4 Great Sources of Information About Linux and Open Source

By | April 29, 2011 | 2 Comments

MTE_linux_information If you’re new to Linux and free/Open Source software, or even if you’re a more seasoned user, then you’re often looking for more information. Not just documentation, but also useful tips and tricks.

The team here at Make Tech Easier works hard to provide as much quality information as we can. But we can’t write about everything (though we’re trying!).

So, what are some other sources of the information that you’re looking for? Lets take a look at a few of the better ones out there.
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Open Source File Syncing And Collaboration With Sparkleshare

By | April 6, 2011 | 4 Comments

sparkleshare-iconWhenever software development or any other type of project requires collaboration, the process of exchanging files, saving them, revising, and re-uploading can be tedious. Because of this, developers have created revisioning control systems. These systems have even been used for documentation in collaborative tools like wikis. Sparkleshare is an extension of these collaboration tools that provides a simple and easy-to-use interface: your own file manager.

Once setup, users can connect to the Sparkleshare server and edit/add/create files that are shared with collaborators, who can then do the same. Sparkleshare also has the potential of being used for simple cloud file storage like Dropbox or SpiderOak. The major difference is that Sparkleshare is free and open source, and you can install it on your own server.
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Free Mega Games Pack For Linux

By | July 14, 2010 |

FreeMGP splash screenRemember a time when the most complex aspect of a game was unwrapping the packaging? It was a time when a first-person shooter truly was just about one person doing a whole lot of shooting and not much else. It was a time when RAM was still counted by the megabyte and 1024×768 resolution was considered high-end.

If you do remember any of that, first of all, welcome to adulthood. Next, I would like to introduce you to FreeMGP (Mega games Pack) Vol 1. It will take you down memory lane, but even if you are too young to remember the games in this pack, playing them might still seem like a fun way to spend a summer afternoon.
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9 More OpenOffice Extensions

By | April 17, 2010 |

openoffice-logoMoving all of your apps and information in the cloud has been adopted by a great number of people. However, there are also a large number who still prefer having a desktop application. Pretty much everyone like free.

I am typically use Google Docs for my word processing and spreadsheets, but do on occasion tinker with OpenOffice. I tend to use OpenOffice if I am on my netbook and not connected to the internet. I can use the word processor to write and not be tempted to go on Twitter or use Stumbleupon to find random sites.

At first, I didn’t realize you could use extensions; once I found that out, I was hooked. One of my favorites was covered in a previous post about OpenOffice extensions. It allows you to import, export and update documents you create in OpenOffice with Google Docs and other cloud office apps.

Below are several more extensions to help you tailor this opensource app to the way you use it.
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Pinta – Image Editing Alternative to The GIMP

By | April 14, 2010 |

pinta-logoThe GIMP has been a poster child for the open source movement ever since it came out. It has been compared to Photoshop and has often been spoken of as the only worthy open source contender in the graphics editor category.

While that statement may or may not be true, it is definitely a rival to photoshop when it comes to complexity. And I’m not the only one who thinks that the GIMP is complex. Apparently the Ubuntu development team also thinks the same way and have removed GIMP from their default distribution. It is still available in the online repository but the Ubuntu 10.04 CD will not ship with GIMP on it. The point is that with all that power comes complexity and GIMP is definitely not a tool for casual users.

So, what are your options if you’re casual user who just wants to edit a few images here and there and isn’t really interested in all the power that GIMP offers but would rather have a light weight but functional editor.

Enter Pinta !
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CyberDuck – Freeware Mac FTP Uploader,

By | August 1, 2009 |

cyberduck logoIf you have your own website, blog or are uploading information online somewhere, there is a decent chance you are using a FTP uploader of some sort. When I originally had a need for this kind of application, I did a little digging around. The name that kept popping up was Cyberduck. I looked at some of the other options. What won me over was it is extremely easy to use. Cyberduck is more than just an FTP uploader, it is more like a web browser for hosted files. Oh, not to mention its free.
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Safe Guard Your Password With KeePassX

By | July 14, 2009 |

keepassx-logoRecently I sat down for a minute and thought about how many usernames and passwords I enter on a daily basis. Between my various e-mail accounts (4), social networking sites (3), my personal blog, the various online games I play (3), access to my work web apps (2), computer authentication password, online banking (4), IM clients (4), and other various logins for commenting on other blogs and miscellaneous sites like eBay, I’ve got literally dozens of passwords and usernames to keep track of.

If you’re like me, you cheat a little. You probably use your e-mail address as a username whenever you can (or recycle the same username), re-use the same password depending on the sensitivity of whatever you’re logging into, and save certain passwords on the sites you visit frequently. Let’s not kid ourselves- we know in the back of our minds that this isn’t the best way to do it, but everybody does it anyways. But is there a better way? Can we keep our really sensitive information safe with the same kind of convenience given by saved passwords, recycled usernames, and re-used passwords?
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