|
Welcome to the Web Hosting Forum - Hosting Reviews, Web Hosting Discussion Forum forums. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content etc. By registering you have access to many other special features, Like personal blogs, your own personal forum, extended profiles, posting of your resume, free links, photo galleries, auctions etc. We are Web 2.0 Compliant . We also reward our posters and referals with free hosting, domains, prizes etc. Even earn points for reading posts. We offer contests, and events that are sure to please anyone in the hosting industry, web developer or SEO at heart. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us. |
|
|||||||
| Linux Advocacy Stand up for your opensource |
 |
|
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools |
01-29-2007, 08:04 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
LONG [News Digest] Linux News Digest for the 24hrs preceeding 27-01-07
In today's digest, we have:
* Six Cellphone Giants Form "Mobile Linux Foundation" * Canadian School Saves Money with Linux, Revives Old PC's * Employees from 22 Macedonian Municipalities Get OpenOffice Training * New Version of KDE is Released * [SOT] Lobbying in Government to Rob Citizens' Freedoms * Legal Battle Against Apple Lockins Gets Holland's Support * British Telecom Releases GPL Code (Including Linux) to Public, Still Not in Compliance * Gutmann Slams Vista Again, Rebuts Microsoft PR Apologists * Novell and Microsoft Postpone Interoperability * CRN Covers the Community Division Novell Has Brought * Red Hat Competition Brings Linux Improvement * Palm OS (Renamed "Garnet OS") and a Linux Future * Europe's Lobby Stike Against Microsoft's OpenXML * Sun Microsystems Open-Sourcs Content Delivery Server * Linux Foundation a Real Threat to Microsoft * Forbes Covers Open Source Storage * Review of "The Firefox of Media Players" for Linux (Songbird) * Linux Company Enters Indian Channel * Korean Citizens Locked in to Microsoft * OSDL Publishes "Desktop Linux 2006: Year in Review" * Windows Vista Slower Than Windows XP, Needs 2 GB of RAM * Windows 'Breakage' Nightmares Revisited * PCWorld: Vista Has Rough Edges * Microsoft Norway Uses Apple for Vista * List of Output Vista Will/Won't Cripple (DRM 'Distortion') * Various Flaws in Vista Malware Protection * New Version of Wine Improves Direct3D Compatibility (and More) * The Dangers of Proprietary Identity Management * Microsoft Word Gains 4th Unpatched Zero-day Flaw, Already Exploited, Leads to Zombie PCs * Disappointment at Microsoft Over Decreasing Market Share in Search * IBM Donates Privacy Software to Open Source Community * PostgreSQL for Oracle Pinch in Europe * Despite Beating Estimates, Microsoft Profits Down $1,000,000,000 * It's Official: Windows Live is Broken * Newsfactor on Vista Compatibility Troubles * SFLC Action Against Patent Trolls Bears Fruit * Chinese Government Financial Support for Linux * New LGPL-Licensed AJAX Framework * Linux Reduces Piracy in Indonesia * Linux on the Desktop Suitable for Home Use * Migrations to Linux Desktops Starting with Open Source on Windows * Egyptian Gentoo Linux Launched * Nintendo Wii High Success, Profits Surge * 10 Reasons to Try PCLinuxOS * Open Source Software Enjoys Very Significant Sales Growth (Chart) * Embedded Development with GNU Tools Made Easier * Bringing Linux to the Children * Linux Gets Wii DVD Read/Write * Microsoft's Dirty PR Secrets Exposed * Windows Defender, Vista Security Slammed * ComputerWorld: Don't Buy Windows Vista! * Video - Windows Running on a Linux Tablet PC * Time/CNN: Why Nobody Cares About Windows Vista * Software Manufacturers: Vista is Illegal in Europe * Debian Prepares for Major Linux Release Next Month * WikiCalc 1.0 Gets Released * Crippled Version of Windows Delivered for Poor People * 100-150 Millions of Windows Zombies Storm Web, Microsoft Blames Police * The Register Reviews the Linux-based Tablet from Nokia * Microsoft Blamed for IPTV Problems; High-reliability Computer Designs BSoD * Open Source Television with Democracy TV * Swiss Company Helps Move from Proprietary to Open Source Software * Palm's New Linux Platform Gets New Logo * Kurumin Linux 7.0 Light Screenshot Gallery (Phoronix) * Next-generation, High-end PCs... Running Linux, Of Course * Open Source Database More Innovative, More Successful * Companies in Germany Find Ways to Circumvent Software Patent Prohibition * Microsoft Research: New IE7 SSL Ineffective * Opensuse 10.2 Live DVD is Released * New Oracle/IBM Commitment to Boost Linux on the Mainframe * When Schools Are Being Denied Linux * Vista Seeks to Contaminate Web & Users with Microsoft Image Format * [OT] AMD Doing Well in Asia, Strikes Big Deals This is a digest of the previous 24 hours (GMT day) of [News] postings in comp.os.linux.advocacy. If you have any comments, suggestions or remarks, please reply to this message and I will take account of all that I can. The digest is created from my leafnode news spool, which is pre-filtered, so some poster's articles might not appear. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message-ID: <3609106.kEVo4kbJdZ@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Six Cellphone Giants Form "Mobile Linux Foundation" Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:19:36 +0000 Cellphone giants unveil mobile Linux foundation ,----[ Quote ] | Six of the world's largest telecommunications companies have | officially launched a non-profit organization dedicated to | creating a common mobile Linux software platform. Founded by | Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic Mobile Communications, | Samsung Electronics, and Vodafone, the LiMo Foundation is | inviting membership and participation from application | and middleware developers. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2923387573.html Wow. This one will make Symbian and Microsoft lose some sleep. See more context below. Related: ITU: Mobile Linux gaining momentum ,----[ Quote ] | There has always been a lot of drive behind Linux on the mobile | in Asia where there is a more experimental attitude towards | handset platforms, but the word at ITU 2006 in Hong Kong this | week is that interest in the rebel operating system is bleeding | over into Europe and the US. `---- http://www.telecoms.com/itmgcontent/...om=M@T-TopNews http://tinyurl.com/yyp6sr FEATURE: Mobile Linux: Why it will become the dominant mobile OS ,----[ Quote ] | I see the mobile Linux wave out in the ocean and am sounding the | alarm--the mobile Linux tide is rising. Be prepared. `---- http://www.fiercewireless.com/story/...-os/2007-01-03 Review: Motorola ROKR E2 Music Phone ,----[ Quote ] | Conclusion | | I am really happy with the Motorola ROKR E2. I like its funky looks | and I certainly love the new UI. I am glad that Motorola is finally | shaping up and realizing all the shortcomings of its previous aging UI. `---- http://www.mobileburn.com/review.jsp?Page=1&Id=2983 Motorola Begins Bringing Linux To Market ,----[ Quote ] | Motorola today announced two upgraded devices it hopes will bring | Linux into the hands of mainstream users - even in the US. `---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=2021 Motorola A910 Linux Phone Gets FCC Approval ,----[ Quote ] | The phone runs a special Linux-Java operating system and | boasts WiFi connectivity over UMA. The A910 is equipped | with a 1.3 megapixel camera and Lumi-LED Flash technology. `---- http://www.mobilewhack.com/reviews/m..._approval.html http://tinyurl.com/y5whve Linux expected to be leading Smartphone OS market by 2010 ,----[ Quote ] | I just came across this research by Diffusion Group, which found | that Linux is set to become the leading Smartphone OS by 2010. `---- http://irfanhabib.wordpress.com/2006...arket-by-2010/ EDN highlights Linux's success in phones ,----[ Quote ] | Linux powered about a quarter of all "feature phones" shipped in | 2005, according to market analysts cited by Webb. Linux grew | fastest in Asia, in phones from NEC, Panasonic, and Motorola, | he notes. Meanwhile, mobile subscribers worldwide are expected | to grow from 100 million to about 350 million, thanks largely to | cellular rollouts in India, he says. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3014094216.html Mobile Devices Adopt Open Source ,----[ Quote ] | You don't have to be completely immersed in the world of technology | to know that we're in the middle of an open source revolution. | Even people who don't know much about computers and technology | can recognize that there's been a rising trend for people to | customize existing products and openly share information that | can benefit vast numbers of people and foster creativity. Instead | of just using what's being given to us, we're starting to take | control, and this has enhanced the markets and the communities. | | As time goes on, more and more people are desiring software that | is open, and once they get a taste of what that's like, they then | move on to desiring operating systems that are open, which has led | to greater Linux adoption. Linux is an OS that is free and accessible | to computer users, and if they choose to install and use it, then | they can let their inner hacker roam free by customizing the OS to | their liking on so many levels. `---- http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?op...420&Itemid=449 Motorola makes Linux breakthrough with RIZR Z6 ,----[ Quote ] | Motorola's first Linux handset for the US market, the RIZR Z6, is | also likely to be the first in the industry to run an "open" | operating system - Linux, Symbian OS or Windows on a single- | rather than dual-processor architecture. | | This shows that Linux is making significant improvements in its | suitability to be an operating system for mobile devices, and | could give Motorola a significant headstart in the battle to | create low power, low cost smartphones. | | [...] | | The RIZR Z6, demonstrated at the CES show and expected to ship by | mid year, is said to be based on Freescale's i.MX31 system-on-chip, | one of the first to use the ARM11 core. Motorola will also add a | new, faster Linux user interface, called JUIX (pronounced "juice"). | | As Linux becomes more mainstream in cellphones, many players are | seeking to address its user interface shortcomings, notably Nokia, | which has become a Linux convert of late, and Access, the Japanese | browser maker that acquired Palmsource and is adapting the | well-liked Palm UI for mobile Linux. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01...a_linux_phone/ Open Source Goes Mobile ,----[ Quote ] | A constant theme at the conference was the burgeoning role of open | source in mobile phones, particularly "smart phones" (those with | extended functionality like music players, document viewers, etc.). | What was interesting to me was that most of the discussion about opens | ource (Linux, really) seemed to be focused on the flexibility and | cost reduction opportunities it provided for equipment and servicep | roviders. There was, interestingly, no mention of a desire to | avoid dependency upon Microsoft's offering; to me this seemed | strange because Microsoft has a habit of entering markets -- | even hardware markets -- when they're big enough, and causing | real pain to their partners who depend upon Microsoft for their | software platform: can you say Zune? As I said, this was not | mentioned even once, which to my mind indicates a blind spot, | as I could easily see Microsoft deciding to enter the smart | phone market when it gets large enough. `---- http://blogs.cio.com/node/539 Linux makes Mot tops in PDA/smartphone growth ,----[ Quote ] | Strong Linux smartphone sales in China helped Motorola achieve | the highest overall year-on-year growth among the top five vendors | in the PDA/Smartphone market, according to Gartner. In contrast,M | otorola's Symbian- and Microsoft-based smartphones are "not | making significant progress," Gartner reports. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8166328994.html Chinese 3G TEM joins Mobile Linux Initiative ,----[ Quote ] | Chinese government-owned TEM (telecommunications equipment manufacturer) | and handset vendor Datang Mobile has joined the OSDL (Open SourceD | evelopment Labs) and will participate in the Mobile Linux Initiative | (MLI) to improve the Linux kernel for mobile phones. Datang markets | 3G infrastructure equipment and handset designs in China and | globally. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9290700765.html Goodbye Razr, hello Linux-based Motofone ,----[ Quote ] | Motorola is shipping the first model in its Scpl ("scalpel") line | of Linux-based phones set to replace the ubiquitous Razr. The | Motofone F3, available today in India, is an extremely low-end | phone featuring an "electronic paper" display, breakthrough battery | life, and usability features for the illiterate. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS5567800205.html Linux phone market opening up? ,----[ Quote ] | Four vendors are helping change Linux-based phones from | voice-focused appliances into multimedia computers, according | to Sascha Segan of PC Magazine. OpenMoko, TrollTech, Nokia, | and Motorola are each using open source to cut costs, add | flexibility, and/or to attract community and commercial | developers, writes Segan. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS8591201260.html Startup Promises First Linux Smartphone Based On Open Standards ,----[ Quote ] | OpenMoko, a Taiwanese startup that develops mobile hardware and | software, next month plans to start selling what it claims to | be the first Linux smartphone based completely on open standards. | | [...] | | Access, a Japanese mobile software company that acquired PalmSource--the | maker of the Palm OS--also is planning to introduce its commercial-grade | Linux OS for smartphones in the first half of this year. But parts of it, | including the user interface, are proprietary and closed to developers, | says Moss-Pultz. `---- http://www.techweb.com/showArticle.j...leID=196802206 Smartphones Now: Linux ,----[ Quote ] | If you thought Linux-based OSes were for back rooms, hardcore | geeks, and computer science grad students, you'd be right. | Recently, however, its made great strides toward becoming much | more "user friendly," even advancing to the point where | they're usable as phones. | | [...] | | If you're a first-time smartphone buyer, and have never owned a | PDA of any kind, then the learning curve for Linux devices isn't much | different than that of Windows Mobile or Palm OS or Symbian devices... `---- http://crunchgear.com/2006/11/03/smartphones-now-linux/ Linux prominent at Smartphone Summit ,----[ Quote ] | An annual technical and business conference devoted to smartphones of | all stripes, including Linux smartphones, is set for Sept. 11, in | Los Angeles. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS9359456843.html Smartphone market takes off ,----[ Quote ] | While new applications such as push email are driving enterprise demand | for converged devices, they are also becoming popular with consumers, | according to IDC. Additionally, high-level embedded operating systems such | as Linux enable enhanced multimedia applications geared toward a richer | video and imaging experience. As a result, vendors are increasingly | characterizing these devices as "prosumer," IDC says. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3689767453.html Linux on Your Smartphone - Motorola A1200 ,----[ Quote ] | If you are already a Linux user, you are probably used to glossing | over a few inconveniences the rest of the world takes for granted. | In this sense, the phone lives up to its Linux heritage. If you can | put up with the minor inconveniences mentioned above, and use some | simple workarounds, this Bluetooth and GPRS-capable phone may just | grow on you. `---- http://linux.wordpress.com/2006/10/0...otorola-a1200/ LEAKED: Motorola loves Linux - E690 PDA Phone ,----[ Quote ] | It looks like Motorola is making another non-RAZR, which in itself | is exciting news. The E690 is a PDA/phone that runs on Linux, yes, Linux. | It has standard PDA touchscreen and writing functions, as well as some | decent multimedia support - including every video and audio file you | could want played through two "3D surround" speakers (where you actually | store the media, we don't really know). The phone also supports | Bluetooth, WPA with full Internet browsing, and Office App viewing. `---- MOTOMING is The Best Linux Smart Phone From Motorolla ,----[ Quote ] | On August 23, 2006. Motorolla launched MOTOMING, the best and newest smart | phone by them. For his appearance, this clever cellular phone had elegant | clamshell modern design with hidden antena. `---- http://www.storeplace.net/2006/08/26...rom-motorolla/ ,----[ Quote ] | Within the next couple of years, Linux will power more than half of | the phones shipped by number two global handset vendor Motorola... `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7323967976.html http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/cellp...one-199607.php Orange first mobile giant off the mark with Linux program ,----[ Quote ] | Ever since NTT DoCoMo and Vodafone lent their support to Motorola and | Samsung to create an open Linux handset architecture, the open source | platform has gained new credibility as the likely leading operating | system for smartphones in the next generation. | | For the first time, Linux seemed to be gaining not just the political | positioning, but the technical resources and unity, to be adequate in | fighting off Microsoft Windows Mobile and possibly sidelining | Nokia-backed Symbian. | | But Orange has leapfrogged those giants, becoming the first tier one | mobile carrier to launch a Linux initiative, as opposed to supporting | some isolated handsets. | | It is focusing its efforts not on the existing major mobile variants | - notably MontaVista - but on the emerging Access Linux Platform, | incorporates the former Palm user interface. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08..._adopts_linux/ ,----[ Quote ] | Smartphones, such as those based on Linux, currently represent about a | tenth of the wireless phone market, In-Stat says. The research firm | expects smartphones to account for a quarter of mobile phone sales | within five years, however. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2198773219.html A Million Linux Smart Phones Shipped in China, Q2 ,----[ Quote ] | Sharp posted the highest growth among the top five vendors, with shipments | of more than a million Symbian FOMA smart phones in Japan during the | quarter. "Symbian has performed well in what many find a difficult market | to crack," said Canalys analyst Nick Spencer, "Q2 saw it break the 10 | million cumulative shipment barrier there, thanks to significant volumes | from not only Sharp, but also vendors such as Fujitsu, Mitsubishi and | Sony Ericsson. `---- http://www.technologynewsdaily.com/node/3904 List of candidate Microsoft astroturfers (directly or indirectly paid by Microsoft to post in this newsgroup): flatfish+++ Damian O'Leary Erik Funkenbusch Larry Qualig (former Microsoft employee) Scott Nudds (AKA Vistaking) Nedd Ludd Tim Smith OK DFS Terry Take everything posted by the individuals above with a barrel of salt. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4385658.B07nzD6qiz@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Canadian School Saves Money with Linux, Revives Old PC's Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:24:34 +0000 Expert shares secrets to saving thousands with K12LTSP ,----[ Quote ] | The K12 Linux Terminal Server Project (K12LTSP) is a thin client | distribution designed for use in schools. | | [...] | | Arkiletian estimates that his lab cost only $4,000 to set up -- | about a tenth the cost of buying replacement workstations. `---- http://enterprise.linux.com/article....&tid=23&tid=46 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1597390.LHbTRNzuJR@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Employees from 22 Macedonian Municipalities Get OpenOffice Training Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:37:46 +0000 Macedonia: Employees from 22 Municipalities Trained to Use OpenOffice.org ,----[ Quote ] | Representatives of the following municipalities attended the training | (municipalities with blue colour on the map): Arachinovo, Berovo, | Bogovinje, Valandovo, Vinica, Dojran, Zhelino, Karbinci, Kratovo, Krushevo, | Lipkovo, Mavrovo and Rostushe, Makedonska Kamenica, Mogila, Novaci, Novo | Selo, Plasnica, Saraj, Sopishte, Studenichani, Tearce and Centar Zhupa. `---- http://www.metamorphosis.org.mk/cont...30/26/lang,en/ Earlier today: CSIR adopts ODF, moves to open source ,----[ Quote ] | The open source office suite OpenOffice.org that supports ODF | was rolled out to all 2 500 plus workstations at the organisation's | main site in Pretoria and at its regional offices. | | "The organisation-wide adoption of ODF is part of the CSIR's | migration to OSS and standards that is set to be completed during | 2007," the organisation said yesterday. `---- http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1335 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2839587.0Qtf2RVeIg@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] New Version of KDE is Released Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 00:43:02 +0000 KDE 3.5.6 Released with New Features, Translations and Fixes ,----[ Quote ] | Packages are available for ArchLinux, Debian Experimental, Kubuntu, | Pardus, openSUSE and several other distros. `---- http://dot.kde.org/1169738902/ A new version of GNOME was released as well. http://mail.gnome.org/archives/gnome.../msg00092.html ( GNOME 2.17.90 Released! ) ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1400329.l04nTFkAo6@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] [SOT] Lobbying in Government to Rob Citizens' Freedoms Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:03:27 +0000 Canada's Music Lobby Buys Government Access ,----[ Quote ] | "Copyfighting law professor Michael Geist, who previously uncovered | financial links between recording industry lobbyists and Canada's | Minister of Canadian Heritage Bev Oda (who is responsible for | copyright policy), has now identified what big cash donations | will get you. He reports that Oda met with the President of the | Canadian Recording Industry Association on a monthly basis last | year just as the government was preparing copyright reform | legislation and Canadian artists were calling for an end to | P2P lawsuits. Is it any wonder that Canadians seem likely to | lose their fair use rights?" `---- http://politics.slashdot.org/article...56204&from=rss This relates to Microsoft's recent secret meetings with the RIAA (reference included). Change of law through lobbying with money exchange. DRM mess helps Microsoft establish a lockin that could hurt competition (see lawsuits at bottom). Related: Music industry meeting could change the Zune ,----[ Quote ] | Bryan Lee, corporate vice present for Microsoft's entertainment | business, told me today that the meeting was set up as part of the | deal struck between Microsoft and music business honchos, who are | always wary of piracy... The meeting was supposed to take place "some | time after the holidays," he said. It also talks about the future | of the zune. `---- http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/arch..._the_zune.html http://tinyurl.com/y7z5wl Microsoft may pay Zune tax twice ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft's private deal with Universal Music to pay the record | label a voluntary royalty of $1 for every Zune player it sells | has raised eyebrows across both the technology and music | industries. But it might not be the last payment Redmond owes | from Zune, we've discovered. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12...une_royalties/ Universal to seek money for each iPod sold ,----[ Quote ] | "It would be a nice idea. We have a negotiation coming up not too | far. I don't see why we wouldn't do that... but maybe not in the | same way," Morris said. His "same way" comment is a reference tot | he Zune, which Universal already gets $1 from after signing a deal | with Microsoft. `---- http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061128-8309.html A Legitimate Reason to Hate the Zune (And Microsoft Too) ,----[ Quote ] | Here's the situation: Microsoft has agreed to pay a portion of | the profits from the sales of the Zune to a record company | (Universal) because the Zune will undoubtedly be used to | store unpurchased songs. | | [...] | | Here it is important to remember a few simple things. The | money goes to the Universal, not to the artists. | | [...] | | Microsoft's move sets a bad precedent and turns all consumers into | thieves without evidence. `---- http://www.applematters.com/index.ph...microsoft-too/ The Longest Suicide Note in History ,----[ Quote ] | Gutmann: The genie's out of the bottle before the operating system has even | been released! But that doesn't mean Vista users in particular - and | the computer community at large - won't end up paying for Microsoft's | DRM folly. At the risk of repeating myself repeating myself, yet | another reason to move to Linux. `---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://blogs.pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/t...ote_in_hi.html Apple DRM illegal in Norway: Ombudsman ,----[ Quote ] | Apple's digital rights management lock on its iPod device and iTunes | software is illegal, the Consumer Ombudsman in Norway has ruled. The | blow follows the news that Germany and France are joining Norway's | action against Apple. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01...gal_in_norway/ Record labels rethink digital rights management at Midem ,----[ Quote ] | Now that even digital music revenue growth is faltering amid | rampant file-sharing by consumers, the major record labels are | closer than ever to releasing music on the Internet with no | copying restrictions -- a step they once vowed never | to take. `---- http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/...oney/music.php ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1219420.Lr5Q8oQyu7@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Legal Battle Against Apple Lockins Gets Holland's Support Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:13:21 +0000 Dutch consumer chief puts Apple through the mill ,----[ Quote ] | The Netherlands has joined Scandinavian led action | against Apple's digital rights management lock on | its iPod device and iTunes software. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01...ne_with_apple/ The world finally understands and /deals/ with the nasty and harmful nature of lockins. Standards embrace demonstrates this too. It's looking good for Free Software (at least in Europe). Related: Apple DRM illegal in Norway: Ombudsman ,----[ Quote ] | Apple's digital rights management lock on its iPod device and iTunes | software is illegal, the Consumer Ombudsman in Norway has ruled. The | blow follows the news that Germany and France are joining Norway's | action against Apple. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/24/apple_drm_il Record labels rethink digital rights management at Midem ,----[ Quote ] | Now that even digital music revenue growth is faltering amid | rampant file-sharing by consumers, the major record labels are | closer than ever to releasing music on the Internet with no | copying restrictions -- a step they once vowed never | to take. `---- http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/...oney/music.php ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4626236.MF9q0JP6Zp@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] British Telecom Releases GPL Code (Including Linux) to Public, Still Not in Compliance Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:17:16 +0000 http://www.btyahoo.com/broadband/adh...s/gplcode.html So, does BT love Linux and Open Source after all? Modified Linux kernel with a config file, Samba... BT still 'not fulfilling' GPL ,----[ Quote ] | BT has still not done enough to fulfill the requirements of the | General Public License, according to the Freedom Taskforce. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01..._linux_config/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2191168.DaOTyxJ6dZ@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Gutmann Slams Vista Again, Rebuts Microsoft PR Apologists Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:25:18 +0000 Microsoft's Response (to Gutmann's Critism) ,----[ Quote ] | Since the portions that I'll comment on here are PR-related rather | than technical content, the following section is an attempt to | respond directly and try and unravel the PR spin. The technical | comments have been integrated into the main body of the writeup. `---- http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut00....html#response Good references below. They only empower the arguments. Related: Microsoft spins DRM tale in 'blog' ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft can't come clean, can't talk honestly, and won't do | anything to protect its customers. Keep that in mind when you | are buying your next PC, if you buy one with Vista pre-installed, | you are funding the very people who are actively hurting you. `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37091 The Longest Suicide Note in History ,----[ Quote ] | Gutmann: The genie's out of the bottle before the operating system has even | been released! But that doesn't mean Vista users in particular - and | the computer community at large - won't end up paying for Microsoft's | DRM folly. At the risk of repeating myself repeating myself, yet | another reason to move to Linux. `---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://blogs.pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/t...ote_in_hi.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1831698.om5euk3VoL@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Novell and Microsoft Postpone Interoperability Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 02:01:52 +0000 Novell-MS "Building Bridges" Meeting in MA Postponed ,----[ Quote ] | There is going to be a postponement of the announced "Building | Bridges" meeting originally announced for Monday, so both Microsoft | and Novell can get different speakers to answer those questions. `---- http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?s...70125123135213 Apparently, the patent FUD (e.g. the recent Wal-mart deal) is more important than interoperability, which can wait, and wait, and wait... predence is key here. Also see the following recent column: ,----[ Quote ] | "Consider the publication and execution of a joint Microsoft-Novell | roadmap as the critical missing piece of this agreement, with the | potential to make or break its long-term value," the pair wrote. | | The companies promised a first roadmap in March. If there's no | document by then, look elsewhere for your next opportunity. `---- http://rcpmag.com/news/article.aspx?editorialsid=8064 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1826110.IKLTqP8fPp@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] CRN Covers the Community Division Novell Has Brought Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 02:20:59 +0000 Microsoft-Novell Deal: Has It Divided The Linux Community? ,----[ Quote ] | So far, the answer seems to be yes on both counts. By and large, | Linux developers see the deal as an unwelcome intrusion by | Microsoft, a huge and unabashedly proprietary vendor, into the | open source world, where software development is highly | collaborative, a lot of code is available free of charge, and | vendor business models are frequently based more on service | contracts than on software licensing. | | Linux organizations that sounded disapproval for the | Microsoft/Novell plan range from Red Hat to smaller Linux | distributors such as Linspire and Mandriva, and open source | projects such as Samba, a group that includes even some | Novell employees. `---- http://www.crn.com/sections/breaking...RNBreakingNews http://tinyurl.com/33bgno ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2195204.MCZELi5tE3@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Red Hat Competition Brings Linux Improvement Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 02:58:19 +0000 Red Hat's Volley on Linux Management Offering ,----[ Quote ] | Call it Red Hat's forward spin velocity regarding Linux | management tools. With competition such as Oracle offering full | Red Hat support on their own products, Red Hat is now expanding | and improving its Linux management footprint. | | The leading Linux distributor told internetnews.com that it is | rolling out online monitoring tool this year Red Hat customers. `---- http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news...le.php/3656061 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <20909749.IVK3Agk8O6@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Palm OS (Renamed "Garnet OS") and a Linux Future Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 02:59:44 +0000 Palm OS Clings To Life ,----[ Quote ] | Access, a mobile software company in Japan that acquired PalmSource, | the maker of the Palm OS, plans to introduce in the first half of | this year its Access Linux Platform, which will include an emulation | layer for running Palm OS-based applications. The company this week | announced it's renaming all products that originally had Palm-based | names. The first product to be renamed is Palm OS, which will be | known as Garnet OS. `---- http://www.crn.com/sections/infrastr...leId=197000527 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1381105.8Oqp8Aeek2@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Europe's Lobby Stike Against Microsoft's OpenXML Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:06:33 +0000 IT Standards Hijack Threatens European Economic Competitiveness ,----[ Quote ] | To stop Europe being rail-roaded into an inadequate standard, the | ODF Alliance urges national supporters who have issues to raise | contradictions of ECMA's standard with existing standards to | encourage their national ISO representatives to raise formal | contradictions as quickly as possible, certainly | before 5th February 2007. `---- http://sourcewire.com/releases/rel_d...=29267&hilite= More extensive roundup here: OOXML v. ODF: What a Week! ,----[ Quote ] | ...OOXML is no traditional specification, weighing in at over | 6,000 pages. During this phase, eligible JTC1 members can note | ways in which the proposed standard overlaps other standards, | fails to incorporate available ISO standards, or otherwise does | not meet ISO rules (a second, five month period will begin on | February 5, during which technical and other objections may | be raised). `---- http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standa...70125060934582 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1568223.OLv7QZMTEt@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Sun Microsystems Open-Source Content Delivery Server Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:10:24 +0000 Sun Releases Content Delivery Server to Open Source Community ,----[ Quote ] | Sun's intention in open sourcing the technology is to expand how | Content Delivery Server is used and to make Open Content Delivery | Server a compelling offering for organizations like Universities, | news organisations with streaming content, online communities (both | large and small), major content providers, and other companies and | groups that want to deliver content. `---- http://www.sda-india.com/sda_india/p...15041,p,0.html http://tinyurl.com/3cowbu ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1501629.s8hOcdcY4l@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Linux Foundation a Real Threat to Microsoft Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:12:28 +0000 Another issue for Microsoft's Vista: a merger of open source foundations ,----[ Quote ] | With Microsoft's Vista launch, the world of operating systems is looking | very different. A big problem: there is competition from open source | approaches, especially Linux. `---- http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/0...pen-source-fo/ http://tinyurl.com/2rq9sk ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1190676.hNSvHkExgz@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Forbes Covers Open Source Storage Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:15:49 +0000 Open-Source Storage ,----[ Quote ] | Christopher Gladwin is known for an unusual open-source plan: | Keep the world's data everywhere, in a blur of little chunks. | Soon he may be known for making money, in significantly | larger sizes. `---- http://www.forbes.com/business/busin...leversafe.html http://tinyurl.com/37kckz The same applies to open source code, which cannot be lost because it spread among many individuals around the world and understood by different vendors. Also see this honourable mention: Open Source Primer Makes Top 10 ,----[ Quote ] | Signs that things are changing: The California Healthcare Foundation | report 'Open Source Software: A Primer for Health Care Leaders | was its 3rd most popular report for 2006. `---- http://www.linuxmednews.com/1169734182 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1190676.RaQRWJupnU@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Review of "The Firefox of Media Players" for Linux (Songbird) Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:19:21 +0000 Songbird: Next generation media player? ,----[ Quote ] | Songbird is a desktop media player, a digital jukebox and Web | browser mash-up. Like Winamp, it supports extensions; like | Firefox, it is built from Mozilla, cross-platform and open source. `---- http://www.youtux.org/content/view/467/2/ Days ago: Linux Audio Players, Tested and Graded ,----[ Quote ] | KDE users have it easy: Amarok is slick enough to crow about in a | room full of iTunes or Windows Media Player users. `---- http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,12...x/article.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1726111.gxjn70q2kH@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Linux Company Enters Indian Channel Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:24:15 +0000 Linux and Open Source Messaging Leader Scalix Expands Into India ,----[ Quote ] | Scalix Corporation, the leading provider of Linux and open | source-based email, calendaring and messaging for enterprises, | today announced its appointment of GT-Enterprises, India's | leading distributor of Linux-related products, as a Scalix | Master Distributor. Scalix also signed agreements with six | new value added resellers (VARs) across India, all who have | extensive Linux and messaging expertise. `---- http://home.businesswire.com/portal/...12&newsLang=en ------------------------------ Message-ID: <5084864.1aaLGB8BnC@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Korean Citizens Locked in to Microsoft Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:46:59 +0000 The cost of monoculture ,----[ Quote ] | Korea will only get beyond this problem by 1) applying Korean laws | on open standards to the certificate authorities, 2) reassigning new | certificates which work with open web standards to all Koreans, 3) | reprogramming all Korean websites to support 128 bit SSL which will | allow for a heterogeneous marketplace of operating systems and web | browsers. This is a herculean task and thus Korea stays hostage to | Redmond. | | Fascinating history. Unintended consequences and de-facto monopolies | create costs too high to calculate and must be borne without question. `---- http://www.kanai.net/weblog/archive/...h53m55s#003095 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1610269.GpWTCUYYHu@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] OSDL Publishes "Desktop Linux 2006: Year in Review" Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 03:55:58 +0000 Desktop Linux 2006: The Year in Review ,----[ Quote ] | The OSDL's Desktop Linux Working Group has published its first | year-end report on the state of the overall desktop Linux ecosystem. | The report provides insight into the year's key accomplishments in | terms of functionality, standards, applications, distributions, | market penetration, and more. `---- http://desktoplinux.com/articles/AT3453502692.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4626353.Bqoj18SnD3@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Windows Vista Slower Than Windows XP, Needs 2 GB of RAM Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 04:26:06 +0000 Vista vs. Windows XP: Head to Head Benchmarks ,----[ Quote ] | # In most cases, Vista is slower than XP, but not terribly. | Photoshop tests showed a drop in performance of 7 or 8 percent | on dual-core PCs and 13 to 23 percent on single-core machines. | | # Gaming is about the same, with Vista dropping frame rates from 5 to 25 | percent, depending on the machine (and with no regard for CPU type). | | [...] | | Some lessons from the story: Memory is critical, with 2GB being the | sweet spot for Vista. 64-bit CPUs were slower than 32-bit CPUs, as | well, but, as noted above, dual-core makes a big difference. `---- http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/13487 Related: Vista gaming will be 10 to 15 per cent slower than XP ,----[ Quote ] | So if you play Battlefield 2 or FEAR or any other popular game you are | likely to get lower frame rates with Vista. That is certainly not a | good buying argument but don?t think you and I have much choice as it | looks like a take it or leave it deal. I like Vista as the 3D desktop | looks sexy but that is probably its key feature. `---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34915 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 Testing Vista's different memory configurations ,----[ Quote ] | You simply cannot play games on Vista with 512MB o memory, at least not the | games wen tested. You will sometimes get playable scores but even then the | experience and the load time will be ridiculous. | | Anything more than 512MB will help you a lot, with 2x1GB being the best | price performance buy. | | 4x1GB is the best choice for best raw performance. It is hard to prove it | ^^^^^ | in every test, but if you have 2x1GB and you load as much in memory, the | ^^^^^ | system will become endessly slow. | ^^^^ `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36148 Vista Runs Smooth Only on 2G Memory ,----[ Quote ] | However, Dell CEO Kevin Rollins suggested otherwise on Thursday, 26 Oct at | a speech at Shanghai's Jiaotong University. "I think they tell you maybe 1 | gig of memory is OK. No, two gigs of memory would be great." | | This echoes with my own experience with Vista RC2. With only 1G of | RAM, there are many disk activities indicating heavy disk swap, a | symptom of lack of memory in the system. `---- http://www.itechnote.com/2006/10/27/...-on-2g-memory/ Vista System Memory Concerns ,----[ Quote ] | Vista: Facing a Slow Adoption. In the beginning, early adopters and | gamers who are looking to ready themselves for the DirectX 10 upgrade | will be best suited for those ready to make an investment in the | unknown. | | Considering how many software and game titles will likely need to | be run in "compatibility mode" until patches are released across | the board, I would suggest really looking at what Vista's advantages | are before taking the plunge. | | No matter how much we may wish to see the path Vista is about to | embark on, the fact remains that because of its hardware requirements, | Vista adoption may turn out to be rather slow. `---- http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?op...395&Itemid=449 Microsoft Windows Is A Greedy Memory Hog, The Cure Is To Feed It RAM ,----[ Quote ] | For Windows 2000, XP, 512MB is the minimum and 1GB or more is recommended. | For Windows 98 any flavor, 256MB is the minimum and 1GB is recommended. If | you are an avid PC gamer or video editor, 1GB is the minimum | recommendation. Other operating systems such as Linux or Mac are similar. | Simply put: more is better. `---- http://bytepowered.org/articles/Arti...eed-It-RAM/539 http://tinyurl.com/yn9ztx ------------------------------ Message-ID: <5869825.ERpf6noJ89@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Windows 'Breakage' Nightmares Revisited Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 04:38:04 +0000 Broken Windows: Clean-up or Rebuild? ,----[ Quote ] | "Clean-up on a Windows machine is no longer consistently done quickly | because there are more and more procedures to run through, and a lot | more tools people have to install to check -- in a step-by-step | procedure -- whether things are hidden or not," Laundanski said. | "It's up to the [user] whether they really want to go through this | long exacerbated process of clean-up. If they can take their files | off of there and get them scanned somewhere, and then just | re-install the entire [operating system], that probably the | quickest and safest solution. A lot of times people don't want | to do that...they want to fight the infection, they want to know | exactly what happened, or figure out how they got hit and fix it." `---- http://blog.washingtonpost.com/secur...l?nav=rss_blog http://tinyurl.com/2xdf5d ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2786349.yN3POiMBup@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] PCWorld: Vista Has Rough Edges Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 04:41:43 +0000 Exclusive: First Vista PC Tests ,----[ Quote ] | In our tests, the first desktops loaded with the new operating system | prove to be solid performers, but some rough edges remain. `---- http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,12...1/article.html Related: Microsoft admits Vista screwed - report ,----[ Quote ] | Vista SP1 is code named "Fiji", presumably after a pretty looking | island which is paralysed by coups. | | In a statement regarding the service pack Microsoft admits that | Vista has "high impact" problems. `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37125 ,----[ Quote ] | "Up to 60% of the code in the new consumer version of Microsoft new Vista | operating system is set to be rewritten as the Company 'scrambles' to fix | internal problems a Microsoft insider has confirmed to SHN... Microsoft has | also admitted that it has major problems in it's Windows division and has | has immediately initiated a total restructure of the division..." `---- http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Computi...forms/R7G5G6U4 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1219451.vz3O0il2Yi@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Microsoft Norway Uses Apple for Vista Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 04:43:13 +0000 Microsoft Norway Demos Vista on a Mac ,----[ Quote ] | Some things just speak for themselves. In this video on the Norwegian | site VG TV (apparently associated with Norway's largest newspaper), | a Microsoft Norway executive demonstrates Vista on what is clearly | an Intel iMac (they don't even bother to hide the Apple logo). `---- http://www.tuaw.com/2007/01/25/micro...ista-on-a-mac/ Related: VIDEO: Steve Jobs: "Microsoft makes third-rate products" ,----[ Quote ] | "The only problem with Microsoft is they just have no taste, they | have absolutely no taste... I have a problem with the fact that | they just make really third rate products." `---- http://www.applegazette.com/steve-jo...rate-products/ http://tinyurl.com/yu7cdh ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1761652.WlH5e4Iiug@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] List of Output Vista Will/Won't Cripple (DRM 'Distortion') Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 04:48:22 +0000 What Content Will Be Crippled When Output in Vista? ,----[ Quote ] | There are tons of people out there not understanding all of this | "Vista DRM", mainly because of less than accurate media reporting. | That's completely understandable, but lets run down a quick list here | of some of the popular content out there. `---- http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archi...25/519180.aspx Skipping the PR spin, have a look below. Related: Microsoft's Response (to Gutmann's Critism) ,----[ Quote ] | Since the portions that I'll comment on here are PR-related rather | than technical content, the following section is an attempt to | respond directly and try and unravel the PR spin. The technical | comments have been integrated into the main body of the writeup. `---- http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~pgut00....html#response Microsoft spins DRM tale in 'blog' ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft can't come clean, can't talk honestly, and won't do | anything to protect its customers. Keep that in mind when you | are buying your next PC, if you buy one with Vista pre-installed, | you are funding the very people who are actively hurting you. `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37091 The Longest Suicide Note in History ,----[ Quote ] | Gutmann: The genie's out of the bottle before the operating system has even | been released! But that doesn't mean Vista users in particular - and | the computer community at large - won't end up paying for Microsoft's | DRM folly. At the risk of repeating myself repeating myself, yet | another reason to move to Linux. `---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://blogs.pcworld.co.nz/pcworld/t...ote_in_hi.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <13466703.y6TRSuliXg@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Various Flaws in Vista Malware Protection Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 04:51:01 +0000 Potential weaknesses in Vista malware protection ,----[ Gist ] | * Weak Spyware Blocking Capability | * Slow Definition Updates Create Vulnerability | * Susceptible Anti-Virus Costs Extra `---- http://www.net-security.org/secworld.php?id=4661 Related: 'Storm' Trojan Hits 1.6 Million PCs; Vista May Be Vulnerable ,----[ Quote ] | In addition, it appears that Windows Vista, the new operating | system Microsoft will launch next week, is vulnerable to the attack. `---- http://www.it-networks.org/?news=220 Symantec Says Windows Vista Will be Less Secure than XP http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3389 The year 2007: A review through the crystal ball ,----[ Quote ] | 2007 was the year of the super bots: Never before has malicious software | been equipped with so many functions that help it to hide from antivirus | software and to resist removal... | | While in 2006, DDoS attacks with botnets were mainly targeted at | unwanted competitors, online betting offices and consumer protection | sites, 2007 also saw large attacks launched on critical | infrastructures. In April, the stock exchange nearly crashed, | when a DDoS attack on the electronic trading system disconnected | it from the Internet for several days, resulting in automated | control programs loosing control and attempting to divest shares | in a panic reaction. `---- http://www.heise-security.co.uk/articles/83058 Malware more compatible with Vista than anti-malware products ,----[ Quote ] | Malware writers appear to be much further along in developing malware | for Vista than the security industry is in making products to protect | the new operating system. `---- http://www.itpro.co.uk/news/102716/m...-products.html It says 38% of the malware already works in Vista. Windows Vista: It's More Secure, We Promise ,----[ Quote ] | Well, allow me to take a moment to remind everyone of something that | you might not remember - XP was also touted as being ultra secure. | Seriously, can anyone honestly look themselves in the mirror and say | this is the gospel truth? You have got to be kidding me. Similar to | XP, Microsoft promises to have the most secure Windows version to date | yet again. `---- http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?op...357&Itemid=449 ,----[ Quote ] | "Up to 60% of the code in the new consumer version of Microsoft new Vista | operating system is set to be rewritten as the Company 'scrambles' to fix | internal problems a Microsoft insider has confirmed to SHN... Microsoft has | also admitted that it has major problems in it's Windows division and has | has immediately initiated a total restructure of the division..." `---- http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Computi...forms/R7G5G6U4 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1525473.Y5LWO5VS6k@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] New Version of Wine Improves Direct3D Compatibility (and More) Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:27:39 +0000 January 25, 2007: Wine 0.9.30 Released ,----[ Quote ] | Wine 0.9.30 was released today, with the following main changes: | | * Many improvements to Direct3D shaders and state management. | * Support for inter-process memory allocations. | * OLE32 marshalling fixes. | * Lots of bug fixes. `---- http://winehq.org/site?news=archive Someone from Digg grabbed a screenshot which proves that Microsoft knows no limits. It shoves its anti-Linux stuff even at Linux users (targetted ads). http://img408.imageshack.us/my.php?i...eenshotqi1.png Also see: Slashdot promotes windows! http://planet-geek.com/archives/003510.html Fighting Claims That Open Source Is Insecure? http://ask.slashdot.org/article.pl?s...13212&from=rss Reviewing a Microsoft anti-Linux case study http://blogs.zdnet.com/Murphy/index.php?p=739 Related: World of Warcraft on OpenSuse Linux 10.1 (with Wine) ,----[ Quote ] | A while ago I started thinking about running World of Warcraft on | Linux, and someone even left me a note about a petition for a | Linux-native client a month or two ago too. I'd love to see a | native client for WoW in Linux, but that's not here today. So | I turned to Wine for the first time in years. `---- http://www.latenightpc.com/blog/arch...use-linux-101/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1619771.TghID18bN6@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] The Dangers of Proprietary Identity Management Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:42:08 +0000 IBM's Invisibility Cloak ,----[ Quote ] | Why would for-profit companies, like IBM and Novell, offer a service | for free? In part to block Microsoft, which recently developed its | own ID management system called CardSpace. Originally name | "InfoCard," Microsoft's new ID system gives users a common ID | that will work across any Windows application. Eventually, | Microsoft hopes to expand beyond Windows applications into | adoption by banks, credit cards and online retailers. CardSpace | comes including in Vista, Microsoft's new operating system. `---- http://www.forbes.com/2007/01/25/ibm...rtner=yahootix Being discriminated (or locked out) for your operating system choice. Only yesterday: The cost of monoculture ,----[ Quote ] | Korea will only get beyond this problem by 1) applying Korean laws | on open standards to the certificate authorities, 2) reassigning new | certificates which work with open web standards to all Koreans, 3) | reprogramming all Korean websites to support 128 bit SSL which will | allow for a heterogeneous marketplace of operating systems and web | browsers. This is a herculean task and thus Korea stays hostage to | Redmond. | | Fascinating history. Unintended consequences and de-facto monopolies | create costs too high to calculate and must be borne without question. `---- http://www.kanai.net/weblog/archive/...h53m55s#003095 Related: Liberty Alliance, Microsoft discuss identity protocols ,----[ Quote ] | "We have finally put down the boxing gloves and are trying to figure | out how to solve our customers' problems," said Roger Sullivan, the | newly elected president of the Liberty Alliance and vice president | of Oracle's identity management section. | | The Liberty Alliance, whose participants include HP, Sun and IBM, | backs the ID-Web Services Framework (ID-WSF), a set of protocols | for Web services. Microsoft supports another set, WS-Star. `---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2007/...rss-linux-news Snubbing standards and interoperability, as usual. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1340116.0aItmXTZey@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Microsoft Word Gains 4th Unpatched Zero-day Flaw, Already Exploited, Leads to Zombie PCs Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:50:21 +0000 Another Word zero-day bug used in attacks ,----[ Quote ] | The newest problem allows an attacker to hijack systems running Word 2000 | and causes a crash of Word 2003 and Word XP, Symantec said in an alert | Thursday. `---- http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6153562.html Yesterday on the BBC: Criminals 'may overwhelm the web' ,----[ Quote ] | "Operating systems like Microsoft Windows still made it too easy for | criminals." `---- http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6298641.stm Last week: Spam is back, and worse than ever ,----[ Quote ] | New computer viruses have contributed to the uptick, also, | particularly a surprisingly prolific Trojan horse program | called "SpamThru" that turns home computers into | spam-churning "bots." `---- http://redtape.msnbc.com/2007/01/spam_is_back_an.html Related: Linux Security: A Big Edge Over Windows ,----[ Quote ] | Linux is better at locking down a computer than Windows. The Linux OS | uses configuration settings and user permissions to a much more | efficient degree than the Windows administrator account. To do | this, non-enterprise users should seek help from third-party | security suites that serve as configuration managers, James | Bottomley, chief technology officer of SteelEye Technology said. `---- http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/54742.html Security Report: Windows vs Linux ,----[Executive summary ] | Finally, we also include a brief overview of relevant conceptual | differences between Windows and Linux, to offer an insight into why | Windows tends to be more vulnerable to attacks at both server and desktop, | and why Linux is inherently more secure `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/securit...dows_vs_linux/ Microsoft Windows: Insecure by Design http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...nguage=printer If Only We Knew Then What We Know Now About Windows XP ,----[ Quote ] | You can think of Windows XP as a house with a second floor built of | spackle, wood filler and duct tape. `---- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...rss_technology Why Windows is a security nightmare. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...120110704.html The Structural Failures of Windows http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=15305 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1276391.p2fne1iiKc@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Disappointment at Microsoft Over Decreasing Market Share in Search Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:53:49 +0000 Microsoft 'not happy' with search results ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft is continuing to lose market share in the search business | to industry rival Google, something the software maker's financial | chief said Thursday he is "not happy" about. `---- http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6153584.html 2 days ago: Microsoft profit on slide ,----[ Quote ] | Some analysts are looking for any signs of improvement from | Microsoft's internet division, which continues to lose market | share in web search to Google. | | Microsoft's online services group saw revenue fall for the last | four quarters and posted a loss in the past three quarters while | it shifted to a new internet advertising platform and overhauled | the company's web properties. `---- http://australianit.news.com.au/arti...nbv%5E,00.html Related: Will Berkowitz keep Windows Live? ,----[ Quote ] | At the risk of moving this article over to the opinion blog, many | of the problems Berkowitz faces were caused not by too much focus | on technical wizardry, but by a lack of clear direction, both for | MSN and for Windows Live. `---- http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/a...dows-live.aspx Sources: Several Windows Live Projects Halted ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft's Windows Live desktop search project has been | shelved "indefinitely," although not much reasoning has been | given as to the reason for its demise. `---- http://www.betanews.com/article/Sour...ted/1163715423 Ozzie: Vista, Office must adapt to Web era ,----[ Quote ] | Ozzie said that the transition to integrate online services into Microsoft | products has been a challenge but that changes within the company are | happening. `---- http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6133895.html Will Web 2.0 ultimately kill Windows? ,----[ Quote ] | Allchin shared his thoughts on Windows Live (which, along with Windows and | developer tools also falls under his organization); competition with Google | and Apple; and why a client-based version of Windows won?t ever completely | disappear, regardless of how successful Web services become. `---- http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=66 MSN Still Going Nowhere Fast ,----[ Quote ] | It is worth noting that Microsoft still hasn't made any headway | in the search-and-portal game and, in fact, is falling farther andf | arther behind. As a result, it is not surprising that Steve Ballmer | is now warning media companies that Google is the Evil Empire -- | because no other competitive tactic has worked. `---- http://biz.yahoo.com/seekingalpha/06...7_id.html?.v=1 Google, Yahoo gain share in U.S. Web search market ,----[ Quote ] | Web audience measurement firm comScore Networks said No. 3-ranked | Microsoft's share slid 0.5 percent to 10.5 percent of U.S. Web | searches while InterActiveCorp's Ask.com's share dipped 0.1 | percent to 5.4 percent. `---- http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6150230.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2030133.2Uc33oR9Gp@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] IBM Donates Privacy Software to Open Source Community Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 12:58:43 +0000 IBM donates new privacy tool to open-source ,----[ Quote ] | IBM has developed software designed to let people keep personal | information secret when doing business online and donated it to | the Higgins open-source project. `---- http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6153625.html Related: Liberty Alliance, Microsoft discuss identity protocols ,----[ Quote ] | "We have finally put down the boxing gloves and are trying to figure | out how to solve our customers' problems," said Roger Sullivan, the | newly elected president of the Liberty Alliance and vice president | of Oracle's identity management section. | | The Liberty Alliance, whose participants include HP, Sun and IBM, | backs the ID-Web Services Framework (ID-WSF), a set of protocols | for Web services. Microsoft supports another set, WS-Star. `---- ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2007/...rss-linux-news IBM renews Microsoft rivalry with new Web Software ,----[ Quote ] | IBM's Lotus unit will introduce on Monday a set of social networking | services that functions like a MySpace for office workers and which | analysts say marks a renewed challenge to Microsoft Corp. `---- http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articl...mktNews&rpc=44 http://tinyurl.com/3yaabd IBM project aims to help blind use ODF applications ,----[ Quote ] | APIs will faciliate visuals to be interpreted by screen readers | that reproduce information verbally | | [...] | | The technology is based on interfaces IBM originally developed with | Sun Microsystems Inc. to make programs on Java and Linux platforms | accessible to the blind. `---- http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/...lindodf_1.html The Best Blue Chip for 2007: IBM ,----[ Quote ] | Similarly, by tapping into the open-source movement, harnessing the | power of its new software acquisitions, and understanding the | immense potential of everything from SoulPad and the Smart | Surveillance System to its supercomputers, IBM consultants | are poised to provide their clients the tools and information | they will need to stay competitive. `---- http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/...gvisit=y&npu=y http://tinyurl.com/ydo29n ,----[ Quote ] | "We've moved past the ideology," said Sutor, in Salt Lake City | Thursday to attend graduation ceremonies at Neumont University." | Many people have figured out that there are a number of ways tom | ake money from the 'open source' model." | | [...] | | The litigation has been characterized as part of a proxy war being | waged by Microsoft against Linux, seen as a prime challenger to | Windows. Microsoft has been a prime funding source for SCO, but | earlier this month stunned open-sourcers by announcing a development | pact for Novell's Suse-brand of Linux. | | IBM is watching the apparent about-face with interest - and | skepticism. "I don't see [Microsoft] doing very much yet for open | source that isn't at arm's length," Sutor said. "Possibly this is | a way of perpetrating previous [anti-Linux] strategy while | superficially looking better." `---- http://www.sltrib.com/ci_4679245?source=rss Is IBM open source's little friend? ,----[ Quote ] | ...That is because one of the big post-Linuxworld features is all about | IBM, and how IBM is going to use open source to beat big, bad Microsoft. | | [...] | | The story, from Motley Fool, says IBM is going to get Linux running faster | on its proprietary chips, go after smaller customers using the cost | benefits of open source, and push an "open health care framework" to | push computers into smaller medical offices. `---- http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=758 Ballmer rattles intellectual property saber at Linux ,----[ Quote ] | Besides, does Microsoft think IBM will stay on the litigation sidelines, | if it decides to play the patent card? IBM makes a lot of its billions | from Linux, and I can't see Big Blue paying Microsoft off to continue | using its favorite operating system. `---- http://www.linux-watch.com/news/NS7228555922.html IBM: You Don't Need a Computer to See Its Growth Potential -- Barron's ,----[ Quote ] | Palmisano: "We have a top share in servers and Linux, No. 1 in blade | servers, which is a huge growth area... No. 1 in supercomputing, No. 1 | in SOA... We're No. 1 in middleware... IBM is a stronger company today | than it was four years ago, with stronger margins, solid cash and | earnings." Barron's: You don't need a computer to know what that | trend could do for IBM's shares. `---- http://biz.yahoo.com/seekingalpha/06...2_id.html?.v=1 IBM's Power Architecture Attracting More Linux Developers ,----[ Quote ] | IBM makes less revenue on servers sold with Linux, compared to | those that ship with one if its commercial operating systems -- | such as AIX or OS 400 -- but that's offset by the company's | growing Linux support practice. Linux compatibility also makes | the company's servers accessible to a wider variety of users, | such as educational institutions on limited budgets. "We | benefit from the wider ecosystem that Linux is a part of," | says Jollans. `---- http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20061202/tc_cmp/196601027 IBM Achieves Major "Linux on POWER" Milestone ,----[ Quote ] | The number of tested, native applications available for the Linux on | POWER platform has grown more than 200 percent in the last two years, | marking it as a fast-developing new IT ecosystem. `---- http://biz.yahoo.com/iw/061201/0190250.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1195070.LehAFNZ8cB@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] PostgreSQL for Oracle Pinch in Europe Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:06:27 +0000 EnterpriseDB goes after Oracle's European users ,----[ Quote ] | EnterpriseDB, the open source database company nipping at Oracle's | heals in the US, is today expected to open its first European sales | offices in the UK. The opening follows this month's Asia Pacific | expansion in Hong Kong. | | [...] | | EnterpriseDB claimed 100 customers during 2006 with growing traction | among the Oracle base. Earlier this month Enterprise announced new | support for its PostgreSQL database starting at $1,500 per CPU and | topping out at $3,000. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01...ropean_office/ Like Red Hat, one needn't be dependent on support. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4260098.z24FXXLitp@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Despite Beating Estimates, Microsoft Profits Down $1,000,000,000 Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:17:23 +0000 Microsoft Feels the Pain of Vista's Delay and Losses in Search ,----[ Quote ] | So now we know how much the delay in Microsoft's (MSFT) launch of its | Vista operating system cost the company: $1 billion in profits, and | $1.64 billion in deferred revenues. (Profits declined in | just-announced quarter to $2.6 billion, from $3.6 billion last | year). The question now is whether Microsoft can make it up | in short order. `---- http://blogs.business2.com/business2...delay_low.html Linux is where the increased profits are at (see below). Growth opportunity and innovation requires reuse, interoperability, and cooperation. Related: The Best Blue Chip for 2007: IBM ,----[ Quote ] | Similarly, by tapping into the open-source movement, harnessing the | power of its new software acquisitions, and understanding the | immense potential of everything from SoulPad and the Smart | Surveillance System to its supercomputers, IBM consultants | are poised to provide their clients the tools and information | they will need to stay competitive. `---- http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/...gvisit=y&npu=y http://tinyurl.com/ydo29n Red Hat profit tops Wall Street view, shares soar ,----[ Quote ] | "Open-source is not going away and Red Hat is the leader," Chowdhry | said in a telephone interview. "Oracle is a nonevent when | it comes to open source." `---- http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articl...mktNews&rpc=44 http://tinyurl.com/y57we9 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4068083.FZvGiPquot@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] It's Official: Windows Live is Broken Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:53:46 +0000 Search Engine Journal Not Indexed in Microsoft?s Live Search Some good comments: ,----[ Quote ] | Seriously now, I think Live has a problem indeed. | | --- | | That's crazy... | | No wonder they are loosing market share. | | --- | | Same thing here. I submitted a site of mine and it never got indexed. | | Don't take it personally... you just posted about the Wikipedia spam, | so you don't get your site included and you don't get a Ferrari laptop | after all  .`---- http://www.searchenginejournal.com/?p=4321 [sarcasm /] Maybe the servers which index the Web have got Trojan and malware that disrupt their indexing and crawling operations... Related: Let Microsoft know they need to fix their search engine ,----[ Quote ] | Many posts and pages turn up that link to BadVista.org, but no | results from badvista.org itself appear... | | Is it deliberate? No way to know I suppose, though to their | credit if you search for "badvista.fsf.org", you will get some | (rather odd-looking) results. So perhaps this is some kind of | technical problem with the interaction between their search | bots and our site. `---- http://badvista.fsf.org/blog/let-mic...-search-engine Yesterday: Microsoft 'not happy' with search results ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft is continuing to lose market share in the search business | to industry rival Google, something the software maker's financial | chief said Thursday he is "not happy" about. `---- http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-6153584.html 2 days ago: Microsoft profit on slide ,----[ Quote ] | Some analysts are looking for any signs of improvement from | Microsoft's internet division, which continues to lose market | share in web search to Google. | | Microsoft's online services group saw revenue fall for the last | four quarters and posted a loss in the past three quarters while | it shifted to a new internet advertising platform and overhauled | the company's web properties. `---- http://australianit.news.com.au/arti...nbv%5E,00.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1718992.GC4iiS8KL8@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Newsfactor on Vista Compatibility Troubles Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:59:44 +0000 Vista Compatibility Still Concerns Some ,----[ Quote ] | Analysts confirm that there are indeed some issues with software | compatibility and there are bound to be more. Whenever a new | operating system comes into play, users should expect it won't | be smooth sailing at first. Thus, it comes as no surprise that | bloggers are busily posting problems and gripes. `---- http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20070126/tc_nf/49597 When your favourite applications are no longer supported, it may be time to choose different ones, on a better (and less buggy) platform as well. Related: Life with Vista - Is this dogfood really for the dogs? ,----[ Quote ] | # Vista is not ready for primetime. By that I mean that Vista still | feels like a beta. That's right. It has so many compatibility | problems with existing applications that running anything other | than stuff from Microsoft that specifically says "for Vista Build | XXXX" makes me feel like I'm taking my life into my own hands. | | 1. Games - don't even get me started... | | 2. Visual Studio 2005 - I can't find the words to express the irony... | | 3. Virtual PC - worthless. Don't even attempt on Vista. `---- http://dotnetaddict.dotnetdevelopers...ta_dogfood.htm Visual Studio vs. Vista: What's going on here? ,----[ Quote ] | * Visual Basic 6.0 (supported) | * Visual Studio .NET 2002 (not supported) | * Visual Studio .NET 2003 (not supported) | * Visual Studio 2005 (supported, but will have "compatibility issues" | until some nebulous set of post-SP1 fixes ships) `---- http://www.theserverside.net/news/th...hread_id=42426 Windows Vista: Work In Progress ,----[ Quote ] | Already, the list of non-compatible applications or hardware is fairly | long. Microsoft's own Vista updates add to the number of third-partyp | atches on which businesses will have to conduct compatibility testing. | The burden is yet another reason to see slow business deployments in | the early months following Windows Vista's release. `---- http://www.microsoft-watch.com/conte...129TX1K0000535 SQL Server 2005 SP1 won't work with Vista ,----[ Quote ] | It's no secret that a number of applications, including | several of Microsoft's own, are not going to work properly | with Windows Vista when the product ships. `---- http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=71 Vista Breaks Applications ,----[ Quote ] | The big secret at Redmond is that existing applications and new | products will not work with Vista. | | Microsoft really doesn't want you to know this, but many of your | existing applications won't work with Vista. In fact, some brand | new products won't work with Vista. `---- http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2062318,00.asp http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2237 Lack of Internal Talks at Microsoft, Google ,----[ Quote ] | Maybe my "Microsoft's Entertainment Domination" theory was a bit | premature. Apparently, the Zune MP3 player isn't flying off shelves | and now it turns out that the Zune is incompatible with Microsoft' | latest Windows Vista operating system. Amazing how a disconnect like | this can occur within an organization. Software start-ups are taking | advantage of the lowered development costs and the speedy development | time -- and forcing large software organizations to speed up their | own development cycles, but in the process, the large organizations | are fumbling to communicate effectively amongst their departments. `---- http://www.techcrunch.com/2006/11/15...rosoft-google/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2818285.Cxs0nDHOPr@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] SFLC Action Against Patent Trolls Bears Fruit Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:13:27 +0000 Patent Office Orders Re-Examination of Blackboard Patent ,----[ Quote ] | The US Patent and Trademark Office today ordered re-examination of | the e-learning patent owned by Blackboard Inc. Once again, we | have the Software Freedom Law Center to thank for filing the request. `---- http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?s...07012520202052 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1169825235.366678.278750@s48g2000cws.googlegroups .com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Chinese Government Financial Support for Linux Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:45:47 +0000 Will cash solve China's 'community' problem? ,----[ Quote ] | The government, I learnt, as well as universities are also | forming communities, which are sponsored and intended to attract | talented developers, or more, to point the contributors to the | cause of the sponsor. The government mainly funds the top open | source companies in China--those being Red Flag, Turbo Linux and | Sun Wah, and these groups in turn need to devote a portion of | their funding to the government initiative to promote skills in | this area. It makes sense because how can the government grow | its infrastructure if there is no skilled labor to develop and | support it? `---- http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/openso...1984296,00.htm Related: China's Linux industry booms, despite problems ,----[ Quote ] | According to Lu Shouqun, China's sale of Linux was 175 million yuan | ($21 million) in 2005, increasing 81% compared with the previous year. | The sale of other open source software that year was 160 million | yuan ($19 million). In the operating system market, the share of | Linux increased from 4.2% to 9.8% between 2003 and 2005. `---- http://community.linux.com/article.p...1917209&tid=53 Computers with home-grown Chinese CPU debut ,----[ Quote ] | The computer, which uses a Linux operating system, comes with a | 40-gigabyte hard drive and 256 megabytes of memory. It costs | 1,599 yuan (about 200 U.S. dollars), and users have to buy the | monitor, keyboard and mouse separately, the company said on | its website. `---- http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_5627256.htm China Linux Market Will Grow at Annual Rate of 34%, Says R&M ,----[ Quote ] | It is predicted that in China, Linux market (both server and client) | will grow with an annual rate of 34 %. The client-side share growth | will be comparatively faster. `---- http://eb-asia.com/article.asp?id=7528 Will China Be Linux's Best Friend In 2007? ,----[ Quote ] | The sale of IBM's PC division to Chinese-owned Lenovo was only the tip of | the iceberg, it seems. Now, the latest news indicate that computers running | on Chinese-made processors and running Linux will be introduced before the | Chinese New Year. Good news indeed for those who would like to see Intel | and Microsoft's domination of the global PC market finally face some | genuine competition. | | [...] | | The things in favor of the Chinese PCs: a) through its sheer size, | China has considerable economic leverage on most countries in the | West (particularly Canada and the US) and may simply demand that | these new computers be given a serious opportunity in overseas | markets; b) successful adoption of the computers in its own country | could lead to greater likelihood of adoption in other countries; | and c) priced quite low, these computers may garner an initial | following as a novelty or a toy for hobbyists and/or Linux | afficionados, leading to further growth. `---- http://www.performancepccanada.com/?...out&formfields[sect_title]=Editorial http://tinyurl.com/yosn7t China making own PCs running with Linux but please shut up about it. And why are you running those damn pictures? ,----[ Quote ] | No one wanted the news released. It appears to have been a major clanger | on someone?s part. | | China Youth Daily ran this on Sina Tech (it is a Chinese site and unless | you read Chinese gets you nowhere) and all hell broke lose. It was | not authorized. The site was firmly asked to remove the story. As of | this writing this has not happened. | | There is serious upset at Lemote and Godson that the news has | leaked. They are as annoyed as Steve Jobs would be in a similar | situation. Still it has happened. And we have photographs of the | machine which you see above. Probably the first English language | site to do so. `---- http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20...damn-pictures/ http://tinyurl.com/28z32f Hasee PCs Preinstall Linux Desktop ,----[ Quote ] | Co-Create, founded in 2001, is a Beijing-based software company | specializing in development, production and application of Linux | and the cross-platform office suite sponsored by 8 Chinese | well-known IT companies. | | Co-Create made great achievements in 2006 thanks to the | regulations on the pre-installation of computer operating | system software. Many computer manufacturers, including Lenovo, | HP and Dell all cooperated with Co-Create. 23 Dell computer | models sold in China all completely preinstall Linux operating | systems. `---- http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/inde...SS&newsid=7969 http://www.businessweek.com/the_thre..._step_for.html ,----[ Quote ] | "China has long been seen as a fertile ground for Linux and other open | source software. In a country where more than 90% of software in use | is pirated, it seems like a natural fit." `---- http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/50004.html Linux Set to Soar in China http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/fron.../03/2003311446 Government says all new PCs must be Linux-friendly China looks to open-source community for advice ,----[ Quote ] | China is counting on senior members of the open-source community to | help formulate policy ideas to promote open-source software, according | to a local software executive. | | The China Open-Source Software Promotion Union (COPU), a government-backed | industry group, has established a think tank comprised of 19 prominent | open-source executives from overseas to develop a framework for better | international cooperation. `---- http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/...nsource_1.html ,----[ Quote ] | Many such vendors previously sold PCs with free operating systems such as | Linux or none at all... | | Observers believe the Chinese vendors signed their deals with Microsoft | in April under pressure from Beijing, which is trying to show it is | making serious efforts to stamp out piracy -- a major complaint from | many Western governments. | | In late March, the Chinese government went so far as to issue a | decree requiring PC makers to install a licensed operating system on | each machine before it left the factory. `---- http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060601/...a_microsoft_dc China's Linux Adoption Threat to Microsoft? ,----[ Quote ] | Most recently, China has been placing their bets on Linux over Windows as | the dominant OS for their needs. And one of the best examples of this on | the desktop front would have to be with Turbolinux. The distribution has | been so widely accepted by the Chinese that even HP has decided to begin | selling PCs with the OS preinstalled for distribution. But it doesn't | stop there. China has a distribution of its very own; you may know it as | Red Flag Linux. `---- http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?op...249&Itemid=449 China to produce $125 (Linux) PC ,----[ Quote ] | A Chinese outfit is hoping to release a PC which will hit the shops with a | price tag of $125. `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34355 Xinjiang Clusters Panasas ,----[ Quote ] | Currently, Xinjiang Oil Company is running 12 Panasas Storage Clusters | in conjunction with 600-node Linux clusters at the company's Department | of Earth Science in western China. | | [...] | | "The object-based Panasas storage solution totally turns things around | by giving us the things we were looking for--high performance, | expansibility, stability, dependability, and simplified management... `---- http://www.byteandswitch.com/documen...WT.svl=wire2_1 China gets a lesson on Open Source Intellectual Property Rights ,----[ Quote ] | The Open Invention Network (OIN) hosted a panel discussion in Beijing | last Wednesday, October 11th... The emergence of organizations such as | OIN and Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) is very positive to the | Open Source Movement. It legitimizes the grass roots efforts of Linux | Champions, such as Linus Torvalds and Richard Stallman. `---- http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/openso...1959441,00.htm Car PCs mount in dashboards, run Linux ,----[ Quote ] | Hong Kong based mini-PC manufacturing specialist SD-Omega has added | a pair of high-end models to its extensive line of more than 20 | Linux-friendly car PC models. The SD631C and PCI-slot-equipped | SD631CH support Intel Pentium M and Celeron M processors at over | 2GHz, and include car-specific features. `---- http://www.linux.org//news/2006/10/31/0006.html Behind the upsurge in Chinese open source communities ,----[ Quote ] | Part of the momentum behind this change comes from the Chinese | government, which now regards open source communities as a key to | its software industry and will put more resources toward them in its | eleventh Five-Year-Plan period (2006-2010). "As a banner of China's | Linux industry, Red Flag no doubt has more responsibilities to | advocate the government's new tactic. `---- http://trends.newsforge.com/article....29255&from=rss Ubuntu's official launch in China ,----[ Quote ] | Mark Shuttleworth, founder of the Ubuntu project, was in Beijing | last week for Ubuntu's official China launch. The event was | overwhelmingly successful. `---- http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/openso...1965081,00.htm RPLinux: China's Answer to the $100 PC ,----[ Quote ] | What do you think? Can China succeed in making a true seamless blend of | their Linux distribution of choice with their home grown hardware? It's | no small feat to be sure; however, I personally believe that they are | likely up to the challenge. `---- http://www.osweekly.com/index.php?op...350&Itemid=468 Red Hat sees FY07 greater China sales up 100 pct ,----[ Quote ] | Red Hat Inc., a distributor of open-source Linux software, expects its | sales in the greater China region to double in fiscal 2007 and grow by | 85 percent in fiscal 2008, an executive said on Tuesday. "Our plan is to | have 100 percent growth this year, and 85 percent growth next year," | Michael Chen, general manager of Red Hat China, told Reuters in an | interview. `---- http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articl...mktNews&rpc=44 http://tinyurl.com/rdrsg China's Digit Digit Adds Linux-based Flames ,----[ Quote ] | The latest version of the VFX system - Flame 2007 - takes advantage of | 64-bit multi-core computing, storage and networking technologies to | provide large productivity gains for users performing compositing, | tracking, color correction and visual effects. `---- http://www.postmagazine.com/ME2/dirm...A74AFD3E19D8B0 http://tinyurl.com/yggx4b China has its own open document format ,----[ Quote ] | Put this in your pipe and smoke it: China has its own open document | format, the Uniform Office Format (UOF), that they are working to | harmonize with ODF... | | All the plotting and planning here in the US was for absolutely | nothing. ODF wins. `---- http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?s...61108134931144 Converter Enables Conversion Between ODF & Chinese Document Format (UOF) ,----[ Quote ] | Peking University recently released a program to convert office | documents between OpenDocument Format and the Specification for | the Chinese office file format based on XML (UOF for short). `---- http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/77350/index.html Wake Up Morning Post ,----[ Quote ] | Open Source companies in China can't look to the likes of IBM, SUN | and Novell to bring them out of their closets through acquisition, | partnerships or staunching Microsoft's growth. Chinese companies are | going to have to learn to compete as their Western peers have. `---- http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/openso...1966769,00.htm Treachery In The Trenches ,----[ Quote ] | I believe that most people do not grasp the immense entity of Microsoft. | This is an organization and a man who commands the attention and bidding | of world leaders. On a recent trip to America, the President of China | spent his first evening in the United States, not with our President, | but Bill Gates. He was the guest of the Gates mansion that first | evening and the guest of honor for a dinner attended by over one | hundred people. Why? To ask him to crack down on Software piracy | and to insure that his computer manufacturers put Microsoft Windows | on thier newly made machines instead of shipping them with no OS. He | didn't see the President of the United States for over 36 hours...he | spent that time with Bill Gates at his home and at the Redmond | Campus. `---- http://blog.lobby4linux.com/index.ph...-Trenches.html IBM to Shift China Focus Toward Tech, Linux ,----[ Quote ] | "Our business is changing, so our investment in China will also | change," said Michael Cannon-Brookes, IBM's vice-president of | business development for China and India. | | He said the technology firm's investments will go to areas such as | IT service, business transformation, Linux operating systems, and | people. IBM has already invested billions of U.S. dollars in China. `---- http://www.technewsworld.com/story/54277.html Red Flag Linux may be next on IBM's agenda ,----[ Quote ] | Jollans also addressed a question about why IBM did not release its own | Linux distribution several years ago. | | "We thought that if IBM was in the market as an 800-pound gorilla, it | would have a negative effect on the Linux market. We won't do something | that sets us against the community," he said. `---- http://www.networkworld.com/news/200...ux-may-be.html Dell's secret Linux fling ,----[ Quote ] | Dell's love affair with Linux is a clandestine affair these days, | conducted in secret, away from disapproving eyes. But now the pair | have been spotted in China. | | When Michael Dell first saw the web-footed beauty, he fell head over | heels. Six years ago Dell pledged a series of strategic investments | in Linux companies, including Eazel and Red Hat. The romance | attracted the disapproval of Microsoft however, and barely lasted | weeks. Very quietly, Dell dumped the bird. | | It later emerged that Microsoft's OEM enforcer Joachim Kempin had | promised Steve Ballmer that he'd be putting the screws on PCb | uilders, or "hitting the OEMs harder" in his words. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01...l_linux_china/ Microsoft loses top executive in China ,----[ Quote ] | "Li Gong is currently exploring other career opportunities," Microsoft said | in a statement to News.com. | | [...] | | In a September 2005 Business Week interview, Ballmer touted Gong as | one of several key hires that Microsoft had made. | | Most recently, Gong has served as managing director of Windows LiveC | hina and as Vice President of Microsoft China R&D Group. | | Gong's name came up in the case over Kai-Fu Lee, the top Microsoft | executive whose hiring by Google sparked a multistate legal battle. `---- http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6149735.html Will 2007 be the Year for Linux? ,----[ Quote ] | Last question, where does China fit into all of this? Well, a | market like China is great for new technologies and solutions | to proliferate. I hope Microsoft is successful in its fight | against piracy, as the Chinese, with their burgeoning salaries | and hunger for an easier life won't be turning to bulky | desktops and costly software. Stylish, cost effective and | fully integrated solutions are what will dominate this market, | as well as all the developing markets of this world. `---- http://www.zdnetasia.com/blog/openso...1981756,00.htm ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2804830.tnWK300tiy@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] New LGPL-Licensed AJAX Framework Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:47:55 +0000 Open Source AJAX Enabled Framework for Building Customized User Interfaces for JMX ,----[ Quote ] | This is a framework for building customized dynamic web interfaces for | JMX applications. Java Management Extensions (JMX) technology provides | the tools for building distributed, Web-based, modular and dynamic | solutions for managing and monitoring devices, applications, and | service-driven networks. `---- http://linux.sys-con.com/read/317458_p.htm ------------------------------ Message-ID: <7602417.QKN6eAic0M@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Linux Reduces Piracy in Indonesia Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:50:33 +0000 Open source, closed mind ,----[ Quote ] | It recently launched the Indonesia Goes Open-Source Nusantara 2006 | package, which provides desktop software based on Linux Fedora Core 5 | and with the ability to operate applications such as Open Office for | text documents, Firefox for Internet browsing, Thunderbird for email | and Gaim for chatting. | | The ministry's website also lists a range of open-source software | material, domestic and foreign, from which material can be downloaded | for free. | | Furthermore, the use of open-source software cuts down on piracy, | which is as prevalent in this country as the use of computers. `---- http://www.thejakartapost.com/detail...126.E01&irec=0 http://tinyurl.com/yqjk59 Related: Sofyan: Open Source Hampers Government's Activity ,----[ Quote ] | The Department of Research and Technology will involve eight | universities as developing agents of Indonesia GO Open Source | (IGOS) program. They include Bandung Institute of Technology, | Sepuluh November Institute of Technology, Gadjah Mada University, | University of Indonesia, Udayana University, Deli Polytechnics, | Batam Polytechnics and President University. `---- http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/e...-91365,uk.html http://tinyurl.com/tgedc Open-source system sought for SMEs, ministries ,----[ Quote ] | To help protect intellectual property rights and reduce costs, the | State Ministry for Research and Technology is urging state | institutions, and small and medium enterprises to adopt open-source | software for their computers. The Information and Communications | Ministry had already saved on its IT budget after deciding | to migrate. `---- http://www.thejakartapost.com/detail...205.L01&irec=0 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1279155.sDhpvgF3fq@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Linux on the Desktop Suitable for Home Use Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:48:50 +0000 Linux on the Desktop at Home ,----[ Quote ] | It is a valid point that although Linux based desktop systems are | nowadays easier to use and more reliable than Microsoft Windows (R) | for most common applications, users still fear the difference. Let | us have a closer look to what our Linux desktop aimed to be, and | become. `---- http://www.zenwalk.org/modules/news/...php?storyid=36 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <14628882.0pExgoZI2z@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Migrations to Linux Desktops Starting with Open Source on Windows Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:46:30 +0000 Penguin Prophecies ,----[ Quote ] | But as a prelude to that, in 2007, OpenOffice.org gets even better | with the Microsoft/Novell alliance, and Novell will release a solid | Evolution for Windows, as well as a Windows version of the Novell | build of OpenOffice.org, with improved filters and usability features. | The releases cause a ripple, paving the way for Linux desktop use | and acclimating end-users with an alternative productivity | platform. `---- http://www.linux-mag.com/id/2869 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <5447222.RvvKEguNbX@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Egyptian Gentoo Linux Launched Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:53:13 +0000 BinToo-2007.1 Released ,----[ Quote ] | I'm pleased to announce the 3rd release of BinToo Distro. BinToo-2007.1 | and the new installation method. `---- http://bintoo.sourceforge.net/drpl/node/34 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2242971.ECVDkYbMV4@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Nintendo Wii High Success, Profits Surge Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:58:15 +0000 Nintendo sales and profits surge on Wii, DS Lite ,----[ Quote ] | The company sold 3.2 million Wii consoles in November and December | this year together with 17.5 million pieces of software, it said Thursday. `---- http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20...nfoworld/85429 Quite a lot of Linux stuff is coming out of the Wii (examples below), which is becoming popular and depleting the revenues of Microsoft's XBox team (lockin). Related: Linux Live CD is in development for the Wii ,----[ Quote ] | WiiLi will be based off MandrivaONE, you can expect it to look like this... `---- http://www.nwiizone.com/nintendo-wii...t-for-the-wii/ mythwii ,----[ Quote ] | An interface to MythTV optimised for viewing from Nintendo's Wii. `---- http://code.google.com/p/mythwii/ Nintendo Wii steals the Christmas show ,----[ Quote ] | The No3 player in the games world has beaten its rivals with its | must-have console, says Paul Durman `---- http://business.timesonline.co.uk/ar...517214,00.html Nintendo Owns The New Generation ,----[ Quote ] | Meanwhile, Sony benefited from substantial sales of its | six-year-old PlayStation 2 console. Sales of the system | trumped all three new consoles, selling 664,000 units | during November. `---- http://www.forbes.com/2006/12/08/son...rtner=yahootix Seventh Generation Gaming Consoles: Thinking Outside the Box ,----[ Quote ] | Right now, it's still early days but, if history is any guide, we | can expect this new video learning business to be Nintendo's to | lead and Microsoft's to follow. `---- http://biz.yahoo.com/seekingalpha/06...5_id.html?.v=1 Nintendo Wii launch breaks UK record ,----[ Quote ] | Nintendo has sold more than 105,000 Wiis in the UK since the games | console went on sale over here first thing last Friday morning. | According to the videogames pioneer, punters took possession of | 50,000 Wiis during the first 12 hours it was available. `---- http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/12..._sales_record/ Wii Media Center X ,----[ Quote ] | Wii Media Center X is a free multimedia server developed by Red | Kawa. It allows you to stream certain types of pictures, music, | videos and files from your computer (where the server running) to | your Nintendo Wii. It runs on most major operating systems | including Windows, Mac OS X and Linux. `---- http://www.redkawa.com/mediacenters/wiimediacenterx/ Report: PS3 will take lead in console wars ,----[ Quote ] | A new study on Sony by Dublin-based firm Research and Markets spends | some time predicting the success of the PlayStation 3 console, which | it says will outsell the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Nintendo Wii. | The report says there will be 75 million PS3s sold by 2010, leading | the 360 and Wii, although the report does not offer sales predictions | for those two consoles. `---- http://www.fiercegamebiz.com/story/r...ars/2007-01-02 Best New Console - Sony PlayStation 3 ,----[ Quote ] | Sony's embrace of the PS3 as a computer rather than just a console | and the availability of supported Linux distributions for the | console will also develop and will likely bear entirely unexpected | fruit in future. | | Runner-Up: | Nintendo Wii `---- http://bestof.ign.com/2006/gear/1.html Sony's PS3 Could Still Outsell Microsoft's XBox 360 in 2006 ,----[ Quote ] | Should the Playstation 3 end up in second place this Christmas season, | Sony shouldn't feel too badly. The #1 selling console at the moment | remains the Playstation 3, which sold nearly a million units in | November, and will probably sell nearly double that in December. `---- http://biz.yahoo.com/seekingalpha/06...1_id.html?.v=1 Strategy Analytics: The Pressure is on Microsoft ,----[ Quote ] | Research firm Strategy Analytics claims that with the PS3 now | launching the pressure is actually on Microsoft to convince | consumers and loyal PlayStation gamers to "switch camps." | Ultimately, the firm sees Sony trouncing the competition with | over 120 million units sold by 2012. `---- http://biz.gamedaily.com/industry/feature/?id=14480 Bill Gates: Nintendo is Our Toughest Competition ,----[ Quote ] | "The strength of Nintendo on the portable space has been very | impressive and surprised a lot of people; and the strength of the | Wii; and we see Nintendo as the toughest competition," said Gates. | | Gates? statements are not a surprise considering the tremendous | sales both the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii have enjoyed since | they went on sale. `---- http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/12549/...t-Competition/ Torcs using a Wiimote as wheel ,----[ Quote ] | By patching latest WMD with the patch pigeon made for Fligthgear, | the Wiimote can be used as a classical joystick in Linux (using a | /dev/js0 device). `---- http://www.blino.org/blog/mandriva/wiimote-torcs.html WiiMote with WDM / Ubuntu / Beryl / Candles ,----[ Quote ] | Quick demo showing WiiMote running on Edgy with the WDM driver | controlling the desktop cube. `---- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALqduQfm09c Rotating the compiz cube using a Wiimote ,----[ Quote ] | Today, David has brought his Wiimote at Mandriva office so that we | make some experiments with the Wiimote linux drivers. I've started | with WMD, which is a python program that can generate input events | based on the info sent by the Wiimote (on Bluetooth). `---- http://blino.org/blog/mandriva/wiimote-compiz.html Christmas Wii-remote xmms hack ,----[ Quote ] | Well I got this nice christmas present a Wii remote! | | But I don't own a Wii console. So I hacked away in edubuntu linux | and got it to control my xmms mp3 player. `---- http://walter.schreppers.com/ FlightGear + Wiimote ,----[ Quote ] | With thanks to WMD, you could use the Wiimote under Linux fairly easily. | For those who don't know Wiimote talks to the Wii console via bluetooth. | So it works with any computer with bluetooth as well. `---- http://pigeond.net/?cat=flightgear&comments=fg-wiimote ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2327292.fSvmp68Ej0@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] 10 Reasons to Try PCLinuxOS Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:02:06 +0000 PCLinuxOS, Distros, and 10 reasons to try PCLinuxOS. ,----[ Quote ] | 1. It's drop dead gorgeous, and very professional looking. | 2. The Beryl/Compiz 3D acceleration effects are terrific--much | better than any other distro I've tried. | 3. The repository has over 5000 packages, and updates are | incredibly prompt, smooth, and easy to do. Synaptic, the GUI | package manager works easily and reliably with the repository's | RPM packages. Dependency issues are usually well handled. All | the development programs and libraries are up to date. | 4. An up to date KDE version (3.5.6). | 5. Bugs, problems, and issues are promptly fixed. | 6. The PCLinuxOS community is positive and helpful. | Documentation is excellent. Support is excellent. | 7. It's quick and snappy. | 8. Everything works. | 9. Its very easy to install ... and ... | 10. It doesn't require the largess and financial backing | of a millionaire to keep it going. `---- http://www.tuxmachines.org/node/12897 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1978938.WxEWx7e4Du@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Open Source Software Enjoys Very Significant Sales Growth (Chart) Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:00:48 +0000 Selling open source just keeps getting easier ,----[ Quote ] | One way to know that the open source market is maturing is to | analyze how fast companies are able to get to significant revenues. | By "significant" I mean $10M and on a sharp, upward ramp. When I | started in the business of open source (2000, with Lineo), it was | horribly difficult to pull in $1M in revenues, much less $10M. | | Now? The ink will still be dry on your VC term sheets when you | cross that threshold. Really. `---- http://weblog.infoworld.com/openreso...ecreasing.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1543441.Yx0zQczCOv@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Embedded Development with GNU Tools Made Easier Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:07:12 +0000 Macraigor Systems Eases Embedded Development with Free GNU Tool Suite ,----[ Quote ] | The Macraigor Eclipse + GNU Tools Suite is an implementation that | packages Eclipse 3.2.1, several of the open-source GNU tools/utilities | and a program called OCDRemote, which provides an interface betweenE | clipse, the GDB debugger and a Macraigor On-Chip debug device. `---- http://www.linuxelectrons.com/News/E...GNU_Tool_Suite http://tinyurl.com/22zvde That's just what today's programmers want (see below). Related: Developers' use of open source Eclipse doubles ,----[ Quote ] | The adoption rate of the open source Eclipse integrated development | environment has more than doubled in the Europe, the Middle East and | Africa region, industry analysts have revealed. `---- http://www.computerweekly.com/Articl...se-doubles.htm Study: Developers Favor Linux ,----[ Quote ] | "Regardless of what kind of developer you are, you're still trying to | make a living, and target the operating system that?s controlling the | market." | | However, in the most recent survey, the developers' forecast of their | target platform has changed. For the first time, these developers said | that in the next 12 to 18 months they expect to be developing more Linux | apps than Windows apps. `---- http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osr...le.php/3645766 Open source booming in Asia ,----[ Quote ] | Open source code is now used by over 70 per cent of software | developers in Asia, according to a new report. `---- http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/21...rce-grows-asia Five Years On: The Future of Eclipse ,----[ Quote ] | Even IBM admits it didn't expect its Eclipse open source project for | building enterprise Java tools would grow as fast as it did. | | [...] | | By January of 2004, Eclipse was re-organized as an open source | foundation and an independent organization. `---- http://www.internetnews.com/dev-news...le.php/3642326 Eclipse Is Still Going Strong ,----[ Quote ] | In the intervening years, the Eclipse open-source development | platform has grown well beyond the IDE space, branching out into | areas such as reporting, modeling, AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript | and XML) development, SOA (service-oriented architecture) tooling, | RCP (rich-client platform) technology, team development, and | support for other languages beyond Java. `---- http://news.yahoo.com/s/zd/20061107/tc_zd/193207 Eclipse: A Billion-Dollar Baby? ,----[ Quote ] | "Historically enterprise software has been sold through [a] | direct salesforce channel. ... We're starting to see success | in open source software products in areas which have been | traditionally the realm of the direct salesforce. Those | environments or those products have very, very low cost of | sales, so as customers get more used to that, I think that | over time, there are going to be fewer and fewer software | salesmen." `---- http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/53621.html Eclipse Adoption on The Rise ,----[ Quote ] | With the EclipseWorld conference kicking off this week in Boston, | it would be easy to think the open source Java tools project is | everywhere. `---- http://www.devxnews.com/article.php/3630071 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <6928200.Dc2xxZXIjZ@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Bringing Linux to the Children Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:53:29 +0000 Have you try Linux? ,----[ Quote ] | Two years later, I got the idea of introducing my daughter to the | computer world. She is just two years old and I am not up to | investing any money for her to break a computer. | | I got used computer from my brother-in-law, I had a keyboard and | mouse, and the only thing I purchased was an old used monitor for | $20.00. I cleaned out the hard drive and install Ubuntu Linux, | Ubuntu is a great Linux distribution that lets you customized | everything to the point that you feel so comfortable with | your machine. `---- http://www.lumencreativegroup.com/20...you-try-linux/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3971701.y1Xk06yBMd@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Linux Gets Wii DVD Read/Write Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 16:55:03 +0000 Wii DVD Tool - Firmware read/write ,----[ Quote ] | Wii Scene Newz is reporting that a tool has been released that will | allow you to read and write to the Wii's DVD drive (it's memory area | which contains the DVD drive firmware) via a serial port on a linux | computer. | | This opens up the possibility of replacing the firmware in the Wii's | DVD drive which could potentially open another way of getting homebrew | to run on the Wii. `---- http://wiihacks.blogspot.com/2007/01...readwrite.html Related: Linux Live CD is in development for the Wii ,----[ Quote ] | WiiLi will be based off MandrivaONE, you can expect it to look like this... `---- http://www.nwiizone.com/nintendo-wii...t-for-the-wii/ mythwii ,----[ Quote ] | An interface to MythTV optimised for viewing from Nintendo's Wii. `---- http://code.google.com/p/mythwii/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <24895847.7C38b3jCPi@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Microsoft's Dirty PR Secrets Exposed Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:01:35 +0000 A Wake-Up Call to Microsoft?s PR Team ,----[ Quote ] | In 1998, the Los Angeles Times reported that Microsoft, during its | antitrust trials, hired PR companies to flood newspapers with fake | letters of support, bearing ordinary individuals' names but actually | written by Microsoft PR staff. | | Later, during the antitrust trials, Microsoft attempted to prove | the inseparability of Windows and Internet Explorer by playing a | video for the judge. But the government?s lawyer noticed that as | the tape rolled on, the number of icons on the desktop kept | changing. Microsoft had spliced together footage from different | computers to make its point. | | Then in 2002, Microsoft's Web site featured a testimonial called | ?Confessions of a Mac to PC Convert," a first-person account by | an attractive brunette "freelance writer" about how she had fallen | in love with Windows XP. | | Unfortunately, a Slashdot member discovered that the identical | photo was available for rent from the stock-photo libraries of | GettyImages.com. Sure enough: Microsoft had hired a PR firm to | write the testimonial. The "switcher" did not actually exist. `---- http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/...softs-pr-team/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1646927.299FZ6rhvU@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Windows Defender, Vista Security Slammed Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:34:30 +0000 Anti-Spyware Rival Slams Microsoft's Windows Defender, Vista ,----[ Quote ] | A Microsoft security rival on Thursday blasted the anti-spyware | technology that the Redmond, Wash., developer will include with | Windows Vista as "ineffective," "slow," and "weak." `---- http://www.informationweek.com/showA...leID=197000593 Related: Study: Symantec Best at Removing Rootkits; Microsoft Worst ,----[ Quote ] | The application that performed the poorest, according to | Thompson, was Microsoft's Microsoft Windows Defender (Beta 2),w | hich is being built into the Windows Vista operating system. `---- http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2051268,00.asp ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1219735.8Rnf01A0bp@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] ComputerWorld: Don't Buy Windows Vista! Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:36:41 +0000 Wait! Don't buy Windows Vista! ,----[ Quote ] | 1. Vista is incomplete | 2. Vista is expensive | 3. Vista wants a new PC | 4. Vista is time-consuming | 5. Windows XP isn't obsolete | 6. Vista may be the best reason yet to buy a Mac `---- http://www.computerworld.com/action/...e=rss_topic123 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <7804982.rrGAHLdbJl@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Video - Windows Running on a Linux Tablet PC Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:46:44 +0000 Nokia 770 running Windows XP ,----[ Quote ] | Some devices were never meant to run certain operating systems `---- http://youtube.com/watch?v=c1nS9kOtA7A Related: WinXP Running on the PS3 via Linux/QEMU ,----[ Quote ] | Wow! I'm sure someone will tweak it so that it will run a bit better. `---- http://ps3mods.blogspot.com/2006/11/...linuxqemu.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <7227297.PS02rDQXMi@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Time/CNN: Why Nobody Cares About Windows Vista Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:44:45 +0000 Windows Vista: Why Nobody Cares ,----[ Quote ] | Back in the day, your operating system was a big deal. It was who | you were. Mac vs. Windows was like Catholic vs. Protestant, or | Republican vs. Democrat, and about as rational. Now it's | somewhere down around Coke vs. Pepsi. | | [...] | | Vista looks pretty. The edges of the windows are now transparent, like | little glass microscope slides. Vista -- blatantly following the trend set | by Apple -- represents data as translucent and jewel-like and faintly | glowing. Subtle shadows, gleams and animations enhance the illusion. It's | just cosmetic stuff, but given how much time one spends there, it's nice | when one's desktop doesn't feel like a soul-leaching cubicle. `---- http://www.time.com/time/business/ar...582415,00.html Also this: Windows Vista: Is It Time For An Upgrade Or Not? ,----[ Quote ] | Open several windows at once, and you can still see which other | folders and documents are open beneath them. This is not exactly | trailblazing in the world of operating systems, though. Transparent | windows are also available in Apple's Mac OS X and with various | Linux versions. `---- http://www.playfuls.com/news_05959_W...de_Or_Not.html http://tinyurl.com/3d86d5 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2644789.vFSEiLKoNn@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Software Manufacturers: Vista is Illegal in Europe Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 19:55:54 +0000 Software rivals say Microsoft's Vista illegal in Europe (at CNNMoney.com) ,----[ Excerpt ] | Software manufacturers, citing 2004 European Commission finding, | contend the operating system violates server laws in Europe. `---- http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/26/news...ce=yahoo_quote It seems as though CNN have changed the headline since I grabbed the news on my feed reader. That in its own right might makes you wonder if someone up above is 'moderating'. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1519586.yZJobuGr5L@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Debian Prepares for Major Linux Release Next Month Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:06:08 +0000 Debian tipped for February release ,----[ Quote ] | The long-awaited next version of the Debian open-source operating system | is most likely to be released in February, according to members of the | Debian community. `---- http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1...649,00.htm?r=1 Related: Debian Etch: So Easy A Newbie Can Do It ,----[ Quote ] | After getting a nudge from one of our DebCentral readers, I decided | to give Debian another shot. You see, I haven't messed with Debian | since Woody taught me I was just a wannabe geek. As for Etch, if | you've installed *Ubuntu, you can install Debian Etch. In fact, | Debian may have found a new home or two or three. `---- http://lxer.com/module/newswire/view/76754/index.html Automated Installer for USB Flash Thumbdrives ,----[ Quote ] | This tool will automate the installation of Debian GNU/Linux onto a USB | Flash Media. `---- http://feraga.com/project/autoinstaller Venezuela - Stepping Forward With Debian ,----[ Quote ] | One of the shining examples has been the Venezuelan Patent | Office, or Servicio Autonomo de Propiedad Intelectual(SAPI). | In a country that does not recognise software patents, nor | biological patents, the Debian Linux distribution has been | used as the foundation stone for the system that will store | information about both Venezuelan and Cuban patents and can | store up to 9.5TB of data. `---- http://www.localfoss.org/Venezuelan_FOSS_1 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <7867208.4xprfGAm8b@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] WikiCalc 1.0 Gets Released Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:16:57 +0000 wikiCalc goes 1.0! ,----[ Quote ] | After over a year and a half of work (part-time), I'm finally | releasing the wikiCalc web authoring system as a "1.0" product. `---- http://danbricklin.com/log/2007_01_25.htm#wikicalc1_0 Screencast/demo: http://www.peapodcast.com/sgi/wikicalc97demo/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2314246.Xj8aj8yRFg@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Crippled Version of Windows Delivered for Poor People Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:27:51 +0000 Vista Starter ready for developing nations ,----[ Quote ] | According to Wickstrand, the Windows XP Starter Edition was | marketed primarily to consumers in Southeast Asia, Russia and | India, with particular focus on families with school-age children | and those who had purchased their first computer. `---- http://news.com.com/2100-1016_3-6153...0-20&subj=news Artificial barriers included. That should be fun. Bridging the digital gap... one process at a time. C|Net has _not_ bothered to mention any of the forced limitations of course... it's just a Microsoft PR delivery system... poor, one-sided journalism. They are just trying to get children hooked on "the Microsoft religion". Why not give children a fully-functional system that makes them independent from vendors and less suseptible to viruses and crashes? ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2202552.JorXXRcMgf@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] 100-150 Millions of Windows Zombies Storm Web, Microsoft Blames Police Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:09:20 +0000 Botnet 'pandemic' threatens to strangle the net ,----[ Quote ] | Cerf estimated that between 100 million and 150 million of the | 600 million PCs on the internet are under the control of hackers, | the BBC reports. "Despite all that, the net is still working, | which is pretty amazing. It's pretty resilient," he said. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/26/botnet_threat/ UK police 'not prioritising cybercrime', Microsoft says ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft critics will doubtless be quick to point out how | insecurities in Microsoft's own software have supplied a | fertile breeding ground for virus writers and hackers. | Naturally enough, Microsoft prefers to emphasise the | security improvements brought by Windows XP SP2 and Vista. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01...ime_criticism/ Related: Linux Security: A Big Edge Over Windows ,----[ Quote ] | Linux is better at locking down a computer than Windows. The Linux OS | uses configuration settings and user permissions to a much more | efficient degree than the Windows administrator account. To do | this, non-enterprise users should seek help from third-party | security suites that serve as configuration managers, James | Bottomley, chief technology officer of SteelEye Technology said. `---- http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/54742.html Security Report: Windows vs Linux ,----[Executive summary ] | Finally, we also include a brief overview of relevant conceptual | differences between Windows and Linux, to offer an insight into why | Windows tends to be more vulnerable to attacks at both server and desktop, | and why Linux is inherently more secure `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/securit...dows_vs_linux/ Microsoft Windows: Insecure by Design http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...nguage=printer If Only We Knew Then What We Know Now About Windows XP ,----[ Quote ] | You can think of Windows XP as a house with a second floor built of | spackle, wood filler and duct tape. `---- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...rss_technology Why Windows is a security nightmare. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/...120110704.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <33439919.DSIxWzjm52@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] The Register Reviews the Linux-based Tablet from Nokia Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:12:11 +0000 Nokia N800 internet tablet ,----[ Quote ] | The original Nokia tablet, the N770, was something of a departure | for the Finnish phone maker: here was a device without cellular | connectivity, running a Linux-based OS, and generally unlike | anything Nokia had produced before. So here we have an updated | version, the N800. But is it a phone or not, that is the question? `---- http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01...ew_nokia_n800/ Related (other reviews): Review: The Nokia N800 Internet Tablet ,----[ Quote ] | Overall, the N800 is a good evolutionary step over the N770, but not | without its flaws. If you want to get one of these two babies, get | the N800 if you can, and only opt for the N770 if you find it in a | very low price. For the price, at $400, I think that the N800 is a | good deal considering that you can browse the web in a respectable | way without having to carry with you heavy laptops. Regardless, we | will make sure to revisit the device in the near future after | updates and patches have been released from Nokia or when Skype | has released their software for it. `---- http://osnews.com/story.php/17052/Re...ternet-Tablet/ Nokia N800 Internet Tablet First Thoughts Review ,----[ Quote ] | Conclusion | | * From a software standpoint, I don't think the N800 is a huge | step-up from the 770. However, its hardware is noticeably better. | * I'm glad to see that Nokia seems committed to making its | Internet Tablet line the best that it can be. `---- http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=698 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4049865.vUe4dCagnI@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Microsoft Blamed for IPTV Problems; High-reliability Computer Designs BSoD Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 21:20:00 +0000 Microsoft blamed for AT&T TV hiccups ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft has a spotty history on the gogglebox. In 1997 it | spent about $425m to purchase WebTV Networks but failed to | make the much-hyped phenomenon a success. `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37231 Also today: Slot machine suffers blue screen of death ,----[ Quote ] | However, it appears that this particular design is not quite ready | for the prime time as, when we stopped by, the game had hung | completely with a classic blue screen of death. Now that's going | to seriously annoy you if you've just won the jackpot! We came back | an hour later, and the game was still in the same condition. `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37215 Related: Verizon takes over Microsoft TV code ,----[ Quote ] | Unhappy over the memory footprint of applications and delays in rolling | them out, Verizon has ditched some of Microsoft's television software and | has chosen instead to write its own. `---- http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060914-7742.html FiOS TV and MSFT: When End-to-End Becomes Best of Breed ,----[ Quote ] | Quoting: "With the project in danger of running behind schedule, Verizon | sent its own employees to oversee the work between Microsoft and Motorola. | Engineers from all three companies had several meetings a day to nudge | the project along. Eventually, Verizon took over the development of the | program guide altogether from Microsoft, and ended up writing a new | version of the software that was less memory-intensive." `---- http://weblogs.jupiterresearch.com/a...es/017055.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1998715.50qTp7DT66@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Open Source Television with Democracy TV Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:16:28 +0000 Passive entertainment with Democracy TV ,----[ Quote ] | When it comes to bandwidth eaters, there's one kid on the block | that will have you biting off more than you can chew -- especially | in South Africa. Its fun. Its addictive. Its open source. Its | Democracy TV. `---- http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?src=rss&id=1337 Related: European Operators Select Motorola's Linux-Based IP Set-Tops For IPTV Services ,----[ Quote ] | Motorola announced that it has been selected by two leading | telecommunications providers to supply its Linux-based VIP range of | IP set-tops for IPTV services. `---- http://linux.sys-con.com/read/284402_p.htm Electronics firms plan Internet televisions ,----[ Quote ] | The new televisions will use Linux operating systems instead of | Microsoft Windows, it added. That feature is aimed at cutting the time | needed to boot up and reducing the risk of virus infection. `---- http://www.rawstory.com/news/2006/Pa....html#comments 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 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <6938063.2UJn8XB0tA@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Swiss Company Helps Move from Proprietary to Open Source Software Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:18:46 +0000 Software innovator first to deliver enterprise services for leading open source content repository ,----[ Quote | "pache Jackrabbit is an attractive option for companies who want to | move away from expensive, proprietary legacy repositories and are | looking for a cost efficient, standards-based alternative,"said | David Nüscheler, CTO of Day Software and SpecLead of the JSR170 | expert group. `---- http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=26804 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <5169414.dSxYDWM0dh@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Palm's New Linux Platform Gets New Logo Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:20:32 +0000 ACCESS Renames Palm OS, Debuts ACCESS Powered Logo ,----[ Quote ] | ...the company has released its 'ACCESS Powered' logo, | which will adorn devices running the Garnet OS and presumably | the ACCESS Linux Platform, the successor to the Garnet OS. `---- http://www.mobileburn.com/news.jsp?Id=3074 Related (yesterday): Cellphone giants unveil mobile Linux foundation ,----[ Quote ] | Six of the world's largest telecommunications companies have | officially launched a non-profit organization dedicated to | creating a common mobile Linux software platform. Founded by | Motorola, NEC, NTT DoCoMo, Panasonic Mobile Communications, | Samsung Electronics, and Vodafone, the LiMo Foundation is | inviting membership and participation from application | and middleware developers. `---- http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS2923387573.html ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2223181.7DMNc9WojY@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Kurumin Linux 7.0 Light Screenshot Gallery (Phoronix) Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:22:45 +0000 Kurumin Linux 7.0 Light A Brasilian KDE-based distribution that makes a few headlines these days.. http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...item=632&num=1 Related: EnabledPeople & partners deploys 50,000 Linux desktops in Brazil January 6 ,----[ Quote ] | BitWay Computadores, Imtech Brazil and EnabledPeople launch | massive deployments of Linux PCs with preinstalled Linux XP | Desktop software for Brazil goverment program `---- http://www.enabledpeople.com/blog/20...eptember-2006/ http://tinyurl.com/yfy37p Dreamlinux Multimedia Edition 2.2 -- Things just keep getting better in Brazil ,----[ Quote ] | I am honestly pleased to give this package a 5 Pennie review, simply | in the fact that I love the look, the functionality and the way | they went about getting what any newbie would want into an easy to | use Live CD, quick installer, ease of access to proprietary | packages and functional desktop that is easy to use and a joy | to work with. `---- http://knolinux.com/2007/01/04/dream...in-brazil.aspx ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3729713.PKphAjXA91@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Next-generation, High-end PCs... Running Linux, Of Course Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:27:21 +0000 Firms to Develop Linux Distro for High-End PCs ,----[ Quote ] | Themis Computer revealed on Thursday plans to join Terra Soft Solutions | to develop a complete Linux distribution for Themis' TPPC64, a | high-end computer built around a next-generation single-board | computer, featuring an advanced 64-bit architecture and 90 nm | silicon on insulator technology. The TPPC64 is designed to | operate in harsh environments. `---- http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/55382.html Other operating systems still struggle to climb up to 64-bit architectures. Meanwhile, everything that is cutting-edge (including supercomputing) is clearly dominated by GNU/Linux. Related: Microsoft Vista 64 bit is no go in 2007 ,----[ Quote ] | Without an exception, they all think it's too early and the drivers | won't be that polished for 64 bit either. AMD and Intel have CPUs which | can support 64 operating systems but the drivers are still lame, | unpolished and slow compared with 32 bit. `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36938 Windows XP 64 is crap and things break and printers dont work and quickbooks doesnt work the list goes on ,----[ Quote ] | Morale (sic) of the story is - if you are using Microsoft products, stay | away from the cutting edge - it sucks pretty bad. `---- http://www.pintmaster.com/20061212/w...-list-goes-on/ http://tinyurl.com/yguyum Support for Microsoft Windows XP x64 Not Worth Anything ,----[ Quote ] | Almost no one is supporting Microsoft Windows XP x64, the 64-bit | version of Windows XP. | | There are no Antivirus programs that work with x64 and most | applications won't work with x64 (unless they run the crippled | 32-bit equivalent). | | Programs won't install printer drivers because, apparently, no one | can figure out how to write a 64-bit printer driver. | | If Windows XP x64 has this much trouble with basic elements such | as printer drivers, how can anyone expect the much maligned Windows | Vista to be of any value? | | Frankly, my high opinion of Microsoft is quickly fading away, and | my shop used to be a staunch Microsoft shop. | | Open Source alternatives are looking better and better every | day. `---- http://roacm.blogspot.com/ Next Release of OneCare Won't Support Vista x64 ,----[ Quote ] | When Microsoft announced that it was ready to roll out Windows Live | OneCare version 1.5 to coincide with the general release of Windows | Vista, it omitted one important fact: the product will not support | Vista x64 or XP x64. `---- http://www.microsoft-watch.com/conte...129TX1K0000535 http://tinyurl.com/26ndme ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1408603.4jOmnbOn9f@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Open Source Database More Innovative, More Successful Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:31:17 +0000 EnterpriseDB -- the open source total innovation opportunity in action ,----[ Quote ] | For deployment customers like Sony, the attraction is not necessarily | that the code is open source, but because it is an innovative product | at a competitive price. The reason it's an innovative product at | a competitive price is because it?s based on open source. `---- http://www.businessreviewonline.com/...risedb_th.html EnterpriseDB bolsters European presence ,----[ Quote ] | EnterpriseDB's Advance Server 8.1 is a relational database built | on the open-source PostgreSQL software. The company has been | targeting Oracle Corp. users in particular, designing its | product to run Oracle applications natively and creating | migration tools so users can switch easily. `---- http://www.linuxworld.com/news/2007/...rss-linux-news Very recent: EnterpriseDB goes after Oracle's European users ,----[ Quote ] | EnterpriseDB, the open source database company nipping at Oracle's | heals in the US, is today expected to open its first European sales | offices in the UK. The opening follows this month's Asia Pacific | expansion in Hong Kong. | | [...] | | EnterpriseDB claimed 100 customers during 2006 with growing traction | among the Oracle base. Earlier this month Enterprise announced new | support for its PostgreSQL database starting at $1,500 per CPU and | topping out at $3,000. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01...ropean_office/ EnterpriseDB Expands Asia Pacific Operations With Hong Kong Regional Headquarters ,----[ Quote ] | EnterpriseDB, maker of the world's leading enterprise-class database | built on open source, announced today that it has expanded its | Asia Pacific operations with the establishment of a regional | headquarters in Hong Kong. `---- http://press-releases.techwhack.com/...isedb-expands/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <4447146.77rCNUIzle@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Companies in Germany Find Ways to Circumvent Software Patent Prohibition Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:35:45 +0000 German government plans to ratify amendments to patent agreement ,----[ Quote ] | Just before the meeting of diplomats, the EPO's administrative | council called for a loosening of the exclusion of software from | industrial patents. However, the EPO member states were not able | to reach an agreement on this issue. The revised European Patent | Agreement therefore still contains a clause in Article 52 | stipulating that computer programs do not "per se" qualify for | patents. But the European Patent Office has been liberally | interpreting this stipulation for some time; according to the | German Economics Ministry, it currently issues some 6,000 | patents on "computer-implemented inventions." Such inventions | include, for instance, improvements in a computer's memory | management or greater image contrast by means of a mixed | hardware and software solution; such inventions are | considered worthy of protection because they allegedly promote | the progress of technology. `---- http://www.heise.de/english/newstick...326/from/rss09 Related: Multi-nationals ignore SA patent law ,----[ Quote ] | "Does Microsoft intend to continue to break the law by filing software | patents in South Africa?" `---- http://www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1331 ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3876793.3mq0Yruy4U@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Microsoft Research: New IE7 SSL Ineffective Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:38:29 +0000 Study Finds IE7 + EV SSL Won't Stop Phishing ,----[ Quote ] | "Stanford University and Microsoft Research have published a study | that claims that the new Extended Validation SSL Certificates in | IE7 are ineffective (PDF)... `---- http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?si...25228&from=rss Shot in the foot. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <1298655.Ynh9cGiry0@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Opensuse 10.2 Live DVD is Released Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:12:50 +0000 Download.openSUSE.org (includes 10.2 Live DVD) ,----[ Quote ] | The DVD contains the packages of the 5 CDs and the Addon CD. `---- http://download.opensuse.org/ Related (other Live DVDs): Supergamer LiveDVD - Gaming on Linux hits new levels ,----[ Quote ] | SuperGamer is a modified version of PCLinuxOS - one that contains lots and | lots of neat games. To name a few: | | * America's Army | * Cube | * Doom 3 | * Enemy Territory | * ... `---- http://www.arsgeek.com/?p=737 Knoppix 5.0.1: A solid live DVD ,----[ Quote ] | All in all, Knoppix is a sure bet -- a great Linux live CD/DVD and | a great desktop distribution as well. `---- http://distrocenter.linux.com/articl...24235&from=rss This should work with ATI, Nvidia, and Intel integrated video cards: http://www.sabayonlinux.org/ ------------------------------ Message-ID: <8028536.vvkbPNKPA5@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] New Oracle/IBM Commitment to Boost Linux on the Mainframe Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:17:04 +0000 IBM and Oracle Agreement Strengthens Mainframe Computing, IDC Says ,----[ Quote ] | IBM and Oracle announced this initiative to collaborate on the sales | and marketing of a series of enterprise business solutions with | Oracle applications and technology for Linux on System z on | October 24, 2006. It targets the business requirements of large | and medium size enterprise customers and meets growing marketd | emand, complementing a series of investments IBM and Oracle have | made in support of Linux as an enterprise application platform. `---- http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release...ease_id=207879 Related: Linux drives a mainframe revival ,----[ Quote ] | Linux may not be everyone?s idea of a mainframe operating system, | but for a growing number of large and medium-sized businesses | the synergy between Linux and big iron is the solution to as | ignificant problem. `---- http://www.computerweekly.com/Feeds/...me+revival.htm http://tinyurl.com/tdjgr Linux-on-Mainframe Apps Up 100%: IBM ,----[ Quote ] | IBM recently reported a 390% jump in mainframe sites running Linux. | It says more than 60% of its mainframe revenue is now coming from | new workloads, with approximately 20% of the revenue and 30% of the | MIPS coming from Linux customers, which is what has the ISVs | interested. `---- http://issj.sys-con.com/read/317754.htm ------------------------------ Message-ID: <7867208.UMJeJjnLem@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] When Schools Are Being Denied Linux Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:24:41 +0000 On-ramp to superhighway ,----[ Quote ] | A third of the system's 15,000 computers run Windows 95 or | Windows 98 operating systems, which cause viruses to spread | among the newer computers, he said. `---- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16800517/ See story below. Related: Botnet 'pandemic' threatens to strangle the net ,----[ Quote ] | Cerf estimated that between 100 million and 150 million of the | 600 million PCs on the internet are under the control of hackers, | the BBC reports. "Despite all that, the net is still working, | which is pretty amazing. It's pretty resilient," he said. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/26/botnet_threat/ They are confiscating my computers ,----[ Quote ] | The problem here is that the new virus software does not run on | Windows 98, and therefore these machines will be out of sync | with the district, and therefore not compliant with district | policy. `---- http://opensource.christophercraft.com/?p=73 He used Linux, but the county didn't allow this, so he was forced to go back to Windows. The attention he received from Groklaw got him in trouble with the school. ------------------------------ Message-ID: <2736494.qMaCrA6WJ0@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] Vista Seeks to Contaminate Web & Users with Microsoft Image Format Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:49:39 +0000 Vista to give HD Photo format more exposure ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft is looking to supplant the ubiquitous JPEG with an image format | of its own--and it's hoping the debut of Windows Vista will help do the | job. `---- http://news.com.com/Vista+to+give+HD...3-6153730.html See articles below. Microsoft has an vision of a World Wide Web without HTML, without PDF, without Flash, and without JPEGs. They want to lock out the competition using 'proprietarisation'. Related: Software rivals say Microsoft's Vista illegal in Europe (at CNNMoney.com) ,----[ Excerpt ] | Software manufacturers, citing 2004 European Commission finding, | contend the operating system violates server laws in Europe. | | [...] | | "Vista is the first step of Microsoft's strategy to extend its market | dominance to the Internet," the ECIS statement said. | | It said Microsoft's XAML markup language was "positioned to replace HTML," | the industry standard for publishing documents on the Internet. | | Microsoft's own language would be dependent on Windows, and discriminatory | against rival systems such as Linux, the group says. | | They said a so-called "open XML" platform file format, known as OOXML, is | designed to run seamlessly only on the Microsoft Office platform. `---- http://money.cnn.com/2007/01/26/news...ce=yahoo_quote Windows Vista Product Guide: Free to Download, $149 to Read ,----[ Quote ] | 'Windows Vista Product Guide' was released in two formats: | | Microsoft Office Word 2007 | The standard .doc format isn't good enough, you need to be able to | read a .docx file, so all those users of Office XP are just plain | out of luck on | this one. | | XPS | What the heck is XPS? I hadn't heard of it before now, (a quick | Google tells me XPS is Microsoft's proprietary rival to PDF) | but apparently you need a special reader for it (which is | kindly enough built into Vista, but nothing else). `---- http://itsvista.com/2006/12/windows-...d-149-to-read/ Adobe could still sue Microsoft: paper ,----[ Quote ] | Microsoft's new Vista software, due to be released early next | year, contains a version of fixed document formats which would | compete with Adobe's PDF format. Microsoft has pledged to make | changes to its version. `---- http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061118/...e_microsoft_dc ------------------------------ Message-ID: <3416633.M8NlfK4gtx@schestowitz.com> From: Roy Schestowitz <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> Subject: [News] [OT] AMD Doing Well in Asia, Strikes Big Deals Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2007 23:58:56 +0000 AMD chalks up another win in China ,----[ Quote ] | China's top three computer manufacturers, Lenovo Group, Beijing | Founder Electronics Co., and Tsinghua Tongfang Co., all offer | computers with AMD microprocessors inside, with the latter two | companies launching their AMD offerings last year. `---- http://news.yahoo.com/s/infoworld/20...nfoworld/85469 This shows that chokehold on the OEMs can no longer be an effective strategy for Intel. Linux is heading in the same direction. More below. Related: E.U. investigators want formal charge against Intel: report http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Stor...yhoo&dist=yhoo EU antitrust experts seek charges vs Intel-source ,----[ Quote ] | The Commission has been investigating chip-maker Intel for six years | to see if it acts unfairly to keep its dominance over rival Advanced | Micro Devices. `---- http://yahoo.reuters.com/news/articl...mktNews&rpc=44 Henri Richard: AMD's bad guy ,----[ Quote ] | At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Richard, at a | breakfast meeting, did his duty again. He said the Intel Inside | program and other marketing promotions Intel has used over the | years have killed profitability for PC makers. | | "The industry was saddled with a very successful marketing | program that sucked all of the profit out of the industry," he | said. In China, PC makers can avoid these programs and "not | become a hostage." `---- http://news.com.com/2061-13053_3-614...0-20&subj=news http://tinyurl.com/yf475k AMD spells out what it wants from Intel ,----[ Quote ] | The two companies sessions have "defined the universe in dispute". | Intel has declined to produce documents that could show | limitations on customers to buy chips from AMD, quotas for | chip buying, and "other coercion, including threats of | retaliation or retribution, for doing business with AMD | (or not doing sufficient business with Intel)." `---- http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36736 AMD claims key victory in Intel antitrust suit ,----[ Quote ] | AMD filed suit against Intel in June 2005, charging Intel with | employing anticompetitive practices in the sale of PC chips. | Intel has denied the charges. `---- http://www.marketwatch.com/News/Stor...yhoo&dist=yhoo http://tinyurl.com/ynfnkz AMD says court seeks data from Intel in antitrust case ,----[ Quote ] | Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc. said a U.S. | federal court had overruled Intel Corp.'s | objections in an ongoing antitrust litigation. | | The court has ordered Intel to produce documents and other | evidence bearing upon its "exclusionary conduct" outside | United States, AMD said in a statement. `---- http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/061228/amd_l...ntel.html?.v=1 Court tells Intel to hand over foreign documents in antitrust case ,----[ Quote ] | In June 2005, AMD filed a massive antitrust lawsuit against Intel, accusing | the larger CPU maker of abusing its dominant position in the worldwide PC | market to prevent AMD's CPUs from making significant inroads. The suit | alleges that Intel customers like Toshiba, Gateway, Dell, Hitachi, and | others agreed to exclusive deals with Intel in exchange for "cash payments, | discriminatory pricing or marketing subsidies conditioned on the exclusion | of AMD." `---- http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061217-8436.html Microsoft's similar tactics: Dell's secret Linux fling ,----[ Quote ] | Dell's love affair with Linux is a clandestine affair these days, | conducted in secret, away from disapproving eyes. But now the pair | have been spotted in China. | | When Michael Dell first saw the web-footed beauty, he fell head over | heels. Six years ago Dell pledged a series of strategic investments | in Linux companies, including Eazel and Red Hat. The romance | attracted the disapproval of Microsoft however, and barely lasted | weeks. Very quietly, Dell dumped the bird. | | It later emerged that Microsoft's OEM enforcer Joachim Kempin had | promised Steve Ballmer that he'd be putting the screws on PCb | uilders, or "hitting the OEMs harder" in his words. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01...l_linux_china/ Comes v. MS Antitrust Trial Begins in Iowa ,----[ Quote ] | Here's part of what Allchin said about how to deal with the competitive | threat from Novell then: | | "We need to slaughter Novell before they get stronger....If you're | going to kill someone, there isn't much reason to get all worked up | about it and angry. You just pull the trigger. Any discussions | beforehand are a waste of time. We need to smile at Novell while | we pull the trigger." | | [...] | | Conlin used a variety of computer-generated illustrations, | including one that showed 15 icons, each representing what she | said was an illegal action taken by Microsoft in pursuit of its | bid to become and remain a monopoly. The icons had titles like | "exclusionary contract," "technical sabotage," "buying out the | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ | competitition"... `---- Jury Hears Microsoft Competition Suit ,----[ Quote ] | A judge on Friday told jurors they must accept as fact that a | federal court found in 1999 that Microsoft holds a monopoly over | computer operating systems and that it restricted computer | manufacturers' ability to use competing systems. | | [...] | | She said she'll show that the company used its monopoly power | to exclude competition and control prices and that it conspired with | other companies to restrain trade, maintaining what she called a | chokehold on software competitors and computer manufacturers. | | "It isn't illegal to be successful," Conlin said in opening | remarks. "We applaud that. ... But you can't freeze out competitors | and punish and retaliate against people who cooperate with | competitors. Microsoft did all that and more." | | Conlin warned jurors that she would say some unflattering things | about Microsoft and its billionaire founder Bill Gates, who | serves as company chairman. | | [...] | | Conlin's first 3 1/2 hours of opening arguments delved deeply into | computer industry history and how Microsoft fought off competitors | attempting to design rival software. `---- http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/061201/micro...rial.html?.v=1 Microsoft's Dirty OEM-Secret ,----[ Quote ] | They are, in short the secret to Microsoft's success. And the word | secret is to be taken quite literally: No OEM may talk about the | contents of his contract, or he will lose his license, and (assumption) | likely be sued for breach of contract as well. `---- http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2001/10/23/13219/110 Microsoft 'killed Dell Linux' - States ,----[ Quote ] | The States' remedy hearing opened in DC yesterday, and States attorney | Steven Kuney produced a devastating memo from Kempin, then in charge of | Microsoft's OEM business, written after Judge Jackson had ordered his | break-up of the company. Kempin raises the possibility of threatening | Dell and other PC builders which promote Linux. | | "I'm thinking of hitting the OEMs harder than in the past with anti-Linux. | ... they should do a delicate dance," Kempin wrote to Ballmer, in what is | sure to be a memorable addition to the phrases ("knife the baby", "cut off | the air supply") with which Microsoft enriched the English language in the | first trial. Unlike those two, this is not contested. | | [...] | | Earlier memos described that it was "untenable" that a key Microsoft | partner was promoting Linux. Kuney revealed that Dell disbanded its Linux | business unit in early 2001. Dell quietly pulled Linux from its desktop PCs | in the summer of 2001, IDG's Ashlee Vance discovered subsequently, six | months after we heard Michael Dell declare his love of Linux on the desktop | the previous winter. | | Compaq was also mentioned in other memos, with Microsoft taking the line | that OEMs should "meet demand but not help create demand" for Linux. `---- http://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/03..._linux_states/ ------------------------------ End of Cola Digest -- | Mark Kent -- mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk | | News Digester | 
|
|
«
Previous Thread
|
Next Thread
»
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| LONG [News Digest] Linux News Digest for the 24hrs preceeding 25-01-07 | Mark Kent | Linux Advocacy | 0 | 01-26-2007 05:41 AM |
| LONG [News Digest] Linux News Digest for the 24hrs preceeding 14-01-07 | Mark Kent | Linux Advocacy | 0 | 01-17-2007 03:05 AM |
| LONG [News Digest] Linux News Digest for the 24hrs preceeding 24-11-06 | Mark Kent | Linux Advocacy | 0 | 01-03-2007 07:16 PM |
| LONG [News Digest] Linux News Digest for the 24hrs preceeding 18-11-06 | Mark Kent | Linux Advocacy | 0 | 01-03-2007 05:48 PM |
| LONG [News Digest] Linux News Digest for the 24hrs preceeding 10-10-06 | Mark Kent | Linux Advocacy | 0 | 01-02-2007 10:56 PM |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:49 PM.
