If you see the immense success that Linux, Firefox, Android and other software have achieved over the years, it’s all thanks to the power of open source. What makes open-source software so great is that it is a result of selfless work of thousands of developers from around the world, who, in their free time, volunteer to create or help build their favorite applications.

Open-source software gives developers and users alike the ability to browse, modify, and redistribute the source code thus leading to more transparency. So, if a person X creates a particular software and he or she couldn’t manage to fix a bug, then someone from halfway round the world might spot that bug and help this developer. This is why a lot of people think that going the open-source way makes the software more reliable and secure. Here are some of the main reasons why we think open source software is better than proprietary ones in terms of security:

Suppose a company have a closed-source application and one of the developers spot vulnerability in it. Now, depending on the severity of the problem, the developer may or may not decide to fix it. The company that owns the software might even overlook that bug in favor of pushing a new feature out giving the excuse that the bug doesn’t affect a majority of people. In open-source on the other hand, the bug will be reported in public, everyone involved with the project will be able to see it, and there will be more than a dozen people from around the world who’ve faced the same error. Turns out, there will also be a few developers seeing that problem who are willing to fix that issue thus making the project much better by being more stable.

While we all know that in open-source anyone from around the world can browse the source code. However, one may ask the question, how does that ensure security? Well, the answer is simple: transparency. In open-source, we can rest assured that the software we are using is free from any tracking software or malware that is often included in many closed-source software. For example, in a proprietary software, the developer may add a tracking option allowing him or her to gather data about users so as to make the product better. This, on the other hand, can rarely happen in the world of open-source. And, even if it does, someone or the other will spot it soon enough, and will notify the users about it.

Also, if we come to trust, Ken Thomson made a brilliant statement about this topic. In his Reflections on Trusting Trust speech, he said that trust is relative. Also, you cannot trust code that you didn’t totally create yourself and that no amount of source-level verification or scrutiny will protect you from using untrusted code. So, what this means is that even though both open-source and closed-source aren’t supposed to be trusted 100%, you can, however rest assured that the software you’re using is relatively more secure than a closed-source one.

How many open-source projects have you seen getting hacked? Think like a hacker for a moment, what would be more fun to hack? Something that is closed or something that is accessible to everyone?

If you see most of the attacks that have happened, they have been against closed-source software. Cracks are released, vulnerabilities are found, making things harder for the developers. Plus, there is a general consensus that many of these hackers have a pro-open source mentality. They are always out there challenging the establishment, trying to overthrow the big brother and what not. They are always on the lookout for some cause to rebel against, and closed-source software is a great playing area for them.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

Everyone’s thirsty about it. Every techie consumer wants a good list. But where can they really find a good holiday list of the best geeky smartphones for this year? As far as I am concerned, I really wonder until now what is the exact counterpart of smartphones as being the most sought-after for this year. Never mind about its counterpart, but I’d love to show you a short list of my top-rated Android smartphones of 2012, handpicked for your convenience.


5. Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD

Next to Motorola’s slightly junior twin, the Droid Razr HD, the Maxx HD is packed with great specs, good build quality, clear display, and especially, a rock-climbing battery that promises 13 hours of media playback. Priced too low at $179 nowadays, the Maxx HD of Motorola promises better data features with Verizon’s 4G LTE.

While being exclusive for the data contract, some features and details are worth enumerating. Included in the list is the Super AMOLED display at 720p, an 8MP camera, a dual-core processor (some models offered with a quad-core one), 1GB of RAM, 26GB usable storage (expandable), and an Ice Cream Sandwich of Android that is promised of an upgrade to Jelly Bean. The 3300mAh battery is embedded, though I think no one would ask for a removable one. Oh, I must have forgotten, but the Kevlar-reinforced fiber back cover in this device is something worth the note.

Aside from being exclusive, the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx HD falls short also with style and comfort when piled with other smartphones, and the camera does not dance well under tricky light. Thanks to its price, users will still love to put this on the holiday list.

4. HTC Droid DNA

I placed this nice-looking phone on the fourth rank because of only one thing: it is so exclusive. But to introduce, this new HTC Droid DNA (or to be termed as HTC Deluxe in other parts of the world), which was released on the third week of November, is to be sold at a very cheap price at Verizon for only $199.

A strong competitor to the Samsung Galaxy S3, the Droid DNA of HTC is packed with a 5-inch full HD 1080p display, and so far, the biggest ppi (pixel per inch) I’ve ever seen at 441. Aside from sharing Verizon’s 4G LTE network, the Droid DNA is promised to be equipped with the latest technology like a quad-core processor at 1.5GHz, 2GB of RAM, Adreno 320 for the GPU, and Android’s new Jelly Bean 4.1 aside from the 2MP front-facing camera and 8MP rear camera with flash. Inside we have 16GB of storage, but unluckily, we only have this memory to cling on since there’s no expandable card slot.

Moreover, HTC fell short with the device’s battery because it has only a non-removable one locked at 2020mAh. This means users will have to charge the device over and over again like at least once a day to continue enjoying such pulpy juice from the smartphone.

While the Droid DNA is posted already on global markets, non-Verizon users will only enjoy HSDPA+ connectivity, if not 3G, for the data. Lastly, to make the users truly happy, the Beats audio enhancement technology should give them a smiling face while listening to music.


3. Samsung Galaxy S3

Almost the same as the Galaxy Note 2, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is but a 4-incher smartphone that does not incorporate note-taking features with a stylus, but is packed with a 16-million Super AMOLED touch display at 720p and is capable of broadcasting itself via LTE connectivity.

Adding to these, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is not short with top specs modern smartphones should gear, making this somewhat a ‘role model’ for other OEMs to base their products on if they really want to join the competition. The S3 is powered with an upgradeable OS from its standard Ice Cream Sandwich up to Jelly Bean, has an Exynos processor at four cores, has 1GB of RAM, and sports a relatively uncommon Cortex-A9 graphics unit. All these up and running, watching HD movies is at par without compromise to people’s excitement of playing games.

Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy S3 comes with an enhanced AI (artificial intelligence) feature set to facilitate the way of life of almost every individual on the planet. Included in the list are: Smart Stay (device stays awake if it detects you), S-Voice (interactive voice command-response system), and the S-Beam (users share files wirelessly with each other, as long as both phones are compatible). For some recorded downs in this phone, the S3 still has to improve its TouchWiz software, and its price is something I’d love to call ‘super premium’ even if it comes in a two-year contract basis on almost all major cellular networks.


2. Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Looks more like a phablet at hand, the Galaxy Note 2 is but one of Samsung’s best products this year. Aside from the same brilliant body shared with its kin, the S3, the Note 2 has its proprietary pen known as the ‘S-Pen.’ This said, this smartphone still works as a small tablet especially for taking down notes even without the cellular function.

The Note 2’s size at 5.95x3.17x0.37 inches is not something you’d love to carry with one hand, and unluckily, if you have a small face, you don’t want this raised parallel to your face when making a call. Nevertheless, empowering the Note 2’s unique form factor is its Super AMOLED display at 16-million colors. Surprisingly, for a display size at 5.5”, I find Samsung quite disappointing because this Note 2 falls shorter on pixel density a 267ppi when compared to that of the said kin. Anyhow, the 720p display still is something worth bringing along.

Aside from having LTE connectivity feature and Jelly Bean as the platform, the Note 2 still receives applause with its Exynos quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Moreover, this new phablet features extended creation skills set with its S-Pen. Taking advantage of this hardware addition, the Note 2 has some features like the Popup Note, Easy Clip feature, Idea Sketch, and other additions to some apps like making handwritten notes to calendars and even to the back surface of the images. The stylus may not be perfectly responsive at this time, but its price at $250-$300 is good enough for all-day usage with its 3100mAh battery.


1. Google LG Nexus 4

Within the same Nexus series comes handier devices of different sizes, one of which is the 4-incher smartphone. The Nexus 4 is in some ways one of the perfections Google has for itself for this decade, and is remarkably something one would love because it has no strings for any contracts, and is sold for a very low price of just about $300.

Not really a fashionable item, the Nexus 4 however is never short of the best specs available. Aside from the 4.7-inch 1280x768p display with Gorilla Glass 2 and IPS technology, the Nexus 4 is also packed with the very new Jelly Bean as its base platform, has 2GB of RAM, has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 CPU at four cores, but a storage of just up to 16GB. Being low on storage, the Nexus 4 rather focuses on being on the cloud with the latest Google apps and technologies. Lastly, the Nexus 4 has a gorgeous 8MP camera that takes advantage of Jelly Bean’s Photo Sphere, a feature where users can capture a full 360-degree view of an area.

Inside the Nexus 4 there’s not really much special feature, but the simplicity says it all. We’d hope, however, for a better battery life (only 2100mAh) and the integration of 4G LTE to truly make this smartphone stand out. But to pack things up, the Nexus 4 has but all the modern technologies one Android smartphone should have and cater, and has all the basic features one would need nowadays while users enjoy the freedom of this low-priced unlocked phone.


Written by: Wilson Sy, TechSource's certified gadgets correspondent.

Ubuntu 12.10 heralds a mature, stable desktop that is ready for all sorts of users. A far cry from the early, clumsy days of the much-criticized Unity, Ubuntu has proved to be one of the best alternatives to the controversial Windows 8. Quantal Quetzal is a release that comes with massive improvements to stability, performance, and usability. Though there aren’t any major changes nor are there any big eye-catching features to boast of, it does, however, manage to please the Ubuntu fanbase by coming up with useful improvements that further strengthen the open-source desktop’s place in the market.

Apart from a brand new Linux kernel and new versions of your favorite applications, you’ll find some interesting features and UI tweaks that should make things a lot easier. Desktop users who spend most of their time on the web will find the Web Apps feature very useful. An upgraded Unity is another thing that you would love to try out. In all, this release pleases Ubuntu fanboys, and also makes Ubuntu strong enough to be considered as a solid competitor to Windows and Mac.

If you’ve just upgraded to Ubuntu 12.10, there are a few tips and tricks that you can use to ramp up your productivity. Taking advantage of the brand new features like Dash previews, you can save your precious time. So, without much ado, here are some tips and tricks that will help you use Ubuntu 12.10’s new features to your advantage:

The Dash can be quite useful for previewing documents like PDFs. By right-clicking a file that shows up in the Dash, you can take a quick peek at its cover so that you won’t have to open it. Now that you’ve glanced at it, you can click the e-mail button on the Dash to quickly mail it to someone without even opening it.

Similarly, you can browse photos and other files without even opening them. This makes it easier for you to view them in Cover Flow-style manner. Though it doesn’t work for videos yet, you can preview entire music albums from the Dash itself.

In the Applications lens, as you browse your favorite apps, you can simply right-click the one you want to remove and then click on uninstall. This will prompt for your password then proceed with uninstalling the application. This is especially useful for those times when you come across an app that you don’t like and want to uninstall it without touching the command line or opening the Ubuntu Software Center. 

Save time by browsing files by their date, last modified time, and more using the Dash itself

The Dash includes filters that let you browse files according to the date and time they were modified, their size, and their type. This helps you focus on the files you are looking for. Once you narrow down to the bunch of files you want, you can browse them Cover Flow-style by right clicking on any one of them.

If you are a Facebook user, you know how bad the default Facebook app is. It’s as if you’re using the site in a browser. Facebook, of course, is not something a lot of people can do away with. Some of us need Facebook everyday, whether it is to stay in touch with our buddies or reconnect with someone in high school. Facebook has become an indispensable part of our lives.

That said, Android users often lament about the poor design of the official Facebook app. It works perfectly fine, but it does leave a lot to be desired. Thankfully, though, some developers have come up with alternative apps for using the social media site with a prettier interface. Here are some of the best alternative Facebook apps for Android:

Seesmic is one of the best apps for managing your social networks. With support for Facebook and Twitter, the free app lets you update all your networks at once. The app comes with full Facebook integration, including support for managing Pages. While posting you can automatically shorten URLs, add shortcuts to home screen, and more. Overall, Seesmic is a great app for social media junkies and people who use Twitter and FB together.

 DOWNLOAD HERE

Tweetdeck though a Twitter app, also comes with support for Facebook. You can view, update, and manage your Timeline and then sync with your Tweetdeck account. Though not that popular for Facebook, it does serve as a great all-in-one tool if you’re a social media junkie.

 DOWNLOAD HERE

Friendcaster is one of the best third-party Facebook apps for Android. With a neatly designed interface, the freemium app allows you to post status updates, photos, events, messages and more right from your smartphone. You get the whole FB news feed right on your phone packed in a smooth, clutter-free interface. You can comment on a friend’s status update, like a post, or write out an update of your own. For those looking for eye-candy, there are 5 pretty themes to choose from. What’s more, the app’s design is inspired by Ice Cream Sandwich’s HOLO themes.

DOWNLOAD HERE

If you’re tired with the sluggishness of all the Facebook apps out there, Fast is a great choice for you. The free app lets you comment, share, and like your friends’ statuses without any major lags or delays. The interface is beautifully designed and works like a charm even on slower devices and older operating systems (pre-ICS).  Definitely worth a try if you have a slow phone or even a slow network. Rated 3.9 out of 5 stars, Fast is freely available for download from the Google Play Store.

Flipster is a great new third-party app for Facebook. With 12 elegantly designed themes that are reminiscent of ICS’s design, Flipster supports swipe-based touch navigation for moving between your timelines. You can post status updates, check out friends’ galleries, get private messages, RSVP to events and almost all the things you’d do using the web version of the service. Though new and not that stable, Flipster is a great alternative to the not so pretty looking official Facebook app. This app is worth a try if you’re not a fan of the original app.

 DOWNLOAD HERE 

Facedroid is a Facebook app specially designed for tablets. Once installed, you can view your FB stream, share your photos and status updates, like other people’s statuses and pretty much everything you can do on the web version of the site. The app features real time chat that allows you to connect to your FB friends instantly. Also, you can access and administer your Facebook pages with ease. Again, like the aforementioned Friendcaster app, this one too is inspired by Ice Cream Sandwich’s user interface. Though the app is not free, it does serve as a great third-party FB app for tablet users.

 DOWNLOAD HERE 

Ubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal) brought a lot of new features to the users. From an improved Unity to the brand new web apps feature that blended the web and the desktop, this release makes Ubuntu a strong contender to the contentious Windows 8.

One of the best things about Ubuntu is that it allows users to search the web as well as the desktop right from the dash. You can look up your recently used file the same way you can look up the latest videos from the videos lenses. However, the searching experience is not limited to the pre-installed lenses and scopes. You can, with a couple of clicks, install some great new lenses that will make your Ubuntu the best desktop ever.

So, if you’re looking for some great new scopes and lenses to install on your system, here is a list of some of the most useful ones.

If you are a frequent user of the Tomboy note-taking application, you can easily install the Tomboy Lens to get some added functionality. Once installed, you can search your Tomboy notes right from the dash. All you have to do is type the name of the note and the results will show up instantly. Moreover, with every search result you’ll also find an option that will let you create a new note by clicking on it. Worth a try if you’re a Tomboy junkie.

To install the lens, paste in or type the following commands in your terminal:

AskUbuntu is one of the best places to visit if you come across any issue while installing or using Ubuntu. The community is designed such that you get quick responses to your question making the system of forums slightly obsolete. The AskUbuntu lens will let you enter a keyword and then click on the results to visit the answer’s page.

Install AskUbuntu lens by issuing the following commands in your terminal:

If you’re wondering when the narwhal bacons, here is a smart new lens for you. The Reddit lens allows you to search and to discover new Reddit posts right from your dash. To install the Lens, simply enter the following commands in your terminal:

If you’re a Pirate Bay junkie then the torrents lens helps you search the site right from your Dash. Once installed, you can filter the search results according to the file type such as audio, video, applications, games etc.

If you want to quickly look up the weather in a particular city, you won’t have to use Google anymore. With the Unity Utility Lens, you can quickly find out the weather in any city by simply typing its name. So, for example, you type in "Dayton, Ohio", you’ll see the current weather in that city right on your Dash.

If you want to carry out simple calculations without opening the calculator app, then this scope is just for you. The calculator scope gives you the results of mathematical calculations by simply typing the expression in your Dash. So for example you type in 32+489, the result will show up instantly on your Dashboard. To install the scope, type in or paste the following command in your terminal.

This scope is simple; it lets you look for your Google Contacts by integrating the dash with your Google account. Searching for a particular name will yield the result of the contact along with his or her Google profile photo. Worth a try if you rely a lot on your Google contacts.

To install the scope, type in and paste the following commands in your terminal:

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

If you’re an email junkie, you know how important it is to stay connected 24-7. Good email clients these days are hard to find, especially on mobile. On Android, however, there is no dearth of competitors for the top email client spot. For those of you who are interested, here are some of the best email apps for Android:

K-9 Mail is one of the best e-mail clients for Android. It is open-source and comes with a lot of interesting features. The free app supports IMAP push email, multi-folder sync, flagging, filing, signatures, bcc-self, PGP, mail on SD & more. Being a community-developed project, K-9 is always improving, thanks to suggestions from users.

K-9 works flawlessly whether you are a Gmail user or an Outlook junkie. It can import your folders and flags easily making it one of the best apps to use. The best thing about this app, though, is that it is 100% free and doesn’t come with any trial versions or any ads whatsoever.

 DOWNLOAD HERE

Aqua Mail is another great IMAP-enabled mail client for Android. With easy setup for popular services like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Hotmail, Aqua Mail makes it simple for new users to try it out. Apart from popular mail services, the free app also comes with support for Lotus Notes and MS Exchange. Furthermore, there is also support for Push Mail using Gmail or GMX.

Other features in this app include support for saving messages to SD card, Tasker integration, and widgets. The app has been well received in the Play Store and has been rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. The free version is limited to two accounts, and no identities. Another catch is that, with the lite version, the app will add its own promotional signature at the end. If you’re not okay with that, you can purchase the Pro version instead.

 DOWNLOAD HERE 

Gmail is probably the most used and the most popular mail client for Android. Being pre-installed on most Android devices, the app simply works out of the box. The best part about the app is that it brings almost all the important features of the web version of the service to your Android device. Once connected to your Google account, you can check mail, save attachments, set up label notifications and more. Overall, it is an indispensable app if you’re a Gmail user.

 DOWNLOAD HERE 

Though not a dedicated email client per se, Touchdown syncs all your emails, contacts, calendars and tasks with your Android device. Best suited for corporate mail junkies, Touchdown is quite popular among Exchange users and has been rated very highly in the marketplace. The app, apart from syncing all your corporate data, also brings essential security features like encryption, PIN support, and secure wipe.

 DOWNLOAD HERE 

If you are a Yahoo! Mail user, then this app will come in really handy. It brings most of the essential features of the web version of the service to your Android device. The free app allows you to add multiple Yahoo! accounts, preview photos in your inbox, send and receive mail attachments, compose text with rich emoticons and more. There is also support for smart folders along with powerful search functionality.

 DOWNLOAD HERE

If you are a Hotmail user, then this app will help you check your inbox with ease. The app supports push notifications, allows you to sync calendar and contacts, lets you send pictures using Hotmail, and much more. Rated 4.2 out of 5 stars, Hotmail is freely available for download from the Play Store. 

 DOWNLOAD HERE 

There are some users who often wonder whether they should switch to Chromebook since all they need the computer for is the web. More and more people use the PC for nothing but browsing the Internet thus lessening the dependence on the core operating system. Though Google spotted a huge market there, it never really reached the popularity it expected of that endeavor. Thankfully, though, Ubuntu too spotted this hole and started integrating more and more web services into its desktop. In fact, the latest version of Ubuntu (Quantal Quetzal) also comes with tight integration with web services.

That said, you wouldn’t have to use the most recent version of Ubuntu to get the best web services on your existing Ubuntu desktop. You can in fact add all those services on your current desktop by simply installing a few packages. Once installed, you won’t have to visit your favorite sites like Evernote, Picasa, Twitter, and more from your web browser.

So, without much ado, here are some steps that will help you integrate the best web services into your Ubuntu desktop.

Ubuntu’s latest feature lets you integrate the best web services on your desktop. However, you can try out this handy feature on your Ubuntu 12.04 desktop without any issues. Once installed, you will be able to use websites as if they were native Ubuntu applications. The application supports services like Yahoo Mail, Google services like Gmail, Google Calendar, News, Google Plus, Reader, YouTube, Launchpad, Facebook, Twitter, Grooveshark, and more. Also, you’ll find services like Grooveshark, YouTube and Last.fm integrating tightly with the sound menu allowing you to control songs right from your panel.

To install the feature, simply enter the following commands into your terminal:

Though there is no official Evernote app for Linux yet, developers have come up with some nice alternatives to the service. One-upping the resource-hogging and somewhat clunkily designed Nixnote comes Everpad. It is a free application that integrates Evernote into your panel and dash menu. Once installed, you’ll be able to create new notes, search for saved ones, and much more. In fact, the app has enough features to make you forget about wanting an official Evernote app on Ubuntu.

To install Everpad, enter the following commands in the terminal:

If you’d like to add services like Grooveshark, Pandora, Google Music, Rdio, Amazon, Hype Machine and 8tracks right into your desktop, then simply install Nuvola Player. It is a free application that lets you listen to music from the aforementioned web-based services as if you’re listening to them natively. What’s more, there’s keyboard shortcuts support, notifications, and sound menu integration.

To install Nuvola Player on your Ubuntu desktop, simply paste in the following commands into your terminal (Ctrl + Alt + T):

Linux, well, it's probably one of the most talked-about topics on our site. Over the years, we've written many tutorials, how-tos, and news articles on this subject, and we will continue to do so for years to come. However, when it comes to introducing people to Linux, it has always been a subject that often gets overlooked. The problem lies in the very fact that bringing people into the world of Linux is not as easy as it seems. Also, there are IT professionals who have always wanted to dive into Linux but never had the time or resources to do so.

Thankfully, though, there exist a lot of great free resources on the Internet that do a great job in bringing people into the magical world of Linux. We've collected some of the best ones so that you won't have to scrounge the web for hours.

IBM has compiled a great introduction to Linux on its site. It lays down all the basics in a simple, easy-to-understand language. The article gives a great insight on what is Linux, where it is used, which programming languages are involved, who made it, and much more.

Linux.com excels in providing a great deal of information about the penguinian operating system. Here you can find tutorials, documentation, whitepapers, and new user guides. There is also information about careers in Linux that can be quite useful for IT professionals. The articles on the site are meant for new users as well as experienced ones. If you have any doubt, you can ask them in the answers section of the website.

The Geek Stuff is a great website that features Linux tutorials mainly focusing on the command line. You can learn advanced command line tips and tricks that will normally take a while for new users to figure out.

This site is a huge collection of Linux-based tutorials and articles. Both newcomers and experienced users can benefit from this site's vast resources.

About.com features an amazing collection of Linux-based tutorials and articles. Right from Linux Desktop 101 to advanced shell commands, there's stuff to learn for everyone.

This book by William E. Shotts, Jr. is a great starter for people who want to learn about the command line. Licensed under Creative Commons, this free book can teach you a lot about the Linux command line even if you have zero experience with Linux.

This is a great book by Paul Sheer that teaches users system administration in detail. The book aims to give concise, thorough explanations and practical examples of each aspect of a UNIX system. Worth a read if you want to dive deeper into the operating system. And yes, you don't need to be a command line ninja to read this book. All you need is a little experience with Linux and everything else is nicely explained in the book.

If you're new to Ubuntu then the Ubuntu Manual will help you get to know the system in a simple, fun manner.

Wikibooks has written a great Linux guide for users who are new to Linux. The book is free and is not written in the Typical Wikipedia fashion. The text is easy to understand and follow through.

This is a site that features a collection of Linux-based books from all over the Internet. You can find all the books that have been made freely available for download by the author. From general Linux books to titles on SUSE, CRUX, and Fedora, the selection is quite vast.

You may also check out our previous article about some of the most highly recommended books about Linux.

Linux Outlaws is a great podcast where you'll hear discussions on Linux and open-source news, technology, and other Linux-related topics. The show is hosted by Fabian A. Scherschel and Dan Lynch.

The Linux Action Show is one of Jupiter Broadcasting's most popular shows. The show has seen interviews with big names from the Linux community like Mark Shuttleworth, Richard Stallman, and Jono Bacon.

Hosted by Steve McLaughlin this podcast covers Linux news, distros, open source software, and more.

There are some great sites to keep up with what's happening in the Linux world. Linux Today, Tuxmachines, and Lxer are some of the main sites you'll need to get the best and the latest news from the penguinland.

Written by: Abhishek, a regular TechSource contributor and a long-time FOSS advocate.

For many users, the default Android keyboard is more than enough. It's got the perfect layout and it integrates perfectly with every app from the Google Play Store. That said, there are many users who often want more from their device. They want the best and the smoothest typing experience, and above all, something that works for them rather than everyone else.

So, developers are cashing in by developing some cool keyboard replacement apps for Android. Note that these apps don't just offer a simple keyboard to users, but they also change the way users type on their smartphones and tablets. In some cases these replacement apps are even better than the default apps. So, if you are looking for some of the best apps to replace your built-in Android keyboard, this list is just for you.

SwiftKey is regarded as one of the best alternative keyboards for Android. Winner of the Webby Award for innovation in 2012, this fabulous application learns phrases and words that you use on a regular basis and predicts them to you accordingly. This makes typing more personalized as well as more swift, as the app's title suggests. Furthermore, SwiftKey can also be hooked up with your Gmail, Facebook, and blog posts so that it can learn words you use on a regular basis. So, for example you type a particular phrase in your own quirky grammar-breaking way, SwiftKey will automatically predict it for you. 

 DOWNLOAD HERE

Thumb Keyboard, as the name suggests, lets you type out your messages and mails with only your thumb. With a sleek, customizable, and neatly spaced design, this application makes typing faster and comfortable.  Once installed, the app gives you fully featured keyboard layouts along with some much-needed split layouts for the device.

 DOWNLOAD HERE

Smart Keyboard brings T9 prediction along with a smart dictionary to your Android device. There's also support for smart dictionary among other features making it a good replacement to the stock Android keyboard. Though nothing spectacular here, it can be a great alternative keyboard for those using pre-ICS Android OS.

 DOWNLOAD HERE

Swype is one of the most hyped alternative keyboards around. The best thing about this application is that it lets you type your words by simply swiping your fingers across the screen. The prediction engine is so accurate that 90% of the time it detects what you want to type accurately. Though the app has been in beta for a long time, it has been pre-installed in many devices. Swype is smooth and very easily you can type up to 40 words per minute on your smartphone. 

Another great thing about Swype is that the latest beta comes with a feature called Living Language. This will allow Swype to predict words that are popular around the world or are trending on Twitter. So, expect to see YOLO or Gangnam Style as a prediction the next time you Swype.

You won't find Swype in the Play Store as it's still in beta. However, you can still download it by registering for an account from the Swype website. The app is free to download but the registration and the installation is a slightly tedious process.

If you're too bored to download Swype from their website and are instead looking for something similar that is readily available from the Play Store, then SlideIT is your choice. SlideIT is quite like the aforementioned Swype as it too allows users to type quickly by sliding their finger across the screen. Though lacking both the popularity and the feature set of Swype, SlideIT does an impressive job at improving the users' typing speed.

DOWNLOAD HERE

That said, SlideIT does have many unique features of its own. For example, this app supports around 45 different languages and lets you theme or 'skin' your keyboard in a whopping 60 different ways. What's more there's also support for speech to text input thus making it a complete replacement for the stock Android keyboard. Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, SlideIT can be downloaded from the Play Store as a free trial version or a full version paid app.

With Ubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal), Canonical introduced a revamped Dash with brand new lenses and host of new features. This made Dash more stable, reliable, and user-friendly. The Dash, apart from allowing you to search for your files, also lets you browse them without the need for opening. Thus, Dash has become one of the most banked-upon features in Ubuntu 12.10. Though the search capabilities of Dash aren’t as good as what we find on Windows and Mac, it does, however, serve as one of the most important parts of the Ubuntu desktop.

Many people rely on the Dash for searching for files, browsing them, even previewing music, thus making it an indispensable part of the desktop. While they use it on a daily basis, many don’t know how to make the most out of this nifty feature. If you’re one of those people who are trying to get the most out of Dash, here are some useful tips that you should try out.

The Previews feature lets you browse files and photos without opening them. So, let’s say you’re browsing a bunch of PDFs and you finish your work and close them. The next day when you open up the Dash, you’ll find that your files are shown in the most recently used files and folders list. Now simply right-click any one of those PDFs and you’ll be able to preview the cover of the book or document. Then, by clicking the right arrow on the Dash or by pressing the right arrow key, you can browse other recently used files in the dash itself.

This is similar to Cover Flow on Mac but is much more convenient as you can choose to mail that document without even opening it. Simply preview it and then click on the Email button on the bottom left. This will open the default email client. Once you’re done browsing, exit the preview mode by pressing the Esc key on your keyboard. 

Ubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal) has introduced a neat little photo lens that lets you browse and search photos from your computer and web. You can use this Dash to browse your pics Cover Flow-style with the preview mode. Simply right click any photo that appears in the photo lens and start browsing other pics using the right or left arrow keys. 

Dash in Ubuntu 12.10 also lets you preview entire music albums without opening Rhythmbox or any other music application. Once in the music lens, simply search for your favorite album. Now that it has appeared, right-click on it and a list of all the tracks will show up. Click on the play button next to any track and you can preview the song without quitting the Dash. Clicking on the album will open it using the default music player (Rhythmbox). Again, to exit the preview mode, simply press the Escape key. 

The tablet computer market, which once seemed to be dominated by Apple’s iPad, is now getting more and more diverse. With the launch of the much-awaited Nexus 7, the battle of tablets has turned into a full-fledged war. While Apple stepped up the heat by announcing the iPad mini last week, Amazon had a rebuttal for that with a feature-by-feature comparison of the iPad and the Kindle Fire HD on their front page.

Though the Nexus 7 comes with Android and some of the best features around, the Kindle Fire HD and the iPad are both established devices with huge content platforms backing them. For example, for every Kindle device that is sold, Amazon gets a new customer who will buy movies, music, and other content from them and only them. Though the Nexus 7 offers pretty much the same, the content that the Google Play Store offers is not strong enough to compete with what is there on Apple iPad and the Kindle Fire HD. That said, there is no big differentiation between the qualities offered by these devices. The three of them are top-notch performers in the tablet market and have been battling constantly for the top spot. As to who wins, it remains to be seen, but till then we can compare these three mini pocket-sized devices and figure out which one you should invest your hard-earned money in.

The Kindle Fire HD comes in two variants: 16GB and 32GB. Both these variants are enough for any movie buff or music junkie. The Nexus 7 and the iPad mini both offer these variations but the iPad offers a 64GB variant too, which will please many movie fans. There’s no winner here but the iPad does a good job by adding an extra option for its consumers.

Both the Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7 comes with a 7-inch screen. The iPad mini on the other hand offers a 7.85-inch screen, which is slightly better than its competitors. When it comes to resolution, the iPad mini loses to its competitors by offering a meager 1024x768 resolution as opposed to 1280x800 HD display offered by Kindle Fire HD and Nexus7. Though the Kindle Fire and the Nexus 7 offer similar display resolution, the Nexus 7 one-ups the former by providing a slightly bigger actual screen area.

 Kindle Fire HD

The iPad mini comes with a Dual-core A5 processor making it a great performer for watching movies and playing games as well. We don’t think any Apple fan would have any reason to complain about the performance of the device. However, Android lovers will be happy to know that the Nexus 7 beats the overpriced iPad mini again by providing a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. The Kindle Fire HD is one step behind it as it comes with a 1.2 GHz processor. Yep, that one is quad core too.

Both the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD comes with a rear-facing HD camera with 720p video recording capability. The iPad mini though comes with a 5MP 1080p rear camera and HD front-facing camera with 1080p video recording capability. This puts the iPad mini much ahead of its competitors when it comes to camera quality and video chatting.

 iPad Mini

The iPad mini though larger than the Kindle Fire HD and the Nexus 7, comes out as the lightest of them all. The 308g device is much easier to carry around when compared to 395g Kindle Fire HD and the 340g Nexus 7. Definitely, the iPad mini wins again in this category.

Though the iPad mini comes with the latest and the greatest OS Apple has to offer, it's not as good as what its competition has come up with. Marred by a big controversy surrounding the unfinished Apple maps application, iOS 6 doesn't quite measure up to Apple's high standards. No wonder it pales in comparison to Android Jelly Bean on Nexus 7. Jelly Bean comes with some amazing features that let it compete head to head with iOS. Even the recently launched Google Now feature gives a strong competition to Apple's Siri.

Coming to Kindle Fire HD, it includes a highly customized version of Android making it the weakest amongst the three.

The Kindle Fire HD and the Google Nexus 7 both are priced at $199 for the low-end device configuration. The iPad mini on the other hand is priced at a whopping $329 making it less accessible for everyone.

There’s very little doubt that the Google Nexus 7 is the clear winner in this battle of 7-inch tablets. It’s a solid, high-performing, quality device that should outperform all of its competitors. --Worth buying if you’re looking for the best 7-inch tablet around.

Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, and Windows Live messenger are three of the most popular chat protocols out there. Each of these services has its own applications for Windows and Mac. On Linux, however, there is no official app for them. Instead, users have to rely on IM clients that can work with more than one account and also have a lot of more features.

These chat clients let you use Yahoo, Google Talk, MSN, and other services all at once. Though these applications never really took off on the Windows and Mac platforms -- owing to the presence of official apps --, they have been quite popular on the Linux front. That is why there is a lot of competition as to which becomes the default chat client for Ubuntu desktop. Though currently Empathy holds that throne, competition is still kind of tough with Pidgin.

So, if you’re confused as to which chat client to use for staying in touch with your buddies, here’s a rundown of the best IM clients for Ubuntu.

Empathy is the default chat application in Ubuntu. It comes with a boatload of interesting features that make it the best application for this platform. For starters, the application is quite neatly designed. There is very less clutter and there are a lot of essential features that every chat client should have. The best part about it is that it integrates very neatly with the rest of the desktop making it a total winner.

 

Kopete is KDE’s official messaging app. Though it doesn’t fit right into your Ubuntu desktop, it does, however, serve as an IM tool. The open-source application supports services like AIM, ICQ, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, Novell GroupWise Messenger, and more. There is support for group messages, ability to use multiple accounts and multiple services, custom notifications for contacts, voice calling, and more. You can even extend Kopete’s functionality by installing plugins. Some of the most popular plugins include Auto Replace, Text Effects, Now Listening to (sets your status to the music you’re listening to), Statistics, and Cryptography.

Pidgin is one of the most popular instant messenger clients for Linux. On Ubuntu, it integrates perfectly with the rest of the desktop and comes with a lot of powerful features. Formerly called Gaim, this open-source tool lets you add accounts from Gadu-Gadu, Yahoo!, Gtalk, IRC, MyspaceIM, and more. What’s more interesting is that this app comes with an amazing set of features that even the default app Empathy can’t compete with.

Pidgin supports file transfers, buddy lists, and yes, plugins support. The free tool has few of the best plugins you’ll find for any software. Few of the best include Encryption, Latex support, and a video plugin that allows you to watch YouTube videos directly in a chat window.

Overall, the application is a great alternative to the default chat application, which is Empathy. Though it has its own share of shortcomings, it makes for a perfect cross-platform IM app that you can rely on. 

Emesene is an open-source IM application that is designed to be a clone of MSN messenger. The application, though tries to replicate the MSN messenger experience, it does, however, support other protocols too. Once installed, you can use Emesene to chat with not only your MSN buddies, but also with your Facebook, XMPP, and Google Talk friends. The application supports MSN messenger features like offline messaging, ‘Now Playing’ personal messages, nudges, file transfer, tabbed chat windows, and more. There is also a support for plugins that help extend the functionality of the application.

aMSN, like the aforementioned Emesene application, is a Windows Live Messenger clone. The app tries to emulate the look, feel, and functionality of its Windows counterpart. aMSN supports MSN Protocol 15, webcam send and receive, chat logging, and many other features that help it provide the closest Windows Live! experience. Overall, it is a great application if you’re a Live Messenger user.