Iron Python 1.0 Beta 1 Released
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Iron Python 1.0 Beta 1 has been released, this build includes many bug fixes for issues reported to the team by the community, and also has many changes which give it better compatibility with CPython 2.4. From the site: "With this build we've addressed the majority of major design issues for a 1.0 final. We're not sure that you'll agree with all of our answers, so pick it up and let us know what you think".
Methodology Design: the Way We Do Things Around Here
When people talk about "improving" software methodology, they rarely talk about tradeoffs. Requirements freeze, for example, runs the risk of delivering exactly what the customer asked for - and not what he needs. Concrete, detailed estimates take a considerable amount of time to create, and that's time that could be spent writing code or executing tests. M. Heusser discusses the tradeoffs and choices you'll have to make when the goal is improving (or even initially developing) your methodology.
KDE 4 To Support OS X Dashboard Widgets
Zack Rusin of KDE has said KDE4 will have full support for widgets from OS X's Dashboard. "I finally got most the implementation of the HTML Canvas element for KHTML finished. It's in the kdelibs-js branch in SVN. After George/Maks merge their other changes we'll merge it to HEAD. I'm planning to add full OSX Dashboard compatibility layer for Plasma (hence why I've spent most of the day yesterday on implementing the Canvas element)."
Could Genesi Be the Solution for Hyperion’s Problems?
There is kind of a stir in the Amiga community. As Hyperion employees explained in an IRC chat, Hyperion suffers from a lack of hardware for the development (and thus sales) of AmigaOS4. However, what about Genesi? Genesi is the company behind the ODW, a PPC workstation that could potentially be the solution to Hyperion's lack-of-hardware problems. However, friction between the two companies is preventing them from coming to an agreement. More from the community here, and here. My take: I find this a rather silly situation. It is quite clear that Genesi is one of the few companies capable of offering a steady flow of PPC hardware for the AmigaOS, yet things in the past are preventing a financially interesting cooperation. And who suffer? Exactly-- Amiga fans.
KOffice Developers Hosting User Interface Design Competition
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"KOffice development is currently going on at a tremendous pace. Version 1.5, with Open Document as the default file format, will be released in March 2006 , and it is time to start collecting ideas for version 2. KOffice has received a donation of $1000 to be used as the prize in a GUI and Functionality Design competition. So whip out the RAD tools and your imagination and design the next big thing in office automation! Submissions to the competition should be GUI mockups accompanied with a written description of the intended workflow with ideas for the design of KOffice 2. See the KOffice 2 competition page for an example of how this could be done."
Set up an MP3/ogg Alarm Clock Using Linux
"Why should you spend money for an alarm clock or a software that does an equivalent job, when you can just use you Linux box? This short tutorial will guide you step by step in creating an MP3/ogg alarm clock using your computer, it works with all Linux systems, and can easily be modified for MAC OS X, *BSD, well you got it."
OSNews Wishes Everyone a Happy 2006; the Final Major Change
As 2005 draws to a close, a year with many changes for OSNews, we have one more big change to make OSNews a better place. But first, let us take a short look at all the big changes OSNews has seen this year.
MS Confirms WMF Flaw, Variants Spread
Microsoft acknowledged late Wednesday the existence of a zero-day exploit for Windows Metafile images, and said it was looking into ways to better protect its customers. Even worse, by the end of the day nearly 50 variants of the exploit had already appeared. One security company said the possibilities were endless on how the flaw could be exploited. 'This vulnerability can be used to install any type of malicious code, not just Trojans and spyware, but also worms, bots or viruses that can cause irreparable damage to computers,' said Luis Corrons of Panda Software.
Seamonkey Beta Improves on Mozilla Legacy
"SeaMonkey is the successor of the Mozilla Suite, described as 'a community effort to deliver production-quality releases of code derived from the application formerly known as Mozilla Application Suite'. And it's finally got a brand new logo, one that supposedly represents a SeaMonkey but actually ended up looking like a blue bird, at least to my untrained eye." In addition, Camino 1.0b2 has been released.
DRM Hell
BentUser takes a look at OS-level DRM in upcoming operating systems, particularly Windows Vista. Protected video path, PVP-UAB and PVP-OPM, have the potential to be really obnoxious, eclipsing any annoyances one experiences with current DRM technologies.
Think You Can Guess the Vista Launch Date?
MS is holding a contest in Europe & Pakistan, in which you have to guess what date MS will launch their long awaited next version of Windows. All legal residents of Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK who are 18 years of age or older have the chance to win from 1 of 3 prizes available in different prize bands; 1st Prize: Be live at the Launch Event in the USA: the full package with entry, flight and 3 nights in a 4-star Hotel, 2nd-4th Prize: New XBOX 360, 5th-10th Prize: XBOX Core System. NOTE: It seems to require IE to sign up, as it doesnt work in Safari, it may work in FF however.
RISC OS Predictions for 2006
Peter Naulls, the RISC OS developer behind, among other things, the Firefox port for RISC OS, has published a list of things that are likely, or less-likely, to happen in the world of RISC OS in 2006. "I'll suggest some projects that are both plausible and possible in a relatively short space of time. Whether they will be carried out is another matter entirely, and nothing should be read into these that I or anyone else intends to carry them out. One prediction I will make right now is that I expect developer support to continue to wane in 2006, with an increasingly frustrating general RISC OS situation, which for the first time in a long time, has only a little to do with technical restrictions."
Linux Distributed Command Execution
"Many times, you want to execute a command not only on one server, but also on several servers. With the help of tool called tentakel, you run distributed command execution. It is a program for executing the same command on many hosts in parallel using ssh (it supports other methods too)."
Intel Unveils New Logo in Brand Overhaul
"The world's biggest chipmaker said on Thursday it will scrap its 37-year-old logo and well-known tagline as part of a major rebranding that will emphasize its shift away from its core PC business and into consumer products. The original Intel logo featuring a lowered 'e' will be replaced with one showing an oval swirl surrounding the company's name." Here is an interview with Paul Otellini, Intel's CEO.
First Issue of the OS2eCS eZine Released
"Welcome to the very first issue of OS2eCS eZine! It has been awhile since the OS/2 community has had an online magazine or newsletter published. The last OS2eZine was published in December 2004 and the last VOICE Newsletter was August 2005! So we here at the OS2eCS Organization decided it was time to get the ball rolling again!" In this first issue articles on WarpVision, eSchemes, and more.
VMWare Player Image for Syllable 0.6.0a Available
"I would like to announce a VMware Player image for Syllable 0.6.0a
available in the normal VMware images location. This works fine with VMware Player on Linux. I haven't tried it yet on Windows, but I assume it works fine there, too. This is a default install from the ISO, just like the rest, so you'll have to install Developer's Delight and whatnot by yourself." And before people complain: Syllable is an open-source (GPL) operating system aimed at the home/office user. It is the continuation of AtheOS.
The Year in Review: Apple
"There can be no doubt that 2005 was a stellar year for Apple. From record-breaking quarterly financial reports and the release of Mac OS X Tiger to the announced transition of the Macintosh to the Intel platform and new iPods, Apple fired on all cylinders throughout much of the year, creating unprecedented demand for many of its products." Update: Here are photos of the cooling system for the Quad-core PowerMac-- one of those could counteract global warming. Seriously.
HP TestDrive Program
"Want to try the latest technologies over the Internet? This program allows you to testdrive some of the hottest hardware and operating systems available today. Have you ever wanted to try out HP's exciting 64-bit Integrity, Alpha, and PA-RISC technology? Get time on SMP x86 and Opteron ProLiant servers? Try out a Blade server. Try different Open Source operating systems."
What’s New in Windows Presentation Foundation
"In December 2005, Microsoft released a Community Technology Preview of Windows Presentation Foundation, the new presentation subsystem for Windows that unifies development of documents, graphics, and applications into a common platform. In this article, we take a brief look at some of the new features that are part of the December CTP as well as the changes that have been made since the previous releases."