For the benefit of our readers, who are new to the concept, what exactly is 'free' software?
It's best described by the phrase, "Free as in Freedom, and not Free as in Free Beer." So, when I talk about free software (aka Swatantra software), I am not referring to the cost of the software but to the level of freedom it provides to the user.
How satisfied are you with the progress in the free software world?
We are moving towards horrible tyranny. People are being pressurised to use devices having non-free software for their day-today activities. And non-free software is malware. We have listed over 500 examples on gnu.org/malware.
If a company has control over the software you are using, then it is almost sure to use that control to mistreat you. However, it is possible to refuse, as I do that myself.
I refuse to have a portable phone as every portable phone is a tracking device, which can be modified into a listening device. These so-called smartphones I call them 'snoop' phones-invite you to talk to various online services or 'disservices.' But in the process, they snoop on you terribly; they can manipulate and pressurise you. It's not an acceptable kind of technology.
How do you define malware?
Malware is software designed to mistreat, harm, or annoy the user. Users might be expected to stop this abuse if they could control what the software does.
Do you consider marketing messages as malware?
Yes, because most users tend to turn those off in the settings. Software taking user permissions during installation is a racket. Users often don't understand what a program will actually do. But also in many cases, the choice is, either give permission for the program to do all these things, or it doesn't work at all.
How is then the choice of users determined?
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TRULY INNOVATIVE ELECTRONICS -INNOVATION UPDATES
Amongst numerous press releases of new products received by us, these are the ones we found worthy of the title Truly Innovative Electronics
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Nanotechnology based noninvasive cancer diagnostics
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Space communication with silent amplifiers
In the new communication system from researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, a weak optical signal (red) from the spacecraft's transmitter can be amplified noisefree when it encounters two so-called pump waves (blue and green) of different frequencies in a receiver on Earth.
Advancements in TOPCon solar cells
The structure and performance of tandem devices with highly passivated TOPCon bottom cells
Quantum leap in magnetism refines superconductors
Rice University physicists have uncovered key magnetic and electronic properties in kagome magnets, structures resembling basket-weaving patterns.
Sensor targets food antioxidants
A research team from Hunan City University and Xiangtan University in China has developed a sensor for detecting TBHQ, a food antioxidant used in oils and fats, addressing health concerns at high concentrations.
Data sensing with repurposed RFID tags
UC San Diego researchers have advanced passive data collection with a breakthrough in battery-free sensing.
Seal-inspired sensors to safeguard offshore wind farms
Schematic structure of the seal whisker-inspired flow sensors
Artificial nose identifies scents accurately
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