Brian Fagioli

If you are a Linux desktop user, there is a good chance you have used Ubuntu at some point in your life. The distribution is one of the best, offering stability, many available packages, and an overall great user experience. Unfortunately, the last few releases have been rather ho-hum -- boring and evolutionary. Don't get me wrong, Canonical shouldn't fix what isn't broken (as Microsoft often does with Windows), but some users expect a bit more from operating system upgrades.

The upcoming 16.04 release looks to remedy this, finally delivering a meaty upgrade to Ubuntu fans. Two major changes are a much improved Unity with the ability to move the dock (woo-hoo!), and a refreshed software store. Today, Canonical releases the final beta, signaling that the true non-beta final version, due April 21, is right around the corner.

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If you are an email user, there is a very good chance you use Google's ubiquitous Gmail service. While there are countless other options, such as Outlook, AOL, Yahoo and more, the search giant's offering is quite popular. It is easy to see why -- it is easy to use, secure, and can double as a Google account for things such as Play access on the wildly popular Android.

Today, Google announces that it is making Gmail even more secure. With so much talk about enryption in the news nowadays, the search giant is enhancing its email service with improved TLS encryption. How is it doing this? By working with other email providers, such as Microsoft to make sure encrypted emails remain that way in transmission.

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Wireless mice are a tricky situation. On the one hand, they eliminate unsightly wires, creating a more aesthetic desktop look. The downside, of course, is the need of batteries. Whether it is rechargeable or not, it can be a total bummer when the juice runs out. Hardcore gamers in particular just don't have time for such things -- depleted batteries can cause lost matches and other frustrations. Not to mention, wired mice can have less lag, offering better performance.

Today, Logitech announces a gaming-focused mouse. Called the G900 Chaos Spectrum, it features a selectable DPI between 200 and 12,000. While wireless gaming mice are nothing new, the company claims this model has advanced wireless technologies, offering better performance than wired mice. That is quite the bold statement -- is it realistic?

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One of the great things about Linux-based operating systems is the ability to change the user interface by way of desktop environment. If you like Ubuntu, for instance, but don't like Unity, you can choose an alternative such as KDE, Xfce, or GNOME, to name a few.

While GNOME 3x was initially quite controversial for its abrupt design change from 2x, it has evolved into something quite remarkable -- my favorite such DE. Actually, GNOME 3 is much more than a pretty UI -- it is a design philosophy and suite of useful programs. Today, it reaches a major milestone with 3.20. It features many enhancements, such as improved Wayland support.

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The Star Wars franchise is a runaway train-like phenomenon, lasting decades and being enjoyed by several generations. When the newest such film, The Force Awakens, was announced there was a fury of media coverage and marketing cross-promotions. Quite frankly, I found myself sick of the Star Wars franchise after a while, although I did eventually see the film -- it was pretty good.

Yesterday, a rip of the Retail Blu-ray version of Star Wars: The Force Awakens apparently made its way to the seedy underbelly of the Internet. Even though the disc is not available for purchase until April 5th, pirates can start watching immediately. This is rather sad, as honest fans of the franchise must wait to spend their money, while dastardly thieves can watch now for free.

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Open source is big business. To quantify and define "big business", how about I throw out a number -- $2,000,000,000. That is a lot of zeros! But what does it represent?

It is a figure that Red Hat has surpassed for its 2015 earnings, as it just posted revenue of $2.05 billion for last year. This makes it the first-ever open source software company to ever meet or exceed $2 billion in revenue in a year.

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During the Windows 8 era, I was very worried about that operating system -- the UI and design choices were troubling. Luckily, as a longtime Linux user, I was not tied to any Microsoft OS. Unfortunately for some consumers, Linux-based operating systems can be difficult to install and use, while Mac computers are very expensive. Chrome OS and the inexpensive Chromebooks swooped in to save the day.

For those that stuck it out with Windows, or used other desktop operating systems, Google introduced a Chrome OS-like launcher -- the unimaginatively named Chrome app launcher. It allows Windows, Mac, and Linux users to launch Chrome apps from within their OS' native UI -- it sort of felt like Chrome OS running inside of them. Today, Google kills this project.

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If you are a vlogger, podcaster, or someone who video chats while on the go, you know that a quality microphone is key. Sure, a good camera or webcam is essential, but if people can't hear you well, their interest will fade quickly.

Today, Samson announces a new laptop-focused portable microphone (it can also work with desktop monitors), called the Go Mic Connect. This should meet the needs of many on-the-go vloggers, podcasters and communicators. Unfortunately, the product is not yet publicly available, as the company is instead leveraging crowdfunding to make it a reality.

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While smart televisions and displays are becoming more commonplace, it is becoming increasingly clear that they are not created equal. In other words, there are varying degrees of "smart", meaning some TVs have features that others don't.

I recently purchased a curved Samsung 4K display for my living room, and while it is amazing, it doesn't have a feature that I would really appreciate -- the ability to use Google Cast. Sure, I can connect a Chromecast dongle, but that is not elegant. Today, VIZIO announces its new P-series 4K displays, which have Google's technology built in. In addition, the company is integrating this casting feature into some of its speakers and soundbars.

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Unless you've been chilling under a rock, news of Apple's fight with the FBI has been everywhere. Even though the iPhone-maker is clearly on the correct side of the encryption-cracking battle, some have sided with the agency. I understand that people want to access the terrorist's phone as a way to thwart future attacks, but when we give up our rights and privacy, the terrorists win.

Today, using the excuse that it might have found a third party solution to cracking the terrorist's phone, the FBI has requested to cancel tomorrow's court appearance. A judge has officially granted the agency's request, postponing the court meeting until April 5.

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Smartwatches are all the rage nowadays -- they are fun, useful, and stylish. While Apple was not the first to market with such a watch, it has created the most popular one ever. The Apple Watch, according to the company and some reports, is the best-selling smartwatch.

Today, the Apple Watch buying experience gets even better, as the starting price drops to a very low $299. In addition, Apple introduces new bands.

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Technology moves at a breakneck pace. The top-of-the-line laptop, or new social network of today, could be old news by tomorrow. New hardware, software and services can meet their demise rather quickly.

Sometimes, however, devices and services can be timeless. One of these tech-related evergreen services is Twitter. While I am old enough to still think of the social network as being new, today, it reaches its 10th birthday. Holy cow -- have we really experienced a decade of Tweets?

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When I was in elementary school, and even early into high school, I would decorate my notebooks and binders with stickers. In the 80s, it was Garbage Pail Kids, and as I got older, rock bands and such. Yeah, I was totally cool.

In the tech world, customization is always popular, including stickers. Think about it -- some people decorate their laptops with stickers, while other folks put case badges on their gaming PCs. Today, Google is bringing virtual stickers to Google Maps on Android.

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Having a powerful computer does not mean having a large computer. Big power can come in small packages. While giant towers have long been the darlings of many gamers and technology enthusiasts, smaller boxes are starting to gain traction too. With Micro ATX, Mini ITX, and even smaller form factors, consumers can achieve performance while saving precious desk space.

When it comes to diminutive offerings, Intel's NUC is one of the most popular. These computers are small, attractive, powerful, and affordable. While they run Windows fine, they really shine on Linux, where all components work out of the box. Today, Intel announces its most powerful NUC yet -- the seductively named Skull Canyon. Powered by a super-powerful Skylake processor, it also has tons of new tech crammed inside. You can even connect an external gaming GPU, like the new Razer Core, by way of Thunderbolt 3!

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If you don't have a quality mechanical keyboard for your gaming rig by now, you really are missing out. Hell, even if you do not play games, but do a lot of typing, one of these keyboards may really improve your computing experience.

Logitech has been making mechanical keyboards for some time now, mostly using its own proprietary switches. While some people loved these keyboards, others wanted something from the company with a more standard switch type. Today, Logitech announces the G610 Orion mechanical gaming keyboard with a choice between Cherry MX brown or red switches.

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