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Does Wine Make Linux Too Loose?
November 05, 2009
Following the Karmic Koala's joyful reception last week, sentiments toward the FOSSy marsupial have become distinctly less enthusiastic in recent days -- at least for some. "Early adopters bloodied by Ubuntu's Karmic Koala" was the headline on a piece that ran in The Register on Tuesday, which chronicled multiple cases of frustration among some users upgrading to the new version.
Yahoo Lets FOSS Community Drive Its Traffic Server
November 04, 2009
In a move that resembles a major food vendor giving away its prize recipe -- minus the secret sauce -- to all of its customers and competitors, Yahoo on Monday donated the source code for its Traffic Server software to the Apache Software Foundation through the Apache Incubator Project.

Firefox 3.6 Tweaks Are Mostly Under the Hood
November 03, 2009
Promising faster performance and a bevy of new features, Mozilla on Friday released the first beta version of its Firefox 3.6 browser. Built on the Gecko 1.9.2 Web rendering engine, the new version contains numerous improvements for developers and users, Mozilla said, including support for what it calls "personas," improved responsiveness and faster startup time.
Can the Karmic Koala Take on Win 7?
November 02, 2009
Well the Karmic Koala finally climbed down from its eucalyptus tree last week, and the general result was feverish excitement across the Linux blogs. Reviews of the new release seem highly favorable, on the whole, as does the download process via release mirrors and torrents. However, not everyone is convinced Linux is ready for the mainstream.

A Taste of Android's Freshly Baked Eclair
October 30, 2009
When the Verizon Droid from Motorola arrives next month, it will include a new version of the Android Operating system. Android 2.0, also known as "Eclair," will no doubt show up in lots of other new smartphones over the coming months. Android 2.0 ushers in a host of new features. Perhaps the one that sparks the most interest is its native support for Microsoft Exchange.
FOSS Goes to Washington, and Nvidia Keeps Its Driver Code to Itself
October 29, 2009
You know it's going to be a good week when it kicks off with news that the Obama administration has officially embraced the open source content management system Drupal. Just a few days later, the Department of Defense issued an almost glowingly positive memo on open source software.

Ubuntu Karmic Koala Climbs Into the Ring
October 28, 2009
Canonical, the commercial developer of the open source operating system Ubuntu, will release on Thursday Ubuntu 9.10 Server Edition and Ubuntu 9.10 Desktop Edition. The two latest releases come on the heals of last week's release of Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system. The latest Ubuntu releases could raise the ante in the competitive field of computer operating systems.
Drupal Takes Up Residency in the White House
October 27, 2009
Free and open source software just got a major boost: The Obama administration announced that it has adopted open source content management system Drupal for the Whitehouse.gov Web site. Though it may look much the same to visitors, the newly revamped Web site went live on Saturday with the goal of improving the tools visitors use to engage with White House officials and each other.

Going Microsoft-Free, Saying Buh-Bye to McBride
October 26, 2009
There was a lot of news in the FOSS world last week, and it seems fair to say that the overall atmosphere was positive. First came word that a Microsoft-free desktop package is available for companies in the U.S. from IBM and Canonical. Then, from the ding-dong-the-witch-is-dead department, came news that SCO has fired its wildly litigious CEO Darl McBride.
Choosing a Desktop Linux Distro, Part 2: Installation and Support
October 23, 2009
With more than 200 Linux distributions currently listed at Linux Online, it's perhaps an understatement to say that newcomers to the field face a broad array of choices. In addition to considering their own goals for Linux, however, potential users may also need to take other factors into account. Hardware considerations are often foremost among them.

Android and Windows, Living Together in Perfect Harmony?
October 22, 2009
Fall may be the season for leaf-gazing and apple cider, but this year there's no doubt it's also the season for Android. Just short of one year after the announcement of the first Android phone -- HTC's Dream, marketed by T-Mobile as G1 -- WiseAndroid proclaimed on Monday that there are no fewer than 50 (yes, five-zero!) Android phones expected in the near future.
IBM, Canonical Put Windows 7 in Their Crosshairs
October 21, 2009
IBM and Canonical have launched a Microsoft-free desktop software suite for U.S. companies, claiming the package will offer substantial cost reductions compared to a Windows 7 migration. Though the IBM Client for Smart Work package was initially designed for emerging markets, it sparked widespread calls for a similar offering in the United States.

Frankencamera Could Herald a New Digital Photography Era
October 20, 2009
There's a pieced-together monster shaking up the campus of Stanford University this fall, and it's named after the legendary, lumbering creature that Halloween nightmares are made of. It's the Frankencamera, and it's here to change the way digital photography is done.
Teeth-Gnashing and Tongue-Lashing Over Desktop Linux Foot-Shooting
October 19, 2009
Lack of vendor support, lack of marketing, too much "bad techie attitude," too much infighting and not enough developer cooperation are "Five ways the Linux desktop shoots itself in the foot," contends Computerworld's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols. "The problems listed here boil down to two basic issues: not enough corporate backing and not enough developer unity in certain areas," said Slashdot blogger Chris Travers.

Choosing a Desktop Linux Distro, Part 1: Getting What You Want
October 16, 2009
That there are many compelling reasons to switch to Linux is no longer a matter of much debate. Excellent security and low -- or nonexistent -- costs, to name just two, have already persuaded countless organizations and individuals around the globe to eschew the world of end-user license agreements and opt for the freedom and openness of Linux instead.
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.

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