Linux in the news

Recommended Reading

How Linux will Revolutionize the Embedded Market (LinuxDevices)

Here's a column by Michael Tiemann on LinuxDevices.com about how the embedded Linux market will settle out. "In the mean time, the deeper I look into environments adopting Linux, from embedded to enterprise, the more I believe that Linux has the requisite DNA and development model to truly scale from embedded to enterprise as a single platform, and Red Hat's focus will remain on ensuring that what works for the mainframe, and the server, and the workstation, also works for the appliance, the carrier, the router, the PDA, and the cellphone; and, of course, vice-versa."

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Processors: The next commodity? (ZDNet)

David Berlind suggests that processor power could become a tradeable commodity on the Internet. "Will the processor turn virtual and will MIPS ever become a commodity like electricity? Probably. But it may take a while. Current prototypes suggest that the first commercial grids will have some dependencies. For example, there will be Linux grids that are only good for Linux-based applications and they may only be able to run applications designed for a specific processor architecture like IA-64 or IA-32. "

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Open-Source Fight Flares At Pentagon (Washington Post)

The Washington Post reports on Microsoft's efforts to head off open source software use in the U.S. Military. "But the effort may have backfired. A May 10 report prepared for the Defense Department concluded that open source often results in more secure, less expensive applications and that, if anything, its use should be expanded."

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Obsolete Microkernel Dooms Mac OS X to Lag Linux in Performance (Linux Journal)

Here's a detailed, technical, and opinionated article in the Linux Journal on the superiority of Linux's monolithic kernel architecture. "Given how the microkernel experiment has worked out, I'm surprised by Apple's quaint choice to use a microkernel in a new design. At the very least, it creates an opportunity for Linux to establish and maintain performance leadership on the macppc platform."

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Companies

Hanging onto the desktop, barely (ZDNet)

ZDNet looks at the battle between Microsoft and Sun for the corporate desktop. "It is not the alternative systems like Linux that pose such a threat to Microsoft's desktop hegemony. It is the crossover applications (Java, Open Office, Mozilla, and The Gimp) that could give Chairman Bill a bad hair day he might never get over."

Comments (5 posted)

CodeWeavers and NeTraverse Bring Office to Linux (OpenForBusiness)

Open For Business reviews CrossOver and Win4Lin. "The folks over at CodeWeavers are nothing short of geniuses - they have succeeded in making it a snap to install and operate Microsoft Office in Linux."

Comments (2 posted)

Sony ships PS2-Linux PC conversion kit (ZDNet)

ZDNet reports on Sony's release of a Linux kit for its PlayStation 2 platform. "Sony Computer Entertainment has begun shipping a kit for turning the PlayStation 2 into a Linux console, bowing to the requests of thousands of open-source programmers. The kit is available in the United States and Europe."

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Linux for Playstation comes to UK (BBC)

According to this article in the BBC News, Sony has started taking UK orders for a kit to turn the Playstation 2 games console into a computer running the Linux operating system. (Thanks to Jim Jarvie)

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IBM boosts Linux for oil industry (News.com)

IBM and Landmark Graphics will be building Linux supercomputers and PCs for oil and gas companies, according to this News.com article.

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IBM snags 'Lord of the Rings' deal (ZDNet)

ZDNet reports on IBM's sale of 150 workstations to Weta, a New Zealand-based film company. "The deal underscores IBM's recent push into digital effects as it and other technology giants try to capitalize on studios' move to embrace the Linux operating system, which has been promoted for its cost savings and flexibility."

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Sun's StarOffice no longer free (ZDNet)

Here's a ZDNet article on the (May 29) end to free downloads of StarOffice 5.2. "Sun's maneuvres with StarOffice are being closely watched as open-source software businesses continue to search for ways to boost revenues. Paid, proprietary software is controversial in the open-source world, which is based on the theory that profits can be made on 'free' products, but some open-source companies say it is the only way to continue to fund themselves."

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Sun to launch new low-end servers (News.com)

Sun Microsystems will launch two new low-end servers, according to this News.com article. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," Sun decided, announcing plans to sell low-end servers with Intel or Intel-compatible processors and the Linux operating system. It's better to cannibalize one's own sales than to lose them to other companies, the Santa Clara, Calif.-based company reasoned.

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Red Hat banding for compatibility (News.com)

News.com reports on Red Hat's Alliance program, which is intended to improve compatibility among products from different vendors. "The partners include BMC Software, Borland Software, Computer Associates International, IBM and Veritas Software. "

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Unified Linux effort won't faze Red Hat (News.com)

Here's News.com's take on UnitedLinux. "UnitedLinux pools some resources while giving much of the technological control to SuSE--a recognition of the reality that SuSE was the only Linux seller that had a development staff with depth comparable to Red Hat's."

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Red Hat might face a new Goliath in 'United Linux' (NewsForge)

NewsForge reports on the upcoming announcement from Caldera, Conectiva, SuSE, and Turbolinux. "The United Linux announcement is marketing at it's most excellent: giving the public what they want. It's business strategy at its finest: Let's find out what makes Red Hat so successful and imitate it. They're nosing in on Red Hat's territory by invading and taking over the paradigm."

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Red Hat Co-founder Works on Next Venture (Raleigh, N.C. News & Observer)

In case you've been wondering what Red Hat co-founder Bob Young has been up to since he left his active Red Hat days behind, here's a story from The News & Observer (Raleigh, N.C.) about Bob's latest venture. "Lulu Enterprises -- Young takes the name from the 1930s definition of "lulu" as a remarkable thing, person or idea -- is the parent company of Lulu Press, which acquired some assets from the now-defunct OpenMind Publishing Group of Cary. Lulu Press is still in the formative stages."

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Business

Paint retailer brushes up on Linux (News.com)

News.com covers the move of Sherwin-Williams from SCO Unix to Linux. "Sherwin-Williams will use the PCs in more than 2,500 stores for running each store's centralized cash register software, reading e-mail and browsing the company's intranet, and for securely recording customers' choices in custom paint tints."

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Linux gets big in Christchurch (ComputerWorld)

ComputerWorld in New Zealand looks at local businesses that are using Linux. "The firm is now conducting policy routing between its ADSL and dedicated data connections, its proxy services, intrusion detection, mail gateways and traffic shaping, all using standard Linux utilities." (Thanks to Ross Boswell)

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The Business of Embedded Linux (LinuxDevices)

In this opinion column at LinuxDevices.com, Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols offers a perspective on the business side of the Embedded Linux Market. Vaughan-Nichols sees 'consolidation' in his crystal ball.

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Linux players bond for business software (News.com)

Here is another article on News.com about UnitedLinux. "However, the lack of participation by Red Hat in the UnitedLinux alliance is a problem, analysts said. UnitedLinux is redundant to the Linux Standard Base specification backed by Red Hat, according to IDC analyst Dan Kusnetzky."

Comments (6 posted)

Linux United - an operating system grows up (IT-Director)

IT-Director writes about Linux United. "If the announcement rolls out as everyone expects there will be five major Linux distributions - Red Hat, Mandrake, Debian, Slackware and 'Linux United'"

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Four Linux Vendors Launch 'UnitedLinux,' Others May Join Soon (Open For Business)

Open For Business looks at UnitedLinux. "In a brief correspondence with Mandrake co-founder Gaël Duval yesterday, he confirmed that MandrakeSoft was in talks with the UnitedLinux group. He noted that there were many factors that his company was considering, delaying any immediate decision by Mandrake on whether to join."

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Commentary: Where UnitedLinux got it wrong (NewsForge)

NewsForge points out a problem with the UnitedLinux "no free binaries" policy. "No, many of the people downloading software from FTP sites are developers. They are the software providers -- the true software vendors, if you will -- who make the code which is UnitedLinux. By cutting off your development people, you are launching into dangerous territory. Alienating the Open Source community is a dumb move for most companies to make. But alienating them, and then expecting them to cooperate with your desire to sell their software, is profoundly foolish." The solution, they say, is to name the FTPable binary distribution "Hackers Linux."

Comments (14 posted)

Together We Get It Together (DesktopLinux)

Here's another view of United Linux, this time from DesktopLinux.com. "IBM plans to support UnitedLinux across its entire range of hardware, according to Scott Handy of IBM Worldwide. "Since UL supports ten languages, it's easier to build and deploy. We will also support Red Hat.""

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Linux Dreamworks Redux (Linux Journal)

Linux Journal takes us back to the DreamWorks SKG Glendale studio, to see how Linux was used in the production of Spirit, Stallion of the Cimarron. ""For Spirit the Ink and Paint department was entirely Linux, as was half of rendering", says DreamWorks Head of Animation Technology Ed Leonard. "Now all the departments have been converted. For our current production, Sinbad, every workstation and the entire renderfarm is Linux." Linux gained its first toehold in the motion picture industry on servers for rendering and has now become a standard desktop for artists. For Spirit DreamWorks utilized more than 150 Linux desktops. More than 350 are in use for Sinbad."

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Linux in the German government

The German government's plans for using Linux are covered by these articles on News.com and IT-Director.

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German gov deal offers Linux great leap forward in Europe (Register)

The Register covers the announcement of a Linux-based cooperation agreement between IBM and Germany's ministry of the Interior. "The agreement also calls for IBM and the German government to create "innovative and reusable IT solutions for the federal administration," while IBM will be setting up an open source portal and providing support services."

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Linux takes on Microsoft turf in Germany (ZDNet)

ZDNet looks at the purchasing deal signed by the German government, IBM, and SuSE. "With the contract with IBM we meet three key targets,' Otto Schily, Minister of the Interior of the Federal Republic of Germany, said in a statement. 'We raise the level of IT security by avoiding monocultures; we lower the dependency on single software vendors; and we reach costs savings in software and operation costs.'"

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(German) Federal Government to increase Linux use (Heise)

Here's an article (in German) on Heise Online about the German government's increased interest in using Linux. Avoidance of "manufacturer dependence" and increased security are cited. An English translation is available Via Google. (Thanks to Dan Kegel).

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The Penguin Continues Its March (Wired)

Wired looks at increasing Linux usage in government systems. "Overseas, Linux systems help keep order in Germany's parliament as well as China's post office, France's culture, defense and education ministries and other federal agencies in Europe and Asia."

Comments (1 posted)

Open Road For Open Source (TechWeb)

TechWeb takes a look at the growth of open source software. "It also has Microsoft worried. The company is trying to convince the Pentagon that open source is dangerous, suggesting that its use could jeopardize critical defense systems. (Interesting argument, coming from a vendor that has had more than its share of security problems.)"

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Taiwan gets behind open source (News.com)

News.com reports that the Taiwanese government plans to start an open-source project. "An official with the National Center for High Performance Computing, Chuang Tze-nan, announced the plan Monday. Under the project, the government will encourage research and development in office software and the opening of the source code for government agencies and private establishments."

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Global server market shrinks 15 percent (News.com)

News.com is carrying a Reuters article stating that the market for servers dropped 15% in the first quarter. The news is not all bad, though: "Sales of servers running Linux, the upstart operating system developed by engineers worldwide, jumped 54.7 percent from a year earlier to just under $400 million, with IBM leading the pack."

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Microsoft gets diplomatic in China (News.com)

News.com looks at Microsoft's challenges in China. "Still, the company must contend with the realities of the market in China. Linux is catching on here. Earlier this year, the Asia-Pacific wing of research firm Gartner said 15 percent of companies in the region--excluding Japan--used Linux in the fourth quarter of 2001, up from between 5 percent and 7 percent a year earlier."

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Interviews

Linux Orbit interviews Murray Cumming

Linux Orbit has an interview with Murray Cumming. "I sat down with Murray Cumming, lead developer on the gtkmm and gnomemm C++ bindings for GTK+ and GNOME to get some information on the status of C++ development in GNOME."

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An Interview with Dr. Edgar Villanueva (Linux Journal)

Linux Journal interviews Dr. Edgar Villanueva on the topic of free software in Peru. "Dr. Edgar Villanueva has recently become somewhat of a celebrity in the Free Software and Open Source communities as a result of his legislative efforts favoring free software and his highly publicized, well informed and eloquent response to a Peruvian Microsoft executive's letter."

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People Behind KDE: Jason Katz-Brown and Masaji Takeyama

KDE.News has interviews available with Jason Katz-Brown who recently enriched KDE CVS with Kolf, and with Masaji Takeyama who brings KDE to the masses in Japan.

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Interview of Paul F. Dubois of Numeric Python Fame

Get ready for the European Python and Zope Conference 2002 with a series of interviews with conference speakers. Here's the first one, with Paul F. Dubois.
"I think open-source science is taking off. If I am right and correctness is more precious to us than to banks, the correctness advantages of open source are important. I will talk about some key ideas for constructing open-source scientific programs, including the issue of how to make reusable components."

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Interview: Paul F. Dubois of Numeric Python Fame

Get ready for the European Python and Zope Conference 2002 with a series of interviews with conference speakers. Here's the first one, with Paul F. Dubois. "I think open-source science is taking off. If I am right and correctness is more precious to us than to banks, the correctness advantages of open source are important. I will talk about some key ideas for constructing open-source scientific programs, including the issue of how to make reusable components."

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Natural Curiosity: Dr. Mitra and the Hole in the Wall Experiment (Linux Journal)

Linux Journal has received an invitation for LJ readers to help interview Dr. Mitra about sustainable development and Linux.

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Resources

Visual Development with Qt 3.0 (Linux Journal)

Boudewijn looks at Qt 3.0 and talks about why its such a strong and useful visual design environment.

Full Story (comments: none)

Update on Linux compatible Single-Board Computers (LinuxDevices)

LinuxDevices.com is running a survey of Linux-friendly single-board computers. "With the growing availability of application-oriented system-on-chip processors, SBC vendors are beginning to target their boards at specific applications or classes of applications. For example, there are boards with two or more Ethernet ports that are intended for firewall/router uses or small palm-sized boards with built-in LCD controllers and touch input controllers for specialized handheld computer apps."

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Embedded Linux Newsletter

The May 30, 2002 Linux Devices Embedded Linux Newsletter is out. Topics include the business of embedded linux, the Dragonix Linux SBC, BOEL part 2, unification by Linux vendors, and more.

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Embedded Linux Newsletter for May 23, 2002 (Linux Devices)

The Linux Devices Embedded Linux Newsletter for May 23, 2002 features a guest editor by Red Hat CTO Michael Tiemann, an interview with ELC chair Mark Brown, and lots more on the topic of embedded Linux.

Full Story (comments: none)

What is Ogg Vorbis?

The Ogg Vorbis site has posted an introductory document that describes the Ogg Vorbis audio compression system.

Comments (14 posted)

Open Source Software Image Map

The National Imagery and Mapping Agency's National Technical Alliance has produced some reports on the benefits of open-source software development. ...a survey of relevant open source software packages was performed. Demonstrations were provided on an acquired workstation. The objective was to determine how Open Source Software technology and methodology could be applied to meet government requirements. The effort demonstrated the technological advantages of Open Source Software while highlighting several organizational challenges. Thanks to David Wheeler.

Comments (3 posted)

Is Beauty Only Pixel Deep?, Part 1 (Linux Journal)

The Linux Journal talks about management of X11 fonts in this "how to" article. "The real problem with fonts under Linux (under X actually) is the many different ways of handling fonts, not to mention different font types. We have both bitmap and outline fonts; which further break down into Speedo fonts, portable compiled fonts, Type1, TrueType, ghostscript fonts and others. This is one place where 'more than one way to do it' hasn't paid off."

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A TimeSys perspective on the Linux preemptible kernel (LinuxDevices)

LinuxDevices.com is running a whitepaper by Dr. Doug Locke, Vice President of Technology at TimeSys Corp. Dr. Locke explores the changes recently made to the mainstream Linux development kernel to improve its preemptibility, discusses the implications of these changes relative to embedded and real-time applications, and contrasts the recently adopted approach with that used in TimeSys Linux GPL.

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Asterisk -- punctuating the path to open source Packet Voice (LinuxDevices)

LinuxDevices.com has a whitepaper on the Asterisk Private Branch Exchange (PBX). "The Asterisk Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform offers an exciting look at the power and adaptability of the Linux kernel and GNU system. Asterisk turns a GNU/Linux system to the task of switching calls, and offers a large number of features to support communication in the business environment."

Comments (2 posted)

Reviews

Breaking the Ice: IceWM Review (LinuxOrbit)

LinuxOrbit reviews the IceWM window manager. "To start with, IceWM is very easy on system resources. If you've only used KDE or Gnome, then a switch to IceWM on your desktop will seem like a major computer upgrade."

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Netscape 7.0 Available As Preview Release (TechWeb)

Internet Week reviews Netscape 7.0 preview release 1. "The Mozilla browser code base, available in nearly complete open-source form for a while now, this week sees light of day for the first time as an official 'preview release' from America Online's Netscape division."

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Packet Design unveils Layer 3 switch (InfoWorld)

InfoWorld looks at Route Explorer, a new network appliance from Packet Design. "Within the appliance is an open-source mySQL database running on a Linux operating system. Standard with 20GB of disk space, Route Explorer records as many as 4 months of commands issued over OSPF and IS-IS protocols. Estrin says future releases of the product will also listen to BGP." (Thanks to Lenz Grimmer)

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Netscape 7 beta: first looks (Register)

The Register reviews Netscape 7 beta. "Netscape 7.0 Preview Release, which is based on the recent Mozilla 1.0 RC2 build and the Gecko browser engine, features a variety of enhancements on Netscape 6.2. These include tabbed browsing (a la Opera), print preview, the ability to save complete web pages, email return receipts, message labels and S/MIME support. A quick Search within mail and address book, filtering facility and mail alerts, has also been included."

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BRU-Pro 2.0: A Product Review (Linux Journal)

Here's a positive review of BRU-Pro 2.0, backup software for Linux, from Linux Journal. "BRU's biggest selling point, besides price, is down in the dirt of how it does backups. The philosophy BRU's creators took was that your backups are only as good as the data on them. It is easy to assume that since you backed something up, your data is safe; unfortunately, that is not always the case. Therefore, the creators designed BRU to provide accountability for every bit of data of every buffer block, local or remote."

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Book review: Craig Hollabaugh's Embedded Linux (LinuxDevices)

LinuxDevices.com is carrying a lengthy review of Embedded Linux by Craig Hollabaugh. "Don't let my quibbling with details in Embedded Linux mislead you -- this is an extraordinarily worthwhile book that anyone working with Linux in embedded systems should have."

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Cisco $15,000 'blade' is really a PC (Inquirer)

The Inquirer talks with an engineer who opened up the Cisco "Network Access Module" for its 6500 switch. "The card, he claims, is running a Linux kernel and has a number of GPL tools included such as syslogd klogd crond mingetty agetty ps & top. 'If you have access to CCO and download updated software for the NAM you find that it is basically a gziped disk image of a Linux System complete with Lilo and a number of FSF foundation utilities (strings imagefile | grep Foundation)'."

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Meet Dragonix (LinuxDevices)

The latest hardware profile from LinuxDevices.com is about "Dragonix." "What's Dragonix? It's an 'Open Hardware' single-board computer (SBC), based on a Motorola Dragonball 68VZ328 processor, running uClinux." Pictures included.

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FYI: Introducing Dillo, a lightweight embeddable browser

Linux Devices has published a white paper on Dillo, a small web browser that is suitable for use in embedded systems.

Full Story (comments: none)

It came from Boston U. (News.com)

This News.com article looks at Boston University's Scientific Computing and Visualization Group - Deep Vision Display Wall and the supercomputer that powers it. "A cluster of 52 dual-processor IBM X330 Linux servers renders and manipulates the images, while 24 workstations serve to direct eight projectors, which create the image. Each of the eight NEC liquid-crystal display (LCD) projectors costs about $4,500. In all, this extra equipment costs about $300,000."

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Miscellaneous

Experts warn of Linux/Windows virus (vnunet)

Much fuss is being made about the new "Simile" virus which, it is said, can infect both Windows and Linux systems. This vnunet article at least has captured an important point: "Linux users can even sit back smugly and consider themselves secure, as long as they do not log in as root and run dodgy email attachments." Very few Linux users, of course, would do such a thing...

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Linux development kernel gets Bluetooth (ZDNet)

Support for Bluetooth has been added to the Linux development kernel, reports ZDNet. "On 8 May the Linux Bluetooth protocol stack made its debut in version 2.5.14 of the Linux development kernel, in its first non-experimental form."

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Trial: Microsoft memo disallowed (ZDNet)

This article from Reuters reports on the rejection of a controversial memo as evidence. "In the memo, Microsoft Senior Vice President Joachim Kempin complained to Gates and other senior executives that computer chipmaker Intel was encouraging computer makers to support the rival Linux operating system and funding development of new devices that would work with Linux.

Kempin said Microsoft should withhold technical information from Intel and "work underground" to promote its competitors in the computer chip industry, according to portions of the memo disclosed in the states' legal filing."

Comments (2 posted)

Open Source Software May Offer Target for Terrorists

According to this press release, open-source software makes terrorism easy. "Opening the Open Source Debate", a soon to be released white paper by Alexis de Tocqueville Institution details the complex issues surrounding open source, particularly if federal agencies such as the Department of Defense or the Federal Aviation Administration use software that inherently requires that its blueprints, source code and architecture is made widely available to any person interested - without discretion.

Comments (2 posted)

Microsoft fails to win over the Pentagon (vnunet)

Vnunet reports on an attempt by Microsoft to get the Pentagon to dump its move to open source. "Among the most high-profile efforts is research funded by the National Security Agency to develop a more secure version of the open source Linux operating system..."

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Microsoft Finds Upgrade Plan A Tough Sell (TechWeb)

TechWeb examines the slow movement of Microsoft customers to the company's new licensing program. But some users may be holding out so they have the freedom to use alternatives. Microsoft's attempt could backfire. "Everyone's now thinking that Linux is the next best thing, because we're trying to figure out how to best manage the nickels we have left," Lindahl says. "Does Microsoft realize that?"

Comments (3 posted)

Microsoft Shills on the Attack, Again (OOoDocs)

The Open Office Documentation Project is running a commentary on the latest Gartner pronouncements. "The Gartner arguments are shallow and spurious, as if from another age, another time. What plantation are they talking about anyway? All of which causes any sane person to ask not about Open Office.org, but rather, "What's up with Gartner?"" (Thanks to Martijn Dekkers)

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From Junkie to, Well, Junkman (Wired)

Wired takes a look at James Burgett, a man who is building a trash empire from recycled computers. "All the machines are loaded with SuSe's version of the free Linux operating system. It takes too long to load Linux via the CD drive, so Burgett hooks each machine onto a network to burn in the operating system."

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