07.15.11

Links 15/7/2011: Thunderbird In Ubuntu 11.10, Kubuntu With KDE SC 4.7

Posted in News Roundup at 7:31 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

GNU/Linux
- Distributions
- Devices/Embedded
Free Software/Open Source
Leftovers

GNU/Linux

Olive Healthcare Slashes IT Costs by Migrating to Linux OS

Users in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) often have similar requirements in terms of every-day computing needs— a user-friendly operating system, office applications, browsing and email applications, and accounting software. Like many other enterprises, Olive Health Care also had a fairly simple work environment, and used the MS Windows operating system, MS Office applications, Internet applications (Web browsers, email clients, etc), and the PHP and MySQL-based ERP system. As far as hardware devices are concerned, the firm used the Epson and HP printers, and multifunction devices that are generally used by SMEs.

Olive Health Care ventured into the world of soft gelatin formulations by setting up its first manufacturing facility over three decades ago. However, it was only six months back that the company realised that it could bring down costs by implementing Linux in place of Windows. “Linux is not just known as an efficient server operating system, but is now easily adaptable for desktop use also. We knew that migrating to Linux would also mean having to train our staff and acquaint them with the Linux environment,” states Vikram Chauhan, the IT manager. The firm started looking for a Linux-on-desktop solution provider, and the search ended when the Olive IT team interacted with Enjay, a provider of Linux solutions.
Desktop
- Dell Inspiron Duo Tablet Notebook Running Ubuntu (with Ubermix)
  
  This particular demo uses Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) with Ubermix customization, which contains a collection of application suitable for netbook users.
Audiocasts/Shows
- The Linux Link Tech Show Episode 411
Kernel Space
- Coming Up: Benchmarks Of GNU Hurd
- Graphics Stack
  - What’s New In The Land Of Wayland?
Applications
- Simple screen/window grabbing
- Instructionals/Technical
- Games
  - Install ‘Stunt Rally’ Game in Ubuntu from PPA
  - Beep Released
  - Blocks that Matter tech demo out!
  - New Linux Game Store ‘Gameolith’ Launches with 5 Indie Titles
    
    Gameolith, a web based Linux game store has been launched with 5 indie games. The store aims to provide an easy way to get your favorite commercial Linux games with bundled DRM. Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora packages and tarballs will be made available for these games.
Desktop Environments
- 28 Beautiful HD Wallpapers You`ve Seen On WebUpd8
- K Desktop Environment/KDE SC
  - Kubuntu and KDE SC 4.7: A Love Story
    
    Over the last couple of weeks the better part of the Kubuntu team has been pulling all nighters to bring the greatness of KDE SC 4.7 to Kubuntu.
    
    It was quite an initial effort to get packages ready due to some architectural changes with regards to distribution of sources (I suppose I should write about that at some point ). But now that we have almost all of them ready for 11.10 we will be able to bring you release packages of 4.7.0 in the best quality possible for both 11.10 and 11.04.
    
    [...]
    
    Together they prepared 130 source packages for upload, 57 of those were new to the Kubuntu archive and therefore required special attention. Additionally 6 new scripts were created to help manage the increased amount of packages.
Distributions
- Thoughts on Google Chrome OS
- Red Hat Family
  - Bulls prepping for a rally don Red Hat call options
  - Red Hat stock hit with downgrade
- Debian Family
  - Derivatives
    - LinuxFormat Praises MEPIS and Anti-MEPIS
      
      LinuxFormat Magazine Issue 147 for August 2011, has a very complementary review of SimplyMEPIS 11.0 and AntiX 11.0, the MEPIS derivative for older hardware. The article isn’t published online, so to read it you’ll need to get LinuxFormat at a bookstore or news stand.
    - Canonical/Ubuntu
      - Ubuntu Development Update
      - Thunderbird In Ubuntu 11.10
        
        I am an Evolution user. While people seem to rag on Evo, I quite like it. In Oneiric though there has been discussion about switching to Thunderbird. I have always been a firm believer in eating your own dogfood where possible, so I decided to start using Thunderbird this week when I upgraded to Oneiric.
      - Canonical, Nuxeo Partner on Document Management Solution
        
        Canonical continues to not only expand its vendor partnerships, but also integrate its product solutions with the addition of Nuxeo DMS to the Ubuntu Partner Repository. Here are the details, and what they say about Canonical’s long-term strategy.
      - The Next Ubuntu Developer Summit Announced
      - Flavours and Variants
        
        Linux Mint 11 LXDE RC2 released!
Devices/Embedded
- Phones
  - Android
    - The Young and the Restless ARMed Android/Linux Tablets
      
      That last item is about restlessness… Apple and Samsung are suing each other and Apple is getting closer to Qualcomm. Is there some intrigue here where OEMs are choosing the enemy of my enemy? In this legal bloodbath which could cost either or both parties many $millions, are the protagonists lining up accomplices, just like in the “soaps”? I don’t know. I could never keep track of all those characters and sub-plots.

Free Software/Open Source

Web Browsers
- Mozilla
  - Redesign set to make Firefox more responsive
    
    Mozilla has begun turning the Firefox crank faster with a rapid-release development cycle. So what’s in store now that we can expect a new version every six weeks?
    
    A lot, including 64-bit support on Windows and a plan to reduce the open-source browser’s memory usage. But the most far-reaching change probably is a project called Electrolysis that splits Firefox into multiple somewhat-independent processes.
    
    Electrolysis holds the potential to improve responsiveness, smooth graphics performance, take better advantage of multicore processors, and tighten security. Mozilla already added one Electrolysis element to Firefox 3.6–the separation of plug-ins to their own patch of memory–but now programmers are spinning up the project again to tackle more.
  - Forget oAUTH?! Mozilla’s Browser ID
    
    Since the beginning of the Internet era, your email address and your ability to verify that it’s actually yours has been the lynchpin of Internet identity.
    
    You want to join a new site/service? Sure! Just verify your email address…
Funding
- Jaspersoft Seals $11M
  
  Jaspersoft, a maker of business intelligence software, has inked $11 million in a round of venture capital led by Red Hat and SAP Ventures. New investor Quest Software joined in the round, which also included participation from existing shareholders Doll Capital Management, Morgenthaler Ventures, Partech International, Scale Venture Partners, and Adams Street Partners. The money will be used for expansion and potential acquisitions. Jaspersoft is based in San Francisco.
- Will Red Hat Buy Jaspersoft?
  
  Amid its march toward $1 billion in annual revenues, Red Hat continues to invest more money in Jaspersoft — an open source business intelligence company. The VAR Guy has openly wondered — multiple times — if Red Hat will ever fully acquire Jaspersoft. Hmmm…
  
  No doubt, Jaspersoft is an attractive company. More than 14,000 commercial customers use Jaspersoft’s business intelligence software, which is available on premise and in the cloud. Backed by $11 million in new funding, Jaspersoft is considering “potential strategic acquisitions,” according to a prepared statement.
FSF/FSFE/GNU/SFLC
- Stallman to give talks in Israel
  
  Free Software Foundation chairman Richard Stallman will give two talks in Israel next week, according to information supplied by him.
  
  Stallman will be giving a talk on Copyright vs Community in the Age of the Computer Networks at the Baladna Youth Club in Haifa on July 21 in Haifa
Licensing
- SPDX Readies a New Specification for License and Copyright Reporting
Openness/Sharing
- Interview: Thomas Thwaite, designer and technologist, peeks into the future
  
  Thomas Thwaite, designer and technologist, is perhaps best known through his Toaster Project. The Toaster Project was an attempt to build a toaster from raw, self-mined materials. The project exposed the complexity of seemingly simple and everyday technology. It leaves us to wonder how technology will change our lives in the future, and shows how we all need others to get even simple products.
Programming
- A look at: MikeOS 4.1.1 – A barebones OS written totally in Assembly.
- How to create a Google Chrome Extension – For Beginners – Basics [Part 1]

Leftovers

FBI Probing News Corp Over 9/11 Victims Allegations

The FBI has opened an investigation into whether reporters for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp hacked into the phone records of 9/11 victims, according to the FBI’s New York office.

A source with knowledge of the FBI investigation confirmed news of the probe to TPM, saying it’s been launched in part because of Rep. Peter King’s (R-NY) high-profile letter calling for an investigation.
Cablegate
- How Wired Magazine Helped The US Government Try To Frame Julian Assange (And Failed)
  
  Firstly, and most importantly, it’s now clear that Julian Assange did NOT know if Bradley Manning was the source who leaked the US cables to WikiLeaks. Manning tells Lamo that Assange “knows little about me” and “he takes source-protections uber-seriously.” Furthermore, he says, Assange “won’t work with you if you reveal too much about yourself.” Assange even instructs Manning to lie about his identity!
  
  This blows apart the US government’s protracted efforts to suggest that Assange actively enticed Manning to hand over the cables, and thereby charge the Australian with criminal activity. In fact, it was only through his own protracted sleuth work that Manning even knew who HE was talking to: “it took me four months to confirm that the person i was communicating [with] was in fact assange”.
Finance
- Why Would Anyone Do Business With Goldman Sachs?
- GREECE IS UNDER FINANCIAL OCCUPATION!
  
  This is an abridged version of talk Max gave to a group of lawyers suing derivatives dealers and government officials in Greece for financial fraud.
Intellectual Monopolies
- Copyrights
  - Classic Horror Films You Can Legally Watch for Free
    
    The Internet Archive is home to gigabytes of media that anyone can view or download for free. Finding what you’re looking for can often prove problematic however, mainly because there’s just so much to see. Those of you who are fond of suspense, thrills, blood and guts will be pleased to know we’ve hacked and slashed our way through the tripe to find some of the best scary films available in the public domain.