OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

CentOS-4.0 (Beta) Releases for i386, x86_64, ia64

Submitted by Johnny Hughes 2005-01-26 Linux 18 Comments

The CentOS Development Team has released CentOS 4.0 (Beta) for three architectures (i386, x86_64, and ia64).

Pyrex extends and speeds Python apps

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-26 General Development 8 Comments

Pyrex is a language specially designed for writing Python extension modules. According to the Pyrex Web site, "It's designed to bridge the gap between the nice, high-level, easy-to-use world of Python and the messy, low-level world of C." Almost any piece of Python code is also valid Pyrex code, but you can add optional static type declarations to Pyrex code, making the declared objects run at C speed.

DOJ Takes a Long Look at Longhorn

Submitted by danjr 2005-01-26 Windows 28 Comments

The government is taking a long look at the upcoming operating system, and wants to make sure that it complies with the antitrust ruling. The desktop version of Longhorn is due in 2006, while the server edition arrives in 2007.

Raskin Receives $2 million in start-up funding to develop RCHI

Submitted by Troy Watson 2005-01-26 Graphics 59 Comments

Jef Raskin, co-creator of the Macintosh and author of The Humane Interface, has received a $2 million dollar boost to his Humane Environment project (now know as RCHI). You can download an early version from the projects website, and Raskin hopes to finish the project within 18 months. Will this be a paradigm shift in user interfaces?

Anandtech.com reviews the Mac Mini

Submitted by Quake 2005-01-26 Apple 61 Comments

Anandtech has a review of the Mac Mini and Ars has a useful guide for it.

Microsoft: Legit Windows or no updates

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-26 Windows 96 Comments

Aiming to crack down on counterfeit software, Microsoft plans later this year to require customers to verify that their copy of Windows is genuine before downloading security patches and other add-ons to the operating system.

OpenSolaris Web Site Goes Up

Submitted by Bryan Cantrill 2005-01-25 Solaris 56 Comments

The source code to DTrace is now available for public download here, more info on a blog entry introducing the code here.

Installing Debian For The Faint Of Heart

Guest post by Og Maciel 2005-01-25 Debian 55 Comments

In my never ending search for the ultimate challenge, I decided to remove Gentoo Linux from my trusty laptop and install something else that wasn't as resource starving. Thus, Debian was selected.

Apple Drops BTO Mac Mini Prices; iPod Shuffle Vs SanDisk Player

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-25 Apple 108 Comments

Apple has quietly cut prices on build-to-order (BTO) components for its new Mac mini. The company is now offering the Bluetooth and AirPort Extreme wireless option for US$99 (was $129), the 1GB DDR333 SDRAM upgrade for $325 (was $475), and the 80GB ultra ATA hard drive upgrade for $50 (was $80). Apple is also now listing an 8x SuperDrive option instead of the previous 4x model for the same $100 cost. Elsewhere, a Mac user reviews the iPod Shuffle ($149) vs the Sandisk MP3 player ($138, $118 with rebate), both with 1 GB of Flash memory and similar pricing but with different feature-set.

FreeBSD 4.11 Released

Submitted by Ken Smith 2005-01-25 FreeBSD 16 Comments

This is expected to be the last of the 4.X releases, and will be an Errata Branch. Well-tested fixes to basic functionality will be committed to the branch in addition to the normal security fixes. Most developers are now focused on 5.X or the cutting-edge development in HEAD.

Microsoft Moves Ahead with XP Reduced Media Edition

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-25 Windows 40 Comments

Microsoft Corp. made it official Monday: It has no plans to appeal the antitrust sanctions levied against it by the European Commission. As a result, a stripped-down version of Windows, minus Windows Media Player and related files, is moving forward rapidly.

Coyotos, A New Security-focused OS & Language

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-25 OS News 12 Comments

For those who haven't been following the EROS project, it has now migrated to the Coyotos project. EROS, the Extremely Reliable Operating System, was a project to create an operating system whose security relied on capabilities rather than the traditional Unix model of root or non-root.

Red Hat pushes for Linux in federal market

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-25 Red Hat 3 Comments

Red Hat plans new division, software release aimed at luring government users.

A great desktop OS: Fedora Core 3

Submitted by Editor 2005-01-25 Fedora Core 31 Comments

LinuxTimes feature a two page review of FC3, along with screenshots.

Build a push proxy gateway on Linux

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-25 Internet 8 Comments

A push mechanism is the delivery of unsolicited information to a mobile device. Learn how to set up a PPG on your own, configure the settings to your own taste, develop push content, and test it with a mobile handset simulator over a TCP/IP network on a LAN.

Interview on Open Graphics Project

Submitted by Timothy Miller 2005-01-25 3D 10 Comments

A while back, OSNews had an article about the Open Graphics Project. The project has progressed significantly, and now there is an interview on KernelTrap.org about the progress, status, and future of this 3D graphics project. If you're interested in how the chip works, there's even a C++ software model of the OpenGL renderer you can look at.

Cell “analysis” a mixed bag; Rebuttals Available

Submitted by Mikkus 2005-01-25 Hardware 29 Comments

Hannibal of Arstechnica writes "Last week, OS News published an analysis of IBM's Cell-related patents. This article presents some of the information in the patents in an easily digestible format, but it has some serious flaws, as well. And I'm not talking about Cell-specific flaws, though there are those, but what appear to be problems with the author's understanding of basic computer architecture." Read On.. In the meantime, Nicholas Blachford explained a bit more his points on a sixth Cell article, and also wrote a rebuttal on Ars' article.

An Overview of GPG

Submitted by Terremce W. Zellers 2005-01-25 Privacy, Security 6 Comments

This is a quick overview of using GPG giving a little background material then illustrating its simpler uses. At www.ip-wars.net as An Overview of GPG.

When are you going to sue your customers?

Submitted by Miguel 2005-01-25 In the News 34 Comments

"I'm tired of the constant fear mongering around intellectual property and open source software and "enterprises being sued" and thought it time to offer a different opinion" says Stephen R. Walli, an ex-Microsoft employee who worked on open sourcing projects at Microsoft (FlexWiki and Wix).

Mandrakelinux 10.2 Beta 1 Available

Eugenia Loli 2005-01-25 Mandriva, Mandrake, Lycoris 52 Comments

Mandrakelinux 10.2 Beta is available and it includes Linux kernel 2.6.10, Glibc 2.3.4 and gcc 3.4.3, new KDE 3.3.2 is compiled with the '-fvisibility=hidden' option of gcc to accelerate the linkage step at the program start, Gnome 2.8.1, as well as GTK 2.6.1. New features during the installation procedure, including a new package-processing algorithm. Installation may boot from a USB key. Mozilla-firefox replaces Mozilla, Gimp 2.2, cdrecord 2.01.01a21 with DVD+R Dual Layers support, OpenOffice.org 1.1.4, Postgresql 8.0, MySQL 4.1.9.