Links: Many New Releases of GNU/Linux, More Tablets
- Dr. Roy Schestowitz
- 2010-07-23 09:28:32 UTC
- Modified: 2010-07-23 09:29:50 UTC
Summary: Latest steps taken towards operating systems freedom
GNU/Linux
Sony did not make many friends in the tech community when the company forcibly removed the option to install Linux via a mandatory firmware update. The problem was simple: Sony had previously pushed this feature as an advantage its system held over its competitors, and later assured gamers that it would continue to be supported. That is, until Sony became spooked about the possibility of piracy. Lawsuits were filed, and Ars Technica has now learned that the court will bundle all seven suits into a single class-action case.
GNU/Linux is an operating system. It allows us to run computers and create, find, change and display information better than that other OS:
* Of the million busiest web sites 66% use Apache
* The London Stock Exchange is switching to GNU/Linux because it works
* 90% of the top 500 supercomputers use GNU/Linux
* Brazil installed 356800 GNU/Linux desktops in schools
Fortunately, the world is filling up with young people for whom migrating to GNU/Linux is a welcome, refreshing change. The current generation of young people will live in a world where there is choice in computing platforms. There are many forces leading to that result. One of them is exposure to GNU/Linux in schools. Another is the access to GNU/Linux on low-priced gadgets (smartphones are getting to that state soon…).
-
Desktop
First, most of the people who write me aren't interested in the fine details of Linux. They are just sick and tired to death of Windows' endless security problems or its costs. Indeed, most of them aren't that interested in learning Linux. They just want a cheap operating system that will let them read e-mail, browse the Web, and run some office applications without worrying about malware.
So, here's what I tell people who just want a good, working PC, and couldn't care less about the specific differences between "free software" and "open source" or how KDE 4.4 compares to GNOME 2.30
You may recall how Dell dug itself into an almighty hole last month, after proclaiming that Ubuntu was safer than Windows, before swiftly changing its mind and declaring itself more neutral than Switzerland.
Well, now the PC maker’s had time to think the matter through, another page has appeared on the Dell website, condensing the whole Windows vs Ubuntu debate into about 100 words.
From Dell’s perspective the choice is clear. You should choose Windows if (and I swear I’m not paraphrasing here):
* You are already using WINDOWS programs (e.g. Microsoft Office, iTunes etc) and want to continue using them
* You are familiar with WINDOWS and do not want to learn new programs for email, word processing etc
* You are new to using computers
-
Server
How do you eat an elephant? In small bytes. That old saying applies to Canonical’s emerging Ubuntu cloud strategy. Instead of attacking the entire hosting industry and attacking big rivals like Red Hat and Microsoft head-on, Canonical is quietly pursuing 10 hosting partners to pilot Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud. Here are the details from HostingCon in Austin, Texas.
Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has always had many user and developer fans. Enterprise business fans? Not so much. Canonical hopes to change that with today's, July 21, launch of a virtual appliance of IBM's DB2 Express-C software running on the Ubuntu cloud computing platform, in private and public cloud configurations. The company also announced that IBM has validated the full version of DB2 software on Ubuntu 10.04.
Canonical has released a virtual appliance for running instances of IBM DB2 database software, the company announced on Wednesday. The software appliance will contain a copy of IBM's DB2 Express-C, which will run on the company's Linux-based server distribution, Ubuntu 10.04 Long Term Support Server Edition.
Canonical and IBM, as expected, have expanded their relationship. The latest move involves a virtual appliance, comprising IBM’s DB2 Express-C software running on the Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud. At first glance the Canonical-IBM relationship is a nice win for Ubuntu. But perhaps there’s a deeper story angle here… involving Canonical’s continued pursuit of Oracle on Ubuntu. Here’s the speculation.
-
Audiocasts
In this episode: A SCO representative finally reveals some of the Linux code SCO had a problem with and OpenSUSE 11.3 is here. Listen to the results of our new challenge, and we ask whether the likes of Red Hat, Novell and Canonical contribute enough back to the community.
-
Google
Over the next few months, we are going to be rolling out a new release process to accelerate the pace at which Google Chrome stable releases become available. Running under ideal conditions, we will be looking to release a new stable version about once every six weeks, roughly twice as often as we do today.
So why the change? We have three fundamental goals in reducing the cycle time:
* Shorten the release cycle and still get great features in front of users when they are ready
* Make the schedule more predictable and easier to scope
* Reduce the pressure on engineering to “make” a release
-
Graphics Stack
Support for certain classes of hardware has often been problematic for the Linux kernel, and 3D graphics chips have tended to be at the top of the list. Over the last few years, through a combination of openness at Intel and AMD/ATI and reverse engineering for NVIDIA, the graphics problem has mostly been solved - for desktop systems. The situation in the fast-growing mobile space is not so comforting, though. As can be seen in recent conversations, free support for mobile graphics looks like the next big problem to be solved.
-
Proprietary Applications
Last Friday the Wine Project shipped Wine 1.2. This was the work of 328 people in over 23,000 separate patches over a span of two years.
-
Instructionals
-
K Desktop Environment (KDE SC)
On April 23rd, developers from various finance-related KDE applications gathered in Eschborn, near Frankfurt, Germany for the first ever KDE Finance Sprint. The fellowship was composed of developers from KMyMoney, Kraft and Skrooge. This was a week after the ash cloud stopped all flights over Europe. Until the last minute, it was not clear whether those who were coming by plane would be able to make it. Fortunately, the airports opened just in time. Read on for a report for the meeting.
Last time in the KDE contributor interview series, we talked with the KDE developer Stephen Kelly from KDE PIM. We've been digging around in the KDE interview vaults and found this interesting discussion we had with Albert Astals Cid on 12 May 2010. Albert is well known in KDE from his work with KDE España, as maintainer of Okular and the KDE Edu applications. The original interview in Italian is also available.
With KDE 4.4, plasmoids can now be written in JavaScript or QtScript, thus opening up a whole new class of applications. Marcel shows how easy it is to build JavaScript plasmoids.
Akademy is a great time to meet people and understand some of the exciting new projects and buzzwords in KDE. One project that has been generating a lot of interest recently is ownCloud, the KDE cloud computing project launched by Frank Karlitschek. We caught up with Frank to understand ownCloud better, find out about the current status, and plans for the future.
-
-
Reviews
My favourite type of distros are Ubuntu based. For some time now I have been making a case for why you should be using Linux Mint. Even though I think Mint is fantastic, I still make it a point to try other distributions. I made a pit stop at Zorin 3 for a short while and even though it had many wonderful qualities it didn't quite knock Linux Mint out of my top spot.
-
New Releases
User visible
* GCC 4.5(.0)
* GlibC 2.11(.2)
* X.Org 7.5
* preliminary (basic) support for LLVM/clang
* preliminary (basic) support to target MinGW / Win32
* over 200 new packages (now nearly 3221)
* most existing packages received an update
* over 10000 SVN revisions since the 7.0 branch!
Today, we released the official Netrunner 2 – Blacklight ISO.
Compared to the RC, we fully integrated Ubuntu Software Center back again,
and updated VLC to 1.1.0.
All new kernel, modules, libraries, and support for unlimited loops make up the new Tiny Core / Micro Core 3.0. Freedesktop support and many improvements to Apps Audit and OnDemand features. Also support for RAID disks and new bootcode to blacklist modules.
-
Fedora
Now I'm waiting for some 380+ updates to roll into the system, but so far everything works great. X was autoconfigured, wired and wireless networking are both working perfectly, and the mix of applications in the Xfce spin (more than the LXDE spin but less than the standard GNOME) looks pretty good so far.
-
Debian Family
In 2005, the Debian project voted to declassify messages on the debian-private mailing list after a period of three years. That is easier said than done, apparently. The General Resolution (GR) calls for volunteers to do the work of declassification, and few Debian Developers seem eager to do the work required to make it happen.
-
Flavours and Variants of Ubuntu
The team behind the cloud-based Peppermint variant of Ubuntu Linux released a scaled-down, fast-booting, site-specific browser (SSB) version. The "Peppermint Ice" distro switches to Google's Chromium as the default browser, and while still supporting native apps, is even more focused on web-based apps than is Peppermint.
Written by Kendall Weaver, the creator of the Pepperment distro, which shipped in May (see farther below), Peppermint Ice was designed as a mechanism for launching web applications and/or cloud applications such as SaaS (Software As A Service) apps, says the Peppermint team. When a web based application is called from within Ice, the distro also pulls up a custom SSB using the default Chromium Browser, the open source version of Chrome. Chromium is used in place of the Firefox browser used as the default in Peppermint.
After tons of popularity surrounding the Peppermint OS release last month, today Cloud lovers get a treat in the first release of Peppermint Ice, version 07142010. This Peppermint project was developed around the Chromium web browser and a new SSB or Site Specific Browser developed by Kendall Weaver aka “Ice”. This is where Peppermint Ice got its name. If you want to compare Peppermint Ice to Peppermint OS One, I did a Peppermint OS One screenshot review last month you might find useful.
-
Synology America is shipping two network-attached storage (NAS) devices running its Linux-based Synology DiskStation Manager 2.3 software. The desktop DiskStation DS411+ and rack-mount RackStation RS810+ are both equipped with dual-core Intel Atom D510 processors, as well as four bays supporting up to 8TB each, with the RS810+ expandable to 16TB via Synology's RX410 add-on unit.
MontaVista Software announced a new version of its Eclipse-based integrated development environment (IDE) for embedded Linux. DevRocket 6.1 has been upgraded to better support the MontaVista Linux 6 commercial embedded Linux development platform, adding tight integration and a graphical interface to the new MontaVista Integration Platform build platform, plus enhanced analysis and debugging tools, says MontaVista.
-
Nokia/MeeGo
Google's Android is already hot in smartphones, and it's going to be hotter than hot in Linux-powered tablets. So, where does that leave Intel and Nokia's embedded Linux, MeeGo? In the dust? Actually, it looks now like MeeGo is going to have its own niche where it will be the embedded Linux of choice: Car entertainment, Internet, and navigation systems.
Tomorrow, the Linux Foundation will announce that GENIVI, a non-profit auto industry alliance committed to driving the adoption of an open-source IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) reference platform. With members like BMW, GM, Peugeot Citroen, and Renault this is a big deal. These aren't hangers-on in the car business; these are core car companies.
-
Android
Sony Ericsson has returned to profitability thanks in part to its Android phones, and it's contemplating dropping its Symbian and Windows Mobile phones, says the Wall Street Journal. The company has found success with its Android-based Xperia X10 and Xperia Mini and Mini Pro, says the story, and the company is now prepping a mid-range Xperia X8 model.
As Palm’s VP of developer platform, part of David Temkin’s job was to build out the app catalog. But now as VP of mobile at AOL (NYSE: AOL), his focus is on Android and iPhone. “We are in a eyeball business. To the extent that Palm (NSDQ: PALM) or Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) turns it around, we’ll pay more attention to it. It’s a two-horse race.”
IE Market Research Corporation (IEMR) released a report projecting that the global market for GPS navigation and location-based services (LBS) will rise by 51.3 percent through 2014 to $13.4 billion, and will be led by Android. Meanwhile, location-enabled search and advertising will see the biggest growth in market spending, growing at 131 percent by 2014, says IEMR.
Barnes & Noble released a Nook for Android application, competing with a similar Android app released for the Kindle, and Amazon announced that its Kindle e-books are outselling its hardcover books by almost two to one. Meanwhile, Entourage Systems, which makes the Entourage Edge dual-screen Android e-reader, announced several e-book content partnerships.
1 Poor Performance
If your application is not responsive enough, your users will receive an ugly ANR (Application Not Responding) message. An ANR is thrown when your application is not able to respond to user input within five seconds, or the Broadcast Receiver does not complete in ten seconds.
An ANR message allows the user to either close the application or wait for it to respond. You know what most users will do, so optimise your application for performance. Or else.
My question is: Is Apple doomed to repeat its own history? Should we continue to expect Apple market share growth? Or will this plateau as more and more Android devices flood the market offering more affordable and feature rich mobile computing experiences?
Android is changing the way that Linux is perceived. It has become the single most widely adopted type of Linux on embedded devices. It is not only popular in the smartphone space but also expanding its coverage to tablets, setââ¬âtop Boxes, televisions and appliances. For an Android application developer, this means a broader market to reach out to. We have already covered the introduction to Android development back in issue 83, so this time we go beyond the ‘hello world’ basics and give you the tips and recipes you need to become a better Android developer…
-
Sub-notebooks
-
Tablets
Presumably, the new version will maintain the Intel/Windows base, but replace Skylight Linux with the Linux-based Android, although this was unclear from the report. The Skylight netbook is definitely coming out with Android, says CNET, but the fate of the IdeaPad UI is still up in the air.
Tattu Mobile is prepping an Android-based tablet based on ZiiLabs' ZMS-05 SoC, with the help of Intrinsyc's RapidRIL telephony technology, says Intrinsyc. Meanwhile, CNET reviewed the Dell Streak Android tablet (pictured) and dubbed it "the best Android-based tablet we've seen so far."
Recent Techrights' Posts
- Extortion is a Crime, Even If You're Based in Another Continent and Work for Microsoft
- reported to British authorities
-
- Slopwatch: LinuxTechLab, Planet Ubuntu, Anti-Linux FUD, and Microsoft SPAM
- It's not easy to altogether avoid take articles these days
- Gemini Links 06/06/2025: "MBA Tear" and Slop ('AI') as Plagiarism
- Links for the day
- Links 06/06/2025: "Convicted Felon and MElon Trade Insults" and Europe Snubbed by US Again
- Links for the day
- Links 06/06/2025: Microsoft XBox Bracing For More Mass Layoffs, Climate Disaster, Fake 'Money' Tokens From US President
- Links for the day
- Gemini Links 06/06/2025: Vanishing Cultures and MElon Implosion
- Links for the day
- We're in 6/6 Now, Almost Halfway in 2025
- 2025 was probably the best year for us
- South Americans Are Saying Goodbye to Microsoft
- We're hardly even "Cherry-Picking" or conveniently singling out one South American nation
- Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part III: Data Protection Failures, Just Like at the European Patent Office (EPO)
- Just less than a decade ago we showed that the EPO had illegally shared staff data with third parties
- Over at Tux Machines...
- GNU/Linux news for the past day
- IRC Proceedings: Thursday, June 05, 2025
- IRC logs for Thursday, June 05, 2025
- Pushing Microsoft's Proprietary Trash/Trap as "Open" and "Linux" (Windows is 'Linux' Now?)
- Maybe it's time to just stop saying "FOSS". The people who use that term are promoting Microsoft.
- Slopwatch: Comparing Linux to Vermin, Attacking BSD With LLM Slop, and Helping Microsoft Demonise Linux/OpenBSD/SSH Over Weak User Passwords
- Microsoft must be laughing its arse off, seeing how a bunch of Serial Sloppers (no skills, no comprehension, no integrity, no creativity) and slopfarms use Microsoft LLM to flood the Web with anti-Linux FUD
- Links 05/06/2025: US Poised for Another $2.4 Trillion to Debt, Cops Want GAFAM Kill Switches
- Links for the day
- Links 05/06/2025: First US Spacewalk 60 Years Ago, GNU Octave 10.2.0 is Out
- Links for the day
- Scandinavia Saying Goodbye to Microsoft
- The Danes have had enough of Microsoft
- GNU/Linux Measured at 6% in Bangladesh, According to statCounter
- Windows isn't growing, it's going away
- Nat Friedman Had Left Microsoft GitHub Exactly One Week Before Matthew Garrett Sent His First SLAPP (Which Was an Empty Threat, He Was Abusing the Legal System of Another Continent to Terrorise Critics Who Had Just Unearthed Major Microsoft Scandals)
- And it was likely talked about by his lawyers around the exact same time Nat Friedman was packing up
- Gemini Links 05/06/2025: Loop Earplugs Review and ANS Forth
- Links for the day
- Armenian Adoption of GNU/Linux
- Russian influence in Armenian must be worrying to Microsoft
- Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part II: Turning a Once-Respected Patent Office Into a Circus and Laughing Stock
- It's not legal, but administrators who don't care about the law and don't fear the law would just go ahead and turn things to junk
- Over at Tux Machines...
- GNU/Linux news for the past day
- IRC Proceedings: Wednesday, June 04, 2025
- IRC logs for Wednesday, June 04, 2025
- Slopwatch: Mindless Slop Pieces, Fake Images and Text, Linux FUD on the Cheap
- spewed out by Microsoft-controlled LLMs
- Links 04/06/2025: Workers' Strikes, Sudan Exodus
- Links for the day
- Links 04/06/2025: Linux Foundation PR Spam and Lee Jae-myung Wins Election
- Links for the day
- Gemini Links 04/06/2025: Future Leaders of the World and Platforming Jordan Peterson
- Links for the day
- Links 04/06/2025: WSL Backfiring on Microsoft and "Disney, Microsoft Announce Massive Layoffs"
- Links for the day
- Our Case is a Very Easy Win, the SLAPPs From Microsofters Were a Grave Error, and Censoring Information Won't Work (It'll Only Ever Backfire)
- Censoring is what people do when they lose the argument
- Say the Truth, the Rest Will Follow
- There's no guarantee that writing the truth will result in an audience (or readership), but over time - in the long run - people generally gravitate towards what they know or feel to be crude truth, not just what's comforting (albeit false or self-deluding, usually groupthink dictated from above)
- How to Expose High-Level Corruption Without Getting in (Too Much) Trouble
- Democracy depends on free press and freedom of the press depends on being able to safely publish (and keep available) material that bad people don't want to be known to anybody
- In-Depth EPO Coverage at Techrights Turns Eleven
- 11 years is a very long time
- Windows Measured Below 10% in Afghanistan, GNU/Linux Gaining a Lot
- about 80% are Android (Linux) users, compared to only about 10% for Windows
- Poland's Political Predicament and Social Control Media
- Democracy and fake "tech" don't mix well; the latter tends to interfere with the former and that's why we get more "Putins" out there
- EPO: Taking Away From the Staff to Give More to the Rich
- The Central Staff Committee (CSC) wrote to EPO staff earlier this week
- Over at Tux Machines...
- GNU/Linux news for the past day
- IRC Proceedings: Tuesday, June 03, 2025
- IRC logs for Tuesday, June 03, 2025
- Abuse Inside the Polish Patent Office (UPRP) - Part I: It's a Lot Like the EPO
- we can commence a series soon
- Gemini Links 04/06/2025: Inescapable Questions and Quitting All "Oligarch Tech"
- Links for the day