The $100 (E 83,-) laptop computers that Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers want to get into the hands of the world's children would be durable, flexible and self-reliant. Among the key specs: A 500-megahertz processor by AMD and flash memory instead of a hard drive with moving parts. To save on software costs, the laptops would run the freely available Linux operating system instead of Windows.

"If you have used disk drives during your career, I am sure you are well aware of the issues that arise when a device unexpectedly dies. This short article describes how to use smartmontools to view S.M.A.R.T status information, which can be used to predict if and when a device may fail."

"StarOffice 8, the latest version of Sun's inexpensive, cross-platform office productivity suite, stands up better than ever next to Microsoft's market-leading Office in terms of features, extensibility and compatibility. In eWeek's tests of StarOffice 8, we were pleased with the suite's word processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database functions. In addition, we experienced generally good results opening and creating Microsoft Office-formatted documents with StarOffice."

The MorphOS Development Team would like to inform that a new version of the MorphOS Free Edition for PowerUP accelerator boards is immediately available for download. The download is available at the PowerUp MorphOS site.

OOoCon 2005 started today in Koper, Slovenia. Anyone interested to take a part in it are welcome to join us. Everyone else are invited to OpenPages live coverage with constantly updated gallery, video and audio archive and links to live video stream from the main hall (scheduled for tomorrow). In related news, it seems that that OOo 2.0.0rc1 is close to being released.

Built upon Apache's Geronimo J2EE 1.4 server based on open source components, Gluecode is an application server platform that encompasses key open source projects and groups them together in a layered architecture. This article takes a look at Gluecode for beginners, explains how it is composed, and how Gluecode can help organizations plan for more effeciate IT infrastructure.

RSBAC is a flexible, powerful and fast open source access control framework for current Linux kernels. From a practical standpoint, it allows possibilities such as full fine grained control over objects, memory execution prevention, real time integrated virus detection and more.

Responding deftly to customer complaints, Apple has agreed to replaced broken iPod Nano units, explaining that a vendor issue caused the cracked screen problem widely documented by sites like flawedmusicplayer.com. The Nano has been lavishly praised internet-wide for its form, fashion, and functionality.

Few of Google's projects, rumors of projects, and acquisitions have generated as much envy among Linux users as Google Earth. In some respects the search engine behemoth is quite OS-agnostic, but the 3D virtual globe remains limited to Windows desktops. But there is an alternative: NASA's World Wind project. Like Google Earth, it's a 3D planetary visualization system that overlays satellite imagery, weather, political, and topological map data. The difference is: World Wind is open source.

Apple has updated its line of Mac Mini computers. The new models have slightly faster processors, with the cheapest Mini now featuring a 1.33Ghz G4 (previously a 1.24Ghz) and the expensive models receiving a speed bump from a 1.42Ghz G4 to a 1.5Ghz G4. The higher-end models also recieve dual-layer DVD burning and improved Bluetooh and Airport Extreme. Graphics-wise, the Mini sees a doubling of RAM. And the harddrives are (finally) upgraded to normal 5400rpm models, instead of the rather sloppy 4200rpm models.

"The browser, and e-mail software - Ok, HTML authoring tool as well - formerly known as "Mozilla" or more recently referred to as "Mozilla Suite" is back alive and kicking, despite recent efforts from the Firefox Foundation Mozilla Foundation to make it go away after freezing future development and deciding to only provide bug fixes." The Inquirer took it for a spin.

"Thinking of migrating to the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0, code-named Tiger? You're not alone. Thousands of companies all over the world are giving J2SE 5.0 a try, and they like what they see. New language features, enhanced class libraries, better tool support, and desktop enhancements are just some of the reasons why many companies are making the switch. In this article, we talk with Li Moore, software engineer at Google, about his company's switch from J2SE version 1.4 to 5.0."

The next version of the General Public License, GPL3 may tackle the issue of Web companies that use free software in commercial Web-based applications but don't distribute the source code, said Richard Stallman GPL author and Free Software Foundation head.

"This follow-up to the previously published article 'Ubuntu: Derivative or Fork?' takes into account most of everything that has been posted as a reaction to the first article to present a general opinion and compare them with facts derived from various resouces. You'll see that peace can be achieved between these two, and ultimately any GNU/Linux group out there."