the world, the need to look for answers is almost an instinct.

Sadly, somehow that curiosity is hammered out during childhood. We are told not to ask, to conform with a set of answers given to us to memorize. The need to go and seek those answers by ourselves is taken away, we are told that we aren't good enough to do it.

Yet, we need to cultivate that curiosity. Instead of suppressing it, we should be giving our children the tools to look for their own answers in an effective way. Let's make being curious a good thing, something to be proud of. Curiosity brings good things for all when it's given the tools process the information found, so that the information obtained can be used in a way that benefits in as many ways possible.

There is an urgent need to cultivate curiosity, not take out. The problem isn't questioning the world around us, it's that we don't strive to understand it. If we understand the world around us, we can actually make things better for society and the individual.

It's vital for our long term survival to foment curiosity in ways that it brings positive change, we need to give it the tools to do so not suppress it. We have come so far because of curiosity, and taking away is the best way to harm our future.

How to take news about security vulnerabilities...

The thing with security in software, is not if there is a security flaw or not. It's more about how do they get handled, not to mention how fast they are fixed.

One of the things you can count upon in software development, is that mistakes will be made at some point. Some of these mistakes will be security vulnerabilities, yet focusing on them to proclaim that all is wrong is shortsighted and unfair to developers.

Instead, the focus on those security vulnerabilities should be how the developers acknowledge them and how fast they get them fixed. How they manage both of these issues is crucial for people do what must be done to secure their system by taking the appropriate actions, and to get the fix as soon as the developers get it out.

Most importantly, let's keep in mind that every piece of software out there is bound to have some vulnerabilities. So, instead of trying to find a software without them, we need to keep working ironing out vulnerabilities out. When we solve one, the odds are that another will come to take its place.

I don't trust any software developer, or company, that tells me that their software has no vulnerability at all. I trust those who keep an eye for vulnerabilities and fix them quickly when  whenever they are found. Even more when they listen to those who advice on vulnerabilities and take some action to fix the hole.

The threats that we face are also changing constantly. So, new ways to attack software to crack it open are found with time. So, we need to keep adapting to add or subtract what's needed to keep our software safe.

Software security is a never ending battle, so there will always be some vulnerability to fix. As such, we need to use and support developers that keep working on making their software safe for us to use.

Ubuntu vs Windows...

At work, I've been using Windows since it's the only option because the applications we use just run on it. I don't really mind it much, but I just can't help missing Ubuntu.

Ubuntu has become my Linux distro of choice, beating Windows by far in all the important areas for me. The time I spend using Windows at work only reinforce the fact that I'm not coming back to it any time soon, since I've grown fond of Ubuntu since it fits my computing needs and many of my views on how software should be developed.

Even though I've had some hurdles with Ubuntu, which is normal with any OS if you as me, in general Ubuntu has given me a more stable and user friendly experience than Windows ever did. Ubuntu hasn't gotten into my work flow, and with its move to Unity it has even become even less intrusive. While Windows now seems to have 1001 ways to irk me, in some cases in ways it didn't do when I was a more regular user.

I understand that Ubuntu might not be for everyone, but can think at least of a couple of more Linux distros that I would recommend even to people without prior experience with Linux. One would be Linux Mint, and the other Linux Pear. I'm not even counting the other Ubuntu based distros out there.

Many would think that having so many choices could be confusing, or that there is something wrong with some distros. Yet, it isn't the case what so ever, actually it just means that you get to choose the user interface that better suits your workflow. The core of the OS is basically the same, which means that you can run the same software regards of the distro you choose.

In a way, it's about finding the user interface that adapts to you and not you adapting to the user interface because there is no way around it.

Being able to compare Ubuntu and Windows head to head on daily basis, reaffirms that it's easier for me to change distro than to return to Windows.

Musings about what OS to choose for my next smartphone...

As much I've been having a great experience with the BlackBerry I got a couple of months ago, I can't get my find myself wanting to change to an Android, Ubuntu Touch, or Firefox smartphone when I get the chance to do so.

The main factor, is that I what my computer and smartphone to run on open source software. On my laptop I run the latest version of Ubuntu, the 13.04 release which is my favorite Linux distro.

So, I want for my smartphone to run an open source OS so both the devices that I use for my daily life follow what I believe in. It's about having devices with software built around the freedoms and ethics I want to share with the world.

In many ways, smartphones are an extension of what we believe in and reflect what we value. There are a statement of our personality and who we are, because of this I want my next smartphone to run an open source OS. The way in which open source software is developed, is how I believe all human endeavors should be pursued.

The spirit of collaboration, in a public and transparent way, should be at the core of how we should manage all enterprises we set ourselves to follow. Closes systems, that don't allow people to freely collaborate, are not beneficial for humanity as a whole.

Fortunately for me, it seem that I'm having some choice about the OS that'll power my next smartphone. And the three options fall on the open source side, a really nice thing indeed.

Common standards for a leveled playing ground...

It seems that there is a trend by some companies, to heard people to use proprietary software on locked hardware. This is bad, since it limits people by locking them to use the products of certain company and with who they can share with.

Most of those products have the habit of don't playing nice with the products made by other companies, because of a wall that really doesn't need to be there. There is no technical reason why all software can't actually play nice with each other, most of the time is a decision made to  lock people in so that they keep buying from a certain company.

That companies do this is not acceptable, and they must be stopped. We need to push all of them to build on common standards, so that we can have access to all the information available in any format, use it as we see fit and to share it with who we want. Companies, or industries and governments for that matter, have no business building walls to obstruct the free flow of information among the people. Restrictions are to be set by the people themselves, we should be the ones choosing with who and how we share whatever we choose.

The freedom to do so, empowers people by allowing them to do more by knowing more. Not only that, it mean that society can better share information and thus be more united. What's more, the simple act of being able to share with anyone else it helps to unite people together by not having artificial wall to differentiate people into groups of who has what platform.

Common standards need to become the norm, and all who wants to come play must align to the standard that applies to their field. It's in our best interest to have all players supporting those standards, so that we are free to select the best option for our needs.

On leaking governments misdeeds...

It's ludicrous that governments that proclaim that they defend the rights and freedoms of their citizens, react the way they do when one of their citizens voices concerns about some of their actions or exposes their wrongdoings.

The standard reaction to those citizens is to go after them with a vengeance, going to great lengths to get to them to assert punishments on them. They act in ways that are pretty much resemble those of, or close to, those actions of governments they tag as oppressive or irrespective or human rights. Somehow they believe that they have the moral high ground, or the right, to do those same things to their citizens.

Thus, we need to keep pushing those governments to walk the road they expect from other governments. We need to keep pushing every government to work in a transparent way, so that we all can see how they work and can't quiet down those who point to those actions that intrude our freedoms and rights.

People who brings to light those actions of governments are against to the people's freedoms need to be protected, and allowed to disclose all relevant information in formats that are available to all to access. They shouldn't be treated like criminals, since they give their fellow citizens a great service by allowing action to curtails the government's ability to take our freedoms and rights.

What's wrong is not the leaking of those actions, but the governments taking them and believing that they have the right to get away with it. The time has come to make governments aware that they can't act without the people being aware of what they do, and that the people have the right to be informed when they do something that goes against their freedoms and rights without a good cause.

It's time to take some power back, and use it to keep the governments in check

Technology gives the tools for change...

As technology that allows people to be more social, and share, almost anything permeates into society it comes with a lot of implications. One of the most important, is that authorities will have a harder time censoring or ignore our rights.

We have the chance not only to share what we do, but also share data on what the government does for good or for bad. In many ways, the people are starting to have a real chance to make sure that authorities don't do things outside of what they are supposed to do. In essence, people themselves can become the ones who keep tabs with what the government do and what they don't.

This push to make that technology freely available as widely as possible must be maintained, since it means that we can make sure the governments act in a transparent way and answer to us the people who they serve.

The world is at the verge of a power shift, and one that isn't just among states. The people can have the chance to come into the game, and have a share of that power to use it as the people see fit. The technology might not be mature enough to make that transition as wide as possible, that's why we need to keep pushing for it to come free from any government of any kind. Not only that, the companies that make those technologies must make it with free and open standards.

It's time to make governments that truly represents the will of the people they govern on, not the will of those who are in it or just a few that have the influence to pull the ropes on their favor. A democracy that truly is the will of the people, is closer than ever before to become a working reality.

The tools to build a fairer and inclusive world are either already at hand, or close to becoming a reality. We need to use the ones we already have, and push to make those that are on their way happen. Being passive is not an option, we need to go out and do something to bring about the world we want to live in.

If there is a will to change things, now we also have the tools to make things happen. Now the questions is how we do bring change along.

The true value of free software...

What many people fail to realize about free software, is where its true value resides. Most people tend to believe that the main value of free software is on the cost, focusing just on the financial side of the equation.

Cost is not where the free software main value resides, since some free software can cost quite some money and don't lose its value to the people who deploy it.

The main value of free software comes from the freedoms it gives to the users, and the fact that those freedoms make it much more flexible. This means that the user truly gets more that just the right to use or implement certain software, the user also gets the right to actually modify the software to better suit whatever need may arise at any point in time.

Any software you need, will cost you something. The cost might be money or time, but the cost is still there to be taken into account. Yet, free software gives you the power and flexibility that comes with being able to modify it without having to ask special permissions from the original developers, since those permissions are given to you to begin with.

The saying of you get what you pay for still holds some water on free software, but just by its nature it's much more flexible than any analog closed software. You just need to find the free software that better suits the needs you need covered, and have the right resources to implement it.

Free software it's not only about cost, there is so much more than that to it.