OpenMosix 2.6 Patches Update

  Submitted by MrEcho Linux 10 Comments
Most of you might already know the cluster project OpenMosix. OpenMosix has been around for awhile now and has worked with many vendors to create a “patch” for the 2.4 Kernel tree. It also makes userland utilities for this cluster patch. But what a lot of people don't know is that they have started to work on a patch for the 2.6 Kernel tree. For a lot of users that now use the 2.6 Kernel this gives them the opportunity to run cluster at home or at work without having to buy very expensive equipment. There is one site that now makes it easy to patch your kernel now for the 2.6 Kernel tree. What would be nice is to see this in the main line tree, if anything in the 2.7 tree.
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Xgrid and Cross Platform Grid Computing

Internet 17 Comments
This paper will provide an overview of grid computing including its history, current development, terminology, and use. The scope of this project is geared towards the implementation of Apple's Xgrid technology in a university environment, or in a home environment for power users such as architects. Later in this paper we will implement an Xgrid, and will demonstrate its cross platform abilities, while exploring its revolutionary take on grid computing. Benchmarks of this grid will be done using light ray tracing software called Pov-Ray in combination with Architectural CAD software called Sketchup, and will produce a series of complex graphical scenes. Each computer on the grid will be responsible for rendering at least one scene, and rendering times will be recorded.
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BSD Binary updates

  Submitted by Andrea BSD & Darwin 29 Comments
BSD Updates provides online security and operating system upgrades for BSD systems in binary format. No messy source patches. No waiting for system rebuilds. Just an easy to navigate web interface which securely applies the latest patches in just minutes. Read More.
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OSes suffer serious security hole through CPUs

Privacy, Security 32 Comments
Colin Percival, a FreeBSD committer and security team member, has found a local exploit against the current implementation of Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology. "Hyper-Threading, as currently implemented on Intel Pentium Extreme Edition, Pentium 4, Mobile Pentium 4, and Xeon processors, suffers from a serious security flaw," Colin explains. "This flaw permits local information disclosure, including allowing an unprivileged user to steal an RSA private key being used on the same machine. Administrators of multi-user systems are strongly advised to take action to disable Hyper-Threading immediately."
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Windows XP Starter Edition Won’t Run on Faster Chips

  Submitted by Peter Bui Windows 75 Comments
As reported by C|Net Windows XP Starter Edition will only work on "Intel's Celeron chips, AMD's Duron or Geode chips, or processors from Via Technologies." If one tries to run it on a processor such as the Intel Pentium 4, the operating system will read the processor ID and stop functioning. This was done to prevent "Starter Edition from supplanting standard versions of Windows XP."
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Windows Mobile 5.0 Application Security

Windows 8 Comments
Every Windows Mobile–based device implements a set of security policies that determine whether an application is allowed to run and, if allowed, with what level of trust. To develop an application for a Windows Mobile–based device, you need to know what the security configuration of your device is. You also need to know how to sign your application with the appropriate certificate to allow the application to run (and to run with the needed level of trust).
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KDE developers, usability experts complement each other

KDE 41 Comments
Usability has always been a controversial aspect of free software development, but one that is becoming increasingly important along with the uptake of GNU/Linux distributions in businesses and homes. Developers' discussions about usability are often marked by shrill accusations and defensive responses. Implementing usability suggestions can mean giving up months of feature-building. But according to a few developers and usability experts working on KDE, bringing usability experts into the hackers' work processes can be a big help.
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Thinking about porting projects from Solaris to Linux on x86?

Solaris 26 Comments
Among the flavors of UNIX, Solaris is considered to be the closest to Linux, so before starting a port of large Unix-based application to Linux, the OS-dependent code is generally picked up from Solaris. But for migration purposes, differences can arise in the areas that depend on the architecture, memory maps, threading, or some specific areas like system administration or natural language support.
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Apple to KHTML Devs: use WebCore

  Submitted by Aaron Benedict Apple 133 Comments
An Apple Developer reportedly recommended that KHTML developers use Apple's WebCore engine (that's based on KHTML). This follows some controversy over Apple's habit of "giving back" updates to KHTML in unmanageable chunks, and many open source advocates crying foul. Update: This description was changed from an earlier version which implied that Apple would drop KHTML in favor of WebCore, which is not an accurate statement.
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PDAs Keep Losing Ground to Smart Phones

Wireless 12 Comments
Shipments of handheld computers declined for the fifth straight quarter amid growth of so-called smart phones and other devices combining organizer functions with cell phone capabilities, the research firm IDC said. Worldwide shipments of PDAs — which lack telephone capabilities — decreased to 1.9 million units in the January-March period. That's a 12.1 percent decline compared with last year's first quarter, and a 30.6 percent drop from last year's fourth quarter. In contrast, shipments of so-called converged mobile devices combining cell phone, organizer and other functions more than doubled year-over-year for the third straight quarter.
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