/>Even with another infusion of cash from Google, you have to wonder just how long Firefox will survive as a viable, mainstream web browser.I've been using 's since  In 2004, for a while, it was my favorite web browser. Not because it was open-source, but because it was so much better and That was then. This is now. Firefox is in real danger of dying off.  Firefox had a great run, but beginning in 2012 with . Over the years, things continued downhill. Oh, Mozilla and Firefox still produced important work. You need to look no further than the JavaScript, Rust, and...…/>Even with another infusion of cash from Google, you have to wonder just how long Firefox will survive as a viable, mainstream web browser.I've been using 's since  In 2004, for a while, it was my favorite web browser. Not because it was open-source, but because it was so much better and That was then. This is now. Firefox is in real danger of dying off.  Firefox had a great run, but beginning in 2012 with . Over the years, things continued downhill. Oh, Mozilla and Firefox still produced important work. You need to look no further than the JavaScript, Rust, and...WW…

Byfor| August 13, 2020 -- 21:05 GMT (14:05 PDT)| Topic:Facebook releases data tools to help researchers track impact of social distancingMost web-based companies are built on Linux and open-source software. Two-billion member social network  is no different. For years, Facebook has not only relied on open-source, it's been an . These include the JavaScript library; the , which open sources data-center hardware; and container software. Now Facebook is joining membership at the Platinum level. It's a natural move. While Facebook's open-source group has long been a member, the main...…Byfor| August 13, 2020 -- 21:05 GMT (14:05 PDT)| Topic:Facebook releases data tools to help researchers track impact of social distancingMost web-based companies are built on Linux and open-source software. Two-billion member social network  is no different. For years, Facebook has not only relied on open-source, it's been an . These include the JavaScript library; the , which open sources data-center hardware; and container software. Now Facebook is joining membership at the Platinum level. It's a natural move. While Facebook's open-source group has long been a member, the main...WW…

/>One of the most popular password managers, 1Password, is finally releasing a desktop Linux client.Maybe you can remember dozens of complex passwords, I can't. That's why password managers, such as , , and , are so important. Now, AgilBits, 1Password's parent company, has finally listened to their customers who have been . At long last, the company announced, "" Don't get your credit cards out yet though. True, the first development preview version of 1Password is out now. But it's not ready for prime-time yet. It's not a finished product. "For example, the app is currently read-only:...…/>One of the most popular password managers, 1Password, is finally releasing a desktop Linux client.Maybe you can remember dozens of complex passwords, I can't. That's why password managers, such as , , and , are so important. Now, AgilBits, 1Password's parent company, has finally listened to their customers who have been . At long last, the company announced, "" Don't get your credit cards out yet though. True, the first development preview version of 1Password is out now. But it's not ready for prime-time yet. It's not a finished product. "For example, the app is currently read-only:...WW…

/>We can make open-source software safer and more secure when we all work together.Eric S. Raymond, one of open-source's founders, famously said, "" which he called "Linus's Law." That's true. It's one of the reasons why open-source has become the way almost everyone develops software today. That said, it doesn't go far enough. You need expert eyes hunting and fixing bugs and you need coordination to make sure you're not duplicating work.    So, it is more than past time that started the . This cross-industry group brings together open-source leaders by building a broader...…/>We can make open-source software safer and more secure when we all work together.Eric S. Raymond, one of open-source's founders, famously said, "" which he called "Linus's Law." That's true. It's one of the reasons why open-source has become the way almost everyone develops software today. That said, it doesn't go far enough. You need expert eyes hunting and fixing bugs and you need coordination to make sure you're not duplicating work.    So, it is more than past time that started the . This cross-industry group brings together open-source leaders by building a broader...WW…

/>Everyone says their latest web browser is the fastest one ever. They can't all be right. I took them to the test bench. Here's what I found.The single most important program on pretty much everyone's PC these days is the web browser. Indeed, show you can have a useful laptop with only a web browser.  But which Windows 10 web browser is the fastest of them all? I put the to the test. Here are our contenders in popularity order. First comes , with its . Next up is , which recently . Believe it or not, Internet Explorer (IE) 11 is the next most popular Windows 10 web browser....…/>Everyone says their latest web browser is the fastest one ever. They can't all be right. I took them to the test bench. Here's what I found.The single most important program on pretty much everyone's PC these days is the web browser. Indeed, show you can have a useful laptop with only a web browser.  But which Windows 10 web browser is the fastest of them all? I put the to the test. Here are our contenders in popularity order. First comes , with its . Next up is , which recently . Believe it or not, Internet Explorer (IE) 11 is the next most popular Windows 10 web browser....WW…

/> 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect...…/> 'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect...WW…

/>It was just another Friday, until the internet stopped working for tens of millions of people.It was another end of the workweek; what could possibly go wrong? Sure, in the week and accounts, but surely nothing else could go awry? Right? Wrong. Bad things come in threes. Starting on Friday afternoon, , the major content delivery network (CDN) and Domain Name System (DNS) service, had a major DNS failure, and tens of millions users found their internet services failing. Whoops. At the time, there was concern that the US internet itself was under attack. The real problem was much more...…/>It was just another Friday, until the internet stopped working for tens of millions of people.It was another end of the workweek; what could possibly go wrong? Sure, in the week and accounts, but surely nothing else could go awry? Right? Wrong. Bad things come in threes. Starting on Friday afternoon, , the major content delivery network (CDN) and Domain Name System (DNS) service, had a major DNS failure, and tens of millions users found their internet services failing. Whoops. At the time, there was concern that the US internet itself was under attack. The real problem was much more...WW…

/>If you want a free software and security first Linux desktop, keep an eye out for Purism's forthcoming Librem 14 laptop.For most Linux desktop users who want a ready-to-run Linux laptop, I recommend the . I can also suggest or PCs or laptops for those who want top-of-the-line Linux hardware. But if privacy, security, and free software are at the top of your "Want" list, then you should check out , maker of free software and Linux-powered laptops, and its next-generation .This newest model, which is scheduled to ship in early Q4 2020, comes with the following hardware:It's default...…/>If you want a free software and security first Linux desktop, keep an eye out for Purism's forthcoming Librem 14 laptop.For most Linux desktop users who want a ready-to-run Linux laptop, I recommend the . I can also suggest or PCs or laptops for those who want top-of-the-line Linux hardware. But if privacy, security, and free software are at the top of your "Want" list, then you should check out , maker of free software and Linux-powered laptops, and its next-generation .This newest model, which is scheduled to ship in early Q4 2020, comes with the following hardware:It's default...WW…

/>In a somewhat confusing move, Google is placing three of its open-source projects' trademarks under its new Open Usage Commons.Google has announced it is launching a new organization, , to host the trademarks for three of its most important new open-source projects. These are , a web application framework for mobile and desktop; , a web-based team code-collaboration tool; and , a popular open mesh platform to connect, manage, and secure microservices.While it only covers three Google projects, for now, OUC is meant to give . The organization will also assist with conformance...…/>In a somewhat confusing move, Google is placing three of its open-source projects' trademarks under its new Open Usage Commons.Google has announced it is launching a new organization, , to host the trademarks for three of its most important new open-source projects. These are , a web application framework for mobile and desktop; , a web-based team code-collaboration tool; and , a popular open mesh platform to connect, manage, and secure microservices.While it only covers three Google projects, for now, OUC is meant to give . The organization will also assist with conformance...WW…

/>Despite rumors to the contrary, Mozilla's Thunderbird e-mail client will live.Recently, . That meant . And some people wondered if this also meant that , 's , was on its way out. It's not. Thunderbird is safe. Ali Taghavi, Mozilla's director of corporate communications, said: "Thunderbird is not impacted by the layoffs." As of January this year, Thunderbird began operating from a new wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation, . In this latest incarnation, as a standalone business,  in its own right. Nevertheless, moving forward, Thunderbird will remain an...…/>Despite rumors to the contrary, Mozilla's Thunderbird e-mail client will live.Recently, . That meant . And some people wondered if this also meant that , 's , was on its way out. It's not. Thunderbird is safe. Ali Taghavi, Mozilla's director of corporate communications, said: "Thunderbird is not impacted by the layoffs." As of January this year, Thunderbird began operating from a new wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation, . In this latest incarnation, as a standalone business,  in its own right. Nevertheless, moving forward, Thunderbird will remain an...WW…