The right choice, one users shouldn't be forced to make...

This podcast on Curious Minds about Richard Stallman & The History of Free Software and Open Source is really good, since it really clarifies it's history and what free software is all about. Free software, and open source software, is not just about the technical aspects, but also a movement about protecting user's freedoms from corporate interests.

Users shouldn't need to worry about giving away control of what the things they own, and corporations shouldn't have the ability to take control out of users. Once you pay for something, you should have full control over that item.

Even when you subscribe for the use of something, the ultimate control over your personal information should remain yours. The information you disclose to any company should be limited only for internal use, used only for the purposes intended why you shared that information for.

One should never have to have to choose between having the latest tech, or giving up our freedoms. Our freedoms should be respected, and protected, from the onset. The only choice we should be making as users, is what technologies or products you pick up to use.

At the end, free and open software is the one that benefits the interest of the majority. It lends itself better to competition, innovation and to be used by users as they need it to. Proprietary software protects the interest of a few, who depend on controlling users to benefit themselves. So when the interest of those people and the ones of the majority aren't the same, they are going to choose theirs and there is little the users can do about it.

So, its time to start backing FOSS if we want our freedoms stay firmly in our hands.

I love to see Spotify officially supported on Linux...

As an Ubuntu and Spotify user, I find it quite frustrating that there isn't a supported  native client for Linux. While in general the Linux client works quite well, there are some features missing.

The one I miss the most is the ability to minimizing it to the icon tray. In itself, it isn't a big deal. Yet, I'd like to have the option to have Spotify running on the background as I do with the Android client. Yet, I prefer the look and feel of the 1.0.28 version of the client. It feels a lot more modern, and I really thinks it has been a step forward design wise.

While I'd like to see Spotify to have a native client that runs on as many Linux distros as possible, it would be nice to see Canonical and the Linux Mint development team working closer with Spotify to have a native client supported for these two distros. The main reason for this is that they are the two most popular distros, and the ones that biggest share of users that would seriously switch to them if they had a native Spotify client with all the features found on Windows and Mac OS X.

Spotify is becoming more ubiquitous, and there is becoming harder to find someone who doesn't have an account to the service. As such, that Ubuntu and Linux Mint could say they have a supported client would give them some extra points for users to consider them.

For me, while it isn't vital to have it, its important that the OS I use supports Spotify. The app has become an important part of my music listening habits, and a way for me to discover new artists and music. That's why I'd love to see Spotify officially supported on Ubuntu, and Linux Mint.

Most importantly, having more people taking seriously Ubuntu and Linux Mint as options is something that could make more people aware of Linux. With that, more people would become aware of open-source software and the open-source movement. The fact that there is a supported client for Android, which is Linux based, is something that gives me hope that something can be worked out to have a supported client on Linux.

I hope that Canonical would step it and sort something out. I think that if Canonical worked along with Spotify, Ubuntu could have a client with all the features it has on other OSes. That would benefit everyone, and make a lot of Ubuntu users a lot happier with it.

Bad news for Microsoft might be good news for users...

Microsoft's Windows might be the most used operating system on PCs, but on mobile it's presence is basically non-existent. As such, they aren't going to hit their target of installs by 2018.

According to Microsoft, Windows 10 would hit the 1 billion user mark sometime by 2018, and for that they need to sell about 50 million smartphones a year. That seems to be way to optimistic, since Android and iOS dominate the smartphone market in such a way that its hard to see other players coming along to challenge them.

To make things worse for Microsoft, when people go to buy a new smartphone they usually go looking specifically for either an Android or iOS device. There aren't enough people who go looking for a smartphone powered by Windows powered one. Apps are one of the reasons for this, since most developers just focusing their efforts on Android and iOS(with a few just releasing their app on just one of them).

It seems that Windows is doomed to either be a niche mobile OS, or to become a footnote in the history of mobile OSes.

Yet, that people become aware that there they can choose what OS their smartphone runs, and that they are free to choose, might transpire to the PC and laptop market. Specially when more computers running macOS or Chrome OS becoming more mainstream.

While I don't see Windows going away completely on the PC market, or PCs going completely going away, I do see an opportunity for more players actually being active on the the PC market.

At the end, users might be the ones who actually have the most to win out of this.

In urban areas, public transit is the way to go...

On this day and age, is easy to forget what people want from form public transit services is actually good and reliable service. While having things like charging ports and free WiFi are nice perks to have, they are nice extras to have once users have a reliable public transportation service.

People still need to move easily within the city they live, and the public transit is the most efficient way to do so on medium to long distances on urban areas. For most people, I include myself in, public transportation is the best way to move around most of the time. Actually, with a public transportation service that was reliable most people would not need to have a car at all.

Urban areas need a reliable public transit more than they need more cars on the road, in order to improve quality of life within cities. We need mass transit that we can count will arrive on time, its affordable and dependable. Lets face it, most people could be better served by a public transit than a car for the distance they need to cover each day, since they cover it alone most of the time.

Those who need a car are very specific, people like salesmen and other people that move around a lot. Most people just don't need a car, a would be better served by mass transit, that would take them to the places they need to be faster and more comfortably than a car could if the infrastructure was there.

For most people, a reliable public transit system would be more efficient and cost effective way to move around the city. There is a need to change the focus on how people move within the city, in order to improve the quality of life. Car ownership is not the way to go in cities, since there are far to many people to service the quantity of cars needed to move people around.

At the end of the day, public transportation is not just for the poor. Within the system there can be several ways to move people around, the question is how to build a system that works for the people who use it.

Steaming is here to stay, but not to entirely supplant other formats...

As this article at Wired, some miss CD's, vinyl or cassettes out of nostalgia sake. Specially people, who like me, grew up owing music on the medium having them around is somewhat satisfying.

Yet, even younger generations seem to appreciate at least having some MP3 files handy. The thing is, streaming services while being handy way to discovering or accessing music, won't entirely supplant other formats. One of the most important roadblocks, are some right holders simply won't release their music to streaming services.

Also there is the fact that people want to have some of their music available in a way that streaming services like Spotify or Apple music wont allow. There are several legal, technical, and sentimental issues that prevent streaming services ever to supplant owning music in the format of your choice. But, it makes it the perfect way to complement it.

I used to say I wouldn't have a use for streaming services, yet I found Spotify a nice way to discover new music and listen artists whose music I like but not enough to buy a track or record from. I still have a large collection of CD's and music on my hard drive, that's are my go to artists and records the majority of the time. I mainly use Spotify at work, since I don't have access to my music collection, or when I want to listen to something different.

I don't see streaming services going away, just consolidating. The same goes for CD's, vinyl and MP3, since people will always want the feeling these format gives to them while having the convenience that streaming services have to offer. What remains to be seen, is how people will habits will shape up.

Linux desktop around 2% usage mark...

When I read that Linux desktop just passed the 2% market share, I had mixed feelings. On one hand, it means that more people are using a Linux distro on their computers. On the other hand, Linux is not as widely used as Windows or OS X.

Yet, the fact that Linux has increased it's market share is something to at least to be happy about. To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the percentage is actually a bit higher since a large number of installations go unnoticed. Specially since the number of times Linux distros is used to have an idea of how wide the user based is.

That number is not all that reliable, since one download could mean several installations on multiple machines. As such, any market share information should always be taken with a grain of salt.

But, I feel happy that Linux gets more widely deployed Because this means that more people will be likely to actually used a Linux distro, and see for themselves that Linux can be at least as user friendly as Windows or OS X. There is no better way to change people minds than with having them directly interact with something.

I don't expect that Linux will make a huge gain on market share, but I hope that this gain will at least sustain itself in time. If that happens, I believe that Linux stands a chance of continuing to increase it's market share.

As an active user of Ubuntu, I know that Linux distros can be used by anyone. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Zorin OS are three distros that can be used by beginners and average users with ease. There some other distros like Arch Linux and Fedora targeted to advanced users. While enterprise users would likely use Red Hat Linux or SUSE.

At the end of the day, Linux is about respecting users freedoms.

A victory for open-source software...

If there were any doubts that open-source software is the way to go, the fact that Microsoft just released version 1.0 of .NET Core should go a long dispelling this idea.

.NET Core is a open-source cross platform implementation of Microsoft's .NET Framework development environment that runs on OS X and Linux. While it isn't the same thing as Microsoft open-sourcing Windows, its a sign that open-source software is here to stay and its making inroads with a lot more users that many are willing to admit.

Not that long ago, Microsoft was an enemy of everything open-source. Now, its embracing it in order to stay relevant. Let's face it, open-source software has never been the problem that Microsoft made it to be, but rather a solution for developers and users for a whole host of problems.

Most importantly, it give credence to the idea that open-source software is a valid development tool. This helps both developers and users, since it gives both a better and faster way to address their needs. There is no need to wait for Microsoft address their needs or correct the bugs that affect them, since now they can now independently develop their solutions and have them approved by Microsoft in a matter of hours.

There is still some way to go until open-source software gets to the place it deserves to be. Yet, that Microsoft conceded this victory is an important step to get there. It validates open-source software,  while it opens the way for more people to use it and to be aware of it as a valid tool.

I'm all in for more competition on the mobile OS ecosystems...

Smartphones are one area where I'd like to see more OSes to choose from, that can be used by more OEM. Another thing, is that while apps are relatively easy to keep updated, the OS itself is a whole different story if you're on Android.

While I prefer Android over iOS, one of the main things I have against Android and in favor of iOS is the ease of keeping the OS updated. Other than that, Android is by far the mobile OS for me.

Yet, I'd like to see a wider selection of mobile OSes and apps that would run on your OS of choice easily. The only reason against this is not a technical one, but because companies prefer to have you locked in on their ecosystem. While that is good for them, is bad for the user. While I don't see hundreds of different OSes, there is space for more than Android and iOS.

For one thing, more mobile OSes based on Linux would be great. That would help making the point to create a common standard to create apps that run on them, since all would have a common base. I see some apps being exclusive to one or two of those OSes, but most apps would do better by being available on all the OSes or at least as most of them.

Once, I was really happy to see Mozilla getting into the game with it's Firefox OS. It looked to be a solid OS for entry and mid-level devices, specially for those people who were getting their first smartphone or just wanted something not that fancy.

Its a shame that is didn't had the market share it deserve, since it could have been quite the option for entry and mid-level smartphones arena to Android.

Ubuntu Touch is the OS I see as the competition to Android on the mid-level to high-end smartphones. True, the OS still needs more apps on it's ecosystem and to be supported by more OEM. Yet, for the looks of it Ubuntu Touch could be a viable option for those looking for a good smartphone other than an Android device when an iOS one doesn't make the cut.

For the time being we need another option on the entry to mid-level areas while Ubuntu Touch need to do more to be a viable option on the other side of the spectrum.

Android is the mobile OS for me at the moment. Ubuntu Touch could be an option for me, but it still isn't available on Mexico easily and the apps I use aren't supported on it. If Ubuntu touch came to Mexico, and supported the same apps as Android does, I'd give it a chance in a heartbeat.

At the end, I'd love to see more Linux based mobile OS being successful at the market.

Some welcomed news for SteamOS...

A few days ago I shared some of my thoughts about the state of SteamOS, and gaming on Linux in general. While on both counts things aren't as good as I would like, they are in good standing. There is a healthy selection of titles, mainly indie ones.

While there is a need for more AAA titles on SteamOS, and the Linux client, to make them more appealing to mainstream gamers that new games are added continuously is encouraging.

The other important question, is hardware support for the SteamOS. While most SteamOS capable machines are built by Valve, there some other vendors who also make Steam machines. The OS can be installed by the user like other Linux distros as well, giving user ever more options where they want to run the OS.

But, there is some great news that could give us hope for the future of SteamOS gaming on Linux in general. Dell announced that its introducing new Alienware based on the OS. These means that users can have access to well know gaming rigs based on SteamOS, giving a good incentive for game producers to publish their games for the platform.

Though this are news are welcome, its not certain that gaming on Linux will become mainstream. But, at least we can hope that Steam will help attract more publisher to Linux.

Ubuntu and Unity just work for me...

After about six years of using Ubuntu, or Linux Mint, on my personal laptop I simply don't see myself coming back to Windows. All of my needs are covered my Ubuntu or Linux Mint, and both OSes are FLOSS software which is important for me.

At work I use Windows 7, and when I compare it to Ubuntu or Linux Mint it just doesn't hold for long. There is nothing I can't do at least as well on Windows as I can do on either Ubuntu or Linux Mint. While all three OSes are quite good, Ubuntu just takes the cake in my case.

To be honest, if I could use Ubuntu at work I would have asked the IT department to set me up with an Ubuntu machine. The only thing that prevents me to do so, is that we use SAP and it only runs on Windows. For a year now they have been testing running SAP on Windows 10, and so far the only thing preventing us to make the jump is budget concerns.

Ubuntu is far from perfect, but its the Linux distro that fits my computing needs. Linux Mint is a close second, mainly because the Cinnamon desktop doesn't really covers my aesthetic tastes as well Unity does.

When Unity came out Ubuntu 11.04, I had my reservations about it. At the same time Linux Mint Launched Cinnamon, and since GNOME 3 didn't feel right, I tried Cinnamon. At the time, I liked Cinnamon but I felt it lacking compared to GNOME 2. While using Ubuntu, I came to love GNOME 2, so any desktop environment that hoped to replace it had quite a high bar to surpass.

Cinnamon didn't really made the cut at the time, and I decided to give Unity a chance. So, I made the jump to Ubuntu 11.10 and I feel in love with Unity.

So far, I've used Linux Mint 17 for a couple of months to see what all the fuss was about Cinnamon 2. While it got better, Cinnamon still isn't for me even though its a solid desktop environment, specially for those user coming from Windows and want something that just works out of the box.

Ubuntu is a solid distro for beginners and intermediate users that want a solid OS that works well out of the box, while giving some solid extra features for users with more technical knowhow.

Personally, I'm an intermediate user that isn't afraid to get his hands dirty while fixing problems or adding functionalities to his OS of choice. Ubuntu fills the bill while being an aesthetically pleasing OS at the same time. There are people who say that Ubuntu isn't as flexible as other distros, yet I think they miss the point of what Ubuntu is about and the fact that there are some other distros that cover that area.

The truth is that most user would be quite happy with Ubuntu as is comes, while some other would do some minor tweaking. Advance users have Arch Linux or Debian, which is good.

At the end of the day, that's what makes Linux great. There is a distro for every need, and not everyone needs to agree on what's best.

Thoughts on SteamOS, and gaming on Linux...

When Valve announced SteamOS, I was really excited about it. Since its based on Debian, it meant that a serious gaming OS was coming to the Linux side. And if all went right, it meant that at least some publisher might offer their games on other Linux distros in time.

As such, when I read on Extremetech site that Steam's machines sales have been abysmal, I can't help to feel somewhat sad and disappointed. Though I disagree that the games offered for SteamOS are indie is a bad thing, it would help to have more AAA titles available.

Personally, I enjoy far more indie games than I do AAA games. The same goes for many of my friends, we feel that indie games offer something more than AAA games do. Yet I do see the need to at least attract some AAA titles to make the platform more widely appealing, specially to new users or those who prefer AAA games.

To be honest, I'd love nothing more that see SteamOS go mainstream. But, I wouldn't mind seeing it going as a niche product serving indie game producers and gamers who prefer those games. In a way, a place where indie games won't get lost among AAA games.

In some way, SteamOS might become a gathering place for people who look for games that feel more driven by more than the need to succeed commercially. For games that strive to be just fun and challenging, or for those who strive to tell a story. Most of us are willing to pay for such games, and many of us who search for those games are able to do so.

As such, I do want to see SteamOS to succeed. Yet, I'd prefer it to succeed in a way that it'll become the place to go for indie games.