• Distributions
• Devices/Embedded

Should businesses support Linux?

Clearly, Linux should be considered for businesses right alongside of Windows and, yes, Mac OS X. Choices are a good thing in business.

Secure VPN the Easy Way With the Linux-based Untangle Router

Last month, we discovered the Untangle Network Gateway. You can install it onto a PC to help protect, control, and monitor Internet access for your entire network. You can alternatively use the Windows utility if you don’t want to dedicate a computer to the cause.

Kernel Space

• Kernel Log – Coming in 2.6.31 – Part 3: Storage and file systems

  The experimental file system Btrfs, billed as the “next generation file system for Linux”, should now be even faster. Libata drivers for IDE/PATA adaptors are pushing aside the IDE subsystem. The first components for defragmenting Ext4 file systems have been merged into the main development tree. Systems with Intel ATA chipsets now boot faster thanks to parallel hardware scanning.

• Torvalds bashes vendor-sec private Linux security list

  I completely agree. Openness and transparency are the key to true security. However, I do also understand how this can put vendors and users at risk, since patches aren’t going to be co-ordinated. It’s a tough call and very delicate balance that needs to be achieved.

Applications

• 4 Little-Known KDE Apps You’ll Really Like

  Users of the KDE desktop know it has a dozens of handy tools and functions built right in, but the beauty of open source means you can tweak it to your heart’s content by adding extra plugins to make your desktop do even more. Here are five KDE desktop applications that you might not have ever heard of, but are definitely worth checking out.

• Enhanced Command-Not-Found Hook in Ubuntu 9.10

  One of the less prominent Ubuntu features that has received an overhaul for Karmic is the command-not-found handle, which helps users find the program they’re looking for when they type an unrecognized command in the terminal. Following is a brief outline of improvements made to this tiny utility, and why they matter.

Desktop Environments

• Gnome 2.28.0 beta1

  The Gnome team has released a Beta version of the Gnome Desktop Environment, version 2.28.0 beta1.

Distributions

• PCLinuxOS

  • Mini Review: PcLinuxOS 2009.2

    Overall though, I like the new version. They appear to have fixed all my previous gripes and have once again made it to the top of my recommended list. Congrats to the PCLOS team, and keep up the good work, because I like where you’re going with your distro.

  • PCLinuxOS LXDE (PCLXDE) 2009 Review

    Verdict: Big thumbs up. I would highly recommend PCLinuxOS 2009, the LXDE version, to anyone who has an old computer that needs new life breathed into it. This is probably the best Linux distro I’ve found for this computer, and I’m going to keep it.

• Red Hat Family

  • Running Fedora “Rawhide”

    A few months ago we started a series of articles on running the development releases of major distributions. So far we have covered Mandriva “Cooker”, Slackware “Current” and openSUSE “Factory”. Today, with the imminent release of Fedora 12 Alpha, we’ll upgrade a stable Fedora 11 release to the latest “Rawhide”, the Fedora development branch.

  • Red Hat Names 2009 Red Hat Certified Engineers of the Year

    Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT), the world’s leading provider of open source solutions, today announced the five regional winners of its annual Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) of the Year contest. Winners demonstrated hard work, expertise and innovation utilizing RHCE skills to solve complex technical problems and deliver value to their companies and institutions.

  • Red Hat Expands Partner Program to Juice Reseller Business

    Red Hat has expanded its partner program to give companies more options for how they can work with the Linux vendor, more ways to demonstrate their areas of product expertise to customers and more discounts on product pricing, the company said Monday.

• Debian Family

  • Linux Mint: Your Best Choice for a Desktop Linux OS

    Linux Mint, a distribution based on Ubuntu, has won a significant share of users, and represents a better Linux experience for both advanced and first time users. Simple yet effective tweaks, like the Mint Menu, might not appear very impressive at first glance but they affect your daily routines in a positive manner. It’s the same principle that makes Apple software better: an uncanny attention to details and yes, elegance.

    [...]

    A few more tweaks and applets make Linux Mint great, but they are less important and I’m sure you’ll discover them yourself. Linux Mint comes in both 32bit and 64bit, with KDE, GNOME and XFCE flavors available here. Each version includes the standard array of applications such as Gimp, OpenOffice and Rhythmbox. The Live CD image can be burned to a CD or USB stick and can be booted for testing or performing a permanent installation. A quick start guide can be downloaded for free. You might also want to check out our “Getting Started Guide to Linux”.

Devices/Embedded

• Phones

  • Linux, Symbian, Android, Apple or Blackberry? A tough choice for CIOs

    The recent launch of nine high-specification mobile phones that use the Mobile Linux operating system (Limo) will add fuel to an already overheated market.

  • HTC stylus to work with multi-touch screens

    HTC has applied for a patent on a magnetic stylus that can be used with capacitive touchscreens.

    [...]

    Linux, meanwhile, was also designed with resistive screens in mind, but multi-touch has now been introduced into the Linux 2.6.30 kernel. Of course, multi-touch also features in Palm’s Linux-based Pre smartphone, and is expected to be available in additional Android smartphones later this year.

• Sub-notebooks

  • Asus Eee PC 900 Rules the Netbook Market

    The Asus EEE PC 900A-WFBB01 is now available for a cheaper price than usual and comes with the powerful Intel 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor 4GB SSD, 8.9″ display with a 1024 x 600 resolution, and GNU Linux OS.

  • Asus EEE PC 900 Netbook with 1.6GHz Atom Processor Remember Review

    The Asus EEE PC 900A-WFBB01 is powered by an Intel 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, 1GB DDR2, 4GB SSD, 8.9″ display with a 1024 x 600 resolution, and GNU Linux OS. The netbook features built-in mic, built-in WiFi 802.11b/g, 3 x USB port, SD / MMC (SDHC) expandable storage card support, VGA-out, stereo speaker, and RJ 10/100 Ethernet amongst many others.

  • Dell Vouches for Quality of Linux Netbooks

    A PC World story, apparently covering the same event, reports that Finch revealed that in a few weeks Dell will offer Linux OS upgrades to Ubuntu 9.04. PC World also reports that Finch said Dell is looking into manufacturing ARM-based netbooks and “smartbooks”. Finally, Finch was said to have revealed that “in certain quarters” close to a third of all Dell netbook shipments are pre-loaded with Linux.

  • Preview of Jolicloud: The social Netbook OS

    One of those, called Jolicloud is launching in beta in the next few months. Created by Tariq Krim, who founded and later left widget-based start page Netvibes, the alternate OS has been designed for Web workers, or people who do most of their work (or play) on Web applications and services.

The greatest open source software of all time

The Linux kernel was not the first open source software (some argue that GNU Emacs was), but it is certainly the most famous and successful — the prime mover behind the popularization of open source development and the use of free open source products. Today the Linux kernel is the foundation of a rich variety of operating system distributions, the poster penguin of open source software, and the number one inductee into our open source hall of fame.

ES: ‘Open source science allows others to get involved’

Researchers at the Spanish University of Granada are publishing as open source their software simulating the human nervous system, saying this is the only way to allow other teams to become involved.

OpenBSC powered GSM network live at HAR2009

Under license of the Dutch regulatory authority, we operate two BTS with two TRX each, forming the network 204-42. The BTS are positioned on the top of a hill, with the antennas mounted back to back on a tree, each covering about half of the HAR2009 camp site. Every transceiver runs at 100mW transmit power, which is the maximum output as per our license.

From that tree, we run AC power and a single E1 line down to the GSM tent, where it runs into the Linux PC that runs our OpenBSC software.

First look at stable Firefox 3.5

In short this is a bad, dirty nasty naughty PC, with a highly fragmented hard drive and a lot of other programs fighting for processor attention. If Firefox works well here and (so far) it does, imagine what it can do on your nice, clean, obedient and well-tended machine.

Hard currency and open source

Over 150 years ago, President Andrew Jackson agitated for principles that will sound familiar to open-source software advocates. But his “back to our agrarian roots” rationale for doing so sounds as wrong-headed today as it did back then.

[...]

In other words, while we should rightly say “good riddance” to Enron-esque software business models, it’s counterproductive to demand a return to our “agrarian” software roots.

Rohde vs Viasat on GPL/LGPL

Viasat A/S is not the only Danish company that is likely to infringe on GPL. Stofa also distributes a Motorola box in Denmark named “Zaptor”, which is loaded with software like Linux and Mozilla Firefox. When I bought the Zaptor box I never received any GPL notices with it nor an offer to receive the source code. I know that Yousee also runs Linux on their HD boxes from Samsung, but I have yet to see the source code made available anywhere.

FlexBooks Challenge Textbooks, at No Cost to Students or Schools

It is not clear if this is truly an altruistic endeavor. Perhaps the founders — who come from the Silicon Valley technology world — are giving away books in order to sell software at a later date. But for now, it is an experiment that could help bring down the cost of textbooks. And we’re going to keep an eye on it.

Censorship

• US tests censorship circumvention tool; Chinese shrug

  Citizens living in China, Vietnam, Iran, and other countries may soon have another option for bypassing Internet filters, courtesy of a US-based agency. The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) announced on Friday that it was working on a new system that would use e-mail to carry encrypted data to and from the recipient, including information that would otherwise be blocked.

Intellectual Monopolies

• Can There Be A Fair File Sharing Trial When The Language Is All Biased?

  In the past, we’ve discussed the various problems with the language choices by the entertainment industry in discussing file sharing. Terms like “intellectual property,” “piracy,” “theft” and even its descriptions of “losses” are all misleading and biased. This, in fact, is a key point in William Patry’s upcoming book — where he looks at how the language has been co-opted by the industry to pre-bias the casual observer (including journalists and politicians).

• Yes, book sequels should be allowed, transformative or not!

  The problem of unauthorized book sequels have been with us since the beginning of copyright. Charles McGrath brings us up to date on it here. By his account, if the originator doesn’t object, the sequel writer can get away with it.

• Mandelson goes to war on teenagers downloading their music and movies… just days after dining with anti-piracy billionaire

  Lord Mandelson launched a crackdown on internet piracy just days after meeting a leading Hollywood critic of illegal file sharing.

  The business secretary plans to criminalise the estimated seven million people – one in 12 of the population – who illicitly download music and films over the internet.

• Distributions
• Devices/Embedded

What is this Linux thingy and why should I care?

Why would anyone want to use GNU/Linux? Well, there are a lot of reasons but the most alluring is that GNU/Linux is completely free. It does not cost a penny and anyone can download it. A regular operating system will cost you around $200. So price is definitely a huge factor for people switching over. This saves people money and also allows them to install it on mutiple machines without licenses. Even most of the applications that you install on Linux are available for free. This gives your operating system tons of functionality from editing audio/video, playing games, surfing the web, editing documents and many more. Another reason that people switch to GNU/Linux is because of its open source nature which gives additional power to the user. Because anyone can copy, edit and distribute the software there is no one company that can control things. This is very good for innovation, comptetition and freedom for the user. GNU/Linux is a computer software revolution and many people are realising it. People are not happy with other operating systems that lock them in and dictate the rules to them. With GNU/Linux it sets you free from restrictions and limitations that are created by certain companies. Linux will run on many different computers from servers to desktops, laptops and even many gadgets. So why don’t you learn more about GNU/Linux and join the world of open source software? You will be impressed at how innovative and progressive it is.

Desktop

• Recycling Lives and Computers

  Through grants and with the help of trained volunteers, the program takes at-risk youth and teaches them how to clean and repair donated computers and load them with open source software.

  [...]

  So far the program has been extremely successful. AWOL is currently, receiving more than 100 donated computers a week that need to be refurbished. But they’re running out of space to store them. They also need RAM (Random Access Memory Sticks) to make them functional.

  [...]

  Link to the open source operating system AWOL uses. Ubuntu is and African word which means “humanity to others”. This philosophy of sharing is the FOUNDATION of AWOL’s computer technology training program: http://www.ubuntu.com/

  Click here to learn more about the meaning of Ubuntu from one of the world’s most noted humanitarian, former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx0qGJCm-qU
  If you’d like to help or if you’re in need of a computer, click here: awolinc.org

• 5 things Microsoft Windows users do not know about Ubuntu Linux and its users.

  Fact 1
  The users of Ubuntu are to a certain extent, the owners of the OS. Everyone can participate in the development of the OS irrespective of their technical skills. They determine what goes into the development of the OS and have a lot of say in the kind of functions that the OS comes out with. They can choose to overwhelmingly reject something and the developers would have no choice than to obey. I doubt if Windows users can boast of this level of ownership and control over Windows.

  Fact 2
  Ubuntu users have the right to distribute the OS to as many people as they like without fear of attracting a lawsuit from Canonical or anyone for that matter.

Server

• Distributed file system for the internet

  The server runs under Linux and Solaris, and the software is licensed under the GPLv2.

• IBM halves mainframe Linux engine prices

  The IBM mainframe may not have a lot of direct competition when it comes to z/OS-based batch and transactional work, but the story is different when it comes to Linux. There’s plenty of competition among Linux platforms, and Big Blue can’t ignore the pressure that Moore’s Law brings to bear.

• Linux to Command 12.5% Share of Taiwan`s Server Market by End of 2009

  Noteworthy is that Window`s penetration rate in Taiwan`s server market for this year is down from last year`s 81.52% and 2005`s 84.58%, while that of Linux moves upward from 2005`s 7.75%. Last year, 44% and 34% of Taiwan`s public research labs and schools, respectively, preferred Linux as the two most acceptable segments, according to DGBAS.

Kernel Space

• Radeon Driver Picks Up VBOs, OQ Support

  There are quite a number of changes in store for Mesa 7.6, such as new state trackers for Gallium3D, other Gallium3D-specific improvements, optimized IR, and many changes to the different Mesa 3D drivers. Adding to that list, the open-source ATI R300+ driver has just picked up support for Vertex Buffer Objects and Occlusion Queries.

Applications

• GIMP 2.7.0 Development Release

  The release of GIMP 2.7.0 is a first step towards GIMP 2.8, the next stable release. Please note that this is an unstable development snapshot.

• Gaming in Linux

  One of the reasons people have a hard time making the jump to Linux is the fact that they have a hard time leaving the games they play in Windows. In this article, I’m going to describe some methods of getting around this hurdle, and make the transition to Linux easier. I’m not going to promise that your favorite game will work, but will give you the tools to be able to try. I’m also not going to be talking about native linux apps – those are pretty straightforward. This article will focus on Windows apps in Linux.

• The 10-minute crash course in virtualisation

  Apps like Win4Lin or Win4Solaris will let you run Windows inside a virtual machine on a Linux or a Solaris box, saving you having to buy hardware and an OS. It’s not just about Windows apps, though. Virtualisation is driving plenty of convergence between different hardware standards.

  Virtualisation applications create virtual platforms and hardware that will run on all your physical machines, irrespective of the operating system. Parallels and VMware both have competing desktop virtualisation tools available for Windows, Linux and Mac users. The time when virtualisation was an esoteric technology of interest only to corporations’ IT departments or die-hard techno-geeks is over.

• Virtualization p0wns emulation

  I have been writing a lengthy series that attempts to help new Linux users figure out the best way to cover their Windows application needs. The series starts off by showing how well the Linux community has all of their needs covered by showing the open source equivalents to the most popular Windows applications. The series then goes on to highlight the different ways a user can run full-blown Windows applications. The choices? Virtualization or Emulation.

K Desktop Environment

• A Beginner’s Guide To Migrating from GNOME to KDE in Ubuntu 9.04

  Ubuntu 9.04 comes with GNOME 2.26. However, there is another very good alternative to GNOME 2.26 which is KDE 4.2. While I would have never recommended KDE before, KDE has really improved a lot with version 4.2. So, this is worth giving a try.

  In this article we look into the various steps in shifting from a GNOME environment to a KDE one from a beginner’s perspective.

• Amarok 2: Universal Mass Storage Device Support Here

Distributions

• Linux from Scratch 6.5: The DIY operating system guide

  The Linux From Scratch project has released version 6.5 of its step-by-step instructions on how to create your own Linux system from scratch. The 300 pages of instructions show how to obtain the source code components and then compile your own 32-bit Linux system.

• Hilal Computers strengthens unique partnership with Red Hat

  Bahrain-based Hilal Computers has strengthened its partnership with Red Hat, the world’s leading provider of open source solutions, with an agreement signed recently at the company’s headquarters. Under the terms of the agreement, Hilal Computers has become a Red Hat Advanced Business Partner for IT infrastructure. Previously, Hilal Computers was a Red Hat Ready Business Partner.

• Debian Family

  • Debian and Ubuntu: Can’t we just get along?

    I guess what I’m getting at is that it seems that Debian developers are creating a free and open Operating System for themselves, and could care less about a “stupid user”, while Ubuntu is more concerned with the end user experience, and is committed to providing the best that the Open Source world has to offer in a nice, stable easy to use package. Although there are only small fundamental differences between Ubuntu and Debian on the technical level, there is a *huge* difference in the public “opinion” of the two projects.

  • The Perfect Desktop – Kubuntu 9.04

    This tutorial shows how you can set up a Kubuntu 9.04 desktop that is a full-fledged replacement for a Windows desktop, i.e. that has all the software that people need to do the things they do on their Windows desktops. The advantages are clear: you get a secure system without DRM restrictions that works even on old hardware, and the best thing is: all software comes free of charge. Kubuntu 9.04 is derived from Ubuntu 9.04 and uses the KDE desktop instead of the GNOME desktop.

  • Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter Issue 155

    Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue #155 for the week August 9th – August 15th, 2009. In this issue we cover: Karmic Alpha 4 released, New Ubuntu Members, Developer News, Reporting Ubuntu Community Problems: Jono Bacon, Ubuntu US Teams, UbuCon Atlanta 2009, Brazilian Council & New Brazilian Ubuntu Members, Zim & the art of wiki development, Ubuntu Server Tips – Help Wanted, Ubuntu Community Learning Project, Ubuntu Podcast #32, and much, much more!

Devices/Embedded

• Linux Based NAS Removable Hdd Enclosure

  It supports Ethenet 10/100Mbps transmission. Aside from being a data backup solution, it allows users to download files, play multimedia, share photo and share a USB printer via network.

• Phones

  • Dell’s Android phone unmasked

    Dell’s Mini 3i was demoed alongside smartphones from several other manufacturers – including HTC – at the launch of China Mobile’s online content platform for mobile phones, which provides local subscribers with access to music, games and entertainment.

  • T-Mobile MyTouch 3G First Impressions

    Like my wife, I don’t like to buy first-generation products. So the T-Mobile G1 was out. But then the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G arrived. Google Android. Second-generation. Linux-friendly (Linux-based, actually). And with my wife complaining about dropped calls with AT&T (American iPhone users have to sign up with AT&T to use a non-jailbroken iPhone), I was ready to give T-Mobile a chance. So I took the plunge. After one day of use, here are my first impressions.

  • Getting started with developing on the Palm Pre

    I’m starting to use a specialized build of the Dojo Ajax toolkit to fill in some of the blanks that Palm’s Mojo toolkit leaves out, and that’ll probably require another post.

• Sub-notebooks

  • The beauty, the function, the beauty

    Yesterday German users from MandrivaUser.de began working on the netbook-launcher – the desktop which made the beauty of the Ubuntu Netbook Remix. They packed it for Mandriva 2009.1 and today I installed it: there I have my beauty again!

  • Dell Switches to Ubuntu Netbook Remix, Looks Into Smartbooks

    Currently, Dell offers Ubuntu Linux 8.04 on its Mini 10v netbook, but will soon (in the next few weeks actually) be upgrading to version 9.04 (codenamed Jaunty Jackalope). On its future netbooks, the company is planning to pre-loading Ubuntu Netbook Remix, which is specifically designed for smaller screen sizes.

Winners of maddogs Colombian Multimedia Challenge

The fact that the contestants learned about the use of Free Software multimedia tools, Creative Commons and understand media licensing more, made the effort of putting on the Challenge worthwhile.

Choosing the Right Open Source Technology

The real key to a successful project is to hire the right developers. There are great developers using all of the available technologies so there is no correct choice when it comes to picking one. My advice is to pick the right developer (or team of developers) and go with the technology that they are most experienced with.

FSF/GNU

• GNU Toolchain Update, August 2009

  New in this months merge are:

  * Support for the Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture has been added to
  the binutils.

  * GNU/Linux targets now supports “gnu_unique_object” as a value in
  GAS’s .type pseudo op. This marks the symbol as being globally
  unique in the entire process, a feature which is needed by C++
  binaries.

  [...]

Programming

• Perl 6 due in spring 2010 – some of it anyway

  In a recent entry on his blog, Patrick Michaud has again confirmed the news which has been circulating this week in light of his presentation at the “YAPC::Europe 2009″ conference in Lisbon, Portugal – Rakudo Perl 6 will be released in the spring of 2010 (with all of the signs pointing to April). Michaud is the ‘Pumpking’ (keeper of the pumpkin patches – think ‘release manager’) for the Rakudo Perl 6 compiler, designed to run on the Parrot virtual machine.

Italian bloggers’ silent protest

Italian bloggers went on strike in July to protest against government measures that they claim could kill the internet. They say the Alfano decree restricts the rights of bloggers to express their opinions without fear of comeback.