09.17.08
Links 17/09/2008: Android is Near, Google Rumoured to be Buying Valve
GNU/Linux
- Tinest Linux system, yet?
CompuLab introduced a tiny fanless PC using 4-6 Watts of power. The Linux-ready “Fit-PC Slim” measures 4.3 x 3.9 x 1.2 inches (110 x 100 x 30mm), but includes a 500MHz AMD Geode LX800, Ethernet, VGA output, WiFi, and a 2.5-inch hard drive option, says CompuLab.
- Linux ebook does 9K pages per charge
China-based Jinke Electronics is shipping an upgraded version of its electronic book reader that runs Linux. The Hanlin eReader V3 offers an 200MHz ARM9 processor, and a six-inch 800 x 600 display that uses E Ink’s power-sipping EPD (electronic paper display) module, says Jinke.
- Tux3 Report: What next?
- My New Best Friend: Unetbootin
- Cobbler Install Server Seeks Debian Volunteers
- ASUS Eee PC 901 / Intel Atom: Linux Distribution Comparison
- Open set-top box ships
Ubuntu
- Web 2.0: Unison And Ubuntu
- Found: The World’s Hottest Ubuntu Linux Deployment
- Can Ubuntu Overcome The Status Quo?
Red Hat
- Video: The history of Fedora
You’ve seen him here before, but it’s been a while since he popped in for a visit. You can enjoy his earlier work here, here, here or here. (Or check out his entire RHM collection). Who is that masked man? It’s the Fedora Project’s Greg DeKoenigsberg. And who better to talk about this history of the Fedora than someone who has been involved nearly every step of the way…
- Alternative Technology Signs Distribution Agreement with Red Hat
- First Android phone to launch next week
- Anticipating Android: Will It Challenge iPhone?
- Watch Out iPhone; The First Android Phone is Coming Oct 20th
- Google shows Android running on a phone in Europe
- Google To Acquire Valve??? News
F/OSS
- The Road to Geekdom
The best part of the FOSS world is making friends all over the planet. Because it is free and open, unencumbered by delicate corporate sensibilities and paranoia, we can trade knowledge and information freely. I think the best minds in tech are in FOSS, and most of them are generous with their time and knowledge. (Even the grumpy ones can be baited into revealing good stuff - just say something you know is way wrong and wait for the informative flames.)
- Gallery: PC-BSD 7.0
- Slick VLC Media Player Out In a New Version
- Infobright releases open-source data warehouse [GPL]
- Infobright and Jaspersoft Announce Plans for Joint Open Source Solution Bundle
- Sun sends out global call for open-source support
VMWare
Audio
- Java Sound & Music Software for Linux, Part 2
I’ll close this section and this part of my survey with a brief presentation of Sonogram, a neat program for analyzing and viewing audio signals in various analysis methods and display formats. I’ve run out of space, but the screenshot in Figure 11 should give you an idea of Sonogram’s capabilities. It’s a very cool program, useful and interesting for more than its eye-candy, thanks to its wide variety of signal analysis algorithms.
- Linux Outlaws 54 - Compiling in Coffee Shops
Finance
- HP Layoffs: GroundWork Open Source Smells Blood
- Could open source have helped Lehman’s technology customers?
- In acquiring Merrill Lynch, must Bank of America open source its software?
Firefox
- Firefox without EULAs — Update
- Chromify Firefox with Chromifox
- about:mozilla - 2010 goals, Add-on survey, TraceMonkey, SUMO, Benchmark quality, chaos, and more…
Health
- CSIR launches open source drug discovery news
- CSIR launches collaborative research for anti-TB drugs
- Epidemic surveillance under open source
Government
- Open-source software gets a plug from Congress
- Liberal Democrats decide to go for Open Source software
- Open Source Intelligence
Conferences
Education
- Oldham, England Brings Open Source To Schools
- African developers release open source virtual classroom
Downloadable versions of the software will be available in Debian, RPM, Java and Windows executable formats. The Debian version is currently available.
- Interview: Maxima, for Open Source Algebra on Steroids
- Moodle: a Flexible, Open Source Online Learning Platform
Leftovers
- Bringing Open Source Replication to the Oracle World
- Bluenog ties together open source CMS, BI, portal
- Open Kernel Labs Community Surpasses 1,000 Members
- Cleversafe Announces New Open Source Release and Challenges Software Developers to Contribute to New Open Source Projects
- Open Hack Day: Yahoo’s New Open Source Strategy
- Yahoo opens its headquarters to developers
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.
landofbind said,
September 17, 2008 at 10:26 am
More promotion of proprietary and patented products. More PR announcements without substance. Increased usage of the “open source” expression that lacks any useful instead of “Free Software”.
Hail you O hypocrite!
Note: comment has been flagged for arriving from an incarnation of a known (eet), pseudonymous, forever-nymshifting, abusive Internet troll that posts from open proxies and relays around the world.
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 17, 2008 at 6:58 pm
10 years ago I liked the Web site bored.com. It has changed a lot since, but it has plenty for you to explore.
The Web is a big place. If you don’t like this site, you don’t have to visit it. What compels you to spend so much energy just harassing sites you dislike, as opposed to raving in/about sites that you like?
Dan O'Brian said,
September 18, 2008 at 7:16 am
One could ask you the same question, Roy - why do you spend so much time attacking Novell, Mono, et al rather than just raving about things you do like?
Oh, right, because you crave attention even if gotten via wrongfully attacking other people.
Roy Schestowitz said,
September 18, 2008 at 7:34 am
You never track my activity outside this Web site. I only spend about 20% of my capacity here. I mostly advocate Free software.
Let it be added that people who run a site with a statement are different from people who visit that site just to discredit it. I am not a fan of Britney Spears, yet I never visit Britney Spears sites to attack Britney Spears or her fans.