NixMashup for August 27, 2014

Checklist For IT Admins Considering Linux

Here’s a checklist from StorageCraft listing areas of consideration when migrating a company or organization from Windows to Linux. Areas include Linux Distribution choice, Administration skill requirements, Hardware and Software compatibility, and Community Support. Good advice in going slow, though the recommendation to run Linux from Live CD and USB images is just stupid considering how Linux excels at creating new partitions on existing Windows systems. Perhaps I misunderstood the point.

#linux, #windowstolinux, #migration

A Glowing Review of Elementary OS

A very positive review from TechRepublic’s Jack Wallen of Elementary OS’s forthcoming Freya release. It definitely looks good. I may install Freya on my office Ubuntu 14.04 PC when it’s out of beta. I do all of my development on Linux Mint 17 these day, though I’ll definitely keep the Ubuntu partition available. I do remain a Ubuntu fan!

#elementaryos, #linux, #ubuntu, #linuxmint

Unusually Positive Article on Old Coders

This Mashable article titled “Old Coders: When Programming Is a Second Career” puts a more positive light on being an older developer than anything I’ve read. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to mention that while U.S. unemployment is at 6.2%, unemployment for programming jobs is 1.3%. “I would say [we’re looking for] anybody that can program,” says Nicole Tucker, a recruiter for iCIMS, a New Jersey-based SaaS provider. “It’s definitely the ability to be a problem solver. They have to be intellectually curious.”

#career

Toyota Nexus 7 Console Plugin Concept

To copy someone’s tweet about Toyota testing a system where a Nexus 7 is docked into a console and becomes the car’s information and entertainment center, “Someone finally gets it!” Watch the video filmed in Taiwan where the system is being tested. The video was informative and fun, although the scene of the Dad falling asleep while his daughter is learning how to drive is a bit unrealistic.

#futuretech, #android, #embedded, #autotech, #youtube

Linus Is My Hero

Sweet and inspiring story of 13-year-old Zachary DuPont who wrote a letter to his hero, Linus Torvalds, and was rewarded with a trip to LinuxCon to meet Linus and have his copy of Linux Bible signed by the father of Linux.

#linustorvalds, #linux

Favorite IntelliJ IDEA Features

Still enjoying my Return to IntelliJ IDEA in the form of Android Studio. Here is a blog post by Roberto Cortez who lists some of his favorite IDEA Features.

#intellijidea, #java

The Current State of IoT

Real World description of where we are with the Internet of Things, which is still in its infancy and where the question of “what business problem are we solving here?” is still first and foremost. Communication Protocols are still up in the air and no one has a handle on security implications of connected devices. And while there are a ton of IoT startups, most companies are currently sufficiently happy that their devices can connect to a cloud service.

#iot, #future, #career

The Burger Bot and Jobs

We covered the “Burger Bot” before, but here is a Huffington Post piece on the subject that delves more into the effect on fast food workers.

#career, #robotics, #futuretech

World’s Largest Tidal Stream Farm in the Works

Exciting stuff for believers in Tidal Stream Technology like me, where the developers of the world’s largest tidal stream farm raise $83 million to begin construction on four 1.5 megawatt tidal turbines. The turbines will provide enough electricity to power 175,000 homes and will create 100 green jobs.

#cleanenergy, #oceans

The Tesla To Take Off

A description of one man’s weekend with a Tesla Model S and what a positive and satisfying experience it was. Also discusses why Elon Musk and Tesla are uniquely qualified to transform the automotive industry and perhaps energy technology as we know it.

#tesla, #elonmusk, #evs, #future, #innovation