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Native Linux GeForce NOW App Enters Beta

Here is a blog post summarizing the announcement. Linux Gaming Just Got a Serious Upgrade: Native GeForce NOW App Enters Beta If you’re a Linux user who has been waiting for a seamless cloud gaming experience, the wait is finally over. NVIDIA has officially launched the beta for a native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs, bringing the full power of the cloud to your desktop without the need for browser workarounds or Steam Deck-specific tweaks. Here is everything you need to know about this week’s "GFN Thursday" update. A True Desktop Experience Until now, the Linux experience for GeForce NOW was largely tuned for the Steam Deck, targeting handheld resolutions and lower frame rates. The beta is built specifically for PCs and notebooks, aiming to provide parity with the Windows and macOS apps. The app supports streaming at up to 5K resolution at 120 frames per second, or 1080p at a blistering 360 fps. Because the heavy lifting is done in the cloud, even modest Linux setups can now...

I Turned ON All Ubuntu Telemetry.

did something today that will make certain corners of the internet audibly gasp.

I didn’t disable telemetry.
I didn’t firewall it.
I didn’t put on a tinfoil hat and boot into a Faraday cage.

No.

I installed every Ubuntu data-donation tool
and opted in manually
like a lunatic
with intent.

Yes. Telemetry.
On.
All of it.

Step 1: Installing the “evil” telemetry tool

First, I installed Ubuntu’s main data-donation package:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ubuntu-report

Then I looked at the data it collects:

ubuntu-report

And what did I see?

  • CPU model
  • GPU model
  • RAM size
  • Screen resolution

Oh no.
My computer… exists.

Step 2: Opting in aggressively

Not satisfied with a passive existence, I explicitly told Ubuntu:

ubuntu-report -f send yes

That’s right.
Not “ask me later”.
Not “maybe”.

YES. SEND IT.

Somewhere, a Canonical server blinked awake like:

“Another one has chosen… participation.”

Step 3: Package usage stats (aka “He installed VLC”)

Next up: popularity-contest.

This reports which packages are installed, not how you use them.

sudo apt install popularity-contest

During install, it politely asks if you want to participate.

I clicked Yes like a villain pressing a red button.

To check it’s alive:

systemctl status popularity-contest

It runs about once a week and basically says:

“User has Firefox. Again.”

Step 4: Crash reporting (because software crashes, shockingly)

Then I enabled Apport, Ubuntu’s crash reporter:

sudo apt install apport

Edit the config:

sudo nano /etc/default/apport

Set:

enabled=1

Then:

sudo systemctl enable apport
sudo systemctl start apport

Now when something explodes, Ubuntu can go:

“Ah. That’s why.”

Instead of:

“Guess we’ll never know.”

Step 5: Confirm I went full chaos mode

To verify I installed everything:

dpkg -l | grep -E "ubuntu-report|popularity-contest|apport"

If all three show up, congratulations—you’ve joined me in telemetry enlightenment.

What Ubuntu actually receives (brace yourself)

  • CPU: yes
  • GPU: yes
  • RAM: exists
  • Installed packages: known
  • Crash stack traces: occasionally

No:

  • Browsing history
  • Files
  • Keystrokes
  • Thoughts
  • Dreams
  • The thing you regret Googling at 3am

Meanwhile, Windows is out here like:

“We noticed you hovered over the Start menu for 2.4 seconds. Are you okay emotionally?”


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