07.04.08

Links – Independence Day: [K|X]*Ubuntu 8.04.1 Released; Dangers of Proprietary SaaS Revisited

Posted in News Roundup at 8:02 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

GNU/Linux

Ubuntu 8.04.1 LTS released
LM_Sensors 2.10.7 Released
Red Hat Linux trumps Microsoft Windows in power test

RHEL 5 had the single widest lead, with 12% greater efficiency than Windows Server 2008 on IBM x3350. Results varied by hardware, but RHEL had the best overall performance in 13 of 16 tests and, in several trials, beat Windows by nearly 10%.
Bill Gates Steps Down, as Tech Users Reflect

Many computer users have eagerly sought what they consider a more reliable, secure, unambiguous operating system for their personal computers. This has resulted in a surge of popularity in certain GNU/Linux OSs.

Laptops

Asustek’s Latest Eee PCs Shipping in Asia in July

The Eee PC 1000 and 1000H are also a bit more expensive. While prices will vary by market, in Taiwan, the Eee PC 1000, which runs on Linux only and carries a 40G byte SDD, costs NT$19,988 (US$658), compared to NT$18,988 (US$625) for the 1000H, which comes with either Linux or Windows XP.
Feature: The Four Levels of Small Notebooks

You don’t need a desktop anymore, unless you really want to get into some hardcore gaming or multimedia editing.
gOS and Sylvania’s g netbook series

Devices

Reviews

Sidux, a Great Alternative to Ubuntu

Sidux is a new Debian derivative that’s still just a baby, born in January 2007. Sidux announced a brand-new release on June 26, Sidux 2008-02, so we’re going to kick the tires and take it for a drive, and see what sets it apart from other children of Debian. Currently it offers a choice of the KDE or Fluxbox desktop, and it supports both 32-bit i686 and AMD64.
How to write a thorough review of a Linux distribution
My first hours with PCLINUXOS

The first thing I noticed what that PCLINUXOS was able to start using the broadcom wifi in my laptop right out out of the gate.
Ubuntu vs PCLinuxOS
There’s Something About Pardus 2008

In my opinion, Pardus is definitely the best government funded Linux distribution at the moment. I hope our very own Philippine-made Bayanihan Linux in the very near future will at least equal what Pardus has achieved.
Kaffeine 0.8.6 Review

Desktop Environments

KDE vs. GNOME: A Screed from a Supposed Corporate Flack
Beyond the desktop with KDE4

Again: We are at the begin of this journey. Not everything is available yet, but the technology to make it available is there. My kudos go to Aaron Seigo, lead developer of plasma, and all the others that try to make our personal computers usable again – not dismissing any of the possible usages.

F/OSS

Dangers of SaaS and Reasons to Choose AGPLv3

Freedom and privacy in the cloud: a call for action
Judge Orders YouTube to Give All User Histories to Viacom

Google will have to turn over every record of every video watched by YouTube users, including users’ names and IP addresses, to Viacom, which is suing Google for allowing clips of its copyright videos to appear on YouTube, a judge ruled Wednesday.
Identi.ca Launches, an Open Source Twitter

Share this post: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.

Permalink Mail Send this to a friend

If you liked this post, consider subscribing to the RSS feed or join us now at the IRC channels.

Pages that cross-reference this one

What Else is New

Bill Gates Still Getting Richer Through For-Profit Investments, Now Wants to Brainwash Children in Schools in Favour of His Investments

Some of the latest strategies used by the world's richest man to protect his investments and amass yet more money, adding to an ever-growing wealth while pretending it's a charity
Microsoft Entryism and Its Effects on Corporate and Public Policy

An aspect of Microsoft culture that ought not be overlooked because of its profound effect on society (private and public)
Red Hat Should Follow Google's and Twitter's Footsteps on Patents to Avoid Becoming the Next Novell

Red Hat continues to ignore my plea to defang the software patents it is applying for, potentially making them weaponised like Novell's and Sun's patents (e.g. Java at Oracle) upon buyout or another major event
CAFC Decision Still Overridden by Overzealous Patent Lawyers in the Press, The Guardian and Other Corporate Press (CBS and AFP Included) Still Guard the Establishment

Analysis of a sceptical kind of corporate press coverage regarding software patents in the US; great examples of how Microsoft- and Gates-funded press outlets tend to get it all wrong on the facts, smearing digital freedom fighters
Software Patents Debate Still Open in New Zealand and the US

In spite of distraction attempts, the debate over software patents continues to stress that there is a real danger
WebM is No Ogg, It is Not Freedom-Respecting Anymore, Even in Countries That Have No Software Patents

Why Google needs to fix the licence of VP9, or simply stop pretending that it should be the only de facto standard for multimedia
Microsoft Violates Google Licences

The champion of 'IP' and licensing (extortion) is not much of a champion after all, based on new reports, not just a lot of old ones
Skype Teaches Us That All Microsoft Software Should be Assumed Spyware Unless Proven Otherwise

The broader implications of Microsoft adding spying 'features' to Skype
Links 23/5/2013: Threat to Civil Rights in UK, KDE 4.11 LTS

Links for the day
Links 22/5/2013: Debian GNU/Hurd, New Go Language Release

Links for the day
The FRAND Apple-Microsoft Conspiracy Attempts to Destroy Android/Linux, Ban Imports

How Microsoft and Apple are using patents in bulk (sometimes acquired in unison, e.g. from Novell and Nortel) to artificially lower market saturation of the Android operating system or drive costs up
Gates Foundation: Buying Influence for Bill's Ego and Bill's Profit

New examples of power being acquired and investments (i.e. for profit) being funnelled into the beneficiaries
Bill Gates Enters Financial Centres With His Goons Becoming US Budget Chief, Top Bankers

How Bill Gates' staff is entering positions of financial power, indirectly giving Gates power over US (national and international) finance
IBM Ignores Small Companies' Interests, Denies Patent Scope is a Problem, Focusing on Its Own Problems (Trolls) Instead

How David Kappos and IBM (his longtime employer) continue to ignore the obvious problem which kills small businesses and everyone is complaining about
The New York Times Publishes Factually-Flawed Patent Propaganda Benefiting Microsoft and Apple

Eamonn Fingleton is rewriting history in the US' top newspaper, insinuating that patents contributed to the rise of software duopolists
Software Patents Eligibility Likely to be Decided by SCOTUS

Analyses suggest that an escalation by appeal to SCOTUS is likely to be the next stage in 'Bilski 2.0'
Does Bill Gates Try to Flush GNU/Linux Down the Toilet in Kerala?

Renting Microsoft software rather than using Free (as in freedom, or libre) software?
Links 21/5/2013: Handbrake Turns 0.9.9, NetBSD 6.1

Links for the day
Links 20/5/2013: First Salifish Smartphone, Mageia 3 Released

Links for the day
Microsoft Corruption (Illegal Tenders) Stopped by European Court

Microsoft cannot bypass public tenders, based on a ruling from a court of law in Europe
Not Satire: Microsoft Wants to Show the World How Security is Done

Software security 'standard' to be led by the company which made insecurity an acceptable engineering practice?
Microsoft is Struggling to Maintain Industry 'Standards'

With Microsoft's common carrier and browser share down considerably Microsoft finds itself increasingly irrelevant and it tries subversive means of making another comeback
Microsoft Entryism and Bribery Get the Microsoft Way Implemented

A recollection of very dirty tactics from Microsoft, which uses money to oppress, overthrow, and even hijack its opposition
Patent Policy Laundering in the European Union and New Zealand

How the so-called 'free' trade agreements help spread patent policy which favours software patents
Ongoing Focus on Patent Litigation and Patent Trolls Reduces Focus on Software Patents

The problem with increased focus on the players that use software patents litigiously and the litigation itself
Andrew Y. Schroeder Shows That Patent Lawyers Are Sociopaths

Bully and law misuser is trying to get his way with foul language, intimidation, and sheer lack of professionalism
IBM-backed Book on 'Open Innovation'

OpenForum Europe (OFE), which helps IBM's turf wars in Europe, releases a new book filled with its talking point
Joseph E. Stiglitz Criticises the Patent System

More critical words about the patent system and the way it is harming lives
Senator Schumer Should Focus on Software Patents, Leaving Patent Trolls (Side Effect) Aside

Reform in the USPTO and the US courts should focus on patent scope and not patent holders
Links 20/5/2013: Plenty of Linux News, Google/Android Announcements

Links for the day