Spohnz Tech News Digest – July 28, 2025

Dallas SpohnDallas Spohn
25 min read

Tech News Digest - 2025-07-28

📢 Touch eyeballs to screen for cheap laser surgery

Security updates for Monday

Category: Linux
Tags: Linux, Red Hat
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:29:54 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Multiple Linux distributions, including Debian, Fedora, Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu, have issued security updates to fix various vulnerabilities in packages such as audiofile, glibc, kernel, thunderbird, and more. The updated packages aim to improve system security and protect against potential attacks or exploits.
Security updates have been issued by Debian (audiofile, libcaca, libetpan, libxml2, php7.4, snapcast, and thunderbird), Fedora (glibc, iputils, mingw-binutils, and thunderbird), Red Hat (kernel, kernel-rt, mod_auth_openidc, and mod_auth_openidc:2.3), SUSE (afterburn, apache2, atop, chromedriver, chromium, cloud-init, deepin-feature-enable, firefox, firefox-esr, grafana, grype-db, gstreamer-plugins-bad, javamail, jupyter-jupyterlab-templates, jupyter-nbdime, konsole, libetebase, libxmp, minio-client-20250721T052808Z, MozillaFirefox, MozillaFirefox-branding-SLE, opera, pdns-recursor, perl-Authen-SASL, polkit, python-Django, python3-pycares, python311-starlette, rpi-imager, ruby3.4-rubygem-thor, spdlog, thunderbird, varnish, viewvc, and xtrabackup), and Ubuntu (openjdk-21-crac).
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LWN is back

Category: Linux
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:27:58 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Due to issues at Linode's data center, the service was temporarily moved to an emergency backup server, which may experience occasional glitches. However, after an update, the service has been restored to its regular production server and appears stable once again.
The good folks at Linode still have not managed to fix whatever broke in their data center, so we are running on an emergency backup server. Things seem to be working, but the occasional glitch is to be expected. Please accept our apologies for the extended downtime!

Update: we're back on the regular production server, and all seems stable now.
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The 6.16 kernel is out

Category: Linux
Tags: Linux
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:42:18 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the article in 2 sentences:

Linus Torvalds has released the Linux kernel version 6.16, which includes several headline changes such as enabling five-level page tables on x86 systems and core-dump changes that allow sending core dumps to a socket. The release also features new features like atomic-write support for XFS, elimination of block-layer bounce buffering, and a new DMA-mapping API, among other changes.
Linus has released the 6.16 kernel:

It's Sunday afternoon, and the release cycle has come to an end. Last week was nice and calm, and there were no big show-stopper surprises to keep us from the regular schedule, so I've tagged and pushed out 6.16 as planned.

Headline changes in this release include enabling five-level page tables by default on x86 systems, a number of core-dump changes including the ability to send core dumps to a socket, the ability to create pipes in io_uring, atomic-write support in the XFS filesystem, the elimination of block-layer bounce buffering, a new DMA-mapping API, an option to block file descriptors passed in via Unix-domain sockets, and more.

See the LWN merge-window summaries (part 1, part 2) and the KernelNewbies 6.16 page for more information.
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[$] Rethinking the Linux cloud stack for confidential VMs

Category: Linux
Tags: General
Published: Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:55:01 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

The public cloud has inherent limitations on privacy because even with virtual machine isolation, nothing is ultimately out of reach for the host provider. To achieve true confidentiality, confidential computing technology is needed to protect guest memory from even hypervisors, requiring a rethinking of the Linux cloud stack to balance performance and security.
There is an inherent limit to the privacy of the public cloud. While Linux can isolate virtual machines (VMs) from each other, nothing in the system's memory is ultimately out of reach for the host cloud provider. To accommodate the most privacy-conscious clients, confidential computing protects the memory of guests, even from hypervisors. But the Linux cloud stack needs to be rethought in order to host confidential VMs, juggling two goals that are often at odds: performance and security.
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Security updates for Friday

Category: Linux
Tags: Linux, Red Hat
Published: Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:03:07 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Multiple Linux distributions have released security updates to address vulnerabilities, including AlmaLinux, Fedora, Oracle, Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu. The updates affect various components such as git, kernel, nginx, sudo, and others, aiming to improve the overall security of these operating systems.
Security updates have been issued by AlmaLinux (git, kernel, nginx:1.24, and sudo), Fedora (dpkg, java-21-openjdk, java-25-openjdk, java-latest-openjdk, and valkey), Oracle (apache-commons-vfs, sudo, tigervnc, and xorg-x11-server), Red Hat (kernel, krb5, and openssh), SUSE (gnutls, ImageMagick, iputils, kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0-RT_Update_10, kubernetes1.18, libarchive, ovmf, python, and salt), and Ubuntu (iputils, linux-aws-6.14, linux-raspi, openjdk-21, and openjdk-24).
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OPNsense 25.7 Brings Revamped GUI and New Firewall Tools

Category: Linux Today
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:06:59 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

OPNsense 25.7, an open-source firewall and routing platform, has been released with a refreshed frontend, SFTP backups, and FreeBSD 14.3 as its underlying operating system. The update brings a revamped GUI and new firewall tools to users.

OPNsense 25.7 open-source firewall and routing platform is out now, featuring a refreshed frontend, SFTP backups, and FreeBSD 14.3 under the hood.

The post OPNsense 25.7 Brings Revamped GUI and New Firewall Tools appeared first on Linux Today.


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Super Productivity: Open Source Project Manager That Does It All

Category: Linux Today
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:03:28 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Super Productivity is not just another to-do app, but rather a personal project sidekick that helps streamline workflow. The open-source project manager aims to provide a comprehensive toolset for managing tasks and projects, allowing users to maximize their productivity.

Super Productivity isn’t just another to-do app—it’s like having a personal project sidekick that actually gets it. Give your workflow a turbo boost and see what you’ve been missing!

The post Super Productivity: Open Source Project Manager That Does It All appeared first on Linux Today.


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Fastfetch 2.48 System Information Tool Brings Fedora Variant Support

Category: Linux Today
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:59:45 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Fastfetch, a popular tool for displaying system information in the terminal, has released its latest update: version 2.48. This new version brings support for Fedora variants, allowing users to view system information with ease.

Fastfetch, the tool beloved by Linux enthusiasts for showcasing a sleek summary of system information right in the terminal, has just launched its latest update: version 2.48.

The post Fastfetch 2.48 System Information Tool Brings Fedora Variant Support appeared first on Linux Today.


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VirtualBox 7.1.12 Improves Support for Linux Kernel 6.16 on Linux Hosts and Guests

Category: Linux Today
Tags: Linux
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:56:55 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Oracle has released VirtualBox 7.1.12, a free and open-source virtualization software that can run on Linux, macOS, and Windows systems. This latest version improves support for Linux kernel 6.16 on both hosts and guests.

Oracle released today VirtualBox 7.1.12 as the latest stable version of this open-source, free, and cross-platform virtualization software for GNU/Linux, macOS, and Windows systems.

The post VirtualBox 7.1.12 Improves Support for Linux Kernel 6.16 on Linux Hosts and Guests appeared first on Linux Today.


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Blender 4.5 LTS Arrives with Major UI Overhaul, Animation Improvements

Category: Linux Today
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:51:57 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

The Blender 4.5 LTS open-source 3D creation suite has been released with significant updates to animation, geometry nodes, Grease Pencil, Vulkan rendering, and user interface improvements. The update brings a major UI overhaul along with various animation enhancements, making it an exciting release for 3D creators.

Blender 4.5 LTS open-source 3D creation suite delivers major updates in animation, geometry nodes, Grease Pencil, Vulkan rendering, and improved UI.

The post Blender 4.5 LTS Arrives with Major UI Overhaul, Animation Improvements appeared first on Linux Today.


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Sony details its ‘FlexStrike’ wireless PS5 fight stick

Category: The Verge
Tags: General
Published: 2025-07-28T12:26:07-04:00
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Sony has revealed more details about its new arcade-style controller for the PlayStation, officially named FlexStrike, which was first teased in June. The FlexStrike features a rechargeable battery, mechanical switch buttons, restrictor gates on the joystick, and other design elements to enhance gameplay.
Sony has shared more details about its arcade-style controller for the PlayStation that was first teased during the State of Play event in early June. Originally codenamed Project Defiant, the fight stick is now called the FlexStrike and features a rechargeable battery, mechanical switch buttons, restrictor gates that limit the joystick’s movements, and the ability […]
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Avatar: Fire and Ash brings war to Pandora in first trailer

Category: The Verge
Tags: General
Published: 2025-07-28T11:57:43-04:00
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

The first trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash has been released, hinting at another exciting installment from James Cameron. The trailer suggests that the sequel will continue to follow Jake Sully and Neytiri as they navigate new challenges and adventures with their Na'vi family.
The first trailer for Avatar: Fire and Ash is finally here, and it looks like James Cameron might have made another banger. Though Avatar: The Way of Water ended on hopeful note with Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and their family finding a new home with a different group of Na’vi, Fire and […]
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Mario Kart World and other Switch 2 games are 10 percent off

Category: The Verge
Tags: General
Published: 2025-07-28T10:19:31-04:00
TL;DR: Despite the Switch being more readily available in stock, deals on Switch games are still scarce, particularly for first-party Nintendo titles like launch games. However, a 10% discount is currently available on games like Mario Kart World, offering a rare opportunity to save on popular titles.
I wasn’t expecting to see any deals on Switch 2 games for a while. Even though the console is currently much easier to find in stock, game discounts — especially ones on first-party Nintendo launch games — aren’t the norm. However, you can get 10 percent off on the likes of Mario Kart World, and […]
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ChatGPT can be a disaster for lawyers — Robin AI says it can fix that

Category: The Verge
Tags: General
Published: 2025-07-28T10:00:00-04:00
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Welcome to Decoder, hosted by Jon Fortt, a CNBC journalist and creator of the Fortt Knox streaming series on LinkedIn. This episode marks his last guest-hosting stint while Nilay is out on parental leave, after which an exciting new crew will take over.
Hello, and welcome to Decoder! I’m Jon Fortt — CNBC journalist, cohost of Closing Bell: Overtime, and creator of the Fortt Knox streaming series on LinkedIn. This is the last episode I’ll be guest-hosting for Nilay while he’s out on parental leave. We have an exciting crew who will take over for me after that, […]
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Temu users face a ‘high risk’ of finding illegal products, EU says

Category: The Verge
Tags: General
Published: 2025-07-28T09:30:37-04:00
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Users in the European Union are at high risk of encountering illegal products, including counterfeit and unsafe goods, while shopping on the platform Temu. An investigation by the European Commission found several items, including baby toys and electronics, to be non-compliant or potentially dangerous.
Temu users in the European Union are at “high risk” of coming across illegal products while shopping on the platform, as reported earlier by The Financial Times. Preliminary findings from the European Commission’s investigation into the platform uncovered baby toys, small electronics, and other items on Temu considered counterfeit, unsafe, or “non-compliant.” Last year, the […]
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Meta pirated and seeded porn for years to train AI, lawsuit says

Category: Ars Technica
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 16:32:38 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has been accused of seeding pornography to minors as part of its artificial intelligence (AI) training data, allegedly without their consent or knowledge. The lawsuit also claims that Meta prioritized hiding piracy content in order to train its AI models, despite being aware of the potential harm caused by such practices.
Lawsuit: Meta may have seeded porn to minors while hiding piracy for AI training.
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Fermented meat with a side of maggots: A new look at the Neanderthal diet

Category: Ars Technica
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:48:17 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Researchers use the analysis of stable nitrogen isotope ratios to reconstruct what people ate in the past, providing insights into ancient diets. By studying these isotopes, scientists can learn about the types and sources of food consumed by ancient populations, shedding light on their dietary habits and patterns.
Researchers reconstruct ancient diets by studying stable nitrogen isotope ratios.
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A secretive space plane is set to launch and test quantum navigation technology

Category: Ars Technica
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:38:12 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Testing this technology will help to develop effective navigation systems for use in situations where there may be conflict or competition. The goal of testing is to ensure that the tech can accurately guide individuals or vehicles through challenging environments, even when others may be attempting to interfere with their route.
"Testing this tech will be helpful for navigation in contested environments."
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F1 in Belgium: The best racetrack in the world

Category: Ars Technica
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:43:35 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

The year 2025 was notable for its unexciting racing conditions. The changeability that usually makes for thrilling races did not materialize in this year.
Changeable conditions usually make for exciting races, but 2025 was a bit dull.
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Ars spoke with the military’s chief orbital traffic cop—here’s what we learned

Category: Ars Technica
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 11:00:45 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

The speaker has a collection of around 2,000 to 2,200 items they refer to as their "red order of battle". The context and nature of these items are not specified.
"We have some 2,000 or 2,200 objects that I call the 'red order of battle.'"
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The Best Smart Rings, Tested and Reviewed (2025)

Category: Wired
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:30:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

A slim smart ring is capable of tracking various health metrics, allowing users to monitor their well-being with ease. Additionally, this device does not require daily charging, making it a convenient option for those who want to keep track of their health without the hassle of frequent recharging.
A svelte smart ring can track important health metrics and doesn’t need to be charged every day.
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What Is MicroSD Express? Everything You Need to Know

Category: Wired
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 13:03:00 +0000
TL;DR: The latest MicroSD iteration is U3 (Ultra High Speed) with read speeds up to 312.5MB/s and write speeds up to 224.6MB/s, offering significant improvements in loading times and overall performance for demanding games and applications on the Nintendo Switch. The Switch's hybrid nature and reliance on microSD storage make it essential to use a high-performance MicroSD card like U3 to take full advantage of its capabilities and reduce load times, ensuring an optimal gaming experience.
What is the latest MicroSD iteration, and why does your Nintendo Switch need it?
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Nothing Headphone (1) Review: Something Special

Category: Wired
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 12:01:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

These noise-canceling headphones are extremely comparable to AirPods Max but at a significantly lower price point. They offer high-quality performance at an affordable price, with a savings of $150 compared to the more expensive AirPods Max.
These noise-canceling headphones are very nearly as good as AirPods Max, and they cost $150 less.
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Programmers Aren’t So Humble Anymore—Maybe Because Nobody Codes in Perl

Category: Wired
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Perl is a programming language known for its complexity and imperfections, often referred to as the "duct tape of the internet" due to its ability to fix various issues. Despite its flaws, Perl's human creation is evident, making it unique among languages.
Perl is a messy, maddening programming language, the “duct tape of the internet.” But at least you can tell it was made by humans.
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From Cheating Exposés to Dating Background Checks, TikTok Detectives Are Thriving

Category: Wired
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 11:00:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Private investigators are using social media to share their findings on cheating partners and vetted potential matches, often framing it as "morality-based" entertainment for their followers. However, this trend raises concerns about the ethics and potential consequences of publicly exposing people's personal lives without their consent.
Private investigator influencers are staking out suspected cheaters and vetting dates for their clients, posting the tea for their followers. But there’s a dark side to morality-based surveillance.
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Security updates for Monday

Category: LWN.net
Tags: Linux, Red Hat
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:29:54 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Several Linux distributions have issued security updates to address various vulnerabilities, including Debian, Fedora, Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu. The updates cover a range of packages, such as libraries, browsers, and system utilities, and are designed to help prevent attacks and protect users' systems from potential threats.
Security updates have been issued by Debian (audiofile, libcaca, libetpan, libxml2, php7.4, snapcast, and thunderbird), Fedora (glibc, iputils, mingw-binutils, and thunderbird), Red Hat (kernel, kernel-rt, mod_auth_openidc, and mod_auth_openidc:2.3), SUSE (afterburn, apache2, atop, chromedriver, chromium, cloud-init, deepin-feature-enable, firefox, firefox-esr, grafana, grype-db, gstreamer-plugins-bad, javamail, jupyter-jupyterlab-templates, jupyter-nbdime, konsole, libetebase, libxmp, minio-client-20250721T052808Z, MozillaFirefox, MozillaFirefox-branding-SLE, opera, pdns-recursor, perl-Authen-SASL, polkit, python-Django, python3-pycares, python311-starlette, rpi-imager, ruby3.4-rubygem-thor, spdlog, thunderbird, varnish, viewvc, and xtrabackup), and Ubuntu (openjdk-21-crac).
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LWN is back

Category: LWN.net
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 10:27:58 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Linode's data center issue has not been resolved yet, so a temporary backup server is being used to keep services running. However, some glitches may still occur, and an apology is extended for the inconvenience.
The good folks at Linode still have not managed to fix whatever broke in their data center, so we are running on an emergency backup server. Things seem to be working, but the occasional glitch is to be expected. Please accept our apologies for the extended downtime!

Update: we're back on the regular production server, and all seems stable now.
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The 6.16 kernel is out

Category: LWN.net
Tags: Linux
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 03:42:18 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the article in 2 sentences:

Linus Torvalds has released the Linux 6.16 kernel, which includes several headline changes such as enabling five-level page tables by default on x86 systems and allowing pipes to be created in io_uring. The release also features updates to core-dump handling, atomic-write support for XFS, elimination of block-layer bounce buffering, a new DMA-mapping API, and other improvements.
Linus has released the 6.16 kernel:

It's Sunday afternoon, and the release cycle has come to an end. Last week was nice and calm, and there were no big show-stopper surprises to keep us from the regular schedule, so I've tagged and pushed out 6.16 as planned.

Headline changes in this release include enabling five-level page tables by default on x86 systems, a number of core-dump changes including the ability to send core dumps to a socket, the ability to create pipes in io_uring, atomic-write support in the XFS filesystem, the elimination of block-layer bounce buffering, a new DMA-mapping API, an option to block file descriptors passed in via Unix-domain sockets, and more.

See the LWN merge-window summaries (part 1, part 2) and the KernelNewbies 6.16 page for more information.
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[$] Rethinking the Linux cloud stack for confidential VMs

Category: LWN.net
Tags: General
Published: Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:55:01 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

The public cloud has an inherent limit on privacy because even with virtual machine isolation, the cloud provider can still access all memory. To provide greater privacy, confidential computing protects guest memories from hypervisors and requires a rethinking of the Linux cloud stack to balance performance and security goals.
There is an inherent limit to the privacy of the public cloud. While Linux can isolate virtual machines (VMs) from each other, nothing in the system's memory is ultimately out of reach for the host cloud provider. To accommodate the most privacy-conscious clients, confidential computing protects the memory of guests, even from hypervisors. But the Linux cloud stack needs to be rethought in order to host confidential VMs, juggling two goals that are often at odds: performance and security.
Read more

Security updates for Friday

Category: LWN.net
Tags: Linux, Red Hat
Published: Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:03:07 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Multiple Linux distributions have released security updates, including AlmaLinux, Fedora, Oracle, Red Hat, SUSE, and Ubuntu. The updates address various vulnerabilities in packages such as git, kernel, nginx, dpkg, java, sudo, and more, aiming to improve the security of users' systems.
Security updates have been issued by AlmaLinux (git, kernel, nginx:1.24, and sudo), Fedora (dpkg, java-21-openjdk, java-25-openjdk, java-latest-openjdk, and valkey), Oracle (apache-commons-vfs, sudo, tigervnc, and xorg-x11-server), Red Hat (kernel, krb5, and openssh), SUSE (gnutls, ImageMagick, iputils, kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0-RT_Update_10, kubernetes1.18, libarchive, ovmf, python, and salt), and Ubuntu (iputils, linux-aws-6.14, linux-raspi, openjdk-21, and openjdk-24).
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Linux 6.16 Released with OpenVPN Speed Boost, 5-Level Paging + More

Category: OMG! Ubuntu!
Tags: Linux
Published: Mon, 28 Jul 2025 02:12:11 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

The new Linux kernel, version 6.16, has been released and offers several improvements, including faster OpenVPN speeds, expanded 5-level paging, and enhanced Ext4 performance. The update also includes additional features, as highlighted in the article from OMG! Ubuntu.

News paper front page announcing new Linux kernel. Devices around it.Linux 6.16 improves OpenVPN speeds, expands 5-level paging, and delivers a 'stupendous' Ext4 performance boost - and a fair bit more. Highlights inside.

You're reading Linux 6.16 Released with OpenVPN Speed Boost, 5-Level Paging + More, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.


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Kapitano (Linux Antivirus Scanner) Developer Abandons Ship

Category: OMG! Ubuntu!
Tags: General
Published: Sun, 27 Jul 2025 18:31:52 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

The developer of Kapitano, a Linux virus scanning app that uses ClamAV, has discontinued the project. The code has been made available under The Unlicense, allowing others to continue developing the app if they wish.

Kapitano, a Linux virus scanning app using ClamAV has been discontinued by its developer and the code made available under The Unlicense for continuation.

You're reading Kapitano (Linux Antivirus Scanner) Developer Abandons Ship, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.


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KDE Plasma 6.5 Adds Low Printer Ink Notifications

Category: OMG! Ubuntu!
Tags: General
Published: Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:37:02 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

The KDE Plasma 6.5 update has added low printer ink level notifications, which aims to alleviate the frustration of running out of ink mid-print job. This feature is designed to provide users with timely warnings about their printer's ink levels, helping them plan ahead and avoid last-minute interruptions.

kde logo on a blue backgroundI don't remember the last time I used a printer, let alone owned one, but I do remember printer ink running out mid-print being a major frustration.

You're reading KDE Plasma 6.5 Adds Low Printer Ink Notifications, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.


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New RVA23 RISC-V Chips are Coming Sooner than You Think

Category: OMG! Ubuntu!
Tags: General
Published: Sat, 26 Jul 2025 12:29:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Ubuntu's decision to pivot to the RVA23 RISC-V profile has raised concerns, but new hardware is on the way that justifies the move. The upcoming chips are expected to arrive soon and provide a solid foundation for Ubuntu's future development efforts.

Ubuntu logo made out of RISC-V SBCs.Ubuntu's pivot to the RVA23 RISC-V profile has caused concern, but new hardware is on the way - and the upcoming chips more than justify the move.

You're reading New RVA23 RISC-V Chips are Coming Sooner than You Think, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.


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Euphonica is a Rust-Powered MPD Client Heavy on Bling

Category: OMG! Ubuntu!
Tags: General
Published: Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:10:04 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Euphonica is a new Rust-based MPD (Music Player Daemon) frontend for Linux desktops that focuses on design and visual appeal, or "bling". In this blog post, the author showcases Euphonica's features and development status.

Album art in the euphonica music player on a colourful background.Euphonica is a new Rust-based MPD frontend for Linux desktops, with 'bling' as a key feature. I showcase its design, features, and current development status.

You're reading Euphonica is a Rust-Powered MPD Client Heavy on Bling, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.


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5 Open Source Apps You Can use for Seamless File Transfer Between Linux and Android

Category: It's FOSS
Tags: General
Published: Sat, 26 Jul 2025 13:47:27 GMT
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

If you want to share specific files between your Android phone and a Linux computer, there are various open-source tools available that can help you achieve this. These tools enable seamless file transfer and synchronization between the two devices, making it easy to access and manage your files on both platforms.
Want to share selected files between your Android smartphone and Linux computer? Explore these open source tools.
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FOSS Weekly #25.30: AUR Poisoned, Linux Rising, PPA Explained, New Open Source Grammar Checker and More

Category: It's FOSS
Tags: General
Published: Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:03:42 GMT
TL;DR: I'm not aware of any specific information or context about "Linux rising in the West." Could you please provide more details or clarify what you mean by this phrase? If you're referring to the adoption of Linux operating systems, it's worth noting that Linux has gained popularity worldwide and is used in a variety of applications.
Linux rises in the west
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I Found a New Open Source Grammar Checker Tool And I Like it... Well... Kind of

Category: It's FOSS
Tags: General
Published: Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:05:00 GMT
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

A simple, open-source grammar checker is needed in today's data-driven world where AI is prevalent, allowing for straightforward corrections without the complexity of advanced language processing. This new tool prioritizes simplicity, making it an effective solution for those seeking to improve their writing skills without getting bogged down in intricate linguistic analysis.
Sometime simple is better. This new open source grammar checker is what we need in this age of data collection and AI.
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I Made Kitty Terminal Even More Awesome by Using These 15 Customization Tips and Tweaks

Category: It's FOSS
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 21 Jul 2025 06:38:35 GMT
TL;DR: Kitty is a high-quality terminal emulator that provides a range of customization options through its configuration file, allowing users to personalize their terminal experience. The article goes on to specify the specific config changes the author prefers, but the core point is that Kitty offers a lot of flexibility in terms of customizing the terminal's appearance and behavior.
Kitty is an excellent terminal and offers you a variety of customization options though its config file. Here are the config changes I prefer.
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FOSS Weekly #25.29: End of Ubuntu 24.10, AUR Issue, Terminal Tips, Screenshot Editing and More Linux Stuff

Category: It's FOSS
Tags: General
Published: Thu, 17 Jul 2025 04:27:47 GMT
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

Europe continues to move towards embracing open-source technologies, which allows for collaboration and innovation through sharing of software codes and ideas. This shift towards open-source is driven by the desire to promote digital sovereignty, reduce reliance on proprietary systems, and foster greater control over technology development.
Europe keeps on marching...towards open source.
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🧱 Building better initramfs: A deep dive into dracut on Fedora & RHEL

Category: Fedora Magazine
Tags: General
Published: Fri, 04 Jul 2025 08:00:00 +0000
TL;DR: This guide teaches you how to effectively use dracut, a powerful tool used in Fedora and RHEL to manage the boot process, by providing practical examples, customization techniques, and optimization strategies for creating high-performance initramfs images. By following this hands-on approach, you'll gain the skills to harness the full potential of dracut and improve your Linux system's boot time and overall performance.
Learn how to harness the full power of dracut, the modern tool behind Fedora and RHEL's boot process. This hands-on guide explores real-world scenarios, custom module configurations, and performance tuning tips for building better initramfs images.
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🔧 Unlocking system performance: A practical guide to tuning PCP on Fedora & RHEL

Category: Fedora Magazine
Tags: General
Published: Fri, 27 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the text in 2 sentences:

Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) is a framework for collecting, monitoring, and analyzing system performance metrics, available in Fedora and RHEL repositories. This guide provides instructions on how to tune PCP's pmlogger service to optimize its performance and better fit your specific needs.
Performance Co-Pilot (PCP) is a robust framework for collecting, monitoring, and analyzing system performance metrics. Available in the repos for Fedora and RHEL, it allows administrators to gather a wide array of data with minimal configuration. This guide walks you through tuning PCP’s pmlogger service to better fit your needs—whether you’re debugging performance issues or […]
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🔧 Deep dive into sosreport: understanding the data pack layout in Fedora & RHEL

Category: Fedora Magazine
Tags: Red Hat
Published: Wed, 25 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a 2-sentence summary:

sosreport is a command-line utility that collects a comprehensive snapshot of system information on Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CentOS, and other RHEL-based systems. This article aims to improve the usefulness of the sosreport output by explaining its content and structure, allowing users to better understand its contents and use it effectively.
This article will describe the content and structure of the sosreport output. The aim is to improve its usefullness through a better understanding of its contents. 🧰 What is sosreport? sosreport is a powerful command-line utility available on Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CentOS, and other RHEL-based systems to collect a comprehensive snapshot of […]
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System insights with command-line tools: free and vmstat

Category: Fedora Magazine
Tags: General
Published: Mon, 23 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of the article in 2 sentences:

The "System insights with command-line tools" series continues with a look at two small utilities, free and vmstat, that provide valuable information about a Linux system's health. Free provides an instant snapshot of RAM and swap usage, while vmstat offers a real-time view of virtual memory statistics.
In this fifth article of the “System insights with command-line tools” series we explore free and vmstat, two small utilities that reveal a surprising amount about your Linux system’s health. free gives you an instant snapshot of how RAM and swap are being used. vmstat (the virtual memory statistics reporter) reports a real-time view of […]
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Flock to Fedora 2025 Recap: Streaming from Kenya

Category: Fedora Magazine
Tags: General
Published: Thu, 19 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0000
TL;DR: Here is a summary of your text in 2 sentences:

Flock to Fedora 2025 was streamed live from Kenya and I would like to thank the amazing team of speakers, volunteers, and organizers who made it possible this year. This recap comes from the perspective of a virtual attendee who tuned in live from Kenya on June 5-6.
This is my recap of Flock to Fedora 2025, streamed live from Kenya! I would really like to thank the amazing team – speakers, volunteers as well, who made FLOCK possible this year!  This recap is from a virtual attendee’s viewpoint, tuning in live from Kenya for June 5–6. Massive appreciation to everyone behind the […]
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Written by

Dallas Spohn
Dallas Spohn

Dallas, a seasoned professional with a diverse background, transitions seamlessly between roles as a systems admin turned developer, technical writer, and curriculum developer at Red Hat. With a knack for unraveling complex concepts, he crafts engaging materials primarily in DocBook, guiding enthusiasts through the intricacies of Red Hat's certification courses. In his earlier days, Dallas's passion for Anime led him to contribute to Anime News Network, channeling his creativity and expertise into captivating content. His contributions extended beyond writing as he interviewed prominent figures in the Anime industry, offering insights into their creative processes and visions. Beyond his professional pursuits, he's a devoted husband and father, cherishing moments with his loved ones. Dallas's journey in the tech industry spans various roles, from a security developer at NTT Security to an operations architect overseeing Linux servers for commercial transcoding. His tenure at esteemed institutions like Goldman Sachs and Lockheed Martin has honed his skills as a systems engineer, instilling in him a deep-rooted understanding of complex systems. An avid FPV pilot, Dallas finds exhilaration in soaring through the skies with his drones, often contemplating the lessons learned from his aerial adventures. His diverse experiences, including serving as a naval submariner aboard the USS Alexandria and pursuing higher education in England, enrich his perspective and fuel his thirst for knowledge.