Linux News: Community

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."

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.

Fun and FUD in the Fall Flamebait Follies
September 10, 2009

Maybe it was the fires raging in California. Or maybe it was a way to blow off some steam before summer came to its unofficial end. Whatever the cause, there's no doubt Linux bloggers were in the mood for some spirited debate in recent days. One might even argue, in fact, that more than a few posts out there in the blogosphere were designed to do just that -- start a fiery discussion.

An Android Army vs. a Solo iPhone, and No Linux for PS3
September 08, 2009

It may be an increasingly FOSS-friendly world out there, but that doesn't mean Linux doesn't still face challenges and opposition. Case in point: Sony's recent decision to discontinue the option to install GNU/Linux on its new PlayStation3. "I was more than a little disappointed," wrote the Linux Foundation's Brian Proffitt on his blog last week.

Hunkering Down, Linux Style
September 03, 2009

Well September is here, and the final days of summer are hard upon us. Autumn is around the corner here in the Northern Hemisphere, and that means it's time to begin thinking ahead to the winter days to come. It isn't too surprising, then, that Linux bloggers have turned their attention in recent days to how they like to arrange things in the geeky counterpart of the proverbial nest -- the home office.

On the 'Fake Linus Torvalds' and the Nifty Nokia N900
August 31, 2009

You know it's a good day when included among all the dry-as-dust press releases that arrive on your virtual desk is one that promises to combine Linux, Twitter and "dangerously outrageous" fun. Sure enough, from none other than the Linux Foundation came the tantalizing announcement of the "Fake Linus Torvalds" promotion, which it kicked off last week.

Linux in 2013: One *Billion* Dollars!
August 27, 2009

It's a rare day on the Linux blogs when comparisons don't get made between Windows and our favorite operating system, but when those comparisons take the form of benchmarks, we can't help but sit up and listen. Sure enough, following a like comparison earlier this year, the bloggers over at TuxRadar recently put Windows 7, Vista and various versions of Ubuntu through their paces again.

FOSS vs. the Winged Monkeys: Q&A With Open Source for America's Chris Lundberg
August 21, 2009

Chris Lundberg has worked for years to drive the availability of technology to the masses. He has managed teams developing software for the Library of Congress, worked with the U.S. Navy to develop satellite communications software and consulted for Accenture in developing telecom Internet solutions.