Fix: It Looks Like You Don’t Have Any Applicable Device(s) Linked To Your Microsoft Account

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The other day, when trying to install the recently released Microsoft’s own Windows File Recovery app, the Windows 10 Store displayed “It looks like you don’t have any applicable device(s) linked to your Microsoft account. To install, sign in on a device with your Microsoft account” message. If you are getting “It looks like you […]

The post Fix: It Looks Like You Don’t Have Any Applicable Device(s) Linked To Your Microsoft Account appeared first on Into Windows. Content from IntoWindows website.

SpineNet: A Novel Architecture for Object Detection Discovered with Neural Architecture Search

Posted by Xianzhi Du, Software Engineer and Jaeyoun Kim, Technical Program Manager, Google Research

Convolutional neural networks created for image tasks typically encode an input image into a sequence of intermediate features that capture the semantics of an image (from local to global), where each subsequent layer has a lower spatial dimension. However, this scale-decreased model may not be able to deliver strong features for multi-scale visual recognition tasks where recognition and localization are both important (e.g., object detection and segmentation). Several works including FPN and DeepLabv3+ propose multi-scale encoder-decoder architectures to address this issue, where a scale-decreased network (e.g., a ResNet) is taken as the encoder (commonly referred to as a backbone model). A decoder network is then applied to the backbone to recover the spatial information.

While this architecture has yielded improved success for image recognition and localization tasks, it still relies on a scale-decreased backbone that throws away spatial information by down-sampling, which the decoder then must attempt to recover. What if one were to design an alternate backbone model that avoids this loss of spatial information, and is thus inherently well-suited for simultaneous image recognition and localization?

In our recent CVPR 2020 paper “SpineNet: Learning Scale-Permuted Backbone for Recognition and Localization”, we propose a meta architecture called a scale-permuted model that enables two major improvements on backbone architecture design. First, the spatial resolution of intermediate feature maps should be able to increase or decrease anytime so that the model can retain spatial information as it grows deeper. Second, the connections between feature maps should be able to go across feature scales to facilitate multi-scale feature fusion. We then use neural architecture search (NAS) with a novel search space design that includes these features to discover an effective scale-permuted model. We demonstrate that this model is successful in multi-scale visual recognition tasks, outperforming networks with standard, scale-reduced backbones. To facilitate continued work in this space, we have open sourced the SpineNet code to the Tensorflow TPU GitHub repository in Tensorflow 1 and TensorFlow Model Garden GitHub repository in Tensorflow 2.

A scale-decreased backbone is shown on the left and a scale-permuted backbone is shown on the right. Each rectangle represents a building block. Colors and shapes represent different spatial resolutions and feature dimensions. Arrows represent connections among building blocks.

Design of SpineNet Architecture
In order to efficiently design the architecture for SpineNet, and avoid a time-intensive manual search of what is optimal, we leverage NAS to determine an optimal architecture. The backbone model is learned on the object detection task using the COCO dataset, which requires simultaneous recognition and localization. During architecture search, we learn three things:

• Scale permutations: The orderings of network building blocks are important because each block can only be built from those that already exist (i.e., with a “lower ordering”). We define the search space of scale permutations by rearranging intermediate and output blocks, respectively.
  
• Cross-scale connections: We define two input connections for each block in the search space. The parent blocks can be any block with a lower ordering or a block from the stem network.
  
• Block adjustments (optional): We allow the block to adjust its scale level and type.

The architecture search process from a scale-decreased backbone to a scale-permuted backbone.

Taking the ResNet-50 backbone as the seed for the NAS search, we first learn scale-permutation and cross-scale connections. All candidate models in the search space have roughly the same computation as ResNet-50 since we just permute the ordering of feature blocks to obtain candidate models. The learned scale-permuted model outperforms ResNet-50-FPN by +2.9% average precision (AP) in the object detection task. The efficiency can be further improved (-10% FLOPs) by adding search options to adjust scale and type (e.g., residual block or bottleneck block, used in the ResNet model family) of each candidate feature block.

We name the learned 49-layer scale-permuted backbone architecture SpineNet-49. SpineNet-49 can be further scaled up to SpineNet-96/143/190 by repeating blocks two, three, or four times and increasing the feature dimension. An architecture comparison between ResNet-50-FPN and the final SpineNet-49 is shown below.

The architecture comparison between a ResNet backbone (left) and the SpineNet backbone (right) derived from it using NAS.

Performance
We demonstrate the performance of SpineNet models through comparison with ResNet-FPN. Using similar building blocks, SpineNet models outperform their ResNet-FPN counterparts by ~3% AP at various scales while using 10-20% fewer FLOPs. In particular, our largest model, SpineNet-190, achieves 52.1% AP on COCO for a single model without multi-scale testing during inference, significantly outperforming prior detectors. SpineNet also transfers to classification tasks, achieving 5% top-1 accuracy improvement on the challenging iNaturalist fine-grained dataset.

Performance comparisons of SpineNet models and ResNet-FPN models adopting the RetinaNet detection framework on COCO bounding box detection.

Performance comparisons of SpineNet models and ResNet models on ImageNet classification and iNaturalist fine-grained image classification.

Conclusion
In this work, we identify that the conventional scale-decreased model, even with a decoder network, is not effective for simultaneous recognition and localization. We propose the scale-permuted model, a new meta-architecture, to address the issue. To prove the effectiveness of scale-permuted models, we learn SpineNet by Neural Architecture Search in object detection and demonstrate it can be used directly in image classification. In the future, we hope the scale-permuted model will become the meta-architecture design of backbones across many visual tasks beyond detection and classification.

Acknowledgements
Special thanks to the co-authors of the paper: Tsung-Yi Lin, Pengchong Jin, Golnaz Ghiasi, Mingxing Tan, Yin Cui, Quoc V. Le, and Xiaodan Song. We also would like to acknowledge Yeqing Li, Youlong Cheng, Jing Li, Jianwei Xie, Russell Power, Hongkun Yu, Chad Richards, Liang-Chieh Chen, Anelia Angelova, and the larger Google Brain Team for their help.

Google Sheets will soon be able to autocomplete data for you

Google today announced a couple of updates to Google Sheets that will make building spreadsheets and analyzing data in them a little bit easier.

The most interesting feature here, surely, is the upcoming launch of Smart Fill. You can think of it as Smart Compose, the feature that automatically tries to finish your sentences in Gmail, but for spreadsheets. The idea here is that Smart Fill, which will launch later this year, can autocomplete your data for you.

“Say you have a column of full names, but you want to split it into two columns (first and last name, for example),” Google explains in today’s announcement. “As you start typing first names into a column, Sheets will automatically detect the pattern, generate the corresponding formula, and then autocomplete the rest of the column for you.”

 

That’s a nifty feature, though it’s worth noting that Microsoft has made some major strides in bringing a lot of ML-based features to Excel, too, which can now automatically create new columns based on its understanding of what your spreadsheet is about, for example. It just extended the number of these AI-driven data types to well over 100 at its Build developer conference. The use case here is a bit different, but both companies are using similar techniques to make building spreadsheets easier.

One feature that’s nice about how Google built this is that it doesn’t so much auto-magically fill a column but that it builds a formula to fill it, giving you quite a bit of flexibility to then manipulate that data as needed.

The second new feature that will be coming in the near future is Smart Cleanup, which, as the name implies, can help you clean up your data by finding duplicate rows and formatting issues. The tool will suggest changes, which users can then accept or ignore.

The company also today announced the general availability of Connected Sheets, a feature that connects a BigQuery data warehouse with Sheets so that you can analyze petabytes of data in sheets without having to know SQL or really any programming language. This feature aims to democratize access to big data analytics by giving anybody in a company who knows how to use a spreadsheet the ability to analyze that data and create charts based on it.

Connected Sheets is now available to G Suite Enterprise, G Suite Enterprise for Education and G Suite Enterprise Essentials users.

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How to Use WhatsApp Web on PC: The Ultimate Guide

WhatsApp Web offers a quick and easy way to read and reply to WhatsApp messages on your computer. It lets you use WhatsApp online from your browser. And in this guide we show you how to use WhatsApp Web on your PC.

What You Will Need to Run WhatsApp Web

Largely speaking, it’s a simple process and you’ll have the necessary items at hand. But for the sake of thoroughness, here’s the list.

1. An Android phone or an iPhone with a working rear camera.
2. A laptop or desktop computer with any modern web browser, like Google Chrome.
3. An active internet connection for both your phone and your PC.
4. The latest version of WhatsApp.

Download: WhatsApp for Android | iOS (Free)

How WhatsApp Web Works

WhatsApp Web does not have all the features of the mobile app. In fact, it can’t work without the mobile app. You will need your phone to connect to and use WhatsApp Web.

This is, in essence, a clone or a mirror of what’s happening on your phone. If a message comes to your phone, you’ll see it in WhatsApp Web. If your phone doesn’t get a message because it doesn’t have an active internet connection or it’s switched off, then you won’t see it in WhatsApp Web either.

This makes WhatsApp Web inferior to other chat apps, but in some ways, it also makes WhatsApp Web more secure.

How to Set Up WhatsApp Web

Once you have these elements ready, setting up WhatsApp Web is simple:

1. Open the browser on your PC and go to web.whatsapp.com.
2. You will see a QR code that you need to scan to connect to WhatsApp Web.
3. On your WhatsApp mobile app, tap Menu > WhatsApp Web to start the QR code reader.
4. Point your phone’s rear camera to the QR code on your PC screen.

As soon as WhatsApp Web scans the QR code, it will connect your phone to your PC. In a jiffy, WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp mobile will be synced. You are now ready to use WhatsApp online through the computer.

What You Can Do With WhatsApp Web

• Use your keyboard to type.
• Access media (photos, videos, audio) in-line. You can also download any media directly to your PC. However, you cannot bulk download all media files; you have to manually click each.
• View videos from Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube without leaving the chat window, through Picture-in-Picture mode.
• Start a new conversation with any contact, or search for existing conversations.
• View contact information.
• Start a new group chat, talk in group chats, and view group information.
• Connect multiple computers to your phone and save them for future. You can also remotely disconnect any browser from your phone.
• Get or mute desktop alerts and sounds.
• Share photos and videos, documents, and contacts.
• Send emojis, GIFs, and stickers, as well as voice notes.
• View WhatsApp Status updates from any contact.
• Select multiple messages, and clear messages.
• Reply, forward, star, or delete messages.
• Edit your profile.

What You Can’t Do With WhatsApp Web

• You can’t send a WhatsApp Broadcast.
• You can’t make or receive WhatsApp Voice calls or WhatsApp Video calls.
• You can’t post new WhatsApp Status updates.
• You can’t share maps or your current location.
• You can’t change media download settings, so all photos and videos sent to you are downloaded automatically.
• You can’t use two browsers at the same time. While you can add multiple browsers/PCs to your phone, you can only use one at a time.
• Settings are limited to notifications through WhatsApp Web and chat wallpapers.

Using Multiple WhatsApp Accounts

Some folks have two numbers associated with two different WhatsApp accounts. You can still control WhatsApp online for both on a single PC.

To do that, you will need to open WhatsApp Web in two different browsers, such as Chrome and Opera. Alternately, you can open WhatsApp Web in an incognito window, but that automatically logs you out after an hour.

What Makes WhatsApp Web Special

So why should you use WhatsApp Web when it’s more limited than the phone? Because of the keyboard, of course.

If you want to engage in long conversations with someone, it’s easier to type using a keyboard. In fact, WhatsApp Web also works with WhatsApp Business, and you’ll be glad that you can take care of multiple customers through it.

You can use keyboard shortcuts too. The most useful two to remember are Ctrl + Shift + [ to go to the previous chat, and Ctrl + Shift + ] to go to the next chat.

How Safe Is WhatsApp Web?

While it initially got some flak for its lack of security, WhatsApp now boasts end-to-end encryption for all of its messages. This extends to WhatsApp Web as well.

Still, it’s a good idea to employ the best security practices for WhatsApp and understand how safe your photos are in WhatsApp, whether you’re using it your phone or using WhatsApp Web. For example, if you have to use WhatsApp Web on a different computer, always open it through an incognito window.

How to Log Out of WhatsApp Web

If you are using WhatsApp Web on your own computer, you can stay logged in even when you are done. It’s convenient.

If you are using it on someone else’s computer, then remember to log out after you are done using WhatsApp online. It’s best to do this on both the computer and the mobile app.

1. To log out of WhatsApp Web through your computer, go to Menu > Log out.
2. To log out of WhatsApp Web through your phone, go to Menu > WhatsApp Web > Log out from all devices. As the name indicates, this will close WhatsApp Web on any computer you are logged in.

Once you log out, you will need to run the WhatsApp Web QR Code scan again to reconnect to the device.

WhatsApp Web Tips and Tricks

The more you know about WhatsApp Web, the more astounded you will be by what you can achieve with it. In fact, we prefer it to the official desktop apps for WhatsApp since WhatsApp Web is more feature-filled, and even offers extensions.

There’s also a clever hack that makes WhatsApp Web worth using. Through WhatsApp Web, you can actually read your WhatsApp messages without marking them with blue ticks. It’s a sneaky one, but if you want to learn how to do that and more, check out our list of WhatsApp Web tips and tricks everyone should know.

Read the full article: How to Use WhatsApp Web on PC: The Ultimate Guide

Missing or Broken Mouse? Operate Windows With Only Your Keyboard

If your mouse is broken, don’t despair. Your computer’s mouse may seem like an essential peripheral, but it’s actually not necessary for using your PC. If you don’t have a working mouse around (or if you just feel like learning some new keyboard tricks) you can use your Windows computer entirely from the keyboard.

While it might not be as efficient as the mouse operations you’re used to, knowing how to use your computer without a mouse may come in handy someday. Meanwhile, learning these keyboard shortcuts will help you be more productive anytime.

How to Open Programs Without a Mouse

Launching programs without touching your mouse is easy. Windows has quick shortcuts for accessing your Start menu, Taskbar, and desktop.

Accessing and Using the Start Menu

Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start menu. As soon as it’s open, type part of a program’s name to search for it. Press Enter to launch the highlighted program, or use the arrow keys to select another entry first.

With the Start menu open, you can also press the Tab key to move around the different sections of the menu. Use the arrow keys to navigate around and Enter to open menus. Using this, you can access the power menu to shut down your system, log out, and similar.

Using the Taskbar Without a Mouse

To launch or switch to an app on your Taskbar, press the Windows key and a number key at the same time. For example, if the leftmost taskbar icon is Chrome, pressing Win + 1 will launch or switch to it. Win + 2 will do the same for the second icon, and so on. Win + 0 will open the 10th icon, but you can’t use this shortcut for any icons beyond that.

Press Win + B to focus the cursor on the System Tray, which is the section of icons at the bottom-right of the screen.

Access Desktop Icons Without a Mouse

Press Win + D to show the desktop (which hides all open windows). Once your desktop is in focus, use the arrow keys to select a desktop icon and press Enter to launch it. You can press Win + D again to restore your minimized programs.

Managing Program Windows Without a Mouse

While you likely use the mouse to manage open windows, you can easily manage them with a few keyboard shortcuts. Here’s a list of the most useful ones:

• Close a program: Alt + F4
• Restore/minimize a window: Win + down arrow. Pressing this once will restore down a maximized window and minimize it if pressed again.
• Maximize a window: Win + up arrow.
• Snap a window to half of your screen: Win + left or Win + right
• Move a window: Press and release Alt + Space, then press M to select the Move option. Use the arrow keys to move the window, then press Enter when done.
• Resize a window: Press and release Alt + Space, then press S to select the Size option. Use the arrow keys to resize the window, and press Enter when you’re satisfied.

• Switch between open windows: Alt + Tab
• Open the Task View: Win + Tab
• Switch virtual desktops: Ctrl + Win + Left/right

Using Apps With the Keyboard

The exact controls for controlling a piece of software will depend on the app, but there are a few general tips that apply to most programs. See our massive guide to Windows keyboard shortcuts for more help.

Press the Tab key to move the focus between elements in a window. This will usually select different text fields or buttons. When you want to activate the highlighted option or button, use Enter (sometimes Space) to activate it. To move the focus in reverse, use Shift + Tab. In some apps, like browsers, Ctrl + Tab will cycle through open tabs.

You can also often use the arrow keys to switch between buttons and options in a window. Keep in mind that this won’t work if your cursor is currently in a text entry field; press Tab to get your cursor out of it.

To use a program’s menus, which almost always appear at the top of the window under the title bar, hit the Alt key. You’ll see certain letters in the menu bar show as underlined; press that key to activate the corresponding option.

For example, in the below screenshot for Firefox, after pressing Alt, tap the H key to open the Help menu, then A to show the About Firefox dialog. If you prefer, you can also navigate using the arrow keys.

While most Windows programs use this menu system, not all do. Chrome is a notable exception; Alt + E will open Chrome’s three-dot menu. From there, you can use the underlined letters or arrow keys to access its elements.

You can perform a right-click at the current location of the cursor with the keyboard, but this isn’t consistent across apps. Some will activate a right-click with Shift + F10. Others use Ctrl + Shift + F10, but some don’t work with either.

If your keyboard has a menu key, which looks like a dropdown menu and usually appears at the bottom-right of the keyboard by Ctrl, you can also use this to right-click.

Working With Text Using Just a Keyboard

These text editing shortcuts can help even if you’re a big mouse user. Because your fingers are already on the keyboard when you’re entering text, using keyboard shortcuts instead of reaching for your mouse can speed your workflow up.

• To scroll up or down in a document or webpage, press the Page Up or Page Down keys.
  • To jump to the top or bottom of the page, use the Home or End keys. Inside a text box, these will move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line.
• You can move the cursor by using the arrow keys.
  • To move the cursor one word at a time instead of one character at a time, hold Ctrl as you press the arrow keys.
  • To jump to the beginning or end of a text field, use Ctrl + Home or Ctrl + End.
• Use Ctrl + Backspace or Ctrl + Del to erase a word at a time instead of single characters.
• To select text, hold Shift while you use the arrow keys. For faster selection, combine Shift with the above key combos to quickly select a large amount of text. For example, Ctrl + Shift + End will select all the text from the cursor position to the end of the document.
• Use Ctrl + A to select everything in the current text box or on the current page.
• With your text selected, press Ctrl + C to copy it or Ctrl + X to cut it. Later, use Ctrl + V to paste at the cursor’s current location.
• Ctrl + Z will undo your last action, while Ctrl + Y will redo an undone action.

How to Move the Mouse Cursor Without a Mouse

If the above keyboard shortcuts don’t work for something you need to do, try the Mouse Keys feature in Windows. Mouse Keys allows you to control the on-screen mouse cursor with the number pad at the right side of your keyboard.

To enable Mouse Keys, press the left Alt, left Shift, and NumLock keys at the same time. You should hear a sound and see a prompt for the feature; press Enter to confirm.

If you turned off this shortcut combination in the past, you’ll need to access the Mouse Keys options manually. You can do this via either the Settings app or the Control Panel, but it’s more convenient through Settings. To change it, press Win + I to open the Settings panel. Hit Tab to focus your cursor in the list of categories, then use the arrow keys to select Ease of Access and hit Enter.

Next, hit Tab again to move the focus to the left sidebar. Use the arrow keys to scroll to the Interaction section and select Mouse. Then hit Tab again to turn the Turn on Mouse Keys option. Now you can use the number pad keys to move the mouse cursor as long as Num Lock is on; press 5 to left-click.

Once it’s on, hit Tab again if you want to change any of the options, including the pointer speed.

Broken Mouse? The Keyboard Works Just Fine

Now you know how to navigate Windows with just a mouse. There are other useful shortcuts, but these ones will help you navigate to most places in Windows. Don’t forget that you can use Ctrl + Alt + Delete to open the Windows security screen, which has shortcuts for Ease of Access options, the power menu, and other useful tools.

If you need a new mouse, check out our mouse buying guide for some advice.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Read the full article: Missing or Broken Mouse? Operate Windows With Only Your Keyboard

Stop being a bystander in your own life | Tracy Edwards

Stop being a bystander in your own life | Tracy Edwards

"Life doesn't go from A to B -- it's messy," says sailing legend Tracy Edwards. In this inspiring talk, she tells how she went from teenage misfit to skipper of the first all-female crew in the toughest race on the seas -- and how she now helps young people around the world achieve their dreams, too.

Click the above link to download the TED talk.

Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Distribution Should You Use?

If you’ve heard of Ubuntu, the most popular version of Linux for desktop PCs, there’s a good chance you’ve also heard of Debian and Linux Mint.

With so many Linux distributions to choose from, a newcomer can understandably have a hard time telling them all apart. In this case, these three options have a great deal in common, but there remains a lot that sets them apart.

Debian-Based Linux Distributions

In the Linux world, there are hundreds of Linux-based operating systems (commonly known as “distributions” or “distros”) to pick from. Most of them expand from an already existing distro and implement various changes. There are only a handful that aren’t based on something else.

Debian is one of them, a parent that a majority of other versions of Linux have spawned from. Ubuntu is the most prominent descendant.

Yet while Ubuntu may be based on Debian, it has gone on to become a parent to many other distros as well. Linux Mint, for example, is based on Ubuntu.

If you’re connecting the dots, that means that Linux Mint is ultimately based on Debian.

But Linux Mint is not Ubuntu, and Ubuntu is not Debian. While they may largely share the same technical underpinning, chances are you won’t have that impression when you boot them up for the first time.

Debian

Software engineer Ian Murdock released the first version of Debian in 1993, in the process establishing a community of developers who would work together to provide a stable way to use the best software the free software world had to offer. The name came from the combination of his name and the name of his then-girlfriend, Debra.

While you can install Debian on your laptop and replace Windows, Debian is more than a desktop operating system. It’s a massive collection of software that you can configure in different ways to create the kind of experience you want. This is why so many projects use Debian as a foundation.

But yes, you can install Debian as a desktop operating system. Technically there is a default desktop experience available, but the installer enables you to pick and choose which desktop interface you prefer. You can even choose not to have a graphical interface at all, which is ideal for servers.

This freedom means the Debian teams leave the bulk of design and usability decisions to the various free software projects themselves. How Debian looks and feels has more to do with what the GNOME or KDE teams decide than the opinions of Debian developers.

You won’t find the custom themes and personal style that Ubuntu and Linux Mint both offer in spades, though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The GNOME desktop interface, for example, doesn’t support custom themes and many app developers actively request that distros stop theming their apps.

Debian’s Package Management

Yet there is a major part of the experience that is specific to Debian. That’s package management. Debian uses the DEB format and the APT package manager. I won’t go into details about them here, though, because as Debian-based distros, Ubuntu and Linux Mint inherent these same tools.

This isn’t to suggest that there’s nothing special about Debian. The reasons to use Debian are many, but only a few are likely to matter all that much to people first discovering free software.

If you’re coming to Debian from a different version of Linux, you may notice that much of the software is older than what you get elsewhere. New versions of Debian only come around once every two to three years, and app updates are frozen in time alongside the rest of the system, aside from security patches and similar maintenance. If you want to use newer software on Debian, you can, but doing so comes with more bugs and instability.

In short, Debian isn’t hard to use, but it is geared more toward technical users than Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Debian is great for people who care more about the values of free software, want more control over how their PC works, are creating a server, or value long-term stability.

Ubuntu

Unlike Debian, Ubuntu is the product of a private company. Canonical launched Ubuntu in 2004. The goal was to create a version of Linux geared toward non-technical users. The slogan was “Linux for Human Beings.”

So, what set Ubuntu apart from Debian? For starters, there was a clear product: the Ubuntu desktop. Canonical employed developers to make the chosen default experience as pleasant as possible for users.

Today, Canonical provides a simpler installer, a restyle of the GNOME desktop, and newer software.

(Ubuntu packages technically come from the unstable branch of Debian. That means experienced users can get this software on Debian too, but at the risk of a less stable desktop).

The Snap Store

Canonical has created the snap package format, courting commercial software developers to release their apps into the Snap Store.

The Snap Store, alongside Ubuntu’s position as the most widely used version of Linux, makes Ubuntu the Linux distro with the greatest degree of software support from non-Linux developers. This is relevant for apps like Skype and Steam, plus large swathes of PC games.

Canonical’s snap format is a universal format that works regardless of which Linux distro you choose. As such, you no longer have to use Ubuntu to enjoy many of these benefits.

Ubuntu has a predictable release schedule, with new long-term support releases launching every two years. Interim releases come out every six months. This makes it suitable for people who like regular updates and those who simply want a reliable computer.

Various flavors of Ubuntu are available beyond the mainstream version. Kubuntu uses the KDE desktop environment, while Lubuntu uses LXQt. Xubuntu employs the Xfce desktop, and Ubuntu MATE ships with (surprise!) the MATE desktop. If you don’t like the default interface, one of the many Ubuntu flavors may be the right fit.

Linux Mint

Clément Lefèbvre started Linux Mint in 2006, only a few years after Ubuntu. There was considerable experimentation in the early days, as the Mint developers decided how to structure the technical aspects of the desktop. They eventually landed on making Linux Mint fully compatible with the Ubuntu desktop.

Both distros use mostly the same repositories and can install the same software. DEB packages meant for Ubuntu will also work in Linux Mint. The Linux Mint team doesn’t care much for snaps, but it’s still possible for you to install them.

The primary difference between Mint and Ubuntu comes down to the initial desktop experience. The Linux Mint team created the Cinnamon desktop environment, which by default resembles Microsoft Windows. You have an app launcher in the bottom left, a task bar along the bottom, and system icons in the bottom right.

Mint comes with a selection of tools that simplify the process of installing apps and changing desktop themes. Mint also has the option to pre-install multimedia codecs that, on Debian and Ubuntu, you have to install after installation.

These changes have encouraged people to choose Linux Mint as an easier or more comfortable desktop to learn and use on a daily basis.

If you don’t love the Cinnamon desktop, there are MATE and Xfce editions of Linux Mint available as well. Both come with the same theme and general layout but may run smoother on older machines.

Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Is It?

Personally, I would use Debian. But then I’m a long-time free software user who has come to prefer distros that try not to make changes to “upstream” code. But I wouldn’t necessarily give Debian to a first time Linux user. Anyone familiar with computing could figure it out, but Ubuntu and Linux Mint offer an easier experience and look better.

The same could be said of elementary OS and Pop!_OS, which are both also based on Ubuntu. And if you’re inclined to like Debian, you might find much to like in Fedora, another upstream-focused project that isn’t based on another distro.

If you aren’t already paralyzed by choice, there are so many more great Linux distros to consider.

Read the full article: Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Distribution Should You Use?

What Is a Linux Display Manager? How to Choose and Set One

You’re probably happy with your Linux operating system, but from time to time its good to refresh things. One way to do this is to replace some of the default applications and components. Think the default file manager, the text editor, or even the desktop environment or kernel.

One switchable component that is often overlooked is the display manager. But what is this component? How do you switch to a new display manager in Linux? Let’s find out.

What Is a Display Manager?

Also known as a “login manager”, a display manager is responsible for starting the display server and loading the desktop. This happens right after your correctly enter your username and password

Simply put, it controls user sessions and manages user authentication. Most of the display manager’s magic occurs “under the hood.” The only visible element is the login window, sometimes referred to as the “greeter”.

What a Display Manager Is Not

You probably already know your Linux computer has a window manager and a display server.

The display manager is a distinct piece of software. While all three interact, they have different functionality, and perform different jobs.

Examples of a window manager include:

• KWin
• Openbox
• Dwm

Some well-known display servers for Linux are:

• Wayland
• Mir
• Org

(Many Linux distributions feature Wayland as the default display server and a few others are also moving in that direction, so it’s a good idea to know more about using Linux with Wayland.)

Some display managers, meanwhile, are:

• GDM (Gnome Display Manager)
• LightDM
• LXDM

We’ll look at some more display managers below.

Why Replace a Display Manager?

Why would anyone want to replace a display manager, you ask? Well, here are a few probable scenarios:

• You’re trying to revive an old PC and you need a lightweight display manager.
• Your current display manager breaks after an update, and it’s much faster to just install a different one than migrate to another distro.
• You want to apply gorgeous themes to your login window, but your distro’s default display manager is limited in this respect.

There are several popular display managers for Linux. You’ll notice they’re quite similar in appearance; the main differences are size, complexity, and how they manage users and sessions.

Six Linux Display Managers You Can Switch To

With a new display manager installed, you can have some fun with themes. MDM is the best choice if customization is your priority, since it supports both old GDM and new HTML themes. DeviantART features many collection of themes for various display managers, for example. If you’re using SDDM, you can find theme packages for it in the repositories.

But first, which display manager are you going to switch to?

1. KDM

The display manager for KDE up to KDE Plasma 5, KDM features plenty of customization options. You can easily configure it via the control module in System Settings. There you can choose which KDM theme to use, or switch to the simple greeter that lets you customize the background, welcome message, and font.

Other features include:

• Fast user switching
• Display user list
• Enable root shutdown
• Allow passwordless login
• Autologin
• Fingerprint scanning

KDM supports X and Wayland and can also detect installed desktop environments and window managers. They are then offered in list form for you to choose which one to start when you enter your credentials.

While some features might overwhelm a beginner, KDM is easy to set up thanks to the straightforward graphical dialog.

2. GDM (GNOME Display Manager)

What KDM is to KDE, GDM3 is to GNOME—the default display manager of a popular Linux desktop environment. Like KDM, it supports X and Wayland and offers:

• Automatic login
• Hiding the user list
• Passwordless login
• Custom sessions
• Built-in themes
• Multiple user login
• Fast session switching
• Fingerprint scanning
• Smart card authentication

Configuring GDM3 can be done either via the dedicated dialog in System Settings or by editing configuration files.

Note that GDM3 is distinct from the legacy GDM. While they may appear similar, GDM3 is not backward compatible with legacy GDM themes, with options hidden in configuration files.

3. SDDM (Simple Desktop Display Manager)

SDDM is a comparatively new display manager scene. Initially released in 2013, it has survived while older rivals such as SLiM and Mint Display Manager have folded.

With support for X and Wayland, SDDM relies on QML theming, and replaced KDM as the default display manager in KDE Plasma 5.

SDDM features:

• Automatic login
• Num Lock on
• Modify greeter users
• Support for themes

As with other no-frills display managers, you can configure SDDM by editing a config file (sddm.conf). If you’re using SDDM on KDE, it has a configuration module in System Settings. Alternatively, use the handy sddm-config-editor utility.

4. LXDM

LXDM is part of the LXDE environment but runs comfortably on other desktop environments since it doesn’t have many dependencies. You can set it up through its own configuration utility, or edit configuration files in /etc/lxdm (or if you’re on Lubuntu, /etc/xdg/lubuntu/lxdm).

Using LXDM you can expect:

• Configurable user list
• Autologin
• Icons for each user
• User switching
• Timed autologin
• Custom background images

Both the official documentation and unofficial witness accounts on various forums note that LXDM doesn’t terminate user processes on logout. To ensure this happens, modify the /etc/lxdm/PostLogout file.

LXDM might be quirky, but it’s fast, so if that’s an acceptable trade-off for you, try it out.

5. LightDM

Perhaps the most popular and certainly the most versatile display manager is LightDM. Having supplanted older display managers in popular distros, it is customizable and feature-packed. LightDM is also lightweight, and supports X.Org and Mir.

With LightDM you can expect:

• Greeters for GTK, Qt/KDE, Unity and others
• Login screen themes
• User list
• Custom background image
• Adjustable window position

Configuration files should be edited to make these tweaks—the easiest way is the LightDM GTK Greeter Settings tool.

6. XDM

This is the default display manager for the X Window System and was first released in 1988. It is a minimalist display manager suitable for low spec systems or those with modest requirements.

Despite this, XDM still offers some features:

• Themes
• Set background wallpaper
• Tweak fonts
• Adjust login box position
• Handles multiple X sessions
• Passwordless login

Most tweaks are applied by editing etc/X11/xdm/Xresources.

How to Replace a Display Manager on Linux?

Seen something you like? Perhaps you want to switch Ubuntu’s display manager to LightDM.

Whatever your preference and distro there are just two steps to replacing your current display manager on Linux:

1. Install a new display manager
2. Set it up as the default

The first part of the process is easy, as you only have to find the appropriate package for your distribution and install it. You can remove the old display manager if you want to, but in most cases it won’t be necessary.

Setting up the new display manager as the default is different for each distribution. It boils down to editing a few configuration files or running a simple one-line command in the terminal.

Use this short guide to set up your chosen display manager, which you should have already installed.

Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Most Ubuntu Derivatives

Installing a new display manager should prompt the dpkg-reconfigure tool to launch. If not, run it manually:

• Run sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3
• Select the default display manager in the dialog that pops up

You can replace “gdm3” with any of the display managers that are currently installed on your system. If this fails, edit the /etc/X11/default-display/manager file with root privileges.

For Arch Linux and Manjaro

Enable the systemd service for your new display manager:

systemctl enable displaymanager.service -f

If this doesn’t work, Manjaro users can try disabling the previous display manager first:

sudo systemctl stop gdm
sudo systemctl disable gdm
sudo systemctl enable lightdm.service
sudo systemctl start lightdm

while on Arch Linux you might have to remove the /etc/systemd/system/default.target file, and create a display-manager.service file in the /etc/systemd/system directory. This new file should be a symlink to your new display manager’s service file in /usr/lib/systemd/system/.

Change the Display Manager on Fedora

Start by disabling the old display manager, enable the newly installed replacement, then reboot:

• Run systemctl disable [old display manager]
• Follow this with systemctl enable [new display manager]
• Then reboot

When Fedora reboots it will be with a fresh display manager.

For PCLinuxOS

You should be able to select your new display manager from the desktop.

• Open Control Center > Boot
• Find Set up display manager
• Select the display manager you installed earlier

If the system doesn’t acknowledge the changes, edit /etc/sysconfig/desktop and set the new display manager.

For openSUSE

To change the display manager in openSUSE, first download your replacement and confirm the installation location.

Next enter

sudo update-alternatives --set default-displaymanager \ [FILEPATH]

Prefer changing the display manager with a desktop tool?

• Install yast2-alternatives
• Open the Control Center
• Browse to Display Manager
• Set the new display manager

Your new display manager should activate on next reboot.

Change Your Linux Display Manager Today

As you’ve seen, replacing a display manager is not as hard as it sounds. Once you start reading more about their features, you might be tempted to test a few different display managers in search of the best one – and I encourage you to do so.

You don’t have to wait for software to “break” to try something new or to experiment with a new Linux desktop environment.

Read the full article: What Is a Linux Display Manager? How to Choose and Set One

Google acquires smart glasses company North, whose Focals 2.0 won’t ship

Google confirmed today via blog post that it has acquired Canadian smart glasses company North, which began life as human interface hardware startup Thalmic Labs in 2012. The company didn’t reveal any details about the acquisition, which was first reported to be happening by The Globe and Mail, last week. The blog post is authored by Google’s SVP of Devices & Services Rick Osterloh, which cites North’s “strong technology foundation” as a key driver behind the deal.

Osterloh also emphasizes Google’s existing work in building “ambient computing,” which is to say computing that fades into the background of a user’s life, as the strategic reasoning behind the acquisition. North will join Google’s existing team in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, where North is already based, and it will aid with the company’s “hardware efforts and ambient computing future,” according to Osterloh.

In a separate blog post, North’s co-founders Stephen Lake, Matthew Bailey and Aaron Grant discuss their perspective on the acquisition. They say the deal makes sense because it will help “significantly advance our shared vision,” but go on to noted that this will mean winding down support for Focals 1.0, the first-generation smart glasses product that North released last year, and cancelling any plans to ship Focals 2.0, the second-generation version that the company had been teasing and preparing to release over the last several months.

Focals received significant media attention following their release, and provided the most consumer-friendly wearable glasses computing interface ever launched. They closely resembled regular optical glasses, albeit with larger arms to house the active computing components, and projected a transparent display overlay onto one frame which showed things like messages and navigation directions.

Around the Focals 1.0 debut, North co-founder and CEO Stephen Lake told me that the company had originally begun developing its debut product, the Myo gesture control armband, to create a way to interact naturally with the ambient smart computing platforms of the future. Myo read electrical pulses generated by the body when you move your arm and translated that into computer input. After realizing that devices it was designed to work with, including VR headsets and wearable computers like Google Glass, weren’t far enough along for its novel control paradigm to take off, they shifted to addressing the root of the problem with Focals.

Focals had some major limitations, however, including initially requiring that anyone wanting to purchase them go into a physical location for fitting, and then return for adjustments once they were ready. They were also quite expensive, and didn’t support the full range of prescriptions needed by many existing glasses-wearers. Software limitations, including limited access to Apple’s iMessage platform, also hampered the experience for Apple mobile device users.

North (and Myo before it) always employed talented and remarkable mechanical electronics engineers sources from the nearby University of Waterloo, but its ideas typically failed to attract the kind of consumer interest that would’ve been required for sustained independent operation. The company had raised nearly $200 million in funding since its founding; as mentioned, no word on the total amount Google paid, but it doesn’t seem likely to have been a blockbuster exit.

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OnePlus will return to its budget roots with the launch of Nord

Two factors defined OnePlus’s seemingly out-of-nowhere growth in the middle of the last decade: solid specs and a budget price tag. But markets change, and companies must adapt to survive. As someone who’s followed the Chinese smartphone maker since close to the beginning, I can confidently say that it hasn’t wavered from that first part. The second bit, on the other hand, is a bit of a different story.

OnePlus has experienced a bit of a price creep as it’s continued to add features to set itself apart from the competition. In the early days, the smartphone maker was content to wait a generation or two before embracing new tech, for the sake of keeping costs down. But increasingly, it’s come to be pride itself in being among the first first to things like in-screen fingerprint readers and 5G.

Today, however, it’s announcing a bit of a return to its roots with the Nord. The upcoming phone has been the subject of all manner of rumors under a variety of different names in recent months, but OnePlus just confirmed its name and arrival by way of an extended behind-the-scenes documentary on Instagram. Details are pretty slim at the moment, though the company confirmed that it will be priced at under $500.

Cofounder Carl Pei — who discussed the company’s place in the budget market last year at Disrupt last year — noted in the video, “There’s a huge change every two years. Anything can happen. Thousand dollar phones are decreasing in sales.” It’s a pretty well-established phenomenon over the last few years that has led to, among other things, companies like Samsung, Apple and Google to embrace lower-cost device amid stagnant sales figures.

OnePlus’s devices have still remained relatively affordable, compared to the competition, but the addition of the Nord will finds its getting back to where it started from with a line aimed at a wider range of consumers and different markets. More info soon, no doubt.

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Facebook says it will prioritize original reporting and ‘transparent authorship’ in the News Feed

Facebook announced this morning that stories with original reporting will get a boost in the News Feed, while publications that don’t clearly credit their editorial staff will be demoted.

The change comes as a number of high-profile companies have said that they will pull their advertising from Facebook as part of the #StopHateforProfit campaign, organized by civil rights groups as a a way to pressure the social network to take stronger steps against hate speech and misinformation.

On Friday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company will start labeling — but not removing — “newsworthy” content from politicians and other public figures that violates its content standards. (He also said that content threatening violence or suppressing voter participation will be removed even if it’s posted by a public figure.)

Today’s blog post from VP of Global News Partnerships Campbell Brown and Product Manager Jon Levin doesn’t mention the ad boycott, and it suggests that these changes were developed in consultation with news publishers and academics. But these certainly sound like concrete steps the company can point to as part of its efforts against misinformation.

Unilever and Verizon are the latest companies to pull their advertising from Facebook

What gets prioritized in the News Feed has long been a thorny issue for publishers, particularly after a major change in 2016 that prioritized content from friends over content from publishers.

“Most of the news stories people see in News Feed are from sources they or their friends follow, and that won’t change,” Brown and Levin wrote. “When multiple stories are shared by publishers and are available in a person’s News Feed, we will boost the more original one which will help it get more distribution.”

As for “transparent authorship,” Facebook will be looking for article bylines, or for a staff page on the publisher’s website. As Brown and Levin noted, “We’ve found that publishers who do not include this information often lack credibility to readers and produce content with clickbait or ad farms, all content people tell us they don’t want to see on Facebook.”

While these same like smart, straightforward changes (Google announced similar steps last fall), Brown and Levin also warned publishers not to expect “significant changes” in their Facebook traffic, since there are a “variety of signals” that go into how content gets ranked in the News Feed.

Also worth noting: These changes only apply to news content.

As advertisers revolt, Facebook commits to flagging ‘newsworthy’ political speech that violates policy

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Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Distribution Should You Use?

If you’ve heard of Ubuntu, the most popular version of Linux for desktop PCs, there’s a good chance you’ve also heard of Debian and Linux Mint.

With so many Linux distributions to choose from, a newcomer can understandably have a hard time telling them all apart. In this case, these three options have a great deal in common, but there remains a lot that sets them apart.

Debian-Based Linux Distributions

In the Linux world, there are hundreds of Linux-based operating systems (commonly known as “distributions” or “distros”) to pick from. Most of them expand from an already existing distro and implement various changes. There are only a handful that aren’t based on something else.

Debian is one of them, a parent that a majority of other versions of Linux have spawned from. Ubuntu is the most prominent descendant.

Yet while Ubuntu may be based on Debian, it has gone on to become a parent to many other distros as well. Linux Mint, for example, is based on Ubuntu.

If you’re connecting the dots, that means that Linux Mint is ultimately based on Debian.

But Linux Mint is not Ubuntu, and Ubuntu is not Debian. While they may largely share the same technical underpinning, chances are you won’t have that impression when you boot them up for the first time.

Debian

Software engineer Ian Murdock released the first version of Debian in 1993, in the process establishing a community of developers who would work together to provide a stable way to use the best software the free software world had to offer. The name came from the combination of his name and the name of his then-girlfriend, Debra.

While you can install Debian on your laptop and replace Windows, Debian is more than a desktop operating system. It’s a massive collection of software that you can configure in different ways to create the kind of experience you want. This is why so many projects use Debian as a foundation.

But yes, you can install Debian as a desktop operating system. Technically there is a default desktop experience available, but the installer enables you to pick and choose which desktop interface you prefer. You can even choose not to have a graphical interface at all, which is ideal for servers.

This freedom means the Debian teams leave the bulk of design and usability decisions to the various free software projects themselves. How Debian looks and feels has more to do with what the GNOME or KDE teams decide than the opinions of Debian developers.

You won’t find the custom themes and personal style that Ubuntu and Linux Mint both offer in spades, though this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The GNOME desktop interface, for example, doesn’t support custom themes and many app developers actively request that distros stop theming their apps.

Debian’s Package Management

Yet there is a major part of the experience that is specific to Debian. That’s package management. Debian uses the DEB format and the APT package manager. I won’t go into details about them here, though, because as Debian-based distros, Ubuntu and Linux Mint inherent these same tools.

This isn’t to suggest that there’s nothing special about Debian. The reasons to use Debian are many, but only a few are likely to matter all that much to people first discovering free software.

If you’re coming to Debian from a different version of Linux, you may notice that much of the software is older than what you get elsewhere. New versions of Debian only come around once every two to three years, and app updates are frozen in time alongside the rest of the system, aside from security patches and similar maintenance. If you want to use newer software on Debian, you can, but doing so comes with more bugs and instability.

In short, Debian isn’t hard to use, but it is geared more toward technical users than Ubuntu or Linux Mint. Debian is great for people who care more about the values of free software, want more control over how their PC works, are creating a server, or value long-term stability.

Ubuntu

Unlike Debian, Ubuntu is the product of a private company. Canonical launched Ubuntu in 2004. The goal was to create a version of Linux geared toward non-technical users. The slogan was “Linux for Human Beings.”

So, what set Ubuntu apart from Debian? For starters, there was a clear product: the Ubuntu desktop. Canonical employed developers to make the chosen default experience as pleasant as possible for users.

Today, Canonical provides a simpler installer, a restyle of the GNOME desktop, and newer software.

(Ubuntu packages technically come from the unstable branch of Debian. That means experienced users can get this software on Debian too, but at the risk of a less stable desktop).

The Snap Store

Canonical has created the snap package format, courting commercial software developers to release their apps into the Snap Store.

The Snap Store, alongside Ubuntu’s position as the most widely used version of Linux, makes Ubuntu the Linux distro with the greatest degree of software support from non-Linux developers. This is relevant for apps like Skype and Steam, plus large swathes of PC games.

Canonical’s snap format is a universal format that works regardless of which Linux distro you choose. As such, you no longer have to use Ubuntu to enjoy many of these benefits.

Ubuntu has a predictable release schedule, with new long-term support releases launching every two years. Interim releases come out every six months. This makes it suitable for people who like regular updates and those who simply want a reliable computer.

Various flavors of Ubuntu are available beyond the mainstream version. Kubuntu uses the KDE desktop environment, while Lubuntu uses LXQt. Xubuntu employs the Xfce desktop, and Ubuntu MATE ships with (surprise!) the MATE desktop. If you don’t like the default interface, one of the many Ubuntu flavors may be the right fit.

Linux Mint

Clément Lefèbvre started Linux Mint in 2006, only a few years after Ubuntu. There was considerable experimentation in the early days, as the Mint developers decided how to structure the technical aspects of the desktop. They eventually landed on making Linux Mint fully compatible with the Ubuntu desktop.

Both distros use mostly the same repositories and can install the same software. DEB packages meant for Ubuntu will also work in Linux Mint. The Linux Mint team doesn’t care much for snaps, but it’s still possible for you to install them.

The primary difference between Mint and Ubuntu comes down to the initial desktop experience. The Linux Mint team created the Cinnamon desktop environment, which by default resembles Microsoft Windows. You have an app launcher in the bottom left, a task bar along the bottom, and system icons in the bottom right.

Mint comes with a selection of tools that simplify the process of installing apps and changing desktop themes. Mint also has the option to pre-install multimedia codecs that, on Debian and Ubuntu, you have to install after installation.

These changes have encouraged people to choose Linux Mint as an easier or more comfortable desktop to learn and use on a daily basis.

If you don’t love the Cinnamon desktop, there are MATE and Xfce editions of Linux Mint available as well. Both come with the same theme and general layout but may run smoother on older machines.

Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Is It?

Personally, I would use Debian. But then I’m a long-time free software user who has come to prefer distros that try not to make changes to “upstream” code. But I wouldn’t necessarily give Debian to a first time Linux user. Anyone familiar with computing could figure it out, but Ubuntu and Linux Mint offer an easier experience and look better.

The same could be said of elementary OS and Pop!_OS, which are both also based on Ubuntu. And if you’re inclined to like Debian, you might find much to like in Fedora, another upstream-focused project that isn’t based on another distro.

If you aren’t already paralyzed by choice, there are so many more great Linux distros to consider.

Read the full article: Debian vs. Ubuntu vs. Linux Mint: Which Distribution Should You Use?

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What Is a Linux Display Manager? How to Choose and Set One

You’re probably happy with your Linux operating system, but from time to time its good to refresh things. One way to do this is to replace some of the default applications and components. Think the default file manager, the text editor, or even the desktop environment or kernel.

One switchable component that is often overlooked is the display manager. But what is this component? How do you switch to a new display manager in Linux? Let’s find out.

What Is a Display Manager?

Also known as a “login manager”, a display manager is responsible for starting the display server and loading the desktop. This happens right after your correctly enter your username and password

Simply put, it controls user sessions and manages user authentication. Most of the display manager’s magic occurs “under the hood.” The only visible element is the login window, sometimes referred to as the “greeter”.

What a Display Manager Is Not

You probably already know your Linux computer has a window manager and a display server.

The display manager is a distinct piece of software. While all three interact, they have different functionality, and perform different jobs.

Examples of a window manager include:

• KWin
• Openbox
• Dwm

Some well-known display servers for Linux are:

• Wayland
• Mir
• Org

(Many Linux distributions feature Wayland as the default display server and a few others are also moving in that direction, so it’s a good idea to know more about using Linux with Wayland.)

Some display managers, meanwhile, are:

• GDM (Gnome Display Manager)
• LightDM
• LXDM

We’ll look at some more display managers below.

Why Replace a Display Manager?

Why would anyone want to replace a display manager, you ask? Well, here are a few probable scenarios:

• You’re trying to revive an old PC and you need a lightweight display manager.
• Your current display manager breaks after an update, and it’s much faster to just install a different one than migrate to another distro.
• You want to apply gorgeous themes to your login window, but your distro’s default display manager is limited in this respect.

There are several popular display managers for Linux. You’ll notice they’re quite similar in appearance; the main differences are size, complexity, and how they manage users and sessions.

Six Linux Display Managers You Can Switch To

With a new display manager installed, you can have some fun with themes. MDM is the best choice if customization is your priority, since it supports both old GDM and new HTML themes. DeviantART features many collection of themes for various display managers, for example. If you’re using SDDM, you can find theme packages for it in the repositories.

But first, which display manager are you going to switch to?

1. KDM

The display manager for KDE up to KDE Plasma 5, KDM features plenty of customization options. You can easily configure it via the control module in System Settings. There you can choose which KDM theme to use, or switch to the simple greeter that lets you customize the background, welcome message, and font.

Other features include:

• Fast user switching
• Display user list
• Enable root shutdown
• Allow passwordless login
• Autologin
• Fingerprint scanning

KDM supports X and Wayland and can also detect installed desktop environments and window managers. They are then offered in list form for you to choose which one to start when you enter your credentials.

While some features might overwhelm a beginner, KDM is easy to set up thanks to the straightforward graphical dialog.

2. GDM (GNOME Display Manager)

What KDM is to KDE, GDM3 is to GNOME—the default display manager of a popular Linux desktop environment. Like KDM, it supports X and Wayland and offers:

• Automatic login
• Hiding the user list
• Passwordless login
• Custom sessions
• Built-in themes
• Multiple user login
• Fast session switching
• Fingerprint scanning
• Smart card authentication

Configuring GDM3 can be done either via the dedicated dialog in System Settings or by editing configuration files.

Note that GDM3 is distinct from the legacy GDM. While they may appear similar, GDM3 is not backward compatible with legacy GDM themes, with options hidden in configuration files.

3. SDDM (Simple Desktop Display Manager)

SDDM is a comparatively new display manager scene. Initially released in 2013, it has survived while older rivals such as SLiM and Mint Display Manager have folded.

With support for X and Wayland, SDDM relies on QML theming, and replaced KDM as the default display manager in KDE Plasma 5.

SDDM features:

• Automatic login
• Num Lock on
• Modify greeter users
• Support for themes

As with other no-frills display managers, you can configure SDDM by editing a config file (sddm.conf). If you’re using SDDM on KDE, it has a configuration module in System Settings. Alternatively, use the handy sddm-config-editor utility.

4. LXDM

LXDM is part of the LXDE environment but runs comfortably on other desktop environments since it doesn’t have many dependencies. You can set it up through its own configuration utility, or edit configuration files in /etc/lxdm (or if you’re on Lubuntu, /etc/xdg/lubuntu/lxdm).

Using LXDM you can expect:

• Configurable user list
• Autologin
• Icons for each user
• User switching
• Timed autologin
• Custom background images

Both the official documentation and unofficial witness accounts on various forums note that LXDM doesn’t terminate user processes on logout. To ensure this happens, modify the /etc/lxdm/PostLogout file.

LXDM might be quirky, but it’s fast, so if that’s an acceptable trade-off for you, try it out.

5. LightDM

Perhaps the most popular and certainly the most versatile display manager is LightDM. Having supplanted older display managers in popular distros, it is customizable and feature-packed. LightDM is also lightweight, and supports X.Org and Mir.

With LightDM you can expect:

• Greeters for GTK, Qt/KDE, Unity and others
• Login screen themes
• User list
• Custom background image
• Adjustable window position

Configuration files should be edited to make these tweaks—the easiest way is the LightDM GTK Greeter Settings tool.

6. XDM

This is the default display manager for the X Window System and was first released in 1988. It is a minimalist display manager suitable for low spec systems or those with modest requirements.

Despite this, XDM still offers some features:

• Themes
• Set background wallpaper
• Tweak fonts
• Adjust login box position
• Handles multiple X sessions
• Passwordless login

Most tweaks are applied by editing etc/X11/xdm/Xresources.

How to Replace a Display Manager on Linux?

Seen something you like? Perhaps you want to switch Ubuntu’s display manager to LightDM.

Whatever your preference and distro there are just two steps to replacing your current display manager on Linux:

1. Install a new display manager
2. Set it up as the default

The first part of the process is easy, as you only have to find the appropriate package for your distribution and install it. You can remove the old display manager if you want to, but in most cases it won’t be necessary.

Setting up the new display manager as the default is different for each distribution. It boils down to editing a few configuration files or running a simple one-line command in the terminal.

Use this short guide to set up your chosen display manager, which you should have already installed.

Debian, Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Most Ubuntu Derivatives

Installing a new display manager should prompt the dpkg-reconfigure tool to launch. If not, run it manually:

• Run sudo dpkg-reconfigure gdm3
• Select the default display manager in the dialog that pops up

You can replace “gdm3” with any of the display managers that are currently installed on your system. If this fails, edit the /etc/X11/default-display/manager file with root privileges.

For Arch Linux and Manjaro

Enable the systemd service for your new display manager:

systemctl enable displaymanager.service -f

If this doesn’t work, Manjaro users can try disabling the previous display manager first:

sudo systemctl stop gdm
sudo systemctl disable gdm
sudo systemctl enable lightdm.service
sudo systemctl start lightdm

while on Arch Linux you might have to remove the /etc/systemd/system/default.target file, and create a display-manager.service file in the /etc/systemd/system directory. This new file should be a symlink to your new display manager’s service file in /usr/lib/systemd/system/.

Change the Display Manager on Fedora

Start by disabling the old display manager, enable the newly installed replacement, then reboot:

• Run systemctl disable [old display manager]
• Follow this with systemctl enable [new display manager]
• Then reboot

When Fedora reboots it will be with a fresh display manager.

For PCLinuxOS

You should be able to select your new display manager from the desktop.

• Open Control Center > Boot
• Find Set up display manager
• Select the display manager you installed earlier

If the system doesn’t acknowledge the changes, edit /etc/sysconfig/desktop and set the new display manager.

For openSUSE

To change the display manager in openSUSE, first download your replacement and confirm the installation location.

Next enter

sudo update-alternatives --set default-displaymanager \ [FILEPATH]

Prefer changing the display manager with a desktop tool?

• Install yast2-alternatives
• Open the Control Center
• Browse to Display Manager
• Set the new display manager

Your new display manager should activate on next reboot.

Change Your Linux Display Manager Today

As you’ve seen, replacing a display manager is not as hard as it sounds. Once you start reading more about their features, you might be tempted to test a few different display managers in search of the best one – and I encourage you to do so.

You don’t have to wait for software to “break” to try something new or to experiment with a new Linux desktop environment.

Read the full article: What Is a Linux Display Manager? How to Choose and Set One

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How to Use WhatsApp Web on PC: The Ultimate Guide

WhatsApp Web offers a quick and easy way to read and reply to WhatsApp messages on your computer. It lets you use WhatsApp online from your browser. And in this guide we show you how to use WhatsApp Web on your PC.

What You Will Need to Run WhatsApp Web

Largely speaking, it’s a simple process and you’ll have the necessary items at hand. But for the sake of thoroughness, here’s the list.

1. An Android phone or an iPhone with a working rear camera.
2. A laptop or desktop computer with any modern web browser, like Google Chrome.
3. An active internet connection for both your phone and your PC.
4. The latest version of WhatsApp.

Download: WhatsApp for Android | iOS (Free)

How WhatsApp Web Works

WhatsApp Web does not have all the features of the mobile app. In fact, it can’t work without the mobile app. You will need your phone to connect to and use WhatsApp Web.

This is, in essence, a clone or a mirror of what’s happening on your phone. If a message comes to your phone, you’ll see it in WhatsApp Web. If your phone doesn’t get a message because it doesn’t have an active internet connection or it’s switched off, then you won’t see it in WhatsApp Web either.

This makes WhatsApp Web inferior to other chat apps, but in some ways, it also makes WhatsApp Web more secure.

How to Set Up WhatsApp Web

Once you have these elements ready, setting up WhatsApp Web is simple:

1. Open the browser on your PC and go to web.whatsapp.com.
2. You will see a QR code that you need to scan to connect to WhatsApp Web.
3. On your WhatsApp mobile app, tap Menu > WhatsApp Web to start the QR code reader.
4. Point your phone’s rear camera to the QR code on your PC screen.

As soon as WhatsApp Web scans the QR code, it will connect your phone to your PC. In a jiffy, WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp mobile will be synced. You are now ready to use WhatsApp online through the computer.

What You Can Do With WhatsApp Web

• Use your keyboard to type.
• Access media (photos, videos, audio) in-line. You can also download any media directly to your PC. However, you cannot bulk download all media files; you have to manually click each.
• View videos from Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube without leaving the chat window, through Picture-in-Picture mode.
• Start a new conversation with any contact, or search for existing conversations.
• View contact information.
• Start a new group chat, talk in group chats, and view group information.
• Connect multiple computers to your phone and save them for future. You can also remotely disconnect any browser from your phone.
• Get or mute desktop alerts and sounds.
• Share photos and videos, documents, and contacts.
• Send emojis, GIFs, and stickers, as well as voice notes.
• View WhatsApp Status updates from any contact.
• Select multiple messages, and clear messages.
• Reply, forward, star, or delete messages.
• Edit your profile.

What You Can’t Do With WhatsApp Web

• You can’t send a WhatsApp Broadcast.
• You can’t make or receive WhatsApp Voice calls or WhatsApp Video calls.
• You can’t post new WhatsApp Status updates.
• You can’t share maps or your current location.
• You can’t change media download settings, so all photos and videos sent to you are downloaded automatically.
• You can’t use two browsers at the same time. While you can add multiple browsers/PCs to your phone, you can only use one at a time.
• Settings are limited to notifications through WhatsApp Web and chat wallpapers.

Using Multiple WhatsApp Accounts

Some folks have two numbers associated with two different WhatsApp accounts. You can still control WhatsApp online for both on a single PC.

To do that, you will need to open WhatsApp Web in two different browsers, such as Chrome and Opera. Alternately, you can open WhatsApp Web in an incognito window, but that automatically logs you out after an hour.

What Makes WhatsApp Web Special

So why should you use WhatsApp Web when it’s more limited than the phone? Because of the keyboard, of course.

If you want to engage in long conversations with someone, it’s easier to type using a keyboard. In fact, WhatsApp Web also works with WhatsApp Business, and you’ll be glad that you can take care of multiple customers through it.

You can use keyboard shortcuts too. The most useful two to remember are Ctrl + Shift + [ to go to the previous chat, and Ctrl + Shift + ] to go to the next chat.

How Safe Is WhatsApp Web?

While it initially got some flak for its lack of security, WhatsApp now boasts end-to-end encryption for all of its messages. This extends to WhatsApp Web as well.

Still, it’s a good idea to employ the best security practices for WhatsApp and understand how safe your photos are in WhatsApp, whether you’re using it your phone or using WhatsApp Web. For example, if you have to use WhatsApp Web on a different computer, always open it through an incognito window.

How to Log Out of WhatsApp Web

If you are using WhatsApp Web on your own computer, you can stay logged in even when you are done. It’s convenient.

If you are using it on someone else’s computer, then remember to log out after you are done using WhatsApp online. It’s best to do this on both the computer and the mobile app.

1. To log out of WhatsApp Web through your computer, go to Menu > Log out.
2. To log out of WhatsApp Web through your phone, go to Menu > WhatsApp Web > Log out from all devices. As the name indicates, this will close WhatsApp Web on any computer you are logged in.

Once you log out, you will need to run the WhatsApp Web QR Code scan again to reconnect to the device.

WhatsApp Web Tips and Tricks

The more you know about WhatsApp Web, the more astounded you will be by what you can achieve with it. In fact, we prefer it to the official desktop apps for WhatsApp since WhatsApp Web is more feature-filled, and even offers extensions.

There’s also a clever hack that makes WhatsApp Web worth using. Through WhatsApp Web, you can actually read your WhatsApp messages without marking them with blue ticks. It’s a sneaky one, but if you want to learn how to do that and more, check out our list of WhatsApp Web tips and tricks everyone should know.

Read the full article: How to Use WhatsApp Web on PC: The Ultimate Guide

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