Also, the Xbox One SDK leaks online, the most pirated movies of 2014, Nuclear Throne freebies, and a look back at 2014 in GIFs.
Run Linux In A Window On A Chromebook
It's now possible to run Linux in a window on a Chromebook. Google evangelist François Beaufort revealed how to do so in a Google+ post, detailing the various steps Chromebook owners must take in order to run their favorite Linux distros in a window.
Essentially, you need to be running Chrome OS in Developer Mode and install David Schneider's Crouton extension. You can then run Linux in a separate window, saving you from switching between Virtual Terminals, which previously was the only way to run Linux on a Chromebook.
This isn't recommended for inexperienced users, but then they will probably be happy using Chrome OS as is. Instead, this is for existing Linux users who like the Chromebook hardware but find Google's operating system too limiting.
Lizard Squad Charging For DDoS Attacks
Lets see Lizard Squad try to shut this down. pic.twitter.com/tpTL6XiRD0
— Ronaldo (@notRonaIdo) December 29, 2014
Lizard Squad is reportedly now offering its DDoS (Distributed Denial-Of-Service) techniques to anyone willing to pay for the privilege. Lizard Stresser, as the new service is called, is essentially a commercial cyberattack whereby people pay the hacker collective to DDoS any target of their choosing.
Pricing ranges from $6 to $500, the latter enabling the customer to launch unlimited attacks. Lizard Squad are currently only accepting payments in Bitcoin, but promises to add PayPal in the future. The suggestion is that the DDoS attacks on Xbox Live and PSN over the holidays were actually a way of marketing Lizard Stresser.
Xbox One SDK Leaks Online
Hey, @Xbox! We thought we'd drop on by and End 2014 with a Bang ;) https://t.co/dQH9CIPrb0
— H4LT (@notHALT) December 30, 2014
The Xbox One Software Development Kit (SDK) has been leaked online, leading to the possibility of homebrew apps and mods being released in the future. A group of hackers calling itself H4LT leaked the SDK, tweeting Microsoft to let the company know it had done so.
The SDK allows developers to create games and apps for the Xbox One console after being approved to do so by Microsoft. Anyone will now be able to explore the SDK, but until an exploit is found in the code, no mods or homebrew apps will make it onto the console itself.
The Most Pirated Movies Of 2014
http://youtu.be/iszwuX1AK6A
The Wolf Of Wall Street tops the list of most pirated movies in 2014, according to Excipio (via Variety). The Martin Scorsese flick just beat out Frozen, with both films being illegally downloaded around 30 million times over the past year.
Other films on the list include Gravity, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, 12 Years A Slave, and American Hustle. All of these films proved to be box-office smashes, which suggests the impact piracy has on the movie industry isn't quite as disastrous as the studios imply.
Free Copies For Nuclear Throne Friends
http://youtu.be/JolGeE0UI3k
Everyone who currently owns a copy of Nuclear Throne will get a free copy of the game to give away to a friend. The giveaway will commence tomorrow (Jan. 1, 2015), with the idea being to bring fresh blood into the community to enable the game to grow and evolve.
As Vlambeer, the developer behind Nuclear Throne, explained on YouTube, "We need fresh eyes on the game, people that will still get decimated by Big Bandit and that will complain about the ravens in the scrapyard. We need to know how they feel about Nuclear Throne, and we need your help to reach them." If it's free then I'm in. Now, to find a friend who owns the game…
A Look Back At 2014 In GIFs
http://youtu.be/9vAfz6sDe2w
And finally, with 2014 set to give way to 2015, it's time to look back at the year that we have all just enjoyed/endured (delete as applicable). And why not do so with a series of GIFs detailing the events of the past 365 days?
After all, GIFs have become a bigger part of the Web than ever before during 2014, and they'll probably continue that trend as we head into 2015. Because while I personally find them extremely annoying, the rest of the Internet seems to love them.
Your Views On Today’s Tech News
Does the ability to run Linux in a window make you more interested in getting a Chromebook? Would you ever buy a DDoS attack? How many events did you recognize in the look back at 2014 in GIFs?
Let us know your thoughts on the Tech News of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome.
Image Credit: Laurie Sullivan via Flickr