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Wednesday, August 31, 2011



Top 5 PDF Readers for Linux

Posted: 31 Aug 2011 04:04 AM PDT

Portable Document Format or PDF is the most widely used format for sending and receiving documents these days. Being an open standard for document exchange, PDF support has been incorporated in many Linux distributions by default. Also, the popularity of the format has even convinced Microsoft to include PDF support in the upcoming version of Windows.

Earlier, many people had to rely on the closed-source Adobe PDF reader for accessing PDF documents. However, thanks to the hard work of many software developers, we have plenty of tools to do that.

Here's a list of some of the best PDF readers you can find for Linux:


5. Mupdf
Ranking 5th on the list is a lightweight PDF viewer called mupdf. The application is a no-fuss PDF viewer with blazing fast page rendering. If you want to quickly open a document, mupdf is your best bet as this little application has no menubars, no buttons and no toolbars whatsoever. Upon opening your document with mupdf, all you'd see is your document in a window.


Just press the appropriate arrow keys to browse through the document. To zoom in, simply press Ctrl and +, and to zoom out press Ctrl and -. Certainly not an application for those who use and edit a lot of PDF documents; however, if you are browsing through a bunch of heavy PDFs, mupdf is the perfect tool for the job.


4. Adobe Reader
Adobe Reader is certainly the most popular and the most widely used PDF reader around. Developed by Adobe, this closed-source-but-free PDF reader allows you to read all kinds of PDFs along with high quality rendering of images and text. Apart from good rendering capabilities, Adobe Reader comes with some great collaboration tools and features many business users would find useful.


Despite being one of the most feature-loaded PDF readers around, Adobe Reader is quite bulky when compared to its competitors. That is the only reason why it ranks 4th on our list.


3. Foxit Reader
Foxit Reader is a well-known software application amongst Windows users, often serving as a lightweight alternative to Adobe Reader. Foxit Reader is a multilingual PDF Reader with features like annotation, PDF import/export, and highlighting. The software comes in two versions, free and premium, with the latter loaded with many more features.


The Linux version however, is currently in beta and doesn't have any advanced features yet but it's completely free. That version, according to the company, is under development and will soon be upgraded with many features of its Windows counterpart. Foxit can be downloaded in .rpm, .deb and tarball format from HERE.


2. Evince
If you're an Ubuntu user, you must surely have used Evince. It's the default PDF reader for Ubuntu and many GNOME-based distros. The reason it ranks 2nd on our list is simply because it's lightweight, very stable and easy to use. Though it doesn't include many important features like annotations and highlighting, Evince is still the most perfect PDF reader around.


The lightweight document reader supports many other popular formats like Postscript, Djvu, XPS, CBZ (comic books), dvi and more. Apart from that, Evince also indexes page numbers and thumbnails. Evince has been the default PDF reader for Ubuntu since a long time so there are almost no major stability issues with it. Despite being so widely used, many desktop users don't know the real name of the software; they prefer to call it document viewer instead.


1. Okular
Topping the list comes KDE4's default document viewer, Okular. Based on KPDF, Okular runs across all major desktop platforms including Windows and Macintosh. The reason Okular is so popular is because it's simple and easy to use. Yet, it comes loaded with features that make it stand apart from its competitors.


Besides being able to read PDF files, Okular also includes features like annotations, highlighting, bookmarking and more. Moreover, Okular integrates nicely with the rest of the KDE desktop making it our favorite PDF Reader for Linux. Also, much like Evince, Okular also supports other document formats like djvu, CHM, XPS, ePub and others. In fact, it's one of the very few document readers that are able to open ePub documents, so you don't have to worry anymore about your favorite novel rotting in your documents folder, waiting to be read.

Monday, August 29, 2011



Ubuntu-powered Tablet Computers: Will they work or won’t they?

Posted: 29 Aug 2011 05:47 AM PDT

With the iPad, Apple started a new revolution in the world of technology. Swarms of Apple-fans and tech enthusiasts ran to the Apple store just to grab, what was then, simply a bigger version of the iPhone. While the iPad may have been a big success worldwide, it has undoubtedly touted its competitors to come up with tablet computers of their own.

Although essentially every other software company (except Microsoft of course) has been relying on the good old Android, there have been some whispers about the porting of Ubuntu to these sleek gadgets. What's more, a Chinese company is already working on a fully functional Ubuntu-powered tablet computer.

It was when GizChina reported about an upcoming Ubuntu-based tablet that Ubuntu users worldwide rejoiced at the sight of their favorite Linux distribution entering a new market so quickly. The tablet itself is quite good in terms of hardware specifications and is very much on the competitive side.

The big thing to watch out for though is that whether Ubuntu will actually work well on these devices. Now don't get me wrong here friends, when I said, "work well" I mean anything that would please the most nontechnical and laziest user around.


One reason why the iPad has been so successful is due to the fact that its operating system (iOS) has one of the most easy-to-use user interfaces ever designed. So, no matter how great the hardware maybe, the operating system still matters a lot.

If Ubuntu wants to enter this market, it has to work hard on the UI area so that it feels just as good on a tablet as it feels on a desktop.

Here are some of the reasons that may make Ubuntu popular on tablets and some reasons it won't.


Reasons Ubuntu might work on tablets:

* Familiarity

Ubuntu's interface is a blend of two of the most popular desktops around. Windows or Mac users who've used Ubuntu usually experience a level of familiarity that makes their switch easier. While with the recent Ubuntu versions, the element of familiarity might have shifted more towards Mac than Windows, it's nevertheless a great thing to have. Having a tablet that behaves more like a desktop might actually be quite appealing to a whole new userbase. Of course, with the newer versions like Natty and Oneiric, Ubuntu has made its UI more suited for mobile devices making it a good contender for tablets too.

* It's free

Maybe I couldn't think of a more obvious reason but having something that's free is a great thing for both consumers and manufacturers. Ubuntu being free can be installed on any tablet device, including Galaxy Tab (see video) thus making it a great OS for small-time manufacturers who are waiting eagerly to break in to the tablet market. With little tweaks, indie companies could sell completely functional tablet computers to millions of Linux users worldwide.

* No trouble of patents (hopefully)

Apple has been chasing Google with a knife since they first heard about Galaxy Tab. One of the reasons Apple sued them is because they think that Android copied iOS's patented UI. Of course, with Ubuntu, that won't be a big problem since Ubuntu has a completely unique and open UI, which so far hasn't managed to violate any patents. Having an Ubuntu-powered tablet will save a small-time gadget manufacturer a million-dollar lawsuit and the trouble of visiting court every day.

* Unity

As contentious Ubuntu's new Unity UI may be, it has definitely managed to strike a chord amongst users who were looking for a more unified interface that would work across all devices. As Unity keeps maturing, it will certainly be great to have one user interface across all devices. To add to the fun, Ubuntu already has built-in syncing capabilities that would make things easier for users who own multiple devices. One can only imagine how great it would feel having the same interface across all devices you own.


Reasons Ubuntu-based tablets might not work:

* Not yet mainstream

Go out on the street, find a random person and ask him/her if they've ever heard of Ubuntu. Chances are, 95% of the time their response will be negative. Even though we are very much aware how powerful Linux is, the average user is wary of trusting anything that's new. Adding to that, the belief that 'Linux is for geeks' is still dogmatically widespread amongst the technical users and non-technical ones alike.

* Lack of apps

Even though it might seem quite tempting to own an Ubuntu-powered tablet, the lack of apps will surely be one of the biggest issues. Both Android and iOS, have millions of apps which is completely different market in itself. These apps let the users add to existing functionality of the operating system making the user experience even more engaging. For Ubuntu, as of now, the lack of quality apps doesn't make it as enviable as an iPad or a Galaxy Tab.

* Manufacturers

Ubuntu, if at all ever decides to enter the tablet market, will face the same problems it has faced on the desktop front. The lack of manufacturers who are ready to invest in a tablet that's powered by Ubuntu is not that hard to predict. Maybe Dell can make an investment on this front, but the chances are slim.


Your Views:

What do you think of Ubuntu running on tablets? Will it work? Will it fail? Just let us know what you think using the comments section below.


Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Friday, August 26, 2011



The Best Games for Google Chrome

Posted: 26 Aug 2011 06:29 AM PDT

A couple of years ago, no one would have thought that we'd be playing games inside our browsers. But thanks to the advancements team Google has made in the webspace, we can see that becoming a reality. Gaming in the browser is definitely not as advanced as it is on your $2000 Alienware rig. However, there are some enjoyable games you can download from the Google Chrome Webstore that will keep you entertained for hours.

The snappy browser from Google is available across all operating system platforms. Hence, these games can be enjoyed even on our Linux desktops where the gaming scenario is not that well. Moreover, thanks to the syncing capability of the browser, once you install a game, you won't have to install it again on you other machine.

So, if your unforgiving gamer self is popping your knuckles with anticipation, here are some of the best games you can install on your Google Chrome browser or Chromebook:


Angry Birds
Unless you've been hiding under a rock for a decade or so, you must surely have heard about this amazing game. Angry Birds is perhaps the most popular puzzle video game of the decade selling over 12 million copies since its launch in 2009. The game, which was originally released for iOS has received mass popularity with players logging more than 1 million hours of game time each day.

In case you aren't aware what the game is all about, here's a quick overview: All you have to do is launch multicolored birds from a slingshot into various structures with as much accuracy as possible. That's it, there's nothing special to learn, no combo moves to remember, and no cocking your head to one side for hours just to clear a level. The sheer simplicity of this game is what makes it so accessible for everyone. Even for folks who have never played a single video game in their life. Just install this game for free from the Chrome app store and be prepared to waste at least 2 hours of your day today.



Entanglement
Entanglement is a puzzle game by Gopherwood Studios. The web-based game is about making the longest path possible by properly rotating hexagonal tiles where their paths are etched. The paths you create must get entangled as much as possible so as to avoid running them into surrounding walls. If you run into a wall, it's game over.

You can either play Solitaire, that is in single player mode or you can play against 5 or less players on the same computer with hot-seat variation. The graphics and music combine to give the game a calm and Zen-like feel to the game. Even if you play this game for 2 hours or so, you'll feel relaxed at the end of it. -A thoroughly engaging game that's meant for everyone.



Poppit
Poppit is another great puzzle game that will help you get through a whole day in office; especially if your boss is someone like David Brent. The EA game involves popping groups of two or more balloons of the same color to release captured prizes. You progress through the game by clearing screens filled with more multicolored balloons. The game is fun and entertaining and is something you or your kid can enjoy.



Realm of the Mad God
This is a fun multiplayer game that will keep you clicking your mouse for hours. Realm of the Mad God is cooperative MMO shooter wherein you play alongside thousands of other online players in a quest to kill some wickedly dangerous enemies.

The game starts with a small 2-minute tutorial and then you are thrown right into the action. Unlike other multiplayer games, this game involves you teaming up with other players instead of killing them. The enemy here is the evil Mad God and his dangerous warriors who'll make sure you won't win that easily.

On the graphics front, the game is designed in true retro style with 8-bit pixels showing throughout the game. Leveling up is simple; just kill as many enemies as possible and yeah, survive. If you're worried about the game getting repetitive after a while, you're mistaken. The game features some nasty boss fights at various levels in the game so that you won't get out so easily. Just download it and start your quest to become a great warrior.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

[HowtoForge] Newsletter 08/25/2011

HowtoForge Newsletter 08/25/2011
================================

*** Version 1.2 of the ISPConfig 3 Manual ***
=============================================

The next update of the ISPConfig 3 Manual is available in PDF format (version 1.2 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.3.3; Date: 05/04/2011).

Version 1.2 for ISPConfig >= 3.0.3.3 (Date: 05/04/2011)
Author: Falko Timme
308 pages

The manual can be downloaded from these two links:

http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-3-manual/
http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual


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ISPConfig Monitor App for Android Phones
========================================

With the ISPConfig Monitor App, you can check your server status and find out if all services are running as expected. You can check TCP and UDP ports and ping your servers. In addition to that you can use this app to request details from servers that have ISPConfig installed; these details include everything you know from the Monitor module in the ISPConfig Control Panel (e.g. services, mail and system logs, mail queue, CPU and memory info, disk usage, quota, OS details, RKHunter log, etc.).

Download/Usage
==============

For download and usage instructions, please visit http://www.ispconfig.org/ispconfig-3/ispconfig-monitor-app-for-android/ .


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*** HowtoForge Now Has Its own Facebook Page ***
================================================

We at HowtoForge are proud to announce that our new Facebook page is now available under http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge. As most of you probably have a Facebook account, we want to use this additional channel to post updates and get feedback from you. Therefore we would like you to "Like" our page, share it with your friends, post comments, etc. :-)

http://www.facebook.com/howtoforge
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New HOWTOs:
===========

* Server Monitoring With Icinga On Debian Squeeze
* How To Speed Up Drupal 7.7 With Boost And nginx (Debian Squeeze)
* Useful Basic Terminal Commands On Linux Mint 11
* Changing Desktop Appearance On Linux Mint 11
* Setting Up Network RAID1 With DRBD On Debian Squeeze
* Using scponly To Allow SCP/SFTP Logins And Disable SSH Logins On Debian Squeeze
* Ubuntu 11.04 Generic - The SysAdmin Way
* Xtables-Addons On Centos 6 & Iptables GeoIP Filtering
* How To Migrate Joomla Content (Articles) Using phpMyAdmin
* Installing Wordpress With BitNami

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Server Monitoring With Icinga On Debian Squeeze
===============================================

Icinga is an enterprise grade open source monitoring system which keeps watch over networks and any conceivable network resource, notifies the user of errors and recoveries and generates performance data for reporting. It is a fork of Nagios. This tutorial explains how to install Icinga on a Debian Squeeze server to monitor this server and another Debian Squeeze server.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/server-monitoring-with-icinga-on-debian-squeeze


How To Speed Up Drupal 7.7 With Boost And nginx (Debian Squeeze)
================================================================

This tutorial shows how you can speed up your Drupal 7.7 installation on a LAMP stack (Debian Squeeze) with the help of Boost and nginx. Boost provides static page caching for Drupal enabling a very significant performance and scalability boost for sites that receive mostly anonymous traffic. Boost makes sure that your logged-in users always get fresh content by not caching pages for logged-in users. In a first step I will show how to make your site faster by enabling Boost on a normal LAMP stack (Apache2, PHP, MySQL), and in a second step I explain how to make your site even faster by using nginx as a reverse proxy sitting in front of Apache and delivering the static HTML pages cached by Boost. nginx delivers static files a lot of faster than Apache and uses less memory/CPU.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-speed-up-drupal-7.7-with-boost-and-nginx-debian-squeeze


Useful Basic Terminal Commands On Linux Mint 11
===============================================

This tutorial is supposed to show useful terminal commands to people who are new to Linux. Terminal commands are powerful tools if they are used correctly, but can cause great damage if you are not completely aware of what you are doing. Before using commands that are new to you, look up the manual page and make sure you have your files saved and backed up.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/useful-basic-terminal-commands-on-linux-mint-11


Changing Desktop Appearance On Linux Mint 11
============================================

This tutorial is supposed to show how to change the desktop's appearance to people who are new to Linux. For this tutorial I am using Linux Mint 11 with the Gnome desktop. This is the default desktop you have installed on your system. If you have not configured it otherwise already, everything should work for you.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/changing-desktop-appearance-on-linux-mint-11


Setting Up Network RAID1 With DRBD On Debian Squeeze
====================================================

This tutorial shows how to set up network RAID1 with the help of DRBD on two Debian Squeeze systems. DRBD stands for Distributed Replicated Block Device and allows you to mirror block devices over a network. This is useful for high-availability setups (like a HA NFS server) because if one node fails, all data is still available from the other node.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/setting-up-network-raid1-with-drbd-on-debian-squeeze


Using scponly To Allow SCP/SFTP Logins And Disable SSH Logins On Debian Squeeze
===============================================================================

scponly is an alternate shell that restricts users to SCP and SFTP logins, but disallows SSH logins. It is a wrapper to the OpenSSH suite of applications. With the help of scponly, you can allow your users to use clients such as WinSCP or FileZilla to upload/download files, but you refuse SSH logins (e.g. with PuTTY) so that your users cannot execute files/programs. This tutorial shows how to install and use scponly on Debian Squeeze.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/using-scponly-to-allow-scp-sftp-logins-and-disable-ssh-logins-on-debian-squeeze


Ubuntu 11.04 Generic - The SysAdmin Way
=======================================

In this tutorial I will guide you trough the setup of Ubuntu 11.04 Generic system the way a good linux system administrator would install it. After it is complete you will have a great starting point for all of your future Ubuntu linux needs. By that I mean the following: If you are using virtual environment, you will have an image that you can clone and convert in any supported virtual format and use it as a starting point for all of your Ubuntu virtual projects. If you install this on a real hardware you can also clone you installation and use it as a starting point on various other machines with similar hardware. I will not cover cloning and conversion in this tutorial. Also as I will edit and tweak few system settings in this tutorial that I will not explain much, I hope this guide will encourage you to further explore those options and Linux in general.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/ubuntu-11.04-generic-the-sysadmin-way


Xtables-Addons On Centos 6 & Iptables GeoIP Filtering
=====================================================

This tutorial will explain how to install aditional modules for the kernel to use with iptables rules sets (netfilter modules). Xtables-addons is the successor to patch-o-matic(-ng). Likewise, it contains extensions that were not, or are not yet, accepted in the main kernel/iptables packages. Xtables-addons is different from patch-o-matic in that you do not have to patch or recompile the kernel.

You can find the document here:
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http://www.howtoforge.com/xtables-addons-on-centos-6-and-iptables-geoip-filtering


How To Migrate Joomla Content (Articles) Using phpMyAdmin
=========================================================

Joomla is a very popular Content Management System (CMS). This article applies to Joomla 1.5 content (Article) migration to Joomla 1.7 using phpMyAdmin database tool.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/how-to-migrate-joomla-content-articles-using-phpmyadmin


Installing Wordpress With BitNami
=================================

BitNami Wordpress Stack is a free, self-contained, easy-to-install package that bundles every piece of software (dependency) necessary to run Wordpress for development or production purposes. It includes the latest version of Wordpress and is fully configured and ready-to-run.

You can find the document here:
-------------------------------
http://www.howtoforge.com/installing-wordpress-with-bitnami


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You can now support HowtoForge by becoming a subscriber:

HowtoForge Subscription
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*** New! We now accept RBS WorldPay payments in addition to PayPal. ***

For a monthly fee of 5 EUR or 25 EUR for half a year, you can become a HowtoForge supporter and help us cover our costs (servers, bandwidth, etc.) and support ISPConfig development. In return, you receive the following benefits:

1. Download the ISPConfig 3 Manual (from http://www.howtoforge.com/download-the-ispconfig-3-manual).
2. Access the whole HowtoForge web site without any ads.
3. Download the results of our tutorials as VMware images (where available) (a list of downloadable VMware images is available here: http://www.howtoforge.com/list-of-downloadable-vmware-images).
4. Download our tutorials as PDF files.
5. View our tutorials as printer-friendly pages.
6. You will be marked as a "HowtoForge Supporter" in your forum posts.
7. Plus, you support the ISPConfig development.

If you have the free VMware Server or Player installed, you can import our VMware images and start playing around with the results of our tutorials immediately. It's a great way to track down problems with your own setup or simply to save time. ;-)

More details can be found on http://www.howtoforge.com/subscription.

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Wednesday, August 24, 2011



Excellent Ways of Watching TV on Your Linux Desktop

Posted: 23 Aug 2011 11:34 PM PDT

Television, the little box that sits in the living room is something many people can't do without. If you have hooked up your TV to your computer then you might want to check out the list of free and open-source television software we published earlier. However, if you want to watch your favorite programs according to your own schedule, you won't have to rely on the idiot box anymore.

Thanks to the Internet, a lot of native as well as web applications have come up that make sure that you watch your favorite shows at the time and place you want. Here's a list of ways in which you could get the best television experience on your very own Linux desktop:


TV Shows

Hulu.com (Desktop and Web, US only): Hulu is an ad-supported, on demand, video streaming service that offers a huge collection of TV shows, movies and other media. The Flash-based service allows its viewers to watch their favorite shows in a variety of formats including HD. You can choose to watch Hulu videos in your browser or you could download the desktop application. The application requires Flash and works well on Fedora and Ubuntu.

To complete your television experience, you can also use your infrared remote if you have an infrared sensor and the latest LIRC libraries installed. Hulu is only for United States citizens and it makes sure that even anonymous proxies don't have access to it. So, if you're not in the States, you might have to look for some other alternatives.

Anyways, the Hulu desktop application can be found HERE. The application is in beta, so expect to encounter some glitches.


BBC iPlayer ( Web, Desktop): BBC iPlayer is an Internet radio and television service from BBC which allows users to watch full TV-shows and radio programs. The service is restricted to UK users and it can be accessed on a variety of devices and platforms, including Linux. To use iPlayer on your Linux box, you can download the Adobe AIR version of the software from HERE.


Live Events

YouTube Live (web): YouTube has recently started showcasing live events like the Harry Potter premiere, DLF IPL (cricket) and Copa America (soccer/football). You can also watch live shows like Cali Lewis's Geekbeat LIVE and other interesting content.

Since YouTube Live is a relatively new service, don't expect to see a Lady Gaga concert broadcast there. The choice of content is severely limited but since YouTube is a part of Google, we can expect that to change real soon.


Livestation (Desktop, Web, Mobile): Livestation is a free service that offers live streaming of popular news channels like Al Jazeera (all languages), France 24, C-span, RT, BBC World News and more. Apart from news in English, Livestation also offers broadcasts in Arabic, French, German and Russian for select channels. Most of the channels are free to watch and can be viewed in standard quality. They also offer a premium version of their service that allows users to watch news in higher and lower (for low-bandwidth connections) quality. Unlike Hulu and BBC iPlayer, Livestation is available globally and across all platforms. You can choose to watch the news on the web, phone, PS3 or on your desktop. There is a Linux version of the application written in Qt with an experimental Debian/Ubuntu support.


Movies

YouTube Movies: If you spend a lot of time on YouTube, you must have noticed the neatly categorized movies section. It has been around for a long time and we've also written about some of the best movies you can find there.

Apart from the free movies, YouTube also offers movies for rent in some regions. So, if you're a big cinephile, grab a bucket of popcorn, choose a nice movie, and enjoy the lazy weekend with YouTube Movies.


Retrovision: If you're a fan of old movies, this site might interest you. It offers a good collection of TV shows, documentaries and movies from the yesteryears. The site, aptly titled Retrovision, also includes some classic cartoons like Betty Boop, Superman and Popeye.


Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Monday, August 22, 2011



Best Linux Distributions for Kids and Young at Heart

Posted: 21 Aug 2011 10:49 PM PDT

Linux has been a versatile operating system catering the needs of people from all walks of life. Unlike Windows and Mac, which only target the general consumers, Linux offer various specialized distributions for engineers, doctors, religious people, and even kids. Yes, kids. Linux, thanks to its openness, has allowed many developers to create distributions made especially for kids of different age groups. These distributions aren't made to teach C++ programming for kids. Instead, they are normal, easy to use distros with user interfaces specially designed for the young ones. Many of them come with games and educational software preinstalled, so that children can learn as well as have fun.

Here are some of the most impressive Linux distributions your kids and those who are young at heart would love to use:


Foresight Kids
Foresight Kids is a Linux distribution specially designed for children of ages 2 and up. It comes loaded with a number of educational and entertainment applications that will keep kids engaged for hours. Foresight Kids is a rolling release distribution, which means, once you install it, you won't ever have to download another DVD again. The system is updated automatically.


This GNOME-based distro features popular educational and fun software like Tuxpaint, Tux Typing, Gcompris and Tux of math command. Games in the default version include popular titles like SuperTux, SuperTuxKart, FooBilliard, GNU Chess and Super Maryo Chronicles. Despite being packed with so many 'edutainment' software, Foresight does come with the usual essential applications like F-spot, Firefox, Banshee, Totem and Pidgin.


DoudouLinux
DoudouLinux (pronounced Due Due Linux) is one of the most well designed kid-friendly distributions out there. The title comes from the French word Doudou, which means a (or any) comfort object used and loved by kids (usually teddy bears). The distribution is designed so that children find it easy to use and at the same time have fun using it.


DoudouLinux comes with a variety of applications, which kids from ages 2 to 12 would easily spend hours using. Apart from being easy to use for kids, DoudouLinux makes things easier for parents too, by skipping the dreadful installation step that many new Linux users get often stuck at. All you have to do is download the image, burn it on a CD/DVD and just boot from it. DoudouLinux comes loaded with popular edutainment applications like Tuxpaint, Gcompris, KHangman, KAnagram and more. The most impressive feature of this operating system is its parental control, which ensures that your kids will not accidentally stumble upon some sites with unwanted contents. DoudouLinux is a promising project that has been translated into 15 languages so far.


Qimo 4 Kids
Qimo (pronounced ki-moh as in eskimo) is an Ubuntu-based Linux distribution specially designed for children aged 3 and up. Qimo uses a customized Xfce interface thus allowing it to be used even on computers with the lowest of specs.


The distro requires 256 MB of RAM, 6 GB Hard Disk space and a 400 Mhz + CPU. The name Qimo comes from a popular Bob Dylan song called Quinn the Eskimo. It has all the important edutainment applications you'd expect from a child-oriented distribution. Though it's not as well designed as DoudouLinux, it does make a decent and light desktop your kid would love to use.


Kiddix
Kiddix is another great Linux distribution specially designed for elementary school children. Developed by a Pittsburgh-based company called Kiddix Computing, Kiddix provides a complete set of tools that will make computing easier and fun for kids. It comes with a customized user interface and beautified icons, which many children would find appealing. Also, it includes various educational games and software making it a complete child-oriented operating system.


Like DoudouLinux, Kiddix also features a parental control system ensuring that your child will always be safe against unwanted content on the web. Kiddix, unlike the aforementioned distros, is not free. You can pay $10 (discounted price, normally priced $50) to make the distro yours. If you pay $20, you get a discount coupon for the upcoming version of Kiddix, called Kiddix 2.0. The plus point here is that you get professional support for the distro.