Podcast (mp3): Download (Duration: 56:19 — 38.7MB)
It’s a mobile-heavy news section this week with Sailfish, Linux on Samsung phones, Lineage and Purism, followed by a look at the upcoming Trisquel release and how we feel about freedom and pragmatism.
News
Sailfish is coming to more phones
Full Linux desktop on Samsung phones
Purism starts the work to enable GNOME applications on the Librem 5
Admin
FOSS Talk Live tickets are now available!
Ian Kelling asked us to mention the LibrePlanet conference
Entroware
This episode of Late Night Linux is sponsored by Entroware. They are a UK-based company who sells computers with Ubuntu and Ubuntu MATE preinstalled. They have configurable laptops, desktops and servers to suit a wide range of Linux users. Check them out and don’t forget to mention us at checkout if you buy one of their great machines.
Freedom vs Pragmatism
Trying out the latest development release of Trisquel prompts the question of how much freedom we actually need on the Linux desktop.
Jesse also mentioned an Arch-based alternative to Trisquel called Parabola GNU/Linux-libre
See our contact page for ways to get in touch.
I don’t know what recovery ROM you use, but with TWRP it is pretty easy to make a full backup. I have been doing that before every upgrade since the CyanogenMod 13 to 14 upgrade was pushed out as an OTA and destroyed my install (I had to do a clean install to recover). Still I understand not having time to upgrade. I usually do one Lineage upgrade a month because of the extra hassle of doing a full backup.
I thought the GNU/Linux issue was more about acknowledging the importance of coreutils, binutils, glibc, gcc, and the other smaller projects than it was about free software vs. open source. I haven’t tried to analyze the core of modern distros to see how much is associated with the GNU project vs. other things (like systemd).
I know the comment was aimed at Joe, but I’m gonna respond anyway! I’ve found the OTA Lineage updates flawless on my Nexus 7 and hence haven’t considered doing backups – it also helps that it isn’t as important as my phone, as my tablet is mainly a browser and youtube device. I know if I suddenly had to rely on backups without prior experience and confirmation that the backup has worked I’d be nervous – and this is where Lineage 15.1 has left us.
As for the GNU debate – it’s always annoying listening back to what I’ve said on the podcast and realising that I didn’t make my point as clear as I wanted (I also cursed when I realised I called the file explorer “files” when I’ve moved over to Nemo. What ya gonna do?).
The discussion we were having was solely around the use of truly free software, such as that recognised by the FSF. I think the distinction you’re making about the need to call Linux GNU/Linux is a separate debate. In my opinion I think it’s is a fair argument from the GNU side that it should be called GNU/Linux as there are many many key components that make the OS we use operational which are from the GNU team, whereas the Linux component is ‘just’ the kernel. I remember an episode of Mintcast in which they explained all the parts that are required to make a Linux operating system (I think they were making their own LFS) and were amazed at how much was from GNU.
However they’ve lost mindshare and GNU/Linux is waaaaaay too much of a mouthful. If the GNU project was called “Splash” (first word in my head) and wanted the OS to be called Splash rather than Linux I could get on board with their side of the argument.
Thanks for your feedback, and hope you keep on enjoying the show
Great show and listen as always.
I usually download the audio first, but any chance you can make the audio seek bar flexible/wider on the website. Sometimes I miss something that was said and would like to seek back 10-25 seconds or so.
Much love
xxx
If you click the download link, it will probably play in the browser’s own html player which will probably be wider. Probably.
The native Ogg player in Firefox is wider. In both the native player and the player on the LNL page you can skip back 15 secs with the left arrow button. Up/down is volume.
I don’t normally post comments but I am sick of Linux podcast content being about effing phones.
I may be being defeatist but I just can’t ever envisage a free, privacy respecting phone OS ever having a major impact on the world. No offence to Ikey but that is probably the same as on the desktop. Even with Apple’s resources it is still by far the biggest NIX for desktop use. I think mobile is just too important that the big players don’t allow it to happen unless a benefactor with billions of dollars to throw away with no reward jumps in. I really believe that the best place for Linux is on the server and always has been. Stallman and free software won! We should be happy.
Just so you don’t think I’m trolling . . . .
Work: Windows/Ugly crap with semi useless error messages
Home Desktop: Solus/Works a treat for me
Home server: SmartOS/Very sensible way of running VMs
Fave Pet OS: NetBSD/Aaaaawwww bless
Great show usually, this one was too phone phocussed 7/10
Recently I purchased a second Nexus 5x so that I could test various OSs without shitcanning the OS on my daily driver. The 15.1 Lineage release has enough issues that I wouldn’t recommend it for daily use. Aside from Lineage, I have also tested Plasma Mobile, and um…. there is nothing good I can say about that experience.
Why can’t Jessie log into work via Citrix? Citrix has had a more or less working client for linux for years. I’ve used it daily for more than 5.
I’m not doubting; just curious if there’s a serious bug I haven’t encountered.