Chris Marts

Comparing the Pixel 9 Pro XL to OnePlus 12/13

2025-09-04T13:56:00.001-04:00

I've used the Pixel 9 Pro XL and OnePlus 13. My current device is the OnePlus 12. I'm in the US so my experience will probably be slightly different from yours. I've had trouble deciding between devices so I hope this helps.

Pixel 9

Much better camera than the OnePlus 12 or 13. They're all capable of taking great photos in ideal conditions (well lit areas). Pixel handles motion much better (even better than the 13). The 13 tends to be really oversaturated and does oversharpen photos. If you want photos that have a ton of "pop" the 13 will be a better choice. Pixel is more consistent and pictures will match reality better (more color accurate). Telephoto is better on the Pixel (if you buy the Pro).
Charging is slower. Pixel Pro can hit 45 watts if you have the almost non existent specific charger. Its usually 37 watts. Its easy to forget that OnePlus 6 and 7 series used 30 watt chargers. It'll take over an hour to fully charge the phone. The base Pixel 9 has 27 watt.
Day 1 software updates. Pixels get faster updates than OnePlus. Google pushes new features frequently too. The phone experience hasn't changed significantly in several generations aside from aiding AI tools. Pixel includes a near bare minimum of apps to cover basic needs.
Software is generally reliable if somewhat barebones.
Truly flat screen.
Quick settings tiles feel like they were made for the elderly or computer illiterate. They could be smaller to pack in more settings for quicker access.
Surprisingly, the Pixel has shown mostly better upload/download speeds on cellular and WiFi connections than the 12. However, connection strength isn't quite as strong. Pixel supports mmwave and Sub 6 while OnePlus only supports Sub6. Older Pixels had problems with the modem but the newer one seems much more capable. I believe its also the same modem that Samsung uses in their Exynos devices.
Pixel also supports UWB while OnePlus does not (not sure if that's a big thing in India).

OnePlus 13

Charging can't be beat. You'll get 100 watt (we have 80 watt in the US -- I don't know why) so 0-100 takes about 35 minutes. A 10 or 15 minute charge can take it from 30 to 80. Even with the OP12, the battery has handled fast charging, only losing 2% of capacity in a year.
IP69 rating is cool. Give your phone a thorough wash if it gets really dirty. Pixel has the more standard IP68 for low pressure water.
The silicone "vegan leather" back. I liked the idea because glass is fragile. I didn't like the feel of it though. As they say, YMMV. I hope they'll do a different type of plastic back in the future to cut weight and make it more durable.
The screen still has a slight 2.5D curve so it still felt awkward to use with a case.
I like OxygenOS tweaks. Its the little things like including icons on the recent apps view. Sometimes its easier to find an app by the icon rather than the last view. Or long pressing an app gives options like removing from the screen or uninstalling. Pixel requires dragging it to the top of the screen to do either of those. It serves the same purpose but takes longer. Or the tiles
Updates come every other month so security updates are slower. In reality, I doubt it matters much.
The 13 beats the 12 and Pixel 9 for cell connections. It has a newer modem than the 12 which enables faster connections. In practical use, I didn't notice a difference.

I bought the OP13 for the better camera. While I think the camera is an improvement over the 12, it was not significantly. Otherwise, there was little difference between the two. Comparing the 12 and 13 to the Pixel 9, the Pixel has a more reliable camera system. The Tensor is weaker in benchmarks but the Pixel feels fast. Even the older generations like the Tensor 2 (Pixel 7) have had their software support extended so Google feels confident that the processor will hold up for years.

As I'm still comparing the Pixel 9 Pro and OnePlus 12, I'm having a hard time deciding between devices. The Pixel surprised me with connection speeds but I appreciate the customization and tweaks present in OxygenOS.

Phone Shopping

2025-01-24T09:31:00.000-05:00

One of my ongoing quests is to build an Android ecosystem that allows for easy or even seamless transition between devices. Those devices will include a phone (well, duh), tablet, watch, and laptop. This is a fairly common combination of devices but like others, I have my own unique wants and needs. To build the mobile ecosystem, its best to start with the core device: the phone. How do I choose though? This is when those wants and needs should be defined.

What am I looking for? What will I use it for?

Camera: I have kids so I require a camera with a fast shutter and wide aperture. Telephoto helps too for soccer games. A strong macro would help especially since I take lots of nature pictures.
Strong signal: my classroom is an interior room in a concrete cinder block dystopian hole. I need a phone that'll fry an egg with radiation to get service.
Flat display
Heat management

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Pros

Google is the primary force behind Android so Google's devices get Day 1 updates.
A flat screen. Curves are best reserved for cars and... Well, not phone screens.
Camera. Reliable. Predictable. Consistent.
The budget choice. Can be found used for under $300 or new for slightly more.

Cons

Tensor. Since Google went the Apple route with custom silicone, the Google branded Tensor line has had a lot of issues. Tensor wasn't Google's first foray into custom chips although they typically used a Snapdragon with a specialized processing unit for photos. Going further back, Google played with the chip in the Moto X, using a slightly slower (and cheaper) chip for a very interactive voice assistant.
Thermal issues. Tensor tends to run hot and the phone struggles to cool it. I dealt with this on the Pixel 7 Pro where the phone practically shut down in the summer because it was too hot.

Google Pixel 9 Pro

Pros

Updated modem and processor! The 9 still has Tensor but now we're talking about a Tensor 4. A newer generation must be better, right? Right?! The Tensor certainly isn't up to Snapdragon standards (not current Snapdragon anyway) but it is making solid improvements. There's also a newer modem that improves data connections.
Satellite connection. The new modem also means satellite messaging. Helpful for remote areas, I suppose.
Vapor chamber. The answer to thermal management is to add a space for heat.
Camera. Goes without saying. The camera is awesome.
Rounded corners. Almost too round but very comfortable to hold.

Cons

Charging. Not just the slower charging but also the protocol. It maxes at 37 watts. However, to hit that speed, the charger needs to support USB-C PPS with 21 volts. It is oddly specific and very difficult to find a charger (besides the official Google one) that supports 21 volts on PPS.
Modem. Wait? What? I listed that as a Pro and it is. There's a new modem in the 9 series which has improved speeds. When I tried the 9 Pro XL, it still had difficulty connecting to AT&T from inside my classroom. For comparison, the OnePlus 12 connects on 5G+ and I have used my phone as a hotspot multiple times. So improved but not fixed.
Heat.
If it ain't broke, update the software so it is. This happens to all the companies, to be fair, but when you develop the core software, you're expected to keep it stable. The December 2024 update possibly caused the problems I experienced. Makes me feel better about the hardware and even less confident in the software.
Camera controls. After using OnePlus, the controls feel very sparse. I could adjust a lot on OnePlus or decide to save photos and videos in high efficiency formats that save space. Pixel is the point and shoot of the bunch.

OnePlus 12

Pros

Price. OnePlus sells new devices for used prices. Reminds me of when Daewoo sold cars in the US. A brand new Daewoo was the same price as a used Toyota. There's usually a reason for that too.
Charging. OnePlus and charging go together like Nutella and bananas. Charging speeds are crazy fast in comparison to the others here.
Android updates. The 12 received OxygenOS 15 (based on Android 15) by early December. The 11 is currently receiving OOS15.

Cons

Cameras. That Hasselblad branding sure looks cool and is great marketing. It is not using Hasselblad cameras. OnePlus mostly uses Sony sensors (which are fine!) with Hasselblad tuning. That means the Hasselblad people tweak the photo processing for specific results. The cameras can take great photos but I find the results mixed. Many photos are slightly fuzzy and they lean heavily into yellow. Outdoor pictures with plenty of light turn out great. Then again, most phones can manage those conditions just fine.
The United States is not a major market for OnePlus. Not a huge problem but customer service is lacking in the States. They also offer some exclusives and features to other markets, for example, the option to perform local updates (download the update and manually install from the device). OOS15 also landed in India well before the US.
After market accessories. This is cases for the 12 while its the stylus for the Pads. Its an inherit issue with less popular devices.
Proprietary charging. SuperVOOC is the OPPO and OnePlus charging protocol. While OnePlus devices will still charge with USB C, the fastest speeds require a SuperVOOC charger. One is included in the box though.
Minor bugs and fit/finish/polish issues. These are numerous and small but not deal breakers. One app overlaps in the top bar.

OnePlus 13

Pros

Flat display.
Carbon silicone battery. Higher capacity in smaller form factor than lithium batteries. Also, safer.
Improved cameras. Early reviews compare the camera to the OP12. Photos are typically better than the previous generation. Some comparisons show better photos than the Pixel 9 or iPhone 16. However, those results are inconsistent.
Modem or radio. Not a big review topic anymore but at least one reviewer showed the OnePlus 13 could pull nearly twice the download speed as the Pixel 9 Pro.

Cons

Software. OnePlus has a reputation for leaving small bugs indefinitely. I expect this to continue with the 13.
Previous issues: US market, charging protocols, accessories likely to continue.
No mmWave. Probably not a big deal for me as it has limited range, usually high density areas like stadiums or airports. I'm more likely to use satellite connections than mmWave.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Pros

S Pen. While a lot of users seem to forget it exists, the Ultra series is one of two phones that come with a built in stylus. I don't normally need this level of touchscreen precision, I could certainly find uses.
Anti reflective display. Glare drives me nuts. Its bad for the eyes.
Cameras. Four rear cameras. One is a whopping 200 mp. They can take amazing stills outdoors and in low light.
Titanium. For once, Apple did something first but Samsung was quick to copy. The frame is made from durable, lightweight titanium. A solid win.
Flat screen. First Ultra model with a flat display. Easier to use with the S Pen.

Cons

Action shots. For all the camera seems to do right, action shots aren't one of them. I've lost track of how many posts complain about blurry pictures of kids and pets. The Good Lock Camera Assistant module was launched to deal with the problem but it persists.
Square corners. Love it or hate it.
Grainy display. Not sure if its the anti reflective coating or low light issues. The screen can look terrible at lower brightness
Ads. Lots of ads. The Samsung Store (or Galaxy Store or whatever...) is an excuse to push ads.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Currently in preorder.

Pros

Improved display. This is the second generation anti reflective display. Also with more durable glass than withstand scratches better.
Slightly lighter than the previous S24 Ultra.
Same reliable Samsung software.

Cons

S Pen has lost functionality. It is no longer Bluetooth which eliminates options like camera control.
Pricing is still higher than OnePlus for the same processor but less RAM and storage.
Stale. While the corners are now rounded, there is little other progress or improvements. For example, the camera system is virtually identical to the S24 Ultra which is notorious for shutter lag and blurry photos.

Honestly, I'm disgusted by the options in the United States. Carriers have become more restrictive about device access over the last few years. AT&T and Verizon publish whitelists with approved devices for their networks. I could rant about private ownership of radio bands but that's another futile discussion.

Samsung is a safe option with widespread support and reliable software. However, the blurry photos is reason enough for me not to choose it. The Pixel can take stellar photos, but the modem is lacking. OnePlus nails cellular connectivity, device speed, and charging while the camera can be inconsistent.

Avoiding Vendor Lock In

2024-12-06T10:07:00.006-05:00

Black Friday (read: Month) brought about all kinds of ridiculously cheap MacBook deals. These were the ~~Arm~~ Apple Silicon models with the formidable M1 and M2 chips. $600 for the M1 at Walmart was tempting. So very tempting.

Let's back up. I'm a long time Android user. After Palm's failed attempt to enter a renewed smartphone market, I switched to a Moto Droid 2 Global (Walmart still sells a dummy version for unknown reasons). Looking back, that phone was terrible yet it started a nearly 15 year stretch of Android phones.

I had one brief encounter with iPhone. My ex-wife was a big fan while I stayed on Android. I ended up with an iPhone 7 in rose gold. What a color. I gave Apple a real shot. I swapped the SIM from the OG Pixel Really Blue into the iPhone 7 for a month. A very long month. There were a few things I enjoyed on it. Apple had more apps at the time. Most apps were a little better built too.

My list of complaints was much longer though. For starters, where was the file system?! I wanted to copy music over and I knew about iTunes. I figured out how to copy music from my laptop to the iPhone through iTunes. I didn't like the iTunes interface on the phone. Fine, let's download a different music player. Crap, the music player can't access the music files.

That's how it continued to go for that month. One little problem after another little problem. Nothing that would be individually deal breaking but accumulated, they made for a miserable experience.

I realized that my complaints were entirely my own. Millions of people happily used iPhones and other Apple products. The difference is akin to Windows users transitioning to Linux. Linux users readily remind them that Linux is different and they should embrace the Linux way. I was not prepared to completely conform to the Apple way. If I used the iPhone the way Apple intended, I would have a near perfect experience. It would just work.

Which takes me back to Black Friday. The MacBook deals were impressive. The newer series are lightweight, fast, quiet, and have serious stamina. Most of the time I plug in my laptop yet the allure of 15 hour battery life is real. Do I need it? Nah, but it sounds really cool.

As I dug into the pros and cons of Mac, I realized that a switch in computing power ultimately meant a switch in all things mobile. My OnePlus 12, Galaxy Tab A9+, Galaxy Watch, and other accessories would no longer serve me as well. Mac won't even talk to an Android phone without a third party app. While the Mac would offer a strong experience, the real experience comes from the complete seamless ecosystem that Apple designed.

The closest thing that Android offers is Samsung. Google wants their services used nearly everywhere on everything. Samsung, however, places a few barriers. No where near Apple levels of stone walls and alligator infested moats protecting their ecosystem, but perhaps an occasional landmine. I can use a Galaxy Watch with any Android phone but Samsung reserves features like EKG for Galaxy phones.

Today I was reminded why I don't live in a vendor restricted environment. I have been reevaluating Samsung phones, contemplating whether a Galaxy Ultra would offer advantages over a Pixel Pro or OnePlus flagship. I naively believed that Samsung would want users to install their programs on Windows to encourage phone adoption. Ha. No. Many of the Windows counterparts are still limited to Samsung Galaxy Book laptops.

Samsung isn't so delusional to believe they can create an ecosystem like Apple but they can create some vendor lock in between devices. The most complete Samsung experience is only available to users who have Galaxy Books to use with their Galaxy S phones and Galaxy Watches.

It leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Like questionable week old taco meat. What happens if I want to use a OnePlus Pad or Pixel Watch? What happens to the Samsung experience?

This is why I will purposely avoid these restrictions in the future. I don't love that the OnePlus SuperVOOC fast charging is proprietary but I can still quickly charge with any USB PD charger. Or I can use services like Google Drive or OneNote on any laptop, tablet, or phone I happen to use. I can complete my personal ecosystem with an array of devices and still find a strong degree of integration between them without permanently locking me into any walled garden.

Ultimately, the allure of a MacBook melted away as I realized the long term implications. So if you are asking yourself if its worth it, its probably not. We all should probably start recognizing that these new shiny devices often offer little over what we already own.

How to Make Fedora Look Like Ubuntu

2024-11-15T13:59:00.002-05:00

Ubuntu is known for its theming and Unity-esque appearance. Fedora's theme has improved over the years, but I still largely prefer the appearance of Ubuntu. It has a certain Mac like modern look to it and the Ubuntu font is among the best available.

To make Fedora look like Ubuntu, you can follow these steps:

Open a terminal and run:
sudo dnf install gnome-shell-yaru

Enable the Yaru theme in GnomeTweaks. Install Tweaks first if needed.
sudo dnf install gnome-tweaks

Go to the "Appearance" tab and select the Yaru theme for the Shell, Icons, and Cursor.

Install Gogh for Terminal Theme

Install Gogh from GitHub:
sh git clone https://github.com/Gogh-Co/Gogh.git cd Gogh ./install.sh

Select the "Clone of Ubuntu" profile for your terminal:
gogh clone ubuntu

Apply the theme:
gogh apply ubuntu

Install Ubuntu Fonts:

Download the Ubuntu font family from Google Fonts.

Copy the font files to the fonts directory:
sudo cp -r ~/Downloads/ubuntu-font-family-*.ttf /usr/share/fonts/ sudo fc-cache -f -v

Use Gnome Tweaks to change the default fonts. Go to the "Fonts" tab and set the Interface, Document, and Titlebar fonts to Ubuntu.

Optional: Install Extensions:

You can install extensions like "Dash to Panel" and "Arc Menu" to further customize the look and feel of your desktop.

Fedora 41 After Install Guide

2024-10-30T08:53:00.011-04:00

This getting started guide will help quickly set up Fedora 41 Workstation after a fresh install. This is my personal guide that has been revised through numerous Fedora releases and thoroughly vetted by the Linux community.

The instructions here may seem familiar for those that referenced the Fedora 40 Guide. Most instructions remain identical to past versions. I personally test these commands on my laptop and desktop. This guide is intended for the Fedora Workstation edition. The commands will work on the different desktop spins such as KDE and Budgie. Other Fedora editions such as Silverblue are not compatible.

Fedora is a very popular Linux distro for good reason. It is a favorite amongst developers and end users alike. Its also my current and preferred distro.

Current Stable Release

Fedora 41Workstation and other Spins were released as stable on October 29, 2024.

How To Use This Guide

Open a command line, a la Terminal, by pressing the Super key and typing Terminal. Copy the commands and paste into the Terminal. Pasting in the Terminal requires Ctrl + Shift + V or right click and select paste.

Tweak the Update Process

Before installing updates, consider adding the following DNF flag (DNF is the package management system that handles installing and updating software). These will enable a maximum of 10 parallel downloads. This can speed up the download process.

Some guides will recommend adding fastest mirror, but this can actually cause slower downloads as the server selected may have inadequate bandwidth. Similarly, Delta RPMs are enabled by default.

Tweak the Update Process

Some guides will recommend adding fastest mirror, but this can actually cause slower downloads as the server selected may have inadequate bandwidth. Similarly, Delta RPMs are enabled by default.

sudo nano /etc/dnf/dnf.conf

Copy and paste the following line into dnf.conf.

max_parallel_downloads=10

Update the System

Linux distros have frequent updates, patches, and feature upgrades. Its always important to keep software up to date for security reasons but its even more important with a fresh install. If its been a while since the distro was released, some of the packages may be feeling a little exposed. Get them up to date before doing anything else.

sudo dnf -y upgrade --refresh

Reboot after updating.

Update Firmware

Some manufacturers support device firmware and UEFI updates on Linux. The following commands will find devices with firmware, search for possible firmware updates, and install the updates. These updates can patch security bugs and improve performance.

sudo fwupdmgr get-devices 
sudo fwupdmgr refresh --force 
sudo fwupdmgr get-updates 
sudo fwupdmgr update

Enable RPM Fusion

RPM Fusion offers packages that cannot be offered in the official Fedora repos due to various reasons, such as non free or proprietary licensing. These instructions are kindly borrowed from RPM Fusion. An RPM is also available that will enable these repos. This command enables free and non free repos.

sudo dnf install -y https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm https://mirrors.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm

Update the system before installing the tainted free and tainted non free repos. The tainted free repo provides DVD playback support. Tainted non free contains non FOSS software and hardware drivers.

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
sudo dnf -y groupupdate core
sudo dnf install -y rpmfusion-free-release-tainted
sudo dnf install -y rpmfusion-nonfree-release-tainted 
sudo dnf install -y dnf-plugins-core

Flatpak and Snap

With Fedora 38 and newer releases, the full Flathub repo is available for Flatpaks when you choose the option to Enable Third Party Repositories. This can be done when initially opening the Software Center. Otherwise, Fedora includes a curated Flathub repo with far fewer options.

Snap support is easily enabled as well. Many Snap packages also have Flatpak counterparts. Consider evaluating Snapcraft to see if the redundancy is necessary. Snap does come with FOSS controversy. While the frontend Snap packages are open source, the backend server side of Snaps is closed source and managed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux. Snap is generally unpopular with the larger Linux community but there are many applications available through it.

sudo dnf install -y snapd
sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap # for classic snap support
sudo reboot now

Multimedia

VLC handles most multimedia, but I still prefer to add additional codec support whenever possible.

For DVD playback, install the libdvdcss package. Requires the previously mentioned tainted free repo.

sudo dnf install -y libdvdcss

The following command will adds packages for gstreamer enabled applications. This enables playback of multimedia files. Names like bad and ugly refer to patent and licensing status.

sudo dnf groupupdate multimedia --setopt="install_weak_deps=False" --exclude=PackageKit-gstreamer-plugin

OpenH264 is used for H.264/MPEG-4 media playback. Adding this can enhance your web browsing experience. Enable OpenH264 support in Firefox by adding the repo and installing the plugin.

sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled fedora-cisco-openh264
sudo dnf install -y gstreamer1-plugin-openh264 mozilla-openh264

After installing OpenH264, open Firefox and navigate to Menu > Add-ons and themes > Plugins. Enable the OpenH264 plugin . Verify the plugin is working correctly.

Run a system update again with support for additional multimedia codecs this time.

sudo dnf groupupdate sound-and-video

Enable Power Percentage

If you're a mobile user relying on a battery, its helpful to know exactly how much is left. This command displays the battery percentage next to the battery.

gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface show-battery-percentage true

You can also enable this by opening Settings then Power and scrolling to the bottom. Click to enable Show Battery Percentage.

Improved Fonts

If you're happy with the default fonts on Fedora, then carry on. These are the default fonts on Pop!_OS.

sudo dnf install -y fira-code-fonts 'mozilla-fira*' 'google-roboto*'

After installing, open Gnome Tweaks to tweak the fonts. If you haven't installed Gnome Tweaks, its necessary to do so before proceeding.

sudo dnf install -y gnome-tweaks gnome-extensions-app

Open Gnome Tweaks and adjust each font individually. Most modern screens are LCD and will benefit from enabling Subpixel Antialiasing.

Installing Microsoft TrueType fonts can improve compatibility and stability of Microsoft Office generated files, including those in Microsoft 365. Follow these commands to install the fonts.

sudo dnf install curl cabextract xorg-x11-font-utils fontconfig

sudo rpm -i https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/mscorefonts2/rpms/msttcore-fonts-installer-2.6-1.noarch.rpm

Install Apps via Command Line

Many of these applications are found in the Software Center. If you're move comfortable installing software in a graphical point and click environment, skip down to Install via Software Center.

Software installations can be stacked together to save time and effort. For example, if you wish to install VLC and GIMP, the command can be executed as sudo dnf install -y install vlc gimp .

Instructions to install the Flatpak versions have been added. It is only necessary to install via dnf or Flatpak but not both.

Archive tools open compressed files.

sudo dnf install -y unzip p7zip p7zip-plugins unrar

Audacity is an excellent audio editor.

sudo dnf install -y audacity 
flatpak install flathub org.audacityteam.Audacity

Bitwarden is an open source password manager akin to LastPass or 1Pass. It integrates with autofill on Android. It syncs passwords across Android, Linux, ,iOS, OS X, and Windows. Bitwarden can be installed through AppImage, DEB, Flatpak, RPM, and Snap. DEB and RPM packages do not auto update. CLI Tools are available along with browser extensions. The Flatpak version is an unofficial release.

flatpak install flathub com.bitwarden.desktop

sudo snap install bitwarden

Dropbox is a cloud storage service that works across multiple platforms.

sudo dnf install -y dropbox nautilus-dropbox 
flatpak install flathub com.dropbox.Client

Geary is a simple to use email client

sudo dnf install -y geary
flatpak install flathub org.gnome.Geary

GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program is an open source photo editor often touted as the alternative to its proprietary counterpart.

sudo dnf install -y gimp 
flatpak install flathub org.gimp.GIMP

Gnome Tweak Tool makes it easy to modify the system and accompanying Gnome Extensions helps to manage installed extensions.

sudo dnf install -y gnome-tweaks gnome-extensions-app

qBittorrent is designed to be similar to µTorrent, a popular Windows Bittorrent client.

sudo dnf install -y qbittorrent 
flatpak install flathub org.qbittorrent.qBittorrent

Simplenote is a free note taking app developed by Automattic (the WordPress people). Simplenote syncs across virtually everything and supports AppImage, DEB, and RPM. Part of the appeal of Simplenote is markdown support but the other cool thing is WordPress support. Simplenote can be tied to a WordPress account for easy posting. Available Flatpak or Snap.

flatpak install flathub com.simplenote.Simplenote

Spotify is a music streaming service with mobile apps available as well.

flatpak install flathub com.spotify.Client

Standard Notes is a lot like Simplenote. Its free. Its open source. Its crazy cross platform. If the Automattic/Wordpress relationship makes you uncomfortable or maybe you just don't need it, try Standard Notes instead. Standard Notes has one big advantage over Simplenote: extensions. Yes, the extensions do cost but they effectively turn Standard Notes into a mini office suite with support for markdown, rich text, LaTeX, and HTML to backup support for Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.

flatpak install flathub org.standardnotes.standardnotes

Steam is a gaming platform. I’m not a gamer but for this is the place to download games.

sudo dnf install -y steam
flatpak install flathub com.valvesoftware.Steam

Tutanota is a privacy focused email service.

flatpak install flathub com.tutanota.Tutanota

VLC is a popular media player capable of playing just about anything.

sudo dnf install -y vlc 
flatpak install flathub org.videolan.VLC

OBS Studio captures, records, and streams live video.

sudo dnf install -y obs-studio 
flatpak install flathub com.obsproject.Studio

GParted is a partition management utility. Gnome Disks is preinstalled on Fedora with similar functionality. GParted is a personal preference.

sudo dnf install -y gparted

Open Gnome Tweaks to tweak the fonts.

Install via Software Center

Fedora ships with the Gnome Software Center as the primary home for installing applications. Gnome Software is relatively easy to use with software categories.

Upon first use, a prompt appears at the top to enable Third Party Software Repositories. This option was also available in the initial Welcome screen. The option is additionally available in the hamburger menu (the three stacked lines) in the upper right corner. Select that menu and choose Software Repositories.

Enable Third Party Repositories in Fedora 39

Scroll down to find Fedora Third Party Repositories. This option enables useful repos like Google Chrome, Nvidia Drivers, Steam, and more.

Explore the categories at the bottom to discover different software. The magnifying glass in the top left opens the search function. The Software Center showcases "Editor's Choice" titles. Many of them appear to be popular Linux titles.

Software package page

Clicking a software title will open a page with screenshots, a summary of the software, version information, and the option to install. The source menu located under the Install button displays different places or ways to install the software.

For Geary, I selected Fedora Linux. Installing from Fedora Linux uses the RPM package. Using a distro's own package format like RPM is often the best way to install the software with the smallest footprint and fastest load times. Software can also be installed from Flatpak in Gnome Software Center. When in doubt, install from the default source.

Browsers

I recommend using Firefox. End of story. Its a free and open source browser from a company that respects standards. For a Chromium based browser, consider Brave, Opera, or Vivaldi. Chrome is also easily available after enabling Third Party Repositories. Microsoft has released its Chromium based Edge browser for Linux as well though it may not be quite feature complete compared to the Windows version.

Brave is a privacy focused browser known for its advertising crypto called BAT.

sudo dnf install dnf-plugins-core

sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/brave-browser.repo

sudo rpm --import https://brave-browser-rpm-release.s3.brave.com/brave-core.asc

sudo dnf install brave-browser

Chromium is the open source browser project that Google Chrome builds on.

sudo dnf install -y chromium

OR if you want to install full blown Google-ized Chrome. If you want to install a different version, change the package from -stable to -beta or -unstable. Note: if you previously enabled Third Party Repositories, you can safely skip installing fedora-workstation-repositories below.

sudo dnf install fedora-workstation-repositories
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled google-chrome
sudo dnf install -y google-chrome-stable

Non Repo Software

AppImageLauncher is an AppImage management utility. It makes it easier to track which AppImages have been installed on your system, helps to integrate them, and allows the user to easily remove them. It is available for download as an AppImage, DEB, RPM, and Tarball.

Try a secure email service like Protonmail or Tutanota. Gmail, Outlook, and other free email services offer tons of storage. In exchange, they mine your data to show you ads. Secure email services encrypt your data so they are unable to read it. Tutanota offers a free AppImage and Flatpak desktop client while Protonmail enables IMAP with a paid plan.

Flatpak

Many Gnome applications are available as Flatpaks now. Fedora even defaults to Flatpak in Gnome Software. Check out the list of Best Flatpaks for more options.

Snap

Snap has become a popular option for packaging Linux applications as well. I'm not a huge gamer but Urban Terror is a great online FPS.

Snaps do not display in Gnome Software. Consult Snapcraft to find more.

Extensions

I don't recommend installing more than one Gnome Extension at a time to ensure compatibility and reliability. While they can enhance the Gnome experience and improve desktop customization, installing too many extensions can also adversely effect system performance.

Dash to Dock

Dash to Dock converts the bottom dock style bar into a proper application dock. It can be tweaked to autohide, extend to the edges, and move sides.

GSConnect

GSConnect allows notification syncing so that phone calls, messages, and app notifications will all appear on your desktop. Phone battery life is also displayed. It goes beyond just notifications though.

Text messages can be responded to or even started from the desktop. It also opens up file transfers between devices. While I like Google Messages for RCS and web access, it doesn't compare to the features GSConnect offers.

GSConnect works with KDE Connect Android app. Before I go any further: Do not install KDE Connect on the Gnome Desktop Environment. It will interfere with GSConnect. GSConnect is the Gnome implementation of KDE Connect. The KDE Connect Android app works with both desktop programs.

Change the Desktop Environment

Fedora uses Gnome by default with several other desktop environment (DE) spins available. These DEs are still available after installing Fedora. Installing multiple DEs can cause conflicts with key managers and themes.

Available desktop environments can be found with this command:

dnf grouplist -v

The command will yield a list similar to this:

Fedora Custom Operating System (custom-environment)
Minimal Install (minimal-environment)
Fedora Server Edition (server-product-environment)
Fedora Workstation (workstation-product-environment)
Fedora Cloud Server (cloud-server-environment)
KDE Plasma Workspaces (kde-desktop)
Xfce Desktop (xfce-desktop)
LXDE Desktop (lxde-desktop)
LXQt Desktop (lxqt-desktop)
Cinnamon Desktop (cinnamon-desktop)
MATE Desktop (mate-desktop)
Sugar Desktop Environment (sugar-desktop)
Deepin Desktop (deepin-desktop)
Development and Creative Workstation (developer-workstation)
Web Server (web-server-environment)
Infrastructure Server (infrastructure-server-environment)
Basic Desktop (basic-desktop-environment)

Using the package name from the list above, install the desktop enviroment with a simple dnf install substituting kde-desktop-environment with the preferred DE.

sudo dnf install @kde-desktop

DEs can be switched at the login screen or alternatively, with the Desktop Switcher tool.

sudo dnf -y install switchdesk switchdesk-gui

Open the Desktop Switcher and select the preferred DE.

Comparing Oil Prices

2020-07-13T11:37:00.002-04:00

I'm a sucker for spreadsheets. Its so convenient to lay out the data, compare, and make an informed decision. Okay. I probably get carried away with it. Did I really need to make one to compare oil prices? Um no. But I didn't anyway.

My Grand Oil Price Comparison Spreadsheet

This comparison includes motor oil, gear oil, and transmission fluid prices I compiled from Amazon, Autozone, Meijer, Menards, Tractor Supply, and Walmart. These prices are generally for the West Central Indiana market so they may vary.

As I have time, I will add other local retailers (Advance Auto, Napa, and O'Reilly). This is mostly centered around my fleet of Fords. In our household, we're driving a 1998 F-150 XLT 4.6L 4x4, 2004 Expedition XLT 4.6L 4x4, and a 2010 Expedition EL Eddie Bauer 5.4L 4x4. I never meant to be a Ford fanboy but its pretty convenient keeping all the same fluids and filters around.

Some oils are marked specifically as 5w-20 (that's what Ford recommends afterall). The 5w-30 prices are probably the same. These prices are current to July 2020.

If you're not yet on Honey, join today. Honey allows you save items to a droplist that watches for price drops. It takes the work out of being frugal. Find your favorite oil on Amazon (or elsewhere) and let Honey tell you when the price goes lower. The Honey extension will even tell you if the item is the best deal available.

Praying Mantis Sees You

2015-11-12T02:04:00.000-05:00

Shot with my Motorola Droid Turbo. No touch ups but minor cropping. Taken summer 2015.

Splitting Kindling

2015-11-11T03:31:00.001-05:00

Its fun revving up the saw and felling a tree. Its relaxing to rhythmically swing a maul. Its delightful to hear the wood crack and pop as it splits. The neatly stacked rows of seasoning wood are a proud accomplishment.

Kindling is the one wood heat chore no one seems to like. Its time consuming. It can be dangerous. The meager mound of kindling feels like a weak victory compared to tenacious, stacked cord wood.

At least, that's how I felt. I was never quite sure what to do with it. I often gathered sticks and sometimes the wood bits from splitting. When I tried splitting wood down to kindling size, it felt like it took forever.

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Linux Uptime

2015-11-06T20:24:00.001-05:00

Linux rarely needs a reboot. With more recent kernels, it doesn't really need to reboot at all. Since I've been studying for my CompTIA A+ exam, I've left a lot of material open and handy. I lost track of how long my desktop had been running so I ran a simple terminal command "uptime" to see.

Yes, that would be 53 days, 14 hours, and 38 minutes. Try doing that on Windows.

Drolet HT-2000 Update

2015-11-06T20:18:00.000-05:00

Since I've used this stove a few times, I just wanted to show how you could load the wood in a North-South orientation. This wasn't even full but it still burned all night and kept the house warm.

Lighting the stove has been very easy with a little kindling on top of the wood. It drafts very, very well (I have about six feet of single wall pipe in the house and another nine feet of double wall pipe for a chimney).

I've smelled smoke only once in the house. It was my fault. Open the damper completely (set it to 4 or IIII) and wait just a moment before opening the door. Even with the door open, the draft is strong enough that smoke doesn't come in the house.

Husqvarna 460 Rancher Chain Saw

2015-11-01T02:20:00.001-05:00

When your 450 isn't big enough, get the 460. Its the biggest non commercial saw that Husqvarna sells.

I'm still really happy with my 450 but I added the 460 to the fleet when the 450 needed repairs. The 450 was quite literally pouring oil out the bottom.

The 460 has a few advantages though. It has 3/8" pitch chain versus the 450 has 0.325". That is a common pitch and it can take a little bigger bite than the 0.325. The larger engine offers more power and the longer bar (24") allows for bigger cuts and easier limbing work.

I also made the mistake of purchasing my 450 from a big box store. While there's nothing exactly wrong with that, the local dealer was the same price and far more helpful when picking out a saw.

Drolet HT-2000 Extra Large Wood Stove

2015-11-01T01:56:00.002-05:00

Drolet HT-2000

Since our old Blaze King bit the dust, we replaced it with the Drolet HT-2000. It was a special order from Menards for $1099. Wait and watch carefully, you can grab it with the 11% rebate. Its free shipping to the store. Otherwise, you're looking at a couple hundred in shipping fees to your home. I also ordered the blower for $100. Drolet will send a 25% off coupon after registering the warranty so it might be worthwhile waiting to order the blower.

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Husqvarna 450 Rancher

2015-02-28T22:46:00.000-05:00

I have been cutting with the 450 Rancher for a couple years now. This winter I started cutting significantly more as I'm cutting firewood to heat with. I'm generally happy with the saw with a couple caveats.

Getting Started With Fedora 20

2014-04-29T21:06:00.000-04:00

This is my compiled list of commands to get a new Fedora installation working to my requirements. This list will get you going with a some useful applications and the necessary codecs for watching and listening to media.

This guide is made for Fedora 20 aka Heisenbug 64 bit. Most of these instructions will carry over to the 32 bit. If you have not yet installed Fedora, go to the project site to download the ISO and learn more about it.
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Broken Ax Handles

2013-12-12T21:10:00.001-05:00

This would be the second handle I've broken this year. It was a hickory handle and didn't show any signs of wear or damage. And for that matter, I have good aim. I didn't hit the handle on anything. Yet today whilst I was split some seasoned maple, the maul head broke clean off.

So I'm not sure what to replace it with. I hate the feeling of fiber glass and composite resin handles even though they last longer. Hickory definitely feels better but its not as durable.

So if anyone has any suggestions, I'll take them.

Cast Iron Seasoning

2013-12-07T17:41:00.000-05:00

Cast iron works best when its well seasoned. That means obtaining a beautiful black finish. Cooking in it helps the most. A few pounds of bacon and your skillet should look great. That doesn't work as well if you need a quicker seasoning.

Many people recommend coating the cast iron and placing it upside down over a cookie sheet in the oven. While this method does work, I was left with a smokey house.

So instead, I tried it on the grill.

I left the grill on high for about half an hour and allowed it to cool for several hours. The results were prefect.

Linux Sync Services

2013-07-01T01:30:00.003-04:00

I love syncing data. I really do. Its simplified life from copying files to a flash drive to move from one computer to another. And then when I adopted my first smartphones (Palm Centro, Palm Pre) it was a hassle carrying data with me. I would take a picture and then need a data cable to download it to my computer.

Sync and backup services automate much of that now. I like to complicate things a little further though. I require services that work not only with Windows and Android (which most, if not all, do) but also with Linux. Specifically, I run Ubuntu and Fedora so some apps like Ubuntu One (which I like) don't work fully for me. Thus, my great sync service face off.

adeptCloud
AdeptCloud lures users in with promises of free "unlimited files of unlimited size." The trouble is that its not truly unlimited. This service does not offer free online storage like the others do. Its purely for syncing files and it relies on the storage space on the user's systems. It does, however, work on Linux, Mac, and Windows as well as Android and iOS. It will not work on a mobile device alone. A desktop system is required to store the files and the mobile device will retrieve them from there. AdeptCloud says it will create a "mesh of storage" for easy access.

I am already disappointed with this service. When I tried syncing the files to Ubuntu, I couldn't download anything. Why? Because they are on my desktop at home that's turned off. I was also disappointed by the installation process. Dropbox can offer DEBs and RPMs but all adeptCloud offers is a lousy RUN file.

Online storage is available to business customers for a fee of $10 per month covering up to 10 employees.

Box
I like Box. Mostly. I've taken advantage of the free 50 GB promotion they've had at one time or another. Those 50 gigs make Box very like-able for me. What don't I like? No native Linux support and poor sync support for Android. Other apps will automatically upload new photos from my phone. Not Box. Box can be synced with Linux using webdav. Still not on par with a native application. I keep Box around to backup the files I don't need as often.

Copy
Copy offers pretty much everything I'm after: lots of free space (I have 17 GB now), Linux support (in the form of a tarball), an Android app, Windows support, and auto photo uploading. Given that this doesn't have the space that my Box account does, I wouldn't do a backup here. This will likely become my main service. Copy offers 5 GB for each referral (that's 5 for me and 5 for you if you sign up) and doesn't appear to have a limit. Its cheap too. For $100 a year, you can get 250 gigs.

Dropbox
This is the biggie. Dropbox is probably the most popular service around. It does offer strong Linux support (32- and 64-bit RPM and DEB) and a capable mobile app with automatic photo upload. Dropbox fails when it comes to capacity. It comes with 2 GB standard and referrals will only earn you 500 MB apiece. You also top out at 18 GB of free space. Paid upgrades start at $100 a year for 100 gigs. Because of several security gaps in the last few years, I don't keep anything too important or private on Dropbox. It is still a strong syncing service and an easy way to share files.

Google Drive
Anyone with a Google account already has a Drive whether or not they use it. I love Drive for editing documents and I backup all of my school work to it. It has Android and Windows apps which sync all of the documents to my computers. Drive also comes with 15 GB of storage that's shared with Gmail and Google+ Photos. However, anything created in Drive (Docs, Sheets, Slides) and pictures smaller than 2048x2048 do not count towards storage.

I have a rant against Google here. Google is a company that is basically built on Linux. Its servers run Linux. Its desktops are limited to Linux or Mac (special permission is required at Google to use Windows). Android and ChomeOS are built on Linux. Yet for some odd reason, they have not released a Drive app for Linux yet. Personally, I feel they could pay back some of their success with a few native apps for Linux.

There are alternative solutions here. I've tried Grive and Insync. Grive worked but it requires an active Internet connection. Insync is in beta for Linux and once out of beta will cost a one time fee of $10. I still utilize Drive though. My photos auto upload to Google+ and I keep my school work in Drive. Cost wise? 100 GB at $5 a month ($60 a year).

Skydrive
This is a service I want to use. It plays well with Android and my photos. It integrates tightly with Windows 8 but is still fine on 7. It comes with 7 gigs of free storage but the upgrades are dirt cheap. How about 20 GB/$10 a year, 50 GB/$25, or 100 GB/ $50? That's on top of the free 7. I also appreciate that Skydrive gives the user the option to select MS Office XML format or OpenDocument Format for files that are created in Skydrive. The ability to create documents directly from Skydrive a la Google Drive is pretty awesome. This has a big advantage over Google because it creates the documents in the MS format.

Skydrive is lacking for me in the Linux arena. There's no Linux support since it is, after all, a Microsoft product designed for Windows.

Ubuntu One
One is designed by Canonical for Ubuntu. Its made to backup Ubuntu and sync files between Ubuntu, Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. It generally does this well. It auto uploads photos from Android quickly but the ability to preview the photos on Android is poor in comparison to Dropbox. It comes with 5 GB for free with 20 GB packs available for $30 a year.

Fun with Eggs

2013-06-30T21:31:00.002-04:00

This egg had a super thin shell which let the light shine through it perfectly.

Merry Christmas

2012-12-25T02:36:00.000-05:00

Ich wünsche euch ein frohes Weihnachtsfest und alles Gute zum neuer Jahr!

Quote of the Week

2012-11-05T01:54:00.000-05:00

Quote of the Week

2012-06-16T00:39:00.001-04:00

Two very good quotes from George Orwell this time. Orwell is most notably the author of "1984" and also "Animal Farm." When you hear people talk about Big Brother, you can thank Orwell. Or think of an Orwellian society, a controlling totalitarian society.

Journalism is printing what someone else does not wanted printed. Everything is public relations.

During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act.

Apple Patent Wars

2012-06-12T02:47:00.000-04:00

Apple is working quite successfully to ban the import of HTC products in the United States. This is just another saga in the ongoing patent wars between Apple, Microsoft, and the Android crowd. Aside from the fact that the delayed import of Android devices is annoying, its disappointing to me in other aspects.

I'm actually becoming fond of the iPhone. There's definitely things I would change about it. A larger screen would be great (and rumor is, the next iPhone will have it). Perhaps making it more durable would help as well. What I really like is jailbreaking.

It is very difficult to root most Android phones. I've been considering rooting my HTC Droid Incredible 2 or more likely my old Motorola Droid 2 Global. Unfortunately... That involves rolling back the device firmware, gaining root access, and then loading whatever you want.

On the iPhone, its as simple as visiting jailbreakme.com and clicking the button on the iPhone. It'll unlock the iPhone and gain access.

Now, if it wasn't for philosophical reasons, I would probably switch to an iPhone eventually. The key is Apple's behavior. If Apple would quit fighting its sales battles in court, I would buy one. Until then, I will stick with the free, open source based alternative.

Quote of the Week

2012-05-05T00:31:00.004-04:00

Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote of the Week

2012-04-25T10:32:00.000-04:00

With all of the ridiculous legislation that education is facing in the United States, I cannot foresee this country turning out many more great thinkers. If we do, they will be privately educated where those institutions have the ability to truly challenge students' thinking.

The aim of public education is not to fill the young of the species with knowledge and awaken their intelligence. ... Nothing could be further from the truth. The aim ... is simply to reduce as many individuals as possible to the same safe level, to breed and train a standardized citizenry, to put down dissent and originality. That is its aim in the United States... and that is its aim everywhere else.
-H.L. Mencken

This actually makes me think of an anecdote from a teacher. When one of her students failed to complete his homework consistently, she phoned the child's mother. She explained the situation that this young pupil was failing to complete assignments and she was seeking the mother's help in getting the work finished. The mother in turn called the principal to complain that the teacher was harassing her and that her child did not have to do homework if he did not want to!

When the teacher had the student in class again, the student remarked that he wasn't doing the homework but he knew she would pass anyway. Why? He brought up that the teacher will not get a raise unless her students pass the class (welcome to Indiana!). Her response? "I don't care, I'm leaving after this year."

Quote of the Week

2012-04-18T10:23:00.000-04:00

I love deadlines, especially the whooshing sound they make as they go by.

-Douglas Adams

Who isn't this relevant to? Sometimes we just can't meet deadlines or follow through with our promises. Its time to fret about this less and move on.