Top 10 FOSS Bites Of The Week!

The week that has just gone by saw too many happenings in the world of open source technology. Google showcased its 'revolutionary' tablet Nexus 7 and Microsoft disclosed its intentions behind going the open source way despite calling Linux 'cancer' years back. An all-new Aakash tablet that will run Google's Android Ice Cream Sandwich was announced and we shared some tips for maintaining the health of your Android devices too. We understand that it’s difficult for you to keep track of every headline in this fast moving world of technology, so we have hand picked the best stories for this week that you would certainly not like to miss. Check out our top 10 FOSS bites of the week…
1. Google Nexus Tablet To Be Priced Around Rs 11,000 : If you are planning to buy a low cost tablet device, you surely would want to wait for this one. Google Nexus tablet is expected to be the next big thing in the tablet world. The kind of specs that are being speculated for the device make it an interesting piece of technology. The recently launched tablet will be priced at around Rs 11,000. This price along with its features like a quad core processor and HD screen makes it one of the most lucrative options for the tablet buyers. As reported earlier, the tablet will run on Google's Android 4.1 aka Jelly Bean. The tablet will offer a 1280X800 pixel IPS display along with Android 4.1. Read More...

2. "Ubuntu Adoption Grew 160 Per Cent In India Last Year" : India is surely getting open to open source. Don't believe it? Well, in that case you gotto read this one. Canonical's CEO has revealed that Ubuntu adoption in India increased by about 160 per cent last year. Speaking to EFYTimes.com, Jane Silber, chief executive officer, Canonical said, “We have chosen India for our biggest retail expansion after China because we see tremendous opportunity and growth in this country. India is one of the countries where Ubuntu is most successful and well received. We see significant growth in Ubuntu adoption in India. Over the last year we saw 160 per cent growth. So, we believe that there is real potential and demand here. I would like to make special mention of our partners because this is done with them. So we can go to the market through our OEMs. Canonical is not building computers and Canonical does not have stores. Our OEM partners know very well and have much more data than we do about the many machines that ship in India with Ubuntu pre-installed. Our OEM partners believe that we can grow with proper marketing and education.” Read More...
3. An Android 4.0 Tablet For $49 Only : ITOne digital company, China-based OEM and ODM manufacturer is all set to cater to your affordable tablet PC needs. Priced at only $49, with 17.78-cm (7-inch) capacitive display and a processor with an unspecified brand clocked at 1.2 GHz, it is surely going to grab headlines. Its uniqueness does not end here, the device runs the latest Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS. Read More...
4. Here’s How Zorin OS 6 Can Make Windows To Linux Transition Easy! : With the era of Windows 8 platform just round the corner, people have all the more reason to shift to the Linux platform. While there are existing user friendly distros such as Ubuntu Linux and Linux Mint, there is one lesser known flavour that was specifically designed to make the Windows to Linux switch smooth- in fact, Zorin OS 6, the Ubuntu-based Linux distribution is called as the ‘gateway to Linux for Windows users’. Read More...
5. Tips To Keep Your Android Device Healthy : You need to care for your smart Android partner if you want it to be with you whenever you are in need. From finding near by restaurants to taking care of your official e-mails, it helps you in carrying your world with you. If you are observant, then you will surely notice that your Android device has become slower after a few months of use than it was when you first bought it. First and the most foremost question: How often do you switch off your Android device? If your answer is once a week or a month, then start caring about your buddy and allow it to sleep for at least 15 minutes a day. The second most important question: How often do you charge the battery and how do you charge it? If you want the most of your Android phone or tablet, recharge the battery only when it indicates less than 20 per cent. Never leave your Android battery on power throughout the day. Also, stop charging immediately when as soon as it shows 100 per cent. The best way to boost your phone is by restoring the factory settings, but you risk losing your data and may have to reconfigure your phone. Here are a few steps to cure any Android troubles. Read More...
6. Here Is Why Microsoft Is Warming Up To Open Source! : It was just a decade before when Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft called Linux 'cancer'. Times have changed and so has Microsoft and its attitude towards open source technology. Microsoft has not only gone warm towards open source technologies but has taken a concrete step forward in the direction by opening an all-new open source subsidiary for its initiatives. EFYTimes.com spoke to Mandar Naik, director, platform strategy, Microsoft India about Microsoft's changed attitude and why Linux is no more 'cancerous' for the company. Read More...
7. Aakash 2 Tablet Coming In August @Rs 2,263 : Human resources and development minister, Kapil Sibal announced the new and improved Aakash tablet day before. The minister is now confident about the release of Aakash 2 tablet, which is also called UbiSlate 7 and is positive about the device reaching masses. The improved Aakash tablet now has a 17.78-cm (7-inch) capacitive multi-touchscreen, supports Wi-Fi and GPRS a micro SD card slot and a USB port, but doesn’t have 3G compatibility. Read More...
8. Pre-Order Samsung Galaxy Beam Projector Phone For Rs 29,990 : Samsung is now taking pre-orders for its Galaxy Beam Android projector phone in India. The smartphone is listed on Samsung's official e-store and is priced at Rs 29,990. It was announced in March 2012 and still there is no official word on the release date of the smartphone. However, we are expecting it to arrive very soon. Now, this smartphone can actually work as a proper projector and can beam videos, photos and movies on a screen of 127-cm (50- inch). Powered by a dual-core 1 GHz processor with 768 MB RAM, it runs Android 2.3 aka Gingerbread. It sports a 4.0-inch WVGA TFT screen and 5MP camera with Flash. It includes 8 GB Internal storage, that is expandable up to 32GB via MicroSD slot. The USP of the phone is the 15 lumens pico projector in the device that can show images up to 50-inches wide. Read More...
9. Microsoft Has No Intentions Of Being Open Source- Canonical's CEO : Gone are the days when Microsoft considered open source technology a cancer to the society. It's time when the company has stopped bashing open source and has initiated steps to become open source friendly. The proprietary software king has become one of the largest contributors of Linux and has come up with an entirely new open source subsidiary. Microsoft has also allowed Linux on Azure platform. What more! Open source companies are taking such initiatives from Microsoft in a positive light. EFYTimes.com spoke exclusively to Jane Silber, chief executive officer of Canonical about recent open source friendly efforts from Microsoft. Read More...
10. NVIDIA Employee Extends Support To Linux : After Linus Benedict Torvalds, the Linux creator gave a middle finger to NVIDIA, the latter mentioned that they would take Linux more seriously. Stephen Warren, an NVIDIA employee sent out a mailer to the Kernel Summit mailing list asking for a different approach for better support towards Linux. While speaking at an event in front of students on 14 June at the Aalto University Center for Entrepreneurship in Otaniemi, Finland, Linus Torvalds unexpectedly made a middle finger gesture when a girl in the audience asked him about NVIDIA graphics card driver support for Linux, since she faced some difficulty with her laptop that was running NVIDIA Optimus Technology. Read More...