LONG [News Digest] Linux News Digest for the 24hrs preceding 09-07-07
Mark Kent
* A Look at 2/3 Linux-running Low-cost Laptops
* Linux Show Comes to Florida, China Discusses Real-time Linux
* First Look at the New Zenwalk Live CD, Linux Kernel Improvements
* [Rival] FTC Shuts Up Small Web Sites (Tiered Web), Big Media Fights
Sharing (Not Just Piracy)
* [Rival] Are Microsoft's Pals Spreading AMD FUD Again?
* Interview with Creator of New Web-based, Linux-based O/S
* [Rival] Microsoft/Yahoo Lawsuit Over Copyrights Breach, No Retention
Policies
* US Government Treats Free Software in the Same Way as Commercial
Software
* Properietary Software Phones Reveal Weaknesses of Obscurity
* Virtualisation Becomes More Popular, Promotes Use of Linux,
Saves Hardware
* Web Polluted by Windows Zombies and Malware
* Windows Hijacking Codes Sold on the Web, SAP's Secret Sauce Has
"Critical" Flaws
* New Version of OpenArena Released for Linux; Open Source Medical
Software Company Reborn
* Manipulation in British Government to Extend Copyright Law
* Microsoft's XBox360 Shills Exposed
* Web-based Software Gains Momentum with Devices, Disrupts and Scares
the the Luddites
* [Rival] Windows Limits Bandwidth, Punishes Hobbyists, Driving Them
to Linux
* Poland Chooses Real Standards (Bad News to Microsoft's Monopoly
Enabler)
* Moving from Windows to Linux Without Steep Learning Curves
* [Rival] RIAA Kills Educational Videos
* Where Mac OS X and Solaris Get it Wrong (and Linux Has the Upper
Hand)
* Utah Open Source Conference Announced, the 'Problem' with Free
Software Highlighted
* Kubuntu Linux Reviewed; KDE-based PCLOS Takes #1 Position in DW
* Short Review of Google Desktop for Linux
* Microsoft Fanboy FUD Listed and Debunked
* OpenJDK Java Module Going Open Source, Alfresco Looks at a GPL Future
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 posters' articles might not appear.
Try the faq at: http://www.faqs.org/faqs/linux/advocacy/faq-and-primer/
for more information about cola.
Just like other public, unmoderated discussion fora, cola has
its share of disruptive posters. This blog has been created by
a concerned cola netizen to assist newcomers in identifying them:
http://colatrolls.blogspot.com/
In order to find the last week's digests, try:
http://groups.google.co.uk/groups/search?hl=en&lr=&safe=off&num=10&q=group%3Acomp.os.linux.advocacy+insubject%3Alinux+insubject%3Anews+insubject%3Adigest+author%3Amark.kent%40demon.co.uk&as_drrb=q&as_qdr=w&safe=off&qt_s=Search
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message-ID: <2147162.L...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] A Look at 2/3 Linux-running Low-cost Laptops
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:18:01 +0100
A closer look at Asus’ $199 computer
,----[ Quote ]
| The computer will be available in 7 and 10-inch screen versions and
| will run a customised Linux distro.
|
| [...]
|
| The very light machine was running Mozilla Firefox browser and was
| able to browse web pages quite quickly. An Intel rep told us that
| the computer will support a wireless connection, but didn’t know
| if Bluetooth would work.
`----
http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/32358/145/
aKademy 2007: Education Day
,----[ Quote ]
| The discovery of an OLPC XO computer in the room prompted a short
| (yet unscheduled) comparison session, where differences in the two
| competing projects were noted. Intel doesn't believe that the "one
| laptop per child" model is appropriate for its target markets (middle
| stage developing countries), since many homes already have a standard,
| family computer. OLPC also takes a more holistic, system-oriented
| approach, building both the hardware and software, whereas Intel is
| less concerned with the software side, leaving this to established
| software vendors such as Mandriva, where Helio is employed to work
| on such integration tasks. A general consensus was that the Intel
| platform was more "open", and could possibly allow a greater variety
| of tasks to be performed, important if the device is to be a
| companion throughout the educational stages of a student.
`----
http://dot.kde.org/1183817727/
Days ago:
OLPC ASP to ultimately shrink to US$50
,----[ Quote ]
| Notebooks under the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
| advocated "One Laptop Per Child" (OLPC) programme are in a strong position
| to be the hottest PC for emerging markets and prices will shrink to
| US$50 in 2009, said Mary Lou Jepsen, the founding chief technology
| officer (CTO) of the programme.
`----
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20070704PD218.html
Related:
OLPC Linux laptop could succeed in U.S.
,----[ Quote ]
| The laptop features a string pulley to charge its battery, a keyboard
| that switches between languages, a digital video camera, wireless
| connectivity, and an open-source Linux operating system tailored for
| remote regions.
`----
http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS4220342075.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1415211.j...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Linux Show Comes to Florida, China Discusses Real-time Linux
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:24:02 +0100
Florida Linux Show 2008
,----[ Quote ]
| This year's show will focus on moving from IPv4 to IPv6, Greener PCs,
| Linux and your desktop, Linux Certification, and much more.
`----
http://linuxpr.com/releases/9836.html
Real-Time Linux: The view from Lanzhou, China
,----[ Quote ]
| Collected here are a number of papers originally presented at the at
| the Eighth Real-Time Linux Workshop held at the at the School for
| Information Science and Engineering, Lanzhou University, in Lanzhou,
| China.
`----
http://www.embedded.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=201000001
Just a few signs that show Linux is now mainstream, even if it's not major
news.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1512515.a...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] First Look at the New Zenwalk Live CD, Linux Kernel Improvements
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:29:30 +0100
Zenwalk Live 4.6 [Screenshots]
,----[ Quote ]
| Zenwalk Live has been updated against Zenwalk Linux 4.6 and this LiveCD
| distribution now features Xfce 4.4.1 with notification support, the Xfce
| Thunar file manager can now handle video thumbnails, and many new Xfce 4.4
| panel plug-ins have been added or updated.
`----
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=770&num=1
Linux: CFS Scheduler v19, Group Scheduling
,----[ Quote ]
| Ingo Molnar released version 19 of his CFS scheduler patchset, first released
| back in April.
`----
http://kerneltrap.org/node/11712
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1924340.c...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] [Rival] FTC Shuts Up Small Web Sites (Tiered Web), Big Media Fights Sharing (Not Just Piracy)
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:34:46 +0100
FTC abandons net neutrality
,----[ Quote ]
| The report has caused outrage in the online community. Many are worried
| that any abandonment of net neutrality will harm competition, since it
| will allow big companies to outspend start-ups.
`----
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2193214/ftc-abandons-net-neutrality
Not sure if that's true, but another recent case is this:
ISPs face down Tories on file sharing
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/06/cameron_p2p_isps/
Arrest under new NY piracy laws
,----[ Quote ]
| Pirated films cost major US film studios more than $6bn (£2.9bn)
| in 2005, according to the trade association.
`----
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6276864.stm
Surely these numbers are inflated (as usual).
------------------------------
Message-ID: <17412166....@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] [Rival] Are Microsoft's Pals Spreading AMD FUD Again?
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:42:26 +0100
The Ranting of George Ou
,----[ Quote ]
| My opinion of George Ou was already low when I read his AMD posts blatantly
| deceptive benchmarks on Barcelona. However, this was before I noticed his
| exchange with Hans De Vries in the comments. De Vries seems to be fairly
| evenhanded and accomodating in his comments while Ou comes across as not just
| pro-Intel and anti-AMD but absent of any balance whatsoever. He has lost all
| credibility with me.
`----
George Ou Is A Pompous Ass
http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=8018
He already has a 'reputation', being somewhat of a shill. Gartner joins the
party, batting for Wintel.
Gartner decides Barcelona has "issues"
,----[ Quote ]
| "AMD's performance estimates are based on a leisurely 2GHz clock speed,
| which is lower than expected and suggests room for significant gains,"
| Gartner analysts Martin Reynolds, John Enck and Stephen Kleynhans hooted as
| one.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40805
Related:
AMD bemoans Intel's benchmark presentation
,----[ Quote ]
| "All I want is a level playing field where we are just talking the
| truth. I've never met a chief information officer that wonders
| what the nanometre [scale] in his processor is. They don't care,
| they don't want to care, " said Richard.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37934
Video: Henri Richard comes out swinging at Intel during AMD press conference
,----[ Quote ]
| [AMD's Henri Richard:] "I am sick and tired of being pushed around
| by a competitor that doesn't respect the rules of fair and open
| competition."
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Berlind/?p=363
NY Times bans Microsoft analysts from Microsoft stories
,----[ Quote ]
| If the paper would prefer not to quote an analyst who has
| experience with a client, it did a poor job. Silver is Gartner's
| vice president in charge of client computing. Microsoft happens to
| do lots of business with Gartner and also happens to have a
| client-software monopoly. We're guessing that Silver knows
| Microsoft's products well and has direct involvement with the
| ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
| company.
| ^^^^^^^
|
| And, sure enough, he appears a number of times on Microsoft's
| own site and thousands of times in stories about Microsoft.
|
| Jim Murphy - wait for it - covers Microsoft too and is even more
| prolific than Silver.
|
| [...]
|
| Part of the problem stems from the reticence of companies such as
| IDC and Gartner to reveal their clients. That should make everyone
| nervous, but it doesn't. So called objective technology publications
| keep publishing material bought by vendors without telling you this.
| They're also too lazy or scared to ignore the likes of Gartner and
| IDC until the firms change their disclosure rules.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/12/15/nytimes_ms_ban/
------------------------------
Message-ID: <11841070....@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Interview with Creator of New Web-based, Linux-based O/S
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:46:34 +0100
Essential Web 07: Interview with G.ho.st founder Zvi Schreiber
,----[ Quote ]
| The only difference between your
| Windows or Unix desktop is that G.ho.st lives in your browser! This
| means that you can log into G.ho.st on one computer and then
| seamlessly pick up where you left off on a different computer.
| Since applications and data no longer reside on users' PCs,
| G.ho.st is proving to be popular with users who are on the move.
`----
http://uk.intruders.tv/Essential-Web-07-Interview-with-G-ho-st-founder-Zvi-Schreiber_a102.html
It is said to be running Linux, just like most Web-based operating
environments.
Related:
eyeOS - the open source web desktop [Review]
,----[ Quote ]
| There is definitely potential here, and I think extending free and
| open source software into the web desktop space can only be a good
| thing. At the moment, I don't think I'd seriously end up using it.
| I don't think it is necessarily eyeOS's fault, as the project is
| extremely innovative and well done for what it is.
`----
http://fosswire.com/2007/06/08/eyeos-the-open-source-web-desktop/
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1187535.b...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] [Rival] Microsoft/Yahoo Lawsuit Over Copyrights Breach, No Retention Policies
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:52:56 +0100
Pauper prepares to sue Microsoft, Yahoo
,----[ Quote ]
| We were under the impression that you don't really get very far in US
| law unless you've got oodles of cash. But it will be interesting to see
| how Mr Parker proceeds in his 820 Copyright Infringement case if his
| request to the judge is granted.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40831
Report: Yahoo, Microsoft to reveal Web search privacy policies
,----[ Quote ]
| So far, neither Yahoo nor Microsoft have publicly detailed their data
| retention policies. A Yahoo representative did not return e-mails
| seeking comment on Friday. A Microsoft spokeswoman had this to say:
| "We can't confirm that. Microsoft doesn't have any information to
| share at this time."
`----
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9740440-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Related:
New software can identify you from your online habits
,----[ Quote ]
| That is the spectre raised by new research conducted by Microsoft.
| The computing giant is developing software that could accurately
| guess your name, age, gender and potentially even your location,
| by analysing telltale patterns in your web browsing history. But
| experts say the idea is a clear threat to privacy - and may be
| illegal in some places.
`----
http://www.newscientisttech.com/article.ns?id=mg19426046.400&feedId=being-human_rss20
http://tinyurl.com/2lrazk
Microsoft could be teaching police to hack Vista
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft may begin training the police in ways to break the
| encryption built into its forthcoming Vista operating system.
`----
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2150555/microsoft-teaching-police-hack
Who knows how much data they collect and keep... Vista has been proven to be a
spying beast.
------------------------------
Message-ID: <5483316.K...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] US Government Treats Free Software in the Same Way as Commercial Software
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:55:47 +0100
Does FAR include open source software?
,----[ Quote ]
| FAR, of course, requires agencies look at what commercial software
| when procuring a new application, as commercial software can, of
| course, offer a lower-cost alternative than commissioning a contractor
| to write a programme anew. Wheeler argues that open source software,
| even when available for free, still should be considered commercial
| software. As a result, "An agency that fails to consider OSS options
| is in direct violation of the FAR, because it would be failing to
| consider commercial items," he wrote.
`----
http://www.gcn.com/blogs/tech/44626.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1761568.A...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Properietary Software Phones Reveal Weaknesses of Obscurity
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 05:01:10 +0100
RIM unconcerned by BlackBerry bugging software
,----[ Quote ]
| As reported yesterday, the latest version of legal spying software
| FlexiSPY enables remote third parties to bug the voice calls, log SMS
| and mobile e-mail messages and track the location of a BlackBerry
| user.
`----
Just running some binaries. The French have warned against the use of
Blackberries because of this. They also convert the Parliament to Linux.
Iphone disrupts mayors in DC, Philly
,----[ Quote ]
| A spokesperson for the D.C.’s Office of Technology said the city had hoped
| to test Iphones for government use and none of the phones were allocated
| for His Honour. Since Fenty carries around three BlackBerrys, he doesn’t
| have room left on his belt.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40828
Iphony problems appear
,----[ Quote ]
| Volume too soft, crashes and battery drains
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=40839
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1211745.B...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Virtualisation Becomes More Popular, Promotes Use of Linux, Saves Hardware
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 05:08:11 +0100
Does Going Virtual Mean Layoffs Are Looming?
,----[ Quote ]
| Info-Tech conducted a survey last December with 1,900 responses that
| showed that among the largest companies, 39 percent have virtualised
| and 19 percent are considering it. Large companies were defined as
| having more than 1,000 employees.
`----
http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/58193.html
Related:
The Year of Virtualisation
,----[ Quote ]
| I think that Windows will continue to succumb to Linux in the data
| centre, MySQL and Postgres will continue to win projects that once
| fell to Oracle and DB/2.
`----
http://virtualization.sys-con.com/read/162110_p.htm
Virtualisation: Linux's killer app
,----[ Quote ]
| Think about it. Even Microsoft supports running Linux on its Virtual
| Server product. Why would it do that? Wouldn't an OS partitioning
| technology, such as that used by OpenVz or Sun Solaris, be more in
| keeping with the kind of homogeneous environments that Microsoft
| would like to see? Why would Microsoft invest its resources to
| support a virtual machine technology that can only open the
| door to Linux in the datacentre?
`----
http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/02/19/08OPopenent_1.html
Virtualisation gets trendy
,----[ Quote ]
| The fact that so many areas of IT are affected by virtualisation is
| perhaps testament to how fundamental a concept it is to separate
| computer resource from the underlying physical hardware and
| demonstrates this is a strategic issue with a broad impact
| that has to be considered at the highest levels of IT management.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/06/virtualisation_gets_trendy/
------------------------------
Message-ID: <2287932.l...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Web Polluted by Windows Zombies and Malware
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 05:14:47 +0100
Trojan creates bogus webmail accounts to punt drugs
,----[ Quote ]
| The use of compromised PCs to send spam has been going on for years, but the
| HotLan-A Trojan follows a more complex routine. Each active copy of the
| Trojan attempts to set up a webmail account before pulling encrypted spam
| emails from a website.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/06/webmail_trojan/
Turing test challenges spam filters
,----[ Quote ]
| He added: "We've been seeing a lot of PDF stock spams for the last 10
| days or so, and there was another spike last night. Images are
| particularly easy for humans to pick up, but particularly hard
| for computers.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/06/fuzzy_image_spam/
They just need to disconnect every PC that has malware on it. That would leave
very few people connected to the Web, until they use a secure operating
system. Microsoft will deliver at least three "critical" patches this Tuesday.
It never stops.
Recent:
FBI to Notify Microsoft Windows Users Who Were Victims of Botnets
,----[ Quote ]
| The Department of Justice and FBI have announced the results of
| an ongoing cyber crime initiative to disrupt and dismantle
| “botherders” and elevate the public’s cyber security
| awareness of botnets.
`----
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.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/26/botnet_threat/
The feds weigh in on Windows security
,----[ Quote ]
| "The benefits of this move are enormous: Common, secure configurations
| can help slow botnet spreading, can radically reduce delays in patching,
| can stop many attacks directly, and organisations that have made the
| move report that it actually saves money rather than costs money,"
| Paller wrote.
`----
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-6172158.html
Zombie botnets attack global DNS servers
,----[ Quote ]
| Hackers launched a sustained attack last night against key root servers
| which form the backbone of the internet.
|
| Security firm Sophos said that botnets of zombie PCs bombarded the
| internet's domain name system (DNS) servers with traffic.
|
| "These zombie computers could have brought the web to its knees,"
| said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos.
`----
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2174383/zombie-botnets-attack-global
------------------------------
Message-ID: <45535484....@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Windows Hijacking Codes Sold on the Web, SAP's Secret Sauce Has "Critical" Flaws
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 05:20:33 +0100
Psst - wanna buy a pirate MPack toolkit?
,----[ Quote ]
| MPack is a web browser exploit toolkit, sold online by its original
| authors to hackers at prices ranging from $500 to $1,000.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/06/pirate_mpack_toolkit/
Also SAP, which has been hostile towards Free software.
SAP patches critical security flaws
,----[ Quote ]
| SAP has patched highly critical security flaws in EnjoySAP and SAP Web
| Application Server, as well as moderate vulnerabilities in its SAP Message
| Server, according to security advisories issued Friday by Mark Litchfield of
| Next Generation Security Software.
`----
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9740223-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Another reason for people to start using PGP...
Olympics minister email spoofed
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/05/olympics_minister_email_hijack/
------------------------------
Message-ID: <3117908.F...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] New Version of OpenArena Released for Linux; Open Source Medical Software Company Reborn
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 05:25:48 +0100
OpenArena 0.7.0 released
,----[ Quote ]
| It's been 8 months since the last release and we've done a lot of
| stuff for this release, so much it's suddenly 250mb which was way
| past our 177mb goal.
`----
http://news.moddb.com/22198/openarena-070-released/
Medsphere begin again
,----[ Quote ]
| “Open source isn’t as pervasive in health care, but we have significant
| experience which will complement that. We will focus on growth, expand our
| product roadmap, and foster the community. Success will follow,” he
| concluded.
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=1188
Related:
Linux in Healthcare
,----[ Quote ]
| Linux in healthcare is a tale of things seen and unseen. Linux/Open
| Source have enjoyed tremendous popularity in embedded systems and
| networks for major technologies used in healthcare that healthcare
| providers may not even be aware of.
`----
http://www.linux-mag.com/id/3215/
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1591563.5...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Manipulation in British Government to Extend Copyright Law
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 05:31:42 +0100
Cut the misogyny and we’ll extend musicians’ copyright
,----[ Quote ]
| David Cameron yesterday offered the music industry a unique deal –
| cut the glorification of materialism, misogyny and guns in hits
| and the next Conservative government would back an extension of
| the copyright on sound recordings from the current 50-year
| period to 70 years.
`----
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2028741.ece
[ This is outrageous - we shouldn't be negotiating like this. Ed. ]
They try to starve people, who will no longer be able to listen to free music.
In the same way, there are attempts to 'tax' Free software using software
patents. Changes to the Internet hinder free speech. It's all related.
German parliament passes new Copyright Act
,----[ Quote ]
| Politicians from the governing grand coalition and the Liberal Party
| called the second stage of the revised Copyright Act a good compromise
| and say that provisions for private copies should be further restricted
| in the battle against "piracy."
`----
http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/news/92318
------------------------------
Message-ID: <12468864....@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft's XBox360 Shills Exposed
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:11:04 +0100
WARNING :- avoid VGCHARTS and NEOGAF
,----[ Quote ]
| They are being financed by MS to make 360 look good to gullible people.
|
| [...]
|
| NEOGAF :-
| another Flaming and misleading gaming forum run by 2 previous MS employees.
| This is the forum where you have people posting "360 is the last stand for
| RPG in JAPAN" , "x360 kills ps3 in JAPAN" and getting away with it.
`----
http://forums.gametrailers.com/showthread.php?t=121309
Related:
,----[ Quote ]
| "Some years back, Microsoft practised a lot of dirty tricks using
| online mavens to go into forums and create Web sites extolling the virtues
| of Windows over OS/2. They were dubbed the Microsoft Munchkins, and it
| was obvious who they were and what they were up to. But their numbers
| and energy (and they way they joined forces with nonaligned dummies who
| liked to pile on) proved too much for IBM marketers, and Windows wont
| he operating-system war through fifth-column tactics"
|
| Mr Dvorak wonders if Microsoft is today using reverse-dirty-tricks
| to promote the Xbox 360: pay people to create Web sites that slam the
| gaming computer in order to provoke a barrage of defenders.
`----
http://worldcadaccess.typepad.com/gizmos/2005/11/2_grassroots_an.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1868344.I...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Web-based Software Gains Momentum with Devices, Disrupts and Scares the the Luddites
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:16:01 +0100
Facing Web 2.0 Fear in the Enterprise
,----[ Quote ]
| The scary part of Web 2.0 is that it infringes on the historical IT control
| and power. That creates problems in a modern knowledge-based
| environment. "Part of the job of a CIO is to create policies that prevent
| artificial pockets of power based on secrets and individuals exploiting power
| and not sharing it," said JP Rangaswami CIO of global services at BT.
`----
http://www.linuxinsider.com/rsstory/58200.html
[ This is predicated on proprietary protocols and formats. Take those
away, and the power-base is lost. Ed. ]
OpenLaszlo and the iPhone
,----[ Quote ]
| Which raises the issue: what about using OpenLaszlo to develop for the
| iPhone? Well, in some ways this is a very natural fit. Besides enabling the
| style of UI that the iPhone has embraced, OpenLaszlo 4 works very, very well
| with the Safari 3 (desktop) browser, and does not require Flash or Java to
| deliver rich applications — which is great, since the iPhone has neither
| Flash nor Java.
`----
http://weblog.openlaszlo.org/archives/2007/07/openlaszlo-and-the-iphone/
No need to download and install software either. Many of the same applications
are available to Linux devices with a decent Web browser.
Related:
After the Desktop -- What?
,----[ Quote ]
| I would suggest that the open source community should stop obsessing
| with the battle for the desktop, and start focusing on the battle for
| the platform that will replace it. As I have said before, the day
| will soon come when the notion of having to go to a particular
| machine on a particular room every time you need access to
| information or computer power will be as obsolete as the notion
| of having to go to the hand pump over the well in the front
| yard every time you need water.
`----
http://trevors-trinkets.blogspot.com/2007/02/after-desktop-what.html
[ Get a Nokia 770 or 800 and find out for yourself... Ed. ]
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.
`----
Linux Growth Accelerates with Server Shipments in 4th QTR 2006
,----[ Quote ]
| Unit shipment growth was flat (0.0% growth) year over year in 4Q06, the
| tenth consecutive quarter of slowing overall shipment growth...
|
| After two consecutive quarters of single-digit revenue growth, Linux
| server revenue growth accelerated once again, growing 15.3% to $1.8
| billion when compared with 4Q05.
`----
------------------------------
Message-ID: <2408280.M...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] [Rival] Windows Limits Bandwidth, Punishes Hobbyists, Driving Them to Linux
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:18:15 +0100
I'm not sure this was mentioned here before:
"Microsoft reserves 20% of your available bandwidth for their own purposes like
Windows Updates and interrogating your PC etc."
http://www.tqdq.com/Windows-tricks/System-Hacks/Increase-internet-speed.html
A change in Microsoft Licensing and an intro to Ubuntu Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| I discuss the changes in Vistas licensing scheme that may have a serious
| effect on the hobbyist. I also talk about Ubuntu, and explain how to get free
| professionally minted disks for the asking.
`----
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNMslCh8Xyw
------------------------------
Message-ID: <2661342.g...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Poland Chooses Real Standards (Bad News to Microsoft's Monopoly Enabler)
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:24:34 +0100
Polish National Interoperability Framework promotes Open Standards
,----[ Quote ]
| This basically means that Microsoft’s Office Open XML will not be
| treated as open standard, thus not preferred in Polish e-Government
| services, making OpenDocument Format the office standard of choice.
`----
http://polishlinux.org/gnu/polish-national-interoperability-framework-promotes-open-standards/
Related:
Polish KDE Community Announces KDE.org.pl Web Site
,----[ Quote ]
| KDE.org.pl has been established with a small editorial staff, an
| extension of the "KDE Press Team PL" established earlier this year
| to improve communications and contact between KDE and the Polish
| media. Everyone is invited to join.
`----
http://dot.kde.org/1179085340/
ODF Alliance Hails Brazil, India, Italy, and Poland for Recognising
OpenDocument Format
,----[ Quote ]
| The OpenDocument Format Alliance (ODF Alliance), a broad
| cross-section of organisations, academia and industry dedicated
| to improving access to electronic government documents, today
| applauded Brazil's decision to recommend ODF as the government's
| preferred format; India's decision to use ODF at a major state
| government agency; and Italy's decision to recognise ODF as
| national standard.
|
| The Alliance also recognised Poland, too, for demonstrating serious
| interest in adopting ODF in the wake of a national meeting held for
| its government with broad participants from industry and non-profit
| agencies.
`----
http://www5.sys-con.com/read/306120_p.htm
When is a standard not a standard?
,----[ Quote ]
| OOXML's method of dealing with the problem in effect locks out
| all applications that are not Microsoft Office, whereas ODF's
| method keeps the standard vendor neutral and usable by any
| office suite
`----
http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/node/2110
Sun slams Ecma's OpenXML OK
,----[ Quote ]
| "Make sure you follow how well the Novell and Corel implementations
| do," he wrote. "If they falter, watch out for those who try to blame
| those companies or open source itself, when the root of the problem
| may be with the Microsoft Office OpenXML spec in the first place."
`----
http://www.itweek.co.uk/itweek/news/2170681/sun-slams-ecma-openxml-ok
------------------------------
Message-ID: <1505477.z...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Moving from Windows to Linux Without Steep Learning Curves
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:30:19 +0100
Trying Another OS? Use Your Windows Knowledge as a Fast Track to the Commands
You Need
,----[ Quote ]
| The Tom's Hardware website features the Universal Command Guide for Operating
| Systems page, based on the book of the same name by Guy Lotgering and the
| Universal Command Guide (UCG) Training Team. The UCG web page builds on your
| knowledge of your favourite operating system's commands to teach you the
| equivalent(s) in others.
`----
Another new story about departure from Windows.
Hey Geof, well done, you are a lamer again!
,----[ Quote ]
| After 20 years of being a Windows guy I have made the move to a Mac. It was a
| difficult thing to do.
`----
http://www.ikilledamaninreno.com/2007/07/07/HeyGeofWellDoneYouAreALamerAgain.aspx
------------------------------
Message-ID: <32892664....@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] [Rival] RIAA Kills Educational Videos
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:35:19 +0100
YouTube Guitar Lessons Pulled in Copyright Spat
,----[ Quote ]
| So far, people around the world have watched the videos a total of more than
| 3.5 million times.
|
| [...]
|
| If someone tells Sandercoe to take down his song lessons, he says he
| will. But his most valuable videos are the ones that teach guitar basics
| — things like strumming, scales and finger-picking.
|
| And even in the digital age, no one holds a copyright on those things.
`----
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11778602
More from the NetKKKops that happen to eliminate a lot of legally distributed
content along with the piracy:
The Pirate Bay - shut down again?
,----[ Quote ]
| With TPB users accounting for 40% of all Swedish Internet traffic,
| TPB is hoping Swedish Internet Service Providers will lift the ban,
| as it is currently a voluntary action that the ISP's agree to.
`----
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2007/07/06/the-pirate-bay-shut-down-again
Fake MPAA Video Download Site Goes Offline
,----[ Quote ]
| Thanks to all the publicity, MediaDefender tries to lay low and
| decides to parks "Miivi" for now.
`----
http://www.zeropaid.com/news/8880/Fake+MPAA+Video+Download+Site+Goes+Offline
------------------------------
Message-ID: <53819979....@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Where Mac OS X and Solaris Get it Wrong (and Linux Has the Upper Hand)
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:43:08 +0100
The Apple way and the Linux way
,----[ Quote ]
| OS X and Linux are essentially two extreme opposites. The Apple Way is to
| make all of your decisions for you so that you're not burdened by choice.
| Some people enjoy that -- they find simplicity in it that allows them to
| concentrate on other things. To me, it's computing hell.
`----
http://www.thejemreport.com/mambo/content/view/322
Does Solaris need to be better Linux than Linux?
,----[ Quote ]
| I think that comparing Solaris and Linux is a case of confusing apples
| for oranges, and Sun should stick with the fruit it knows best. After
| all, if Solaris isn’t broken why try to fix it?
`----
http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry1528.html
Related:
The Solaris Installation Experience
,----[ Quote ]
| There's a problem with Solaris and Sun knows it. The installation experience
| of Solaris (along with other areas) could be greatly improved. The
| installer doesn't "suck" as it's easy and known to Solaris
| administrators, but for a Linux or Windows user it could prove
| to be a bit challenging.
`----
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=article&item=760&num=1
Solaris can never be Linux
,----[ Quote ]
| Things haven't changed much at Sun. When Sun launched its
| OpenSolaris project in 2005 it used the Common Development and
| Distribution Licence - which is incompatible withb the GPL - and
| some system code was not released.
`----
http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/12116/1090/
------------------------------
Message-ID: <4981204.z...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Utah Open Source Conference Announced, the 'Problem' with Free Software Highlighted
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:47:48 +0100
Call for Papers
Utah Open Source Conference 2007: The Convergence...
http://www.utosc.org/2007/03/07/call-for-papers/
Artificial scarcity and open source
,----[ Quote ]
| This is actually one of the weaknesses of an open-source business model. Once
| you release the code, the customer is in control of when she buys. She may
| decide that she has enough (code, stability, support, etc.) such that she
| need not enter a paid transaction with you. Or she may decide to delay that
| decision for weeks or months.
`----
http://news.com.com/8301-10784_3-9740091-7.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <4407955.r...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Kubuntu Linux Reviewed; KDE-based PCLOS Takes #1 Position in DW
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:53:47 +0100
Fiestiest Ubuntu [Linux Review]
,----[ Quote ]
| These small problems apart, Kubuntu scores very high on usability,
| default configuration and hardware detection.The best part about
| Kubuntu is that it is usable from the word go. I would suggest
| Kubuntu to everyone, from the computer newbie/ recent Windows
| convert to the seasoned Linux programmers.
`----
http://abhay-techzone.blogspot.com/2007/06/fiestiest-ubuntu.html
A different KDE-based distro leaves Ubuntu behind in DistroWatch...
PCLinuxOS leaves behind Ubuntu
,----[ Quote ]
| I hope this race would continue indefinitely as this would help the Linux and
| the community grow as a whole.
`----
http://linuxdistrorevs.blogspot.com/2007/07/pclinuxos-leaves-behind-ubuntu.html
------------------------------
Message-ID: <3106068.K...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Short Review of Google Desktop for Linux
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:55:43 +0100
Google Desktop For Linux [Review]
,----[ Quote ]
| Google Desktop enables Linux users to search for text inside documents, local
| email messages, their web history, and their Gmail accounts. Believe me, if
| you’re a Linux user, I’m sure you’ve experienced how hard it is to find a
| file in the vast Unix file system that Linux uses.
`----
http://pimpyourlinux.com/linux-feature-review/google-desktop-for-linux/
------------------------------
Message-ID: <6695518.T...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] Microsoft Fanboy FUD Listed and Debunked
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:50:58 +0100
Typical MS-Fanboy FUD Debunked
,----[ Gist ]
| 01) Claim that Buffer Overflows do not exist.
|
| 02) Believe that Microsoft follows industry standards.
|
| 03) Believe that binary OS image files are scalable.
`----
More FUD from Microsoft itself:
Microsoft: Please let us tax you, Red Hat! Please? Pretty please?!?
http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13505_1-9739780-16.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=TheOpenRoad
------------------------------
Message-ID: <6371874.3...@schestowitz.com>
From: Roy Schestowitz <newsg...@schestowitz.com>
Subject: [News] OpenJDK Java Module Going Open Source, Alfresco Looks at a GPL Future
Date: Sun, 08 Jul 2007 14:58:30 +0100
OpenJDK Releases Early Open Source Java Module
,----[ Quote ]
| The OpenJDK project has released an early access source code snapshot
| of implementations of the Java Module System (JSR 277) and Improved
| Modularity Support (JSR 294). JSR 277 addresses modularity from a
| deployment unit perspective,
`----
http://opensource.sys-con.com/read/398729_p.htm
Alfresco ECM, With a Dash of Web 2.0
,----[ Quote ]
| Alfresco formally changed its licensing scheme in February from a
| Mozilla Public Licence (MPL) variant to the GPL version 2.
`----
http://www.internetnews.com/ent-news/article.php/3687251
------------------------------
End of Cola Digest
--
| Mark Kent -- mark at ellandroad dot demon dot co dot uk |
| News Digester |