As there've been several requests for news digests, I had a tinker with
some sed stuff, and have pulled together a 7-day digest. It does pull
the URLs into one spot, which might be useful for some, although clearly
this wouldn't work for the main postings, as there'd be no way to respond
to the individual items.
Anyway, feedback welcome on included headers, separators, any bugs you
can see. Note that as per Roy C's news spool, there is some
pre-filtering done by leafnode, so not everthing could ever get it.
==== digest starts ====
Subject: [News] Vista Sheds Another Feature, Fails into Own 64-Bit Suppression Trap
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:16:31 +0100
Microsoft cuts ANOTHER feature:
full HD playback in 32bit Vista goes
,----[ Quote ]
| By far the majority of PCs use 32-bit processors, because despite
| AMD's efforts to push 64-bit CPUs into the marketplace early, Intel's
| first widely-promoted 64-bit CPU is the just-released Core 2 Duo.
`----
http://www.apcstart.com/site/dwarne/2006/08/1139/microsoft-cuts-another-feature-full-hd-playback-in-32bit-vista
====
Subject: [News] Professional Books Composed with Linux (or Mac, Windows) and Open Source
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:18:35 +0100
Designing a book with LyX
,----[ Quote ]
| ...it's also worth considering LyX, an open source (GPL) desktop
| publishing application that, with a bit of work, can create a really
| professional-looking book that is indistinguishable from a book produced
| by a mainstream publishing house.
`----
http://software.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/15/1859251&from=rss
====
Subject: [News] PCLinuxOS Scores a Perfect 10
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:22:19 +0100
ReviewLinux.Com: First Look at PCLinuxOS 0.93a
,----[ Quote ]
| ReviewLinux.Com takes a quick look at the latest version of PCLinuxOS
| 0.93a. We were surprised at it's ease of use and great looking desktop.
| Probably a good distro for any beginner to look into. Its full ofm
| any application on this 655 meg iso. Download it and have a look!
`----
http://www.reviewlinux.com/index.php/?m=show&id=2997
====
Subject: [News] Linux Distributions Most Suitable for VARs
Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:24:39 +0100
The Resellers' Guide to Free Desktop Linuxes
,----[ Quote ]
| So, as I see it, openSUSE reselling should prove an excellent option
| for resellers wanting to place an inexpensive business desktop in SMBs
| (small-to-medium businesses). For larger customers, or ones who are going
| to want more than the knowledge worker trinity of Web browsing, email/IM,
| and office suites, SLED, with its full Novell support, is the better
| choice.
|
| If, on the other hand, you want to sell PCs to home users, Freespire ist
| he distribution of choice. It's easy to install, and it will doe
| verything out of the box that home users expect a PC to do.
|
| Ubuntu, well, yes, it is pretty darn wonderful. But at this point, it's
| still a Linux for enthusiasts. It's not a Linux that I can see, for
| now, being cost competitive for resellers.
`----
http://desktoplinux.com/news/NS7391754441.html
====
Subject: [News] Binary Blobs Hurt Xorg Development, AIGLX, XGL
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:46:22 +0100
X.org, distributors, and proprietary modules
,----[ Quote ]
| X11R7.1 (also known as X.org 7.1) was released back in May. It contains
| a number of useful new features, better 3D performance on a number of
| video adapters, and tons of fixes. It is, in general, the platform that
| X users probably want to be using. This release is not as widely used as
| it could be, however, and the associated story illustrates one of the
| costs of proprietary modules.
|
| One of the developments merged into 7.1 was the AIGLX project, dedicated
| to the important goal of providing better eye candy for Linux users
| worldwide. Since this code had gone into the X.org mainline, the
| Fedora-based AIGLX developers decided that there was no reason to continue
| to maintain their own version. So the Fedora AIGLX repository stopped
| seeing updates; Fedora users wanting to use the current AIGLX code could
| get it straight from X.org 7.1.
`----
http://lwn.net/Articles/195351/
====
Subject: [News] Top Software Solutions Provider Joins Linux Program
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:49:54 +0100
Fineos joins IBM's Chiphopper Linux programme
,----[ Quote ]
| FINEOS Corporation, an award-winning provider of software solutions for
| the insurance and banking industries, today announced it has joined IBM's
| Chiphopper program.
`----
http://www.finextra.com/fullpr.asp?id=11035
====
Subject: [News] NVIDIA Releases New Linux Drivers, Boasts Improved Support
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:53:24 +0100
NVIDIA 1.0-8774 Display Drivers
,----[ Quote ]
| The NVIDIA 1.0-8774 drivers finally deliver on X.Org v7.1 support,
| XVideo with the Composite X extension when using X.Org v7.1, and
| improved interaction with newer kernels.
`----
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=535&num=1
====
Subject: [News] Novell's SUSE Linux Targetted at Indian Market
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:55:36 +0100
SUSE Linux Goes Desi
,----[ Quote ]
| Commenting on this, Revathi Kasturi, managing director, Novell West
| Asia, said The localization will give a great boost to the e-Government
| initiatives by the State and Central governments in the project areas
| of community kiosks, as well as the ongoing education initiatives by both
| the Private and Public Sectors.
`----
http://www.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=75395&cat_id=580
====
Subject: [News] New 3.5G Phone is Powered by GNU/Linux
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 06:57:01 +0100
Linux powers DoCoMo's first 3.5G phone
,----[ Quote ]
| Japan's largest mobile operator will power-up a 3.5G network next week,
| and launch a Linux-based phone capable of using it. The N902iX phone,
| supplied by NEC, offers features most U.S. and European users can only
| dream of -- such as 3.6Mbit/s peak download speeds.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3110082615.html
====
Subject: [News] Windows Vista Performs Poorly on Visuals
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:00:46 +0100
XGL: Up And Beyond!
,----[ Quote ]
| There's Linux, there's OsX and there's Windows at the very bottom.
| On this site you'll be able to see each OS in action, showing some of
| their visual capabilities, and XGL pretty much kicks ass! It's just too
| laughable, Microsoft has been developing Vista since 2001, and this is
| what they got in the visual compartment, a 3D way of tabbing programs.
| Hurray! This is neat and all, but XGL is so much more, and the really
| funny thing is, that Vista requires "state of the art" hardware, at
| least fairly new hardware, for it to operate with its"?graphics". Whereas
| XGL can be run on low-end machines, pretty much not eating any resources,
| and yet its so much farther up and beyond anything in Vista's visual
| range it's almost not to believe.
|
| It's been a good run Microsoft, it really has, but I think it may be time
| to retire. Commercial/proprietary software has minimal or no place in the
| future of computing, deal with it.
`----
http://justpretending.net/wp/2006/08/14/xgl-up-and-beyond/
====
Subject: [News] Public Service Announcement Directed at Windows Users
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:04:14 +0100
It's All About Choice
,----[ Quote ]
| Are you stuck rebooting your servers again and again, spending almost as
| much time restarting your applications as you do using them? Are you
| running Windows without the technical support you need?
`----
http://www.novell.com/linux/windowstolinux/publicservice/
Also see:
http://www.novell.com/linux/windowstolinux/
====
Subject: [News] University Courses Made Cheaper Owing to OSS/CC
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:15:43 +0100
Intro to Statistics course costs vs. open source / creative commons / remix
education
,----[ Quote ]
| Here is the research on open source/free resources for statistics. It
| turns out that all the material and tools we will go over in my Intro
| to Stats course this fall (2006) is available for free, as opposed to
| the apx. $180 for SAS license and new textbook, or even $150 for SAS
| license and used textbook. Even considering that the textbook could be
| sold back for half-price, the cost to a student is still $105.
`----
http://jeffmcneill.com/2006/08/23/intro-to-statistics-course-costs-vs-open-source-creative-commons-remix-education-alternatives/
http://tinyurl.com/enr38
Yesterday I compiled Octave, as an alternative to MATLAB. It mimics its
functionality and is GPL'd, so you can take your work with you. No strings
(pricey licenses) attached which lock and restrict the user.
====
Subject: [News] Open Source is Winning, But Who Loses?
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:20:00 +0100
Who are the losers, now that open source is winning?
,----[ Quote ]
| In sum, we still have a few years of "peaceful" coexistence with
| proprietary software.
|
| [...]
|
| Open source, for its part, will continue to trod the open source and
| open standards road, and will provide maximum choice, performance, and
| cost advantage. Products will naturally integrate well with each other
| because that is the logos of open source. Customers who buy into this
| ecosystem will truly be buying into a bazaar - a free market - and will
| get the best of breed, and will retain control over their IT in the
| process.
|
| Long term, you can see whom I think will win. It's open source, and by
| a landslide.
`----
http://weblog.infoworld.com/openresource/archives/2006/08/who_are_the_los.html
====
Subject: [News] Windows Hardware Drivers (Intel Wi-Fi) Hog Memory
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:30:42 +0100
Intel Wi-Fi software hogs PC memory
,----[ Quote ]
| A software update for Intel wireless hardware is faulty and can hog
| PC memory, Intel acknowledged Thursday. A fix is due on Friday.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6109478.html
Article does not mention operating system, but the link to Intel clarifies
everything.
====
Subject: [News] Trolltech to Take Advantage of Vista Failures, Woo Programmers
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:51:37 +0100
Trolltech Aims to Attract Windows Developers
,----[ Quote ]
| With multiple delays and dropped components for its next-generation Vista
| operating system, Microsoft Latest News about Microsoft has stirred up
| plenty of confusion and criticism among software developers.
|
| Now other software makers, such as Qt cross-platform development
| framework provider Trolltech, are trying to take advantage of what
| they describe as "developer alienation" due to Microsoft's move from
| older application programming interfaces (APIs) to the new Vista
| framework.
`----
http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/52535.html
====
Subject: [News] Company Brings Linux to Dentists, Contributes to OSS
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:41:44 +0100
French company embraces, contributes to free software
,----[ Quote ]
| While adapting Debian and KDE for use with touchscreen hardware, DOL's
| employees had to do a bit of hacking. In accordance with the GPL, they
| have been returning their code to the community, and recently launched a
| Web site detailing the various patches they have contributed. The site
| lists code for Kontact, Konqueror, KDM, and Ghostscript.
`----
http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/11/1832232
====
Subject: [News] Linux Live CDs for Healthcare
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:45:17 +0100
Bioknoppix and Medical Live CDs
,----[ Quote ]
| While researching a review article on free/libre and open source
| in healthcare, I came across some examples of attempts to
| integrate/bundle GNU/Linux with other health-related applications.
`----
http://www.linuxmednews.com/1156425999
====
Subject: [News] Most Prominent TV Makers Settle on Linux for TV Standards
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:48:29 +0100
TV Makers to Collaborate on Internet TV Standards
,----[ Quote ]
| The new sets reportedly will be based on the Linux operating system.
`----
http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/52614.html
====
Subject: [News] Massachusetts' Move to OpenDocument is Definite, OO.org Preparing for Adoption
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:06:10 +0100
Massachusetts reaffirms move to ODF
,----[ Quote ]
| Massachusetts, which in 2005 became the first U.S. state to commit to
| using ODF (Open Document Format) in all its offices, has reportedly
| reaffirmed that the policy will indeed begin on Jan. 1, 2007.
|
| Microsoft's accessibility software doesn't work natively on
| OpenOffice.org. However, a set of new plug-ins is being developed that
| will solve the problem, Galli reports.
`----
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS6922470300.html
Also see:
The New Mass ODF Target Date is June 2007
,----[ Quote ]
| I now have a copy of the letter that Massachusetts CIO has sent
| to representatives of the community of people with disabilities, and
| there are a number of details that I was very pleased to see.
`----
http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20060824194100137
====
Subject: [News] 20 Open Source Companies Boast Size, Investments
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:12:55 +0100
Open Source 20
,----[ Quote ]
| Red Herring profiles a score of innovative startups that are championing
| open source.
`----
http://www.redherring.com/article.aspx?a=18126
====
Subject: [News] Xara and Linux Make progress
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:15:11 +0100
Xara are pleased to announce the availability of version 0.7 stable.
If you want to see what Xara Xtreme for Linux can do, checkout our huge range
of new screenshots.
http://www.xaraxtreme.org/news/general_news/news_release_-_11th_august_2006.html
http://www.xaraxtreme.org/screenshots.html
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Grows While Proprietary Model Collapses
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:17:29 +0100
The Collapse of Competition
,----[ Quote ]
| At the same time that free and open source software is growing, the old
| proprietary model is collapsing.
|
| [...]
|
| As the Eclipse Foundation notes it's about building alliances. Instead
| of playing FUD games, open source competitors win through hiring project
| committers, by supporting other projects, or by winning endorsements
| from other projects.
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=763
====
Subject: [News] Kerala (Population: 31 million) Still Supports Move to FLOSS
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 08:21:14 +0100
Kerala logs on to free software
,----[ Quote ]
| It's the free software mantra that is doing the rounds in the state
| these days. When free software guru Richard Stallman came calling, he
| too supported the idea.
`----
http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?leftnm=8&subLeft=1&chklogin=N&autono=102659&tab=r
http://tinyurl.com/nyu7e
In older news (June 2006):
Kerala to be FOSS destination
,----[ Quote ]
| "Offers of pre-loaded Linux operating system could yield good
| hardware sales margins," says PK Harikrishnan, president, Kochi-based All
| Kerala Computer Manufacturer and Dealers Association.
`----
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=131495
====
Subject: [News] Open Source is Losing, But Who Cares?
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 09:28:40 -0400
It's not about winning, which it can't, it's about telling
astounding stories of OSS gains, inroads and advances.
It's about hype and spin with the emphasis on overtaking
Microsoft and THEIR failures.while its' own failures are
sent to the background.
It's about who is the best liar and OSS is winning in that race.
But who cares. OSS is not relevant in any major endeavor.
Whether it loses or wins is not going to cause any market
fluctuation either way. Is that good news?
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Advantage Through Differntiation
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:54:12 +0100
>From a blog I have been reading regularly for years...
ForgEdit - Consider Making it Open Source
,----[ Quote ]
| I think he should consider making ForgEdit an open source project. By
| doing that, he is able to both differentiate himself from the existing
| products on price and also would likely gain a few contributors that
| might help ForgEdit catch up to the others on features.
`----
http://www.alexking.org/blog/2006/08/22/forgedit/
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Internet Explorer Torments Web Developers
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:56:57 +0100
"Fun" IE Bug
,----[ Quote ]
| That's 2 hours of my life I'll never get back - thanks IE.
`----
http://www.alexking.org/blog/2006/08/24/fun-ie-bug/
A familiar story. Then you wonder why Web designers/developers hate IE with
passion.
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Office New UI Concept Conceded, to Look and Behave Like Open Office 2
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:06:05 +0100
Microsoft winds back Office ribbon
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft has modified its new interface for Office 2007 after complaints
| from beta testers that the 'ribbon' system took up too much space on
| screen.
`----
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/software/soa/Microsoft_winds_back_Office_ribbon/0,2000061733,39267508,00.htm
A lot can be said about changed that force upgrades (i.e. spendings). Office
2007, much like Windows Vista, will have customers looks elsewhere, at more
dynamic projects. OpenOffice supports standards far better, is free, Free,
and cross-platform.
====
Subject: [News] Linux Reigns in Robotics, Not Just Servers and Supercomputing
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:16:50 +0100
The Automatic Cat Feeder
,----[ Quote ]
| The computer runs Ubuntu Linux, so a crontab entry controls the
| scheduling. The script calls eject /mnt/cdrom to open the CD Rom,
| delays, and eject ?t /mnt/cdrom to close it again. It actually does
| this twice, as I found it made the portions more consistent.
`----
http://www.leeholmes.com/blog/DIYCatFeederAndWaterDispenser.aspx
Do-It-Yourself Robots with Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| My goal is to share what can be done with inexpensive, easy-to-obtain
| parts and our favorite operating system. Linux is loved by tinkerers
| and hobbyists, and an exciting and challenging extension to this line
| of tinkering is to add motors and sensors and autonomy. Like peanut
| butter and jelly, Linux and robotics are a perfect combination!
`----
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9103
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Board Member Jumps Ship!
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:20:28 +0100
Korologos to Retire From Microsoft Board
,----[ Quote ]
| ...Ann McLaughlin Korologos, chairman of the RAND Corp. board of
| trustees, has decided not to seek re-election to Microsoft's board
| of directors at the company's 2006 shareholder meeting.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060825/laf017.html?.v=70
====
Subject: [News] At Beta 2, Vista Can't Yet Cope With Games
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:27:33 +0100
Microsoft doesn't yet play games on Vista
,----[ Quote ]
| The firm has its Vista logo all over its boothm, but all the machines that
| we investigated were running Windows XP.
|
| Obviously, it is still not the right time to switch to Vista as things
| might be not stable for current games. We hope that they can meet the
| early 2007 schedules.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33924
Who would have thought that SP3 would be less preferable than SP2? Maybe
Microsoft should adopt the Debian model and have "testing" and "stable". Or
Fedora and RHEL (the infamous myth). Production quality has always been
unsatisfactory as XP is still exposed (dozens of critical patches), even
after 5 years 'in the wild'.
====
Subject: [News] Symantec Takes Microsoft to Court
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 15:34:02 +0100
Gloves come off in Symantec, Microsoft dispute
,----[ Quote ]
| The company is also taking on Microsoft outside the courtroom. Its
| security research arm has published three reports critiquing security
| in Vista. Also, Symantec has complained that a feature in the 64-bitv
| ersions of Windows XP and Windows Vista stifles innovation in the
| security space.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6109413.html
====
Subject: [News] Mandrake/Mandriva Gets Excellent Package Manager
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:00:04 +0100
RPMDrake v3 Beta: Way To Go!
,----[ Quote ]
| Mandriva Cooker shows good signs for a future successful Mandriva 2007 --
| at least in the package management department.
|
| No more need to choose PCLinuxOS for its Synaptic! Unexpectedly well
| designed, RPMDrake v3 will allow you to install and remove packages from
| the same place!
`----
http://beranger.org/index.php?article=1491
====
Subject: [News] 10/10 for SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 from Novell
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:03:54 +0100
One month with SLED 10
,----[ Quote ]
| Novell gets a 10/10 from me for this distro, and given the current
| environment in the OS world, I think SLED 10 is 'desktop ready'. Good
| work Novell/Suse, here's to the next release!
`----
http://linux-noob.com/review/suse/sled10/
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Patent Harbours Tiered Web?
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:06:33 +0100
Microsoft's 'Naughty or Nice' Patent Application
,----[ Quote ]
| "Those of you worried about Microsoft's stance on network neutrality
| won't find much comfort in the software giant's just-published patent
| application..."
`----
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/25/0555222&from=rss
====
Subject: [News] Senate Calls to Choose Open Source in Healthcare
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:10:39 +0100
VistA(r) News-Aug. 18, 2006-Senate Calls for DoD to Adopt VistA(r)/VistA(r)
at LinuxWorld.
,----[ Quote ]
| On July 21st, the Senate Committee on Appropriations released a proposed
| funding bill asking DoD to adopt VA's VistA(r) electronic health record
| software as their EHR platform.
`----
http://groups.google.com/group/Hardhats/browse_frm/thread/7f274d6f147c4a1d
Another win for Open Source software that promotes Free exchange of data.
====
Subject: [News] Novell Starts Linux Promotion Tour
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:13:32 +0100
Novell Rolls Out Suse Linux Enterprise 10 Show
,----[ Quote ]
| "Novell is investing heavily in training people to understand open
| source technology, so that they can provide ongoing support," saidKasturi,
| adding, "Linux is being adopted at an accelerated pace throughout
| the world."
|
| Commenting on the popularity of open source in a country like India,
| Sandeep Menon, director-sales, Novell India, said, "Linux technology is
| very pervasive. Hence, to ascertain the exact number of users is
| extremely difficult. But, according to an IDC report, over 60 percent
| users have deployed Linux in some form or the other. Its acceptability
| is increasing."
`----
http://www.channeltimes.com/channeltimes/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=75416&cat_id=819
====
Subject: [News] Linux Appeals to Experts in Post-Production Work
Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 16:19:18 +0100
Autodesk Introduces New Versions of its Visual Effects and Editing Systems
,----[ Quote ]
| "....The speed of Flame 2007 on Linux and its ability to work in both
| television and film resolutions has also continued to amaze us."
| Autodesk visual effects and editing systems enable artists to work
| in multiple standard- and high-definition resolutions, including NTSC,
| SECAM, PAL, HD, 2K and 4K.
|
| [...]
|
| As well, Autodesk's editing and visual effects systems take full advantage
| of multi-core, 64-bit Linux workstations, providing greater interactivity
| and speed. Wim de Rick, post-production supervisor at Belgium-based ACE
| Digital House, commented, "With Autodesk Smoke 2007 running on Linux,
| projects can be rendered much faster than before, and since Linux is
| cheaper to run than traditional platforms, management is happy too. Our
| clients love Smoke because it's a multi-functional machine that can getm
| any different jobs done in very little time. It offers a win-win
| situation for everyone."
`----
http://www.linuxelectrons.com/News/Application/Autodesk_Introduces_New_Versions_of_its_Visual_Effects_and_Editing_Systems
There are other such companies that take the same approach by prelaoding
Linux < http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/7818/ >. It's simply more suitable
to this work.
====
Subject: [News] Gartner: Vista Last of its Kind, "Unsustainable" Monolithic Windows Forced to Change
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:15:42 +0100
Windows Vista the last of its kind
,----[ Quote ]
| Vista will be the last version of Windows that exists in its current,
| monolithic form, according to Gartner.
|
| Instead, the research firm predicts, Microsoft will be forced to
| migrate Windows to a modular architecture tied together through
| hardware-supported virtualisation. "The current, integrated architecture
| of Microsoft Windows is unsustainable - for enterprises and for
| Microsoft," wrote Gartner analysts Brian Gammage, Michael Silver and
| David Mitchell Smith.
`----
http://www.techworld.com/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=6718
It'll take them a decade to build Singularity (a UNIX/Linux clone/ripoff).
That's excellent news to Apple and Linux enthusiasts.
====
Subject: [News] Encouraging Progress for Linux Flash 9
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 03:28:23 +0100
Might be Released ahead of schedule?
,----[ Quote ]
| What I'm saying here is that we are having a lot of success at the
| high level-- general functionality with major, popular, Flash-based
| sites. What we are turning our attention to now is to make sure all of
| the fine details and specific features are 100% correct. We have a
| gargantuan number of internal tests to validate that every little part
| of the Flash Player works correctly. When one of these tests fails (as
| a number of them currently do), it is considerably simpler to fix that
| test than to wait for the problem to manifest in a much larger SWF in
| the wild.
`----
http://blogs.adobe.com/penguin.swf/2006/08/coarse_detail.html
====
Subject: [News] K3b 1.0 to Get New Themes, KDE-Look Celebrates 5th Birthday (Digest)
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 03:32:42 +0100
Wanted: New Default K3b Theme for 1.0
,----[ Quote ]
| K3b 1.0 is in sight and with it I would like to introduce a new
| default theme.
`----
http://dot.kde.org/1156507290/
5 years (for KDE-look.org)
,----[ Quote ]
| # 2.5 TByte traffic a month.
| # over 35 Million PageImpressions a month.
| # over 80000 unique visitors a day.
| # over 50000 registered contributors.
`----
http://www.kde-look.org/news/index.php?id=239
====
Subject: [News] Linux Celebrates 15th Birthday
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 03:36:22 +0100
What would you like to see most in minix?
Sun, Aug 25 1991 9:57 pm
,----[ Quote ]
| Hello everybody out there using minix -
|
| I'm doing a (free) operating system (just a hobby, won't be big and
| professional like gnu) for 386(486) AT clones. This has been brewing
| since april, and is starting to get ready. I'd like any feedback on
| things people like/dislike in minix, as my OS resembles it somewhat
| (same physical layout of the file-system (due to practical reasons)
| among other things).
|
| I've currently ported bash(1.08) and gcc(1.40), and things seem to work.
| This implies that I'll get something practical within a few months, and
| I'd like to know what features most people would want. Any suggestions
| are welcome, but I won't promise I'll implement them :-)
|
| Linus (torva...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
|
| PS. Yes - it's free of any minix code, and it has a multi-threaded fs.
| It is NOT protable (uses 386 task switching etc), and it probably never
| will support anything other than AT-harddisks, as that's all I have :-(.
`----
http://groups.google.com/group/comp.os.minix/browse_thread/thread/76536d1fb451ac60/b813d52cbc5a044b?lnk=gst&q=&rnum=32#b813d52cbc5a044b
====
Subject: [News] Debian Linux Boots in Under 2 Seconds
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 03:37:32 +0100
Flexible ARM9 SBC boots Linux in 1.69 seconds
,----[ Quote ]
| Technologic Systems is offering a freely downloadable, Debian-based Linux
| OS image said to boot from an SD card in less than two seconds, on the
| company's ARM9-based SBC (single-board computer).
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8933335475.html
====
Subject: [News] Linux for Digital Audio Professionals
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 03:41:12 +0100
Should you use Ubuntu for your Digital Audio Workstation?
,----[ Quote ]
| Using Ubuntu, a popular, easy and well rounded flavor of Linux, you can
| make yourself a really great performing Digital Audio Workstation for
| nothing more than the cost of a computer, and chances are you already have
| a computer than can handle it. I will go over how you can go about this,
| as well as the pros and cons of doing so.
`----
http://www.soundramblings.com/2006/08/25/should-you-use-ubuntu-for-your-digital-audio-workstation/
====
Subject: [News] Linux Comes to the Desktop, Ball in Novell's Court
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 03:48:50 +0100
Linux on the desktop - Much relies on Novell. Can they make it happen?
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux has always been the domain of the ultra-geek that loves to figure
| out how things work and loves knowing things that make most people's
| eyes cross.
|
| But times, they are a changin'. Let's look at some factors. (reduced list)
|
| 1. Ease of use
| 2. The business of the OS
| 3. Applications
| 4. Security
| 5. Unexpected factors
|
| [...]
|
| So, will Linux make some more headway on the desktop level, with home users
| and business users? Yes, I believe it will.
`----
http://www.computerworld.com/blogs/node/3324
This title seems to neglect great forces such as Canonical, Red Hat and IBM.
But it's {just a blog}^tm after all...
====
Subject: [News] GPL'd Beer to Become "Linux of Beers"?
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 04:23:26 +0100
Free Beer for Geeks
,----[ Quote ]
| Vjores Øl hopes that the beer "perhaps one day becomes the Linux of beers."
`----
http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,68144,00.html
====
Subject: [News] Vietnam Government Chooses Open Source, Borrows Intel's Hand
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 04:15:56 +0100
Vietnam's Communist Party gets help from Intel
,----[ Quote ]
| Over the next three years, the lab will oversee the installation
| of open-source software on 27,000 PCs running Intel processors, the
| chip maker said.
|
| The Communist Party's decision to use open-source software matches a
| wider Vietnamese government effort. In 2004, the government announced
| plans to promote the use of open-source software in a bid to reduce its
| IT costs and promote the development of the local software industry.
`----
http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/08/25/HNvietnamintel_1.html?source=rss&url=www.infoworld.com/article/06/08/25/HNvietnamintel_1.html
http://tinyurl.com/zz3s8 (same as above)
====
Subject: [News] Free Open Source Software in Sri Lanka
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 04:20:20 +0100
Sri Lanka Builds Software and Organizations at ApacheCon Asia
,----[ Quote ]
| The Apache Software Foundation works on the principle that a good
| community will make good software. Open source organizations are taking
| root in Sri Lanka, a hotbed of Apache coding.
|
| [...]
|
| This conference was locally organized by the Lanka Software Foundation,
| the Lanka Linux Users' Group and The Linux Center, all of which are
| non-profit organizations promoting the Sri Lankan FOSS community.
|
| Sri Lanka, overcoming its smallness and leveraging its expat communitya
| nd global focus, has been working on some innovative projects. Thesei
| nclude FOSS-School, a unique event catering to students, which paves the
| way for the introduction and use of FOSS at the grassroots level.
`----
http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2006/082106-apachecon.html?page=1
====
Subject: [News] Software Pirate Gets 6 Years in Jail - Another Reason to Choose Linux/FOSS
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 04:42:07 +0100
Software pirate sentenced to six years in prison
,----[ Quote ]
| Meanwhile, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce also applauded Ferrer's
| sentencing. David Hirschmann, senior vice president of the Chamber, said
| it "sends a strong signal to pirates and counterfeiters that the
| government, with substantial support from the business community, will hunt
| you down and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
`----
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B9189C3B2%2D7138%2D4019%2DB500%2D8B030DE690CE%7D&source=blq%2Fyhoo&dist=yhoo&siteid=yhoo
http://tinyurl.com/edf3u
Finally, pro-Linux FUD.
====
Subject: [News] GNOME Aero/Vista-lookalike Theme Gets New Revision
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 04:01:56 +0100
NovumOS for Linux is here!
,----[ Quote ]
| Also included:
| - Xfwm4 theme
| - Compiz theme
| - Two metacity theme
| - GDM theme
| - Splash screen
| - 3 walpapper from original author...
`----
http://www.gnome-look.org/content/show.php?content=44563
Screenshots on page
====
Subject: [News] What It Takes to Make Open Source More Widespread
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 04:06:36 +0100
Six barriers to open source adoption
,----[ Quote ]
| We all know about the benefits of open source software in lowering total
| cost of ownership, offering more choice and the increasing quality and
| functionality of the code. The rise of Linux as an edge server and
| now migrating toward the data center is clear validation that the open
| source model has taken root.
`----
http://techupdate.zdnet.com/techupdate/stories/main/Six_barriers_to_open_source_adoption.html
====
Subject: [News] WebObjects Open Sourced
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:08:04 +0100
WebObjects 5.4 going open source
,----[ ]
| When Apple releases WebObjects 5.4 next year, it will also open source
| much of the database solution's code, cementing the software's role
| and future at Apple.
|
| [...]
|
| Apple hinted at its intentions to open source part of WebObjects 5.4
| at private sessions during the company's Worldwide Developer's Conference.A
| public announcement of version 5.4 is expected after Leopard ships.
`----
http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0608webobjects.html
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Platforms Promote Innovation
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:10:11 +0100
Open source or proprietary: Which is the ideal platform for innovation?
,----[ Quote ]
| Put bluntly, the price for Oracle/IBM/SugarCRM is much more attractive
| to end-users if it's running on an open source platform, which gives
| these companies ample incentive to co-invest in its development.
|
| This would just be idle academia if it hadn't been shown to work in
| many instances, with the number (and importance) of these instances
| growing all the time. Linux. Apache. Eclipse. Xen. MySQL (SAP's investment
| of money and resources, among others'). Etc. Open source gives third
| parties the means and the incentives to innovate on others' platforms,b
| e it an operating system, database, content management system, or
| whatever.
|
| No proprietary platform can match that.
`----
http://weblog.infoworld.com/openresource/archives/2006/08/open_source_or.html
====
Subject: [News] Norway's IT Minister Has an Open Source Agenda
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:12:56 +0100
The IT minister visits eZ to discuss Open Source
,----[ Quote ]
| Discussions included the use of Open Source software in the public sector
| and the importance of open standards in the public and governmental
| domains. Grande Røys pointed out that the Norwegian public sector has
| already adopted Open Source software in many areas, and that they are
| now investigating how they can accelerate the use of Open Source and
| open standards in the public sector. The commitment and technical
| understanding shown by the Minister and her team indicates that open
| technologies will become an increasingly integral part of Norway's
| public sector IT strategy.
`----
http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/25/157244
====
Subject: [News] GroundWork Finds Success in Open Source Software Distribution
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:17:25 +0100
GroundWork Open Source Breaks Ground On New Channel Partner Program
,----[ Quote ]
| Determined to herald its open-source product as the alternative to costly
| IT management platforms, GroundWork Open Source has embarked on an
| aggressive campaign to recruit channel partners.
|
| [...]
|
|
| GroundWork Monitor Professional bundles free, open-source software into a
| single GUI, Barbagallo said.
|
| [...]
|
| "Besides, most enterprises have already accepted the fact that open
| source will be a major part of their organization," Gray said
`----
http://www.crn.com/sections/ibm/ibm.jhtml?articleId=192204925
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft No Longer a Good Investment
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:32:21 +0100
Would Microsoft make a good private equity play?
,----[ Quote ]
| Consider, the FT says:
|
| <snip quotes/>
|
| In other words, gut the company, take the money and run.
|
| [...]
|
| Gradual change is already well underway. The end is nigh for Microsoft's
| total domination of the IT industry. That was confirmed by Bill Gates'
| pre-announced departure from day-to-day involvement in the company
| earlier this summer.
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ratcliffe/?p=170
====
Subject: [News] Peak Performance Doubles in Cray's Linux Supercomputer
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:35:57 +0100
TN Supercomputer Doubles Performance
,----[ Quote ]
| The most powerful supercomputer available for general scientific research
| in the United States has undergone an upgrade that's doubled its peak
| performance.
`----
http://www.topix.net/content/ap/0348117876239545145621209521992668972191
http://www.cray.com/products/xt3/specifications.html
====
Subject: [News] Linux Kiosks Save the Day
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 05:45:17 +0100
Linux kiosks come to the aid of natural disaster victims
,----[ Quote ]
| When faced with the aftermath of a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina
| or the Boxing Day tsunami, you might assume that having Internet access
| would be the last thing on victims' or rescuers' minds. But Steve Hargadon
| of TechnologyRescue.com found out that his public Web kiosks were an answer
| to prayers for people affected by Katrina, Rita, and most recently,
| Cyclone Larry.
`----
http://applications.linux.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/16/1949219&from=rss
====
Subject: [News] Webroot: 9 in 10 Computers is Being Spied On
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:00:13 +0100
Nine in 10 PCs infected with spyware
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2163006/nine-ten-pcs-infected-spyware
Sounds about right. Assuming Windows has a 90% market share on the desktop,
that makes all Windows machines spyware: WGA, Redmond's eavesdropping, back
doors to access and bogus encryption (governments are said to hold the
master keys).
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Software Adoption in Britain
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:03:40 +0100
The state of the nation: open source in the UK
,----[ Quote ]
| How is the UK doing in terms of open source adoption? The temptation is
| to say it "could do better" but that would perhaps be unfair. There are
| clearly a large number of open source projects on the go, and while these
| are not always translated into deployments at this stage, the tide is
| rising. In particular it will be interesting to read Becta's assessment
| of Microsoft's licensing for schools in comparison to open source
| alternatives. Given its assessment of potential TCO savings and approval
| of open source, it would be easy to assume that open source will become
| the way forward. Things are rarely that simple, however.
`----
http://www.businessreviewonline.com/os/archives/2006/08/the_state_of_th.html
====
Subject: [News] Commission Advocates Open Source for the Future of Higher Education
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:13:12 +0100
Open Source and the Commission on Higher Education Report
,----[ Quote ]
| "The Commission encourages the creation of incentives to promote
| the development of open-source and open-content projects at universities
| and The Commission encourages the creation of incentives to promote the
| development of open-source and open-content projects at universities
| and colleges across the United States, enabling the open sharing of
| educational materials from a variety of institutions, disciplines,
| and educational perspectives. Such a portal could stimulate innovation,
| and serve as the leading resource for teaching and learning. New
| initiatives such as OpenCourseWare, the Open Learning Initiative, the
| Sakai Project, and the Google Book project hold out the potential of
| providing universal access both to general knowledge and to higher
| education."
`----
http://www.situativity.org/archives/000223.html
====
Subject: [News] Another Vendor Foresees The Impact of Open Source Software
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:16:02 +0100
Are OPAC Vendors Days Numbered?
,----[ Quote ]
| He says the combination of open source and the reluctance of vendors to
| keep their systems up to date will result result in the demise of
| significant number of commerical library vendors in the next five years.
| The poor performance and outdated products of commercial OPAC products is
| due largely to the disconnect between developers in software firms and
| their customers. This should be an advantage to library developers, and
| the timing to look at open source networks/incubators is ripe."
`----
http://geek.lisnews.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/25/1816212&from=rss
====
Subject: [News] IT Manager Chooses Linux for Everything
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:21:37 +0100
IT Profile: A Linux Lovin' IT Manager
,----[ Quote ]
| Are there any limits to Darby's affection for open source?
|
| Probably not. "I think Linux?s potential is massive," he says. "I don't
| think it's really been reached yet, especially in the small business. You
| just can't beat it."
`----
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/3628431
====
Subject: [News] Red Hat Brings Linux to Banks and Financial Services
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:24:11 +0100
Nucleus Software partners Red Hat
,----[ Quote ]
| Red Hat Inc. today announced that Nucleus Software has joined Red Hat's
| Independent Software Vendor (ISV) partner ecosystem
|
| Nucleus Software is a provider of software solutions for the banking
| and financial services industry. The applications from Nucleus now
| certified on Red Hat Enterprise Linux are FinnOne Customer Acquisition
| System (CAS), FinnOne Loans Management Systems and FinnOne Collections.
`----
http://www.ciol.com/content/developer/Linux/2006/106082301.asp
====
Subject: [News] Another Single-board Computer Runs Linux
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:32:32 +0100
Fanless PC/104 SBC runs Linux on Geode LX
,----[ Quote ]
| Aewin is shipping a "feature rich" PC/104-Plus SBC (single-board computer)
| based on an AMD Geode LX800 processor... The PM-6100 appears to fully
| support Linux 2.6, and is also supported with beta 2.4 support.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9843804074.html
====
Subject: [News] Open Source EnterpriseDB Reaches Oracle Compatibility
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:52:05 +0100
New Open-Source Database Touts Oracle Compatibility
,----[ Quote ]
| An open-source competitor is zeroing in on Oracle's customer base--and
| it's not the popular and well-known MySQL open-source database. It's a
| relative newcomer called EnterpriseDB Advanced Server.
`----
http://www.embedded.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192300323
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Diet - Good Riddance to Bad Rubbish
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 06:58:28 +0100
Leaving the World Behind
,----[ Quote ]
| It's been a rough week. The next 6 months of my working life will
| involve getting my company off the Microsoft diet and onto Open Source;
| in the meantime, it's time to lift that poisoned chalice and chug-a-lug.
|
| [...]
|
| Admittedly, these are extreme circumstances, when Microsoft is not just
| bad, it's hideous...
`----
http://www.linuxextremist.com/?p=95
====
Subject: [News] Rolling Customised Linux Distributions - The Next Best Thing?
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 07:06:54 +0100
Swiss developers start rolling Your Own Linux Distribution
,----[ Quote ]
| In the works now is a live CD for the tourist office of the town of
| Oberwald in the Swiss Alps. "Its primary purpose is to give tourists a
| slide show with pictures of the area," Rosenkraenzer says. "We're
| thinking about doing the same thing for some other towns, such as Zermatt."
|
| Rosenkraenzer charges about $81 per hour for development, but offers a
| 50% rebate if the customer chooses to release the work under the GNU
| General Public License (GPL). "We'll do the work for free for open
| source projects," he says. "So far nobody has made use of that offer,
| but I think that's because nobody knows about it."
`----
http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/18/1913209
rPath wants to put RHAT and NOVL out of business
,----[ Quote ]
| Instead of worrying about which applications run on which operating
| systems, wouldn't it be better if each application came with its own
| operating system already attached?
`----
http://asay.blogspot.com/2006/08/rpath-wants-to-put-rhat-and-novl-out.html
I suspect that it's another Red Hat spinoff developed the idea of
applications that are wrapped with Linux thus just require hardware, rather
than an O/S. Multitasking becomes an interesting issue, but why not just
have a browser that runs a Web-based O/S? Google/YouOS? Maybe Pen Drive O/S
instead...?
====
Subject: [News] Customising GNOME to Resemble Other Platforms
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 17:41:50 +0100
Vista + Ubuntu = Vubuntu
,----[ Quote ]
| In the last 1 month, that I have been associated with Ubuntu I have had
| many changes done to the look and feel of Ubuntu. First it was brown to
| blue, Ubuntu to Blubuntu! Then for a short period of time I had Mac's look
| and right now I have Vista's look. I'm simply loving it. This is a short
| tutorial on how to make Ubuntu look like Vista.
`----
http://teen.wordpress.com/2006/08/26/vista-ubuntu-vubuntu/
====
Subject: [News] Clarification on Open Source and Proprietary in Opensuse
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 17:59:52 +0100
Propietary Software and openSUSE
,----[ Snippet ]
| I do hate beeing forced to use exactly one tool to do my job - this is
| some kind of monopoly - and prefer a good competition in the market place.
|
| I have the choice to buy proprietary software and/or help improving
| open source one. I would like everybody to have at least the same choice
| with kernel drivers - the chance to run an open source driver on all of
| your hardware.
`----
http://www.novell.com/coolblogs/?p=489
The post as a whole raises interesting questions. I only quoted a small
fragment.
====
Subject: [News] iRex Uses GNU/Linux
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:03:53 +0100
Device Profile: iRex iLiad mobile eBook reader
,----[ Quote ]
| iRex used Linux and an electronic paper display (EPD) to build a
| portable reading device available now for personal and
| business-to-business applications. The iLiad's paper display "reads
| just like paper, and is perceived as such by the human eye," the
| company says.
`----
http://linuxdevices.com/articles/AT9929449485.html
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Software Reaches Dentists (PING NESSUNO)
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:11:31 +0100
(pinged for the photo, as you once made such a request)
,----[ Quote ]
| MySQL is a very powerful, very stable database running on millions of
| computers worldwide.
|
| It gives you extensive features that, until recently, were only available
| in databases costing tens of thousands of dollars.
|
| [...]
|
| Using open source software is the only way out of vendor lock because
| anyone has the freedom to support the software, to make improvements to
| it, and to resell it.
|
| Open Dental will always belong to the entire dental community.
|
| [...]
|
| Not just some of your data, but ALL of it is open (still very secure),
| available to other programs.
|
| Plan for the future and use a database that is built on open standards,
| not one that is closed and proprietary.
`----
http://www.open-dent.com/
French dental clinics already use Debian <
http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/11/1832232 >, according to some
recent news.
====
Subject: [News] $100 Linux Laptop (CM1) is Improved, Gets a Name
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:24:27 +0100
OLPC Gets a New Name, New Features
,----[ Quote ]
| "The laptop will now come with a 400 MHz AMD processor, 512 Megs of
| Flash storage, an SD card slot, mic and headphone jacks, a built in
| camera, built-in wireless, and an 8-inch LCD at a 1280x900
| resolution."
`----
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/26/002217
====
Subject: [News] Playstation 3: So Powerful Scientists Want to Have It
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 18:32:53 +0100
Folding@Home on the PS3: the Cure@PS3 project
,----[ Quote ]
| Now in 2006, we are looking forward to another major advance in
| capabilities. This advance utilizes the new Cell processor in Sony's
| PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) to achieve performance previously only possible
| on supercomputers. With this new technology (as well as new advances
| with GPUs), we will likely be able to attain performance on the 100
| gigaflop scale per computer.
`----
http://folding.stanford.edu/FAQ-PS3.html
The PS3 is running Linux.
====
Subject: [News] Governments That Betray Open Source and Linux (Digest)
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 19:10:28 +0100
Owning The Future - Govt Criticised At Open Source Convention
,----[ Quote ]
| Innovation tends to happen in small groups, and big companies build their
| businesses around them. Later V. Ponaraj, Director (Technology
| Initiatives), Office of the President of India waxed ineloquently about the
| initiatives taken by the Government of India to support and adopt Open
| Source, only to be shot down during the Q&A.
`----
http://www.contentsutra.com/21986
Becta, WAG and OSS - a missed opportunity?
,----[ Quote ]
| In May 2005, Becta released a report on its investigations into the use
| of OSS in schools, which found that open source software can provide a
| cost-effective and efficient solution to schools' IT needs... A small
| company with fantastically dedicated staff that could provide an
| excellent service to a handful of local schools would not have stood a
| chance against the likes of Serco, government's preferred supplier of
| almost anything.
|
| Of course Becta has to cover the whole UK, so can't afford the time to
| assess thousands of local companies, but that just brings us back to
| the question of why it is not helping schools or education authorities
| to do their own specifying and purchasing.
`----
http://www.pingwales.co.uk/2006/08/25/ossbecta.html
====
Subject: [News] VWMare Adds Paravirtualized Linux Support
Date: Sat, 26 Aug 2006 19:12:22 +0100
VMware To Add Support For Paravirtualized Linux OS
,----[ Quote ]
| Paravirtualized Linux operating systems are modified operating systems
| that are specifically optimized to run in a virtual environment. This
| gives customers the choice of running both unmodified and
| paravirtualized operating systems, with or without assistance from
| underlying processor technologies, concurrently on the same
| virtualization platform.
`----
http://in.sys-con.com/read/264895.htm
====
Subject: [News] Ubuntu Linux Makes People Envy
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 05:38:31 +0100
Ubuntu Envy
,----[ Quote ]
| Ubuntu is making some people antsy. Recall that this distro is a
| clever repackaging of Debian designed to make Linux simpler for the
| average person to use while still remaining free and fully open source
| (unlike some other Debian-based consumer distributions such as Linspire
| or Xandros). What's wrong with that, you say? Well, the problem is that
| Ubuntu is getting to be a little bit too successful, so successful in
| fact (it's consistently number one on DistroWatch) that it's beginning
| to cast a shadow on the rest of planet Debian.
`----
http://informationweek.com/software/linuxexperts/blog/archives/2006/08/ubuntu_envy.html;jsessionid=0C0DB2FBNQMDIQSNDLPCKHSCJUNN2JVN
====
Subject: [News] Free Linux CD's (Distro of Your Choice) to Your Home - New Domain
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 05:43:04 +0100
http://www.freelinuxdisk.org/news.php?id=18
,----[ About the project ]
| This project was started after the newly defined mission of
| TheLinuxStore.ca was created. Part of the mission is "To help spread
| Linux and open source software around the world". This project is one way
| we are going to fulfill this mission. There are many places around the
| world that are still on dialup or have restrictive download limits
| which makes downloading Linux time consuming or expensive. We hope
| this project will help these people and many others obtain Linux.
`----
====
Subject: [News] UC-Berkeley Offers Open Source Course
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 05:49:09 +0100
Syllabus for Mitch Kapor's Berkeley course on open source
,----[ Quote ]
| Titled "Open Source Development and Distribution of Digital
| Information: Technical, Economic, Social, and Legal Perspectives", you
| can read the entire syllabus (on a wiki, natch) & follow all the links to
| the class readings.
`----
http://www.downloadsquad.com/2006/08/26/syllabus-for-mitch-kapors-berkeley-course-on-open-source/
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Services Provider Partners with Cisco Learning Institute
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 06:34:32 +0100
Open Source Firm Unicon Extends Multiyear Relationship With CLI
,----[ Quote ]
| Unicon, provider of open source-based technologies and professional
| services for the online campus, today announced the extension of
| its multiyear partnership with the Cisco Learning Institute.
`----
http://in.sys-con.com/read/264887.htm
====
Subject: [News] OpenDocument as Universal Format - Inevitable
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 06:37:26 +0100
The Inevitability of the Universal, Portable Document Format
,----[ Quote ]
| Shane Peterson does a superb & accurate chronological overview of the
| ODF situation in the CommonWealth of Massachusetts in Government
| Technology online...
`----
http://fussnotes.typepad.com/plexnex/2006/08/the_inevitabili.html
====
Subject: [News] The Only Minor Linux Deficiency is Being Addressed
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 07:12:38 +0100
Linux's Diversity As An OS
,----[ Quote ]
| I believe that, in the same way that the right tool should be used for the
| job, the right OS (Operating System) should be used for the job.
|
| [...]
|
| So, perhaps if we used a single binary format then Linux would be
| adopted more widely, as developers of commercial applications would only
| have to concentrate on creating one binary package which would work on
| all compliant Linux distributions, instead of having their DEB (fore
| xample) aliened into another format, which may not install properly,
| and users would not need to scratch their heads when trying to download
| a Linux application.
`----
http://wolphination.com/linux/2006/08/24/linuxs-diversity-as-an-os/#more-100
Here's Novell's solution:
Linux Developers: Check out the Build Service
,----[ Quote ]
| The Build Service lets any open source developer use our build systems
| at Novell to automatically build his/her own packages for SUSE-based
| distributions-as well as Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian and several other
| distros. When your package does not build, you get notified as to why.
| As distro updates occur, your packages get rebuilt. You can even roll your
| own SUSE-based distro. All at no charge.
`----
http://reverendted.wordpress.com/2006/08/03/linux-developers-check-out-the-build-service/
====
Subject: [News] Linux for "Moms and Dads and Kids and Secretaries"
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 18:36:16 +0100
Linspire's Freespire Folds In Proprietary Apps
,----[ Quote ]
| "If we want a bigger army, Linux needs to be used by moms and dads and kids
| and secretaries," said Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony. "Let's get a lot more
| people in this army."
|
| [...]
|
| Some staunch Linux supporters have been critical of Linspire, formerly
| known as Lindows Latest News about Lindows, because it uses Linux to sell
| a commercial OS that mimics Windows and does not offer the root-level
| access, controls and flexibility of other Linux distros.
`----
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Vkg5ILGXz3c426/Linspires-Freespire-Folds-In-Proprietary-Apps.xhtml
====
Subject: [News] Boycott New York Times for Discriminating Against Linux
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 18:42:44 +0100
http://images.linux.com/nyCAMclas.swf
Video proving this. I noticed that quite some time ago, but linux.com goes as
far as demonstrating this. MTV does the same, but then again, MTV is working
hand in hand with Microsoft.
====
Subject: [News] Open Source: Present and Future
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 18:45:56 +0100
OpenSource, is it the future?
,----[ Quote ]
| Many companies are becoming more and more open to Open Source. Microsoft
| has recently invited Mozilla developers to its campus to help port Firefox
| and Thunderbird to Vista, Sun is working hard on OpenSolaris and
| OpenOffice, and there has been a lot of speculation currently about it Open
| Sourcing Java, Linux is closing in on Microsoft market share, and is posing
| a serious threat to Microsoft among server operating systems...
|
| What is the Open Source problem? The answer is rather simple: Little, or
| no revenue. With no capital, a certain application can not be marketed
| properly, probably the reason why Miscrosoft still has a larger market
| share than Linux, why more people use Internet Explorer than Firefox, or
| why more people use Outlook than Thunderbird. Those more used
| applications are better marketed, in fact, some of them come bundled with
| the most popular piece of software, Microsoft Windows. Is that unfair? It
| is, Microsoft put Netscape out of business because of this, in the end,
| they are a monopoly, and they want it all.
`----
http://www.businessclock.com/2006/08/27/opensource-is-it-the-future/
====
Subject: [News] Portland Project: Connecting KDE and GNOME, Not Unifying Them
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 18:50:54 +0100
Here is the misinformed article that started the mess yesterday:
The Portland project: No silver bullet for hairy problem of multiple desktops
,----[ Quote ]
| "Unifying the Linux desktop" is an absurd, monstrous goal; to name it
| your target is to declare your project a silver bullet.
`----
http://applications.linux.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/23/1929240&tid=13
KDE strikes back:
Misconceptions about the Portland Project
,----[ Quote ]
| ...there is quite some difference between doing common stuff in a
| compatible way and removing all differences. i.e. "unifying the
| Linux desktop"
`----
http://www.kdedevelopers.org/node/2288
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Training Videos Leak to Web, Anger Company
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:01:58 +0100
Microsoft Unhappy With Release Of Lighthearted Training Video
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft in the United Kingdom made the 2004 video as a fun way to
| instruct people on how not to act at work. The 37-minute video was only
| for internal use, but somehow got released on the Web.
|
| [...]
|
| Microsoft was trying to determine how the video was released, the
| spokesperson said.
`----
http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192300409
The videos are here:
http://blogs.smh.com.au/mashup/archives//005589.html
These have already been posted to COLA before.
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Claims Victory Over Microsoft's Patent
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:16:16 +0100
Open Source Society claims patent win
,----[ Quote ]
| The society had spent some time researching prior art before lodging
| its appeal in New Zealand, only to discover that a similar objection had
| been lodged in the US.
`----
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/0/E6D44C4600041E39CC2571D4007DF1C8?OpenDocument
====
Subject: [News] The End of Binary Blobs as a Required Component/Necessary Evil
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:20:37 +0100
Binary blobs mean few apps are purely open source
,----[ Quote ]
| Kudos to Intel then for not forcing us to make the choice. Intel
| recently announced fully open-source drivers for its 965 Express graphics
| chip set. The code is available under a combination of the MIT and GNU
| General Public Licences, no strings attached.
|
| Could this be the start of a trend? With AMD acquiring ATI the possibility
| of an arms race between AMD's and Intel's graphics chip divisions seems
| increasingly likely. The benefits of open source for the vendors are
| clear: closer alignment with the Linux market and the ability to leverage
| community development to squash critical flaws such as the exploits that
| recently plagued Intel's wireless drivers. If other vendors follow suit,
| it could be the beginning of a boom time for Linux hardware support.
`----
http://computerworld.co.nz/news.nsf/0/2674209B081F408ECC2571D5000E6D86?OpenDocument
====
Subject: [News] New KDE-based Ditribution for Christians
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:24:56 +0100
GNU/Linux for Christians: Kubuntu-based Ichthux Beta5 is out
,----[ Quote ]
| Developers from the Debian, Ubuntu, and Sword Projects have been
| working since 2005 on Ichthux, a GNU/Linux distribution aimed at
| Christians and ministries.
`----
http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/68324/
A similar and recent concept:
Ubuntu Christian Edition
,----[ Quote ]
| Ubuntu Christian Edition is a free, open source operating system
| geared towards Christians. It is based on the popular Ubuntu Linux. Ubuntui
| s a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both
| community and professional support.
`----
http://www.whatwouldjesusdownload.com/christianubuntu/2006/07/about-ubuntu-christian-edition.html
http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/slideshow.php?release=712&slide=4&title=ubuntu+christian+edition+1.0+screenshots
====
Subject: [News] Brand-New Linux Commercial from Novell
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:36:41 +0100
http://cache.novell.com/cached/video/linuxworld06/sle10_geeko.mpg
http://cache.novell.com/cached/video/linuxworld06/sle10_geeko.ogg
====
Subject: [News] Sunday Linux Advocacy... from Jessica Willis
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 19:41:57 +0100
Grassroots computing
Linux Expo highlights open-source system
,----[ Quote ]
| Curiously, Linux's open-door policy has the benefit of making the
| system incorruptible by the viruses and spyware that plague more mainstream
| operating systems. In fact, expensive virus protection software isn't
| even a necessity for Linux.
|
| "There are a lot of people reading and inspecting Linux's
|
| code all the time," he explained. "They make sure it's not infected.
| They're paranoid, so you don't have to be."
|
| [...]
|
| Currently, only 16 percent of PC users in the United States have Linux,a
| and although that percentage pleases Szmajda and Joe Monti, the club's
| other co-president, those numbers seem woefully small for an operating
| system that is virtually hassle-proof.
|
| "The biggest problem is getting the word out," Monti said. "Change is a
| big hurdle for a lot of people. They get used to Windows and Mac, and
| the interface isn't exactly the same."
|
| Szmajda, who lives in North Adams and works as a Web application
| developer for Biotest Labs, has 15 servers in Virginia powering one ofh
| is personal Web ventures, and they're always worry-free.
|
| Why?
|
| "I can get away with the servers being so far away because they're
| running Linux."
`----
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/headlines/ci_4245848
====
Subject: [News] Internet Explorer - The Long Read Ahead
Date: Sun, 27 Aug 2006 20:44:12 +0100
IE 7 RC1 - better luck with RC2 guys
,----[ Quote ]
| Sometimes I don't know what gets into my head. I saw that the first
| Release Candidate (RC1) of Internet Explorer 7 for Windows XP was rolled
| out today and so of course I ran right out, downloaded and installed it.
|
| Big mistake.
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Orchant/?p=198
The author got the terminology wrong. In MS terminology, RC="Alpha" and
goldmaster="Beta". Service Pack is "RC1".
====
Subject: [News] Vista Security - Worse than XP?
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 05:20:37 +0100
Microsoft bets big on Vista security
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft's Vista developers can't catch a break these days. After years
| of warnings from security researchers that old code in Windows was
| creating security risks, the software giant decided to rewrite key parts
| of the operating system.
|
| The result? Last month, Symantec published a report suggesting all of
| this new code will introduce new security problems.
|
| "The network stack in Windows Vista was rewritten from the ground up.
| In deciding to rewrite the stack, Microsoft has removed a large body of
| tried and tested code and replaced it," Symantec wrote, noting that it
| found vulnerabilities in the Windows Vista networking software.
|
| "Despite the claims of Microsoft developers, the Windows Vista network
| stack as it exist today is less stable than the earlier Windows XP stack,"
| it said after examining a beta release of the software.
|
| After years of being blamed for countless security problems, Microsoft may
| be in a no-win situation.
`----
http://www.arnnet.com.au/index.php/id;15277042;fp;8;fpid;0
====
Subject: [News] GNUgle Invades Microsoft's Turf - Goes Beyond Own Domain
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 05:24:02 +0100
Google offers hosted communications applications
,----[ Quote ]
| Starting Monday, organizations will be able to offer members or
| employees Web-based e-mail, calendar, chat and Web page publishing
| hosted by Google for free.
|
| Google plans to announce on Monday a beta version of Google Apps for
| Your Domain, which includes Gmail with 2 gigabytes of storage, Google
| Calendar, Google Talk and Page Creator.
`----
http://news.com.com/2100-1032_3-6109823.html?part=rss&tag=6109823&subj=news
This will probably have Spreadsheets and Writely when they exit testing.
====
Subject: [News] A Wintroll's Wet Dream
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:10:13 +0100
Windows-loving/Linux-hating vandal
If you break the media, maybe it'll all just go away... NOT
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RpoWKpAL9Q
====
Subject: [News] Only Linux and Open Source Made So-Called Web 2.0 Possible
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:17:36 +0100
'MySQL, Linux powers Web 2.0' - O'Reilly
,----[ Quote ]
| Without Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP many Web 2.0 companies would not
| exist today. This is according to Tim O'Reilly, CEO of O'Reilly Media and
| the person most often credited for coining the term Web 2.0.
`----
http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1125
====
Subject: [News] IBM Targets 8 New Areas to Help Linux and OSS
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:25:04 +0100
IBM announces 'Beyond Linux' strategy
,----[ Quote ]
| IBM is expanding its open source strategy beyond Linux by targeting eight
| new technology areas where it will focus open source attention going
| forward.
`----
http://reseller.co.nz/news.nsf/news/15B12B6AF444943CCC2571D8000F122D
The article is messy, but it's ahead of others (Monday in New-Zealand)
====
Subject: [News] IBM Promotes Open Source, Standards (ODF) and Accessibility in Universities
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:28:01 +0100
IBM Equips Computer Science Students With Skills to Make Software More
Accessible to Disabled Users
,----[ Quote ]
| As part of the program, IBM is also launching a contest that
| challenges students to propose and design open source software for
| people with disabilities. To qualify, their entries must be based on
| a new international standard, called the OpenDocument Format (ODF).
| Familiarity with ODF will be increasingly important, as the format will
| be required by 50 percent of governments and 20 percent of commercial
| organizations by 2010, according to the Gartner.
`----
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=157130
====
Subject: [News] With Pentium 4 and Vista, Could You Even Play Solitaire?
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:38:52 +0100
How S-L-O-W Will Vista Go?
,----[ Quote ]
| The complaints about sluggish performance in Windows Vista keep growing.
| While it's unfair to point to beta software apps -- whatever Microsoft
| wants to call them -- the warning flags are already evident.
|
| [...]
|
| Asato observed that the demo games of Mahjong and Solitaire included with
| the Beta ran "awfully slow," even with the drivers written for Vista.
| His system has a 2.8GHz Intel P4 processor, 768MB of memory and an ATI
| All-In-Wonder 2006 AGP, which he admits is not the most recent GPU, "but
| it's no slouch."
`----
http://www.thechannelinsider.com/article/How+SLOW+Will+Vista+Go/187152_1.aspx
====
Subject: [News] Patents Threaten 'Open Source Education'
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 06:51:16 +0100
Patent fight rattles academic computing
,----[ Quote ]
| The patent, awarded to the Washington, D.C.-based company in January
| but announced last month, has prompted an angry backlash from the
| academic computing community, which is fighting back in techie fashion --
| through online petitions and in a sprawling Wikipedia entry that helps
| make its case.
|
| Critics say the patent claims nothing less than Blackboard's ownership
| of the very idea of e-learning. If allowed to stand, they say, it could
| quash the cooperation between academia and the private sector that has
| characterized e-learning for years and explains why virtual classrooms
| are so much better than they used to be.
|
| [...]
|
| Why are universities concerned? Many use off-the-shelf systems sold
| by Blackboard already. But others use rival companies like Desire2Learn,
| or mix and match to meet their own needs. Because universities are
| decentralized and have such varied systems, one size rarely fits all,
| says Feldstein. Many borrow from open-source courseware programs with
| names like "Moodle" and "the Sakai Project."
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060827/ap_on_hi_te/e_learning_dispute
====
Subject: [News] InformationWeek on Linux and Open Source at Google
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:04:57 +0100
Google's Brew Of Open Source And Custom Code
,----[ Quote ]
| Reliance on open source code runs deep among Google's developers, and
| the company uses open source in its production systems, too. The software
| has been Google-ized--something new added to make it fit Google's way
| of doing things.
|
| A majority of Google's engineering desktops are Linux machines. They're
| typically loaded with tools such as the Free Software Foundation's Gnu
| C Compiler; Make, a Unix utility for assembling files into a C program;
| and Apache Ant, open source code for assembling Java applications from
| Java files.
`----
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192300293&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All
====
Subject: [News] InformationWeek Survey Finds that Small Businesses Should Quit Fearing OSS
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:10:38 +0100
Do Small Businesses Fear Open Source?
,----[ Quote ]
| Are you the open source type? It's an essential question for emerging
| enterprises as they build out their IT infrastructure--the wrong choice
| may bring your business to a standstill.
|
| It's also a difficult question. Open source software is a viable
| alternative to a broad range of commercial products, from operating
| systems to databases to Web servers to network monitoring. You can
| even deploy open source routers. Many emerging enterprises run
| business-critical applications with open source software and wouldn't
| have it any other way.
|
| [...]
|
| While open source software often has a low (or no) price tag, and you can
| run it on inexpensive hardware, that's only part of the savings. Companies
| also can cut costs by avoiding software that requires expensive skill sets.
|
| [...]
|
| Open source software provides an advantage over commercial software
| because it allows for a broader choice of hardware, Third Screen Media's
| D'Amico says. "Because we build with components, we can put various grades
| of hardware where we need them," he says. "We can deploy 32-bit [CPUs]
| for simple stuff and 64-bit [CPUs] in database."
|
| [...]
|
| Emerging enterprises shouldn't shy away from open source software as
| they build up the company IT infrastructure or consider a technology
| refresh. Like all software, open source carries both risks and rewards.
| Technical support, lifetime ownership costs, and the ability to find
| qualified open source administrators are the key factors in evaluating
| whether you're the open source type. Through careful evaluation, you
| can minimize the risks and maximize the rewards of open source.
`----
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192300168&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_All
====
Subject: [News] Linux Saves Lives
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 10:43:58 +0200
Interesting article : good PR move by Sony. No mention of Linux.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5287254.stm
,----
| The spare processing power of Sony's PlayStation 3 (PS3) will be
| harnessed by scientists trying to understand the cause of diseases like
| Alzheimer's.
|
| Sony has teamed up with US biologists who already run the distributed
| computing project, folding@home (FAH).
|
| The project harnesses the capacity of thousands of PCs to examine how
| the shape of proteins, critical to most biological functions, affect
| disease.
|
| FAH say a network of PS3's will allow performance similar to
| supercomputers.
|
| With 10,000 machines joined together the researchers calculate they
| should be able to do a thousand trillion calculations per second.
|
| If that was achieved it would be nearly four times as fast as the
| world's most powerful supercomputer, IBM's BlueGene/L System, capable of
| 280.6 trillion calculations per second.
`----
====
Subject: [News] The Rise of Open Media, Death of Copyrighted Content
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:23:02 +0100
Over at Groklaw, an interesting point is being made by PJ.
First she links to the following:
http://www.ottawasun.com/News/OttawaAndRegion/2006/08/16/1758016-sun.html
(Need to pay to read article)
Then, she links to NYT:
http://tinyurl.com/g8964
Article title is "At Forbes.com, Lots of Glitter but Maybe Not So Many
Visitors" and, once again, it need subscription (beyond cookie) merely to be
read.
Then, she links to the following, showing why the music/copyright industry
struggles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjA5faZF1A8
Watch the numbers.
What about Wikipedia < http://tinyurl.com/px99w >? And the 100+ million
blogs? YouTube/Yahoo Videos/Google Video, among others? The point being: be
freely-available, or be gone. It's the Open-Sourcing of content. Much like
software...
====
Subject: [News] Linux Recognised as Mainstream Mobile O/S
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:30:32 +0100
Mobile Operating Systems: A Question of Choice
,----[ Quote ]
| Just a decade ago, not many people were aware of the revolution coming
| along their way. Ordinary people were thrilled with the new featurest
| hat Microsoft Windows 95 provided and Linux was still the choice of
| geeks. Fast forward 10 years: Even ordinary people carry extraordinary
| piece of hardware with them.
|
| [...]
|
| GNU/Linux, the preferred operating system of the developer community
| and geeks, is slowly paving its way towards the mobile devices.
|
| ...The obvious advantages of having Linux on your phone includes:
|
| - Since you have access to the source code, you're free to modify and
| enhance it.
|
| - Generally, Linux is considered a more secure operating system than those
| from Microsoft.
|
| - If you need support, there is no dearth of forums where people will be
| more than happy to help you.
`----
http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2306&Itemid=468
Not much news here, but merely an overview.
====
Subject: [News] Ubuntu Users Can Run Windows Applications
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:33:27 +0100
Win4Lin Announced Full Product Support for Ubuntu 6.06
,----[ Quote ]
| Win4Lin Pro Desktop allows Linux users to run Windows applications from
| the security of the Linux desktop. Win4Lin Virtual Desktop Server is the
| enterprise/SMB product for delivering Windows applications on thinc
| lients via a Linux server. Both products have been fully tested on
| Ubuntu 6.06.
`----
http://presszoom.com/story_117618.html
====
Subject: [News] The Impact of FLOSS on the Value of Money
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:38:03 +0100
On Technology, the Future, and Money
,----[ Quote ]
| The Free Culture movement: Between Open Source Software, the Creative
| Commons, and various sources of free knowledge, there's a lot that people
| can take advantage of online without any need for money (and people can
| often even 'remix' it for free, as well). It's quite true that free
| software and content is not a magic bullet in all contexts, since the
| people who make it tend to scratch only certain types of itches: there
| aren't many open source accounting packages, nor are there any creative
| commons-licensed top-40 radio hits or open source cars, for reasons of
| motivation, economics, and physical possibility, respectively. But the
| movement toward producing free, open-source things is growing in strength
| and scope: in the short term, we can expect better free software and more
| creative-commons-licensed content, and perhaps in the longer term, free,
| open-source genomes for useful organisms/biomachines and free, open-source
| blueprints for molecular (nano) manufacturing. And the more good free
| stuff that's out there, the less important money becomes.
`----
http://moderndragons.blogspot.com/2006/06/money.html
====
Subject: [News] High-Profile Open Source Companies
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 14:40:45 +0100
Open source companies to watch
,----[ Quote ]
| Open source software is a given in most enterprise data centers, so it's
| not surprising to see the ranks of open source companies and projects
| swell. It's not just Linux anymore - community-developed software is
| offering alternatives for everything from databases to application servers
| to network management to disaster preparedness.
`----
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/082806-open-source.html
====
Subject: [News] Commercialised Open Source Company Gets $20 Million Investment
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:13:27 +0100
Zend nets $20 million in funding
,----[ Quote ]
| Zend, which commercializes the widely used open-source PHP software that
| lets computers create customized Web pages, has received a $20 million
| boost through a fourth round of funding.
`----
http://news.com.com/2110-7344_3-6109470.html?part=rss&tag=6109470&subj=news
Context:
Start-up to sell open-source Web software
,----[ Quote ]
| Zend hopes the PHP software for generating Web pages on the fly will
| be as good a foundation for its business plan as Linux has been for
| Red Hat.
`----
http://news.com.com/Start-up+to+sell+open-source+Web+software/2100-1001_3-251310.html?tag=nl
As it's based on Open Source (PHP), the client can always opt for a different
vendor or maintain everything by self.
====
Subject: [News] Adaptive Operating Systems - Linux/KDE Turf?
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:33:34 +0100
Sci-Fi: A New Kind of OS
,----[ Quote ]
| Consider the obvious advantages to an operating system that actually
| morphed and adapted to the needs of the users instead of the other way
| around. Not only is there no such OS like this, the very idea goes
| against much of what we are currently seeing in the current OS options in
| the market.
`----
http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2309
====
Subject: [News] Review of Debian Etch Beta 3
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:37:16 +0100
A Tryst with Debian Etch Beta 3
,----[ Quote ]
| When a Linux enthusiast hears the name Debian, it never fails to instill
| in him some awe and respect. After all, this is the one and only
| not-for-profit Linux distribution which has singularly built up a
| name synonymous with security, stability and freeness.
`----
http://linuxhelp.blogspot.com/2006/08/tryst-with-debian-etch-beta-3.html
====
Subject: [News] Great American Insurance Gets Open Source Support from Enterprise
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:40:30 +0100
Great American Insurance Selects OpenLogic to Manage Open Source Usage and
Provide Consolidated Open Source Support
,----[ Quote ]
| "Companies like Great American Insurance recognize the value of open
| source software backed by enterprise-grade support," said Steven
| Grandchamp, CEO of OpenLogic. "Through OpenLogic's consolidated support
| services and our
| Expert Community program, we provide this level of support across the
| widest breadth of open source products."
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060828/sfm049.html?.v=66
This one is promotional, but it's another prominent company that chooses Open
Source solutions.
====
Subject: [News] Intel Gives Linux Multicore Support Tools
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 15:45:10 +0100
Intel: Optimize applications for multicore
,----[ Quote ]
| The chip giant has forecast that by the end of this year, about 70 percent
| of its chips will be multicore...
|
| Two of Intel's existing multithreading tools, called Intel Thread Checker
| 3.0 and Intel Thread Profiler 3.0, add support for 64-bit processors and
| the Linux operating system, he said.
`----
http://news.com.com/Intel+Optimize+applications+for+multicore/2100-1006_3-6109936.html
====
Subject: [News] JBoss GM: "Oracle Linux" Unlikely
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:12:53 +0100
Red Hat's Fleury: 'Oracle Linux' unlikely
,----[ Quote ]
| Fresh off an investor tour, Marc Fleury, the general manager of Red
| Hat's JBoss division, argued that talk of Oracle offering its own
| Linux distribution is more speculation than reality.
`----
http://news.com.com/2061-10795_3-6110037.html?part=rss&tag=6110037&subj=news
====
Subject: [News] GNU Reduces Development Costs by 98%
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:15:17 +0100
Development under way may slash SDR radio costs by 98%
,----[ Quote ]
| Charles Bostian is spearheading a team developing a SDR based upon GNU,
| an open-source software, which may lead to an open-source software
| platform. This, in turn, may bring about a an SDR-based handset with an
| expected price tag of $500--far below estimates of $38,000 for
| military-grade SDRs.
`----
http://rfdesign.com/military_defense_electronics/news/development_slash_sdr/
====
Subject: [News] Unlocking DRM Not in Microsoft's Agenda
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:22:23 +0100
An Open Letter to Microsoft - Why you shouldn't kill FairUse4WM
,----[ Quote ]
| We know that you're already probably working to fix the, um, hole that's
| been discovered in Windows DRM 10/11, but we're going to ask you this
| anyway: please don't stop consumers from using FairUse4WM to remove copy
| protection from music they've downloaded.
`----
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/27/an-open-letter-to-microsoft-why-you-shouldnt-kill-fairuse4wm/
That's another platform lockin. I don't know if iTunes still has tools for
stripping off DRM. If not, it discourages competition and should be
discussed under the terms of fair trade and antitrust laws (already the case
in Europe, Apple being the victim).
====
Subject: [News] Google Grabs eBay Market from Yahoo
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:29:50 +0100
Google Hugs eBay and Attacks Microsoft
,----[ Quote ]
| Google has struck an exclusive deal to provide advertising for Web
| auctioneer eBay outside the U.S. The alliance complicates the online
| ad wars -- Yahoo! snagged eBay's domestic ad business in May.
`----
http://finance.yahoo.com/columnist/article/business/9065
====
Subject: [News] Windows: It Just Works! Sometimes...
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:44:15 +0100
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Io2hFkr7UJA
====
Subject: [News] Three New Mac Ads Bash Windows (and Help Linux Image)
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:46:35 +0100
Three new 'Get a Mac' ads debut
,----[ Quote ]
| In "Accident," a wheelchair and cast-bound Hodgman laments having
| been dropped off his desk inadvertently when someone got tangled in his
| power cord; Long lauds the MacBook?s use of the magnetic "MagSafe" power
| connector. In "Angel/Devil," Hodgman is tormented by his conscience as
| he considers tearing apart a photo album Long has printed from iPhoto. And
| in "Trust Mac," Long explains to a disguised and paranoid Hodgman that Macs
| are immune to spyware.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/macworld/20060828/tc_macworld/getamac20060828
====
Subject: [News] Linux Comes to the US Navy
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:52:27 +0100
Real-time Linux, middleware support U.S. Navy Aegis systems
,----[ Quote ]
| Real-time Linux and middleware from Concurrent Computer Corp. and
| Real-Time Innovations Inc. (RTI) are supporting the U.S. Navy's Aegis
| Open Architecture program, the companies announced Aug. 28. Aegis
| Open Architecture is the foundation for the modernization of the
| Navy's Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers, the companies said.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4667725014.html
====
Subject: [News] Motorola and Its Competitors to Boost Use of Linux
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:55:24 +0100
Motorola Gets Serious About Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| Last quarter, Motorola was the second biggest smartphone maker in the
| world, thanks largely to the million or so Linux-based smartphones it
| shipped in China.
|
| Clearly, Motorola has seen the writing on the wall, and is making a
| big commitment to Linux. In fact, this company is working to have over
| 50 percent of the handsets it releases in the future run Linux.
|
| [...]
|
| These Linux-based handsets are expected to cost between $100 and $300.
|
| [...]
|
| Motorola isn't the only mobile-device company making a big commitment
| to Linux. PalmSource is basing the replacement for the Palm OS on
| this operating system, for example.
|
| Other big-name companies that have released Linux-based devices in
| recent months include Sony and Nokia.
`----
http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=12416
====
Subject: [News] Linux/OSS Culture at Google Pays Off
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 18:59:51 +0100
Google Revealed: The IT Strategy That Makes It Work
,----[ Quote ]
| That hands-on approach, born of the frugality of a garage startup,
| persists because Google's scale demands it. Google has between 200,000
| and 450,000 servers spread among up to 65 data centers, depending on how
| you define them and who's doing the counting. And those numbers continue
| to rise.
|
| The company won't discuss these estimates; it considers such numbers to be
| a competitive advantage. In fact, one of the things Google likes about
| open source software is that it facilitates secrecy. "If we had to go and
| buy software licenses, or code licenses, based on seats, people would
| absolutely know what the Google infrastructure looks like," DiBona says.
| "The use of open source software, that's one more way we can control our
| destiny."
|
| Google organizes its machines, which run Linux, into "cells," which
| DiBona describes as a kind of disk drive for Internet services. (Not to
| be confused with Gdrive, the long-rumored Google hosted storage service.
| "There is no Gdrive," a spokeswoman insists.) Software programs reside
| on racks of inexpensive computers, and programmers decide how much
| redundancy to give them. The cells take the place of commercial storage
| equipment; DiBona says Google's cells are cheaper to create and maintain,
| and he hints they can handle more data, too.
`----
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=192300292
====
Subject: [News] Agilent Technologies Ports System to Linux to Lower TCO
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:09:12 +0100
Agilent Technologies Announces Industry's First Parametric Test Systems with
Linux Support
,----[ Quote ]
| Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced that its 4070 Series Advanced
| Parametric Test Systems are the industry's first production parametric
| testers to support Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Because Linux is well
| established and runs on a PC platform, Agilent's customers can lower
| ownership costs and improve price performance.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060828/20060828005184.html?.v=1
====
Subject: [News] XenSource Goes to Seattle
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:15:37 +0100
XenSource Opens Seattle-Area Development Office
,----[ Quote ]
| The new office will focus on joint technology and market development for
| the support of high-performance Linux virtual environments on the next
| version of Windows Server System, as well as the development of
| additional, non-GPL-based products and solutions that extend the
| virtualization capabilities of XenSource's XenEnterprise(TM)
| virtualization platform. The Redmond team will also focus on thep
| erformance and manageability of Windows virtual machines on
| XenEnterprise.
`----
http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/it/2006/08/28/1834649.htm
====
Subject: [News] Windows Turns to Linux for Network Security
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 19:18:33 +0100
The gotta-have free security tool you've never heard of
,----[ Quote ]
| I often write about all the excellent tools for testing the security
| of Windows systems. There are excellent freeware, open source and
| commercial tools that all run on the Windows OS. They are, for the most
| part, easy to use and can ferret out a lot of security vulnerabilities
| that would be next to impossible to find otherwise. One tool that I
| haven't written much about -- and based on my informal research, one
| that most Windows administrators haven't heard of -- is a tool called
| BackTrack.
|
| BackTrack is actually an entire Slackware Linux-based operating system
| with a suite of security tools that even the most die-hard
| Windows-o-files can appreciate and benefit from.
`----
http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid39_gci1212195,00.html?track=sy184
====
Subject: [News] Ubuntu upgrade ugliness
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 00:00:03 GMT
(Ugh. This one's probably going to hurt.)
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS9426013172.html
Ubuntu's star shines a little less brightly since a
recently released patch knocked out its users' graphical
user interface. Affected users saw -- the horror, the
horror -- a blue screen of death. While this screen had
more useful information than the Microsoft blue screen,
it still wasn't useful to confused users.
(I've seen a blue background screen myself, which is probably
similar to the one described here. It's asking
a question but that's about it; of course if one wants
to see the diagnostics one can in fact say "yes" and
then scroll through them. This blue screen is in fact
highly specific to the X subsystem.)
Ubuntu 6.06 LTS users who installed updates between
17:30 UTC on Monday, Aug. 21 and 10:00 UTC on Tuesday,
Aug. 22 were the ones affected by this problem.
...
The solution was to login from the command line. Then, the user must
do a:
sudo apt-get update
followed by
sudo apt-get install xserver-xorg-core
(Nice that this was included.)
In most Debian/Linux distributions, this would be done
by logging in as the root user, but Ubuntu discourages
the use of root, so the more cumbersome, but also more
secure, sudo method must be used instead.
You then hold down Control and Alt, and then press
Delete, to reboot the xServer into a functional
condition.
(A technical comment on this. I don't know Ubuntu's xdm
management but Ctrl/Alt/Del reboots the entire system,
and is not really necessary. But that's a quibble.)
====
Subject: [News] Why Windows Vista will suck
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 01:00:05 GMT
(After pasting the last one I saw this one. It's a little dated --
2006-03-01 -- but there's not a lot of change since then and now.)
http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8288296398.html
Oh! My aching head.
When I first saw ExtremeTech's
(http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1931914,00.asp), I
thought: "Aha, sarcasm."
Nope. I was wrong.
They really were saying that Vista is pretty good.
(It must be, for them to include screenshots of the "automatic
defragmenter" (*cough*!), the "performance rating and tools
window" (didn't we have that way back in the DOS days?),
a "power plan" (wow, is there a need for this?), and
a "USB Memory system speed space reserver" window (ick,
what a way to phrase that), and a "network/firewall center"
(clear as mud though one has to give them points for at least
trying).)
Oh please.
First, let me say, I've been running Vista myself for quite some
time. Next to me at this very moment is a Gateway 835GM. Under the
hood, it has an Intel Pentium D 2.8GHz dual-core processor, an Intel
945G chipset, 1GB DDR2 (double data rate) DRAM, a 250GB SATA hard
drive, and built-in Intel GMA (graphics media accelerator) 950
graphics. That's a fairly powerful machine.
(For a desktop.)
Which is a good thing,
because it's the only PC in my office of 20 PCs that's got enough
oomph to run the Windows Vista February CTP (Community Technology
Preview) build 5308 without driving me into fits of rage.
Mind you, it's not enough machine for Vista. I could run any Linux
with all the bells and whistles on it without a problem.
(And probably a lot of game as well -- Doom3, Quake3,
Quake4, and UT2004 in particular should run fine on it.
Mind you, I've not tried such but the 915 chipset I have
here at work fired right up with drm, and I don't see
why the 950 would be all that much different. However,
it probably won't be that much of a barnburner in the
framerate department, mostly because it's shared RAM.)
But, even though this system meets Intel's
recommendations for a Vista-capable Intel Professional
Business Platform, it still doesn't have the graphics
horsepower needed to carry off Vista's much ballyhooed
three-dimensional Aero Glass interface.
(One hopes such an interface is not really necessary to run Vista.
I have my doubts.)
...
DirectX10, which is mostly used for game graphics and in the
aforementioned Aero, is also much improved. It's also, however,
completely different from DirectX9. Current games, current graphic
cards, won't be able to do anything with it, which is why Vista also
supports DirectX 9.
(Lovely.)
...
Expensive? Yes. Awful? We'll see.
(Indeed we will. We'll see probably way too much. Remember 95's
"Start me up" campaign? I suspect we'll see something equally --
stupid.)
What I do know, is that I really don't see a thing, not one single
thing, that will make the still undelivered Vista significantly
better than the Linux or the Mac OS X desktops I have in front of me
today.
(Except that it's made by Microsoft. That's about it, and nowadays
that and a bucketful of warm pig spit might get one's feet wet.)
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
====
Subject: [News] Linux Does Home Theater, Lowers Cost
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:37:01 +0100
DIY Linux home theater PC
,----[ Quote ]
| LixSystems has introduced a low-cost Linux powered home theater PC
| (HTPC) packaged in a compact, consumer electronics-style enclosure. The
| Lx8100-MN, available "barebones" (sans CPU, memory, and hard drive) for
| around $300, offers quiet operation and is supplied with an
| easily-installed Fedora 5-based system image on DVD.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6365551074.html
Look at Gates struggling to get Windows Media Center to work...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Io2hFkr7UJA
====
Subject: [News] Brazil Finalises Plan to Purchase One Million Linux Laptops
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:42:20 +0100
Brazil nears million Linux laptop order
,----[ Quote ]
| The OLPC (One Laptop Per Child) project reported Aug. 27 that Brazil
| is finalizing plans for "all aspects" of its $100 laptop roll-out. Along
| with Argentina, Nigeria, and Thailand, Brazil had previously indicated
| interest in purchasing 1 million of the machines for needy children.
`----
http://desktoplinux.com/news/NS5745842945.html
====
Subject: [News] Linux Fonts Prettier Than Microsoft Fonts
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:44:07 +0100
Judge for yourselves.
Linux Libertine Open Fonts offers free Times Roman alternative
,----[ Quote ]
| Currently, Linux Libertine consists of more than 1,750 glyphs for Latin,
| Greek, and Cyrillic alphabets and their derivatives, including ligatures
| and kerning tables. Some work remains to be done on the italics, but the
| roman or ordinary weight is complete, as well as the bold and underlined
| weights. A set of small caps is in development, and a grotesque or sans
| serif font (one without serifs) is planned, but not yet available.
`----
http://applications.linux.com/applications/06/08/18/1847218.shtml?tid=13&tid=96
====
Subject: [News] Linux to Save the Day at Access
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:48:24 +0100
Can Linux save the Palm OS?
,----[ Quote ]
| The Access Linux Platform will still be able to run Palm OS applications,
| but Tokyo-based Access will use an open-source underpinning as its
| foundation. The mobile software maker asserts that this will make it
| easier and cheaper to get the update out to developers, who will
| likewise find it easier to take advantage of a wealth of open-source code
| to create Access Linux Platform applications.
`----
http://news.com.com/Can+Linux+save+the+Palm+OS/2008-1045_3-6110042.html
====
Subject: [News] Fallacy: Nobody Gets Fired for Using Microsoft
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:53:14 +0100
No One Ever Got Fired For Using Microsoft. - Yes They Did.
,----[ Quote ]
| "My computer system and network is a crapheap. Can your Linux Thing fix
| it?" .. I was stumped for something to say. He had not specifically told
| me what problems he was having with his systems. I answered him with the
| only reply that came immediately to mind. .. "No sir."
`----
http://blog.lobby4linux.com/index.php?/archives/83-No-One-Ever-Got-Fired-For-Using-Microsoft.-Yes-They-Did..html
====
Subject: [News] Linux Can Already Use Flash Player 9 (with WinE)
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 05:55:43 +0100
Flash Player 9 on Linux (Ubuntu Dapper Drake)
It was tested on Ubuntu Dapper Drake (on an x86 - 32 bit machine)
http://www.howtoforge.com/ubuntu_flash_player9
====
Subject: [News] Service-Oriented Open Source Software Could Kill Enterprise Resource Planning
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:04:43 +0100
Diamelle Unveils Open Source Identity And Access Management Suite With SOA
,----[ Quote ]
| Diamelle Technologies announced the availability of a comprehensive IAM
| under an open source license
`----
http://opensource.sys-con.com/read/251955.htm
AMR: SOA will kill ERP
,----[ Quote ]
| Bruce Richardson of AMR Research predicts the unthinkable: that
| "rapid adoption of SOA will lead to the end of the ERP market as we
| know it.
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/service-oriented/?p=698
====
Subject: [News] Jitterbit Morphs to Open Source for Better Integration
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:09:04 +0100
Jitterbit goes open source for application 'glue'
,----[ Quote ]
| A start-up company called Jitterbit has set out to enter the crowded
| market for integration software using open source and a modular
| product design.
`----
http://news.com.com/Jitterbit+goes+open+source+for+application+glue/2100-1012_3-6110226.html
====
Subject: [News] Get Ogg - Site Launched
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:23:55 +0100
Get Ogg/Vorbis/Theora
,----[ Snippet ]
| Why are patents on other file formats allowed? Isn't that
| anti-competitive?
|
| It is anti-competitive, and it shouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, it
| is allowed in most places except the EU.
|
| Why are government-funded broadcasting corporations allowed to exclude
| Free Software users?
|
| No one knows. They shouldn't be allowed to...
`----
http://www.getogg.org/aboutogg.shtml
====
Subject: [News] Vista Licence More Expensive Than Modern Computer/Laptop with Linux Preloaded
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:27:03 +0100
Start Saving, Vista Prices Leaked
,----[ Quote ]
| Full Version
| ?Vista Ultimate $450
| ?Vista Business $341
| ...
`----
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/software/start-saving-vista-prices-leaked-197123.php
Also see:
Apple sees more profit per OS user than Microsoft
,----[ Quote ]
| By releasing operating system upgrades at a more frequently and stable
| pace, Apple Computer is able to gain more profitability per user from its
| OS software than Microsoft, an analyst's study has found.
`----
http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1996
====
Subject: [News] Linux Threat Still Forces MS to Support Old Software/Harware?
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:41:35 +0100
Microsoft to offer broader support for older software
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft has already changed its support policies to offer five years
| of mainstream support and an additional five years of more limited,
| paid support, known as "extended support," on its business and
| developer products.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6110105.html
====
Subject: [News] 'Cash Cow' Gets 17 Competitors
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:49:39 +0100
17 MS Office Killers
,----[ Quote ]
| 'Complete Overkill'
|
| "Microsoft Word seems like complete overkill for sharing text here
| and there," he said. "You don't need tables or formatting all the time.
| You need a place to write text, make changes, and pass around." So far,
| 350,000 WriteBoards or web-based documents have been created.
`----
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=18053&hed=17+MS+Office+Killers
====
Subject: [News] AMD 'Virus' Turns Out to Be a Windows Problem and FUD
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 06:53:45 +0100
AMD "Virus" is no AMD virus at all
FUD the second time in two months
,----[ Quote ]
| Well, we hope that our readers will be smart enough to see through the
| stupid bomb?s cloud to the truth below: the viruses might affect Windows
| AMD64 version, but not because of any chip-level AMD weakness, rather
| because the virus is attacking Windows 64-bit x86 version, just not
| the Itanium IA64 version.
|
| Let's say that again -- virus scanner maker states "new virus affects
| Windows (AMD64)", and the press reports "AMD processors affected by new
| virus", when in reality, all Celeron Ds, Pentium Ds, Core 2 Duos running in
| 64-bit mode also suffer the same bug. Daamit.
|
| [...]
|
| You'll notice too things. One: the virus affects 32-bit Windows too --
| shucks, there goes the AMD-only problem! Two: its 64-bit version mentions
| nothing about any Athlon-related vulnerability; this is quite simply a
| virus that affects Windows x86-64 in both Intel and AMD forms.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33999
====
Subject: [News] Dextrus Prosoft Partners With open Source Company
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:07:09 +0100
Dextrus Prosoft and Open Source Company Atlassian Announce Partnership
Partners to Provide Atlassian's Open Source Solutions in NA and Asian Markets
http://opensource.sys-con.com/read/265432.htm
====
Subject: [News] MySQL is a Winner - The Fastest Database
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:17:19 +0100
MySQL runs fastest
,----[ Quote ]
| The results are in, and MySQL came out on top. C't just did a comparison
| of different databases and found that MySQL is the "fastest database
| application." The magazine's editors held the contest to evaluate
| database performance in real-world business use by creating a standard
| online inventory system.
`----
http://asay.blogspot.com/2006/08/mysql-runs-fastest.html
====
Subject: [News] Self-tailored Linux Makes Installation Easier
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:24:09 +0100
Linux Installs Made Easier
,----[ Quote ]
| Instalinux.com is a handy Web site from which users can create
| customized installation images for a handful of different Linux
| distributions.
|
| [...]
|
| At Instalinux.com, users can create installation disks for CentOS 4.3,
| Debian 3.1 and 3.2, and Red Hat Fedora Core Versions 3 through 5.
`----
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2009452,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594
====
Subject: [News] Proprietary Software Not Suitable for Mission-Critical Tasks
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:30:28 +0100
Why proprietary software is dangerous for business-critical applications
,----[ Quote ]
| But this software company said, "No, we can't give you a new registration
| for your old software. You need to upgrade to our latest version, and the
| upgrade will cost you [several thousand dollars]."
|
| But the real point here is that an entire medium-sized company's
| executive staff has learned a hard lesson about the dangers of
| proprietary software, and members of that staff who previously resisted
| open source are now ready to consider it -- and for business
| continuity reasons rather than as a money-saving measure, no less.
`----
http://software.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/14/202229&from=rss
====
Subject: [News] VA Software Headed for Bright Future, Thriving in Open Source?
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:28:07 +0100
Foolish Forecast: VA Software
,----[ Quote ]
| Enthusiast software developers the world over are familiar with news site
| Slashdot and open-source development site SourceForge. The parent company
| of both of these properties is ready to report earnings Tuesday night, so
| let's take a look at what to expect from VA Software.
|
| [...]
|
| Now, VA is trending up and the future looks good, but I think a word
| of caution is in order. You could argue that flagship news site Slashdot
| is losing relevance to cheeky young upstart Digg, and Google recently
| launched a software development hosting site that looks like direct
| competition for SourceForge, VA's other pride and joy. But at least
| there's still little or no competition for geeky shopping site ThinkGeek,
| which brings in a significant portion of VA's sales and profits. This
| earnings report looks like sunny skies, but the other issues could hurt
| the company down the road -- if left unheeded.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/fool/20060828/bs_fool_fool/115679753920
====
Subject: [News] Linux Incompatibility List Makes Selection Easier, Changes Manufacturers' Perspective
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:10:35 +0100
Find out what doesn't work with Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| One site that maybe useful for users still struggling with Linux
| hardware compatibility is Leenooks.com, which maintains the "Linux
| Incompatibility List" - a database of hardware, ranging from audio
| components to Wi-Fi gear, that does not work with Linux. (This is at
| least according to the Web site's maintainers.)
`----
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/linux/2006/0828linux1.html
====
Subject: [News] A World Without Microsoft Software Stack
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:35:42 +0100
A Non-Microsoft Software Stack: The Beginnings
,----[ Quote ]
| Imagine a world without Microsoft software. Impossible? Not according
| to solution providers who say a soup-to-nuts, non-Microsoft stack is
| here.
|
| We're not just talking about the LAMP infrastructure stack. (LAMP is
| the Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP, Perl or Python--pick one--combo.)
|
| For example, Internet search kingpin Google confirmed last week it is
| testing a small-business bundle of its e-mail, calendaring,
| instant-messaging and Web-page creation services. Users of the new
| Google Apps For Your Domain will operate under their own domain name,
| but their e-mail, to-do lists and schedule will run in the Google cloud.
| A paid version will be available by year's end.
`----
http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/dailyarchives.jhtml?articleId=192300394
====
Subject: [News] Who OwnZ the Computer User? Or the User's Hardware and Software?
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 07:39:21 +0100
Who owns me?
,----[ Quote ]
| One of the most disturbing ideas I've encountered in intellectual property
| law is the peculiar idea of owning and being able to patent naturally
| occuring gene sequences, such as those in the Human Genome project.
|
| [...]
|
| In our society, we argue for the idea of ownership of information, we
| permit the ownership of living beings, but we deny the ownership of people.
| Yet, the information that makes a person?his or her "source"--is something
| that can be bought and sold. Have we drawn the line in the right place?
`----
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/node/1712
====
Subject: [News] UK Top School: Open Source Software Improves Education
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 14:40:31 +0100
Top public school claims Open Source software improves education
,----[ Quote ]
| By deploying a Open Source network, one the UK's top public schools
| claims it has saved thousands in software licensing and allowed its staff
| to focus on education not ICT equipment. Kings College School, Cambridge
| has chosen Sirius Corporation to build and support their Linux-based PDC,
| e-mail and proxy filtering systems.
`----
http://www.siriusit.co.uk/index.php/news/38/91
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Cannot Survive by Buying Own Stocks
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 15:43:46 +0100
Commentary: Microsoft needs more than just buybacks to lift its shares
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft shares, which have been dormant for the last few years,
| have been looking up over the last couple months. The Dow industrials
| component has gained about 20% since hitting a 4-year low of $21.46 o
| June 13.
|
| To help move things along, Microsoft not only launched a $40 billion
| stock repurchase program that lasts through 2011, the company also said
| its previously announced 4-year, $30 billion stock buyback program was
| completed in just 2 years.
`----
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7B685EFB89%2D5791%2D4E8B%2DAD6A%2D9688F5B6012A%7D&source=blq%2Fyhoo&dist=yhoo&siteid=yhoo
====
Subject: [News] Bill Gates a Narcissistic CEO
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 15:56:48 +0100
The Narcissistic CEO
,----[ Quote ]
| The desire to change the system is a defining element of narcissism.
| And while it can be inspirational to work for someone like that,
| interacting with a narcissist CEO can be torture. Don't expect praise.
| Get used to hearing the word "I." And be able to take lots of harshly
| worded criticism.
`----
http://www.forbes.com/2006/08/28/business-basics-narcissist-ceos-cx_tw_0829narcissist.html?partner=yahootix
Reminds me of some stories about Gates' personality. Among them (which I can
quickly find):
,----[ Quote ]
| My father, in his travels, has met Bill Gates. I don't think I'd be
| creating a problem for him now (as he recently retired) by saying that he
| was unimpressed. Apparently Gates was rude, he was distracted, and when
| he sat, he rocked back and forth in his chair, an action which reminded
| my Dad of people with dementia.
`----
http://www.linuxextremist.com/?p=12
,----[ Quote ]
| In my BillG review meeting, the whole reporting hierarchy was there,
| along with their cousins, sisters, and aunts, and a person who came
| along from my team whose whole job during the meeting was to keep an
| accurate count of how many times Bill said the F word. The lower the
| f***-count, the better.
|
| [...]
|
| Four," announced the f*** counter, and everyone said, "wow, that's the
| lowest I can remember. Bill is getting mellow in his old age." He was,
| you know, 36.
|
| Later I had it explained to me. "Bill doesn't really want to review
| your spec, he just wants to make sure you've got it under control. His
| standard M.O. is to ask harder and harder questions until you admit that
| you don't know, and then he can yell at you for being unprepared. Nobody
| was really sure what happens if you answer the hardest question he can
| come up with because it's never happened before."
`----
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2006/06/16.html
Maybe it's just a language culture in the board...
,----[ Quote ]
| At that point, Mr. Ballmer picked up a chair and threw it across the
| room hitting a table in his office. Mr. Ballmer then said: "Fucking Eric
| Schmidt is a fucking pussy. I'm going to fucking bury that guy, I have
| done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to fucking kill Google."
`----
http://battellemedia.com/archives/001835.php
====
Subject: [News] Even MSNBC (Microsoft Affiliate) Cannot Recommend a Windows PC
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:03:48 +0100
MSNBC: Apple Mac Pro is the ultimate desktop computer
,----[ Quote ]
| "With two, 64-bit, dual-core Intel Xeon 'Woodcrest' processors and it's
| sleek design, the Mac Pro is the computer equivalent of a Ferrari,
| Maserati or Porsche...
`----
http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/10699/
Maybe Gates should pay some more money to NBC.
Bill Gates lends cash to buy newspapers
$350 million to MediaNews
,----[ Quote ]
| Gates involvement has been very behind the scenes. In fact many of
| those involved in the deal didn'teven know he was one of the investors.
| It was carried out through the Gates Foundation, the world's largest
| philanthropy outfit.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33849
I think the alliance with NBC broke some time last year, but the name/domain
remains.
====
Subject: [News] Ubuntu Gets New System Panel, Like SLED 10
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:06:12 +0100
Ubuntu System Panel (USP)
,----[ Quote ]
| After the release of the SLED menu and seeing that it was so popular
| with Ubuntu users, I took it upon myself to do something of our own. So
| for the past few weeks I have been studying mockups for GNOME and trying
| to bring it alive and today, I offer it to you...
`----
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=222546&highlight=usp
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Uses Telecom to Promote Its Web Services
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:21:01 +0100
Verizon to offer more Microsoft services
,----[ Quote ]
| Verizon Communications Inc. on Tuesday said it expanded an agreement
| with Microsoft Corp. to start offering the software makers Windows Live
| services to its high speed Internet customers.
|
| Verizon's Internet customers will have access to a jointly branded
| search page, a Windows Live toolbar and e-mail services from Microsoft.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060829/wr_nm/telecoms_verizon_microsoft_dc
Doesn't seem like the customer gets any choice.
====
Subject: [News] More Troubles for (W)Intel
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:23:42 +0100
Sales of Intel's Core 2 Duo chip seem slow take off
,----[ Quote ]
| Intel's limited Core 2 offerings and its inability to get that product
| to where it's needed may give AMD a window of opportunity to reap
| fiscally before the Core 2 Duo becomes more generally available.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34015
The monopolies seem to be slowly collapsing. This includes Microsoft and
Dell.
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Puts Hands on Design of Our Linux Gear
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:29:17 +0100
Microsoft set to "improve" PC design
,----[ ]
| Software giant Microsoft is apparently spending shedloads working on
| better designs for PCs to match its super soaraway operating system Vista.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34006
With kickbacks and payolas, it's clear that many of these machines will have
Linux installed (dual-boot or Linux in isolation). So why tailor the design
to expensive unwanted bloatware that is not secure and puts privacy in
jeopardy? It seems like lockin by design, which is added to lockin by OEM
deadlocks and non-standard formats/applications.
====
Subject: [News] Linux in Germany
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:43:14 +0100
Linux und Deutschland
,----[ Quote ]
| Germany and Linux are definitely intertwined. After all, one of the
| most popular distributions, SUSE, has its origins in Germany. Anecdotal
| evidence suggests that Linux use in Germany may be a bit more popular
| there than in other countries; certainly their Linux community is lively.
| One of the most clever wallpapers I?ve seen was a ?Linux fur Deutschland?
| image of the Brandenberg Gate: instead of a figure of a chariot drawn
| by four horses, some clever artist had substituted Tux for the animals.
`----
http://www.linuxextremist.com/?p=96
Here's that famous image:
http://www-5.ibm.com/de/schule/projekte/img/image_index.jpg
====
Subject: [News] NeoOffice Beta 3 (OpenOffice in Aqua) is Released
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:45:32 +0100
Download NeoOffice 2.0 Aqua Beta 3 for free
,----[ Quote ]
| 29 August 2006: NeoOffice 2.0 Aqua Beta 3 is released. This release is
| based on the OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 code and includes all of the new
| OpenOffice.org 2.0.3 features.
`----
http://www.planamesa.com/neojava/en/index.php
====
Subject: [News] New Linux SMB's Reach the UK
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:47:56 +0100
New Linux Server Launched in U.K. for Small and Medium Business
,----[ Quote ]
| Solution providers can now offer small and medium businesses a choice -
| bringing the security, power, flexibility and cost-savings of Linux -
| with the U.K. launch of Collax server solutions... Due to an easy-to-use,
| intuitive graphical interface, no Linux know-how is required for running
| the Collax server solutions.
`----
http://www5.sys-con.com/read/265471.htm
====
Subject: [News] Credit Suisse Includes Red Hat Linux in "Disruptive Technology" Portfolio
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:51:48 +0100
That's a good thing, of course.
Credit Suisse Disruptive Technology Portfolio Mover Of The Week: Red Hat
,----[ Quote ]
| But as LinuxWorld drew to a close, it became apparent that Oracle would
| make no announcement. Red Hat shares rallied, and renewed optimism drove
| the stock up 9% over five days.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20060829/tc_cmp/192300340
====
Subject: [News] Miconceptions About the Most Popular Software License: GPL
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:58:23 +0100
10 common misunderstandings about the GPL
,----[ Gist (all are myths!) ]
| 1. The GPL is viral
| 2. The GPL is unenforceable
| 3. You can't charge for GPL software
| 4. The "liberty or death" clause applies absolutely
| 5. Distributors only need to ship the source code they alter
| 6. Distributors only need to supply source code, and not the means to use
| it
| 7. Distributors don't need to provide offers of source code
| 8. Distributors only need to offer source code to their customers
| 9. Distributors only need to link to the license text
| 10. I don't think that word means what you think it means
`----
http://management.itmanagersjournal.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/21/1659203&from=rss
====
Subject: [News] Vista pricing
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:16:49 +0100
Since nobody seems to have posted it yet..
>From a post by Jim Polaski in CSMA -
http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/08/29/vistapricing/index.php
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft's DRM Hacked
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 17:33:28 +0100
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5294750.stm
Mark Mulligan, an analyst from Jupiter Research, said: "I think Microsoft
will be putting tools into place to close the hole - they are the big gorilla
of the digital media space - whenever they develop a piece of technology
people try to hack it and crack it.
"They have good systems in place to dynamically update their system to make
sure holes are filled."
Uh huh.
====
Subject: [News] Latest iTunes DRM Backward Engineered
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:49:25 +0100
QTFairUse6: is Hymn finally back to strip FairPlay on iTunes 6?
,----[ Quote ]
| Remember Hymn? You should, back in the day (like, um, 2004) it allowed you
| to strip the FairPlay DRM right off iTunes Music Store bought files just
| like that; well, it's been a long time in coming, but a new app called
| QTFairUse6 looks like it can now be used (with some amount of difficulty)
| to dump iTunes version 6.0.4 - 6.0.5 files of their chastely protection.
`----
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/29/hymn-is-back-fairplay-on-itunes-6-finally-cracked/
In France, this could take you to prison.
====
Subject: [News] In Delta Airlines, There is Linux on Every Seat
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 19:56:06 +0100
Delta Airlines runs Linux which sometimes crashes
,----[ Quote ]
| The term crash is synanomous with Windows and Stefan Eriksson from
| defunct Gizmondo. Whereas Linux is well known for stability.
`----
http://www.newlaunches.com/archives/delta_airlines_runs_linux_which_sometimes_crashes.php
And it's not just Delta.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/milliped/116393699/
If only people (or passenger) realised how often they use GNU/Linux. Google
and E-mail servers are among the classic examples.
====
Subject: [News] Python on a Plane, Ruby on Rails, Java and Python
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:01:21 +0100
Django: Python on a Plane
,----[ Quote ]
| The Django Web framework makes it easier for Python developers to create
| Web applications more quickly and with less code, said the lead developer
| of the open-source project.
`----
http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,2009631,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03119TX1K0000594
Working Together: Python/Java & Open Source/Commercial
,----[ Quote ]
| PDFTextStream started out as a Java library, but is now available and
| supported for Python. How that leap was made exemplifies how commercial
| and open source software efforts complement each other in the best
| of circumstances, and is also a fantastic case study in Java +
| Python integration.
`----
http://blog.snowtide.com/2006/08/21/working-together-pythonjava-open-sourcecommercial
====
Subject: [News] Novell to Release Quarterly Report Amidst Move to Linux
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:08:32 +0100
Novell shares hover ahead of financial results
,----[ Quote ]
| An update on the Waltham, Mass., company's efforts to keep costs in
| check will be the key, said analyst Kirk Materne, of Bank of America
| Securities, in a note to clients on Monday. He rates the stock buy with
| a 12-month target price of $9.
`----
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7b67A7A8D2-EDDD-4E82-B759-034E47D8E714%7d&siteid=yhoo&dist=yhoo
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft's Hot Seller: Lack of Security
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:12:03 +0100
More security bang for fewer bucks
,----[ Quote ]
| So far, OneCare has made a splash. The product held the No. 2 spot in
| sales of security suites at U.S. stores in June and July, the first two
| full months that it was available, according NPD data. OneCare is by far
| the cheapest option, with an average retail price of $34.02 in July,
| versus $60.93 for Symantec's security suite and $63.24 for McAfee's
| suite software.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6110519.html
It's like an undertaker who kills people for extra cash.
====
Subject: [News] Linux an Embodiment of the Future O/S
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:26:58 +0100
Linux represents future of computer systems
,----[ Quote ]
| Given these advantages, Linux can't help but become more and more common.
| As a result, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with Linux.
| Fortunately, this is easy and, unlike Windows or Macintosh, free.
`----
http://www.reflector-online.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/08/29/44f3a0c2dfbfc
====
Subject: [News] Universities Group Together to Create Open Source Financial Software
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:29:12 +0100
UA topic: open-source financial software
,----[ Quote ]
| Several university bean counters will be in Tucson in November to talk
| about their collaborative open-source financial software.
`----
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/24273.php
====
Subject: [News] Sun Microsystems Releases Open Source Identity Management System
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:32:30 +0100
Sun releases open source single-sign-on code
,----[ Quote ]
| Sun has officially released the source code to an identity management
| system under an open source license. Dubbed OpenSSO (Open Web Single
| Sign-On), the product is a suite of tools on which enterprises can build
| a unified authentication and session management framework to link
| disparate Web-based and Java-based applications.
`----
http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/06/08/29/1352245.shtml?tid=138&tid=91
====
Subject: [News] Touch Technology Acknowledges Linux as 'Driver-Worthy'
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:36:11 +0100
Touch Drivers: Elo Offers New Touch Drivers For Linux And Mac OS X
,----[ Quote ]
| Elo TouchSystems, the global leader in touch technology and a division of
| Tyco Electronics Corporation, has developed a new range of touch drivers
| for both Linux and Mac OS X. These new offerings complement Elo?s already
| extensive range of touch drivers for Windows, Macintosh, and legacy
| operating systems such as DOS and OS/2.
`----
http://www.retailsolutionsonline.com/content/news/article.asp?DocID=%7B8707EA7E-8E63-4F3D-A81C-07006668C068%7D&Bucket=Current+Headlines&VNETCOOKIE=NO
====
Subject: [News] Red Hat Executives: Hackers Help Open Source
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:39:41 +0100
Red Hat Exec: Hackers Still Important
,----[ Quote ]
| Volunteer hackers still play an important role in open-source
| software development despite the many companies that pay developers
| to work on open-source products, according to Michael Tiemann,
| Red Hat's vice president of open-source affairs.
`----
http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=24334
Surely, closed system cannot thrive on hackers and volunteers, whether they
test (security) or even improve and extend.
====
Subject: [News] RFID Readers Use Linux
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 20:43:58 +0100
Linux adds flexibility to "long-range" RFID readers
,----[ Quote ]
| RFID specialist TagMaster used embedded Linux to build a new generation
| of "long-range and high-performance" 2.45 GHz RFID systems.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9322932025.html
====
Subject: [News] Fedora Core 5 Gets Live CD
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 06:50:09 +0100
Fedora Goes Live
,----[ Quote ]
| Though Red Hat's sponsored community distribution, Fedora Core, includes
| a lot of applications and has an easy-to-use installer, it has long
| been missing a critical piece, namely a Live CD.
`----
http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news/article.php/3629161
Here are some screenshots:
http://www.thelinuxstore.ca/screenshots/fedora_core_5_live_screenshots.html
Fedora is yet to reach many millions of children worldwide.
====
Subject: [News] With Linux, Possibilities are Endless
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:11:22 +0100
Ambient Orbs Visualization
,----[ Quote ]
| Not sure which distro this guy runs but he's created a very
| cool visualization for XMMS using ambient orbs.
`----
http://www.ubuntuvideo.com/ambient_orbs_visualization
====
Subject: [News] Motorola Talks Linux
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:16:07 +0100
Interview: Guy Martin of Motorola's Linux Division
,----[ Quote ]
| Although the current mobile Linux initiatives have made great headway in
| moving the platform forward, having the backing of major phone
| manufacturers and operators is critical to the future success of the
| platform. Through our work with the Mobile Linux Foundation, we and the
| other member companies are focused on creating a platform that enables
| development of a wide range of new applications that will enhance the
| consumer experience. The companies have also announced their intent to
| form an independent foundation to guide this effort and help raise
| awareness and acceptance of the platform within mobile and developer
| communities.
|
| [...]
|
| With close to 5 million Linux-based smartphones shipped to date, Motorola
| has brought the platform beyond the 'experimental stage' -- and in doing
| so, solved a number of the more difficult problems.
|
| Right now, it?s a matter of refining and optimizing the system to run in
| the relatively constrained mobile environment (memory footprint,
| processing power, etc.). It's the classic example of form vs. function --
| and in many cases, tradeoffs need to be made. Power management optimization
| is an on-going challenge, especially in getting Linux power management to
| be aware of external components like the radio -- but we continue to
| work through these issues to fully optimize our Linux-based handsets.
`----
http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=15659
Analysis at:
Interview with Motorola's open-source guy
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS4089041752.html
====
Subject: [News] Adobe/Macromedia and Linux (Interview)
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:19:05 +0100
Why was there no version 8 of the Flash Player for Linux?
,----[ Quote ]
| First, as the Linux community's agent on the inside I can tell you that
| I haven?t found any evidence to back the common sentiment expressed in
| my blog's comments that "Adobe hates Linux." Flash Player 8.5, which
| was renamed Flash Player 9 before its release, was always the target for
| the port because the timing between the v8 and v8.5 releases was
| relatively close. That was planned before I started at Adobe. Personally, I
| blame myself for not finding out about the job sooner.
|
| [...]
|
| Is there anything that you don't think you'll be able to do with the
| Linux Flash Player that exists with the Flash Player version for Windows
| and Macs?
|
| I operate from the position that Linux is as technically competent as
| other desktop operating systems. Thus, the Linux Flash Player should be
| able to do everything that the Windows and Mac versions can do. That said,
| there are still a few areas that are not quite solved, such as parity
| with the Express Install feature that could potentially make the Flash
| Player very easy to upgrade for the end user.
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Stewart/?p=96
====
Subject: [News] OpenOffice Gets Free "Premium" Edition
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:21:29 +0100
OpenOffice.org Premium 2.0.3 has been released
,----[ Quote ]
| OpenOffice.org Premium is a free and open source enhancement of official
| OpenOffice.org plus some Extras for you to use.
| OpenOffice.org the product is a multi-platform office productivity suite.
| It includes the key desktop applications, such as a word processor,
| spreadsheet, presentation manager, and drawing program, with a user
| interface and feature set similar to other office suites. Sophisticated
| and flexible, OpenOffice.org also works transparently with a variety of
| file formats, including those of Microsoft Office.
|
| ---
| What's new?
| * Clip Art (currently more than 2,800 objects)
| * Templates (number varies by language)
| * Samples (number varies by language)
| * Documentation (if available)
| * Fonts (more than 90 fonts)
| ---
`----
http://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?forum_id=605082
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Matters to Apple
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:24:08 +0100
Why Open Source Matters to Apple
,----[ Quote ]
| The open source revolution has shaken the slowly crumbling foundations
| of closed source software, and while it hasn't taken over completely
| just yet, the tide is beginning to turn in its favor. Your normal
| everyday user may not really understand or appreciate what open source
| means, but that doesn't mean that they're not experiencing the effects
| of it.
|
| [...]
|
| Linux continues to get a big gold star for its ongoing efforts in this
| area, but don't think that the other OS manufacturers are ignoring the
| momentum that open source has built for itself. They may not be doing
| as good of a job with it just yet, but they're learning (sometimes
| reluctantly) how to deal with this new reality.
`----
http://www.cooltechzone.com/Departments/Featured_Story/Why_Open_Source_Matters_to_Apple_200608282502/
====
Subject: [News] Open Source, Web-based Desktop with Translucency, Nice Widgets
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:30:21 +0100
Worth seeing.
Welcome to the Echo2 Demonstration Application.
,----[ Quote ]
| This application was developed using the open-source Echo2 framework, a
| few open-source Echo2 component libraries, and the EchoStudio2 IDE.
| Absolutely no JavaScript or HTML development was performed in the creation
| of this application.
`----
http://demo.nextapp.com/Demo/app
====
Subject: [News] Linspire Does Well, So It Makes CNR Free and Open-Sources It
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:33:07 +0100
Linspire frees "Click 'N Run" software service
,----[ Quote ]
| In a surprise move, Linspire is now offering its CNR ("Click 'N Run")
| software service at no charge to its Linspire and Freespire Linux
| distribution customers. In addition, the company will soon be
| open-sourcing the CNR Client.
|
| CNR, previously a fee-based service offered at annual subscription rates
| of $20 for basic and $50 for premium ("Gold") access to new programs, had
| been the San Diego-based company main source of income.
|
| Now, however, according to CEO Kevin Carmony, Linspire is doing well
| enough from selling its higher-end products and services that it can
| afford to offer its basic CNR service free of charge. Thus, both Linspire
| and Freespire users can use the extremely easy software delivery and
| update program for free.
`----
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS8523030175.html
====
Subject: [News] Wired on the MS/SCO FUD Puppet
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:44:02 +0100
The Linux Killer
,----[ Quote ]
| "It seems to me that the battle isn't really SCO versus IBM, or SCO
| versus Linux," McBride says. "I think there's a war going on. The war
| is around the future of the operating system, and whether it's going to
| be free or not."
|
| On that score, at least, McBride is right. Over the past decade,
| Finnish programmer Linus Torvalds and his global band of coders have
| created an open operating system just as capable as closed proprietary
| systems like Microsoft's Windows or Sun Microsystems' Solaris. Companies
| from IBM to Red Hat sell services based on Linux, often at substantially
| less than what it costs businesses to buy and operate Windows. Corporate
| America has noticed. Linux now runs on 19 percent of servers, according
| to research firm IDC, and on a small but growing chunk of the desktop
| market. Meanwhile, millions of consumer electronics devices - from
| cell phones to DVRs - rely on Linux, too.
|
| The effects of Linux's rise can be seen throughout the tech industry.
| Microsoft agreed in April to pay $2 billion to archenemy Sun to settle
| all patent claims and to work on interoperability between Windows and
| Solaris. The reason: They have a common enemy in Linux. Last fall, IBM
| funneled $50 million to Novell to help it buy the German firm SuSe, a
| Linux distributor. The deal completed Novell's defection from the closed
| team (as a vendor exclusively selling its own operating system, NetWare)
| to the open source team.
`----
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/linux.html
How ironic it is that, several years down the line, Sun embraces Open Source
and sidles next to ubuntu Linux. The 'war' is being won.
====
Subject: [News] Ubuntu Most Popular, According to Survey
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:38:32 +0100
Results from the 2006 Desktop Linux Survey - Part 1
,----[ Quote ]
| The results of DesktopLinux.com's 2006 Desktop Linux Market survey are
| in, and the votes are all tallied. This first article of a series offers
| a perspective on how the various desktop Linux distributions fared, and
| why.
|
| Before jumping into what the survey of almost 15,000 Linux users revealed,
| though, I should point out a few things...
`----
http://desktoplinux.com/articles/AT5816278551.html
====
Subject: [News] Video Decoder Does Linux
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:35:56 +0100
Video decoder software supports ARM/Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| TIVR Communications has released a "highly optimized" software video
| decoder for mobile and embedded environments that implements the SMPTE
| VC-1/WMV9 protocol. The VC-1 decoder works on devices based on ARM
| processors running Linux, among other embedded OSes, the company says.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS6914879005.html
====
Subject: [News] Mandriva 2007 Reviewed
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:48:20 +0100
Mandriva 2007 Beta 2 - short review
,----[ Quote ]
| Beta versions of Mandriva 2007 have been appearing for a while now and
| the final release is coming soon. Bugs gets fixed, new features appear,
| together with the new looks? Thus, we have decided to give Mandriva 2007
| beta 2 "Odin" a shot.
`----
http://polishlinux.org/linux/mandriva/mandriva-2007-beta-2-short-review/
====
Subject: [News] Novell's Profits are Soaring!
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:55:27 +0100
Novell 3Q Profit Soars
,----[ Quote ]
| Novell Inc., which makes open-source business software, said Tuesday
| its preliminary third-quarter profit jumped...
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060829/earns_novell.html?.v=1
====
Subject: [News] IBM Brings Virtualisation to US Open
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:00:57 +0100
IBM Virtualization Serves Up Cooler Systems for US Open Tennis Event
,----[ Quote ]
| For this year's US Open, IBM consolidated the existing infrastructure from
| 60 servers down to just nine.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/060829/0158374.html
...More UNIX-centric, a different context, but nonetheless, virtualisation
technologies are said to be the calalyst for massive adoption rates for
GNU/Linux.
====
Subject: [News] AT&T Customers Get Data Stolen By Server Hackers
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:11:13 +0100
Hackers access personal data on thousands of AT&T customers
,----[ Quote ]
| Hackers have broken into an AT&T computer system and accessed personal
| data on thousands of customers who used its online store, the
| telecommunications giant said on Tuesday.
|
| [...]
|
| The break-in, which occurred over the weekend, was discovered within
| hours, and the online store was shut down immediately. The company quickly
| notified credit card companies and was contacting the affected
| customers through email, phone and letter, AT&T said.
|
| [...]
|
| The incident was the latest in a long string of data security breaches.
| Since early last year, more than 90 million personal records have been
| exposed in dozens of incidents, according to the latest information by
| the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse.
`----
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/30/content_5025992.htm
Reminds me of stories such as:
"University server in hackers' hands for a year"
http://news.com.com/University+server+in+hackers+hands+for+a+year/2100-7349_3-6074739.html
====
Subject: [News] Google Flirts with Apple
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:13:56 +0100
Google chief joins Apple's board
,----[ Quote ]
| Google chief executive officer Eric Schmidt has been appointed as a
| board member of Apple Computers.
|
| [...]
|
| He joined Google from Novell and prior to that was chief technology
| officer at Sun Microsystems.
`----
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/5297224.stm
I guess Google will get together with anyone who puts in jeoparady their main
rival.
====
Subject: [News] Will Linux Be Fully-Absorbed Through Change?
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:29:53 +0100
The assumption here is that desktops as we know them will morph/evolve,
leaving Open Source in a batter position, owing to modularity.
Is an HCI revolution just around the corner?
,----[ Quote ]
| Personal computing launched with the IBM PC. But popular computing
| - computing for the masses - launched with the modern WIMP (windows,
| icons, mouse, pointer) interface, which made computers usable by
| ordinary people. As popular computing has grown, the role of HCI
| (human-computer interaction) has increased.
`----
http://www.acmqueue.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=402&page=1
You might argue that people will be forced or compelled to move forward (e.g.
multiple workspaces), so the Linux transition will be a burden on par with
upgrade of an existing O/S. Small mobile devices are another example.
====
Subject: [News] GetGNULinux.org is Launched
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:34:37 +0100
Linux enthusiasts launch community website
,----[ Quote ]
| "We are not in any way affiliated with any company, nor distributors of
| Linux, or software developers," the group says on its website. "Not even
| the Free Software Foundation (though we share many views) or any
| code-writing project. We are just normal Linux users -- enthusiastic
| and with a concern for freedom in computing."
`----
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS4459238418.html
====
Subject: [News] National Australia Bank Loves Linux
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:36:35 +0100
Innovation fuels NAB's Linux foray
,----[ Quote ]
| A shift to Linux-based grid computing at the National Australia Bank
| has opened the gate to a more agile IT infrastructure and dramatically
| reduced maintenance costs, according to one of the bank's senior technology
| strategists.
`----
http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;580233128;fp;4;fpid;3
====
Subject: [News] Novell: Linux Pays Off, Up 30% in Revenue
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:39:36 +0100
Novell CFO says focus on Linux, ID products paying off
,----[ Quote ]
| Novell Inc.'s new chief financial officer said the decline in the
| company's legacy software sales (Windows-related) in the third quarter
| was disappointing, but that its focus on Linux products is paying off
| in higher sales.
`----
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?dist=newsfinder&siteid=google&guid=%7B0AEAE020-55C6-46A9-B51E-C0C092FD4CBD%7D&keyword=
Novell Profit Gets Linux Lift
,----[ Quote ]
| Business software maker cites 30 percent boost in Linux revenue for
| third quarter.
`----
http://www.redherring.com/Article.aspx?a=18249&hed=Novell+Profit+Gets+Linux+Lift§or=Industries&subsector=Computing
====
Subject: [News] OSS Still Penetrates Business Intelligence As Valauable Contender
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:43:42 +0100
Will Open Source Be One of Your BI Sources?
,----[ Quote ]
| The Open-Source movement has not been ignored by data warehouse and
| business intelligence vendors. While the Linux operating system and the
| Apache Web server have become the poster children for the open source
| community, the range of open-source products available today includes
| database and business intelligence software as well.
`----
http://www.esj.com/business_intelligence/article.aspx?EditorialsID=8111
====
Subject: [News] Palm to Use Linux, Support (Emulate) Palm OS, Drop Windows Mobile
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:55:48 +0100
Treo going Linux?
,----[ Quote ]
| Not in the near future, but hopefully soon. As this CNET article
| indicates, PalmSource (Access) is working hard to bring Linux to the
| Palm platform. I'm not sure what has taken it so long - it's been a
| year-and-a-half since PalmSource acquired China MobileSoft as an inroad
| to Linux.
`----
http://asay.blogspot.com/2006/08/treo-going-linux.html
It's just an analysis/interpretation of an article I linked to yesterday.
====
Subject: [News] Free Open Source Software Chosen By German Fair Trade Co-op
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 08:59:35 +0100
FOSS facilitates communication for German fair trade co-op
,----[ Quote ]
| Becker has some advice for other businesses that might be considering
| a switch to open source. "You gain more if you share. Copyright,
| protection, patenting -- forget about it. Share freely what you have, and
| you will get a lot from others as well. If that's not possible, find [a
| developer] you can pay, but who you can trust to help you out with
| decision-making and with installation, learning, and troubleshooting.
| [With open source,] you will not only save money on software, but also
| have the possibility to adapt the software to your needs."
`----
http://software.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/21/1841204&from=rss
For fair trade, it would be ironic to choose Microsoft...
====
Subject: [News] Electronic Arts: One in Two or Three XBox 360's is Broken
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 09:03:02 +0100
Gamers Say Microsoft Understates Xbox Problems
,----[ Quote ]
| An insider from Electronic Arts, Inc. is saying that the failure rate
| of Microsoft's Xbox 360 gaming console is actually ten times higher than
| what Microsoft spokespeople have admitted.
|
| Game Daily BIZ, a gaming industry publication, reported that the
| anonymous source tallied that of the 300 consoles EA has received,
| 30-50 percent of them have failed.
`----
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/08/xbox_gamers02.html
This reminds me of Microsoft releasing stats from its security application,
stating that only one in 50 computers has malware (I saw that last week, I
swear).
*rolls eyes*
====
Subject: [News] Nokia Appliances Contain Open Source Software
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 09:06:05 +0100
Nokia appliances to get a snort of Sourcefire
,----[ Quote ]
| Nokia plans to integrate Sourcefire's intrusion prevention software into
| its line of network security appliances by year-end.
|
| Sourcefire, which is based on the open-source Snort software, scans the
| network for suspicious activity, which it can either block or report back
| to network administrators.
`----
http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php?id=1664931902&rid=-50
====
Subject: [News] Long Linux Migration Story
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:28:50 +0100
Loning it with Fedora, pt.2
,----[ Quote
| "Yow." Windows is big. It and all the junk they ship with it.
|
| "So it's still loading." We walked into the back and where it was there,
| sitting open on a long cluttered desk, looking something like an
| inpatient.
|
| "But it's going to be ok?" I asked.
|
| "Yeah, it'll be ok."
|
| I asked him if he knew anything about dual booting and he said he did
| but he quickly changed the subject.
|
| "It'll probably take, say two more hours. You could come back or..." he
| must have detected the sudden despair in my eyes, "actually, you
| could probably take it with you right now."
`----
http://acycle.org/works/58
Too many misconceptions in the essay, e.g. "Fedora, it turns out, is Red
Hat's sandbox, where they release and test the stuff that will, after the
crowd has tested and debugged and improved it, will be packaged with their
commercial Enterprise products."
This is anti-Red Hat FUD. That aside, Fedora Core is best/more suited for
technical users. Ubuntu, Linspire, Xandros or SLED would have been better
choices to make.
All that aside, you can see that people know every little about partitioning.
And Windows Vista, kindly enough, will make matters even worse by tossing
away the MBR
====
Subject: [News] Automatix/Easyubuntu to Reach Ubuntu Edgy GUI/Repository?
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:22:17 +0100
Common (*buntu) Customizations
,----[ Summary ]
| With the many community customization scripts floating around, it is
| relevant to provide relevant information about the status of integrating
| the changes these scripts provide in Ubuntu. This page seeks to
|
| * Examine these resources and document their effect on the system
|
| * Provide a list of suggested improvements inspired by these
| resources that may make them unnecessary in the future.
|
| * Give instructions on how to avoid questionable solutions and help
| work toward implementing official solutions instead
|
| * Give an explanation of why there are some packages that Ubuntu
| cannot or will not adopt
|
`----
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/CommonCustomizations
====
Subject: [News] Easy Management of Portable Media Players in Linux (Ubuntu-iPod)
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:25:12 +0100
Ubuntu and Your iPod
,----[ Quote ]
| This article is from a new book published by No Starch Press: Ubuntu
| Linux for Non-Geeks: A Pain-Free, Project-Based, Get-Things-Done Guidebook
| by Rickford Grant.
`----
http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9266
====
Subject: [News] Linux Beats Windows TCO, With Very Considerable Gap
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:29:12 +0100
Edubuntu, Linux Terminal Server and thin clients
,----[ Quote ]
| You walk into the room. It's cool and quiet. You see thirty new
| workstations giving great service. Your cost of hardware was CAD$350 for
| each workstation, CAD$10 to connect it to an existing 100Mbps LAN, and
| about CAD$60 for a share of a server in another room (CAD$1 = US$0.87).
| Your software costs were only some download and CD burn time and forty
| minutes for installation. Your operating costs are virtually nil. The
| server runs for months without a reboot. The workstations have nothing
| but network boot loaders. You back up only one machine, the server.
| The workstations use twenty watts each and have no fans. Magical? Yes.
| Magic? No.
`----
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/linux_terminal_server
====
Subject: [News] OSweekly Praises Linux
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:35:13 +0100
Why Linux Kernel 2.6 Rocks
,----[ Quote ]
| If you are the kind of person who believes in the phrase "More is Good,"
| then get ready to be bogged down by the impressive new set of features
| that Linux kernel 2.6 boasts. Since the very beginning, Linux is known
| for its stability, and kernel version 2.6 continues the saga. With a host
| of new features, support for virtually million devices (and that includes
| an array of mobile and embedded devices), improved audio-video
| capabilities, journaling and distributed file systems, increased user
| space for application programs, support for up to 64GB of RAM, 16
| terabytes of file systems and millions of users, the further improved
| GNU/Linux will most certainly win your heart. As this article will
| illustrate, the new kernel has something for all types of users -
| server administrators, multimedia fanatics, and casual users.
`----
http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2312&Itemid=449
====
Subject: [News] Use GNU/Linux and Your Laptop Will Not Catch Fire
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:40:10 +0100
Fires and Laptops and Batteries, Oh My!
,----[ Quote ]
| All this drama strikes me as rather funny. Personally, I can use all
| the multimedia features of the internet without any trouble using a
| relatively old laptop, one which isn't likely to burn down my house.
| The difference is, I?m using Linux.
|
| It appears that Mr. Waters has difficulty getting to the root of the
| problem; the real issue is the operating system. What if I were to tell
| you that it is possible to have a fully functional, modern desktop PC
| running off the same processor that is used in handhelds and other small
| portable (i.e., low power) devices? It's true; a company in Britain called
| Iyonix PC (www.iyonix.com) offers PCs using the Intel Xscale processor.
| It's intended for use with RISC OS, but also can be used with a variant
| of Debian Linux, a solid choice of modern operating system. With Debian
| and either KDE or GNOME, all the features that a modern user could want
| for office tasks, web browsing and potentially even streaming video are
| available, with a fraction of the normal power requirements. This fact
| simply is not well known.
|
| The dirty little secret of the PC industry is that most users don't need
| as much of the processing power and energy usage as they are presently
| consuming; the Windows / Intel cycle of creating an ever larger operating
| system which requires ever more processing power to use it is creating
| this situation. Users just are not aware of alternatives, and alternatives
| are not presented to them; there's big business in keeping them in the
| hamster wheel of hardware and software replacement. There's not enough of
| a sales story for people like Microsoft in saying their latest product
| will be more efficient in its use of resources, as opposed to having
| more novelty.
`----
http://www.linuxextremist.com/?p=97
His argument is precisely the reason why I posted all these stories about
burning laptops: greed, excess, and waste.
====
Subject: [News] Maltese Company Chooses the GPL, Promotes Desktop Linux
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:46:27 +0100
Maltese company 2X Software release product under GPL license
,----[ Quote ]
| It is a great pleasure that a Maltese company is embracing the Open
| Source community together with the rest of Europe. This is definitely
| a step forward for Linux on our desktops.
`----
http://www.linux.org.mt/node/70
====
Subject: [News] Windows Zombies Significantly Rise in Number, Hurt Internet
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:50:34 +0100
Instances of zombies on the rise
,----[ Quote ]
| There has been a 23 per cent increase in the total number of zombies
| detected this week due to the release of a modification of the Mocbot worm,
| according to CipherTrust Research Labs.
`----
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2163164/zombiesrise
The implication for non-Windows users: more SPAM, more DDOS attacks, slower
network, higher connection fees.
====
Subject: [News] Free (as in "Free Speech" and "Free Beer") Open Source Courses
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:55:03 +0100
Open-of-Course-Free Online Courses and Tutorial
,----[ Quote ]
| Here you will find a growing amount of free online courses and tutorials.
| By "free" we not only mean free as in "free beer" but also published as
| open content . Our focus is at the start mainly on open source software
| courses but as we grow more will be added.
|
| Our goal is to create a multilingual platform for free quality
| educational information.
`----
http://www.open-of-course.org/
Sounds like Wikipedia beat them to it.
====
Subject: [News] Advantages of Working on FOSS Over Daytime Job
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 15:59:00 +0100
What's the difference between working on an open source project and working
on a paid job
,----[ Factors ]
| Time
| Feedback
| Working environment
`----
http://tortoisesvn.net/difference_opensource_paidjob
====
Subject: [News] IBM's Shopping Spree Get US Antitrust Approval
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:35:50 +0100
IBM gets US antitrust nod to buy MRO Software
,----[ Quote ]
| Antitrust authorities have closed their review of the cash
| transaction without taking action to block it, the Federal Trade
| Commission said in a notice.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/060830/mrosoftware_antitrust.html?.v=1
It makes one wonder if US antitrust is truly a toothless tiger that just
cannot be bothered. This promotes giants and monopolies (including Google in
the information space and even Walmart, which has stretched overseas).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_acquired_by_Microsoft_Corporation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Acquisitions_by_Google
====
Subject: [News] Analyst Predicts Bright Future for Novell with Linux
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:43:27 +0100
Analyst Encouraged by Novell's Quarterly Results, Overshadow Stock Options
Review
,----[ Quote ]
| A Jefferies & Co. analyst said Wednesday she is encouraged by Novell
| Inc.'s gains in its Linux business during the fiscal third quarter, and
| expects the business to continue driving the open-source software
| company's profit.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060830/novell_ahead_of_the_bell.html?.v=1
====
Subject: [News] Government IT Security Criticised
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:49:37 +0100
Perspective: Puffing pipedreams about government IT security
,----[ Quote ]
| While all great things must start with a minor movement forward, the
| latest White House memorandum on information security has as much value
| as telling my 4-year-old son that riding a bike is easy--all you need to
| do is pedal.
|
| The flaws with the new White House information security mandates comef
| rom assuming that centralized authority exists. In reality, this is as
| fictional as many of Hollywood's themes.
`----
http://news.com.com/2010-7348_3-6110743.html?part=rss&tag=6110743&subj=news
Ignore Microsoft's sponsored FUD on the right-hand-side, e.g. "What OS proved
swore reliable then Linux? Study". They also shove Vista adds in the C|Net
RSS feeds. Ironically, these reside next to articles that bash Microsoft for
a whole variety of reasons.
====
Subject: [News] IT Price Cuts - Linux the Answer?
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:55:01 +0100
Gov stitches up IT price cuts
,----[ Quote ]
| The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) has negotiated price cuts of 45
| per cent on computer hardware supplied through its Catalist framework
| agreements, it said yesterday.
|
| The OGC framework regime is already notoriously tight for suppliers,
| with most British firms that supply PCs to the public sector complaining
| they can barely make ends meet.
`----
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/08/30/ogc_discounts/
====
Subject: [News] Mozilla Takes Firefox 2 to the Mainstream
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 17:57:46 +0100
Mozilla Goes Mainstream
,----[ ]
| The unconventional company hopes to gain market share and outfox
| the competition with a new version of its Firefox browser
`----
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2006/tc20060830_824598.htm?campaign_id=bier_tcutnm
====
Subject: [News] Windows' Bolivian Translation Result of "Linux Threat"
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:06:19 +0100
Microsoft Windows Goes Bolivian
,----[ Quote ]
| In the past couple of years, Microsoft has upped its efforts to
| create local-language versions of Windows, in the face of competition
| from Linux, which can be freely modified and localized and doesn't
| carry licensing fees.
`----
http://www.cio.com/blog_view.html?CID=24376
This was also the case in Asia and Africa. If there is no real threat, i.e.
only a monopoly prevails, there is no incentive to accept and embrace other
cultures or lower prices.
====
Subject: [News] Linux Shakeup in Indian Enterprises
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:08:58 +0100
Redefining Software Usage
Increasing Linux adoption finally made Indian enterprises realize the
dynamics of a subscription-based software model. And the government
wholeheartedly endorsed open source
,----[ Quote ]
| The year saw large-scale enterprise deployments of Linux across
| verticals
|
| The government sector was one of the key drivers for Linux adoption.
| Localization of Linux was one major factor behind this success
|
| There was an increased focus on desktops as vendors established strong
| OEM relations with the likes of Intel, HCL and Wipro.
`----
http://www.ciol.com/content/developer/Linux/2006/106082901.asp
====
Subject: [News] Sun Microsystems CTO on the Value of Open Source and Community
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:10:25 +0100
Sun CTO Bob Brewin: Open Source, Open Community
,----[ Quote ]
| "We are trying to determine what the right governance model is and what
| the right licensing should be. We need to improve the infrastructure [for
| the community], provide a way for tracking bugs and feature requirements,
| and to do source code management."
`----
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/52708.html
====
Subject: [News] Linux/OSS Company in Belgium Joins Xen 'Distribution Network'
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:12:44 +0100
Belgian Linux and Open Source Company X-Tend Becomes XenSource Solution
Provider
,----[ Quote ]
| X-Tend announced an extension to the partnership with XenSource, by joining
| the XenSource Partner Program and becoming a XenSource Solution Provider
| (XSP).
`----
http://opensource.sys-con.com/read/266064.htm
====
Subject: [News] Research on the Success of Open Source Software
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:20:26 +0100
Research: Software processes and open source success
,----[ Quote ]
| Not a lot of big conclusions in the paper, but it does point to one
| general theme: successful projects are permeable. They make it easy (or
| relatively so) to contribute and use the software. Less successful
| projects horde information and so require larger investments of time in
| order to use or contribute to the project.
|
| So, if you're thinking of starting a project, or wanting to improve use of
| an existing project, try improving access to your CVS (or whatever you
| use), use of mailing lists, and follow a well-defined release plan. Oh, and
| document everything. It's boring work, but it's critical.
`----
http://asay.blogspot.com/2006/08/research-software-processes-and-open.html
====
Subject: [News] Open Source VIP's - The Complete List
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:22:42 +0100
CBR's open source VIPs - part two
,----[ Quote ]
| The free and open source software movement is dominated by individuals
| who have shaped and encouraged its adoption by big business. In the second
| of two features, Matthew Aslett identifies the open source VIPs.
|
| CBR's Open Source VIPs: the list in full
|
| * Larry Augustin
| * Miguel de Icaza
| * John/Jane Doe
| * Matthias Ettrich
| * Bill Hilf
| * Ron Hovsepian
| * Pamela Jones
| * Judge Dale Kimball
| * Neelie Kroes
| * Marten Mickos
| * Eben Moglen
| * Bruce Perens
| * Simon Phipps
| * Peter Quinn
| * Eric Raymond
| * Richard Stallman
| * Bob Sutor
| * Matthew Szulik
| * Michael Tiemann
| * Linus Torvalds
`----
http://www.cbronline.com/article_cbr.asp?guid=20E5F34B-5D51-4215-97B6-44181E083C43
====
Subject: [News] Perception of Linux Changes at Human Resources
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:25:02 +0100
Linux and Open Source: How They Affect HR Professionals
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux and other open source applications are finding increasing acceptance
| in the global marketplace by small and large companies alike. Statistics on
| the growth of a few open source programs-like Apache (a Web server), Linux
| (an operating system), FreeBSD (an operating system), and PostgreSQL (a
| database server)- demonstrate this. This column considers why open source
| is growing so fast, and what it means to human resources professionals.
|
| [...]
|
| With the growth in the OSS marketplace, led by Linux, more and more
| companies will be using OSS as a portion of their IT infrastructure,
| particularly in the arena of servers. As more applications become
| Web-based, there will be less and less reason for people to use Windows
| or Macintosh desktop computers. Companies like NumSum.com and Writely
| (just acquired by Google) provide traditional applications akin to Excel
| and Word through a Web browser interface. Windows isn't going away any
| time soon, but its days are numbered. OSS is shrinking Windows lifetime
| for servers and eventually it may do so for desktop machines as well.
| And that should provide interesting developments for all of us to watch.
`----
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/637577/linux_and_open_source_how_they_affect_hr_professionals/index.html?source=r_technology
====
Subject: [News] Linux on the Laptop, Courtesy of Novell
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:28:15 +0100
Linux Laptops
,----[ Quote ]
| Enterprise customers will give configuration preferences and software
| requirements to Novell, which will build a custom version of SLED 10.
| Novell will send the operating system to Lenovo which will install it and
| any other software required onto the laptops and test them to make sure
| the system works with all the software installed. Lenovo is currently
| certifying engineering design applications from companies including
| Cadence, Synopsys, and Mentor Graphics. Novell is now investigating
| other industries with heavy Linux usage such as automakers and
| financial services for future solutions opportunities.
|
| Until now, to install Linux on a notebook, the user had to purchase a
| laptop with Microsoft installed, uninstall Microsoft, and then install the
| preferred Linux distribution...
`----
http://www.it-analysis.com/business/content.php?cid=8709
====
Subject: [News] Compact, SBC Computer Uses Linux, Saves Money (Mac Mini-Like)
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:35:14 +0100
Compact, low-cost Linux box runs Debian/ARM
,----[ Quote ]
| Taiwanese embedded specialist Embedian has launched a line of compact,
| low-power, "embedded box computers" built around the company's ARM-based
| single-board computers (SBCs). The EBC-7000 incorporates the company's
| APC-7110 SBC, hard drive, and power supply, and comes with a 2.6.13 Linux
| kernel and Debian-based filesystem.
|
| [...]
|
| The EBC-7000 series systems are available now, priced from $189 including
| a 40G hard disk.
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2120023669.html
...Doesn't seem most suitable for home use. There is a weaker (166 MHz) and
smaller such box that sells for under $100 in China. It runs Linux, too.
Probably suitable for thin-clients...
====
Subject: [News] MySQL Cleanses Self from Oracle's Destruction of Competition
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:30:26 +0100
MySQL to drop Berkeley DB storage engine, add memcache plugin
,----[ Quote ]
| With the 5.1.12 release, MySQL will be dropping the Berkeley DB (BDB)
| storage engine from its list of supported database engines. Some
| observers have suggested that this move is connected to Oracle's purchase
| of Sleepycat, and that InnoDB may be next.
`----
http://www.linux.com/article.pl?sid=06/08/30/2151251
Only yesterday I mentioned Oracle's 'elimination' of BerkelyDB. One wonders
if other rich companies like Google and Microsoft can extinguish/subvert
threats using the same strategy (e.g. XenSource).
====
Subject: [News] Linux Compiz/XGL and Touchscreen are Symbiotic
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:18:04 +0100
Two new videos:
1. For work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQkSObRtw0o
2. Or for gaming (WinE): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYY-g6ionzM
Who said Linux isn't the future of computing?
====
Subject: [News] A Victory for Linux: More Migration Success Stories
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:44:51 +0100
A victory for Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| I always told my friends at university that Linux was good, and that it was
| better than Windows (for me), although I used the Microsoft operating
| system too. But as I stated on a previous post, I ditched Windows not long
| ago.
|
| [...]
|
| The whole point of this post is that you can help the whole open source
| / free software movement by just using it. Sooner or later your friends
| or someone you know may become curious and discover this new world
| where (almost) everything is free, it works, and there is a big community
| of people willing to help you out with your problems...
`----
http://tuxoblog.blogspot.com/2006/08/victory-for-linux.html
====
Subject: [News] SUSE Linux Server Touts Virtualisation, Earns Good Review
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:24:56 +0100
Tested: Suse Linux Enterprise Server 10
,----[ Verdict ]
| SLES 10 includes important new functionality to host virtual machines
| using the open-source Xen hypervisor. Other changes improve security and
| add a cluster file system, which enables SLES to be used to create a Xen
| server farm.
`----
http://www.vnunet.com/itweek/software/2160375/tested-suse-linux-enterprise-10
====
Subject: [News] Latest Gentoo Linux Released. More Choice, More Features
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:21:49 +0100
Gentoo v2006.1 touts enhancements, options
,----[ Quote ]
| Official stages are built for 64- and 32-bit userlands on generic PPC64,
| and POWER5 and PowerPC 970 (G5) platforms, and GRP packages are available
| for the latest KDE, GNOME, and XFCE releases on all of these
| configurations.
`----
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS9045501396.html
Screenshots:
http://shots.osdir.com/slideshows/slideshow.php?release=588&slide=7&title=gentoo+linux+2006.0+screenshots
====
Subject: [News] The 'Ultimate Study' Concludes: Linux Beats Windows
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:52:02 +0100
OS Showdown: Windows 2000 vs. Linux (Warning: this is juvenile humour)
,----[ Conclusions ]
| Final Score: Linux 4 - Windows 2000 2.
|
| It doesn't get any clearer than that. Linux is two times better than
| Windows 2000. Therefore I am proud to award Linux the BBspot Technical
| Excellence Award.
`----
http://www.bbspot.com/Features/2000/12/os_guide.html
This is quite old.
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Has Officially Lost to GNU/Linux in 2006
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:41:15 +0100
How Microsoft is loosing to GNU/Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| If "a year of GNU/Linux on the desktop" is defined as a year when GNU/Linux
| has finally started its steady encroachment to the desktop then 2006 is
| the year. A lot of users have started using GNU/Linux on their desktops
| long before, but it is 2006 which marked the two probably biggest
| GNU/Linux desktop releases to date, Ubuntu Dapper and Novell SuSE 10. It
| is 2006 which marks the biggest opportunity for GNU/Linux to steal the
| desktop market share from Windows due to the bad reputation behind the
| pending Windows Vista release. And the eyes and focus of both the
| GNU/Linux community and major GNU/Linux corporations such as Novell are
| fixed on that opportunity. Novell marketing is true: "Your Linux is ready."
|
| [...]
|
| The future? The future will be ours, not theirs. Free Software and Free
| Culture will prevail, simply because people like to be treated with
| respect, not as cash cows and criminals.
`----
http://www.nuxified.org/how_microsoft_is_loosing_to_gnu_linux
====
Subject: [News] Users See Future in Full Linux Adoption
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:48:37 +0100
Users see wider desktop adoption in Ubuntu's future
,----[ Quote ]
| "Setting up different users and permissions was simple, but I am
| still learning to use some of the technical parts, like setting up
| firewalls, installing upgrades and such," Jones said. "[Ubuntu] is
| much different than Windows but help is readily available on the Internet
| and in help files on the CD and DVDs," he said.
|
| "The one thing I still have not solved is importing email and address
| book entries from Windows Outlook 2003. Once that is done, I will bid
| farewell to all versions of Windows," he said.
|
| [...]
|
| "The person there at Ubuntu that heads up quality control should get an
| award for assuring Ubuntu is as good as it is," McDaniel said. "I've used
| many distros and feel Ubuntu is good for home or office. It truly is an OS
| for non-geeks and makes everything so easy -- from installing new software
| to keeping updated. Anyone can do it with ease," he said.
|
| Kerr sees a market opportunity for Ubuntu in the small and medium-sized
| business space, while the larger enterprise deployments would still
| require something like Red Hat or Novell SUSE Linux. "This could change
| however, and we could very soon have a big three in Linux: Red Hat, SUSE
| and Ubuntu," he said.
`----
http://searchopensource.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_gci1213400,00.html
====
Subject: [News] Flash 9 for Linux - Test Builds on Their Way
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 04:37:57 +0100
(Flash 9:) Basic Beta Briefing
,---- [ Quote ]
| Why are we stubbornly refusing to release, say, an alpha version now?
| Primarily because there are known bugs in the Linux Flash Player, and
| because we know what the bugs are, and we are on track to fix these
| known bugs. If we were to release an alpha now, we would likely be
| inundated with reports about bugs we already know about. We think
| that processing such redundant reports would not necessarily be the
| most industrious use of our time.
|
| So, the beta will come. Watch this space.
`----
http://blogs.adobe.com/penguin.swf/2006/08/basic_beta_briefing.html
====
Subject: [News] On the Rise of Open Source and the Death of IP
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 05:13:43 +0100
The Rise of Open Source Licensing - A Challenge to the Use of Intellectual
Property the Software Industry
This appears to be a gateway to the complete book
http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9529187793&id=WgG_RnOGB8EC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=PHP+programming&as_brr=1&sig=0qrQVj4N2kbB-9-KPCkAT-ft4Xs
====
Subject: [News] A New Approach for Marketing FOSS
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 05:06:52 +0100
Marketing FOSS with donor-paid ads
,----[ Quote ]
| As Gregory Heller, manager of the Defective By Design campaign, points
| out, donor-paid ads have been used for decades in newspapers. Typically,
| they consist of a message addressed to the public or a government official
| that takes a strong stand on an issue, as well as the names of those who
| helped to pay for the ad. Since the arrival of the Internet, the names
| of contributors are sometimes omitted and are named on a Web page
| mentioned in the ad.
`----
http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/06/08/10/1619241.shtml?tid=148&tid=138&tid=3
Could it compete with a $900 million brainwash compaign for Vista?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XObuskjLlZE < Microsoft Propaganda Film >
http://youtube.com/watch?v=fj3FOHc-fgA < Ballmer chants "Advertisers,
Advertisers, Advertisers." >
Linux humour (offbeat):
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=247335
http://xkcd.com/c149.html
====
Subject: [News] Windows Gets 5,500 New Viruses
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 05:26:47 +0100
Anti-Virus Testing and Consumer Reports
,----[ Quote ]
| Consumer Reports recently came under heavy fire from some in the
| anti-virus industry for creating some 5,500 new virus variants to see
| how well a dozen leading products fared in detecting the new nasties.
|
| [...]
|
| Some of the signatories noted -- via various media reports about the
| scandal -- that with so many viruses already in circulation today
| (estimates vary from 100,000 to 180,000) it was hardly necessary for
| Consumer Reports to gin up new ones that could, in theory, be leaked into
| the wild.
`----
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2006/08/antivirus_testing_and_consumer_1.html
====
Subject: [News] Analyst: Microsoft's Media Player Initiative a Bark, Not a Bite
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 05:33:55 +0100
Microsoft's Zune Portable Music Player Won't Bite Into Apple's IPod
Popularity, Analyst Says
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Corp.'s much-anticipated Zune portable music player
| appears "underwhelming" and could end up being "another classic case
| of overpromising and underdelivering" by the world's biggest software
| company, said an analyst for American Technology Research on
| Wednesday.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/060830/microsoft_apple_analyst_note.html?.v=1
Sounds just like the XBox 360, with high failure rates and colossal losses.
====
Subject: [News] Novell Brings Home the Bacon, with Linux
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 05:37:35 +0100
Novell Delivers: Fool by Numbers
,----[ Snippet ]
| * Earnings and free cash flow jumped sky-high, despite lower
| revenues than last year (Windows). However, a large portion of that gain
| came from discontinued operations (Windows), and Novell reported a net
| loss of $0.01 per diluted share on continuing operations.
|
| * The company reported 30% revenue growth year over year in the
| Linux segment, and 46% in Identity and Access Management.
| NetWare-related revenues (Windows) declined 19% year over year.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/fool/060830/115694787803.html?.v=1
====
Subject: [News] Google-Apple Connection Targets Microsoft
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 05:40:18 +0100
What Steve Jobs and Eric Schmidt have in common
Analysis: Google CEO brings more experience for the fight against Microsoft
http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Story/Story.aspx?guid=%7BD93E751F%2D3F84%2D4B68%2DA89C%2D7B350EF09B93%7D&source=blq%2Fyhoo&dist=yhoo&siteid=yhoo
Needless to mention, the rival or a rival is a friend.
====
Subject: [News] Linux Desktops Comes to Australian Education
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:07:40 +0100
Linux desktops sneak into NSW education
,----[ Quote ]
| The school's desktop and server systems administrator Ryan Chadwick said
| the computers in the library are used for Internet searching and basic
| office work, so it "seems like a nice place" to trial SLED 10.
|
| Novell support personnel will also go to the school to help set up the
| pilot project.
|
| "Authentication and basic apps like OpenOffice and Firefox [will be
| used], but printing is something we are trying to figure out at the
| moment," Chadwick said. "Ideally we would like Linux so students won't
| play [Windows] games, which is an added bonus."
|
| [...]
|
| After a virus "took out" all the school's Windows machines a few years
| ago, Chadwick said the manageability of Linux is likely to be better
| as viruses and spyware "doesn't exist" on the platform.
`----
http://www.linuxworld.com.au/index.php/id;885559750;fp;2;fpid;1
Also today:
IBM consolidates local R&D efforts to create super lab
,----[ Quote ]
| This is IBM's eighth major development announcement in 12 months, including
| a Linux centre in Brazil and tech lab in China.
`----
http://www.computerworld.com.au/index.php/id;1030191852;fp;4;fpid;1398720840
====
Subject: [News] Linux SMB Beats Microsoft Small Business Server
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:12:58 +0100
Review: Can Linux-based Collax Replace Microsoft Small Business Server?
,----[ Quote ]
| "Overall Winner: Collax Business Server"
`----
http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/dailyarchives.jhtml?articleId=192500586
====
Subject: [News] Embedded Database Gets Open Source Operating System
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:17:37 +0100
Open-source RTOS adds in-memory DB
,----[ Quote ]
| McObject has port its in-memory embedded database to the open-source
| eCos RTOS (real-time operating system)...
`----
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9842503412.html
====
Subject: [News] Linux and MySQL Find FOSS-Loving Chinese Market
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:19:52 +0100
Greatlinux and MySQL Launch Open Source Partnership in China
,----[ Quote ]
| MySQL AB, the developer of the world's most popular open source database,
| and Greatlinux Inc, a leading open source solutions and services provider
| in China, today jointly announced a strategic partnership to deliver
| commercial MySQL-based solutions to the burgeoning Chinese market.
|
| Greatlinux is MySQL's first Chinese partner, a significant milestone
| which shows strong confidence in China. The growing number of downloads
| of MySQL from the country indicates the maturity of the Chinese IT
| industry that companies are very interested in taking advantage of the
| power, performance and cost benefits of open source software.
`----
http://www.linuxpr.com/releases/9008.html
====
Subject: [News] New Opportunities for Open Source to Replace MS Exchange Servers
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:21:57 +0100
Open Source Vendors Setting Sights on Microsoft Exchange
,----[ Quote ]
| Like most other messaging and collaboration upstarts, Scalix and
| Zimbra primarily have Microsoft in their sights. Microsoft's Exchange
| 2007, to be released early next year, will work only on systems running
| 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003, and that could provide an opening
| for vendors such as Scalix, Zimbra and Tarrytown, N.Y.-based Open-Xchange.
`----
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/52718.html
====
Subject: [News] For-Profit Businesses Find Benefit in OSS and Standards
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:24:40 +0100
Open source standards and proprietary profit
,----[ Quote ]
| "Using open source gave us access to a new channel. The enterprise, open
| source, and repository communities tend to be separate. We could bring
| them together with a standards agenda. There have been tens of millions
| of Apache downloads, and to have an offering relating to that audience
| gives us broader distribution. Jackrabbit let us propagate further than
| pure Java."
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=769
====
Subject: [News] Mozilla Gets Distribution Channel in Japan
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:42:01 +0100
IIJ to distribute Mozilla Thunderbird
,----[ Quote ]
| Internet Initiative Japan, an internet access and network solutions
| provider in Japan, has begun free distribution of the Mozilla Thunderbird
| e-mail client with an XML-based policy control mechanism.
`----
http://www.digitalmediaasia.com/default.asp?ArticleID=17851
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Screwups Drive Writer to GNU/Linux
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:46:12 +0100
Writer Chooses Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| About a year ago, I was introduced to Linux by a technosavvy friend at
| work. I was, to say the least, a somewhat unwilling participant in the
| journey into Linuxland. But, I was really forced into it by our friends
| at Microsoft. Here's what happened to me... it may be a familiar story.
|
| [...]
|
| But, ever curious, I started scouting the Web to find out everything I
| could about Linux. I was intrigued by Linspire and actually bought it and
| installed it. But, CNR (the program download repository) bugged me.
| Everything I wanted required a paid membership. Not what I was in the mood
| for. More Web surfing. Next, I discovered Ubuntu's Web site. When I read
| the Ubuntu philosophy, I was hooked. For me, using a computer is a holistic
| thing, and Ubuntu gave me what I wanted... a free operating system AND a
| religion to go along with it. Amen, Brothers and Sisters. Praise the Lord.
`----
http://canadianwriterman.blogspot.com/2006/08/about-year-ago-i-was-introduced-to.html
CNR is now free and Open Source (as of yesterday).
====
Subject: [News] Open Source IP PBX and Free VMWare Server for Linux
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:50:18 +0100
ESCAUX Releases Open-Source IP PBX
,----[ Quote ]
| ESCAUX, a provider of IP telephony applications, has launched its
| open-source IP PBX.
`----
http://www.newtelephony.com/newsproducts/68h30141112.html
VMware Server for Linux for Free
,----[ Quote ]
| What's the cost of leaving our best applications faceless? Adoption. While
| I may like the CLI functionality of OpenLDAP, enterprises don't. If Xen
| Source wants to sell what VMware gives away for free, then let them do
| it. But, I can't support Xen Source with a good conscience.
|
| While I've seen their management console, I consider it just another piece
| of proprietary software built on the shoulders of the free software
| community. Good luck Xen source. I'm encouraging my friends to take a
| look at VMware server.
`----
http://www.linuxjournal.com/node/1000088
====
Subject: [News] Linux/OSS Promotion is Not Zeal; It's Understanding/Grip of Reality
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:13:29 +0100
The following from Dana Blankenhorn has caught my eyes. In a nutshell:
showing interest in Open Source and advocating it does not make you a
zealot. It makes it clear that you follow industry's trends and reach for
the future.
Where are the proprietary hits?
,----[ Quote ]
| I come in for a lot of critical comments here for being an open source
| zealot. (Pictured here is Bill Gates, in about 1986, with Windows 1.0.
| I have an autographed copy.)
|
| I'm not a zealot. I'm a reporter by trade, specifically a business
| reporter. I like to see folks making money and getting things done
| the way sportswriters like to see a great game or performance.
|
| Today, in 2006, performance comes from using open source.
|
| [...]
|
| Open source creates too much momentum too quickly for most proprietary
| start-ups to compete. The strategy, even for firms with proprietary code,
| is to push out some code as open source, try to set a standard, and then
| hold back something better for those with more money than time.
|
| This is the test of the market. Where are the start-ups coming from, where
| are the new ideas coming from, where are the new jobs being created?
|
| It's in open source.
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=770
Related writeup:
Linux represents future of computer systems
,----[ Quote ]
| Given these advantages, Linux can't help but become more and more common.
| As a result, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with Linux.
| Fortunately, this is easy and, unlike Windows or Macintosh, free.
`----
http://www.reflector-online.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/08/29/44f3a0c2dfbfc
====
Subject: [News] On Importance of Names and Jargon in Open Source Software
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:04:38 +0100
Products and Projects: What's in a Name?
,----[ Quote ]
| Anyone working in open source software, especially product managers,
| developers and marketers, should consider the importance of the naming of
| technology. There is a good argument with a lot of precedence for having
| non-descript or seemingly obtuse project names. Explicit names can
| constrain the directions a project might take. Using too catchy of a name
| can yield short term pride in having a good name, but ultimately slow a
| project's uptake among a less-technical user base.
|
| When it comes to naming the features that a project might provide in a
| final product, it pays to think of the users who are not "in" with the
| community lexicon. (Unless, you don't care about adoption by anyone but
| techies. I'm assuming the target audience.) In particular, marketers have
| to avoid the project name pitfall that can result from simply accepting
| the terms that engineers and hackers might use. Chances are that your
| developers and hackers speak with other developers and hackers a lot
| more than they do with the next wave of end user adopters. Rolling their
| terminology into a product's positioning documents or feature description
| statements is not necessarily the optimal route for market performance.
| (In fact, it is here that open source developers really need marketers to
| contribute.) Feature names need to speak to end users simply and plainly
| so that they can use the product effectively.
`----
http://reverendted.wordpress.com/2006/08/30/products-and-projects-whats-in-a-name/
====
Subject: [News] Software Licensing is Dead, Thanks to Virtualisation
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:52:03 +0100
Perspective: Rethinking software licensing
,----[ Quote ]
| The increasing use of virtualization has blurred the lines between
| physical and virtual worlds, creating a new issue for buyers and sellers
| of computer software: Software licensing as we know it is dying--or
| already dead.
|
| [...]
|
| ...if software suppliers try to license each virtual server, customers
| might resist and seek alternatives, such as Linux and other open-source
| options that cost less and more flexibly address virtualization-based
| licensing.
`----
http://news.com.com/Rethinking+software+licensing/2010-1012_3-6110449.html
====
Subject: [News] PCLinuxOS Matures, Gets Own Magazine
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 07:00:29 +0100
PCLinuxOS Magazine September 2006 Initial Issue
,----[ Quote ]
| It is my privilege to announce on behalf of the team members of the
| PCLinuxOS Magazine Project sponsored by MyPCLinuxOS.com, the September
| 2006 introductory issue is available for download! We've put a lot of
| effort into producing a quality magazine made for the community, by the
| community.
`----
http://mag.mypclinuxos.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6
Reminiscent of Reh Hat Magazine (or conference), as well as weekly
newsletters (e.g. DistroWatch).
====
Subject: [News] India State to Dump Windows for Linux
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 15:00:02 GMT
What's interesting in this case is that this is from ABC
News, so looks like it's making the rounds. CNN hasn't
apparently "seen" it yet, though; neither has BBC.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=2378451
India State to Dump Windows for Linux
Indian State Is Switching All School Computers From Windows to Linux
COCHIN, India Aug 31, 2006 (AP) A southern Indian state plans to
switch all school computers from Microsoft Windows to the free Linux
operating system, an official said Thursday.
The changeover on computers used in some 12,500 high schools in the
state of Kerala is set for Friday, and teachers are being trained on
the new software, said the state's education minister, M.A. Baby.
The state is ruled by communist politicians and its top elected
official, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, has long been a supporter
of free software, railing against the dominance of Microsoft's Windows
when he was a state legislator.
(Bet the trolls will love that.)
However, Baby insisted that the state government has no grudge against
Microsoft specifically.
[rest snipped]
MSNBC also has it, with almost identical text:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14601359/
====
Subject: [News] Use of OpenDocument Can Save Half a Billion Kroner
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:25:09 +0100
Report: Use ODF, Save 550 Million
,----[ Quote ]
| The story is about the so-called Rambøll-report, which is a report about
| the costs related to switching to open standards for document formats in
| the Danish government. The report is made by Rambøll Management, a Danish
| consultancy, on behalf of The Danish Open Source Business Association
| (OSL).
|
| [...]
|
| In an unsurprising move, Microsoft Denmark totally dismissed the
| Rambøll-report. They were also the first to comment on the
| governmental report, which they found good and constructive.
`----
http://gotze.eu/2006/08/report-use-odf-save-550-million.html
How the world changes. Whilst Microsoft's character is never to be changed.
====
Subject: [News] Google Gives Us Open Source Optical Character Recognition
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:29:36 +0100
Announcing Tesseract OCR
,----[ Quote ]
| We wanted to let you all know that a few months ago we quietly released -
| or actually re-released - an Optical Character Recognition (OCR) engine
| into open source.
`----
http://google-code-updates.blogspot.com/2006/08/announcing-tesseract-ocr.html
Picasa and Google Earth (among other applications) were not Open Source. This
code might help existing OS OCR projects, which many Linux newbies still nag
about (among other areas: voice recognition, games, and Adobe Photoshop).
====
Subject: [News] Pisa University and Sun Create and Nurture Open Source Dev Community
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:33:10 +0100
World's First OpenSolaris Center of Excellence Opens in Italy
,----[ Quote ]
| Sun Microsystems Italy and the Department of Physics at the University
| of Pisa have reached an agreement to create the world?s first Center of
| Excellence for the OpenSolaris technology platform. The goal of the center
| is to provide technological expertise and support to academic institutions,
| businesses and developers.
|
| [...]
|
| "The open source development model is radically changing the way software
| is built, creating a market with an almost unlimited availability of
| modules and programs enabling rapid and low cost development of new
| software. At the same time open source has driven an unprecedented
| transfer of technology to our country: OpenSolaris alone amounts to over
| $500 million in investments and over 1,600 patents. The creation, unique
| to our country, of a Center of Excellence for such an advanced operating
| system, is a great opportunity to relaunch the software industry in
| Italy," said Franco Roman, director of Marketing and Partner Sales,
| Sun Microsystems Italy.
`----
http://opensource.sys-con.com/read/266087.htm
====
Subject: [News] Greater New York Hospitals Choose Open Source Healthcare
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:36:29 +0100
Medsphere and Nexera Align to Offer OpenVista Solution
Electronic Health Record Solution to be Deployed at GNYHA Member Hospitals
http://opensource.sys-con.com/read/266086.htm
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Comes to Prosthetics
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:39:52 +0100
Collaborations build from ground up
The open-source idea spreads from software code to arts, industrial
design, more
,----[ Quote ]
| The Open Prosthetics Project (OpenProsthetics.org) is one of a growing
| number of efforts that use a collaborative model based largely on
| techniques made successful by software creators.
|
| For decades, programmers around the globe have joined forces in
| grass-roots efforts to build, refine and improve computer programs.
| Known first as "free software" and later as "open-source," because the
| software's internal code is open to review and revision, the
| nonproprietary software stands in sharp contrast to products such as
| Microsoft's Windows, where the code is heavily protected.
|
| Today, people also are using the open-source model to share their
| innovations in engineering, music, architecture and even consumer goods
| such as cola and beer. Their motivation generally isn't to make money
| from the projects, but to share their work and contribute building blocks
| for future creators.
`----
http://www.newsobserver.com/128/story/480769.html
The site appears to have high readership.
====
Subject: [News] Open Source Food - No Secret Recipes and Ingredients
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 16:43:08 +0100
ASK YOURSELF: "Where can I buy open-source food?"
,----[ Quote ]
| This question was donated by Marco Steel, 28, of Berlin, Antigua and
| Barbuda. It reminded me of the recent documentary 'We Feed the World'
| by Austrian filmmaker Erwin Wagenhofer, which offered some
| unappetizing answers to the question 'what do we know about the food on
| our plates?'. Consumer Awareness is the key.
`----
http://www.droppingknowledge.org/thedrop/2006/08/28/ask-yourself-where-can-i-buy-open-source-food/
This happens to relate to an old discussion in this newsgroup.
====
Subject: [News] Forbes on the Open Source Approach
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:01:20 +0100
Entrepreneurs, Start Your Wikis
,----[ Quote ]
| In five years, Wikipedia has bloomed into the largest online
| encyclopedia. Its simple but powerful concept--allow everyone to write
| and edit the content (under the auspices of some devoted
| administrators)--has compelled more than 48,000 current contributors
| to bang out 3.8 million articles in 100 languages. By its own estimates,
| the site now captures roughly 4% of the daily traffic on the Internet.
|
| [...]
|
| Don't feel like shelling out thousands of dollars for complex
| project-management software from Microsoft? You can set up an
| easy-to-use "wiki" for far less.
`----
http://www.forbes.com/2006/08/30/wikipedia-google-ebay-cx_tt_0830straightup.html?partner=yahootix
The patents system (Open Source enemy, ironically enough) recently began
using Wikis as well, according to CNN. I guess this is intended to intercept
patent trolls more effectively.
Only a matter of time until Microsoft WinKi? To accompany OneKer (sic)?
====
Subject: [News] Firefox 2 to Get Visual Redesign, Challenge Proprietary Safari/Opera/IE7
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:13:04 +0100
Mozilla taps Toronto Web design shop to work on Firefox 2.0
,----[ Quote ]
| Slated for release in October, Firefox 2.0 will focus on four priority
| areas, according to Mozilla. These include search bar, icon polish, tab
| strip and buttons in textboxes. To date, Mozilla has already released a
| beta version of Firefox 2.0, which does not include Radiant Core?s theme
| changes, and is scheduled to release another beta in early September. That
| version will include some of Radiant Core?s changes, according to Goldman.
`----
http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/Home/News.asp?id=40464
I guess this only applies to the default (core) theme.
https://addons.mozilla.org/search.php?app=firefox&appfilter=firefox&type=T&sort=downloads
http://tinyurl.com/q43pg
====
Subject: [News] British School Saves Money Thanks to Open Source Software
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:24:45 +0100
Following the recent report [1],
UK school saves thousands with open source network
,----[ Quote ]
| Wendy Harris, network manager at King's College School, said: "The
| decision to use open source software does not merely stem from a need to
| save money, but to save time as well.
|
| "Without open source we would spend our time fire-fighting holes, hackers
| and viruses. With open source software we spend our time focusing on
| education, not hardware or software.
`----
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2163280/uk-school-saves-thousands-open
___
[1] Top public school claims Open Source software improves education
,----[ Quote ]
| By deploying a Open Source network, one the UK's top public schools
| claims it has saved thousands in software licensing and allowed its staff
| to focus on education not ICT equipment. Kings College School, Cambridge
| has chosen Sirius Corporation to build and support their Linux-based PDC,
| e-mail and proxy filtering systems.
`----
http://www.siriusit.co.uk/index.php/news/38/91
====
Subject: [News] Open Source More Suitable for Businesses, Saves Money, Involves Risk
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:29:16 +0100
Open source - is it a risk for your business?
,----[ Quote ]
| The combining of open source and proprietary products can carry
| significant commercial risks.
`----
http://software.silicon.com/applications/0,39024653,39161867,00.htm
I beg to differ on the main point. To users of OSS, there is no risk of
development reaching a state of death as one can always harness and extend.
To developers, there are many licences available. And collaboration helps
all. Look, for example, at how Novell's contributions assist Canonical and
Red Hat.
====
Subject: [News] IBM and Recently-Acquired TCS Release Linux Software
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:31:06 +0100
Trusted Computer Solutions and IBM introduce Linux Guards
,----[ Quote ]
| Trusted Computer Solutions Inc. (TCS) has announced with IBM Corp. the
| launch of its SecureOffice suite of cross-domain guards running on Linux.
`----
http://www.wwpi.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1326&Itemid=39
====
Subject: [News] IT Week: Small Businesses Benefit from GNU/Linux
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:33:22 +0100
Feature: Linux benefits for small businesses
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux and the applications written to run on the open-source operating
| system can offer a small business numerous advantages.
`----
http://www.itweek.co.uk/personal-computer-world/features/2163242/linux-business
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Poster Child Lays Off 400
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:41:12 +0100
RadioShack employees get pink slip via e-mail
,----[ Quote ]
| The company said Aug. 10 it would cut 400 to 450 jobs, mostly at
| headquarters, to cut expenses and "improve its long-term competitive
| position in the marketplace."
`----
http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2006/08/31/radioshack_employees_get_pink_slip_via_e_mail/
To cut expenses, it should have probably gone with Linux, rather than take a
lead role in Microsoft's anti-Linux crusade.
I remember a discussion from last year. It revolved around Microsoft's
hoovering of revenues, which leads to layoffs. All that remains are 'box
booters', rather than developers than extend and improve software for the
company, as well as the community from which they benefit. That serves as
valid rationale for governments that choose FOSS.
====
Subject: [News] Microsoft Pulls Another Netscape? Bundles Dictation for a Change
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:43:57 +0100
Microsoft Vista to silence IBM ViaVoice, Nuance
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft plans to include speech recognition in Windows Vista. Who will
| buy products like IBM's Viavoice or Nuance's "Dragon Naturally Speaking"
| if dictation and voice navigation becomes "an integral part of the OS"?
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34072
====
Subject: [News] Arsenal Research Dumps Windows, Replaces It With Real-time Linux
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:57:22 +0100
Arsenal Research Selects Concurrent's Real-Time Linux Software for Testing of
Electric Systems for Automotives
Concurrent's Real-Time Linux Replaces MS Windows for Dramatically Improved
Performance
http://www.broadcastnewsroom.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=61341
====
Subject: [News] Texas Instruments Puts Linux at Top
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:59:14 +0100
Linux First? (at Texas Instruments)
,----[ Quote ]
| Texas Instruments (TI) had one operating system at the top if its list
| when it put together support for DaVinci, its latest dual-core ARM/DSP
| OMAP line--MontaVista's Linux. In fact, TI took this support a step
| further by eliminating the need for many developers to program the DSP
| directly using tools such as TI's Code Composer Studio. Instead,
| ARM-based Linux-device drivers implement features such as codecs and
| filters by loading the matching DSP code on the second processor core
| and setting up a link between it and the ARM core.
`----
http://www.elecdesign.com/Articles/Index.cfm?AD=1&ArticleID=13271
====
Subject: [News] 90% of Windows Users Spied On, Unnecessarily Spend Money
Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2006 18:06:43 +0100
Spyware, Spyware! Alas, a Messy Affair!
,----[ Quote ]
| Recently, Techdigest reported that SDA India magazine released its
| report that claims that nine out of every ten computers are in the grip
| of some or other kind of spyware.
|
| [...]
|
| On the other hand, Consumer Reports Survey reported that computer users
| have to pay out almost $7.8 billion to get their PCs repaired and replaced.
`----
http://www.spywarehunter.org/entry/spyware-spyware-alas-a-messy-affair/
====
--
| Mark Kent -- mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk |
"Nuclear war would really set back cable."
- Ted Turner
|
|
