LINUX FORMET

The #1 open source mag Future Publishing Limited,

MEET THE TEAM

We’re exploring how VPNs work to help boost privacy, but what open source web resource would we find that you’d just visited if we were spying on you?

Twitchy curtains

A UK politician once said, “People don’t need

NEWS DESK

THIS ISSUE: EU backtracks on chat RISC-V laptop looks likely Fedora gets AI trim MINIX maker marked by award

Distro watch

What’s behind the free software sofa?

Kernel Watch

Jon Masters summarises the latest happenings in the Linux kernel, so that you don’t have to.

Answers

Got a burning question about open source or the kernel? Whatever your level, email it to answers@linuxformat.com

Mailserver

No Etchings This issue keeps happening every time I

HotPicks

THE BEST NEW OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE ON THE PLANET

Musicpod

Version: 1.4.4 Web: https://github.com/ubuntu-flutter-community/musicpod Musicpod’s audio player

Mpv

Version: 0.38.0 Web: https://mpv.io While Mpv is

Morphosis

Version: 1.2 Web: https://gitlab . gnome.org/Monster/morphosis Many

Warp

Version: 0.7.0 Web: https://gitlab . gnome.org/World/warp Linux

Fotema

IMAGE VIEWER

Ventoy

Version: 1.0.99 Web: www.ventoy.net Running live distros off

StackAndConquer

Version: 0.10.1 Web: https://github.com/ElTh0r0/stackandconquer If Christopher Nolan

IQPuzzle

Version: 1.3.1 Web: https://elth0r0 . github.io/iqpuzzle/ The

Qutebrowser

Version: 3.2.0 Web: www.qutebrowser.org It might be

RSS Guard

Version: 4.7.2 Web: https://github . com/martinrotter/rssguard If you

IT’S OUT! LINUX MINT 22

Get started with the greatest release of Linux Mint to date: new apps, installer, backup and no Snaps!

WD Gold 24TB

For once, Shane Downing regrets shouting, “Go big or go home!”

Ultramarine Linux 40

Nate Drake finds out what puts the ‘Ultra’ in this user-friendly Fedora remix from our friends in the Land of Smiles.

Linux Lite 7.0

Nate Drake goes down under to discover this distro for recovering Windows users. There’s nothing wrong with a little hand-holding…

Gnoppix 24.4.15

Nate Drake drills down into the newly resurrected Gnoppix – a Debian-based distro boasting great privacy features and AI integration.

Berry Linux 1.39

Nate Drake goes after a taste of the Fedora-based distro Berry Linux but finds it’s more sour than sweet.

Capes

Management is delirious at the thought of super-powered workers who can do more and be paid less. Robin Valentine might use his powers for evil…

Roundup

WE COMPARE TONS OF STUFF SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO!

Secure chat services

When chatting, we want to know that our secrets are kept safe, so Michael Reed is taking a look at five security-conscious chat systems.

Manage groups

Converse with coworkers or hook up with like-minded folk to chat.

Linux installation

Setting up the all-important Linux client to get things started.

Desktop client apps

Software to access the service.

Licence and freemium features

Is the free package usable, or is it worth paying extra?

Popularity stakes

Making sure there’s someone on the other end of the connection.

Alternative clients and extensions

Can you persuade your chosen system to work a bit differently?

Security model

Feds, cyber crims, megacorps - let’s make sure they can’t get in.

The verdict

Chat applications

Boost your VPN privacy

Jonni Bidwell emerges from his encrypted tunnel with the facts and fiction about virtual private networks…

The wherefore and the why

What is a VPN and how can they afford to sponsor so many streamers?

Good VPNs and bad

There may be more to consumer VPNs than meets the eye…

Get started with Proton VPN

It’s easy, fast and free (or you can pay if you want). Proton VPN is one way to see what a VPN can do for you.

Running your own VPN

If you want a job done properly… We show you how to host your own VPN, at home or on a VPS, with OpenVPN or WireGuard.

The best VPNs

We asked Andreas Theodorou, VPN chief at TechRadar Pro, to reveal his top picks for the fastest and most secure VPNs on the planet.

Private Internet Access

It can be difficult to get a VPN

NordVPN

Nord offers an unmatched blend of features, speed,

ExpressVPN

A significantly higher monthly subscription price and a

Surfshark

Surfshark isn’t just our pick as the best

ProtonVPN

All VPN providers claim to be security experts,

Windscribe

This is an interesting VPN with great value

FydeOS

Les Pounder loves his Chromebook and his Raspberry Pi 5 – wouldn’t it be lovely if the two could be combined?

Anycubic Kobra 3

Any excuse to use a Star Wars reference, diminutive green-skinned Denise Bertacchi says begun the colour clone wars have!

Raspberry Pi 5 AI Kit

Trying to find some intelligence on Earth, Les Pounder fires up the official AI kit for the Raspberry Pi.

How to make more sensor-ble choices

PI PICO

Smart Pi Wi-Fi

Press-ganging a Raspberry Pi into access point duty helps Tam Hanna use a wide variety of functions, from virtual relocation to ad blocking.

Inside Linux The display

Matt Holder delves into the history of our display servers and introduces consoles.

Sync terminal notes

Shashank Sharma is troubled by random thoughts. He now scribbles them down using Joplin. But what about that Portugal penalty shootout?

Perfect your Ubuntu install settings

LINUX BASICS

How to become a podcasting pro

Podcasts are the modern way to get the word out about issues you care about. Michael Reed shows you how to record, edit and publish your own.

Neat Microphones King Bee II

SPECS Plug: XLR Freq: 16Hz-20kHz Type: Condenser Polar:

Elgato Wave DX

SPECS Plug: XLR Freq: 50Hz-15kHz Type: Condenser Polar:

Blue Yeti X

SPECS Plug: USB Freq: 20Hz-20kHz Type: Condenser Polar:

AKG Ara

SPECS Plug: USB 2.0 Freq: 20Hz-20kHz Type: Condenser

Faster ray tracing on your Steam Deck

Through the wonders of Proton, Valve Software, AMD APUs and, least of all, Neil Mohr, you can enjoy ray tracing on the go.

Open legacy Microsoft documents in Linux

Say goodbye to proprietary formats, as Nate Drake helps give your old Microsoft files a new lease of life on Linux.

Advanced PDF edits

Nate Drake delves into the very best Linux apps for creating, managing, editing and signing the previously proprietary PDF format.

Secure file transfers – not sexy but important

The perma admin-sexy Stuart Burns takes you through the fundamentals of securely transferring important files around systems.

OVHcloud

No one can say Mike Williams doesn’t have his head in the clouds as he tests a cloud-hosting provider geared towards tech-savvy users.

Google SEO Tools

Free SEO tools from the king of search engines has Michael Graw wowed with their power.

Create real-time water effects

CLASSIC DEMOS

Distribute your Fyne journaling app

In part two of this guide, Andrew Williams completes the building of a daily journal app using Fyne and prepares it for distribution.