Digit e-Magazine
FacebookXWhatsAppRedditEmail
Technology

April 2021 eDVD

Digit Geek Digit Geek
April 8, 2021
24 min read

Welcome to Digit’s “e” DVD. Instead of limiting ourselves to physical media, we’re attempting to curate the best content from the WWW for you, and give it to you in monthly instalments. By the 15th of every month there will be a new e-DVD made available to buyers / subscribers of the Digit Magazine, so watch our homepage for updates.

While most of the following is content for your PCs, if you’re reading this from a mobile, scroll to the Mobile section to get some interesting downloads, apps and games, all recommended by Team Digit.

As always, remember to send us feedback about this exercise, and suggestions on how we can improve.

Featured Distros

  • SystemRescue : SystemRescue (also known as SystemRescueCd) is a Linux system rescue toolkit available as a bootable medium for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash. It aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the hard disk partitions. It comes with a lot of Linux system utilities such as GParted, fsarchiver, filesystem tools and basic tools (editors, midnight commander, network tools). It can be used for both Linux and windows computers, and on desktops as well as servers. This rescue system requires no installation as it can be booted from a CD/DVD drive or USB stick, but it can be installed on the hard disk if you wish. The kernel supports all important file systems (ext4, xfs, btrfs, vfat, ntfs), as well as network filesystems such as Samba and NFS.
  • Tails : Tails is a portable operating system that protects against surveillance and censorship.
Linux Distros
  • Linux Mint: Linux Mint is straight up the most recommended and easy to use distros around at the moment. It is based on Ubuntu but ships with a bunch of extras including codecs and drivers, which makes it quicker to start using the distro.
  • Gentoo: Gentoo is used by a bunch of enthusiasts known as Gentoomen. The updates are regular, and the distro is optimised for your particular system, which is great. It is a bit of a toughie to get into though.
  • Slackware: Slackware is a distro for those who want to dive into the deep end of the Linux pool, and is one of the most basic and customisable distros around. The setup is incredibly fun or painful depending on how you look at it. It is easy to mess up your system if you are using Slackware, so proceed with caution.
  • Kali Linux: Kali Linux is the distro for those who want to try out hacking tools, or get into penetration testing in a more serious manner.
  • Ubuntu: Ubuntu is one of the easiest to use and well known distros around. Ideal for use in offices as well.
  • OpenSuse: OpenSuse is a distro geared towards software developers and system admins. It is one of the most used distros around the world, and is continuously updated.
  • Fedora: Fedora is the distro used by the creator of Linux, Linus Trovalds. This is a distro with plenty of support, and regular updates. It is associated with the RedHat distro.
  • ArchLinux: The ArchLinux distro is a simple and minimalist Linux distro. The updates are frequent. The distro is for more expert users.
  • Solus: Solus is a no nonsense distro designed for home computing. You can access most applications out of the box.
  • SteamOS: Based on Debian, SteamOS is a distro specifically made for gaming on Linux systems. It can be used as a general purpose distro as well. Check the hardware requirements though, they are on the higher side.
File editors
  • Curl : Curl is used in command lines or scripts to transfer data. curl is also used in cars, television sets, routers, printers, audio equipment, mobile phones, tablets, settop boxes, media players and is the Internet transfer engine for thousands of software applications in over ten billion installations.
  • U++ : U++ is a C++ cross-platform rapid application development framework focused on programmers productivity. It includes a set of libraries (GUI, SQL, etc.), and an integrated development environment.
  • CudaText : CudaText is a cross-platform text editor, written in Lazarus. It is open source project and can be used free of charge, even for business. It starts quite fast: ~0.3 sec with ~30 plugins, on Linux on CPU Intel Core i3 3Hz. It is extensible by Python add-ons: plugins, linters, code tree parsers, external tools. Syntax parser is feature-rich, based on EControl engine (though not as fast as in some competitors).
  • PSPad : PSPad is a freeware programmer’s editor for Microsoft Windows operating systems
  • Foopad : Foopad is nondestructive source code editor / integrated development environment made to make your dev life better. Foopad has some unique features and can be customized to be like simple notepad or full IDE. Works on any version of Windows operating system (server also) and has unbelievable startup and workflow speed. It’s UI is simple and slick, intuitive and so classy-cool. Foopad targets Web developers, system admins and coding enthusiasts.
  • CreateIDE : Create IDE is a lightweight and compact C# IDE with modern features to address your developer needs.It is heavily inspired by Jetbrain products as well as the industry standards Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code.
  • Visual Paradigm : Suite of design, analysis and management tools that drive your IT project development and digital transformation.
  • XMLmind : XMLmind XML Editor is not a programmer’s tool. Its users are generally technical writers, engineers and scholars who use it to write large, complex, modular, documents.
  • RJ TextEd : RJ TextEd is a full featured text and source editor with Unicode support. It is also a very powerful web (PHP, ASP, JavaScript, HTML and CSS) development editor. The functionality extends beyond text files and includes support for CSS/HTML editing with integrated CSS/HTML preview, spell checking, auto completion, HTML validation, templates and more. The program also has a dual pane file commander, as well as a (S)FTP client to upload your files. Below is a small list of features available.
  • RisohEditor : RisohEditor is a free resource editor for Win32 development, created by Katayama Hirofumi MZ. RisohEditor realized the ideal of resource editor. “Risoh” means “ideal” in Japanese.
  • SPFLite : Looking for a line-oriented ISPF style editor because Windows character-mode text editors just don’t do it for you?
  • Free Hex Editor Neo : Modify your large files with Free version of HHD Software Hex Editor Neo
  • Reverse Engineers’ Hex Editor : A cross-platform (Windows, Linux, Mac) hex editor for reverse engineering, and everything else.
Time management
  • FireAlpaca : FireAlpaca is the free Digital Painting Software that is compatible with both Mac and Windows.
  • Diffractor : Superfast searching, viewing and comparing of photos or videos on your PC.
  • Capture NX-D : Capture NX-D photo processing software lets you get the most out of your Nikon digital camera and lens by producing images with unmatched quality designed by our designers. It provides functions specially designed for post-processing RAW images, providing them in an intuitive and easy-to-use form. In addition to processing RAW images, it can be used to enhance the quality of JPEG and TIFF images taken with Nikon digital cameras through adjustments in brightness, contrast, tonal curves and many other options.
  • BirdFont : Birdfont is a free font editor which lets you create vector graphics and export TTF, OTF and SVG fonts. The editor has good support for both monochrome and color font formats.
  • OpenToonz : 2D animation production software based on the software “Toonz” developed by Digital Video of Italy, customized by Studio Ghibli Co., Ltd., and used for many years in the production of Ghibli works.
  • Laigter : This tool lets you generate normal maps for 2D textures, with little effort. Specially designed for Sprites in 2D games. Specular map generation is possible too, which gives your sprites the shininess they need to look PRO! It also let’s you create parallax maps, mainly intended for backgrounds, to obtain a nice 3D effect in 2D games!
  • Playscii : Playscii is an open source ASCII art, animation, and game creation program. It runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
  • MagicaVoxel : A free lightweight GPU-based voxel art editor and interactive path tracing renderer.
  • Natron : Open Source Compositing Software For VFX and Motion Graphics.
  • Photostory Deluxe : Create animated slideshows from photos and videos.
Courses
  • Connections season 3 : https://archive.org/details/ConnectionsByJamesBurke
  • Physics III: Vibrations and Waves : Vibrations and waves are everywhere. If you take any system and disturb it from a stable equilibrium, the resultant motion will be waves and vibrations. Think of a guitar string—pluck the string, and it vibrates. The sound waves generated make their way to our ears, and we hear the string’s sound. Our eyes see what’s happening because they receive the electromagnetic waves of the light reflected from the guitar string, so that we can recognize the beautiful sinusoidal waves on the string. In fact, without vibrations and waves, we could not recognize the universe around us at all!
  • Financial Theory : This course attempts to explain the role and the importance of the financial system in the global economy. Rather than separating off the financial world from the rest of the economy, financial equilibrium is studied as an extension of economic equilibrium. The course also gives a picture of the kind of thinking and analysis done by hedge funds.
  • PredictionX: John Snow and the Cholera Epidemic of 1854 : An in-depth look at the 1854 London cholera epidemic in Soho and its importance for the field of epidemiology.
  • Machine Learning A-Z : Learn to create Machine Learning Algorithms in Python and R from two Data Science experts. Code templates included.
  • Arduino : This course comprises 17 audio-video spoken tutorials, using which you can self-learn Arduino micro-controller programming with ease.
ESA eBooks
  • How to survive in Space : The two volumes were penned by former ESA staff member Madeleine Schäfer as a wry, often-humorous personal recounting of the events and people at ESOC through its initial years, and end in 1997.
  • Rosetta’s Legacy : A compilation of experiences documenting what the Rosetta mission meant to those who were part of it, the result of the Rosetta Legacy campaign.
  • A history of the European Space Agency : These two volumes are the culmination of over a decade of work, an initiative by three professional historians of science to write an independent academic history of ESA and its predecessor organisations: ESRO and ELDO.
  • Down to Earth : The ESA version of NASA’s spinoff series, all the technologies that ESA developed that are now used in everyday life.
Synthpop
  • Blackout : Fourteen Steps to Hell
  • Eftos : After classical Eftos [Opp. 01-42] Eftos tracked 3 sci-fi concepts. 1) Exo [Op. 43] a noisy filigree into nature, for headphones only. 2) Trivy [Op. 44] Abstract synthesizers, the most harmless Eftos. 3) Syntari [Opp. 45-46] Total digital order, expanding Exo & Trivy.
  • Kim Lightyear : Kim Lightyear ft. Equinox – Above The Clouds
  • Alesandro Sepe : Buzz
Geeky Soundtracks
Text adventures
  • Scout: An Apocalypse Story : It has been over a decade since a worldwide natural disaster obliterated the natural planet and decimated human civilization. There are small groups of humans still alive, fending for themselves, trying to create communities amongst the rubble.
  • A witch’s word : Years ago, you sold your first born to a witch. But with your recent dating history, it doesn’t look like she’ll be getting her end of the bargain any time soon. So the witch has offered to help you find a suitable someone to settle down with. Will you choose the sweet farmer, the confident writer, or the brooding bladesmith? And are these really your only options?
  • Hybrid : The apocalypse happened, but not in the way anyone expected. Plants underwent a major, rapid evolution seemingly overnight: and when humans woke up, they found their cities turned to rubble and their lives reclaimed by nature. Chaos ensued.
  • Library of Babel : Wander through a gentle garden of words, an endless oasis of serenity. Discover the mumblings and memories of other storytellers, and be inspired to leave your own.
  • Emily is away : Emily is Away is an interactive story set in a retro chat-client. Create a screenname and choose your path through the branching narrative.
  • Horse Master : Horse Master: The Game of Horse Mastery challenges players to grow, train, and nurture their own horse from birth in the hopes of earning the most coveted tenured position in the world: Horse Master.
Evergreen Games
  • Warframe : Warframe is the free to play model done right, with regular updates, a monetisation model that is fair to players. This is an incredibly complex game with a lot of things to do, and is a major time sink. Essentially you play as space ninjas who are on various missions through the solar system. This is science fiction like you have never seen it before, in any medium.
  • Path of Exile : This is another game that has been around for years, is free to play, and is constantly updated. The game has one of the most expansive skill trees in any game ever. You have to pick classes and clear dunjons. The hardcore mode has permadeath. This is RPG done right.
  • Shotgun Fun Fun : This is a fast paced platformer where you have to navigate around a map and take down as many zombies as possible, before you inevitably meet your death. Crazy, and addivtive.
  • Trackmania Nations Forever : The free version of the game has a stadium environment with thousands of user made tracks. Insane speeds, lots of room for stunts, and split second reactions are all necessary for you to win. This is one of the most popular racing games ever.
  • Altitude : Altitude is an over the top multiplayer game where you have to take a bunch of planes and eliminate enemies. The rounds are frenetic and short. The best thing is the football mode.
  • TeeWorlds : This is a crazy 2D multiplayer platformer. In the solo mode, you have to kill anything else that moves with an arsenal of weapons, or team up and play the deathmatch mode. Moving around requires constant use of a grappling hook, which is the entire charm of this game.

Movie
  • Malice in the Palace : This is top of the line three stooges! The stooges are operating a restaurant with some strange pets are operating a restaurant with some strange pets and customers.Where’s the beef? The stooges leave and the restaurant to travel to Smoeland to obtain customers.Where’s the beef? The stooges leave

Snippets

Radio Show
  • Adventures of Philip Marlowe : Dashiell Hammett introduced the new genre, and Sam Spade, in 1930 in his novel The Maltese Falcon. A few years later Raymond Chandler came along and perfected the type, with his detective, Philip Marlowe. Chandler introduced Marlowe in his first novel, The Big Sleep, and Philip Marlowe continued to solve crimes in six subsequent Chandler novels. Chandler had previously published a number of short stories featuring other detectives; however, Marlowe proved so popular that when the stories were later republished the author often switched the detectives to Philip Marlowe.

 

App watch

  • Jumbo : Jumbo is a new privacyassistant app for iOS and Android devices that attempts to remove the guesswork out of privacy settings. It could prove useful to users by allowing them to reduce the amount of data they have given social media apps access to. [Android] [iOS]
  • Niagra Launcher : A minimalist Android launcher that makes most things on the screen accessible one-handed. The launcher is completely ad-free and allows users to customise their home screens and get a streamlined look. [Android]
  • Photo Snatch : An app that allows users to save videos from Instagram, TikTok or a webpage easily. It comes with an in-built gallery for viewing images as well as a video player with several features such as looping, slow motion, and more. [Android]
  • Last Time : A simple and nifty app that keeps a record of when the user did something the last time. You can add records such as the last time you had a haircut, worked out, had a cheat meal, watered your plants, etc. [Android]

Mobile Monthly

  • Kitty Litter : From the creator of the popular card game, Exploding Kittens comes a free mobile word game called Kitty Letter, which seems like an odd mashup between Scrabble and Clash Royale. The game pits you against AI or another real player and the best linguist comes out on top. The creator of the game is also behind The Oatmeal webcomics and the game’s story mode certainly has a comic book style of narration. The premise is simple, exploding cats threaten the integrity of your home, and you must formulate words from a mix of letters. Each
  • Knightin’+ : Knightin’+ is a game that launched on Steam back in July 2019 and just made its way onto Android and iOS devices. In the words of the developer, Muzt Die Studios, this is a Zelda-lite adventure game, which is very evident the moment you start playing it.
  • Birdie Crush: Fantasy Golf : You have multiple characters to choose from, with each having their own advan- tages and disadvantages, including a different set of powers that you can use. Gameplay is actually quite simple. The only really skill is in timing, when you actually make shots. Other than that it’s fairly straightforward. There are anvariety of game modes to enjoy, both single and multiplayer. You’ve got friendlies, tournaments, event matches, and a lot more.
  • Crash Bandicoot: On the Run : Crash Bandicoot: On the Run! is the latest game from King, a powerhouse when it comes to mobile gaming. The polish is there, right off the bat you can tell that this isn’t some second hand Crash Bandicoot game. It’s the real deal with its wonderful 90s bright and vibrant cartoony graphics that are as true to the original as can be.
  • Titan Quest: Legendary Edition : Titan Quest is a game from way back in the day, and one of the few games that was a solid contender to Diablo II. Sometime ago the game celebrated its tenth anniversary edition, and released the game on iOS and Android.
  • Project CARS: Go : Project CARS has garnered a large fol- lowing for being a good motorsport rac- ing simulation in a very short time. And Slightly Mad Studios, the developer, has been eyeing the mobile market for quite some time given that mobile gaming has been growing by leaps and bounds.
Digit Geek

Digit Geek

01010011 01110101 01110000 00111111

View all posts

Helpful Links

Read Magazines

Read SKOAR!

Account Page

How to use this site

Contact us via WhatsApp