Top 5 PDF Readers for Linux

Portable Document Format or PDF is the most widely used format for sending and receiving documents these days. Being an open standard for document exchange, PDF support has been incorporated in many Linux distributions by default. Also, the popularity of the format has even convinced Microsoft to include PDF support in the upcoming version of Windows.

Earlier, many people had to rely on the closed-source Adobe PDF reader for accessing PDF documents. However, thanks to the hard work of many software developers, we have plenty of tools to do that.

Here’s a list of some of the best PDF readers you can find for Linux:

Ubuntu-powered Tablet Computers: Will they work or won’t they?

With the iPad, Apple started a new revolution in the world of technology. Swarms of Apple-fans and tech enthusiasts ran to the Apple store just to grab, what was then, simply a bigger version of the iPhone. While the iPad may have been a big success worldwide, it has undoubtedly touted its competitors to come up with tablet computers of their own.

Although essentially every other software company (except Microsoft of course) has been relying on the good old Android, there have been some whispers about the porting of Ubuntu to these sleek gadgets. What’s more, a Chinese company is already working on a fully functional Ubuntu-powered tablet computer.

It was when GizChina reported about an upcoming Ubuntu-based tablet that Ubuntu users worldwide rejoiced at the sight of their favorite Linux distribution entering a new market so quickly. The tablet itself is quite good in terms of hardware specifications and is very much on the competitive side.

The Best Games for Google Chrome

A couple of years ago, no one would have thought that we'd be playing games inside our browsers. But thanks to the advancements team Google has made in the webspace, we can see that becoming a reality. Gaming in the browser is definitely not as advanced as it is on your $2000 Alienware rig. However, there are some enjoyable games you can download from the Google Chrome Webstore that will keep you entertained for hours.

The snappy browser from Google is available across all operating system platforms. Hence, these games can be enjoyed even on our Linux desktops where the gaming scenario is not that well. Moreover, thanks to the syncing capability of the browser, once you install a game, you won't have to install it again on you other machine.

So, if your unforgiving gamer self is popping your knuckles with anticipation, here are some of the best games you can install on your Google Chrome browser or Chromebook:

Excellent Ways of Watching TV on Your Linux Desktop

Television, the little box that sits in the living room is something many people can't do without. If you have hooked up your TV to your computer then you might want to check out the list of free and open-source television software we published earlier. However, if you want to watch your favorite programs according to your own schedule, you won't have to rely on the idiot box anymore.

Thanks to the Internet, a lot of native as well as web applications have come up that make sure that you watch your favorite shows at the time and place you want. Here's a list of ways in which you could get the best television experience on your very own Linux desktop:

Best Linux Distributions for Kids and Young at Heart

Linux has been a versatile operating system catering the needs of people from all walks of life. Unlike Windows and Mac, which only target the general consumers, Linux offer various specialized distributions for engineers, doctors, religious people, and even kids. Yes, kids. Linux, thanks to its openness, has allowed many developers to create distributions made especially for kids of different age groups. These distributions aren’t made to teach C++ programming for kids. Instead, they are normal, easy to use distros with user interfaces specially designed for the young ones. Many of them come with games and educational software preinstalled, so that children can learn as well as have fun.

Here are some of the most impressive Linux distributions your kids and those who are young at heart would love to use:

Google Buying Motorola: Good or Bad Move?

In case you just woke up, opened your favorite tech/news site, and were shocked to see the headline that reads, “Google buys Motorola”, you’re not the only one. The deal, which came out of the blue, has, if not shocked and awed techies and non-techies alike. For Google, already riding strong with the success of Android, this deal was really crucial.

At this early stage though, one can’t tacitly assume that this deal will be a major boost to Google’s mobile ecosystem. However, many are optimistic about the deal’s impact on consumers, and more importantly, on Google’s bloated piggy bank.

In case, you aren’t aware of the deal, here’s the scoop in short: Google, a few days ago, purchased Motorola Mobility for approximately $12.5 billion ($40 per share).

Best Video Converters for Linux

Linux, with the massive usability leaps it has made over the years, is inching closer towards becoming the perfect Windows and Mac replacement. However, there are some areas in which Linux still lags behind the two bigwigs.

A few years ago, watching a video was just limited to the PC or DVD. But now, all kinds of gadgets have sprung up which allow you to watch the same video anywhere you want to. As convenient as it may seem, the average gadget-blessed Linux user usually runs against a stonewall while getting that video to work on his or her device (s).

Yes, it's the pet peeve of many new Linux users as video conversion for this platform isn't as great as that on Windows or Mac. Nonetheless, that doesn't imply that you can't convert your videos on Linux. In fact, in today's article, we will be telling you about some great video converters you can install on your box.

Top 5 Free Antivirus Applications for Android

Security on Android wasn’t a big issue until it got popular amongst mobile users. Though Android’s user base is almost as large as that of Apple’s iOS, the amounts of malware applications that have sprung up on this platform have left many users worried.

According to a recent report by Lookout Security, an estimated half a million people were affected by Android malware in the first half of 2011. Though general precautions like avoiding suspicious looking software might keep you safer, there are pretty good chances that you might have inadvertently installed an app that's infected.

Like me, if you too are worried about the security of your beloved Android, read on as we discuss the best antivirus applications that are available for this platform.

Xfce 4 vs. GNOME 3

Boy, Linus really does know how to kick up a storm. The founder of the world's most secure operating system recently demonstrated his expertise in starting flame wars by calling GNOME 3 an 'unholy mess'. Furthermore, he announced that he has switched to Xfce now and wants someone to fork GNOME 2 just to bring sanity back to the penguinian masses.

Today, we'll take a look at how the less popular lightweight desktop environment stacks up against the somewhat contentious GNOME 3 desktop.

It was on our favorite social network Google Plus that the whole shebang began. On a post by Dave Jones, Linus Torvalds chimed in, complaining how much he missed GNOME 2 and that GNOME 3 was an unholy mess. Here’s what he said:

TechSource's Ultimate Guide to Using Google+ (Part 3)

This is the third part of our ultimate guide to using Google Plus. In case you missed the last two posts, you can go HERE for the first part and HERE for the second part. This time, we'll be covering the recent deletion spree that our beloved Google has been on and how to deal with it. Plus, (pardon the pun) we'll be covering some other important stuff we missed in the last 2 posts.

More on Google Plus Hangouts:

In the previous part, we've already explained what Hangouts is. It's a nifty little feature in G+ that allows you to video chat with up to 10 people at once. The feature, since its launch, has become one of the most useful social tools Google has ever come up with. Many people are using Hangouts in their own creative ways. For example, songwriter Daria Musk started performing her songs with folks on G+. She even made a music video called Google+ song which is actually quite good.

9 Most Useful Compiz Plugins

Last time we wrote about all the useless plugins in Compiz. This time, we won't be bashing your favorite compositing window manager. Today, we'll be listing the most useful plugins Compiz can boast of.

So, without much ado, here's a list of the most useful and popular Compiz plugins out there (in no particular order):

Expo Plugin

This plugin activates the expo mode, which allows you to zoom out and see all workspaces at once. You can then rearrange windows between different workspaces to simplify workflow. If you're a seasoned multitasker and happen to use virtual desktops a lot, then this plugin is an essential companion. Ubuntu includes the plugin enabled by default. Press Super+S to get a bird's eye view of all your desktops.

The 5 Worst Videos on YouTube

If at all you are au courant with the latest of everything that goes around on the Internet, you must definitely know about YouTube's sixth anniversary, which happened to be a few months ago. Marking the special event, was a great announcement from the Google-owned video sharing site -- YouTube now has more than 48 hours worth of video being uploaded every minute; yes folks, every minute.

For the past six years, the amazing site has gone through a lot of changes. It became more social, started accepting longer videos, and even started showcasing some cool movies. On the content front, YouTube has enthralled, entertained, informed and educated its viewers in every way possible. Be it the resilience of protesters in Egypt, inspiring advice from valedictorians or beautiful music from our favorite bands, YouTube has almost replaced the time-honored idiot box.

Today, you'll be expecting us to cover the best videos that are out there on YouTube. But instead, we'll be focusing on the worst that this site has managed to make popular. Without much ado, here's the big list:

Best Linux Software Applications for Guitarists and Guitar Enthusiasts

Whether you're casually strumming the chords to your first song, or enthralling a head-bobbing crowd with your 20-minute solos, there are a few applications that a guitar lover like you must have on your Linux box. Even though there are countless guitar apps for Windows and Mac, it doesn't mean that musicians on Linux should be left behind. Remember that the Linux platform has given birth to some of the most prolific songwriters of the century like Maestro Richard Stallman. His masterpiece, the Free Software Song, is still crooned by millions of Linux geeks, getting them through those atrocious weeklong coding marathons. So, there's no doubt that Linux does have some excellent applications that every guitar player would love to have on his or her computer.

Without much ado, here's the crème de la crème of Linux software applications for guitarists and guitar enthusiasts:

8 of the Best Android Apps for Geeks

So, you're slightly on the geekier side of life? And, you're an Android user? Well, thanks to the relative openness of the popular mobile platform, you won't be missing out on all the geeky fun you have on Linux. Unlike the Apple app store, the Android Market is laden with apps that folks from every walk of life can relish.

Here are some Android apps that our geeky friends would love to tinker with, without bricking their phones… Well, hopefully.

ConnectBot

ConnectBot is an open-source SSH client for your Android mobile. With this nifty little app, you can connect to any SSH server located on this planet (and beyond). Features include simultaneous SSH connections, tunneling, and copy/pasting between different applications. There are plenty of other SSH apps, but according to user ratings, this is by far, the best one out there. It has a 5 star rating from about 21,397 users, so go ahead and start connecting.

Installing and Running Ubuntu Natty Narwhal on Mac OS X Lion Using VirtualBox

I just upgraded my Mac OS X Snow Leopard desktop machine to Lion, and one of the very first things that I did after upgrading was install the latest version of VirtualBox (virtualization software). Using VirtualBox, I successfully installed Ubuntu 11.04 'Natty Narwhal' as guest OS inside Mac OS X 10.7 'Lion'. So far, it's been running really well when using the classic GNOME desktop and quite good when using the dreaded Unity.

For those of you who would also like to install Ubuntu 11.04 'Natty Narwhal' on Mac OS X 10.7 'Lion' using VirtualBox, here is a step-by-step process on how I did it:

1. Download the latest version of VirtualBox (VirtualBox 4.1 for OS X hosts) from HERE. Install it.

2. Download the Ubuntu 11.04 (32-bit) installer (ISO image) from HERE.

3. Run VirtualBox and click on the 'New' icon to start creating a new virtual machine. A wizard will guide you through the process.