Linked by David Adams on Wed 10th Aug 2011 17:12 UTC, submitted by R_T_F_M
The lure of shiny toys has helped Apple's BSD-based Mac OS X operating system overtake Linux to become the operating system that is the second most used by developers, according to Evans Data.
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Member since:2007-04-25
Android uses the Linux kernel, but Android is not "the Linux platform".
I think you mean that Android is not "the Gnu platform".
Linux is just a kernel, nothing more, and Android as currently shipped most certainly uses it. But since the userland is Java rather than Gnu, Android apps run under Gnu only as in an emulator. Same kernel, but different apps.
Same with freeBSD et. al. and OS/X, practical app portability pretty much doesn't exist, even though they both use BSD-derived kernels. And if BSD fans want to claim OS/X as part of their family, even if you believe it's just a third cousin's brother-in-law twice removed, why argue with them?
So many people laughed at rms for wanting to distinguish Gnu/Linux from the kernel. Got to be annoying to find out he was right. Again. ;-)
RE: Mac OS at a low level
by demetrioussharpe on Sat 13th Aug 2011 05:43
in reply to "Mac OS at a low level"
Member since:2009-01-09
Anyone here used Mac OS X at a fairly low level, for instance, recovering someone's computer from a command-line?
In low-level operation, it's no BSD. It doesn't behave or work like BSD.
In high-level operation with the GUI, of course it's nothing like BSD.
The kernel may be derived from BSD, but I'm pretty sure the kernel Apple ships with its computers is not the compiled version of the source code Apple distributes. Knowing Apple, it probably has very little BSD content still left in it.
Android uses the Linux kernel, but Android is not "the Linux platform". Because it doesn't work like a Linux distro. Well, OS X is not the BSD platform - it doesn't work like BSD and it's certainly not developed from BSD culture.
In low-level operation, it's no BSD. It doesn't behave or work like BSD.
In high-level operation with the GUI, of course it's nothing like BSD.
The kernel may be derived from BSD, but I'm pretty sure the kernel Apple ships with its computers is not the compiled version of the source code Apple distributes. Knowing Apple, it probably has very little BSD content still left in it.
Android uses the Linux kernel, but Android is not "the Linux platform". Because it doesn't work like a Linux distro. Well, OS X is not the BSD platform - it doesn't work like BSD and it's certainly not developed from BSD culture.
It doesn't matter how it "acts". The fact of the matter is that it's running BSD code under the covers. I'm not sure how long you've been in the *nix community, but you seem to be forgetting the rule of seperation: Separate policy from mechanism; separate interfaces from engines.
The mechanisms are the same, even if the policies are not.
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/24/13 17:26 UTC
So, the Xbox One disaster continues. Microsoft's policy for dealing with the used games market has reportedly leaked - and it's a clear and direct attack to destroy the used games market. Prices for used games will be set at the retail value of a new game, and retailers have to hook into Microsoft's computer systems and comply with Microsoft's terms and conditions.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/21/13 21:38 UTC
At an event earlier today, Microsoft unveiled the next Xbox - the third model, but confusingly named Xbox One. The big focus was TV, integrated Kinect, and all the other stuff we all expected to be forced down our throats. I think it took them 25 minutes to actually come to what should be the core of the story: gaming. Nothing groundbreaking in the gaming department, except for how Microsoft intends to handle the used games market and borrowing games from friends: pay up, buddy!
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/20/13 11:29 UTC
The day has finally come! Jolla has finally announced the launch device for its Sailfish operating system - and by god this is a looker. It's decidedly different from other phones out there, but it has good specifications and carries a relatively reasonably price tag - EUR 399, and it's up for pre-order today, shipping in the fourth quarter of this year.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/18/13 21:33 UTC
Why does Google get so much credit in the technology industry? Why, despite the company's many obvious failings, do many geeks and enthusiasts still hold a somewhat positive view on the all-knowing technology giant? A specific talk at Google I/O this week provides the answer.
Linked by David Adams on 05/16/13 4:23 UTC
OSNews is a sponsor of this year's O'Reilly OSCON in Portland, Oregon, USA. A lucky OSNews reader will win a free three-day pass, including two tutorials days. To win the pass, post a comment on this story saying something about Open Source Software or OSCON. We'll pick a winner at random next week. If you don't have an OSNews account, you may email us your entry. Part of the conference is the 9th annual Open Source Awards, and today the 16th is the deadline for nominations. If you'd like to nominate an outstanding open source contributor, do it here. Read on for more information about OSCON. Update: The 20% discount code for OSNews readers is "OSN."
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/11/13 21:41 UTC
"Windows is indeed slower than other operating systems in many scenarios, and the gap is worsening." That's one way to start an insider explanation of why Windows' performance isn't up to snuff. Written by someone who actually contributes code to the Windows NT kernel, the comment on Hacker News, later deleted but reposted with permission on Marc Bevand's blog, paints a very dreary picture of the state of Windows development. The root issue? Think of how Linux is developed, and you'll know the answer.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/08/13 14:22 UTC
This is one of those news items that's fun to write, fun to read, fun to comment on, and where no one will be able to say anything unkind. It's all just one big ball of awesome fluffiness. TuneTracker, the BeOS radio automation software, has just released something very special: TuneTracker System 5, the first version designed entirely and specifically for Haiku. In fact, it actually includes Haiku in the software package. Better yet, TuneTracker also unveiled several system-in-a-box products - which have Haiku and TuneTracker pre-installed.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/02/13 15:28 UTC
Exactly twenty years ago, a document was published that played a huge role in establishing the web as we know it today. Twenty years later, and this simple and straightforward document is proof of an irrefutable fact: while closed technologies can change markets, open technologies can change the world.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/29/13 21:06 UTC
Oh multitasking. That staple of computing that got thrown out the window with many modern smartphones. We got some rudimentary thing in its place - but even as multitasking on phone and tablets improves, its user-visible side remains cumbersome. Windows 8 has a neat implementation, and now it's time Android follows in it footsteps.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 04/24/13 22:24 UTC
They're here! Whether that excites you or not remains to be seen, but the Galaxy S4, which will most likely become the best selling Android smartphone of the year by a huge margin, has been reviewed by all the major sites, and there's lots of interesting conclusions in there - although I think most of you will get the gist.More Features »
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Member since:
2008-05-26
Anyone here used Mac OS X at a fairly low level, for instance, recovering someone's computer from a command-line?
In low-level operation, it's no BSD. It doesn't behave or work like BSD.
In high-level operation with the GUI, of course it's nothing like BSD.
The kernel may be derived from BSD, but I'm pretty sure the kernel Apple ships with its computers is not the compiled version of the source code Apple distributes. Knowing Apple, it probably has very little BSD content still left in it.
Android uses the Linux kernel, but Android is not "the Linux platform". Because it doesn't work like a Linux distro. Well, OS X is not the BSD platform - it doesn't work like BSD and it's certainly not developed from BSD culture.