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AUUG hails govt stance on Open Source (The Age)

The Age covers a new strategy launched this week by the Australian Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston. "The Australian UNIX and Open Systems User Group (AUUG) has welcomed the identification of Open Standards and Open Source as critical factors for the "Efficient Application of Technology" in the high level e-government strategy Better Services, Better Government, a media release from the group says." Thanks to Gordon Hubbard

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iSeePet: a remote pet-communication system powered by Linux

The iSeePet is a remote pet-communication system powered by Linux, popular in Japan. Here is an article from Japan Corporate News Network: "Weighing 3kg, iSeePet is composed of a web cam-equipped water tank and a food dish. Beginning November 29, owners can log on to the Internet or mobile-phone service (www.iseepet.jp/), to see animated or static images of their pet waiting for food. At meal times the owner presses the Call button over the Web, and the remote-controlled system plays a melody to catch the pet's attention."

According to AlphaOmega's pages (in Japanese) [1][2], this machine (iSeePet) is powered by Linux.
[1] an overview and specifications
[2] pictures
Thanks to Maya Tamiya

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Open-Source Milestone: UnitedLinux Ships (TechWeb)

TechWeb reports on the release of UnitedLinux version 1.0. "UnitedLinux backers say the new common release -- which will compete most directly with Red Hat Linux, the most widely-used version of Linux in the enterprise -- will be welcome for its business focus and the strong support, training and certification programs backing it. Hardware vendors, including IBM and Hewlett-Packard, which participated in the announcement, like the consolidated operating system because it means they have to certify their hardware to fewer Linux distributions."

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Companies

Race for fastest computer heats up (CNN)

CNN covers a couple of new supercomputers from IBM. "At the SuperComputing 2002 conference in Baltimore on Tuesday, U.S. Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham was to announce a $290 million contract with IBM to build two new supercomputers, one of which, dubbed ASCI Purple, is expected to clock in at 100 teraflops, or trillions of calculations per second."

Here's IBM's press release.

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IBM's Linux Push Shows AIX Is No Sacred Cow (TechWeb)

TechWeb examines IBM's Linux commitment and its effect on the company's proprietary AIX OS. "That is, as Linux continues to take on more enterprise features, it could come into conflict with AIX. But the vendor seems to be encouraging that development, rather than resisting it. It's got 250 or so programmers working on Linux development and, most recently, came out with a high-end, aggressively priced system that will run AIX, Linux or both."

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Metrowerks Set To Acquire Lineo (eWeek)

eWeek speculates that an Metroworks is about to acquire Lineo. "Sources close to Lineo said the company had 'not to date been acquired,' but indicated an announcement was imminent. Metrowerks officials confirmed that it is making an announcement next week but would not disclose its nature."

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Motorola subsidiary Metrowerks to acquire Lineo? (LinuxDevices)

LinuxDevices examines rumors that Motorola's Metrowerks software tools subsidiary may acquire Lineo. "Rumors have surfaced of an impending acquisition of Lineo (aka Embedix Inc.) by Motorola's Metrowerks software tools subsidiary. Metrowerks is well known for its popular CodeWarrior integrated development environment (IDE), which is used for embedded system software development. Lineo and Metrowerks have had a long standing strategic partnership including a $22.5 million investment by Metrowerks in Lineo in September 2000."

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Business

Japan may drop Windows to boost security (Forbes)

Forbes is carrying a Reuters article stating that the Japanese government is taking a hard look at switching over to Linux. "The Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications will set up a panel of experts to study how other countries are using open source operating systems as early as the next fiscal year that starts next April, the paper said." (Thanks to Maya Tamiya).

Robert Hawkins also sent us a pointer to an article in Japanese on Asahi.com for those who can read it.

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Red Hat wins over Windows convert (News.com)

Here's a News.com article about a company called Acuity Lighting Group. This company decided to use Red Hat's Advanced Server version of the Linux operating system to run Oracle's 9i RAC database software atop a group of Dell Computer servers. "Acuity is running three new Linux databases, Dell said. The first is spread across a four-computer cluster, each database system a four-processor Dell PowerEdge 6450. The second database runs on an eight-processor PowerEdge 8460, while the third is on a four-processor PowerEdge 6450."

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Open-source CMS: On the rise (ZDNet)

ZDNet looks at free content management systems. "But the advantage of open-source solutions goes beyond cost savings. Content management, by its very nature, requires a degree of customization, and by having access to the source code, developers can do things like add support for a unique content type right into the codebase--an option not possible with proprietary tools."

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Legal

Tux Fights Bux for the Soul of India (Linux Journal)

Linux Journal takes a look at open source vs. Bill Gates in India. "November 12 - Business Times Asia runs "Bill Gates lands in India amid a Linux debate", adding this about the initiative: Just weeks before Mr Gates' impending arrival, officials in India's Department of Information Technology in New Delhi leaked details of an effort called the Linux India Initiative. It is meant to promote Linux for use in government departments and corporations. Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan has declined to discuss the initiative. "I don't want to comment on Linux so close to Gates' visit," he said last week."

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Interviews

Interview with Don Eigler: What's wireless and miniscule? (IBM developerWorks)

IBM's developerWorks has an interview with Don Eigler on the miniaturization of wireless devices. "It seems that every generation of new wireless technology is smaller than the last. At IBM's Almaden Research Center, IBM Fellow Don Eigler and his research group are reaching whole new frontiers of miniaturization, building molecule-sized logic gates, one atom at a time. Ira Kalb talked to Don to learn what today's developers can do to prepare for the future of wireless."

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Resources

Embedded Linux Newsletter for Nov. 14, 2002

Get all the Embedded Linux News with the Embedded Linux Newsletter from LinuxDevices.com

Full Story (comments: none)

Reviews

Sharp upgrades Linux handheld (News.com)

News.com looks at the latest version of Sharp's Linux-powered Zaurus. "The Zaurus has some appeal for a small section of the market--people who like the control they can have through the version of Linux from Lineo that Zaurus uses. "That certainly could be a benefit that could be a draw for leading-edge technophiles," Slawsby said."

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A Linux smartphone that does Bluetooth (Register)

The Register covers the Swiss Army knife of smartphones. "CDL's Paron is a practical industrial handheld capable of using GPRS 2.5G packet data networks, runs Opera and Trolltech Qtopia-based embedded applications, and boasts a biometric fingerprint sensor, 320x240 color screen and USB. It's also a phone."

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Tool of the Month: K3b (Unix Review)

Unix Review looks at K3b, a CD burning utility for KDE. "Do you miss the nice, slick GUI CD burning programs under Windows and Mac OS X? Or just want to stop using command-line tools to burn your CDs? K3b might just be what the doctor ordered."

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Insided UnitedLinux (developerWorks)

IBM developerWorks has taken a lengthy look at UnitedLinux (in the form of SCO Linux 4.0), with the usual emphasis on the installation process. "In my opinion, the UnitedLinux 1.0 base product demonstrates excellent hardware scalability and every capability to meet the demands of a wide range of deployment scenarios. There is a generous level of support for hardware RAID devices, software raid, logical volume management, high performance and high bandwidth ethernet, and more. It will be interesting to see what OEM bundled platform deals this new platform will inspire."

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Why Linux is a desktop dud (ZDNet)

Despite its title, this ZDNet article is a reasonably positive look at the Linux desktop. "To refine the user interface and evolve more useful tools, development must move beyond creative cloning. To prevail over proprietary systems, it must take the lead in providing both ease of use and productivity for the desktop user."

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Linux--doomed on the desktop? (ZDNet)

ZDNet talks with Gartner research director Phil Sargeant about Linux on the desktop. ""There's quite a lack of tools in that particular space," said Sargeant. "We are going to need to see more tools if it's to make any inroads." He cited StarOffice and OpenOffice.org as examples of the few good tools available."

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Lindows.com Introduces Version 3 Of Linux Desktop (TechWeb)

TechWeb takes a look at the recently released LindowsOS 3.0. "For Linux to achieve popularity on the desktop, it will require channels offering PCs for sale with Linux pre-installed, Robertson said. That's already starting to happen; Lindows.com is available on PCs from Wal-Mart and Tiger Direct, and Lindows.com is also working to recruit enterprise channels."

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Sun plays safe with Linux device (News.com)

News.com covers a new product from Sun. The Sun LX50 Firewall/VPN appliance runs a version of Linux with enhanced security and uses firewall and virtual private network (VPN) software from Israeli-based Check Point. "Sun plans to unveil the new network security device at the Comdex Fall 2002 trade show during a keynote speech by Sun CEO Scott McNealy."

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Geramik Reduces KDE/GNOME Style Differences (OfB.biz)

Open for Business covers the Geramik theme. "Craig Drummond has released a new theme and "engine" for GTK programs that provides something many people have been looking for: a common look and feel for KDE and GNOME applications. While Red Hat's Blue Curve attempts to do something similar, Mr. Drummond's Geramik is the first theme implementation to provide smooth integration between environments."

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Miscellaneous

UCLA CIO 'Humbled' By Open Source Quality (LinuxMedNews)

LinuxMedNews reports on comments made by UCLA CIO Mike McCoy, MD on the quality of open-source software. "...I am humbled by the quality of open source software. [Medical software] Vendors have awful software behind the scenes because they don't have a review process. Vendor companies frequently have 500 employees: 495 in sales, the rest in support...Most companies cannot afford to maintain quality sources themselves..."

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Linux Professional Institute raises the bar on testing (Register)

The Register looks at LPI certification. "So far, more than 6,000 people have been certified through LPI. [Evan] Leibovitch says they have distributed some 20,000 examinations. A quick math check points out the obvious: LPI ain't easy, so don't stroll into LWCE to take the free test on a whim."

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