Mozilla's new CEO, Apple breaks PWA, Wine on Android: Linux & Open Source News

Linux & Open Source News
10 Feb 202417:32

TLDRThe Linux and open source news show highlights Mozilla's new CEO, Apple's disabling of PWAs in the EU, Wine's closed-source Android release, and XFCE's continued X11 support. It also covers Elementary OS 8's early access, Linux gaming developments with the Cassia project and the Orange P Neo handheld, and Tuxedo's Linux-compatible computers. The show emphasizes the ongoing evolution and community engagement in open source projects.

Takeaways

  • 🆕 Mozilla gets a new CEO, Laura Chambers, who previously worked for Airbnb, PayPal, and served on Mozilla's board for 3 years.
  • 🔄 Apple continues its 'malicious compliance' with EU regulations by disabling support for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in the EU.
  • 📱 Wine is coming to Android, but in closed-source format, aiming to bring Windows games to Android devices.
  • 🖥️ XFCE decides to maintain support for X11 alongside Wayland in their upcoming version 4.20.
  • 🚀 Elementary OS 8 enters Early Access, offering new features and improvements over the previous version.
  • 🛠️ Microsoft extends support for Ubuntu 18.04 for VS Code, addressing compatibility issues caused by a recent update.
  • 🎮 Cassia, a project to bring Windows games to Android, was presented at FOSDEM 2024, though it will be a closed-source Android app.
  • 🎮 The Orange P Neo, a gaming handheld powered by Manjaro Linux, was unveiled at FOSDEM, featuring high-end hardware.
  • 💻 Tuxedo Computers, a sponsor of the video, offers a range of Linux-compatible laptops, desktops, and notebooks.
  • 📦 The video encourages viewers to support open-source projects and consider using Tuxedo PCs for their Linux needs.
  • 🔗 The video provides a link for viewers to access more information and potentially purchase a Tuxedo PC.

Q & A

  • What is the new development at Mozilla?

    -Mozilla has a new CEO, Laura Chambers, who previously worked for Airbnb, PayPal, and served on Mozilla's board for 3 years. Mitchell Baker has stepped down as CEO but retains her position as executive chairwoman.

  • What are the main focuses outlined by the new Mozilla CEO?

    -The new CEO has outlined a clear strategy for Mozilla, which includes doubling down on core products like Firefox and bringing new products to market to reduce reliance on Google's funding.

  • What is the issue with Mozilla's recent service launch, Monitor Plus?

    -Monitor Plus is a service that allows users to scrub their leaked data from data brokers for $14 per month. However, it's criticized for being overpriced and not guaranteeing the removal of personal info from data brokers or preventing it from being available on less reputable marketplaces.

  • How does the new Mozilla CEO plan to engage with the community?

    -Laura Chambers wants to have more engagement with the community and focus on open source, which could help improve transparency and collaboration around Mozilla's projects.

  • What is the impact of the EU regulations on Apple's iOS 17?

    -Apple's compliance with the EU regulations has led to Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) not functioning as intended in the iOS 17 beta. Users can still create shortcuts, but PWAs will open as browser pages with Safari UI, lose stored local data, and notifications will not work.

  • What is the significance of the decision for Ubuntu 22.04 and KDE-based distributions?

    -Ubuntu 22.04 and KDE-based distributions like Kubuntu and OBS Studio will not use Plasma 6 due to the feature freeze coinciding with the planned Plasma 6 release. Users will have to wait for Ubuntu 24.10 to get the latest Plasma release.

  • How does the XFCE desktop environment plan to handle Wayland and X11 support?

    -XFCE plans to maintain support for X11 and will introduce a Wayland session in version 4.20. They are using a library called libxfce for windowing, which allows them to work with both Wayland and X11 without maintaining separate codebases.

  • What are the notable changes in Elementary OS 8?

    -Elementary OS 8 moves updates to the settings, improves search functionality within settings, and introduces a new multitasking view with a blurred wallpaper background. The workspace switcher now supports light and dark mode, and clicking an app's icon with multiple windows open will display a window spread for easy selection.

  • What is the goal of the Cassia project for Linux gaming?

    -The Cassia project aims to bring Windows games to Android by combining wine, dxvk, and vkd3d with fex to emulate an x86 platform on ARM devices. The project is still in early stages and will be distributed as a closed-source Android app, with the intention to open-source any modifications made to the used open-source projects.

  • What are the specifications of the Orange P Neo handheld gaming console?

    -The Orange P Neo is a handheld gaming console powered by Manjaro Linux. It features a Ryzen 7 7840U processor, a 7-inch 1920x1200 screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, a solid cooling system, whole effect triggers, 16 or 32 gigs of DDR5 RAM, up to 2 terabytes of PCIe SSD storage, a 50Wh battery, two USB 4 type-C ports, and a headphone jack.

  • How does Tuxedo Computers support the Linux community?

    -Tuxedo Computers specializes in manufacturing laptops and desktops that ship with Linux out of the box. They select hardware that is well-supported by Linux and offer customization options, making it a company that actively supports and caters to the Linux community.

Outlines

00:00

📢 Mozilla Leadership Change and New Initiatives

The paragraph discusses the recent changes at Mozilla, including the appointment of Laura Chambers as the new CEO following the departure of Mitchell Baker. It highlights Chambers' background in product development and her focus on defining a clear strategy for Mozilla, improving core products like Firefox, and introducing new products to the market. The discussion also touches on the recent launch of Mozilla's overpriced service, Monitor Plus, and the community's reaction to the new leadership and initiatives.

05:00

🛠️ Microsoft Extends Support for VS Code and Ubuntu's KDE Decision

This section covers Microsoft's decision to extend support for VS Code's 18.04 version by another 12 months, acknowledging the issues caused by a recent update that broke compatibility with the old LTS version. It also discusses Ubuntu's decision not to use Plasma 6 in the upcoming 22.04 LTS version due to time constraints, opting for stability over new features. The paragraph mentions the availability of backports PPA for users who wish to upgrade to Plasma 6 on 22.04.

10:01

📱 Apple's Compliance with EU Regulations and Xfce's Roadmap

The summary focuses on Apple's approach to EU regulations, specifically its disabling of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in the EU, which are now functioning as browser pages without full-screen app capabilities and local data storage. It also covers Xfce's development roadmap, including the decision to maintain support for X11, the introduction of Wayland support in version 4.20, and the use of libxfc for a unified approach to windowing across different display servers.

15:03

🎮 Linux Gaming Updates and Tuxedo Computers

This paragraph delves into the latest developments in Linux gaming, including a project to bring Windows games to Android using Wine, DXVK, and VKD3D, known as Cassia. It also mentions the announcement of the Orange P Neo, a gaming handheld powered by Manjaro Linux, and its impressive specifications. Finally, the paragraph promotes Tuxedo Computers, a company that specializes in Linux-compatible laptops and desktops, highlighting their customization options and support for the Linux community.

🙌 Support and Conclusion

The concluding paragraph encourages viewers to support the video by liking, subscribing, and engaging with the content. It also promotes Patreon and YouTube memberships for access to a daily Linux and open-source news show. The speaker expresses gratitude for the viewership and teases the next video, maintaining a positive and engaging tone throughout.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Linux

Linux is an open-source operating system that is widely used in servers, supercomputers, and embedded devices. In the context of the video, Linux is the core platform for various open-source projects and news discussed, such as the development of new CEOs, software updates, and compatibility issues.

💡Open Source

Open source refers to a software whose source code is made available to the public, allowing anyone to view, use, modify, and distribute the software. The video emphasizes the importance of open-source projects, such as Linux and various desktop environments, and the community's engagement in their development.

💡Privacy

Privacy in the context of the video pertains to the protection of personal information and data from unauthorized access and use. The video discusses the importance of privacy in online services and software, highlighting products like ProtonMail that offer end-to-end encryption to ensure secure communication.

💡Mozilla

Mozilla is a non-profit organization dedicated to making the internet accessible and open to all. The video discusses recent changes within Mozilla, including the appointment of a new CEO, Laura Chambers, and the organization's strategic shift in focus.

💡Wine

Wine is a compatibility layer that allows users to run Windows applications on Unix-like operating systems, such as Linux. The video mentions the development of Wine for Android, indicating efforts to bring Windows games to mobile platforms.

💡X11

X11 is a widely used protocol for the Linux graphical user interface. It defines how the display should be handled and how the input devices like the mouse and keyboard should interact with the screen. The video discusses the decision of the XFCE desktop environment to continue supporting X11.

💡Elementary OS

Elementary OS is a Linux distribution based on Ubuntu that focuses on simplicity and elegance in its user interface design. The video talks about the release of Elementary OS 8 in Early Access, which includes various updates and improvements.

💡Wayland

Wayland is a newer display server protocol that aims to replace the X Window System with a more modern and efficient approach. It is designed to offer better performance and security. The video discusses the adoption of Wayland by the XFCE desktop environment.

💡Apple's Malicious Compliance

The term 'malicious compliance' refers to intentionally following the rules or regulations set by an authority to create an undesirable outcome for the authority or others. In the video, it is used to describe Apple's response to EU regulations, which has led to the disabling of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in the region.

💡Linux Gaming

Linux Gaming refers to the use of Linux operating systems for playing video games. The video discusses various developments in this area, including projects to bring Windows games to Android devices using Linux technologies.

💡Closed Source

Closed source describes software whose source code is not made available to users or developers. This is in contrast to open-source software, where the source code is freely accessible. The video touches on the announcement of a closed-source Android app for Linux gaming.

Highlights

Modzilla gets a new CEO, Laura Chambers, who previously worked for Airbnb, PayPal, and served on Mozilla's board for 3 years.

Mitchell Baker steps down as CEO of Mozilla but retains her position as executive chairwoman.

Mozilla's new focus includes defining a clear strategy and doubling down on core products like Firefox, as well as bringing new products to market.

The recently launched Monitor Plus service by Mozilla, which charges $14 per month to scrub leaked data, is considered overpriced and potentially ineffective.

Microsoft extends support for Ubuntu 18.04 for VS Code, adding 12 more months to address compatibility issues.

Kubuntu 24.4 and other KDE-based Ubuntu variants will not use Plasma 6 due to feature freeze timing, and users will have to wait for 24.10 to get the latest release.

Apple's compliance with EU regulations results in Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) losing functionality in iOS 17 betas, rendering them less useful.

Xfce announces plans to maintain support for X11 alongside Wayland in the upcoming version 4.20.

Elementary OS 8 enters Early Access, offering a new ISO for supporters with updated settings and improved features.

Linux gaming project Cassia aims to bring Windows games to Android devices using Wine, DXVK, and VKD3D, but will be distributed as a closed-source app.

The Orange P Neo, a gaming handheld powered by Manjaro Linux, is unveiled at FOSDEM 2024, featuring a powerful Ryzen 7 processor and high-refresh-rate screen.

Tuxedo Computers, a company that specializes in Linux-compatible laptops and desktops, is highlighted as a sponsor providing a variety of hardware options for Linux users.

ProtonMail, the privacy-focused email service, introduces new time management features like email snoozing and scheduling.

The new CEO of Mozilla plans to engage more with the community and focus on open source, but does not mention AI, which was previously announced as a focus area.

The Kubuntu council's unanimous decision to not use Plasma 6 in the next LTS release prioritizes stability over new features.

Apple's changes to PWAs are intentional and not just a beta-related problem, as confirmed by a system iOS popup.

Xfce's decision to keep X11 support is a response to community feedback and uncertainty about the need for Wayland-only support.

Elementary OS 8's new features include an improved settings interface, better search functionality, and a more visually appealing multitasking view.

Cassia's closed-source approach for Linux gaming on Android is seen as a challenge for the open-source community, especially given its presentation at FOSDEM.

The Orange P Neo's high-end specifications make it a potentially powerful device for running Linux and gaming, offering an alternative to other handheld gaming options.