Showing headlines posted by dave

This week, the FreeBSD Project released version 5.4 of the FreeBSD operating system. This new release offers new features, new tools, and numerous improvements in security, hardware and networking support for the UNIX-like operating system.

Well, it looks as if it finally might happen. At least one version of Java code, Java 2 Standard Edition, may soon be set free of Sun Microsystems' notoriously complicated licensing. And the unusual thing is this: Sun's apparently OK with it, at least on the surface. Some of its large, license-paying-through-the-nose customers won't be, however.

The Kompany has announced availability of a desktop Linux port of tkBackup, its "easy to use and inexpensive" file backup application for embedded Linux devices, tkcBackup.

IBM challenges JBoss, BEA Systems, Oracle and IBM's own WebSphere Application Server (WAS) by endorsing the Apache Software Foundation's open-source Geronimo project and acquiring Gluecode Software.

Setting aside for a moment the debate going on in enterprises over whether to use Microsoft or open source alternatives, this week has seen much noise over two other battlegrounds: schools and local government.

Microsoft has finally realized that Windows NT Workstation, 98, and ME users need an upgrade path that will work with their hardware. Too bad, Linux desktops can already fill that bill.

If you haven't already done so, I'll bet you would really like to try out Linux, right? You want to see for yourself what all the hype and hoopla is about. But a couple of things have held you back, haven't they?

A project report evaluating the use of open source software (OSS) within a small number of schools will be published on Friday 13th May 2005 by the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency [Becta].

Users of Linux-based e-mail servers might want to check out the latest anti-virus and filtering options from Central Command, which announced the latest version of its e-mail security software last week. 

A professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Mumbai is working on an alternative open-source licence to the GNU General Public License (GPL) because he claims GPL is "too restrictive".

The FSF, Sun and OpenOffice.org are moving to reconcile their differences about the use of Sun's Java in OpenOffice 2.0.

Tangent Systems has announced it will be debuting its new graphical management solutions for Linux servers called Meridian at the upcoming LinuxWorld conference. The conference runs from 17 to 20 May at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Here's a look at some of the conversation sparked by Doc's commentary on our Flat New World.

The long-awaited report on the use of open source software (OSS) in schools was published today by Becta, the Government's lead agency for ICT in education. As expected, the report concludes that OSS can offer a "cost effective alternative" to proprietary solutions. But it also cautions that an OSS implementation needs careful planning and support.

While Microsoft struggles to capitalize on 64-bit power, Linux has led the way for years. Correspondent Rob Reilly dusts off an older version of SUSE and demonstrates that even year-old Linux technology can run rings around anything out there for the 64-bit desktop and provide users with one screaming portable machine.

This MIDI sequencer's simple interfaces and design put usability and functionality at the forefront.

Metadot provides an open-source alternative for small companies and departments for building Web and intranet portals.

Mandriva (formerly Mandrakesoft) announced the latest version of its Linux operating system for machines based on IA-32 and PowerPC processors.

Mozilla Europe has considered for some time the opportunity of spreading Firefox with innovative means, including viral marketing. While Flash animations were an obvious choice, we have met with a French advertising agency, which has made three short videos located on http://funnyfox.org/ while meeting our goals in terms of (very small) budget and ability to be understood by the vast majority of Europeans who have trouble understanding English (hence the lack of dialog in the three movies). Enjoy and spread the word!

While networking giant Cisco has advantages most competitors don't - dominant market share, a multi-billion-dollar R&D budget, thousands of engineers - the vendor is also taking advantage and making the most of resources that are open to everyone: Linux and open source software.