Digital Issues

Issue #232: Stop Ads – Before they reach your browser

Web ads and ad scripts can slow down your system and gum up your web experience. Browser-based ad-blockers are useful for controlling many types of popups and banners, but they are less effective with ads built into applications – and they are often difficult to implement on mobile devices. This month we look at a couple of alternative tools for blocking ads at the network level: Pi-hole and Privoxy.

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.

Issue #231: Tiling – Speed up your desktop experience with Regolith and the i3 tiling window manager

Are tiling window managers still relevant for today's desktop? This month we explore the possibilities of the tiling paradigm with a modern Linux built for tiling.

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.

Issue #230: Automation Tricks – Building custom solutions for the intelligent home

Home automation is no longer the stuff of science fiction. This month we explore some versatile tools for Linux users who are interested in IoT but don't want to surrender the freedom of open platforms and open source.

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.

Issue #229: The Future of Vector Graphics

Vector graphics applications like Inkscape are a popular option for creating scalable graphics. Could these tools be even better? As is often the case, the science is out in front of the mainstream. We show you some innovations that could revolutionize tomorrow's graphics apps.

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.

Issue #228: Anonymous File Sharing – Pass files secretly with OnionShare

Sure you've heard of the Tor Browser, but what about OnionShare? This cool tool for the invisible web lets you share files without revealing your identity.

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.

Issue #227: Backup – Practical tools for protecting your data

The bad news is that disasters happen. The good news is that Linux has a variety of powerful backup tools that will protect you when disaster strikes. This month, we cover some backup apps for the Linux environment, including Rclone, restic, and rsnapshot.

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.

Issue #226: Spotlight on Small Distros – Choose the best small-footprint Linux for your environment

Hardware resources keep expanding, and mainstream OS systems also keep expanding, sucking up the newfound space with more and better bloatware. But many users would rather escape the arms race and keep it simple. This month, we review some of the top resource-conscious small distros..

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.

Issue #225: IoT on the Cheap – Hack your smart plugs and make them talk to Linux

This month we show you how to hack a smart plug, reflash the firmware, and control it from a nearby Linux computer. If you love the concept of the Internet of Things but you don't like spending a lot of money on proprietary gadgets, read on for our low-tech high-tech solution.

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.

Issue #224: Energy Consumption – Why are some applications more efficient?

Energy efficiency studies often focus on hardware, but what about the software? As it turns out, software tools created for similar tasks sometimes use energy very differently.

DVD contents are not available with the digital version of the magazine.