The end of Windows 7 got me somewhat nostalgic.

Windows 7 end of life is finally due on January 14, 2020. Windows 7 has been the last Windows version that I've used on regular basis, since its the OS we use at work, and the last Windows version I used on my personal computer that actually enjoy using.

As such, the demise of Windows 7 got me somewhat nostalgic. Even if I've no plan to move back to using Windows on my personal laptop, as a regular user at work I've grown accustomed to using it, and I somewhat like how it works. Though I like the looks of Windows 10 better, I haven't used it long enough to say much about it and I is something I'm not looking forward to.

The first Windows version I used was Windows 95, which I remember with certain fondness mainly because it came with my first ever laptop. My favorite version would be Windows XP, and has been the only version of Windows I actually like as a whole.

Windows Vista was a complete mess for me, and was the main reason I moved to Linux as my go to OS. For me, Windows 7 was a step in the right direction, and I would have considered coming back to Window if Windows 8 and 8.1 hadn't come along. The user interface for me on those 2 was a complete disaster, I used it for couple of days on a friends computer and I simple could not deal with.

As I said, I haven't used enough Windows 10 to say much about it, but Linux Mint has become my OS of choice. So much so, that if I could I'd use it at work too.

Cross-platform software should become the norm.

I regularly use three different OSes, Windows 7 at work, Linux Mint on my machine, and Android on my smartphone. With this, I've come to appreciate cross-platform software since it gives me the ability to access the things I like no matter the OS I'm using at the moment.

The apps I use the most on the three OSes are Spotify, Firefox, and Dropbox. For many reasons, being able to use these three apps on every device I uses independently of which OS they are running makes them very convenient for me. Specially in the cases of Spotify and Firefox, since been able to access my accounts makes it easier to access the content and services I use regularly all that easier and practical.

Cross-platform software became important for me since I moved full time to Linux, since at work I've to use Windows because some of the apps needed for the operations is Windows only. And because I wanted to keep using Firefox, and Songbird the music player I used at the time. As a matter of fact, a big reason why I choose Spotify is the fact that it runs on Linux Mint.

While I understand there are practical restrictions to support all OSes, which in the case of Linux distros is specially true, I've come to look for software that is supported on Android and Linux Mint(or Ubuntu at least, since if it runs on Ubuntu it will run on Linux Mint). And for the most of the people I know, both on a personal and on professional levels, cross-platform software is becoming important.

The Internet not only democratized the access to information.

The Internet has not only made access to information a lot more easier for more people than ever before. It also has made it easier to get founds for projects, either by traditional means or by crowdfunding.

Sites like Patreon and Liberapay allow people that create media, or take new products to market, get funds for their project directly from people who are interested on what they offer. Which means, that they don't have to go to traditional sources to get the funds they need.

Other benefit is that many ideas and product that might get rejected on traditional channels, now can get produced with the help of those who find it interesting or useful. There are less gatekeepers that decide what the people funds, where from, or the people who get to fund them.

While not everything that comes out with crowdfunding, it helps to better connect supply chains with those who want what they offer. In some ways, it helps to streamline the way things are produced and delivered.

The ability for small and medium producers to funding, means that there are many more products making it to the market place. This is beneficial for all of us, since it means that it becomes more likely for us to find something that better fits our needs for the price we are looking for. And the same goes for services, and content.

As paradoxical as it sounds, small producers can now find a better way not only to compete but also to get the funds to do so more effectively.

Technology is a means to an end.

As someone who enjoys technology, and believes that it can bring quite an improvement to our lives, I find it quite irksome to say the least when people try to push their particular favorite piece of tech as the absolute best.

One of the most high profile being the Android vs iPhone discussions. Die hard fans of both platforms claiming that theirs is the absolute best, minimizing any of the negatives each platform has. The thing is, that is that the best will be the one that better fits to each person needs, and expects, from their smartphone.

For some, an Android devices got their needs covered while for others the iPhone is the way to go. Forcing people to one or another without considering their needs is a recipe for making the whole experience a disaster, cementing quite a negative impression of the platform you gave them.

Personal preferences aside, we need to start seeing each and every technology as a tool that will help us do something happen. As such, we need to select the best possible to get the best possible results.

Not all technology is made equal, since its tailored to the needs of the job it was design to do. Before proposing the use of any tool, first one has to understand what's is asked to be solved. If not, one risks to make the problem ever bigger.

No technology is perfect, or can do everything.

Spotify has changed how I listen and find music.

Up until a month ago, I used Spotify on my mobile device on the offline mode to listen to a couple of my playlists and on the desktop to stream music in order to discover new music or listen to a broader selection of my favorite artist and genres.

With time I found myself using Spotify more on my smartphone while I'm commuting, or when I want to listen to music without having my laptop to enjoy some. As such, streaming from more playlist or radios became a lot more practical since that means not using as much storage on my smartphone or having to decide which ones to delete in order to make space for new one when I want to change playlist or discover new music.

When music streaming services came along, I was somewhat skeptical about them. Now, Spotify has become a main part of my daily music consumption. It has helped me to enjoy the music in ways I didn't before. Not only that, it has enhanced the way I discover new music by allowing me to browse a larger library of artist and tracks than I could before.

It also made it easier for me to do so, and not just in a single place or at a determined time. And while I still enjoy having my music on my hard drive, and on CDs, music streaming has become an integral part of how I listen, and find, it.

My experience on Android.

Ever since I made the jump to Android a few years ago, I've really feel that the OS has been improving steadily.

The first device I got, came with Android Gingerbread installed. To be honest, I was a bit doubtful when I made the jump coming from a Blackberry Curve. I really liked the physical QWERTY keyboard, ever since I started using it with a Nokia E63, and being a bit old school sometimes the whole touchscreen didn't attracted me all that much.

But Android quickly won me over, it really made feel at home and easy to use. For the next devices one came Android KitKat, and the other with Android Lollipop. Both felt quite solid, and did more than enough to keep me on the side of Android.

Last year, I got a device running Android Marshmallow. This version of Android made a really great impression for me on the technical side. It felt a lot more solid and stable for daily use, and cemented Android as my go to mobile OS. Yet, with  Marshmallow I still felt a bit jealous of iOS on the looks side of things.

As such, I'm still on the Android side. So, a couple of weeks ago I change my device to one running Android Oreo, the version 8.1 to be precise. And Alas, Android finally came around and it looks just as good as it works. I just changed the stock launcher, since I prefer to use Evie with Flight Lite icons.

Android has become my favorite mobile OS, so much so that the only thing I'd consider changing would the the brand of device I use it on. Android has showed that it the OS that's better suited for how I use my smartphone and that allows me to customize its looks and feel to my personal preferences.

Technology is just a tool.

It's both, interesting and disconcerting how technology is either viewed as what will save or utterly destroy humanity.

At the end of the day, technology is only a tool to be used for an end. Its our responsibility to use technology in such a way that helps move forward, in the best possible way. We'll have to deal with the consequences of its use, and how it is used.

We've to pay close attention how the technology we use affects us, and make decisions depending on the results we are getting. Just because we have a technology doesn't mean that we have to keep using it if we get something better, or if we don't get the results we were hoping for. The idea that we have to use something just because it's there, is not a reason to do so.

In many ways, technology is our best tool to make our lives better and to make changes for the better. It can do so by empowering people getting better education, or getting better information to make the best decision possible. But, it can also make things worse if it isn't used right.

The impact of technology, is directly related to how me make us of it. Its time to start creating a consciousness that it's our responsibility to make the best use of the technology at our disposal.

People are the one who build a better world, and technology is the tool we make build it with. The results we get, are a result of what we build.

I'm back for the long run to Linux Mint.

After coming back to Linux Mint about a month ago back from Ubuntu, I've decided to stick with it from now.

Ever since Linux Mint started using Cinnamon as it's desktop environment, I've been a big fan of it; though I liked Ubuntu's Unity shell a bit better since it did a better job for me.

I've never really liked GNOME 3 all that much, I simply don't finish to feel comfortable using it. As such, Ubuntu going back to using it was an issue for me and one I'm not really willing to live with after about 3 months of using it daily.

Although I can install both Unity and Cinnamon on Ubuntu, its an extra step I'm not willing to make. Also, I had some bad experiences with Ubuntu breaking my Cinnamon install with each upgrade.

Finally, Linux Mint has been one of my 2 favorite Linux distros ever since I started using Linux. So, I see no reason to keep distro jumping when there is no good reason to do so. Besides, when Cinnamon 4 comes with Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa it'll make it even a better option for me.

What I'm looking forward the most is this:

 

It might not be much, but for me is one of those little details that'll make Cinnamon even better for me. And being able to set it so out of a box is something that'll make my experience all that much better.

Linux Mint is now my favorite distro, with Ubuntu on the second place.

Change of strategy to make free and open-source software mainstream.

As a free and open-source software advocate, I try to help people make to the move to software that its at least open-source.

Personally, I run Linux Mint on my personal laptop, Mozilla Firefox my go to web browser, Mozilla Thunderbird my email client, and LibreOffice as my office suite. Rhythmbox is my go to audio player. All this apps work for me, so much so that I consider them indispensable to have on my system and are the ones I recommend the most since I used on daily basis.

Yet, with time I've seen that not everyone would be served as well by these apps because their needs are completely different. Even for me, at work I can't use Linux Mint since we use SAP ERP, and Microsoft Office. As such, I've to use Windows for work. I still use Firefox for when I need to keep track of certain things I need to for my work.

This has thought me that if you don't give people the right app, you are asking for trouble. There are some proprietary apps that doesn't have an alternative open-source app that has at least equivalent functionalities, as such trying to make people switch will make the whole experience a nightmare. We need to avoid this happening, because that experience will make them want to distance themselves from all open-source software.

As such, there are a couple of things that need to happen to bring more people to make use of free and open-source software.

First of all, we need to start to actually listen what the average user needs, and wants, from the software they use. It's the only way we can give them the software they need, and want, to use for their daily use.

Secondly, and the hardest part of it, open-source apps need to be created with which proprietary ones can be easily replaced with.

I'd add that there is a need to stop trying to shove open-source down people's throat, and stop pontificating about how good it is. What we need to do, is to show them that open-source software is at least as good as proprietary software, and can be better. This is usually the best selling point.

At the end of the day, for free and open-source software to became mainstream we need to change how people think of it. Android and Mozilla Firefox have already proven that it is more than good of it, now it's time to make people conscious of it.

Some reminiscing on headphones for when I'm on the move.

Since I got some Otium Beats Bluetooth headphones about a mouth ago, they have become one of my favorite headphones. The sound rather good, and they are comfortable to wear.

Yet, I still find myself going back to my wired headphones from time to time. Those are Miniso berry edition, which I got because they are hands free which is a nice thing to have when on the move. I fall back on them when I want to extend battery life, specially when going out for a walk.

Yet, the best thing both have in common is that both are in-ear headphones. I find this to be the go to solution when I'm picking headphones to pair with my mobile device. I find them more comfortable to wear on the move, and more practical to store on my bag. All this while packing quite a nice sound, which is a nice thing to have.

Still I continue to feel strongly about the 3.5 mm jack on smartphones. Personally, its a must have on my device as an option to be able to continue to listen to music if my Bluetooth headphones run out of battery and I'm not able to recharge them for whatever reason. Or simply to have the choice of which one to use depending on the situation at hand.

I'm really happy with both of my pairs, I choose which one to use depending on what I'm doing at the time. Now that I've experience with some Bluetooth headphones on daily basis, I can say they are worth having them if they fit your needs.

It has become harder to discern information from misinformation.

With the advent of the Internet, and the proliferation of smartphones, we got access to a wealth of knowledge and knowhow like it has never been seen. Almost any tidbit of information we might need to know, or be interested in, is at the tip of our fingers.

Yet, this ease of access has also allowed misinformation to be as easily distributed. Sometimes, its hard to know if the information we are accessing is reliable or not.

It used to be that how information was distributed, was heavily controlled a few interests. Today, while some of those gatekeepers still hold a strong influence on how information is distributed, its a lot easier to access more sources to be able to get a wider view on whatever issues you are interested in. The main problem now, is how to make sure that the content you are accessing is reliable and the sources where they got the information from.

This is why critical thinking is becoming ever a more important tool to understand the content you're interacting with. While there are some source we can trust, still we need to be able to process the information in order to be able to use it effectively. In order to understand the content we access, we need to be able to manipulate it to analyze it.

There is truth out there, but there is also a lot of falsehood to contend with as well.