(I hope this fits this community, if not I'd be glad to know where I can post it)

Updated my firmware on my thinkpad t580. This made my external battery (3rd party) jump from 64.8 Wh design capacity to 40.4 Wh design capacity (but the computer doesnt turn off when it is "empty", this is a software bug).

AI's theory: The firmware update made the system stricter towards 3rd party batteries, blocking it and reporting a dummy number. This is plausible because after the firmware update the battery is no longer reporting its mAh (used to display 6000 mAh).

Rolling back to my previous firmware version (which is supported on thinkpads via fwupd downgrade) didn't fix it...

Has anyone experienced something similar? I also tried downgrading my kernel (hoping that an older kernel wouldn't suffer from this for some reason) but it didn't fix it.

Guesses or fix ideas that might break something are also welcome, I'm using NixOS.

Hi all, thanks in advance for indulging a complete newbie! I'd like to try Linux on an 11-year-old MacBook Pro (gifted by a relative), but I don't know where to start. What distribution would you recommend based on my background?

-Coming from the Mac world; haven't used a PC/Windows since before the pandemic. I'd prefer something that feels similar to MacOS.

-Not a techie. I've forgotten everything (everything!) I ever learned about command line because I never ended up needing to use it, and I haven't had to debug anything in a long time.

-What I'll be using it for: accessing the internet, various kinds of creative projects that I'll probably try making with FOSS software (something I've only recently started to look into), and making another attempt at learning programming (my interest will probably peter out before I get anywhere with it, though, because that's what happened the last two times). Probably won't be gaming. I'd prefer having the option to use mainstream office software in case anything happens to my current computer, but I don't actually expect anything to happen to it in the next few years, so that's just a nice-to-have.

-Priorities: works on old Mac hardware, good for privacy, decent software availability, not buggy, ability to avoid generative AI (i.e., no repeat of Apple installing the Image Playground app on my computer along with a software update, without the ability to remove it.)

It seems like a lot of people recommend Ubuntu or Linux Mint to beginners, but I'm seeing some people complaining that Ubuntu is has spyware(?) and forces things users don't want, and it seems like Linux Mint is usually recommended to people coming from Windows, so IDK if either of those make sense for me. Advice/recommendations appreciated!

The role of AI tools (LLMs, mainly) in Linux is under discussion, or it was, until Linus Torvalds “put his foot down” in support of the use of AI in Linux kernel development.

cross-posted from: https://piefed.ca/c/privacy@lemmy.ml/p/859482/proton-drive-linux-client-is-being-actively-developed

I received the email this morning from Proton announcing improvements to Drive speed, and they just happened to tuck this in there:

... It also allowed us to focus on deeper integration with the rest of the Proton ecosystem (such as Drive in Lumo) and support for a Linux client, which we're now actively building.

Glad I won't have to continue using my cobbled together Syncthing solution much longer.

Here's the full email for anyone interested, seems the announcement isn't on their website yet.

Tap for spoiler

Dear Proton community member,

A faster, more powerful Proton Drive is here, giving you smoother access, stronger protection, and more control over your files.

Proton Drive is up to 3x faster

We rebuilt Proton Drive around a single, shared engine that now powers uploading, downloading, and encryption across all our apps. Uploads are up to 3x faster and downloads up to 2x faster, plus smoother scrolling and quicker loading in Photos. It also allowed us to focus on deeper integration with the rest of the Proton ecosystem (such as Drive in Lumo) and support for a Linux client, which we're now actively building.

Faster, stronger encryption

Your files stay end-to-end encrypted — that hasn't changed, and never will. But that happens more efficiently now. We've adopted a cryptographic advance in the OpenPGP standard, cutting encryption time for new file uploads by up to 4x.

More control over who can manage your shared files

When you share a file or folder, you can already choose Viewer or Editor access. Now you can also decide whether an Editor can manage sharing on your behalf — inviting others, changing permissions, or removing access. To keep that control for yourself only, open the share's Settings and toggle off access.

More power and flexibility across Proton Drive

Alongside the updates above, we’ve continued improving Proton Drive across platforms, making it easier to automate workflows, browse shared files, manage syncing, and work more efficiently.

• The Proton Drive CLI is now available for Linux, macOS, and Windows, so you can script uploads, downloads, and sharing from your terminal. 
• Grid view is now available on public Proton Drive links, making shared photo folders much easier to browse.
• On the Windows desktop app, you can now pause syncing for a few hours or until the next day, and Proton Drive automatically resumes so you don't forget to turn it back on.
• A new encrypted cache stores your 500 most recently viewed thumbnails, so albums you've already browsed load instantly the next time.
• Proton Sheets now supports custom currency, number, and date/time formats, alongside bug fixes and reliability improvements.

Protecting your privacy is our priority. Follow us on X for the latest feature releases, privacy news, and security tips. Join the discussion on Reddit for insights directly from our team, and share your ideas on UserVoice to help shape Proton’s future.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay secure,

The Proton Drive team