NEWS
NEWS
In the news: Dell to Enable Privacy Controls for Linux Hardware; Linux Mint Unveils New Packages; Pop!_OS 20.10 Now Supports DEB822 Format; Ubuntu 20.10 with Raspberry Pi Support; SaltStack Acquisition Brings More Automation to VMware; and New Storage Model Could Replace POSIX.
Dell to Enable Privacy Controls for Linux Hardware
Dell has completely embraced the Linux community. With one of the finest Linux-based laptops on the market (the XPS Developer Edition), Dell is definitely no stranger to open source and the needs of those who use it. Case in point, many Linux users are quite savvy in the realms of privacy and security. With most modern laptops equipped with webcams and microphones, which can be used (either by accident or via nefarious means) in less-than-desirable ways, it has become crucial for many users to have control over those features.
To that end, Dell has offered up code to the Linux kernel for the Dell privacy drivers. What this feature will do is allow users (via keyboard shortcuts) to disable the built-in microphone and/or webcam on supported devices. The applicable shortcuts will be Ctrl+F4 for the microphone and Ctrl+F9 for the webcam.
The Dell privacy drivers will go a long way to prevent malicious (or accidental) usage, but users will have to wait until 2021 for the new feature to find its way into Dell hardware.
It should also be noted that, tucked away in the code, there is mention of PRIVACY_SCREEN_STATUS
, which could extend the privacy driver functionality to horizontal and vertical viewing angles of the screen.
For more information about Dell privacy drivers, check out the kernel.org entry (https://lore.kernel.org/lkml/20201103125542.8572-1-Perry_Yuan@Dell.com/).
Linux Mint Unveils New Packages
For those who prefer their Linux a bit mintier, but aren't terribly keen on everything installed via Snap, the developers of Linux Mint have announced they'll be bringing an official Chromium package to the next release of the distribution (20.1, aka Ulyssa). Unlike some Ubuntu-based distributions, Linux Mint users will be able to install Chromium from the traditional Apt repositories, instead of having to go with the Snap package (which is blocked by default). That installation is as simple as sudo apt-get install chromium -y
.
This decision wasn't just made because of Snap. According to the Linux developers, this was about release delays. To that, their official take is, "We noticed significant delays between official releases and the versions available in almost all Linux distributions. For this reason we set up our own packaging and we're building directly from upstream."
Chromium isn't the only package getting attention in the upcoming release. The Linux Mint developers have also created an M3U IPTV player, called the Hypnotix IPTV player. This new media player will connect with FreeIPTV to stream a variety of television shows. Hypnotix IPTV player is very much in the developmental stage, but the prototype can be downloaded and installed already (https://linuxmint.com/tmp/blog/3978/hypnotix_1.0.0_all.deb).
For more information about the development of Linux Mint 20.1, check out the official announcement (https://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=3969).
Pop!_OS 20.10 Now Supports DEB822 Format
Most users of Debian-based distributions are familiar with the single line Apt repository format that includes all of the information for a repository. With the new DEB822 format, those single lines are converted to multi-line entries, which allow more flexibility and extensibility over the standard for Debian software repositories.
In fact, the single-line format standard is planned for depreciation, so most distributions will eventually convert over. For Pop!_OS users, that time is now. Pop!_OS is the Linux distribution created by System76 as both a developer and general usage desktop operating system. Up until 20.10, Pop!_OS defaulted to the single-line style of repository entries. Now, instead of the /etc/apt/sources.list
file, you'll find those repository entries in /etc/apt/sources.list.d/system.sources
. As well, instead of a number of entries, (at least as of the initial release) you'll find only one in that file, which follows the new DEB822 format of:
- URIs – repository address
- Suites – various release-related repositories (such as
groovy
,groovy-security
,groovy-updates
, andgroovy-backports
) - Components – main and other repositories (such as universe and multiverse)
The idea behind DEB822 is that it should make it easier for users, developers, and even machines to create, extend, and modify Apt entries, especially if a larger number of sources and/or options are involved.
Although not all repositories work with the new format yet, developers are being encouraged to switch to the new multi-line style.
For more information on what's new with Pop!_OS 20.10, check out the official System76 blog (https://blog.system76.com/).
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Direct Download
Read full article as PDF:
Price $2.95
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Find SysAdmin Jobs
News
-
Kubuntu Focus Announces XE Gen 2 Linux Laptop
Another Kubuntu-based laptop has arrived to be your next ultra-portable powerhouse with a Linux heart.
-
MNT Seeks Financial Backing for New Seven-Inch Linux Laptop
MNT Pocket Reform is a tiny laptop that is modular, upgradable, recyclable, reusable, and ships with Debian Linux.
-
Ubuntu Flatpak Remix Adds Flatpak Support Preinstalled
If you're looking for a version of Ubuntu that includes Flatpak support out of the box, there's one clear option.
-
Gnome 44 Release Candidate Now Available
The Gnome 44 release candidate has officially arrived and adds a few changes into the mix.
-
Flathub Vying to Become the Standard Linux App Store
If the Flathub team has any say in the matter, their product will become the default tool for installing Linux apps in 2023.
-
Debian 12 to Ship with KDE Plasma 5.27
The Debian development team has shifted to the latest version of KDE for their testing branch.
-
Planet Computers Launches ARM-based Linux Desktop PCs
The firm that originally released a line of mobile keyboards has taken a different direction and has developed a new line of out-of-the-box mini Linux desktop computers.
-
Ubuntu No Longer Shipping with Flatpak
In a move that probably won’t come as a shock to many, Ubuntu and all of its official spins will no longer ship with Flatpak installed.
-
openSUSE Leap 15.5 Beta Now Available
The final version of the Leap 15 series of openSUSE is available for beta testing and offers only new software versions.
-
Linux Kernel 6.2 Released with New Hardware Support
Find out what's new in the most recent release from Linus Torvalds and the Linux kernel team.