Linked by Thom Holwerda on Thu 7th Jun 2012 01:59 UTC
Infoworld: "After years of battling Linux as a competitive threat, Microsoft is now offering Linux-based operating systems on its Windows Azure cloud service. The Linux services will go live on Azure at 4 a.m. EDT on Thursday. At that time, the Azure portal will offer a number of Linux distributions, including Suse Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP2, OpenSuse 12.01, CentOS 6.2 and Canonical Ubuntu 12.04. Azure users will be able to choose and deploy a Linux distribution from the Microsoft Windows Azure Image Gallery and be charged on an hourly pay-as-you-go basis." SmartGlass on iOS and Android, Office supposedly coming to iOS and Android, Linux on Azure... It's almost as if Microsoft finally got the memo that 'Windows everywhere' can't be a reality any longer.
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RE[7]: Wait... am I understanding this correctly?
by Sodki on Thu 7th Jun 2012 07:04
in reply to "RE[6]: Wait... am I understanding this correctly?"
Member since:2005-11-10
That's kind of what I'm wondering, would they have to make any changes to the distros to integrate them into the Azure system? I don't know that much about Azure so I have no idea. In the past Microsoft has shied away from Free software in part because of the restrictions of the GPL.
As much as I dislike the GPL itself, I understand its necessity and I hope Microsoft abides by it if they do have to alter the software.
As much as I dislike the GPL itself, I understand its necessity and I hope Microsoft abides by it if they do have to alter the software.
I very much doubt that they have to alter the software. They probably just have to change some configuration files.
RE[8]: Wait... am I understanding this correctly?
by Morgan on Thu 7th Jun 2012 11:57
in reply to "RE[7]: Wait... am I understanding this correctly?"
Member since:2005-06-29
If I had to guess, I would say they would at the very least have to modify some kernel source files to roll in support for Azure-specific features, but as I said I'm not that familiar with Azure so I may be talking out of my ass.
Regardless, based on the link provided by vaette it looks like they are cooperating with the GPL and that makes me happy.
RE[7]: Wait... am I understanding this correctly?
by jessesmith on Thu 7th Jun 2012 14:34
in reply to "RE[6]: Wait... am I understanding this correctly?"
Member since:2010-03-11
The GPL is a copyright license. It doesn't matter if they make changes to the distributions. As long as Microsoft doesn't redistribute their changes they are under no obligation to provide their source code changes. Since their service is a cloud based on (ie the distros run on their computers) the GPL does not apply.
RE[8]: Wait... am I understanding this correctly?
by Morgan on Thu 7th Jun 2012 15:19
in reply to "RE[7]: Wait... am I understanding this correctly?"
Member since:2005-06-29
Since their service is a cloud based on (ie the distros run on their computers) the GPL does not apply.
Fair enough, but I would argue that Microsoft is still distributing the software, even if you are using it in an instanced mode. You still buy a license from Microsoft, you still use their altered version...how is that any different from the software shipping on a device or boxed in a retail store?
Regardless, as has been pointed out elsewhere Microsoft does seem to be playing by the rules.
Features
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/13/13 14:35 UTC
The third and final WWDC product I want to talk about is - of course - OS X 10.9 Mavericks. While iOS 7 was clearly the focus of this year's WWDC, its venerable desktop counterpart certainly wasn't left behind. Apple announced OS X 10.9 Mavericks, the first OS X release not to carry the name of a big cat.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/11/13 17:07 UTC
We already talked about iOS 7 yesterday (after a night of sleep, it's only looking worse and worse - look at this, for Fiona's sake!), so now it's time to talk about the downright stunning and belly flutters-inducing new Mac Pro. As former owner and huge, huge, huge fan of the PowerMac G4 Cube - I haven't been this excited about an Apple product since, well, I would say the iMac G4. This is the Apple I used to love.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/10/13 23:13 UTC
Apple held its big keynote event thing at WWDC earlier this evening, but since I was away with friends I've had to read up on it later in the evening. The company announced iOS 7, OS X 10.9 Mavericks, and they gave a preview of the new Mac Pro. Especially the Mac Pro impressed me, and while iOS 7's new Holo/Metro-inspired theme looks messy and garish to me, I do commend Apple for finally breaking the mold. This news item will focus on iOS 7 - I'll dive into the Mac Pro and OS X 10.9 tomorrow (it's late here now).
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/08/13 14:57 UTC
And yes, the PRISM scandal is far, far from over. More and more information keeps leaking out, and the more gets out, the worse it gets. The companies involved have sent out official statements - often by mouth of their CEOs - and what's interesting is that not only are these official statements eerily similar to each other, using the same terms clearly designed by lawyers, they also directly contradict new reports from The New York Times. So, who is lying?
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/07/13 11:40 UTC
This story is getting bigger and bigger. Even though most Americans probably already knew, it is now official: the United States government, through its National Security Agency, is collecting the communications and data of all American citizens, and of non-Americans using American services, through a wide collaboration with the large companies in technology, like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Facebook, and so on. Interestingly enough, the NSA itself, as well as the US government, have repeatedly and firmly denied this massive spying on Americans and non-Americans took place at all.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 06/04/13 12:45 UTC
Ah, patents - the never-ending scourge of the technology industry. Whether wielded by companies who don't actually make any products, or large corporations who abuse them because they can't compete in the market place or because they're simply jerks, they do the industry a huge disservice and are simply plain dangerous. According to The Wall Street Journal (circumvention link), president Obama is about to take several executive actions to address patent trolls - which may seem like a good idea, but I am very worried that all this will do is strengthen the positions of notorious patent system abusers such as Apple and Microsoft.
Linked by nfeske on 05/31/13 10:12 UTC
With version 13.05, the developers of the Genode OS Framework take measures to ensure that Genode continues to scale well with a growing number of users and the steadily broadening platform coverage. Further highlights are the improved SoC support for Exynos 5, OMAP4, Raspberry Pi, i.MX, and new components for realizing headless systems.
Linked by Thom Holwerda on 05/29/13 16:59 UTC
At the D11 conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook once again took the stage to be interviewed by Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher. While most of the interview can be replicated by picking and reading 10 random Apple fanblog stories - there were still a number of very interesting things that warrant some closer scrutiny.
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!More Features »
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Member since:
2005-06-29
That's kind of what I'm wondering, would they have to make any changes to the distros to integrate them into the Azure system? I don't know that much about Azure so I have no idea. In the past Microsoft has shied away from Free software in part because of the restrictions of the GPL.
As much as I dislike the GPL itself, I understand its necessity and I hope Microsoft abides by it if they do have to alter the software.