● 11.11.08

● Links 11/11/2008: Vapourware Fears of GNU/Linux, OpenOffice.org 3.0 Past 10 Million Downloads

Posted in News Roundup at 5:31 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz“In the face of strong competition, Evangelism’s focus may shift immediately to the next version of the same technology, however. Indeed, Phase 1 (Evangelism Starts) for version x+1 may start as soon as this Final Release of version X.” –Microsoft, internal document [PDF]GNU/LinuxWindows 7 no threat to netbook LinuxI’ve been nonplussed the last few weeks as ordinarily sane compu-journalists opine that Windows 7 will somehow kill Linux on netbooks. This weekend, I had a chance to actually see XP running on an EEE 900, and I can tell you, Linux has nothing to fear from Redmond.During my 13-year career as a compu-journalist, I have seen the pattern over and over. Microsoft pre-announces a product years before it will ship. Then, people who have built careers supporting Microsoft’s products — whether IT staff or journalists — slavishly salivate, as if on cue. Purchase decisions are deferred, per recommendations of the trade press.Next, the product is delayed. Purchase decisions are further deferred. Nothing can sway the devotion of the true Microsoft believers. And they think Linux “fanboys” are partisan!Then, finally delivered, the Microsoft OS utterly fails to live up to its hype. And, the Microsoft ecosystem rejoices, secure in the knowledge that their help will still be needed to make Microsoft products usable.Today, it turns out, XP is hardly usable on netbooks. What makes people think the next version of Windows will actually get better? Microsoft has never in its history delivered an OS upgrade that did not require SUBSTANTIALLY more resources than its predecessor. Is that really going to change? Really?How two of the world’s largest websites use Linux for high availabilityPSBank migrates to IBM Syztem z for Linux applicationNew hardware is a first for Lotus [which runs Linux]The IBM Lotus Foundations Start server runs the Linux operating system and contains e-mail and calendaring programs, as well as the Lotus Symphony suite of office productiving software, like word processing and spreadsheet programs.Linux fast-boot scheme targets TVsTriPeaks announced a new version of its “TP InstantBoot” fast-boot technology for Linux TVs and other consumer electronics devices. The company also announced a reseller relationship with CodeSourcery, and plans to integrate CodeSourcery’s SourceryG++ development tools with its TP InstantBoot development kit.Free Linux browser libraries boost widgetsdBpoweramp’s CD Ripper Works Like a Dream Under LinuxTop 10 Linux FUD Patterns, Part 8Will the use of Linux void the manufacturer’s warranty of your computer hardware? This is one fear that prevents some people from making the leap to Linux, which is why it is on my Top 10 List of Linux FUD Patterns. The short answer is, it depends; however, there are steps that you can take to increase your probability of receiving service under a warranty.Linux software installation mythsRed HatThe Force Is With Red HatFlying high with open sourceRobert Wiseman: We have about 5,000 servers across the world, probably two-thirds running open source. Close to 100% of our requests go through a server using open source technology at some point, primarily Linux.UbuntuUbuntu boss talks Jaunty JackalopeDell has started selling some of its machines with Ubuntu pre-installed, and Shuttleworth says that “the machines are selling well”.“[Dell] clearly sees Linux users as thought leaders”, he told Open Week attendees. “They know it takes a lot of work to do something like Linux well and they work very hard at it, so we appreciate the partnership.”As for mobiles, he quipped: “Linux is a perfect platform for consumer electronics, and the rate of adoption there is fantastic, but it’s highly fragmented. There are many different projects, environments and frameworks for Linux on smartphones”, he said.Ubuntu’s Mark Shuttleworth opens up on mobility and designNew Old NetbookThen, I discovered Linux. Ubuntu to be precise, and Xubuntu to be really precise. I had been spending my spare time going through all the old computers I had and installing Xubuntu to see if I could. It wasn’t very productive, but it was fun and didn’t cost anything. After my experience with the Z505, I was against spending much money on computers.[...]Finally, the netbook revolution happened. Now this was cool. For three-hundred dollars, I could get a tiny Linux box that I could always open, see, and use, and only weighed about three pounds. For that kind of weight, I didn’t have to lug around a big, heavy, full-size machine to read, write and code for my 90 minute “alone time.”Ubuntu 8.10 and Ubuntu India – a conversation with Baishampayan GhoseWhen Device Support Goes Beyond DriversNEP partners with Linux vendor on 3G gearOn Politics, Porn Detectors and Linuxy TricksPolitics found its way onto the Linux community’s radar when a CNN commentator said Barack Obama would be an open source kind of president, which gave FOSS some much-needed mainstream publicity. What other changes are in store with the new administration?AndroidDebian gets ported to the G1, makes nice with AndroidRecent firmware updates may have aimed to shut down such shenanigans, but it looks they were a little too slow to stop Jay Freeman (a.k.a. Saurik) from going to town with his newly jailbroken G1 and installing Debian on the handset.Google fanboys will love the G1AudioSongbird plus Mozilla, the ultimate media mashup for your musicHands on: Songbird 1.0 music app soarsReview of two best audio player of Linux SystemCross-platformQt: Cross-platform futures in a mobile worldVMware’s Mobile Virtualization Strategy Calls for Open Source ResponsesF/OSSA prescription for lower costsMcKesson Corp. is a multifaceted healthcare company, a large distributor of pharmaceuticals and a thriving developer of healthcare-related IT systems. Its software and hardware are installed in more than 70% of U.S. hospitals with more than 200 beds, and handle everything from billing and scheduling to capturing MRI-machine images and preventing dangerous drug interactions. For the last five years, the company has used open source technology to deliver products at lower cost and greater speed, says Randall Spratt, executive vice president and CIO. After seeing open source, Spratt considers it an essential part of McKesson’s product development strategy.Openbravo hits the millionth download… Yes, we can!In praise of open source technologySo, who can build their business, or their economy, on open source? With the ubiquity of the Internet, open source is becoming the foundation of the world’s most sophisticated (and lucrative) business models. From free search (Baidu) to free social networking (Xiaonei or Minglebox), free news (FT.com and Sina.com) to free software (Sun Microsystems).Yahoo’s transforms data mining with open-source HadoopOpen Source Cloud Computing: RightScale Joins Forces With EucalyptusActuate revs its business with version 10GravityZoo Goes Open Source With MediaZooRapidMind Embraces Open Source and Standards Projects to Increase Focus on Simplifying Parallel Programming for Application DevelopersMailArchiva Announces Availability on Sun Microsystems’ OpenSolaris Operating SystemOffice SuitesKOffice Sprint 2008 StartingReview – QA at OOoCon 2008 in BeijingDefective by DesignNew Class-Action Suits Target EA, SecuROM, The Sims & Spore Creature CreatorEA Sued Repeatedly Over DRMDigital Tipping Point: Clip of the DayDan Gillmor, creator of the phrase, “Distributed Journalism” 16 (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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