Top Tech News of 2011

2011, which has almost come to an end, has seen some good, some bad and some really sad tech news. Whether it’s the unveiling of several innovative gadgets and apps, or the unfortunate passing of some important tech heroes, 2011 was full of ups and downs.

So, to wrap up this momentous year, we’ve decided to give you a quick flashback of all the important tech stories of 2011.

January

The year kicked off with Android dethroning Nokia to become the leading smartphone platform in the world. According to a report by Canalys, around 33.3 million mobile phones were running the Android operating system in Q4 2010.

TechSource’s Top 10 Linux Distributions of 2011

As we say goodbye to a momentous 2011, it’s time to reflect on some of the big happenings in the FOSS world. Apart from Android’s rise, Torvalds’s rant, and a tasty ice cream sandwich treat, the year also saw some big changes taking place for popular Linux distributions. While many of the changes ranged from annoyingly buggy to downright unusable, a few pleasant minty surprises did manage to cleanse the Linuxiens’ palettes.

With the advent of Unity, Linux Mint, then a familiar name only amongst developers, tinkerers, and hackers, made its foray into the desktops of the so-called ‘normal’ users. Thus began a game for the top spot in the users’ hearts. And, even though Ubuntu somehow managed to keep its head high by the end of 2011, it finally had to settle on a modest second spot on the coveted DistroWatch list.

The distro scene in 2011, though mired in controversy, was a witness of some of the boldest -- and perhaps game-changing -- decisions ever taken in the FOSS community. Earlier, when Fedora, Ubuntu, Mint, and Suse offered pretty much the same interface, there was a little competition -- and also little uniqueness -- amongst the individual distros. However, once Unity and GNOME Shell entered the scene, each distro now had something different to offer. Fedora went with GNOME 3, Ubuntu stuck by Unity, and Mint, well, Mint did something a little different. Mint made combined the best of both interfaces and brought a modern, stable, and a beautiful desktop for its users.

Best Dropbox Alternatives For Ubuntu

Dropbox, an innovative startup, which refused a mouth-watering acquisition offer from Apple, has been one of the favorite apps across all platforms. Be it iOS, Macintosh, Windows, or our very own Linux, the file-hosting / online backup service has managed to gain more than 25 million users in a very short span. Furthermore, the simplicity, ubiquity, and the lack of any big competitors have made Dropbox one of the most essential apps out there.

That said, Dropbox isn’t without its share of problems. The startup was heavily criticized by many privacy-conscious users for being insecure. Software expert and the creator of GNOME went on to claim that Dropbox’s Terms of Service (TOS) contradicts its privacy policies and that the company’s famous claim “Dropbox employees aren’t able to access user files” is an outright lie.

Thus, issues abound, many Dropbox users have already started searching for some good alternatives. For Ubuntu users though, there aren’t that many choices as there are for Windows and Mac users. That said, it’s not as if you won’t be able to leave Dropbox behind. In fact, there are some great alternatives that provide almost the same amount of features as the popular startup.

Best Real-Time Strategy Games for Android

From the seminal Age of Empires Series to the massively popular StarCraft, real-time strategy games have always enjoyed a huge fan base. Whether it be prepping your soldiers for a tough battle ahead, or launching a full-blown attack on your enemies, there’s never a dull moment in this genre of gaming. Also, since fans of this genre range from hobbyist amateurs to accomplished world gaming champions, real-time strategy games have made their presence felt on almost all platforms, including mobile.

So, if you’re an Android fan, and are looking for some good real-time strategy (RTS) games to spend your weekend on, read on as we list the best of the lot.


Townsmen 6
The famed Napoleon complex may or may not be real, but the desire to become the King of France still burns wildly in the hearts of many. While that dream cannot be realized in the 21st century, a little Android game does try to bring an experience that is quite close to the real thing.

Townsmen 6 is a free Real-Time Strategy game for Android that lets you play a part in the French Revolution. You start off by constructing buildings, huts, farms and forgeries, which help you strengthen your army. Once you have enough resources, you start capturing various French districts and thus spreading your territories. As your power grows, you slowly ascend towards Paris in a daring attempt to overthrow the king.

6 Siri-Like Apps For Android

When Apple unveiled the magical Siri, even Android users drooled over the feature. Though many derided the robotic assistant as just another gimmick, its human-like intuitive voice brought a new edge to the popular mobile platform. Furthermore, thanks to its witty, and sometimes snarky responses, the ever so charming Siri has also become an Internet sensation.

Quite expectedly, no sooner was Siri released than the Android market was inundated with Siri clones and alternatives. Even though most of them can’t match the Apple’s speaking robot, they are not that bad either. So, if you’re itching to try out some Siri-esque voice control on your Droid, then read on as we cover the best Siri alternatives for Android.

Most Highly Recommended Books About Linux

Ever since we started this blog, we've talked about Linux at great length. We've provided tips, tutorials, hacks and even some spicy gossip from the magical Penguinland. While that may suffice your geek cravings, the information falls quite short if you're trying to learn about Linux in greater detail. For learning Linux, you'll need a deeper knowledge and understanding about the system and its functions. And what better way to learn Linux than by filling your shelf with some great books on the topic?

In this article, we'll be listing some of the best books about the operating system. Not only are they helpful for Linux geeks and hackers, they're also a great starting point for anyone who's always wanted to learn Linux. So, if you're a desktop neophyte or a coding ninja, here are some of the most highly recommended books about Linux:

ASUS Transformer Prime vs. Motorola XOOM 2

Android tablet computers haven’t quite gained the same amount of popularity that the Apple iPad did. That said, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t any quality Android tablets around. In fact, this November, two big companies, ASUS and Motorola, launched their own tablets that are powerful enough to give the iPad a run for its money.

ASUS’s Transformer Prime and Motorola’s XOOM 2 are battling it out to become the top Android tablet of 2011. While the battle may be an exciting thing to watch, when it comes to buying a top-notch tablet, there’s often a dilemma about which one to choose. So, if you’re an Android lover and are planning to buy any of the two tablets (or both), read on as we compare them head to head.

Motorola XOOM, which was the first tablet to feature the somewhat contentious Honeycomb UI, has a new successor. Simply called XOOM 2, the 10.1 Android-based device promises to be 33 percent thinner and 10 percent lighter than its predecessor. Loaded with Honeycomb 3.2, XOOM 2 comes with some impressive specs, and even though the steep pricing leaves a lot to be desired, it’s still one of the most coveted tablet computers around.

Best IM / Chat Clients For Android

Instant messaging technology has been around since the 1960s. However, it was not until late 1990s that chat / IM desktop clients like AOL Messenger came out and totally revolutionized the way we communicate across borders. What’s more surprising is that the long-established technology has stood the test of time and has constantly been evolving decade after decade. In the recent years, the Instant Messaging scene has gone through another such transition by making its foray into the mobile space.

Numerous IM clients for iPhone, Nokia and Blackberry are already out there for download, many of which are completely free. On Android too, there’s a surplus of such apps; however it does get rather hard for users to pick out the best once.

So, if you’re looking for a good IM client on Android, don’t worry, we’ve done all the hard work for you and compiled a list of some of the best IM clients out there.

Without further ado, here’s the list of the best IM/chat clients for Android:

Holiday Gift Ideas for Linux and Android Fans

Thanksgiving then Christmas and Hanukkah then New Year…Oh boy! There’s so much shopping to do! You, by now, must’ve realized that it’s not that easy to choose holiday gifts for our loved ones, even more so, if they happen to be geeks or hackers.

Just because they’re into technology, it doesn’t mean that you can pick up the priciest -- or the cheapest, depending on your relations -- computer or gadget in a local store, wrap it up nicely and give it to them. Remember that geeks are really choosy about the gadgets they use; hand them over the wrong one (Windows, cough, cough, Mac, cough, cough), and you’ll see them cringing at the mere sight of your ‘well thought out’ gift.

So, if you have a geek lurking around in the basement of your house, it’s time to put a smile on his or her face this holiday. Read on as we list some ideal gifts for Linux and Android fanboys and geeks in general.

5 of the Best Stock Market Apps For Android

Although the stock market isn’t the most pleasant thing to look at right now, there are millions of people whose lives depend upon the ticking of those numbers. While those changing digits might not be of much importance to the average person, there are quite a lot of people whose job involves monitoring the stock market throughout the day. To them, there are a lot of resources available that help them do that. For example, there are stock market desktop applications, web apps and websites that show the latest stock market figures. However, as this is the age of smartphones, there are a few stock market apps that help achieve the same result with the added comfort of mobility.

So, if you’re on Android, and are a tad jealous of the default stock market app on the iPhone and other iOS devices, read on as we list some of the best stock market apps for Android:

Is Ubuntu’s Popularity Declining? The Answer is Yes... and No

Mint, which just released its latest version (Linux Mint 12 Lisa), has become the most popular Linux distribution on DistroWatch. Seizing the top spot from Ubuntu, the GNOME 3-based distro has evolved from a mere spin to a serious competitor to Canonical’s flagship product. As Mint continues to dominate DistroWatch, some journalists have already come to a conclusion that Ubuntu is no longer the most popular distro around. How true is that claim? Is Ubuntu’s popularity really declining? The answer to both these questions is Yes and No.

Yes, Ubuntu’s popularity is declining, but Mint’s not to blame.

With Unity, Ubuntu managed to annoy a lot of its loyal users. Regular Linux users, who relished the comfort of a clean simplistic UI, were presented with something entirely different and confusing. With Ocelot, Canonical did manage to alleviate many of those issues. However, Unity still remains a punching bag for longtime Linux users. Since there’s no denying that Unity’s complexities have coerced veteran Linuxians to look for better alternatives, many of them have found comfort in the familiar freshness of Mint and are probably never looking back. So, if Ubuntu’s popularity is declining, it’s here; it is the faithful Linux user who’s quitting the distro.

Best File Browsers/Managers For Android

Just downloaded a document on your Android and can't seem to find it? You're not the only one. Browsing files on smartphones and tablet computers is not the same experience as it is on the desktop. Don't fret though, for this is not the locked-down world of iPhones and iPads where you'd run against a shining white wall every time you try to use the device your way. Thanks to the open nature of Android, you can use and customize your gadget any way you want to, and file browsing is no exception.

So, if you're looking to cut, copy, paste and delete your files just like you do on desktop, look no further as we list out some of the best file browsers/managers for Android.

ASTRO File Manager

With over 18 million downloads so far, ASTRO File Manager is undoubtedly one of the most popular file managers for Android. This free application lets you manage your photos, videos, documents and MP3s just like you do on your desktop. Thumbnails, drag and drop support, File searching, ASTRO's got it all covered. What's more, the app also comes with a built-in text and image viewer. Moreover, if your droid is loaded with Zip attachments, ASTRO will handle them for you without any problems. ASTRO is frequently updated and works seamlessly across phones as well as tablets (Honeycomb). Oh and one more thing, the app is free (ad-supported).

DOWNLOAD HERE