LWDW 296: Voicemeeter Banana For Linux

Firefox launches Suggest, Debian 11 gets a point release, a Voicemeeter Banana alternative for Pulseaudio, and the best part of Windows 11 is Windows Subsystem for Linux.

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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
04:26 Firefox Suggest
12:31 Chrome RSS
17:21 Debian 11.1 bugfixes
21:51 Voicemeeter alternative for Linux
27:36 Ubuntu Frame
31:11 KnightOS
34:16 Windows 11 WSL
41:26 Bare metal Pi
45:26 Airplay Pi

Firefox Suggest
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/navigate-web-faster-firefox-suggest#w_contextual-suggestions

Using ‘Contextual suggestions’ is a way for Mozilla to monetize with ads and promotions.
I will be disabling this feature.
This reminds me of what Canonical implemented with the Amazon search ‘shopping lens’ in Unity which wasn’t liked by the Linux community.
A simpler and respected way to monetize would be to ask for donations like Wikipedia does.
I imagine the staunch firefoxers will rally in its defense to say they have to make money somehow.
So, even if we assume Mozilla won’t bend the knee to every scummy corporation willing to keep them afloat, this is just native advertising with a behavioral model.
Are you sick of tracking cookies and ads trying to sell you things based on said cookies? Don’t worry, Firefox will do that natively and directly in the browser.
As much as I don’t want to reward this kind of behavior, I do like Thunderbird and I don’t want to see it die as collateral damage of encouraging people to stop using Firefox altogether.
Basically, Mozilla is going to display ads in the Firefox address bar.
It’s enabled by default in Firefox 93.
A lot of the bad taste comes from the announcement on the Mozilla blog.
It’s full-metal PR speak glossing over the ads.
Those still using Firefox are the hardcore, the faithful, the ones who really really dislike “spin”.
If Mozilla had an announcement along the lines of “we need money yo, ads in the address bar” there would be less blowback.
You can disable it, but don’t make excuses for it.
I’m still waiting for someone to explain the need for headquarters in Toronto, London, Paris, San Fran & Portland.

Chrome RSS
https://gizmodo.com/chrome-attempts-to-resurrect-rss-with-its-new-follow-fe-1847829225

The Chrome web browser on Android is bringing back RSS, kind of. Google now lets you click a “follow” button and “follow” sites within its mobile browser.
And you get content updates on sites you “follow” through Chrome on the new tab page.
This works really well, and it is nice to have your own customized feed on your Google Search tab along with Google’s personalized search results.
This ability shows up in the hamburger menu on the stable version of Chrome for Android, but it is still rolling out, and you can enable it manually:
- Type in chrome://flags
- Search for web feed
- And select “enabled”
You can manage your “Follows” by turning specific websites on or off.
A feature I would like to have is the ability to change the order of the “Follows”.
I am going to use this ALL the time when in Chrome on Android.
So they went out of their way to kill Reader and now they’re bringing back similar functionality.
I look forward to it being axed in 3 years.

Debian 11.1

Debian GNU/Linux 11.1 “Bullseye” Released with 24 Security Updates and 75 Bug Fixes

Smooth sailing.
The T42.5 took it like a champ.
One of my favorite distros of all time got an update this week!
Debian GNU/Linux 11.1 “Bullseye” has been released, the first point release of the “Bullseye” series, with 24 security updates and 75 bug fixes.
These 99 updated packages make it easier to deploy this latest version of Debian on new machines because you don’t have to download hundreds of updates after installation.
You can update your existing Debian “Bullseye” installs easily, or download the live and install ISO’s.
I just installed the Debian 11.1 lxde iso in a VM, and I have to admit, this is the FIRST time that I have installed Debian using the GUI installer, and it is sweet!
The Calamares installer is one of my favorite Linux installers.

Pulse Meeter
https://github.com/theRealCarneiro/pulsemeeter

Simple advance Pulse routing.
This will allow you to create new syncs and reroute I/O.
Nothing to compile but you will have to open a terminal and run a script to install it.
Guessing this acts a bit like Voicemeter on Windows.
Heeeeey! A fairly GUI to create virtual sinks/sources in Pulse.
Can we ensure it works with Pipewire too?
Cool, now we can easily add push to talk sound effects through our mics while playing games like Windows users can.

Ubuntu Framed
https://www.zdnet.com/article/say-hello-to-ubuntu-frame/

Ubuntu has been framed!
No really, Ubuntu Frame is an Ubuntu Linux Distro for the Internet of Things, but specifically aimed at digital signage and kiosks.
Ubuntu Frame makes it easy to build and deploy graphical applications for interactive kiosks, digital signage, or any other products that require a graphical output.
Ubuntu Frame also comes with an integrated Direct Rendering Manager (DRM) and Kernel Mode Setting (KMS), to back up displays.
Along with Ubuntu Core Linux, which is also used for IoT projects, Ubuntu Frame is supported for 10 years.

Knigh-TI OS
https://knightos.org/

Not Linux strictly speaking, but certainly neat.
It’s a customOS for your Texas Instruments z80-based calculators.
I left mine in Portugal, last I heard my little brother used it through university.
My TI-30 from the 70’s is too old to run this, but it looks like a more modern Texas Instruments graphing calculator with a z80 CPU will be in my eBay cart soon!
And to play Doom, Mario and Tetris on!

WSL 11
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/10/the-best-part-of-windows-11-is-a-revamped-windows-subsystem-for-linux/

Well that doesn’t surprise me a bit, the best thing about Windows 11 is Linux!
You still need bare metal Linux to run a LAMP or LEMP server to communicate with other systems on the network.
Jim Salter sums it up nicely and states that WSLg in Windows 11:
- “does eliminate a lot of pain points for fellow Linux users “trapped” in Windows-land at work, as well as offering the easiest way possible for newbies to get their feet wet and try new things.”
wsl –install with no further arguments gets you Hyper-V and the other underpinnings of WSL, along with the current version of Ubuntu.
Installing a second distribution doesn’t uninstall the first.
WSL now supports graphics and sound so Windows users might be able to get audio working on Linux.
It’s using Wayland so thar might be dragons.

Slice of Pi

\m/ Pi
https://github.com/isometimes/rpi4-osdev

This tutorial certainly seems easier, and a lot less tedious, then following the Linux From Scratch instructions. ;-)
DIY Pi “firmware”.
These kinds of projects tend to not get much attention until someone figures out how to do something really neat, then everyone starts paying attention.
I’m hoping someone will figure out some new and interesting way to mess around with a Pi.

Air Pi
https://github.com/rahul-thakoor/air-pi-play