07.31.10
Gemini version available ♊︎Links 31/7/2010: 2011 Desktop Summit Planned
Contents
GNU/Linux
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Device support in Windows vs. Linux
One of the highly debated subjects with Windows and Linux is with device support. The two have different methods of how drivers are created and implemented into the operating system. With Windows, Microsoft writes generic drivers to help ensure that users can get up and running, then 3rd party supplied drivers can be installed to optimize performance. With Linux, drivers are all included with the Linux kernel, and devices are detected and the appropriate drivers are then activated on the fly. There are no 3rd parties to contact for drivers (unless a proprietary driver is needed, in which case it has to be manually installed, similar to Windows; this is rare but sometimes necessary).
I’ve found that driver support in Linux is excellent.
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Server
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Unisys floats mainframe cloud
A mainframe cloud may seem oxymoronic like a lead Zeppelin (“a” included on purpose), or intuitively obvious (given the virtualization and metering capabilities that have been in mainframes for decades). But Unisys has nonetheless fluffed up a mainframe cloud for its ClearPath mainframe customers.
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Kernel Space
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Graphics Stack
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NVIDIA’s Dead Open-Source Driver Gets Updated
The last time the xf86-video-nv driver was updated was in early March — just a couple weeks before NVIDIA announced it would stop supporting future ASICs in this driver nor would it deliver any support for features like DisplayPort. That March update didn’t bring much to the table nor does this update that’s coming out of NVIDIA’s Santa Clara offices on a Friday afternoon.
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Applications
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Instructionals
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Games
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Foobillard, an opensouce Billiard Simulation game for Linux
My whole experience with the game might look a bit false based upon the fact that I haven’t played such games in real-life much, but listen to this, “Foobillard was actually suggested to me by a college friend who is a die hard fan of cue sports and a good player too”. So, if a real-life player is recommending it, you have got to give it a shot.
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Desktop Environments
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K Desktop Environment/KDE SC)
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KDE e.V. and GNOME Foundation to Co-Host 2011 Desktop Summit in Berlin
The 2009 Desktop Summit was a fantastic opportunity for the leaders of the free software desktop community to share talks, address common issues, and build relationships between the communities with combined social events.
The 2011 Desktop Summit will build on the first Summit’s success. More than 1,000 contributors from more than 50 countries are expected to attend the 2011 event in Berlin. In addition to members of the GNOME and KDE development community, the conference will also attract many participants in the overall FLOSS community from local projects, organizations, and companies.
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Distributions
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Red Hat Family
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Three Months Until Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 End of Life
Red Hat has issued another notification signaling the approaching end-of-life (EOL) for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3. The aging Linux distribution is approaching the end of its support cycle, patches and security updates will only be issued for another three months.
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Devices/Embedded
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Where do you find Linux?
Looking through my home for Linux systems I just realized that it is everywhere. First of all, I find it on my computers – from servers to laptop. That is the obvious place though. I wonder, where else can I find Linux running?
Next, I find it on my set-top-box, a DM500 – a dreambox. The dreamboxes range from my very basic PAL receiver to devices with multiple receivers and HD-support. All are based on a Linux system running on a PowerPC processor. The box has networking and there is community driven development version of the software running on the box. The result – I can stream TV to my laptop, play content from my server and set record timers over the internet.
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Phones
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Nokia/MeeGo
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MeeGo at OSCON Wrap-Up
There were also several MeeGo demo stations in the Intel booth at OSCON showing Netbook, Handset and In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) demos. While the netbook demos have been around for a little longer, this was the first time many people had a chance to get a hands-on, closeup look at IVI or a handset running MeeGo, so those demos were very popular. Here is a picture of the IVI demo station in case you missed it.
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Free Software/Open Source
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GNU and Open Source
The GNU project developed some of the 21st century’s most important software. The GNU Compiler Collection is used on Linux systems, BSD/OSX systems, and on Windows. GNAT has, for the most part, replaced any other Ada compiler ever created. The list could go on, but you get the idea. The sad thing about GNU is that it is so ideologically bent that I can no longer support it.
I am not looking to start a fight here. Please respond with your opinions on this topic. Let me know where you stand. My mind is open.
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Databases
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Programming
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Eclipse 4.0 SDK released for early adopters
The Eclipse Foundation has announced the official availability of version 4 of Eclipse SDK. With this new generation of the Eclipse development environment, the Eclipse developers are aiming to modernise the IDE’s underlying architecture to include contemporary features such as a model-based user interface framework, CSS-based declarative styling of the UI and a services oriented programming model for consuming Eclipse provided services. A more modern look and feel for the workbench has also been incorporated along with binary API compatibility with previous releases to make migration simpler.
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Leftovers
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Finance
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Goldman Sachs bans traders from swearing in emails
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Goldman Sachs Bans Swearing
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Goldman Sachs bans traders from swearing in emails
Screening software that identifies offending words will be used to enforce the policy.
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Citigroup Hires Narita From Goldman for Japan Currency Trading
The hiring of Narita is “representative of the significant investment we are making in FX in Japan,” Bapi Maitra, managing director and head of foreign exchange at Citibank Japan, a unit of New York-based Citigroup, said in an emailed statement sent today by company spokesperson Atsuko Yoshitsugu. Narita joined Citibank Japan on July 26.
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Internet/Net Neutrality/DRM
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Reject UltraViolet DRM
Throughout the relatively short history of Digital Restrictions Management, we have seen various methods of user restriction come and go. Now, there is a new threat on the horizon: UltraViolet. A soon to be implemented DRM scheme, UltraViolet — or should that be Ultraviolent — is a joint effort between companies such as Sony, Adobe, Cisco, HP, Microsoft and Intel. What seperates UltraViolet apart from other types of DRM is its use of “the cloud.” Whereas most other DRM schemes are implemented locally, UltraViolet intends to store the digital media you purchase on a centralized server with the goal of preventing users from storing their digital media on unauthorized devices, sharing and making copies.
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Clip of the Day
We are KDE! – FOSS.IN/2008
ᶃ Gemini Space
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