10.19.08

Links 18-19/10/2008: Two-day Heap

Posted in News Roundup at 3:58 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

GNU/Linux

Linux phone pioneer acquired
PSPP brings an industry standard statistical tool to Linux
Ten essential Linux office apps
Vista marks end of ‘planned software’

Whitehurst claimed that there are “half the number of bugs in Linux per thousand lines” compared to the Microsoft operating system, because of the open source collaborative model.
Russia’s Open Source Revolution

From what I have seen and experienced of ALT Linux, it appears to be a first class platform on which to build a strong, flexible network of Linux-driven computers.
Hands on: Revive an old PC with Linux

So what about computers more than just a few years old? Reader Graham Steel wrote to ask about his computer. He said: “I have an old IBM Thinkpad installed with Windows 98 and incapable of running newer versions of Windows, with just 96MB of Ram and a Pentium II CPU.
Switch to Ubuntu Linux not Apple Mac OS

So why are people not going over to Ubuntu? Beats me. If you are looking for commercial technical support, Ubuntu does offer that. If you are looking at extreme personalization options Ubuntu offers that, probably even more than the Mac OS. If you are looking for easy upgrades to future versions, Ubuntu offers that. If you are looking for ease of use, Ubuntu offers that. If you are looking for robustness and security, Ubuntu is the best. Ubuntu can be installed on all types of hardware and even on older hardware. Mac OS does not offer this flexibility.

The more I use Ubuntu, the more I fail to understand the lure of the Mac OS. Is it the snob value or stupidity that make people consider a Mac over Windows and not Ubuntu?
Linux powers ‘cloud’ gaming console
Updating your system: GNU/Linux 5, Windows 0

The pace of software development — regardless of the licence — is pretty fast these days. The state of your systems need constant monitoring. New features, bug-fixes and (most important) security updates need to be properly managed. Here, in no particular order, are five ways that choosing a free operating system will make system maintenance a lot easier and simpler. In short they are ways that — when it comes to system updates — GNU/Linux beats Windows.
Nine Smart Tips for Becoming an Anti-Linux Troll
Compiz-Fusion MPX Support is Complete!

I have now completed the first draft of the patches to add MPX support to Compiz-Fusion. These are only the first draft patches, so there are still tons of bugs to be fixed. After I fix those bugs, I’ll begin work on the Input Redirection patches for the rest of Compiz-Fusion.
Interesting Linux Blogs To Follow
Linux Digital Photography Studio
COM Express module runs Linux
Advice
- Introducing Open Source to the World – Part 1
- Making The Switch To Linux – Keep In Mind … (10 Ubuntu Tips)
Events/Forums
- Is the Linux Foundation allergic to the media?
- Linux Foundation to boost user ties following summit
- The Linux Foundation End User Summit
- Linux Kongress 2008
- NEP Alliance redefines ‘scope’
Kernel
- GEM Patches Submitted For Linux 2.6.28-rc1
- Greg K-H Recommends New Kernel Version Naming
- Under Kroah-Hartman’s proposal the first release of 2009 would be 2009.0.0.
KDE
- Quick Look at KDE 4.2-SVN
- KDE Relaunches Community Forums
Phones
- Almost Human: a review of Google’s Android G1 phone
- Google is calling
- Web surfing on Motorola Razr still outranks iPhone
EMC’s Linux
- Iomega tempts SMBs with low-end storage
  
  The Iomega StorCenter ix2 houses two SATA-II drives, and although it has been around now for a year or so as a storage device, it now incorporates EMC’s Linux-based LifeLine software, which has broadened the features it can offer both the small business and consumer.
Distributions
- Zenwalk: Slackware’s Moment of Zen
- Upcoming Linux Distributions in Pictures
- 25 reasons to use Linux Mint
- Debian
  - Debian as a Desktop GNU+Linux Distribution
    
    Thinking about it, I’m not entirely sure what constitutes an “end-user distribution”. Perhaps I am equating an “end-user distribution” with a “desktop distribution”. And why not? What determines if a GNU+Linux distribution is an end-user distribution? It seems to me that the packages that are available within the distribution, and the functionality of said packages, are what determines if a distribution is an end-user distribution. And, as most people are aware, Debian contains a huge amount of packages within its repositories. Packages that deliver no less functionality than those GNU+Linux distributions that everyone can agree are “end-user distributions”. Just that fact, alone, should be enough to convince anyone that Debian is, indeed, an end-user distribution.
  - Adept 3.0 Beta 4
- Ubuntu
  - Ubuntu debuts its Upstream Report
    
    Ubuntu has taken some heat over the years for its relationship with upstream projects, but the distribution seems determined to change that impression. To that end, Ubuntu has started by looking at bugs and bug reporting between the distribution and upstream projects. The visible result is the beta release of the Ubuntu Upstream Report, which displays the progress of getting bugs upstream.
  - Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex – Review & Tutorial
    
    Ubuntu gets a lovely 9/10 score. It feels good. As simple as that. If you disregard the Private folders option, which is merely okay, Ubuntu is another great step of the already proven family of distros.
  - I love Ubuntu, and here is why
  - Ubuntu 8.10 ‘Intrepid Ibex’ Beta Screenshots Tour
- Mandriva
  - Mandriva One 2009 – Kaptivating KDE
    
    I can easily say that this is one of the best KDE 4 distros out there. openSUSE has the KDE 4 desktop as default for a while now, but I should say that nothing comes close to the polish that one can see in Mandriva Linux 2009. The OS is a pleasure to use.
  - Mandriva One video tour
- OLPC
  - OLPC Releases Fedora-Based Linux Distribution for the XO Laptop
  - OLPC’s Last Billion
Fast Boot
- Reboot like a racecar with kexec
- Microsoft ‘Innovates’ Again – By Copying GNU/Linux
Proprietary
- Siteconcept to Distribute the AXIGEN Mail Server in France
- Benchmarking Flash Player 10 (Updated)

Notebooks

Everex Zonbu Notebook: Greener and safer option for new users

Individuals, especially new users, preferring better security for their saved files always opt for Linux as their operating system. The security system of Linux is difficult to be cracked and hence it is popular amongst professionals from varied organizations. However, most notebooks do not execute the operating system and its files with equal efficiency. Everex Zonbu Notebook, a recently launched laptop, is amongst those ones that are available with a version of Linux OS. Zonbu Notebook comes with a rechargeable Lithium ion battery. While undergoing normal load, the notebook gives an adequate 2-3 hours backup after full recharge. However, the backup time reduces considerably to 90 minutes when it is put under full load, whether by running heavy applications or putting it through a DVD playback test (as done in most laboratories).
Sub-notebooks
- My Dell Inspiron Mini 9 Blog
- Ultra-Portables Creep Towards £100
- EXTRA: Eee PC 900A netbook below $300
- Asus and Sub-$300 Laptops: Where the Action Will Be
- Apricot PicoBook Pro: First impressions
- The netbook newbie’s guide to Linux
  
  Thanks to their design as appliances, you can get down to useful work straight away with any of the new breed of Linux-based netbooks. But sooner or later, a fair few folk come up against the unfamiliarity of Linux. And, like the legendary tribe of pygmies, you may find yourself jumping up and down in the head-high long grass shouting out the incantation that gave the tribe its name: “We’re the Fukarwi.”
- What a Difference a Year Can Make
Signs of Change

F/OSS

Cloud Computing

Leftovers

Digital Tipping Point: Clip of the Day

Colin Angle, Co-founder and CEO, iRobot 03 (2005)

Digital Tipping Point is a Free software-like project where the raw videos are code. You can assist by participating.

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10.18.08

Is Novell’s PR Department Managing Executive Blogs?

Posted in Identity Management, Marketing, Novell at 7:27 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

An illusion, proofreading, technical anomaly, or none of the above?

This is actually something that was brought up before, but since it stays so consistent, it’s worth commenting on it very briefly. The latest post from Novell’s CTO about compliance management still has ‘ibruce’ as the poster’s name.

So there are several possibilities here:

It is possible that Ian Bruce, the new PR guy, is brushing up the postings of executives?
Maybe the blog/s is/are just a little PR placeholder for the PR people and some actual material from execs.
Maybe it’s just that the PR people set up these blogs and their usernames remained. It’s rather unlikely though because Ian Bruce replaced Bruce Lowry not so long ago. The blogs predate it.

So what is going on? Why is Jeff Jaffe posting under ibruce, which is probably Ian Bruce’s name? █

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Do-No-Evil Saturday – Part IV: Miscellaneous Novell News

Posted in Courtroom, Finance, Identity Management, Mail, Marketing, Novell, SCO, Videos at 7:09 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Let’s dive right in because it’s getting late and there is a lot more to cover.

SCO

No legal news from the Novell/SCO case, but SCO appears to have just touted a little new arrangement.

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Do-No-Evil Saturday – Part III: Novell Buys Its Way Into Managed Growth

Posted in Action, Deals, Novell at 6:01 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Failing at natural growth? Then strike deals with competitors like Microsoft and then buy some more companies for Microsoft to have more influence over. Yes, we are being partly cynical, but there is an element of truth in that.

The following accumulation is intended to serve as a reference post about the acquisition by Novell of Managed Objects. Novell has become somewhat of a serial acquirer, and that’s no good given Novell’s #1 partner and its ill effects on Free software.

Anyway, here is the press release announcing this to-be acquisition, which will probably be approved without any difficulties.

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Do-No-Evil Saturday – Part II: SUSE (SLES|SLED) Deployments

Posted in Australia, GNU/Linux, Novell, SLES/SLED at 5:32 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

Eventful lizard

FOR SUSE, unlike OpenSUSE, this has been an events-packed week. Here is a quick rundown.

SLES

Rodney Gedda reports from Australia, claiming that a fire brigade has adopted SLES. Gedda himself is (or was) a SLED user.

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Eben Moglen on Intellectual Monopolies

Posted in FSF, Intellectual Monopoly, Videos at 4:14 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

The following new videos have just been made available. We share and encourage others to share them too.

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Do-No-Evil Saturday – Part I: OpenSUSE Outage, Delays

Posted in Europe, GNU/Linux, Novell, OpenSUSE at 3:57 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

“No I’m paid to idle in #boycottnovell by novell remember. [...] Lol at $29,000 per year. You make more than that working in mcdonalds.”

–OpenSUSE’s Ben Weber, an hour ago (sarcastic)

YaST update

It has been a very quiet week in Nürnberg, at least judging by coverage that relates to OpenSUSE.

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Microsoft Threatens Red Hat Again, Uses Novell as Excuse

Posted in GNU/Linux, Microsoft, Novell, Patents, Red Hat, Steve Ballmer at 2:56 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

“No other large companies as far as I know use their employees as attack dogs to silen[ce] dissent. It’s time for Microsoft to stop this nonsense.”

–The Prickly Prince From Microsoft Strikes Again

T

HE FSF may be doing too little against software patents at this stage, but it must not distract anyone from a most serious peril, which even Linus Torvalds is aware of and concerned about. it’s resolvable through dissemination of knowledge.

Every now and then, Microsoft makes snide remarks at Red Hat, claiming that Red Hat and its customers owe it money. This happened one year ago, just before Acacia hired some Microsoft Intellectual Monopoly people and then sued Red Hat [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Now there is some more of this from Microsoft’s mouthpiece at CNET [1, 2]. The latest post contains little more than subtle (seemingly polite) Microsoft propaganda:

That doesn’t mean Microsoft is ready to sing Kumbaya with Red Hat, or other companies that haven’t made an IP deal with Redmond. While Microsoft is patient, Gutierrez indicated that Microsoft’s patience is not unlimited.

“If every effort to license proves not to be fruitful, ultimately we have a responsibility to customers that have licenses and to our shareholders to ensure our intellectual property is respected,” he said.

Microsoft has, on a number of occasions, asserted that Linux violates a ton of Microsoft patents, but Microsoft has never sued a company over those claims.

[...]

In an effort to help head off patent disputes, Microsoft is an investor in Nathan Myrhvold’s patent-buying Intellectual Ventures effort and has also made deals with several other such patent companies. “We’ve done deals with a number of others,” Gutierrez said.

On the positive side, though, are deals like the Novell one, Gutierrez said. In the end, Novell has grown its business, Microsoft got added revenue and customers end up with products that work better together. Gutierrez wouldn’t name names, but he said to expect more deals along the lines of the ones Microsoft struck with Novell and Sun Microsystems.

In case it’s not obvious, this short article ought to show why Novell is so dangerous to the freedom of Free software. Red Hat is being verbally threatened again.

Microsoft is also singing Novell’s “mixed source” tune, and not for the first time either. Novell happily brags about its “mixed source” identity [1, 2, 3, 4], insisting that it is not an open source company. This serves to justify Novell's own patent FUD and empowers Microsoft’s pressure on other GNU/Linux vendors. In turn, this helps Novell.

Nathan Myhrvold If they ever sue, there will be a strong reason for Red Hat to go to court, and there will be public fueling for Red Hat to go all the way up to the Supreme Court, using the assistance of many others to eliminate software patents once and for all.

In the disclosure above, Microsoft’s desperate strategy is showing. They admit to investing in the world's biggest and nastiest patent troll — something we already knew about (the personal investments from Bill Gates himself).

It ought to be added that the selective media does not tell the full story. Gutierrez is also one of the men behind extortion, namely the use of threats and software patents to secretly extract money from unnamed GNU/Linux users. █

“There is nothing more that can be done. Everything we do is now available to licensees as well.”

–Horacio Gutierrez, Microsoft Imaginary Property Officer

Horacio Gutierrez

Picture contributed by a reader