Issue #142 / Sep 2012

LINUXUSER: GIMP 2.8

An overview of the new features in GIMP 2.8

Although the developers of GIMP version 2.8 have not achieved all their goals, they’ve awakened great expectations with some impressive new features.

LINUXUSER: Command Line: More Secure Passwords

Improving account passwords

Even with encrypted drives, account passwords remain one of the prime security methods for any Linux system. With a little knowledge of the available commands and their options, you can make your account passwords more secure.

LINUXUSER: Workspace: DIY Photo Publishing

Pygmyfoto, a DIY photo publishing solution

Photo publishing applications are scarce, so we show you how to build one.

LINUXUSER: Barcode

Barcodes and 2D codes for all

Machine-readable codes aren’t just for big companies anymore. With the right programs and some low-cost hardware, you can create and read the most important codes.

COMMUNITY: Doghouse: Bundling Software

Bundling software and hardware

Why do companies pay a “Micro$oft Tax” for putting the Microsoft operating system in each and every desktop computer and laptop? This practice is a time-honored tradition called “bundling.”

COMMUNITY: Kernel News

Zack’s Kernel News

Chronicler Zack Brown reports on the latest news, views, dilemmas, and developments within the Linux kernel community.

COMMUNITY: UEFI and Secure Boot

Windows 8 UEFI with Secure Boot

The coming Windows 8 implementation of UEFI with Secure Boot adds an extra layer of complexity for some Linux users. We look at the problem and two solutions from Fedora and Canonical.