Spotify running on the background on Linux Mint.

That I can close Spotifty's window, and it keeps playing in the background in Linux Mint, is one of those details of using a computer that makes it a lot better that you don't miss until you can't do it.

Currently I'm using Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia, but I was able to do so since Linux Mint 21.2 Victoria. And I'm using Linux Mint's system packages, not the Flatpak version of Spotify Linux client. Not that I dislike the Flatpak version of app, just that I prefer using system packages of the apps I trust.

For some years, if you wanted to keep Spotify running on the background on Linux, you had to use workarounds to be able to do so. Not the optimal thing to do, specially for people who didn't know how to do so or wanted to have do some extra steps to be able to do so. So much so, that I got tired of it and stopped doing it

Yet, being able to do so out of the box is something that I really enjoy. Specially since it is something you can do on other OSes like Windows. And to be honest, is one of those small things people notice on an app behavior when they make the jump to Linux from an OS that supported being able to run Spotify on the background when you closed the app window.

For me, that I can run Spotify on the background, just like I do with Rhythmbox, is one of those things that makes the whole user experience of using Linux Mint a lot better. Specially because Spotify has become an integral part of how I consume music and podcasts on daily basis.

Spotify helps be discover new music, and listen artists and songs I already loved wherever I am. Also listen to the podcasts I love on the move, no matter where I am at the moment.

Which is great for me, since I like to so while commuting or walking.

Spotify has become my go to music and podcast streaming service, and it restored functionality of running it on the background when closing the window on Linux Mint has solidified its position for me.

AI: could be a game changer for the better.

With artificial intelligence(AI) getting better, and becoming more mainstream, people seem to be all over the place on how they feel about it. The truth is that AI can be a powerful tool if used correctly, and it seems that there are use cases that prove this.

As it stands, how good the AI is come on how good the information used to train it is. So far, I'm hopeful that AI can become an important tool to help people both at work and leisure. AI can be extremely helpful, though there is still much development ahead of us to see its full potential.

Personally, I do believe AI can be a greatly beneficial if developed in such a way. So far, the signs seem to be good, with legislation seemingly and development making it easier to develop AI that is useful for society and individuals. There have been some uses of AI that highlight how not to use it, but mainly sets the precedence that it is in initial stages of its development.

Cases like that, just make me certain that AI can be useful if the user knows both the AI limitations, and that he or she stills needs to check that the answers given by the AI are correct. With time people will realize that AI is a powerful tool that will enhance our lives for the better if used correctly.

We don't need to fear AI, but we need to fear how people use it for and how AI is trained. At the end of the day, is up to us to make sure that AI is used for our benefit.

Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia: a great point release.

I've  Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia for a couple of weeks now, and coming coming from 21.2 Victoria it has been quite a nice upgrade. While it isn't a groundbreaking upgrade, the OS feels great.

Personally, the one of the best things that came with the upgrade is being able to verify the ISO image with a right click. Which is important for me, since I like to make a live USB of the newest release of Linux Mint to make a clean install when needed, or just install Linux Mint on a new Laptop when I upgrade my system.

Another thing I like, is that testing to move to Wayland started with this Linux Mint release. While Wayland isn't expected to come at least until 2025, the fact that testing has begun is a good thing.

To be honest, with each new release Linux Mint cements itself as my go to Linux distro. It has the right balance of offering access to the modern software without braking things by being on the bleeding edge. As such, it just works and it gives me what I need to being productive at work and access I need to relax on my free time.

I'm looking forward to Linux Mint 22 later this year, while I expect it to come with a bigger set of changes it all points that it will be just another great release by the Linux Mint team.

Linux Mint: just keeps getting better.

I've been using Linux since about 2008, when I decided to use Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) on my laptop because Windows Vista kept crashing on me multiple times a day. And since then I've using a Linux distro on my personal laptop, and since 2020 on I also started using it for work.

Since 2019, I decided to move from Ubuntu to Linux Mint full time. What motivated the move was that Ubuntu stopped using Unity, and started to use GNOME. And to be honest, I simply don't like GNOME 3 and Linux Mint's Cinnamon is a far better option for my use case. The only thing holding me to using Ubuntu was that I liked Unity and that I was used to how Ubuntu works.

Yet, ever since I made the jump to Linux Mint I can say that it has become my favorite OS. It just works, and it does it in a way that makes my life easier. And since it's based on Ubuntu, I can do all what I'm used to do when I used Ubuntu as my go to OS.

The best thing about Linux Mint, is that with each release it focuses on improvements that feel like an evolution of the OS, rather than trying to change things just to be on bleeding edge of Linux development. That means that things just work and changes tend not to break things.

I just like that Linux Mint feels like an elegant OS, that can be used by users that just want a OS that enables each user to do her or his thing, without getting in the way. The most important thing, is that you don't need to be an expert to use it.

And even if you are a computer expert, Linux Mint is a great option for those who just want an OS that is a great platform to use if you just want an OS that doesn't get in your way after you set it up to your liking, and you don't need to be on the bleeding edge of Linux.

Unless your user case means that you need to use Windows, or macOS, Linux Mint is a great option.

NothingOS 2.5 is a great upgrade.

When the public beta for NothingOS 2.5, which is based on Android 14, for Nothing Phone 1 came out I decided to give it a try. So far, it is a solid upgrade for the device. For my use case, there hasn't been any issue and to be honest the battery life has seen an improvement.

The changes, and tweaks, made to the user interface have for the better. Even though I already preferred Android for use in my smartphones, NothingOS proves that Android is a solid base. So much so, Google Pixels are the main competition to Nothing Phones so far. I would consider the Motorola Razr as a possible option, mainly because I'm interested in flip phones and I like Motorola, but the price makes me doubt about making the jump.

Later this year, or early next year, I might choose to upgrade my smartphone. So far, all points out that Nothing will continue to be my smartphone of choice.

Android.

The more I use Android smartphones, the harder I find it to move the iPhone. The question is more about which Android smartphone OEM I'll choose at the time come for me to replace my current device.

Although I consider the iPhone to be great, it simply doesn't give me what I want the user experience I want on my smartphone. Meanwhile, I can get Android devices to fit my needs like a glove. Not only that, smartwatches using Wear OS also are a better fit for me.

Android devices give me what I want on my smartphones, while Wear OS smartwatches make for quite a great side kick.

I'm planning on changing my current smartphone, which is a Nothing Phone (1), by the end of 2024. So far, the main contender is the Nothing Phone or the Google Pixel released in 2024. And the best thing about Android, is that there will be more options to consider by the time I come to a final decision.

For example, I might end up choosing the Samsung Galaxy S that comes out for 2024.

At the end, it all will come down to what Android OEM gives me the best value for my money. And that's what I love about Android smartphones, there is a wide selection of devices.

Firefox: my favorite web browser.

Hard to to believe that Firefox became my go to web browser all they way back in 2008, with Firefox 3.0. Before that, I sued NeoPlanet, and Opera. I stopped using NeoPlanet when it was discontinued, and Opera never really felt all that good as my daily driver.

Though I've tries Google's Chrome over the the years, it just doesn't work as well for me as as Firefox does. Chrome is my second place web browser, but it is far behind Firefox.

Microsoft Edge is the only other web browser I use regularly, solely for work. Basically because I wanted to try a web browser than Chrome, and the other options available just aren't available on Linux Mint, or just didn't worked for me.

So far, Edge is working well enough that it can over take Chrome but not well enough to displace Firefox as my favorite web browser.

I might give Opera a chance in the near future, since some of the people I trust have recommended it saying that the new released have improved a lot. So, it might be a good time to give it another chance.