Linux News: Collaboration

Android on the Rise, While .Net Takes a Blow
October 15, 2009

Android will be the No. 2 smartphone OS by 2012, according to Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney! This fall's march of the Androids notwithstanding, the open OS now accounts for less than 2 percent of all smartphones, according to a recent report. In three years, however, it will make up more than 14 percent, beating Apple, Microsoft and RIM.

Is Big Blue a Desktop Linux Friend or Foe?
October 12, 2009

Perhaps it was sheer exhaustion after all the arguments of late, but Linux bloggers have been relatively quiet over the past few days. IBM, oddly enough, seemed to be the topic of most frequent conversation recently, and on several fronts. "Bob Sutor, IBM's VP of open source, seemed to once again throw desktop Linux under the bus this week at LinuxCon," was how Carla Schroder began her post.

An Autumnal Tour of Linux Workshops
October 08, 2009

As the days get shorter and temperatures get cooler here in the northern hemisphere, it's clear Linux geeks' thoughts have begun to turn to the many delights of the season. Yes, there are pumpkins, hay rides and apple pie aplenty as October wears on, but for real Linux geeks, one of the keenest joys of the season lies elsewhere.

Shuttleworth and the Raging Inferno of the Great Sexism Debate
October 05, 2009

If the success of a conference can be judged by the duration of the conversations that follow from it, LinuxCon was a hit beyond measure. Here it is, two weeks later, and the repercussions are still being felt. What we might call "The Great Sexism Debate" gained considerable fuel there and, in fact, is now raging out of control. Put those safety glasses on!

Linux on the Air - or Not?
October 01, 2009

Austin is now home to what appears to be the first-ever radio ad for Linux. None other than Ken Starks of the HeliOS Project announced the good news a few weeks ago, explaining that the 60-second ad -- recorded pro bono by professional voice talent -- would be running several times a day for a full month on Austin's KLBJ AM.

Google Lashes Out at Android Dev
September 29, 2009

Google sent shock waves through the Android community late last week by launching a cease-and-desist order at well-regarded modder Cyanogen for bundling some of its closed-source applications with his CyanogenMod ROM. CyanogenMod is a free, heavily optimized build of Android 1.5r2 that focuses on performance and reliability.

Fat or Fit? The Penguin's Bulging Waistline
September 28, 2009

"The kernel is huge and bloated," said none other than Linus Torvalds during a panel at LinuxCon, triggering a discussion that's still generating heat in the blogosphere. Every time a new feature gets added, the problem gets worse, he reportedly said. It is "frightening that thousands of lines of kernel code are changing daily," said blogger Robert Pogson, but "it works."

Google Wends Its Way Into Web Annotation With Sidewiki
September 24, 2009

Google on Wednesday launched Sidewiki, a Web annotation tool that serves as a comment forum for Web pages. Sidewiki ranks entries according to their relevance, as determined by Google's own algorithm. It will also place those comments on Web pages that carry the information which sparked the comments. Google Sidewiki appears as a browser sidebar.

Should Operating Systems Be Intuitive?
September 24, 2009

Should computers be intuitive, requiring little to no learning or thinking? For that matter, is it even possible for them to be so? "Nothing is intuitive," said Slashdot blogger Gerhard Mack told LinuxInsider. "Think about it: We have to be taught to use a toilet, how to use a fork and how to drive. Why do we expect computers to be some magic thing that does not have a learning curve?"

Linux Buffs Get Eyeful at LinuxCon Tech Showcase
September 22, 2009

Amid all the talks, workshops and training sessions now under way at LinuxCon, attendees hoping to get an up-close look at some of the latest open source technologies were not disappointed. A wide variety of products are being demonstrated by a diverse set of vendors in the technology showcase at the Linux Foundation's first annual LinuxCon event.

Is Sexism Rampant in FOSS?
September 21, 2009

Sex is a sensitive subject in virtually any industry or profession, and FOSS, it appears, is no exception. Indeed, a recent article by Datamation's Bruce Byfield, "Sexism: Open Source Software's Dirty Little Secret," has set off a conflagration on the Linux blogs.

Windows Donations to Schools and Libraries: Charity or Tyranny?
September 17, 2009

There are many ways to celebrate software freedom, such as by choosing to use Linux in your daily life. This Saturday, however, is the day to loudly proclaim your fondness for FOSS, for it's Software Freedom Day once again! That's right: In a few short days, geeks and nongeeks alike will get their party on and celebrate our favorite cause with events scheduled around the globe.

GroundWork Cuts Ribbon on MonitoringForge
September 16, 2009

GroundWork Open Source, a provider of commercial open source systems and network management software, has launched MonitoringForge, a hub for IT administrators and developers interested in open source monitoring tools. The new site aims to encompass the monitoring space as a whole, as opposed to focusing on specific products or applications.

The Curious Case of the OIN Patent Coup
September 14, 2009

One of the best things about being part of the Linux community is that things are never boring. Take last week, for example, when some anti-Linux screenshots were leaked from a Microsoft ExpertZone training course for Windows 7 retail salespeople. Money just can't buy entertainment like that.

FOSS Fans Wary of Microsoft's New CodePlex Foundation
September 11, 2009

On Friday, Microsoft announced the CodePlex Foundation, which will support the open source community. The foundation is initially being funded by Microsoft and will be temporarily headed by departing Senior Director of Platform Strategy Sam Ramji. The CodePlex Foundation, according to Redmond, is a 501 C6 nonprofit.

The Post-9/11 Internet: A Breeding Ground for Anger and Lies
September 11, 2009

It has become a morbid habit for me every Sept. 11 since the attacks: I soak up all the media I can about that day in New York City. I put on DVDs, seek out TV shows on the History Channel, scour the Web for any new videos. My real focus in on the broadcast coverage of that day, watching anchors and reporters react to the second plane hitting, the Pentagon's smoke streaming, the towers falling.