OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

First Public Build of Java Mustang for Intel Macs

Submitted by anonymous 2006-05-04 Java 12 Comments

"We have just released Java SE 6.0 Release 1 Developer Preview 1 and it is currently only available for Intel-based Macintosh computers. We will be releasing a DP in the near future for PPC also. We just wanted to get 1.6 out as fast as possible."

Shed Skin Python-to-C++ Compiler 0.0.8 Released

Submitted by mark dufour 2006-05-04 General Development 32 Comments

"Shed Skin is an experimental Python-to-C++ compiler. It accepts pure Python programs, and generates optimized C++ code. This means that, in combination with a C++ compiler, it allows for translation of Python programs into highly efficient machine language. For a set of 16 non-trivial test programs, measurements show a typical speedup of 2-40 over Psyco, about 12 on average, and 2-220 over CPython, about 45 on average. Shed Skin also outputs annotated source code."

Xandros Server Released

Eugenia Loli 2006-05-03 Oracle and SUN 38 Comments

Xandros Corporation has announced the availability of Xandros Server, the company's inaugural release of a high-end server distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux: "Xandros becomes the first Linux platform to provide a 'Debian Enterprise' end-to-end desktop and server platform."

FreeBSD 6.1-RC2 Released

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-03 FreeBSD 18 Comments

"FreeBSD 6.1-RC2 is available for download. This is the last RC before the release. Please test it to make sure that there have been no regressions since the last RC, and to make sure that it there are no new problems with installation. Other than a few cosmetic tweaks, there will be no more changes."

Homeland Security Audit Flags ‘Critical’ X Bug

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-03 Wayland 44 Comments

An open-source security audit program funded by the US Department of Homeland Security has flagged a critical vulnerability in the X Window System which is used in Unix and Linux systems. Coverity, the San Franciso-based company managing the project under a $1.25 million grant, described the flaw as the "biggest security vulnerability" found in the X Window System code since 2000.

Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.3 Released

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-03 Mozilla, Gecko 23 Comments

Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0.3 has been released. This update fixes a publicly disclosed denial of service weakness. All users are encouraged to upgrade to this version. The bugfixes previously planned for Firefox 1.5.0.3 were shifted to 1.5.0.4, and a quick update was released shortly after the recent 1.5.0.2 release to address the publicly reported issue.

Review: OpenBSD 3.9

Submitted by anonymous 2006-05-03 OpenBSD 18 Comments

SoftwareInReview reviews OpenBSD 3.9. "The improved package tools make OpenBSD much easier to install, upgrade, and maintain. For those who need to install several programs on top of the base system, the new package tool functions are priceless."

MacOS X Safe As Houses Not Windows

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-03 macOS 75 Comments

The recent ruckus about the claimed growing vulnerability of Mac OSX from certain sources has caused an indignant outcry from Mac advocates who claim the stories are mostly media hype. According to an expert in Unix and Linux systems, the outcry is not without justification. Con Zymaris has been working with Unix systems for nearly three decades and for the past 15 years has been running a consultancy on open source software implementation. Zymaris says that, while it is true that a Mac can get infected with a virus, it is not easy and it is not likely to cause much damage. What's more, Mac users don't need to install firewalls and anti-virus software.

Next Debian Will Be Released in December

Submitted by george 2006-05-03 Debian 47 Comments

Developers of the popular Debian Linux distribution are ramping up coding efforts as they plan to release the next version of their operating system in December this year. The schedule was today outlined in an e-mail to the Debian community from developer Andreas Barth, a member of the team which coordinates the process by which Debian is formally handed over to the public. "We expect to release Etch as planned in the beginning of December 2006," Barth wrote.

Submitted by Moulinneuf 2006-05-03 Rumors 48 Comments

CNet compares Acer's TravelMate 8200 to apple's MacBook Pro, and concludes the Acer wins; but only by a small margin. "The Acer pulled ahead with ample features and superior performance and battery life, then sealed the deal with its lower sticker price. If you're looking for the most connectivity and fastest performance for your dollar, the TravelMate 8200 is the laptop to buy. The MacBook Pro's strengths clearly lie in aesthetics, from its lightweight, eye-pleasing design to its graphics-friendly display to its elegant operating system. And Apple's superior software package could be said to offset the price differential between the MacBook Pro and the TravelMate 8200."

OpenDocument Approved by ISO/IEC Members

Submitted by Andy Updegrove 2006-05-03 Office 13 Comments

The six month voting window for ISO/IEC adoption of the OASIS OpenDocument Format standard closed on May 1, and at midnight (Geneva time ) last night it was announced internally that ODF had been approved by the ISO members eligible and interested in casting a vote. And on a related note, an article on smart formatting for better compatibility between OpenOffice.org and Microsoft Office.

RSA: Microsoft To Shelve Token Support in Vista

Submitted by Allen Nixon 2006-05-03 Windows 14 Comments

Microsoft has shelved plans to include built-in support for RSA Security's tokens in Windows Vista, even though the company has been testing out the authentication technology for almost two years. In February 2004, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates said that Windows would be able to support easy integration with RSA's popular SecurID tokens. That meant businesses would find it far easier to deploy a two-factor authentication system for logging on to networks and applications. However, almost two years after the SecurID beta-testing program kicked off, RSA's chief executive, Art Coviello, disclosed that Windows Vista will not natively support the technology.

Dynamic Interface Design with Swing

Submitted by anonymous 2006-05-03 Java 4 Comments

"The Swing UI toolkit makes it possible, though not always easy, to update user interfaces dynamically in response to events or user actions. This article reviews some of the common ways you can build UIs that update dynamically, a few pitfalls you might encounter along the way, and some principles to help you decide when this is the right approach for the job."

Opera Mini 2.0 Released

Eugenia Loli 2006-05-03 Opera 12 Comments

Opera Software today announced a new version of its micro-browser for non-smartphones, Opera Mini 2.0. New features included content download to the phone, the ability to change the browser's visual skin, multisearch to allow users to select extra search engines for the homepage, speed dial for bookmarks similar to the phones speed dial, and quick horizontal and vertical panning when browsing backwards or forwards. There is the ability to use a simulator to try it out on your desktop browser.

Gartner: Microsoft May Delay Windows Vista Again

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-02 Windows 81 Comments

Microsoft's long-awaited release of the upgrade to its flagship Windows operating system will likely be delayed again by at least three months, research group Gartner said on Tuesday. The research note, released to clients on Monday, said the new Windows Vista operating system is too complex to be able to meet Microsoft's targeted November release for volume licence customers and January launch for retail consumers. A Microsoft spokeswoman said the company disagreed with the Gartner report and it was still on track to meet its launch dates.

SANS Notes Sharp Increase in Mac OS X Flaws

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-02 macOS 30 Comments

"Just because you use a Macintosh, don't think you're any more secure than a Wintel user. A sharp increase in the number of flaws being discovered in Mac OS X suggests that the Apple operating system may soon be every bit as prone to malicious attacks as Windows systems, according to a report from the SANS Institute, a security training and research firm." This time no MSNBC, boys and girls, this is MacWorld.com. In the meantime, have fun with Apple's new commercials.

Interview: Theo de Raadt

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-02 OpenBSD 15 Comments

"In this latest interview, Theo examines the past five years of OpenBSD development. He also discusses the OpenBSD 3.9 theme song, 'Blob!', detailing what blobs are, why OpenBSD avoids them, and how OpenBSD developers work to reverse engineer them. Looking to the development process, Theo talks about recent and future 'mini-hackathons', small and focused OpenBSD development gatherings. Finally, Theo also discusses the OpenBSD project's funding issues, and the response to requests for funding from users of the project's OpenSSH software."

Google Accuses Microsoft on IE7 Search

Thom Holwerda 2006-05-02 Google 82 Comments

Google has made informal complaints to competition authorities in Europe and the US about default settings in Microsoft's IE7. The latest Microsoft browser includes a small window so users can search without opening up a specific page. The default setting sends users to MSN for searches - just as equivalent features in Opera and Firefox send browsers to Google. A spokesman for the search giant told the New York Times it was concerned Microsoft was limiting choice. My take: ...

Submitted by jamesd 2006-05-02 Solaris 27 Comments

While there is a lot of buzz about Apple using ZFS, Solaris express of course uses it, and soon Solaris regular will use it (as of Solaris update 2). Yet there are many people that say ZFS is great for servers but people don't need it at home. This blog entry seeks to clear up this falacy. ZFS is possibly more needed at home.

Submitted by DigitalDame 2006-05-02 Hardware 9 Comments

PCMag reviews the first Origami PC by Samsung, and concludes: "Samsung plans on avoiding retail shelves with the pricey Q1 and selling at BestBuy online and CDW only. I appreciate the design, and the technologies that can be had in such a small unit, but the practicality of this device escapes me. For $1099, you're better off with a more capable - and keyboard-equipped-convertible tablet."