Windows broke Linux dual boots, Google coerces reviewers, GNOME 47 beta: Linux & Open Source News

Summary

In this Linux and open-source news show, the host discusses recent issues caused by a Microsoft update that broke Linux dual boots, Google's unethical influencer marketing tactics, and the release of the Gnome 47 beta. Sponsored by ProtonMail, the video also covers NVIDIA's new stable Linux drivers, performance benchmarks comparing Linux and Windows gaming, and updates to Wine and KDE's telemetry tool. The host wraps up with a mention of Tuxedo Computers, a Linux-focused hardware company.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video is set in a new apartment and studio, with the host acknowledging the sound might be echoey and promising to fix it.
• 😡 Microsoft has caused issues with Linux and Windows dual boots by pushing an untested update, making Linux systems unbootable for some users.
• 👎 Linux distributions are partly at fault for not updating Grub to support secure boot properly, which contributed to the dual boot issues.
• 📦 The video is sponsored by ProtonMail, an end-to-end encrypted email service focused on privacy and security.
• 🛠️ Microsoft's patch was meant to fix a severe flaw related to Grub2 and secure boot, but it ended up affecting dual boot systems incorrectly.
• 🚫 Google was caught enforcing agreements on influencers to only speak positively about their products in exchange for review units.
• 🚀 NVIDIA has released stable drivers for Linux, version 5.560, which transition to open-source modules and offer performance comparable to proprietary ones.
• 🎨 GNOME 47 beta has been released with many new features, including hardware-accelerated screen recording and improved support for drawing tablets and styluses.
• 📊 KDE has published results from their user feedback telemetry tool, showing that Wayland adoption is around 45% among KDE users, with some surprising reliance on older technologies.
• 🕹️ Linux gaming performance has caught up or even surpassed Windows in some cases, as shown by recent benchmark tests comparing the two operating systems.
• 💻 Tuxedo Computers, a sponsor mentioned in the video, specializes in laptops and desktops that run Linux out of the box, with customization options and contributions to the Linux community.

Q & A

What issue did Microsoft's update cause for Linux and Windows dual boot systems?

Microsoft's update broke dual boots on many systems, making Linux unbootable. The patch was meant to fix a flaw related to Grub two that allowed potential attackers to bypass secure boot, but it incorrectly applied to all dual boot systems, causing a security policy violation message.

What is the role of SBOM in secure boot?

SBOM (Software Bill of Materials) is used in secure boot to declare which versions of components in the secure boot chain are patched for the latest vulnerabilities and to indicate which parts are no longer secure as they haven't been patched.

Why is Microsoft also blaming Linux distributions for the dual boot issue?

Microsoft claims that Linux distributions are also at fault because they should have shipped updated versions of Grub that support secure boot and signed those versions to prevent the issue from happening.

What is the recommended solution for users affected by the dual boot issue?

The recommended solutions are to either disable secure boot or uninstall the latest Windows security update, although the update may reinstall itself later.

What controversy did Google face regarding their influencer marketing strategy for their Pixel phones?

Google was caught coercing influencers to only say good things about their Pixel phones and not feature them alongside competing phones or show preference for other brands, in order to continue receiving review units.

How did Google respond to the controversy over their influencer marketing strategy?

Google acknowledged that their language missed the mark and clarified that the Team Pixel program, which was affected, is meant for content creators, not press or tech reviewers.

What are the new features in the NVIDIA stable drivers for Linux version 5.560?

The new features include hardware-accelerated screen sharing through Pipewire, variable refresh rate support for Volta architecture GPUs, and fixes for issues with DVI outputs going to HDMI monitors and freezes in the Plasma shell under Wayland.

What improvements can users expect in GNOME 47 beta?

GNOME 47 beta introduces hardware-accelerated screen recording support, binding actions to drawing tablet buttons and styluses, pressure range support for styluses, color management protocol for HDR support, better handling of secondary GPU failures, and various other enhancements and bug fixes.

What did KDE learn from their voluntary user feedback telemetry tool?

KDE learned that Wayland adoption is around 45% among their users, but increases to about 80% when excluding KDE 5 users. They also discovered that a significant number of users still rely on older displays and OpenGL2, influencing their development decisions.

What is the significance of the gaming performance comparison between Linux and Windows?

The comparison shows that in some cases, Linux has caught up to or even surpassed Windows in terms of game performance, indicating that Linux is becoming a more viable option for gaming.

What update did Wine receive in version 9.16?

Wine 9.16 introduced the first implementation of the Windows driver store, which stores third-party drivers in a secure location and ensures only validated drivers are installed, potentially improving compatibility with Wine.

Why does the script mention Tuxedo Computers?

Tuxedo Computers is the sponsor of the video script. They make laptops, desktops, and small form factor computers that run Linux out of the box and contribute to the Linux community by providing patches to improve compatibility.