OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

SUSE 10.1 Alpha 1 Released

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-29 SuSE, openSUSE 43 Comments

SUSE's 10.0 release announcmeent has barely hit all four corners of the globe, but development for 10.1 is already underway, and alpha 1 is now available. The biggest changes since 10.0 are a new kernel (2.6.13.2) and KDE 3.5 Beta 1. Download locations can be found in the release announcement.

What Is Darwin (and How it Powers Mac OS X)

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-29 BSD & Darwin 28 Comments

"Darwin is the Unix-derived core that provides the underlying foundation for Mac OS X. At Darwin's heart is the XNU kernel; a Mach 3.0-based microkernel that has been modified to include portions of FreeBSD for performance reasons. Let's take a trip down into the core of OS X to learn more about the foundation that gives us one of the best user experiences in computing."

First Beta Linux with Debian Core Arrives

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-29 Debian 23 Comments

MEPIS recently released the latest beta of its lightweight Linux distribution MEPISLite 3.3.2-test01, thus making it the first vendor to release a Linux based on the Debian Common Core.

Using FreeBSD’s ACLs

Submitted by Nix_User 2005-09-29 FreeBSD 8 Comments

"The standard Unix permissions scheme works fine if you have simple needs, but juggling groups and users can grow unwieldy very quickly. FreeBSD's Access Control Lists give you more control over who can access files and directories. Dru Lavigne explains how to understand and use them."

Cheap $100 Laptop Unveiled

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-29 Hardware 60 Comments

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.

Out SMART Your Hard Drive

Submitted by Matty 2005-09-29 BSD & Darwin 7 Comments

"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."

Gates and Ballmer: A Look at the Future

Eugenia Loli 2005-09-28 Microsoft 57 Comments

Despite some high-profile departures to Google and other rivals, Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer say Microsoft Corp. is still in a position to attract the top talent needed to ensure the company's strength as it enters its fourth decade.

StarOffice 8 Is MS Office’s Toughest Rival Yet

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-28 Oracle and SUN 46 Comments

"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."

MorphOS Free PowerUP Edition for Classic Amigas Updated

Submitted by Raffaele 2005-09-28 Morphos 13 Comments

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.

Fiasco L4 1.2 Microkernel Released

Submitted by Adam Lackorzynski 2005-09-28 OS News 23 Comments

The operating system's group at Technische Universität Dresden is pleased to announce the release of version 1.2 of the Fiasco L4 microkernel. This release fixes many bugs, a few features have been added as well. For a list of changes please consult the CHANGES file. Get the package from the download directory or from CVS. Refer to the README file for further information.

Submitted by uros 2005-09-28 Office 18 Comments

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.

What Is Gluecode and Why Should I Care?

Submitted by anonymous 2005-09-28 Java 2 Comments

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.

Book’s Author Introduces “Linux Made Easy”

Submitted by anonymous 2005-09-28 Linux 9 Comments

In this article, Rickford Grant, author of "Linux Made Easy" introduces his book and explains the rationale behind it. Grant bases his assertion that "Linux is easy" on Xandros 3, generally considered one of the most user-friendly desktop Linux distributions. The book comes with a Xandros 3 CD.

Rule Set Based Access Control 1.2.5 Available

Submitted by LogError 2005-09-28 Privacy, Security 3 Comments

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.

Apple to Replace Broken Nano Screens

Adam Scheinberg 2005-09-28 Apple 50 Comments

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.

Next Generation TCP/IP Stack in Vista/Server; Office Mondo?

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-28 Windows 50 Comments

Vista Beta 1 and Longhorn Server Beta 1 include a new implementation of the TCP/IP protocol suite known as the Next Generation TCP/IP stack. The Next Generation TCP/IP stack in Windows Vista and Windows Server Longhorn is a complete redesign of TCP/IP functionality for both IPv4 and IPv6 that meets the connectivity and performance needs of today's varied networking environments and technologies. Elsewhere, will Office 12 be named... Office Mondo?

World Wind: Open Source Alternative to Google Earth

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-28 OS News 26 Comments

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 Updates Mac Mini

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-28 Apple 58 Comments

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.

Submitted by ghen 2005-09-28 NetBSD 9 Comments

"The pkgsrc developers are very proud to announce the new pkgsrc-2005Q3 branch, which has support for more packages than previous branches (5551 packages supported on 13 platforms). As well as updated versions of many packages, the infrastructure of pkgsrc has been improved for better platform and compiler support, and also for enhanced security. At the same time, the pkgsrc-2005Q2 branch has been deprecated, and continuing engineering starts on the pkgsrc-2005Q3 branch."

First Look: Seamonkey 1.0 Alpha

Thom Holwerda 2005-09-28 Mozilla, Gecko 25 Comments

"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.