Linux on Video: "The Linux Action Show!"

Category: Linux

One thing that surprises non-Linux users is the number of Linux websites, videos, and multimedia available online apart from the Linux communities devoted to a particular Linux distributions (for example, the openSUSE community). Some of the recent ones that have surfaced regularly on Bing and Google are Linux User, OMGUbuntu, and Phoronix. Even casual sites like Lifehacker and Makeuseof, though dealing with less technical and fairly pedestrian topics, contribute to the Linux ecosystem existing online.




"The Linux Action Show!" from Jupiter Broadcasting is a long running streaming video talk show devoted to topics related to Linux and even touches on current mainstream technology. The show is currently helmed by bubbly industry professional Chris Fisher and Linux veteran Matt Hartley. The show is very friendly to new Linux users though it does vacillate between heavy jargon and more well-known Linux terms. The tone and approach of the show is very casual, however, and it's very easy to jump on board and get in the swing of industry trends and the history of Linux even if you're not particularly interested in the events occurring behind the scenes. The effusive duo has a regular mixed bag per episode but in general includes the following segments:

• Android App pick
• News
• Linux Distribution Review
• E-mail
• Linux tips
  

On occasion, there's the odd hardware review and a bit of Linux evangelism by reporting about places or companies where Linux is widely used over other operating systems. The hosts are constantly in touch with the community via chat as the show rolls along. "The Linux Action Show!" proudly proclaims it's community driven and often tackles subjects put forward by the Linux users who patronize the show regularly on Reddit and through Jupiter Broadcasting. The high-quality show is sponsored by Go Daddy and Ubuntu hardware provider, System76, and the regular shout out to Go Daddy endorser Danica Patrick (plus the Linux discount code) has become a signature part of the show.




The Linux distribution reviews on "The Linux Action Show!" are fair and it's always great to see their take on projects such as Enlightenment 17, the latest Fedora, and other new releases. The reviews on the desktops can be superficial, however, but only because the show really doesn't allow the luxury of an extensive review (and the fact that both hosts are exceptionally skilled with any Linux system anyway). The more interesting segments involve industry news, which benefit from their unique perspective. Mr. Hartley is often encouraging and optimistic with any current event that benefits the community but can be especially extremely opinionated and harsh at times. Mr. Fisher, on the other hand, provides a more balanced and sometimes more complex viewpoint. Thankfully, unlike TED Talks and other video podcasts where the hosts often ramble aimlessly, Chris and Matt only rant and rave to a point.




Although the best way to watch the series is via its weekly live video stream on the Jupiter site, I prefer downloading the HD videos via iTunes to my iPad for viewing at a later time. As a regular listener of BBC podcasts on my iPod, it's refreshing to watch a high-quality educational video podcast discussing Linux.