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If you’re learning a foreign language, there is always the need to go beyond the standard textbooks and listening materials. Resources like CDs,DVDs, and even movies in that particular language help you become a good listener and communicator. Also, these days, there are plenty of software available that help you learn better and faster. On Linux too, there are many such applications that can push you further in your linguistic endeavors without you having to pay a single penny. Here is a list of the best ones.

If you are a movie buff, deciding on which movie to watch next often becomes a tedious task. You scrounge through multiple websites, reviews, and then search for that movie on Netflix or order it from your local library. Ubuntu users though, especially the ones who want everything at their fingertips, can make the most out of Unity’s Dash to find out more about the movies they’re planning to watch. By installing a couple of lenses, you can save yourself the trouble of visiting multiple websites just to know more about that movie.

Dappled with Samsung S3?s launch, NVIDIA-Linus’s war, and Microsoft’s foray into the tablet world, June has proved to be an eventful month for techies. Many new announcements were made and many new apps were launched keeping tech bloggers always on their toes. On Android too, some great applications were released that geeks like us couldn’t resist installing on our phone. Of all the interesting ones, here are the 7 of the best apps June 2012 had to offer.

It’s not just teenage girls who are swept away by ‘bieber fever’, apparently Linux, the open-source operating system is the newest entrant to the overflowing list of beliebers. Just two days since its launch, Justin Bieber Linux, more popularly known as Biebian, has taken the open-source community by storm. One-upping Ubuntu and Linux Mint in just a few hours, Biebian has given Linux the popularity and exposure it had been waiting for for years. Though some are scoffing at Biebian’s incredible success, many Linux supporters are basking in the glory of the newfound fame of their favorite operating system.

After making massive neckbeards a universal style statement, Richard Stallman, revered software freedom activist and computer programmer, has turned to the world of fashion. His new collection, titled RMS, is a luxury line of clothing specially designed for geeks and programmers. The launch follows on the success of GNU, a fragrance which he created and distributed for free.

Word on the street is that Google is planning to compete with Apple by coming out with its own Siri competitor. Called ‘Assistant’, the upcoming feature will bring a personalized, voice-centered ‘Do-engine’ to Android. Expected to release in fourth quarter of 2012, not much is known about it except from the fact that it will be more adept at finishing certain tasks rather than just searching for them. As we impatiently twiddle our thumbs for any official announcement to pop up from the search giant, we’ve come up with our own wish list for the exciting project. So, without much ado, here are six things we want from Android’s rumored Siri-competitor.

While the $25 Raspberry Pi is turning a million eyeballs, Canonical’s incessant attempts at conquering non-Ubuntuers don’t seem to be working out as hoped or planned. Even though Shuttleworth, Canonical’s benevolent dictator, has decided to go all out in order to reach his 200-million mark as early as possible, the efforts are still visibly falling short. The recent announcements including Ubuntu TV and Ubuntu for Android have created some buzz among the non-Linuxiens, it’s still nothing compared to what Raspberry Pi has achieved in such a short span of time. Not only has Raspberry given users an affordable computer, it also has started a revolution like the iPad did with tablets. And, instead of looking at TVs, tablets, and smartphones, this is the model Ubuntu should look to emulate rather than running around in a thousand directions.

According to a report by Canalys, Android apps, when compared to the apps found in the iTunes App Store, are more on the expensive side. The survey was done by comparing the top 100 paid apps from both the marketplaces, and it was found that Android apps cost, on average, 2.5 times more than their iOS counterparts.

Adobe, as we all know, is on a killing spree recently, and the ones most affected by their actions are Linux and all its friends. After dropping support for AIR for Linux, and Flash for mobile, the California-based company has decided to abandon the Linux version of its popular yet universally hated Flash player. The news, oddly enough, didn’t cause any major panic among penguinians, as Flash will still live on for Google Chrome users via the Pepper plug-in API. Though the announcement might seem like a jubilant moment for many HTML5 supporters, it is still a rather disappointing decision as far as the Linux platform is concerned. The question is whether this move by Adobe will affect Linux in any way? And, is this their worst decision ever?

Whether you’re a budding programmer or a coding ninja, practice is something that cannot simply be overlooked. To be good at writing efficient programs, you need to put in hours and days worth of effort. However, most people, especially the busy ones, don’t find enough time to code. Also, there are folks who travel a lot or have neck and back injuries and consequently can’t afford to sit in front of their computer all day. For coders like those, there are some handy Android applications that will help them learn programming no matter where they are. These amazing apps bring the best IDEs, reference books, and code editors right to your mobile phone.

Reddit, apart from being a social news website, has also become a cultural phenomenon. It has reached millions of internet users and has changed many lives since its inception. Though most users prefer browsing the site in its original avatar, that is the web-based version, there are some Redditors who need to upvote/downvote stuff even while they’re travelling. So, to fulfill that need, here are some of the best Reddit Apps for Android which will let you browse the site from anywhere.

Wanna impress your friends with some cool one-liners? Well not those kind of one-liners, I’m talking about the nerdy ones. Well, not exactly nerdy, let’s call them geeky. Anyways, Bash one-liners is an open-source project made for sharing and discovering such nifty Bash tricks that will help you tweak or fix your Linux/Unix/BSD computer. Apart from letting you browse existing scripts, the site also lets you submit your own ideas.

Crave Speed? Love the feeling of wind rushing at your face as your watery eyes struggle to stay fixated on your opponents? Yep, we too love racing; however, sadly, not everyone can drive a Formula One car, and not everyone can break city speed limits without getting arrested. But hey, that’s not an excuse for you to get disappointed so soon; to whet your insatiable appetite, video-game makers strive every day to emulate the best racing experience on consoles, phones, and tablets. For tablets and phones, especially the ones running Android, a lot of amazing new games have emerged with photo-realistic graphics and engaging storylines that will get your adrenaline pumping even if you’re sitting in a comfy swivel chair. So, if you’ve been scrounging the marketplace for the best racing games for Android, read on as we cover some of the finest in the genre.

Since the late 1980s, Japanese role-playing games or JRPGs have managed to enthrall a wide range of audiences. From Wizardry to Final Fantasy, this genre has garnered a huge fan following not just among the Japanese, but also among Western gamers. Furthermore, since JRPGs have been made for almost every platform that’s out there, our very own Android, which is also a fledgling gaming platform, has seen some great titles in this genre. So, if you’re hankering for a visit to mystical realms and dragon-infested lands, here’s a list of some of the best JRPGs for Android.

Amidst the cheery and jovial atmosphere of the holidays, an ever-growing shopping list is the only thing that constantly keeps us worrying. As the end of the year nears, the list keeps on getting bigger and disorganized. Some people handle these things very well, but many still find it quite difficult to manage the list. Don’t worry though, as there are some quality apps and extensions that will help you conquer that daunting shopping list in a neat, organized manner.

2011 has almost come to an end, and we’ve already seen some great Android apps come out this year. But 2012, which is just around the corner, has some great apps in store for the open-source mobile platform. From amazing 3D games to ports of popular apps from other platforms, these are applications that users have been waiting for a long time. So, without much ado, here are some of the most anticipated Android apps for 2012.

We’ve already touched upon some of the best plasma widgets that are out there for KDE. While those may be enough to make your GNOME-loving friends jealous, it sounds much more fun when you get to brag about them on social media and IM. And, even though there are many apps that let you do that, nothing beats updating your social networks right from your main desktop. So, if you’re looking to add a social twist to KDE, read on as we list some social plasma widgets ( or plasmoids ) you can fill your desktop with.

A couple of months ago, Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu’s benevolent dictator, announced on his blog that by 14.04 (April 2014), he plans to bring Ubuntu to tablets, mobiles, and TVs. The announcement was met with surprise, shock, and some criticism. However, before Ubuntu takes its first steps into the world of mobiles, tablets and TVs, it can learn a lot from the mistakes of its soon-to-be competitor, Android.

Time-tracking software are an important part of a freelancer’s workflow. Not only do they increase productivity, they also save freelancers from the hassles of billing and invoicing. Though most of the applications in this genre are web-based, there are a few choices for users who prefer having a dedicated desktop software. For Linux users though, the choices are even more limited. So, if you’re a freelancer or simply a productivity freak, read on as we list some of the best time-tracking applications for Linux

Adobe, which decided to kill off mobile-based Flash a few days back, will be delivering one last update to its soon-to-be-dead technology. The update, which comes out later this year, will bring support for the recently open sourced Ice Cream Sandwich. Despite being buggy, many ICS users are griping about the lack of Flash on their device, and many, in fact, are impatiently waiting to get their hands on the update. And even though it is very thoughtful of Adobe to cater to the needs of its loyal Android users, it’s still something the company shouldn’t be doing in the first place.