Eliana Willis

If it looks like a duck… it might be a duck (or it might be Linux). Screenshot by Jack Wallen/ZDNETSince I started covering Linux and open-source technology in the late 1990s, my goal has been to help make the operating system easier to understand and use. One part of that gig is finding Linux distributions perfectly suited for those looking to jump from Windows but who don’t want to deal with an unfamiliar UI.That quest has led me down some less-than-trustworthy paths, resulting in Linux distributions that could steal data and other nefarious schemes. Fortunately, most Linux distributions are trustworthy, and the Q40S distribution is one you can rely on.Also: How to set up 2FA for Linux desktop logins for added securityThe distro is officially called XPQ4 and offers rethemed versions of Q40S that resemble either Windows 10 or XP. I don’t know if the developers intend to give this theme the Windows 11 treatment, but the Windows 10 option should please anyone looking to make the migration.If you’re a bit confused about the breakdown so far, here’s the hierarchy:Debian is the baseQ40S is the distributionXPQ4 is what gives Q40S the Windows lookFreeXP is the version that resembles Windows XP, and Free10 is the version that resembles Windows 10If you go with the FreeXP version, you’ll even find the Bliss Wallpaper made famous by Microsoft, and a very familiar Start button.Also: Bluestar Linux is a gorgeous MacOS-like take on KDE Plasma that’s easy to useI used Free10 for my tests because most people are probably more familiar with Windows 10 than XP. More

Acusensus Law enforcement agencies around the world are utilizing AI to make roadways safer. Distracted driving is one of the biggest safety issues facing drivers today, and new AI-powered traffic cameras are helping police officers catch unsafe drivers. Also: The best dash cams: Expert-tested and recommended Here’s how the cameras work, and why their use […] More

Jason Hiner/ZDNETBecause I’ve been using Linux for such a long time, the command line is second nature to me. I know which commands I need in order to do certain things — and they never fail. That’s one of the reasons why I decided using the command line in MacOS made sense too. After all, the MacOS and Linux CLI (command-line interface) are quite similar.Also: How to format USB drives on Linux, MacOS, and WindowsBut if you’re new to the practice of running commands, you probably have no idea where to start. That’s where I come in. Allow me to introduce you to five commands that not only will serve you well but aren’t even remotely hard to use. And with that, let’s dive into the commands. 1. Available free space When you want to find out how much space is left on your hard drive (or multiple drives, if you have them attached), you could always go to System Settings, search for Storage, and then allow the GUI to calculate the available free space. Or, you could open the terminal app and issue a single command that will display how much free space is available on all attached drives. The command in question is df, which displays free disk space. You can view the free space on all of your drives by issuing the command like this: My favorite way of using df is in human-readable format. When you use df without options, it will display the results in blocks, which can be very confusing. Instead, use the command: This will present the output in GB, which is much easier to understand. 2. Killing a rogue app It might be a rare occasion, but sometimes an app goes rogue and refuses to close. Sure, you could always use the Force Quit tool (from the Apple menu in the top bar). Or, you could use the kill command. I’ve had one instance where the MacOS GUI refused to respond. Instead of doing a hard restart, I used SSH to log into the machine, locate the problematic app, kill it from the command line, and my GUI came back to me. Also: This app makes using Ollama local AI on MacOS devices so easyBefore you can kill the app, however, you must first locate its PID (process ID). To do that, issue the command: ps aux | grep NAMEWhere NAME is the name of the app (such as Safari). Once you have the PID, you can kill the rogue app with the command: More

ZDNETiPhone users might soon be able to tap into Google Gemini for AI-powered assistance. Also: Gemini’s new free feature can save you hours of tedious PDF analysisIn a Friday post on X, MacRumors analyst Aaron Perris provided a screenshot of backend code for the newly released iOS 18.4 developer beta. Titled “Third Party Model,” the code shows Google alongside OpenAI, seemingly indicating that Gemini is joining ChatGPT as an integrated AI chatbot. More

<!–> ZDNET’s key takeaways The Lenovo Tab Plus retails for $330. Contrary to its small size, the model houses a booming eight-speaker system and a long-lasting battery. The MediaTek Helio chipset and dim display won’t be winning any awards. more buying choices If you’re in the market for a new tablet that won’t break the […] More

SOPA Images/Getty Images The company behind Perplexity AI has announced plans to unleash a browser specifically for agentic search. Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine and research tool that combines the massive amounts of information found in large language models (LLMs) with real-time web searching to provide comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date answers to user […] More

Adam Breeden/ZDNETSay you’re watching an edgy new streaming series and find yourself turning up the volume for every scene where two actors are engaged in a dramatic dialogue. It seems like both characters are whispering — until an explosion happens on screen, and the sound is the opposite, almost deafening.Also: The LG soundbar made my home audio sound like a theater – even though it’s not the newest modelWhat’s up with that? It’s not just the imbalanced proportion of sound that bothers you, and it’s not that your hearing is going bad. Keep reading, and you might find an easy fix for improving (and balancing) your TV’s audio quality.In the scenario above, my first recommendation would be to turn on your closed captions. While enabling video subtitles is an obvious solution for understanding the dialogue, some people find on-screen text to be clunky and distracting. If you can’t stand reading scripts on your screen, try the following solutions. More

Artie Beaty/ZDNETSoundbars are gaining in popularity because of their sleek design and ability to provide an ample boost in audio quality compared to built-in TV speakers. Even with their plug-and-play nature, you can make a few modifications to help unleash the best possible sound quality.Also: Upgrade your home audio with this JBL soundbar that’s still $150 offWhether you’re new to soundbar setups or a self-proclaimed audiophile, familiarizing yourself with some key settings can take your viewing and listening experience to new heights. Read on for five pointers on how to optimize your soundbar’s performance. More