TuxJam

Andrew, Dave and Kevie return after a bit of a delay having fought off a number of viruses kindly donated to them by their children. We hope you enjoy our 68th offering of free and open source software and creative commons software.

After the usual distrowatch roundup with our quick impressions of recent linux distribution releases, we take a deeper look at the highly polished linux distribution from China, Deepin linux 15.7.

And an apology follows, because in TuxJam 60 (Thrusty spaceships) the show notes claimed we reviewed the game Alite, a re-creation of the classic game Elite on Android, but we did not. This was politely pointed out to us by its developer Philipp Bouillon. Sorry Phillip! We hope we have now righted that wrong by reviewing it in this episode.

Also reviewed is the interesting but quirky FOSS Browser on Android.

Finally, in the feedback section we briefly discuss the review of TuxJam by the LinuxLinks website and how we compare, in their opinion, to other Linux podcasts. We round of the show recalling our fond memories of this year’s Podcrawl Glasgow and also Oggcamp 2018 which was held in Sheffield.

CC Music tracks:

• Secret by Vinyl Blast
• Free by Chris Barba Band
• Back to Virginia by Barefoot McCoy
• Whiskey Woman by Arrow & Olive

Your feedback is always welcome, email us direct should you have any advice, tips, questions or simply want to say hi.

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Andrew, Dave and Kevie take a break from the hot summer sun and return with episode 67. The guys set aside their differences on pronunciation and review BunsenLabs, a Linux distro that has risen from the ashes of the discontinued CrunchBang distro.

As the days turn brighter and the nights get longer, in order to make those outside chores a bit more pleasant the focus turns to filling up your chosen listening devices with your favourite podcast. They then turn their attention to podcatchers with a look at Antennapod on Android and Gpodder for those who still like to use a PC.

With the heat of summer and the nagging to get out of the house, we also discuss Podcrawl Glasgow, which is due to kick off at 6pm on Saturday 28th July in the State Bar, Holland St, Glasgow. We hope that as many as possible will make the journey to Glasgow to join up with the TuxJam crew.

Projects included in this episode are:

• BunsenLabs (distro)
• Antennapod (Android)
• Gpodder (desktop)

Also, let us not forget the usual mix of CC tracks :

• Summer Pop Upbeat by Trending Music
• Let Me Sing For You by Mikhail Rezanov
• We’ll Be Fine by Julie and Gent
• Summertime by Tullio
• Aube by Remy Bourgeuis

Your feedback is always welcome, email us direct should you have any advice, tips, questions or simply want to say hi.

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After their usual swing through distrowatch, your hosts Kevie, Dave (aka thelovebug) and Andrew (aka mcnalu) pair up to review three offerings from the wonderful world of free and open source software:

NextCloud Notes (note taking app for NextCloud)

Heads (Live distro, focused on privacy, based on Devuan)

SimpleNote (Cloud based note taking app for Android)

Along with the usual mix of Creative Commons music:

• Cloud of Pleasure – Perfect as a Sky
• Avi Rosenfeld – Gotta Feel Alright
• Freeground – Run Jam
• Saint Anyway – Burning Down the House
• Songwriterz – You Can Lean On Me

No keyboards were harmed during the making of this podcast though one did have too much beer and had to spend a few days sobering up.

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In this episode your intrepid explorers, Dave, Kevie and Andrew take a stroll through distrowatch and then venture deep into  the forest of free and open source software to discover three treasures:

• EndlessOS (distro)
• Signal (Android)
• OBS (screen recording and streaming software)

Creative commons tunes played in this episode:

• To Hope – Hard Day
• The Woods – The Road
• Pat Broderick – Climbin The Rocks
• Ken Roberts – Every Day
• Rotor GR – Blues Rock

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Kevie, Dave (aka thelovebug) and Andrew (aka mcnalu) take a wander through the wonders of recent releases reported on distrowatch before reviewing a trio of free and open source marvels. For older hardware and those in places where the internet is not so great, there is the Emmabuntüs linux distro. Then if you have some free time to fill, you might want to try out the space sim game Pioneer. It’s inspired by the classic Elite 2: Frontier game. But if you have no free time at all and are prone to forgetting important tasks (ed: such as writing show notes) then why not let your phone govern your life with the Open Tasks app.

Projects:

• Emmabuntüs
• Pioneer
• OpenTasks

Music:

• Fader Hill – Better Day
• Run – Against The World
• Heifervescent – The Man That Time Forgot
• Aquartos – The Road to Nowhere
• Kalerie – Town of Birds

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Kevie, Dave (aka thelovebug) and Andrew (aka mcnalu) begin their New Year detox and fitness regime by talking about beer and pipes before going through their regular distrowatch work-out which includes a brief furrowing of brows over the Spectre and Meltdown security vulnerabilities.

Next our intrepid trio review:

• PureOS – A free software respecting GNU/Linux distro (vaguely related to detox via its name)
• Speedmeter – A simple app that tells you information about your movements (featuring a mini-rant by Andrew about Sith Lords tampering which machines at his gym)

Creative commons music played in this episode:

• Barefoot McCoy – American Lady
• Faderhill – Better Days
• I.D.F.X – Lai-Di-Lai
• Solar Cycle – Never Let Me Down

Other links mentioned:

• TechRepublic: 10 new VM escape vulnerabilities discovered in VirtualBox
• IT Security Alerts – Telegram Channel

Feedback is very welcome. Either comment below or email tuxjam@otherside.network.

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In the second of the Christmas themed episode, Andrew, Dave and Kevie take a look at the BitCoin themed distro Bitkey Linux. With a bonus Christmas present of a UK based voucher site that accepts Bitcoin called Zeek. For those who like to use open source apps on their Android devices, the F-droid app store has been given a makeover in time for the festive season. Everybody remembers those days when family comes around during the holidays and board games were the main order of entertainment, Pushover brings the fun of dominoes without the need to place them down perfectly on a level tabletop.

Along with these we have an array of Creative Commons Christmas tunes:

• EASYTONICA – Jingle Bells 8 bit
• Bryyn – Snowing In Wyoming
• CCMixter – Holiday Funky Blues(Zep Hurme mix)
• Marco Buono – I Still Search For Christmas
• Luke Tan – Auld Lang Syne

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It’s that time of year again when we suggest gifts that we you might like to find stuffed into your stocking by our partners Santa. We’ve handily organised them by price to ease the pressure on your Santa’s wallet.

• USB Mix Tape (pictured below)
• Pop Vinyl Figure
• Password book
• 5V DIY Dot Matrix LED Clock and Temperature Kit
• VRidge FREE (10 min per session)
• GOJI cardboard VR

• Imusic pillow
• Take a look at their Steam account, most users have games on their wishlist. Buy the game on Christmas Eve, print off an item saying here’s your present and put it in a card.
• Personalised glasses or a mug with their name and likes on it (make it extremely personal).
• Stealth VR
• VRidge FREE (10 min per session)Google cardboard £15 for one, £25 for two
• Electronics starter kits: Sometimes are self-contained kits with pluggable components, but be aware that some of these may be intended specifically at beginners.  Other times, they are filled with various kinds of components with instructions to make a number of projects.  You may need additional equipment – like a soldering iron – so always check the product description!
• Soldering starter kits: Usually contain a soldering iron, holder, solder reel, desoldering pump, at a minimum. These are often Chinese imports from unknown companies.  Do a search in your shopping site of choice, and make an informed decision. Or go somewhere like Maplin.
• The micro:bit (pictured below)
• ANENG AN8008 Multimeter

• Get something that people wouldn’t normally spend money on: a Razer product (mouse, controller or keyboard)
• Home Brew starter kit Plymouth Hop Shop
• Goldring NS1000 Headphones
• Think about what they were into years ago and search out any memorabilia, the more obscure the more they will probably appreciate it.
• AIY Projects Voice Kit
• Raspberry Pi 3
• Samsung Gear VR V2 with Occulus for certain Samsung phones (pictured below)

• Buy a star https://www.buyastar.co.uk/
• Beer club beer52.com
• Roberts Smart Radio
• Boldport subscription (see below)
• Samsung Gear VR V2017 with Occulus for certain Samsung phones
  OSVR HDK 2 £400 – 20% off for students and developers
  Occulus Rift

Wow,you really love them

• An all inclusive trip to FOSDEM (Brussells, 3rd & 4th February)
• A trip to Glasgow at the end of July for Podcrawl
• HTC Vive

Festive Tunes:

• Explosive Ear Candy -Christmas All The Time
• Sergey Gulevich – Make a Wish
• Draganov Veaceslav – Be Christmas
• Instantperson – Christmas Song
• Jason Silver – In The Bleak Midwinter

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Your hosts – Kevie, Dave (thelovebug) and Andrew (mcnalu) – bring you a stellar array of software in this episode. Quite literally with Stellarium, both on the Desktop and via Google Play, which allows you to explore the stars without waiting for a dark, clear sky or enduring the cold that goes with it. We also give an honourable mention to Sky Map which debuted on the first production Android phone and is still available on Google Play and F-Droid. Also from F-Droid is the simple yet addictive, time-gobbler Critical Velocity which might be better named Thrusty Spaceships (think Flappy Birds). If retro-tradey-fighty-spaceships is more your thing then you might be interested in our wee review of Alite which is an affectionate reworking of the classic Elite for Android phones. And we then turn our attention to a First Person Shooter, giving a thumbs up (and aching index finger) to the highly moddable Cube 2: Sauerbraten. We finish up with tales from this summer’s Podcrawl Glasgow including some things that Dave didn’t want brought up.

Creative commons licensed tunes played in this episode are:

• I’d Do Anything You’ve Ever Wanted by Lower Loveday
• Maryam by Martinez
• Everything by TAB (featuring Ravon)
• Run Baby Run by Spleen Musical
• Voiceless by Eternal Dream

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The audio-friendly tones of newish recruit Lovebug join Kevie and mcnalu‘s Scottish harmonics to bring you a symphony* of free and open source and creative commons goodness. First they do their usual tour of distrowatch, then relate their experiences of Open Box based OBRevenge. They then move on to tour task management and diary apps including Diary (Android), OSMO, Deck for NextCloud, and Andrew delves into his ancestry with a look at Persian Calendar (Android). In feedback, we are pleased to report that themightyglider author of Roguebox Adventures found our review in TuxJam 58 useful and has produced a How to Survive Your First Day video. Top marks to that developer! Finally we invite listeners to our annual podcrawl in Glasgow. For more information check out the official blog post.

*May be a cacophony YMMV.

Music:

• Alex Cohen – Good Old Times
• Shady Ferns – Diary
• RogerThat – Life is Wonderful
• Scream Inc – I’ll Be The One

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