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Linux in the newsRecommended Reading The code monkey's guide to cryptographic hashes for content-based addressing (LinuxWorld)Val Henson takes a look at content-based addressing. "Used properly, content-based addressing dramatically reduces bandwidth use, simplifies code, and improves security. But used when it doesn't make sense, it can reduce performance, increase bandwidth usage, and create new security risks. Figuring out when content-based addressing is good and when it is very, very bad requires an understanding of both systems programming and mathematics. What's a programmer to do? In this article, we'll lay out the considerations in language that any programmer (and even some managers) can understand."
Is 2008 the Year of the Linux Desktop? (Linux Magazine)Joe Brockmeier revisits the 'year of the Linux desktop'. "No doubt you've heard the prediction before — "this is going to be the year of the Linux desktop." At the risk of being repetitive, though, I'm going to go ahead and say it: 2008 really could be the year of the Linux desktop. Yes, yes. I know — we've all heard this before. If I recall correctly, 2001 through 2007 have also been" the year of the Linux desktop," according to various pundits. Hear me out, though, because it seems a few vendors are starting to get a clue about how they can make Linux compelling."
Companies MontaVista partners with Linux phone stack vendor (LinuxDevices)LinuxDevices looks at a partnership between Movial and MontaVista Software. "Along with its recent phone-stack partnership with Access, the Movial partnership could help silence critics who claim that MontaVista does not provide sufficient integrated support for higher-level mobile-phone stacks. The key advantage for developers appears to be the single-source support from either company, which MontaVista claims will reduce the complexity of creating advanced mobile applications."
Putting Unbreakable Linux into perspective (451 CAOS)Matthew Aslett speculates on what's really going on with Oracle Linux on the 451 CAOS site. "To put it simply: a win for Linux is a win for Oracle as it immediately takes SQL Server, Exchange, Visual Studio et al out of the equation and increases the likelihood that a customer will choose Oracle software. From that perspective it is clearly in Oracles interests that Linux succeeds, whether that means Red Hat, Novell or Ubuntu. The only problem for Oracle is that a win for Linux introduces a new third party that stands between its software and its customers."
Ubuntu scores first major pre-installed server win (Linux-Watch)Linux-Watch reports on Dell's selling of Ubuntu-based servers. "Ubuntu is extremely popular on the desktop, but it's made comparatively little progress on servers. That's about to change. Dell is expected to announce in the first quarter of 2008 that it has certified Ubuntu Linux for its server lines. In an interview with Rick Becker, Dell Product Group's vice president of solutions, Becker said that Dell is currently in the process of certifying Ubuntu for all its server lines. "But we are still several months away from announcing a certification. I'd say it'll be announced in Q1 next year." Dell, however, is already selling pre-loaded Ubuntu on its servers."
Wal-Mart Plans To Restock Hot-Selling Linux PC (InformationWeek)InformationWeek notes that Wal-Mart is selling a lot of Linux-based Everex gPC machines. "The Everex TC2502 Green gPC will again be available at Walmart.com "in the coming weeks," said a spokesman for the company. Wal-Mart began selling the Everex gPC online for $199 earlier this month, but it's currently listed as "Sold Out". Wal-Mart's spokesman wouldn't disclose precise sales figures, but said the gPC "has been one of the top performing desktop computers on Wal-Mart.com over the last few weeks.""
Legal Swedish police arrest security expert who cracked embassy e-mail passwords (ars technica)Swedish police have arrested and questioned Dan Egerstad, the security researcher who listened in on Tor traffic, as reported by ars technica. "Swedish law enforcement authorities, who allegedly informed Egerstad that he is suspected of breaking into foreign computers, confiscated hardware and documents at his apartment and then questioned him at length. After what Egerstad describes as a two-hour interrogation, he was permitted to leave. Egerstad told the Sydney Morning Herald that the raid is harming his business and that the confiscated equipment and records still have not been returned even though he has yet to be charged with any crime."
Interviews Open-Source Java: One Year Later (eWeek)eWeek presents an interview with Sun's Rich Sands. Sands gives a history of events since the initial open-source release of Java. "It has been quite an exciting year and some of the key milestones from this past year include Nov. 13, 2006: We open-sourced several components of Java SE [javac, HotSpot], and the entire Java ME code base, both CLDC [Connected Limited Device Configuration] and CDC [Connected Device Configuration], under the surprising and courageous choice of GPLv2. Richard Stallman said: "It shows leadership. It's an example I hope others will follow." The "Java Trap" finished."
Reviews The Linux-based Archos 604 (OSnews)OSnews reviews the Archos 604 Personal Multimedia Player, a Linux-based video and audio storage and playback device. "Where Archos shines compared to any similar product out there today is video codec support. This is the first PMP that I have reviewed that was able to playback any DivX/XDiV file, and without a hitch. The Archos people also sent us the h.264 and mpeg/mpeg2 plugins for the purpose of this review (sold separately as addons, $20 each), and with these plugins Archos played back all such files we threw at it. Archos also played back normal mpeg-4 files, like the ones cellphones usually record. WMV9/ASF worked too, although it was not able to fast forward on these kinds files (or set "bookmarks"). The only files we tried but the device was not able to playback was WMV8, 3GP and the old kind of .mov files that Apple used to encode with Quicktime back in 2002. The point is though, as long as the resolution of the file is up to 720x576, the Archos 604 is able to playback without dropping frames 95% of the user-oriented formats out there, and that's quite an accomplishment."
Page editor: Forrest Cook |
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