This game is still a ways from being released, but at the heart of this game is the Unreal Engine 3 -- the same engine that powers Unreal Tournament 3, America's Army 3, and dozens of other titles. Unreal Engine 3 is a multi-platform engine that has an OpenGL renderer and is compatible with Mac OS X and Linux even though we haven't seen any titles be released yet for Linux.
It turns out that having a trashed Linux boot menu after a Windows installation is a very common problem. I was able to solve it nicely with a combination of two free tools suggested by two readers: Super Grub Disk and EasyBCD.
What’s wrong with using Windows? As with other addictions, informed recreational use has few drawbacks, but continual dependence on particular software is a different matter. If you simply can’t boot a computer without using Windows or can’t get anything meaningful done without it, then you’re an addict who needs to be weaned off this habit.
Most addicts will tell you that kicking a habit needs to be done in stages and that the support of friends and relatives is vital. This feature will look at a step-by-step process for giving up Windows and moving to an alternative that doesn’t involve being locked into using one vendor.
Linux runs on text. Configuration files are often human-readable text. Many other files contain text, too, and text often flows through Standard I/O connections. Linux has powerful utilities to handle text; you can also use a scripting language.
The keyboard is also small, another common netbook characteristic. On the other hand, Sony manages to stamp a mark of innovation on the product as it weighs half as much as a typical netbook and packs in features like fast wireless, a pre-boot Linux environment and a screen capable of displaying a 1,600x768 resolution, while most netbooks only have a 1,024x600 resolution capacity.
It looks like server virtualization really is heading to the mainstream on Power Systems machines, if some figures provided by the top brass at IBM are any indication. While logical partitioning has been available on OS/400-based servers since V4R4 was launched with the Northstar PowerPC servers back in 1999, it has been embraced mostly by big shops with big iron even as Linux and AIX partitions were added to the logical partitioning mix.
This week, Dan and Fab talk about the Red Hat/Microsoft deal, the Cuban Linux distro, the Linux version of World of Goo and Dan reviews Sabayon 4 plus a lot more.
The Podcast - Free/Open Source in the Midlands
This new podcast is about Free Open source, especially what is going on in the English Midlands, but hopefully it will be interesting to you wherever you live.
As of late, file-systems have been a popular topic among Linux developers and users. The EXT4 file-system was recently stabilized and it brings some modest performance improvements and is finding its way into modern distributions. While not yet stabilized, the Btrfs file-system was merged into the Linux 2.6.29 kernel and is poised as the Linux competitor to Sun's famed ZFS file-system. There is also open-source work underway in supporting Microsoft's exFAT file-system on Linux. On top of all of that, there is also the Tux3 file-system.
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The Tux3 project has been making great progress and following its review period, soon perhaps we will see it enter the mainline kernel (of course, as an experimental option). Kernel patches for the Tux3 file-system are supposed to be in a Git tree within the next few days.
The present economy has the technology industry in an interesting position. Computer manufacturers and system builders (such as Dell, ASUS, and MSI) have focused on using "full desktop" chips (Intel and VIA) and components, and shrinking them down into small, inexpensive devices that are capable of performing basic computing tasks. It's been difficult, however, to fully break from the "full desktop" school of thought -- and these small machines, for many, are a little too expensive for what they deliver.
Embedded chip manufacturers feel they have something to offer, and that using their processors in these settings will be both cost-effective and a better computing experience. The embedded chips are quite powerful, and a few embedded chip companies are firm in the belief that open source operating systems are the best way to bring out the best in their processors, and the devices they power.
The development speed of the Linux stable series and the number of integrated changes, has been rising in the past few weeks. In February alone, the maintainers of the stable kernel series have released four new 2.6.28.x versions and five new 2.6.27.x kernels, to correct numerous flaws in the respective predecessors and add many minor improvements.
As long as SSD manufacturers force us treat these devices as black boxes, there may be a certain amount of cargo cult science which may be forced upon us file system designers — or I guess I should say, in order to be more academically respectable, “we will be forced to rely more on empirical measurements leading to educated engineering estimations about what the SSD is doing inside the black box”. Heh.
Initial support for adding video and audio previewing (similar to the file dialog) to Dolphin's metadata panel. A new "highlight window" effect for KWin-Composite. Filtering support in the "FileWatcher" Plasmoid, work on the "Welcome" Plasmoid, and initial import of "OpenBrain" and "Translatoid" Plasma widgets. Experiments to make a screensaver using KGLEngine. First approach on integrating an "interactive graphs concept" in KAlgebra. Initial code for an object-oriented KTurtle. Initial work on a 3D view completed in Kolf NG (a rewrite effort).
In previous versions of Lancelot, when using the no-click activation, there was some space between the lists while browsing the applications. The space was needed because of extenders and scroll-bars. Scroll-bars, obviously, still need the space like before, but the extenders don’t.
With the Debian Linux project officially designating “Lenny” as its new “stable” distribution, I decided to install it on an old Thinkpad to see how well it performs on a low-end machine. Without doubt, the results surpassed my wildest expectations!
I can’t say enough about this project. If you doubt just how amazing Elive Compiz is, I suggest you grab a download and run it. You’ll find a machine to install it on and you’ll play with until you can’t pull yourself away. It’s that cool.
Two cool shots of my desktop one in 3D running Mandriva KDE,,running desktop theme, slim glow, icon theme KDE Crystal.
We’ve had Ubuntu and Impi, now there is a new African-named Linux distribution. South African developers today announced the first cut of a new Linux distro which they are calling Kongoni. Named after the Shona word for the GNU, Kongoni has a strong BSD-Unix influence and includes a ports-like package management system. The underlying code is, however, based on Slackware and the makers are promising to keep the distribution free of proprietary software.
Another week has passed and it’s time again for the weekly Distro Roundup. Thanks again to DistroWatch for posting this information.
Foresight GNOME Edition features the GNOME desktop environment, created and maintained by The GNOME Project, as the interface for Foresight Linux. Thanks to dedicated teams within The GNOME Project, GNOME provides usability, accessibility, and freedom focused on creating software that is easy and enjoyable for everyone to use. Taking advantage of its rolling releases, Foresight can promptly release an updated GNOME edition each time GNOME has a new release, making Foresight the top choice when demonstrating the latest GNOME.
The Foresight Linux Project team announced yesterday the immediate availability of Foresight Linux 2.1.0 GNOME Edition, a Linux distribution based on rPath. This new version brings the latest stable GNOME desktop environment and many updates.
The Kubuntu team is proud to announce the release of Kubuntu 8.04.2, the second and final maintenance update to Kubuntu's 8.04 release. This release includes updated desktop, and alternate installation CDs for the i386 and amd64 architectures. This update is provided in recognition that the current Kubuntu release (8.10) with its cutting edge KDE 4 desktop is not yet appropriate for all users.
In all, over 200 updates have been integrated, and updated installation media has been provided so that fewer updates will need to be downloaded after installation. These include security updates, and corrections for other high-impact bugs, with a focus on maintaining stability and compatibility with Kubuntu 8.04.
The Kubuntu team announced on Saturday (February 21) the second maintenance release of Kubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron), which is supported with security fixes and maintenance updates until October 2009. Kubuntu 8.04.2 brings to its dedicated users a lot of security updates and corrections (over 200), all with a single goal: to keep Kubuntu 8.04 a stable and reliable Linux distribution!
MEPIS LLC has released SimplyMEPIS 8.0, the community edition of MEPIS 8.0. The ISO files for 32 and 64 bit processors are SimplyMEPIS-CD_8.0.00-rel_32.iso and SimplyMEPIS-CD_8.0.00-rel_64.iso.
SimplyMEPIS 8.0 utilizes a Debian Lenny stable foundation enhanced with a Long Term Support kernel, key package upgrades, and the MEPIS Assistant applications to create an up-to-date, ready to use desktop computer system.
Much of the work of these dedicated individuals is in packaging and maintaining the software on offer in the Ubuntu repositories and managing the nearly 50,000 open bugs. They carry out all of this behind-the-scenes admin work to make Ubuntu better. When you use Synaptic or apt-get to install a piece of software, little thought is given to the process involved in getting that software to you. You click it, it installs, you run it without problem.
Desktop Koalas could have some internal genetic alterations -- such as flicker free X initialization (in the spirit of Fedora 10) and boot speeds that suggest "jungle cat" over "arboreal marsupial." Shuttleworth also hints at how different this desktop will look. Will the Karmic Koala break from the traditional Ubuntu brown?
As we try to figure out the future of the cloud, one thing is assured: developers will drive both deployment and consumption approaches. As is common to so many other major software shifts, developers lead, regardless of what vendors want the market to look like.
People are laughing at me. For the past few weeks, they have been whispering as I walk by: "There he goes! That's him!" as they chuckle to themselves.
Not because I wear outdated Hawaiian shirts; it's because I predicted open source software would go mainstream in 2009.
I wrote that Mark Shuttleworth's Ubuntu Linux "would shine" even though Microsoft is still throttling a seemingly unperturbed market with its Windows offering.
It's official you can run X-Windows and your choice of GUI (Gnome, KDE, IceWM etc on an Android device!
Screenshots are below!!
France-based mobile platform developer Open-Plug said that it has selected solution from Enea for its ELIPS platform targeting Linux devices and mass market mobile phones.
Here in the UK, the Mini 10 will go on sale on Thursday, and while the company did reveal that it will offer a version of the machine with Linux pre-installed - Ubuntu 8.04, to be precise - it won't appear until "later this year".
Cnet reports that Dell will introduce a 2GB model with 250GB HDD later this year with an integrated TV Tuner, Ubuntu 8.04 and Mobile broadband capabilities; one can also expect AMD to join the foray and Dual Core Atom CPUs to debut.
Kogan admits he's a big fan of Linux, and that the decision to adopt it was driven by feedback on the Kogan blog. "I was happy that people don't mind having Linux on their laptop. It seems that the wider market is starting to not be as scared of it as it was a couple of years ago."
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On the overall technology selling market, Kogan also remains optimistic and upbeat. "We've gone from being a 4 million dollar company last year to a 20 million dollar company this year. We see brands like Hitachi and Fujitsu dropping out of the (LCD TV) market. It's not because of lack of demand. They're dropping out due to archaic business models. People are becoming price educated. The $950 government grant will make the demand for LCD TVs skyrocket. Conventional retail cannot compete."
Dell attributes part of the Linux growth to competitive pricing on the Ubuntu SKUs. “When you look at the sweet spot for this category it is price sensitivity, and Linux enabled us to offer a lower price entry point,” added Dell senior product manager John New.
What’s more, Nolle says that the current edition of ExperiaSphere is only the beginning. In the toolkit’s next phase, CIMI will incorporate a more “socially aware” framework that will blend social networking, calling, collaboration and unified communications. And eventually, Nolle says that CIMI will release the toolkit’s source code to allow for open-source development.
GNUMP3d is magic, or at least it felt that way after I installed it. From the site: GNUMP3d is a streaming server for MP3s, OGG vorbis files, movies and other media formats.
The verification IP will continue to be open-source, governed by an Apache 2.0 license.
Web designers, photographers and graphic designers loving the Adobe Photoshop Product family - a collection of graphics editing programs developed by Adobe Systems to create and edit images - should have a look at its open source alternative, GIMP.
GIMP - GNU Image Manipulation Program - is the most well-known open source graphics editing application, born in 1995 as reported in the GNU free software directory, is a freely distributed program for tasks like photo retouching, image composition and authoring. Last but not least the so-called batch mode that allows you to do image processing from the command line.
A picture will always be worth a thousand words. The good news is that in the open source world, there are many excellent, free graphics and animation tools, plus free resources for getting started with them right away. Whether you want to produce a full-length animated movie, desktop publish good-looking graphical booklets, work more efficiently with Flickr, or create eye-catching logos, check out seven free applications and resources here.
The European Commission will require Microsoft to give users of its ubiquitous Windows operating system the opportunity to choose between different Internet browsers to avoid breaching EU competition rules, the bloc's antitrust spokesman told EurActiv. Background:
Although the Commission is still officially waiting for a response from Microsoft to the complaints raised last January, the outcome of this new battle with the IT giant is already taking form.
The high-margin SOA engagements that we've known -- involving armies of consultants, integrators and expensive proprietary solutions -- keep getting pushed upstream, into a smaller market space.
What's happening is low-cost and no-cost solutions are swooping in to serve what has been a largely underserved or unserved market -- those companies or business units without the big budgets for SOA.
Open Source applications available with Network Solutions Web hosting services include WordPress€®, Joomla!, and Gallery2.
A Consortium formed by three universities and led by the Free Knowledge Institute (FKI) has received the support from the EC's Lifelong Learning Programme to offer an international educational programme on Free Software. Following the Open Educational Resources movement, all learning materials will be freely available through the Internet. The use of Free Software (also referred to as Open Source software or Libre Software) is expanding rapidly in governmental and private organisations. However, still only a limited number of IT professionals, teachers and decision makers have sufficient knowledge and expertise in these new fields. In order to cover this gap, the Free Knowledge Institute and three European universities have founded the Free Technology Academy. The first course materials will be available after this summer.
Bet there's not much Firefox, Thunderbird of OpenOffice.org in *there*.
It's a clever ploy, because it means that the state and local governments in the US don't have to pay to re-train workers made redundant. For Microsoft, of course, it's a brilliant way to turn people desperate to improve their financial situation into vectors of its threatened techno-orthdoxy.
Sadly, the net result is that people are being trained how to use 20th century technology for that 21st-century economy - more "Enervate America" than "Elevate America". For a telling contrast, just think of all those millions of young Brazilians who are growing up with a real understanding of what computers are about and for....
MySQL experts are seeing accelerating demand for their services on Elance, a leading site for online work where businesses hire skilled professionals to get work done. With over 1,300 MySQL jobs posted in the last 30 days, MySQL is now the third most in-demand skill on Elance, moving up three spots since October.
Are enterprise customers ready to consider open-source ERP tools? Maybe not -- but it's a very different story in the small-business market.
ERP represents the final frontier for open-source software: Open-source vendors have cracked -- and often transformed -- almost every other category of business software except for this one. And the notion that open-source ERP can gain traction in the enterprise market is still the subject of a hot debate.
It also works with leading open source office suites including Sun's StarOffice, IBM Symphony and OpenOffice.org.
Is the freedom torch passing from Richard Stallman to the next generation? Bradley Kuhn of the Software Freedom Conservancy opened the Southern California Linux Expo this year with a keynote about software as a service and user freedoms.
Richard Stallman, a man who has done much in the way of heavy lifting for software freedom, is taking a pass on the issue of software freedom with software as a service. Calling cloud computing “worse than hype,” Stallman has basically thrown in the towel on SaaS, presumably with the expectation that users will continue to rely primarily on compute power and services that reside on their computer.
The nation is demanding and spending billions to ensure that we have a high-performance Health Information Technology infrastructure. The ARRA of 2009 allows proprietary companies to put up tollbooths and black boxes everywhere at taxpayer expense with little or no guarantees of the ability of the public to audit, innovate, study, fix or extend the software to ensure high performance, privacy, security, fitness, or upgradeablility can occur.
Techmeme wasn’t exactly buzzing with the news that the new Recovery.gov website, which provides information on federal recovery programs, was built using the open source Drupal community content management system.Ãâ It made it on to Techmeme, but just barely; only one of the linked sites noted the Drupal connection, the others, including some prominent tech news sites, were only covering the launch of the site.
Here's another way our federal government can save some money during these tough economic times. Based on a study conducted by various organizations, the U.S. government could potentially save $23.6 billion by going open-source, using virtualization technologies and cloud computing.
[via Google Translate: President of the Russian Federation as outlined its position on free software: €«Another issue - this is information technology in the social sphere. We actually tried to do so as part of a national project. Probably something that succeeded, but for now this is just the beginning. We must consider that the next move - to the domestic free software. I dealt with this topic, the results we have, we have already prepared their programs, which allow to create, in essence, a product is qualitative, based on free software, but is already tied to our realities €».]
This is a good chance to get your ideas in early and have a real impact on where we go with ODF in the next major release. But please, do not give me ideas via blog comments. We can only accept ideas sent through the above OASIS comment submission procedure, which is necessary to ensure that ODF remains an open standard that anyone can implement.
The industry needs an open mobile ecosystem to better meet the needs of new market entrants, according to top executives.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's radio show As it Happens did a great job covering the new British law that makes it a crime to take a picture of a police officer or a building, where that picture might be useful in "planning an act of terrorism." First, they interviewed Peter Murray, Vice-President of the National Union of Journalists, who, predictably, worries that his members will find themselves with arrest-records as terrorists for violating the law.
A LEAKED internal report has revealed systematic abuses by Euro MPs of parliamentary allowances that enable them to pocket more than €£1m in profits from a single five-year term, writes Jonathan Oliver.
======================================================================= Table of Contents ======================================================================= [1] Facebook Reverses Terms of Service on Eve of EPIC Complaint [2] Federal Court Upholds Opt-In Privacy Rule for Telephone Services [3] Trade Commission Issues Guidelines for Behavioral Advertising [4] Homeland Security Appoints New Chief Privacy Officer [5] Final Medical Privacy Rules Adopted in Congress [6] News in Brief [7] EPIC Bookstore: "In Confidence" [8] Upcoming Conferences and Events - Join EPIC on Facebook http://epic.org/facebook
Monday is the last day of the internet blackout campaign organised and in support of it I have blacked out my avatars on Twitter and Facebook as well as on this page. Why? It's to appeal a very badly thought-out law that's been passed in New Zealand, one that the media lobby would love to see introduced in Europe too - it's already been introduced by threats in Ireland and we had a near-miss in the UK and in Germany. We need to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the kiwis. If the media lobby gets away with it over there, the rest of us will be picked off one-by-one via the global reach of the WTO and WIPO.
Best summary of the New Zealand Blackout that I've seen....
[cartoon]
It looks like the widespread protests against New Zealand's awful copyright law have finally made government officials recognize that something is wrong.
Whether the European Parliament will be able to scrutinise ACTA - Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - is the topic of an oral question tabled for the March session of the European Parliament. The question, from Swedish MEP Jens Holm , asks whether the final draft of of any forthcoming agreement will be published by the Council before final agreement and whether the European and national Parliaments will be able to scrutinise the text. A third question asks that the Council should not agree and rubber stamp the ACTA during the Parliament's recess for the elections.
In a few weeks, we'll likely know the Obama administration's position on whether it supports hefty monetary awards in file sharing litigation brought by the Recording Industry Association of America.
The Bush administration's position was clear. It supported the Copyright Act's penalties of up to $150,000 per infringed song.
You can almost hear Reuters, CNN, UPI and a few others laugh maniacally over the news that the Associated Press is considering locking up its content.
