Tango is a project to create a new icon theme for all f.d.o-compatible DEs, using a standard style guide. Regarding the BetterDesktop, there are over 200 usability test videos in ogg and mpeg format.

Microsoft is taking a stand on an emerging tech that threatens to reshape software pricing models.

This phone could be placed by some as the most advanced smartphone to date (only some new, unreleased yet, PocketPC-phones come close in terms of features): Sony Ericsson announced the P990, based on Symbian 9.1. It supports UMTS, GSM/GPRS/3G, WiFi, Bluetooth, IrDA and it has an FM radio. It sports a 2.8" QVGA touchscreen, 80 MBs free storage, a 64 MB MemoryStickPRODuo (expandable to 4 GB), Blackberry Push Email, a QWERTY keyboard, and two cameras: a 2 MP on the back and a VGA on the front. For web browser it uses Opera 8.x.

Massachusetts' plan to standardize desktop applications on OpenDocument, an open standard not supported by Microsoft Office, essentially comes down to a matter of control, according Stephen O'Grady. O'Grady has been following the story closely and explains that as a sovereign entity, Massachusetts feels the need to be in complete control of its desktop technology, rather than relying on a single company for its office productivity needs.

STI (Sony-IBM-Toshiba) has said all along that they plan to see Cell commercialized far beyond the upcoming PS3, so it was no surprise when Mercury Computer Systems announced back in June that they planned to use the Cell in unspecified aerospace, defense, and medical imaging applications. Today, Mercury unveiled the first fruits of those plans, in the form of a dual-Cell blade server.

"The magic in CheckInstall is that it learns everything your new app or package will add to your system, and then creates a binary installable package geared to the package manager you use, whether that be Slackware, RPM, or Debian. Optionally, it will also install the newly created package. But whether you install then or later, when the time comes that you want to remove the package from your system, all you need to do is run the appropriate command for your package manager."

Sun Microsystems plans to phase out its Trusted Solaris secure operating system and replace it with security extension software that can be used with its OpenSolaris operating system, said Mark Thacker, product line manager of Solaris security. OpenSolaris and the Solaris Trusted Extensions software will provide the full functionality of Trusted Solaris, according to Thacker. "This product will simply layer on top of Solaris 10. It will run on top of any piece of hardware that Solaris 10 runs on," Thacker said. Trusted Extensions should be available by mid-2006.

Spotlight is a rather neat feature once you get beyond the simple text search interface and use the more advanced search in the Finder. However, Apple don't allow users to add their own metadata to files, so you're limited to searching for data which exists within the files and is exposed by the importers. Ben Summers did some investigation and worked out how to add arbitrary and independent metadata to the Spotlight store.

A key part of the software architect's job is producing an architectural description of the system that defines the architecture's key functions, features, and characteristics for its stakeholders. Where do you start? What do you need to know? Nick Rozanski and Eóin Woods provide detailed answers to these questions, with useful suggestions on how to attack this fundamental document that underpins any development project.

Is your IT team conducting an internal feud, with team members struggling against each other instead of fighting the real problems of limited time, money, and manpower to support your organization's technology needs? Buck Woody argues that you can't afford to become the Hatfields and McCoys. Also, both developers and DBAs have merit in the IT team. Although different, both jobs are crucial for a successful enterprise. However, conflicting responsibilities sometimes trigger members of the two related professions to face off. Baya Pavliashvili points out a few common situations that can cause tension between the two groups and provides some advice for working your way out of an argument before it leads to a war.

Three reviews of SUSE Linux 10.0 are available. Here, here and here. "In conclusion, SUSE Linux 10.0 has made it's milestone debut release with style and perfection. This offering is polished, professional, complete, stable, and reliable."

Donn Cave has updated his port of Python to BeOS, as well as the Bethon BeOS API interface library. This brings BeOS up to date with other platforms with regards to Python, and merges some independent patchsets into Bethon. Both are for R5.03, meaning that pretty much any BeOS system out there can use them.

The Lisa, started in 1979 to provide an inexpensive business computer to Apple's line-up, enjoyed little success. With its advanced object oriented UI and powerful office suite, the computer was priced well above the means of most businesses. Despite its failure, the Lisa influenced most user interfaces, and introduced many features unheard of in earlier systems (like the Xerox Star or VisiOn). Read the story of the development and demise of the Apple Lisa here.

Google co-founder Sergey Brin has quashed speculation that the giant ad broker is to introduce a web-based Office suite. "We don't have any plans," he told Web 2.0 conference organizer John Battelle. However Brin left the door open a little. Documents would be easier to work with in the future, he promised, but he didn't think a fat client was the way to go.