Ubuntu software store - main screen

The team of programmers are now preparing a new software manager called Ubuntu Software Store, which adds some interesting features:

• Even better usability;
• Improved sorting software to multiple levels of categories;
• More information about programs (link to homepage, screen-shots, users ratings and comments);
• Sale of commercial software;
• And many more.

Yes, Ubuntu Software was inspired by the iTunes Store, Android Market, etc. I think it’s a good idea. Over 8 million users, Ubuntu is already an interesting target group for the commerce software maker and Ubuntu Software Store could be a great distribution and sales channel.

Ubuntu software store - detail of app

In the discussions you will find many people who are against: “Closed software in Linux distributions? No!”. But I think it’s a great way. I like open source OS. I can customize anything without fear of the license etc. With the programs it is different. Why do you not purchase high-quality graphics editor, if you need something better than the Gimp?

The reason why Linux on the desktop still takes only about 3% of desktop users is:

1. great demands on the user’s knowledge,
2. lack of commercial software for particular tasks,
3. small number of games.

Thanks Ubuntu, paragraph 1 is no longer true. Really there is nothing to worry about. Then next time I will write articles about why and how to switch to Ubuntu. Point 2 and 3 could support the project just Ubuntu Software Store. Certainly, this is the way for more years. It’s a chance for the future of Linux on the desktop.

I certainly recommend trying the demo and decide for yourself.

Drtivá většina populace je z české politické elity zoufalá. Na místo služby lidem jsme svědky práce individuí, kterým jde především o vlastní zisk a osobní výhody. Stále stejné tváře využívají svou imunitu a vliv na soukromé zájmy. Korupce je prostoupená do všech parlamentních stran a nejvyšších kruhů. Zdá se, že není koho volit. Většina voličů vybere menší zlo v podobě hlasu jedné z velkých politických stran. Myslí si, že hlas menší straně je ztracený hlas. Tento předsudek tvoří začarovaný kruh, kdy většina společnosti není spokojena se současnou politikou, ale bojí se dát hlas pro změnu.

Proč volíte stále stejné tváře, stále ty stejně neschopné a prospěchářské politiky, kterým jde pouze o vlastní moc? Proč? Existují alternativy. Dejte hlas jedné z menších stran. Ukažte současným politikům, že nejsme blbí! Dejme šanci jiným. Politika se dá dělat jinak, ale vyžaduje to hlas každého z vás.

Dovolím si vás seznámit se stranou, která mě v posledním roce zaujala a které dám svůj hlas já. Jedná se o stranu Věci veřejné, která už dosáhla úspěchů na lokální úrovni, především v Praze 1, kde skončila jako druhá ve volbách do místního zastupitelstva. V současné době je předsedou strany Radek John, známý žurnalista.

Věci veřejné jsou středovou stranou s mírně pravicovou orientací. Snaží se o přímou demokracii, kde budou moci lidé více zasahovat do vlády, více kontrolovat práci politiků a dokonce je odvolat, pokud s jejich výsledky nejsou spokojeni. To si myslím, že je jediný způsob jak v ČR dosáhnout politiky bez korupce a bez upřednostňování osobních zájmů politiků před zájmy veřejnými.

Přečtěte si jejich program a jejich názory. Pokud vás to neosloví přímo, podívejte se i na jiné neparlamentní strany. Jistě najdete stranu, která vám bude programem, cíli a myšlenkami blízká.

Jděte k volbám a zúčastněte se změny v české politice. Až budete po volbách sedět s přáteli a povídat si o politice, budete moct říct, že o nutnosti změny nejen mluvíte, ale že jste pro to i něco udělali.

Den nezkažený zprávami z české politické scény přeje
Martin Janda

Over 50% of all installed programs on personal computers are warez.

Warez is used to describe any illegal software. . Warez surely is a phenomenon; over 50 % of all installed programs on personal computers are warez.

Why do people use warez?

It’s free as in beer. Warez application does not restrict user registration and product key.

Why is the use of warez a bad idea?

It is very naive to think that if someone is capable of breaking software protection, she cannot add a Trojan horse or backdoor code into the application. This code
provides an attacker with the access to your computer. Yes, it is possible and actually it is happening quite often. Hackers use this technique to build botnets. Botnets are networks of infected PCs that are used to obtain personal data, send spam and participate in DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks. Your sensitive data (access to your Internet banking, email, etc.) may be compromised of your computer may be used for illegal activities. For example, your ISP may call you and tell you: “your PC is used to spread spam so you are going to be disconnected”.

What are the effects of warez on the future of commercial software?

Warez is one of the reasons why companies prefer the “applications as a service” sales model. A major emerging trend is cloud computing. This is logical: application is running remotely and is difficult to steal and give away as warez.

What are the alternatives to using warez?

- Buying the original software,
- using online applications (software as a service), or
- using open source applications.

There are plenty of options and there is no reason to use warez. Your computer and your data will be safe. If you are doing standard work on PC and you do not need any special software, try Linux (e. g. Ubuntu). It needs to get accustomed to, but maybe you will be surprised how comfortable the use of this OS is.

More information on Wikipedia or homepage of Debian.

As you might know, Google has recently introduced their new operating system: Chrome OS. This OS focuses on netbooks and later on it is going to focus on all personal computers.

What do we know about Chrome OS now?

• It’s Open source (similar as Android).
• It’s an OS for x86 and ARM platform.
• It’s based on Linux kernel.
• It’ll provide development support for develepors (SDK, library) similar as Android provides.

What do we not know yet about Chrome OS?

The most important question for me is: ill there be native offline applications? Will they be written in, for example, Java?

My opinion

I have a G1 phone with Android OS and it supports an interesting combination of online and offline apps.  If Google Chrome OS is built in the similar way (i.e. Linux kernel and Java layer on top of it) as Android OS and Google provides developers with development tools, library and documentation, it may be a successful achievement. Chrome looks like a very promising OS for the ARM platform such as Nvidia Tegra where Microsoft is not able to offer an OS now. If Idea Market is used as the channel for distribution of free and paid applications, this could work. As a result, this may be the first really successful Linux desktop. Good for normal users.

And what about geeks? Thes can always find a way how to get behind an OS.

Anyway, I have my fingers crossed for Google developers.