Linux software »
[Windows] sView is a free stereoscopic 3D media player (video player and image viewer) [Linux, Mac OS X]
If you are like me, you definitely dislike optical disc playback because sometimes playback fails; reasons behind failure include, but are not limited to, faulty disc, region lock, device limitation. For example, a DVD bought in US may not play in India if it is not region-free; or blu-ray disc [...]
[Linux] Tint2 is a lightweight panel (taskbar)
Looking for a lightweight panel (taskbar) for Linux? Check out Tint2. It’s an easily customized and light panel with a decent amount of features. It might not be the most advanced panel on the block, but it might just be the lightest.[...]
WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES
Read More »[Linux] Thunar is a lightweight file manager [Mac OS X]
Need a lightweight file manager for Linux? Thunar might be just what you’re looking for. Thunar is a large part of the XFCE desktop environment and is based on being lightweight but elegant. Let’s see how it compares to some of the other file managers.[...]
WHAT IS IT AND
Read More »[Linux] AdeskBar is a customization shortcut dock/panel
Not very happy with most of the choices of shortcut docks or panels in Linux nowadays? Introducing ADeskBar. It gives you a ton more customization options than other panels. ADeskBar is designed specifically to work with Openbox but can be used with any window manager or you desire. Let’s [...]
[Linux] Dynamic Window Manager allows you to open windows in tiled, monocle, or floating layouts
Do you prefer tiling or floating window managers? Dynamic Window Manager might be just up your alley. Dynamic Window Manager is a lightweight tiled window manager that makes organizing and managing open windows a breeze. Let’s see how it stacks up to the competition, shall we?[...]
WHAT IS IT
Read More »[Linux] Fluxbox is a basic window manager for those that don’t like bells and whistles
Not everyone is into the bells and whistles that modern desktops offer. Some prefer a very basic window manager for all their computing needs. Fluxbox is one of the lightest window managers to date, but how is it doing on features? Let’s find out if it’s worth using.[...]
WHAT
Read More »[Linux] Awesome Window Manager is a tiled window manager
Are you a fan of tiled window managers? This window manager might just be what you’re looking for. Awesome Window Manager is a highly configurable, tiled window manager for X11. It’s one of the most unique and interesting window managers on the market, but is it worth your time? Let’s [...]
[Linux] LXDE provides a modern desktop environment for low-end computers with old hardware
Want a modern looking desktop environment on your aging Linux PC? Check out LXDE. It’s specifically designed with lightweight computing and low memory usage in mind. This desktop environment could very well bring your old machines back to life.
WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT DO
Main Functionality[...]
Read More »[Linux] Tired of traditional desktop environments like Unity, KDE, and Gnome? Try XFCE4 [Mac OS X]
Not a fan of Unity, KDE or Gnome 3? XFCE4 is one of the fastest growing desktop environments in the market today. The XFCE project’s XFCE4 comes packed with lightweight programs and an easy to use environment that you’ll quickly call home. XFCE4 is one of the most renowned desktop [...]
[Linux] Docky brings a Mac-like application dock to Linux
The best part about Linux is the fact that you can customize your experience. Luckily there are tons of different things to choose from. If you’ve ever wanted a Mac-like dock for Linux, Docky is one of the best options that you have on Linux.[...]
WHAT IS IT AND
Read More »[Linux] Htop is a terminal-based process monitor. It is like ‘top’, but better.
When you’re on a Linux system, there’s a ton of resource management programs to choose from, but few are any good. That’s where Htop comes in. Htop is a terminal-based process monitor. It can tell you almost everything there is to know about your computer in a fast and responsive [...]
[Windows] Eliminate distractions while you write with FocusWriter [Mac OS X, Linux]
This time last week I was checking out Obtract, an app that helps you resist and eliminate distractions to your workflow. That got me thinking about other distraction-free apps, and I thought it was high time to try a few more distraction-free apps. Whether you’re trying to focus on getting [...]
[Linux] Easily automatically update Ubuntu with Ubuntu Always Up To Date
Keeping your system up to date in Linux can sometimes be laborious. If you’re an Ubuntu user and you’re not afraid bash scripts, Ubuntu Always Up To Date is a great way to automate updates on your Ubuntu machine.
WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT DO
Main Functionality
Ubuntu [...]
Read More »[Linux] Konqueror is a web browser that has a ton of native features: ad-blocking, email, PDF viewing, text editing, FTP, and more
Tired of mainstream browsers? Tired of Webkit? Want something exciting? Konqueror might just be up your alley. Konqueror is a web browser powered by KHTML web technologies, is open source, and brought to you by the KDE project.
WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT DO
Main Functionality
Konqueror is [...]
Read More »[Windows] Arora is a fast web browser with built-in ad blocking [Mac OS X, Linux]
Not everyone is content to stick with the big five web browsers (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Safari). That’s why browsers like Arora exist. Arora is a webkit-based web browser designed to be simple and fast. Though it does not have a ton of features, what it does have [...]
[Linux] Receive new email notifications for Gmail right on your desktop with CheckGmail
Are you a Linux user that isn’t too fond of desktop email applications? If you’re a Gmail user, you might just be in luck. CheckGmail allows you to have all the perks of desktop new email notifications without the bloated and dated desktop mail applications.[...]
WHAT IS IT AND
Read More »[Windows] F.lux automatically adjusts screen brightness based on time of day, to help protect your eyes [Mac OS X, Linux]
Mobile devices have an integrated ambient light sensor that allows the device to dim and brighten the screen depending on the environment. Most computer monitors do not include such a feature, and it can leave you staring at an exceptionally bright display even during the wee hours of the night, [...]
[Linux] Yakuake is another Quake-style terminal emulator
Yakuake is a Kde based, drop-down Quake style emulator based on Qt. A Quake style terminal emulator is not a new concept. A few weeks back we reviewed Guake, a Quake style terminal emulator. Guake is a great program while Yakuake is an alternative.[...]
WHAT IS IT AND WHAT
Read More »[Linux] Install and run Windows programs on Linux with Wine
Even the most independent of Windows user needs to use Windows software at one point or another. Yesterday we covered PlayOnLinux, which helps you use Windows games on Linux. Today it is the turn of Wine, a program that allows users to run Windows software on Linux. It’s a [...]
[Windows] Stellarium is an awesome digital planetarium for aspiring astronomers and geeks [Android, Mac OS X, Linux]
Since I was just a little squirt I’ve been fascinated with the stars. It blows my mind every time I stop and think about how massive the universe truly is. One of the most prominent ways to geek out is to grab an old fashioned telescope, sit in the dark [...]
[Linux] Run Windows programs and video games on Linux with PlayOnLinux
Linux is a great platform. It has a large variety of users and contributors that believe in the free and open source software model. Linux also has a massive deployment in the enterprise market. However, there is one thing that the Linux family of operating systems is just starting to [...]
[Windows] Snackr is a great RSS aggregator and reader, but it does not replace Google Reader [Mac OS X, Linux]
Google Reader is going away. Most folks already know that Google will be shutting the service down at the very beginning of July. While some could clearly care less about Reader retiring, the few of us who do care are frantically searching for a viable alternative. The honest truth is, [...]
[Linux] Download websites and run them as web apps on your computer with Fogge
Ever been to a website that you’d like to see on your desktop? Most websites nowadays are built more like full featured applications, and sometimes they’re an annoyance when opened up in a tab on your browser. When you install Fogger to your favorite flavor of Ubuntu, you’ll be able [...]
[Linux] Chromium browser is the privacy-focused version of Google Chrome
Google Chrome is becoming the worlds preferred internet browser at an alarming rate, and with advances in webkit, Mozilla is having a hard time catching up. All this is well and good, but if you’re not a fan of Google’s privacy practices, but you love Chrome, Chromium might just be [...]
[Windows] Abiword is a lightweight word processor that still packs a punch [Mac OS X, Linux]
Sometimes you don’t need an entire office suite, you just need to write. That’s where Abiword comes in. Abiword is a simple yet full-featured word processing program. If you use XFCE on Linux, Abiword also happens to ship with the XFCE desktop environment as the XFCE team feels that Abiword [...]
[Linux] Guake is a unique Quake-style terminal emulator
There’s certainly no shortage of terminals on Linux, but what there is a shortage of, are terminals that are unique. Guake is a Quake-style drop-down terminal for your Linux operating system.
WHAT IS IT AND WHAT DOES IT DO
Main Functionality
Guake is a terminal emulator for Unix-like operating systems. [...]
Read More »[Linux] PCManFM is a great file manager
PCManFM is the default file manager for the LXDE desktop environment, but it might as well be the file manager that you should use on all desktop environments. PCManFM is a refreshing take on file management, one that is lightweight and has a ton of features. This program will help [...]
[Linux] Prevent your computer from going to sleep or turning on screen saver with Caffeine
Sometimes a simple program that completes a simple task can be one of the most useful programs that you have installed. Caffeine is one of those programs. All Caffeine does is inhibit your system from putting up a screensaver or falling asleep when you’re away from it for a bit. [...]
[Linux] Openbox is a powerful, lightweight, and customizable windows manager
If there’s one thing that Linux users have the best, it’s customization. When you log into a Linux installation, no matter the distribution, you have tons of choices for window managers and desktop environments. Openbox is one of those choices. This window manager is extremely lightweight and fully customizable.[...]
[Windows] qBittorrent is an excellent torrent client [Linux, Mac OS X]
Torrenting is pretty popular infamous at this point; some would even say infamous. Of course many people use torrents for illegitimate purposes, but there’s a ton of legitimate uses for torrents. For example, many Linux distributions distribute OS files via ISOs delivered over torrents, as it is a good way [...]
[Linux] Choqok is a Twitter, identi.ca, and StatusNet client
Twitter can be a very powerful tool for many different types of people. It can help you manage your brand, interact with your fans, or ever keep up with friends and family. With all that in mind, it is important to have the best Twitter client that caters to all [...]
[Linux] Convert software packages from other formats to work on your distro with Alien
On Linux, no matter the packaging system, you’re bound to find someone who has created packages for every distro except the one that you’re running. Luckily there’s Alien. Alien is a terminal based program that can convert almost any package file type for installation on any distro. The program [...]
[Linux] Empathy provides access to all your instant messaging accounts in one program
If you’re big into instant messaging you might want to listen up. Empathy allows you to use all of your instant messaging accounts in one place. dotTech has covered Pidgin in the past, however, Empathy is a viable alternative. Empathy is part of the Gnome project, and is the standard [...]
[Windows] BleachBit will clean your computer and protect your privacy, is an excellent alternative to CCleaner [Linux]
When it comes to Windows, maintenance is critical. If you don’t take care of your system you’ll regret it later. Your computer will slow to an eventual crawl and you’ll get frustrated. All this can be avoided by installing a tool like BleachBit. I’m quite aware of CCleaner. I [...]
[Linux] Conky is a customizable, feature-filled system monitor
Conky is a very unique program and, typical to the Linux platform, Conky is very customizable. It’s a system stat tool that runs inside of X and on Linux. Conky is essential if you’re the type of person that likes to watch and keep track of what your system is [...]
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