12.17.08
Links 17/12/2008: 64-bit Java, Toledo for F/OSS
GNU/Linux
- 7Desk: Linux-based Intel Core i7 Desktop
eRacks Open Source Systems announced a new desktop model using Intel Core i7 (Nehalem) processor.
- Vista OOBE Part 2: the horror, the horror
Stopping people who aren’t authorized (or thinking clearly) from making system adjustments works great in Linux, but stinks in Vista, because the UAC doesn’t actually stop an idiot from being an idiot. Yes, that’s a hard job, but it can be done. Just not by other idiots, like idiot vice presidents in huge software companies.
- It is alright to be just a Linux user
- Using ROL’s 4.02 ROM image in Linux RPCEmu
- McCain Campaign BlackBerry Yields Sensitive Data
Another option, however, is to download a CD image of any of the many free Linux distributions and use that to erase and reformat the drive. Once Linux is installed, you’ll be selling a fully-operational PC that’s stuffed with lots of useful applications software — and as a bonus, you won’t have to worry about unintentionally violating any of Microsoft’s Windows license terms.
- OpenSolaris 2008.11 update woos Linux users
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Servers
- Unified Communications Startup Hops On Free Train
- IBM Adds Disk Storage Options for i Shops
But I suspect not, or there wouldn’t be much of a point of an announcement last week for support of the DS3200 on Power6-based BladeCenter machines running i 6.1, AIX 6.1, and Linux.
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Applications
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KDE4
- Semantic Sense for the Desktop
Those working on the project, coordinated by the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), have been toiling for three years to create software that can spot meaningful connections between the files on a computer. Nepomuk’s software is available for several computer platforms and now comes as a standard component of the K Desktop Environment (KDE), a popular graphical interface for the Linux operating system.
- Switching to KDE
There are a few reasons why I’m trying out KDE. Firstly I’ve really only got experience of GNOME, my KDE knowledge is limited to using Knoppix a few years ago, so when people ask KDE questions I am unable to help. I’d like to change that. Secondly there’s a lot of negative things said about KDE, some by myself, and I think a bit of education might help me to understand KDE better, and possibly be a bit less critical. Also I’d like to help KDE to be better, and as an ‘outsider’ to the KDE community I may have a slightly different perspective on things. Finally it seemed like a good idea for a regular segment on the podcast we make. Time (and listener feedback) will of course decide that one.
- Semantic Sense for the Desktop
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Multimedia
- 7 Free Open Source Video Editors For Linux
- Top 5 Disruptive Music-Making Technologies
- 2008’s top three PMPs [Linux tops]
It’s taken a long time for anyone to successfully combine a good video player and a good internet tablet, but Archos has cracked it. Solid as a rock, and with superb video playback and a decent web browser – Opera – all plonked on top of a stable Linux OS with a faultless GUI. Better than the iPod Touch? We think so by dint of its larger and higher resolution screen and much higher storage capacity. If a 5in screen is too small, go for the 5’s big brother, the 7.
- Movial Joins the Khronos Group and Contributes Multimedia Enabling Source Code to Mobile Linux Community
- Linux Outlaws 68 – The Episode of the Beast
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Graphics
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Distributions
- Mandriva Linux Attracts 2,000 Partners
- Indian Express Migrates to Red Hat Solutions to Cost-Effectively Scale for the Future
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Debian, Ubuntu, and Relatives
- DebConf 9 to take place in Extremadura, Spain in July 2009
- Linux Mint 6 “Felicia” released!
- What’s new in Linux Mint 6 Felicia?
- Going Loco Over the Ubuntu Logo
- My Netbook Took Me Back To Windows
Update: In the comments Corey Burger provided some interesting information on Ubuntu-eee: The icon-heavy launcher is built by Canonical and is called the netbook-remix-launcher or ubuntu-mobile-edition launcher, depending. Ubuntu-eee is basically just that plus a few tweaks. Coming with Ubuntu 9.04 will be official images/isos for all sorts of netbooks.
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Sub-notebooks
- Ubuntu Eee’s new name!
The script back in 2007 was downloaded about 3 000 times, the first release of Ubuntu Eee was downloaded about 60 000 times and Ubuntu Eee 8.04.1 has been downloaded over 225 000 times!
- Ubuntu Eee rebranded Easy Peasy, next version due in January
- IBM Lotus Strategist Sees Linux on Netbooks Making Inroads vs. Windows in 2009
Heintzman, who admitted to being won over when one of his colleagues let him play with it, predicted that as more and more people begin to use netbooks for play, more robust netbooks and even desktops based on Linux will rise up as more cost-effective, secure and durable machines.
Noting that Lenovo, Dell and HP are getting into this game, Heintzman said “these whole class of cloud notebook may be the thing that changes the viability of Linux on the desktop.”
- Going small: Netbooks aim for new PC sales
- ASUS Eee PC 1000HA Netbook
- Ubuntu Eee’s new name!
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Devices
- “Open Source” plant watering…
In this case, the houseplant waterer is controlled by a Linux PC in his den. A freeware application for Linux allows the computer to control the X10 device. Then Cron, a built-in application in Linux, lets him run scheduled tasks. The script tells the air pump to turn on for five seconds every day.
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Palm
- Palm going Nova next month
Nova – the new Linux-based OS developed by Palm and offering backwards compatibility with thousands of Palm apps – has been announced before, and we’ve even reported that it would be launched on devices during 2009. But now BusinessWeek is reporting that we’ll see multiple devices running the new OS at CES, which runs January 8th to 11th.
- Palm hoping to strike it rich with Nova
- Palm going Nova next month
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Gifts
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Embedded
- “Open Source” plant watering…
F/OSS
- Open source isn’t free software
- Konop: $4M cut could pay for college plan
Under the proposal, which was announced during a Toledo Bar Association luncheon at Georgio’s Restaurant in downtown Toledo, all county departments would go to a four-day workweek, the county would adopt energy efficiency measures and open source software, and adopt a privatized emergency medical ambulance service.
[...]
“In addition, by simply turning down the thermostat by five degrees late in the day, we could save another $200,000. And by moving away from Microsoft products on county computers and instead using free, open source software which, in many cases is safer and more efficient, we could save nearly $100,000 a year in licensing fees.”
- Google Chrome’s Kimono Opened–A Little
- OpenX’s Open Source Ad Serving Showing Signs of Strength
- Note to Obama: Consider the Open Source Way
The product will be much better in the end, and the development process will be much more pleasant for all of us. Moreover, we will get more favorable press coverage, better reviews, and more fans of our product if our story can focus on the product and its benefits rather than negative drama arising from its production.
- Energized by open source: Ditching closed apps spurred growth, utility says
BlueStar’s open-source push has been driven by Tom Keen, the company’s chief technology officer since June 2006. While evaluating BlueStar’s IT architecture and business systems as a consultant, Keen had seen an opportunity for open-source systems to provide the company’s operations with greater flexibility and scalability while strengthening its ability to expand into new markets.
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Applications
- National Health Service Islington Selects Pentaho Business Intelligence to Improve Patient Services
- Linux New Media chooses the eZ Publish CMS to achieve content-rich and community-oriented websites
- Zenoss: Open Source Meets Managed Services (Again)
- GoldenGate and Ingres extend capabilities for open source customers
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Security
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India
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Plugins
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Programming
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OpenOffice.org
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Interviews
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Education
Leftovers
- MPAA Asks Obama for More Copyright Surveillance of the Internet
- The made-up dramas of the Wall Street Journal
- WSJ followup: baseless, unsupported, and wrong, yet they’re sticking by the story.
- Virgin Media to dump neutrality and target BitTorrent users
- German ISPs to impose anti child porn software
- Canadian Blank CD Levy To Increase By Another 38%
- Copyright extension is out of tune with reality
- Good for Gowers
- Spot the Disconnect
Digital Tipping Point: Clip of the Day
Dolby Linux wizard John Gilbert gives us a look inside the movie industry 09 (2004)
Digital Tipping Point is a Free software-like project where the raw videos are code. You can assist by participating.
Ohwell said,
December 17, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Do you want something to criticize about Microsoft? How about this: having to agree to a license on their “open source” site Codeplex even before you can download the source code and it’s the GPL no less.
http://www.codeplex.com/peter/SourceControl/DownloadSourceCode.aspx?changeSetId=27361
Roy Schestowitz said,
December 17, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Hmmm…. it looks like a EULA. I’m not sure it can be used so effectively for criticism though.