OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

Tutorial: Ubuntu for Servers

Submitted by Falko Timme 2005-09-25 Ubuntu 19 Comments

"This is a detailed description about the steps to be taken to setup a Ubuntu based server (Ubuntu 5.0.4 - The Hoary Hedgehog) that offers all services needed by ISPs and hosters (web server (SSL-capable), mail server (with SMTP-AUTH and TLS), DNS server, FTP server, MySQL server, POP3/POP3s/IMAP/IMAPs, Quota, Firewall, etc.)."

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

Submitted by Luis Gonzalez 2005-09-25 General Development 25 Comments

Shed Skin is an experimental Python-to-C++ compiler. It can convert many Python programs into optimized C++ code, without any user intervention such as adding type declarations. Its main purpose is to optimize algorithmic-like Python code, by applying advanced global type inference techniques.

Secrets of Lightweight Java Alternatives

Submitted by anonymous 2005-09-25 Java 50 Comments

The Java programming language is powerful, but it has significant limitations for lightweight development. For certain problems, other programming languages such as Ruby may lead to better productivity. This article shows you what's important for productivity in an application's language.

Windows Vista: The Final Countdown Begins

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-24 Rumors 237 Comments

"With release, Apple was tested - and they failed miserably. Not only did I warn Apple to take 95 more seriously, I also accurately forecast the massive decline that would happen to them if they didn't do just that. The MS platform has changed dramatically and it is much greater than just the operating system these days. Apple, on the other hand, hasn't advanced nearly as much but they are predominantly consumer-based today and less vulnerable to this comparative weakness as a result. Just like the last time, they will largely leverage hardware this time, and, as before, they will be up against companies with resources that eclipse their own."

Ubuntu Breezy Badger Colony CD 5 Released

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-24 Ubuntu 36 Comments

Ubuntu Breezy Badger Colony CD 5 (what's in a name) has been released. This will most likely be the last test release before the final release. You can download it here.

Submitted by trygvebw 2005-09-24 GTK+ 41 Comments

Exigo is a new desktop environment project, being developed in Python and C++ using GTK+ as the GUI toolkit. The main aims of Exigo are usability, simplicity, and flexibility. Exigo also aims to introduce new concepts to the desktop, such as the use of tabs instead of standard windows. It mainly revolves around a desktop search engine, which indexes all your applications and files, and displays a list of matching files and apps when the user searches for something. See a mockup here, and read docs here. Please note that there is no release yet.

Slackware 10.2 Tips

Submitted by Disposable 2005-09-24 Slackware, Slax 9 Comments

"Writing a tips article is tricky. Especially for such a hallowed and 'hardcore' distribution as Slackware. Veteran users want incredibly good tips. New users considering giving Slack a whirl, and who may be afraid of the BSD-style and command line mystique, want tips that bring accessibility and understanding to Slackware. Find that balance here. From simple bash techniques, to assuring your anonynimity on public Wi-Fi, this article will walk you through the Slackware tips most valuable to you."

FreeBSD-6.0 Beta 5 Released

Submitted by Reader 2005-09-24 FreeBSD 34 Comments

The 5th beta of FreeBSD 6.0 has been released to mirrors. There is no official announcement yet, however. Pick a mirror near you.

RMS Discusses GPL3 Terms

Submitted by anonymous 2005-09-24 Legal 48 Comments

In a recent interview, ESR shocked a lot of people when he said, "We don't need the GPL anymore." Federico Biancuzzi recently contacted RMS, founder of the Free Software Movement and initial developer of the GNU system (the G in "GLAMP"), to talk about the past, the present, and the future of the GNU GPL. Among other things, they discussed the new clauses of the upcoming GPL version 3.

ATI: Vista’s Graphics Drivers To Be More Stable Than XP’s

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-23 Windows 96 Comments

Graphics drivers developed for Vista, Microsoft's next generation operating system, will be far more stable than their Windows XP-based counterparts, and not crash the operating system anymore, an executive of graphics chip developer ATI said.

Setting up KDE with Fink on OSX

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-23 KDE 25 Comments

This simple guide will go over the basics of setting up and running KDE on MacOSX. You'll need at least Mac OS 10.3, Fink, and some experience with the command-line.

A More Power-Efficient Linux System

2005-09-23 Linux 11 Comments

Powerscale4ppc (Power and Frequency Scaling for the IBM PowerPC 970) is an IBM free-trial emerging technology power management solution that demonstrates a power management implementation for the PPC970FX and CPC925 bridge chips on the Maple-D PC970FX evaluation platform running on Linux. This technology demonstrates how to dynamically scale the system’s operating frequency from F to F/2, in order to create a cooler, more power-efficient system.

Hacking Firefox: Navigation and Tab Browsing

Submitted by Jeremy 2005-09-23 Mozilla, Gecko 4 Comments

ExtremeTech concludes its Hacking Firefox series with a how-to on tweaking navigation and tab browing settings in Firefox. Some hacks are pretty basic; other hacks involve a little programming.

Microsoft’s Nightmare Inches Closer to Reality

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-23 Microsoft 83 Comments

As early as May 1995, three months before Netscape initial public offering sparked the dot-com boom, Microsoft executives were worried that the nascent WWW could one day become a significant threat to the Windows franchise. Another memo is also making the rounds. This internal memo, written in 2005, argues that Google threatens Microsoft and the company's crown jewel, Windows.

Submitted by Eugenia Loli 2005-09-23 Wireless 35 Comments

The wraps have been taken off of new Palm PDAs. The most notable one is the new Treo 700w: a 1.0 megapixel camera, EV-DO, Bluetooth, 64MB of memory, and, most notably, Windows Mobile 5.0. A new Zire (Z22) and Tungsten (TX) have also been revealed.

SymphonyOS in the Words of its Developer

Submitted by Josh 2005-09-23 Linux 54 Comments

"Usually, a distro's most recognizable feature is the desktop environment. With SymphonyOS, the screenshots are the first hint that this is not your ordinary remix. SymponyOS is a bold step into a new desktop paradigm. It features such innovations as the Mezzo desktop environment, the Orchestra application environment, and the apt-plus software installation tool. Ryan Quinn, the lead developer of SymphonyOS, took some time out to talk with me about the distro and a few other subjects."

A View of Win Mobile 5.0 from 10,000 Feet

Eugenia Loli 2005-09-22 Windows 6 Comments

This is a series of articles exploring the new tools and APIs that developers will find in Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, Visual Studio 2005, and the .NET Compact Framework version 2.0. The series begins with an introduction to Windows Mobile 5.0 and the tools needed to get started developing for Windows Mobile 5.0 today.

Ajax Paves the Way for Better Web Applications

Eugenia Loli 2005-09-22 Internet 25 Comments

This article gives you a good understanding of the fundamental principles of Ajax and a nuts-and-bolts knowledge of the client and server side components that participate in an Ajax interaction. These are the building blocks of a Java-based Ajax Web application. In addition, you will be shown some of the high-level design issues that come with the Ajax approach.

RISC OS 5.10 Readied for Release

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-22 RISC OS 7 Comments

Castle have issued a new RISC OS 5 ROM for brave Iyonix users to beta test. Version 5.10 is mainly a bug fixing exercise, and coincides with a USB mass storage update that also corrects a few glitches. "It is intended that these updates will go in general circulation in a few days time, unless anything hugely untoward crops up. We have been running these for a while now," said Castle's John Ballance. This update also includes the updated GeForce 2 driver, bringing 3D acceleration to RISC OS.

Touring Red Hat Network 4

Submitted by Jan Stafford 2005-09-22 Red Hat 30 Comments

"I've used Red Hat Network successfully in the past, so I was happy to get my hands on a demo of Red Hat Network 4, which is in the process of being released. Before I drill down into RHN4, I have to say RHN4's new features are cool, particularly the ones that enable you to manage Unix-based Solaris servers and monitor systems more effectively."