Lunduke
News • Science & Tech
Calibre & Handbrake have big new releases
Open source, DRM-Free media management continues to improve
November 20, 2023
post photo preview

Last week was a good week for folks who use Linux to enjoy off-line, DRM-free digital media -- with significant releases of Calibre (the eBook manager and reader) and HandBrake (the video converter).

Calibre 7.0

I've been using Calibre to organize my collection of eBooks for longer than I can remember.  Not only does it support almost every eBook format you can imagine (ePub, PDF, AZW, MOBI, the works) but it also seems to be able to handle use about any eBook reading device out there.

The big new features in 7.0, in my opinion, have to do with adding supplementary data to books in your collection.

  • You can now add notes to any book, author, or tag.  All searchable.
  • And you can attach any arbitrary files you like to a book.  While this doesn't impact the book reading experience, this can be used for supplementary material.  Alternate covers, research papers, audio clips, interview PDFs, or the like.

If you've never tried Calibre for your book organizing, I highly recommend it.  While the UI has some rough spots here and there, the features can truly make working with eBooks a far more pleasant experience.  Being able to convert between all of the eBook-related formats is incredibly handy.

Plus, it's available for Linux, Windows, and macOS.  All under the GPL license.  Also a bonus.

HandBrake 1.7

Where Calibre is the Swiss Army Knife of dealing with eBook formats, HandBrake fills some of the same "convert between formats" needs for digital video formats.

The new version, 1.7.0, adds a number of presets and support for a few additional encoding options:

HandBrake may not have all the organization and viewing features of Calibre... but I rather like the "do one thing and do it well" approach.  HandBrake converts and re-encodes video files.  That's it.

Builds available for Linux, Windows, & macOSSource available.  Thumbs up.

Open source digital media software is rad

I love seeing these sorts of steady improvements to open source tools -- allowing us increasing amounts of freedom and flexibility in how we handle our digital books and videos.

These tools have allowed Linux to become an absolutely splendid platform for organizing, working with, and enjoying digital, DRM-free media.  Looking forward to what they bring to the table in future releases.

community logo
Join the Lunduke Community
To read more articles like this, sign up and join my community today
13
What else you may like…
Videos
Podcasts
Posts
Articles
Graphical OS for C64 Adds Online App Store (Seriously)

C64 OS 1.09 has a full networking stack, virtual desktops, and an online Software Center. For Commodore 64. That's 44 year old hardware. Awesome.

Oregon Trail, Keen, & Leisure Suit Larry Lifetime Walls:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/8088259/oregon-trail-keen-leisure-suit-larry-lifetime-walls

Get on The Wall with a Massively Discounted Lifetime Sub:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/50-off-yearly-and-massively-discounted

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:15:22
Only One Person is Tracking GNOME Security Issues... & He Just Quit

"Nobody else is tracking GNOME security issues," says Red Hat employee.

Oregon Trail, Keen, & Leisure Suit Larry Lifetime Walls:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/8088259/oregon-trail-keen-leisure-suit-larry-lifetime-walls

Get on The Wall with a Massively Discounted Lifetime Sub:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/50-off-yearly-and-massively-discounted

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:11:58
"Linux is NOT a Social Warrior Project," Torvalds Says Incorrectly

A strange statement, considering Linus, himself, regularly uses the Linux Kernel (as a weapon) to promote Leftist, Social Warrior political activism.

Get on The Wall with a Massively Discounted Lifetime Sub:
https://lunduke.substack.com/p/50-off-yearly-and-massively-discounted

More from The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.com/

00:12:27
November 22, 2023
The futility of Ad-Blockers

Ads are filling the entirety of the Web -- websites, podcasts, YouTube videos, etc. -- at an increasing rate. Prices for those ad placements are plummeting. Consumers are desperate to use ad-blockers to make the web palatable. Google (and others) are desperate to break and block ad-blockers. All of which results in... more ads and lower pay for creators.

It's a fascinatingly annoying cycle. And there's only one viable way out of it.

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links? Check here:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

The futility of Ad-Blockers
November 21, 2023
openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"

Those in power with openSUSE make it clear they will not allow me anywhere near anything related to the openSUSE project. Ever. For any reason.

Well, that settles that, then! Guess I won't be contributing to openSUSE! 🤣

Looking for the Podcast RSS feed or other links?
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4619051/lunduke-journal-link-central-tm

Give the gift of The Lunduke Journal:
https://lunduke.locals.com/post/4898317/give-the-gift-of-the-lunduke-journal

openSUSE says "No Lunduke allowed!"
September 13, 2023
"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

This episode is free for all to enjoy and share.

Be sure to subscribe here at Lunduke.Locals.com to get all shows & articles (including interviews with other amazing nerds).

"Andreas Kling creator of Serenity OS & Ladybird Web Browser" - Lunduke’s Big Tech Show - September 13th, 2023 - Ep 044

Xlibre 25.1 just dropped. Remember this underrated interview (no video, no weird AI pictures, just the interview) with the creator? Still relevant to understand the person and motives behind the fork.

I present MattBar - a C++ based waybar replacement for Omarchy:

19 Meg of RAM, 0% utilization when hidden.

No CSS, no config file. Just a super efficient and lightweight replacement that includes full Omarchy functionality (Omarchy menu, Omarchy update). So if efficiency isn’t enough for you, what else makes it special? It auto hides by default! When hidden it does not use the CPU at all! However, simply mouse up and poof there it is. It doesn’t cause your windows to resize. You can pin it if you wish. You can also click on the settings button and a GUI settings menu opens. Re-order and decide what modules are present. Determine timeout settings. Change the line the bar uses to detect mousing.

It doesn’t get easier.

What do you think? Worthwhile? Should I release this for my fellow Omarchy or Hyprland users?

I will admit that this kind of makes HypWorkCut not that necessary. I mean if you are willing to use your mouse to change the workspace, then you can just use the ...

post photo preview
23 hours ago

I Love it When a Plan Comes Together - A Team

Since I’m doing so much work in Linux, long running coding sessions, I began using Zellij a tmux type app.

I haven’t used the tiling but I do name my sessions. It’s Saturday and I’m trying to take a break from working all day so I’m watching Tv and have my iPad.

Inspiration hits and I use the Termius iPad app to SSH into my Linux box. Then I list my active zellij sessions and attach to the one I wish to continue working in - from my iPad.

It’s a Claude code session that has finished a long task. Claude and I talk about next actions and then I tell Claude what I want him to accomplish.

Off he goes to work on my behalf while I resume watching tv. Life is good.

Btw, the project I’m working on is to build a set of commercial quality agents to speed up RFP processes. It will be used by consulting firms of all kinds. The result will be far more rapid turn around times and far less cost.

I have teamed up with a domain expert who knows the...

post photo preview
Oregon Trail, Keen, & Leisure Suit Larry Lifetime Walls

Holy frijoles! There are now 20 (twenty!) Lifetime Subscriber Walls, filled with the names of roughly one bazillion Lunduke Journal supporters.

Just amazing.

Two super quick updates:

  1. The “Desqview/X”, “NeXTSetp”, & “TRS-80 Model 100” Walls are now full! (Check them out on Lunduke.com and at the end of new shows.)

  2. There are 3 new Walls available to put your John Hancock on… and, just for kicks, these ones aren’t from Classic Operating Systems… they’re Classic Games:

    1. Oregon Trail

    2. Commander Keen 4

    3. Leisure Suit Larry

 

I don’t expect space on these Walls to last long. First come first served.

A huge thank you to all of The Lunduke Journal subscribers. Your support is deeply appreciated. You make this possible.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
post photo preview
TRS-80 Model 100 joins The Lunduke Journal Lifetime Wall party!

Buckle up, Buttercup. Because The Lunduke Journal is about to blow your mind.

  1. The “BeOS” Wall Lifetime Subscriber Wall is now full (see all of them on Lunduke.com)!

  2. We’ve added a new “TRS-80 Model 100” Wall (because we can)! That’s the 19th Lifetime Subscriber Wall! 19!

  3. The discounted Lifetime Lunduke Journal Subscriptions are still available through to the end of this month (July).

Which means there are, as of this exact moment, 4 Walls with space available (see Lunduke.com for the full list of Walls). But these fill up wicked fast.

  1. Emacs (only a few spots left)

  2. Desqview/X (a little less than 2/3rd’s full)

  3. NeXTStep (still plenty of space)

  4. TRS-80 Model 100 (just launched)

 

Nice, right?

Worth noting: The “TRS-80 Model 100” has very limited screen resolution (240 x 64), which means only a small number of names can fit on that wall. If you want on it, I’d let me know right away.

Grab a discounted Lifetime Subscription (if you don’t already have one), then let me know (email “bryan at lunduke.com”) which Wall you’d like to see your name on.

Huge high five to everyone who has already added their name to a Wall. At the current rate, we’ll have over 20 retro computer themed walls, filled with all of your names, by the end of the month.

And, doggone it, that’s amazing.

-Lunduke

Read full Article
Vim beats Emacs!

Well, we’ve done it.

We’ve answered the eternal question: “Which Lunduke Journal Lifetime Subscriber Wall would fill with names quicker? Emacs or Vim?”

The answer, it turns out, is “Vim”. And it takes just 8 days.

 

A hearty “Thank You” to everyone who supports The Lunduke Journal by getting Lifetime Subscriptions (massively discounted throughout July) and getting on these walls! You make all of this possible!

Now. How long will it take for Emacs to fill up (matching the same number of names as the Vim Wall)?

Well, right now the Emacs Wall is a hair over 2/3rds of the way full. So we’ll find out!

Welcome NeXTStep Wall!

With the closing of the “Vim” Wall (and the BeOS Wall only having the space for 1 name left), now seemed like a good time to add a new retro computer wall: The NeXTStep 1.0 Wall.

Right now, there are 4 Walls available to add your name to (*cough* massive discount *cough*).

  • NeXTStep (just opened)

  • Emacs (about 2/3rds full)

  • BeOS R5 (1 spot left)

  • Desqview/X (1/2 full)

 

Once again, huge thanks to everyone who supports The Lunduke Journal!

-Lunduke

Read full Article
See More
Available on mobile and TV devices
google store google store app store app store
google store google store app tv store app tv store amazon store amazon store roku store roku store
Powered by Locals