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Links 18/6/2010: VP8 Optimisations



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Contents





GNU/Linux



Free Software/Open Source

  • Network Security: Three open-source options
    Free and open-source software (FOSS) is everywhere. Its offerings span far and wide in the technology industry. The networking space is an excellent example of FOSS, with feature-packed firewalls, routers, VPNs and even UTMs, for nearly every need. In this article I will introduce you to a few of the commercially-supported open-source network security options currently available in the marketplace today. With open-source networking you can enjoy the benefits of lower costs, greater security, flexibility, extensibility and full enterprise support. Here are three examples.


  • Digium Expands Channel Partner Program
    Like many of its larger rivals, Digium is launching specializations within the company’s global channel partner program. If the strategy works as advertised, Digium’s open source IP PBX partners will gain deeper expertise in unified communications and VoIP telephony solutions. Here’s a look at Digium’s strategy and the implications for VARs.




  • Mozilla





  • Project Releases

    • Bluecherry releases its version 2 driver (GPL)
      As previously mentioned we have been working hard over the past few months on the driver for version 2 of our Linux hardware compression card. Since version 2 is a complete rewrite of our DVR software we naturally wanted to start with a clean driver, one that was written from scratch. So, we leveraged the Linux kernel’s API for Video (Video4Linux) and Audio (ALSA). This effectively puts Bluecherry as the first company to produce a multi-input MPEG-4 hardware compression GPL driver written around the Linux kernel’s API.


    • Twilio Releases OpenVBX
      Open source telephony service for businesses allows drag-and-drop call routing, text-to-speech, voice transcription and voicemail forwarding.








  • Government

    • 'Over seventy cases studies on OSOR just the beginning'
      The European Union's Open Source Observatory and Repository (OSOR.eu) has so far published 72 case studies. It's most recent one, on the OSOR itself, was published last week.

      The case study, "OSOR: The more they know the more they share, Introducing Open Source Software communities to Europe's public sector', concludes the first phase of the project but the European Commission is about to organise OSOR's continuation.








Leftovers

  • The New OS/2 Rumours Could Be Interesting
    Some rumours have emerged that IBM is considering an OS/2 comeback and I'm filled with the same mixed feelings that always emerge whenever the subject is raised. Would I want OS/2 back on my desktop now? Not really. Have these rumours got me a bit excited? Absolutely. In fact, I'm willing to take a guess about what the new OS/2 might be.




  • Environment

    • Whale poo helps offset carbon footprint
      Southern Ocean sperm whales offset their carbon footprint by defecating, scientists said on Wednesday, releasing tonnes of iron a year that stimulates the growth of phytoplankton which in turn absorb carbon dioxide.


    • Afghan Minerals -- Cure, Curse, or Hype?
      The Pentagon revealed last week that Afghanistan has as much as $1 trillion in mineral wealth, a potential game changer in the ongoing conflict there. Many news outlets have picked up this story, with some simply repeating the official talking points, while others raise serious concerns. Is this ‘discovery’ just hype, or will this truly alter the landscape of the Afghan war? Perhaps more importantly, can this mineral wealth (whether real or illusory) pave the way to a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan, or is it more likely to drive geopolitical feedback loops that plunge the region further into turmoil? Below the fold is a quick look at the as-of-yet unasked questions about Afghanistan’s buried treasure.


    • What Good Are The Patents On Oil-Eating Bacteria Doing Us?
      Of course, you have to wonder if this kind of oil-eating bacteria wasn't locked up to one provider for many years due to a patent, if much of that research on how to make it both safe and practical would have been done already. Probably could have helped a lot. Instead, we set things up so that living organisms can be patented, limiting the ability to do actual research on the impact of those patented organisms to just one party, greatly limiting our understanding of their practicality and safety. Progress?


    • We could not have stopped Gulf oil gusher, ExxonMobil chief tells Congress
      ExxonMobil would have been as powerless as BP to stop the Gulf of Mexico gusher, the chief of the world's biggest oil company told Congress today in a contentious hearing into the oil spill.

      The admission undermined attempts by oil multinationals Exxon, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Shell to claim they operated to a higher safety standard than BP in testimony before the house energy and commerce committee.


    • U.S. Scientific Team Draws on New Data, Multiple Scientific Methodologies to Reach Updated Estimate of Oil Flows from BP’s Well


    • Fishermen win first legal battle against BP
      A U.S. District Court has made British Petroleum remove language from a Master Charter Agreement that would limit boat captains' legal rights before allowing them to help clean up the Deepwater Horizon oil gusher.

      The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana opened Sunday afternoon to receive the petition of commercial fisherman to nullify and strike the offensive language in the British Petroleum volunteer fisherman charter contract.






  • Finance







  • Censorship/Privacy/Civil Rights





  • Intellectual Monopolies

    • German Publishers Want More Monopoly Rights
      This is a beautiful demonstration of a flaw at the heart of copyright: whenever an existing business model based around a monopoly starts to fail, the reflexive approach is to demand yet more monopolies in an attempt to shore it up. And the faster people point out why that won't solve the problem, the faster the demands come for even more oppressive and unreasonable legislation to try to head off those issues.

      And make no mistake: if Germany adopts this approach, there will be squeals from publishers around the world demanding "parity", just as there have been with the term of copyright. And so the ratchet will be turned once more.










Clip of the Day



Writing Better Shell Scripts – Part 1

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