OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

Microsoft Drops Windows 2000 SP5, Plans Security Rollup Instead

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-24 Windows 45 Comments

A source close to Microsoft today sent documentation about an Update Rollup for Windows 2000 that the software giant will release in 2005 in lieu of a Service Pack 5 (SP5). Also, Microsoft has announced what it hopes will be a new attack on piracy - the Redmond-based giant has decided to give away free software to those who bought machines with fake copies pre-installed.

Shrinking Solaris; New Solaris Version

Submitted by Tudy 2004-11-24 Solaris 16 Comments

Sun Microsystems' Solaris 10 may be powerful enough to power a data grid, but for real market growth, Sun is looking inward to the embedded space. Despite the hoopla at this month's announcement party to launch Solaris 10, the focus for the operating system has been outside the usual realm of server rooms and desktops. Solaris Express 11/04 will be build 72 and should be available on or around November 30. The big thing for this one is... 64 bit Solaris on AMD.''

AROS-Max-0.2.2 Available

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-24 Amiga & AROS 10 Comments

AROS Max is a pre-configured live bootable CD image, made to show off the best that AROS has to offer. It requires an AROS capable PC, your mileage may vary. Download from here.

Novell Linux Desktop Policy How-To

Submitted by anonymous 2004-11-24 Novell and Ximian 15 Comments

Novell consultant Adrian Malagui explains step-by-step how to apply restrictive policies to Novell Linux Desktop 9, manage Linux users from eDirectory, authenticate through LDAP and store users data and profiles on a central server. See the full PDF article here.

Interview with David Roundy of Darcs on Source Control

Submitted by Steve Mallett 2004-11-24 General Development 3 Comments

In the aftermath of our last interview with Tom Lord, regardless of personalities, it became apparent that the idea of decentralizing CVS is a big deal. Many mentioned darcs as an alternative to Arch. Mark Strosberg has interviewed project head-hancho David Roundy about darcs, his "theory of patches", what's next, and on using Haskell for the project.

IBM’s Solid Stake on the Desktop

Submitted by danjr 2004-11-24 IBM 21 Comments

Its Workplace package is catching on with clients, and more software makers are signing on. Still, it's no Windows smasher. IBM launched a bold foray into desktop computing last spring, when it took on Microsoft's desktop monopolies -- Windows and Office -- with its own Workplace product. Now it looks like Big Blue's package of collaboration, communications, productivity, and desktop management software has struck a chord.

XFce 4.2 – the Future is Now!

Guest post by Neven Bijelic 2004-11-24 Xfce 99 Comments

No doubt, all of you have heard of Xfce and those who haven't will hear about it soon anyway. I remember trying out Xfce for the first time back on SuSE 9.0. I am not sure if it came with the distrobution or if I downloaded it. At the time 9.0 came out I remember thinking to myself "nice, good potential, could be eyecandy, fast..." but I still logged into KDE upon booting. Sure I tried Gnome but somehow for a windows-commer KDE was more user friendly at the time. Update: More screenshots of XFce.

Novell Linux Desktop 9 Reviewed

Guest post by peekj 2004-11-24 Novell and Ximian 22 Comments

I recently downloaded and took a closer look at Novell Linux Desktop 9. While it is certainly aimed at the corporate environment, it's also somewhat suitable for home users. Read our review to find out what experiences I had with it and whether or not it might be right for you.

Watson now available for free; Mac OS X 10.3.7 build 7S206

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-24 macOS 19 Comments

Watson developer Dan Wood has released his popular Mac OS X application free of charge--sort of. Mac users who want a copy must find and download it off the Web. Elsewhere, according to sources, Apple has seeded the second external build of Mac OS X 10.3.7 and is actively distributing recent builds of Tiger on DVD discs.

QNX Optimizes Embedded Performance with New Intel C++ Compiler

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-24 QNX 3 Comments

QNX today announced that it is the first company to offer the new Intel C++ Compiler 8.1, a highly optimizing compiler specifically designed for embedded Intel Architecture application development.

IBM extends lead in server market

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-24 IBM 11 Comments

IBM increased its lead in a growing server market, nibbling away share from rivals Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems, according to figures to be released Wednesday.

Discussing the architecture and secrets of .NET and the CLR#

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-24 .NET 25 Comments

"Show us the architecture of .NET on the whiteboard," is what Jason Zander was asked and that started out an interesting discussion of what .NET is.

Intel more active in desktop Linux

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-24 Intel 11 Comments

Intel has begun an effort to make it easier for sales partners in China and India to sell desktop computers running Linux, starting a more active phase in the company's help with the open-source operating system.

Novell Launches New Linux Operating System

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-23 Novell and Ximian 43 Comments

In the '80s and most of the '90s, Novell ruled the roost for PC network operating systems. In fact, a term was coined, NOS (network operating system) to describe Novell's flagship product. But the Redmond juggernaut eventually overcame Novell's efforts. Novell shops still exist, but they're getting to be few and far between. As Microsoft consolidated its gain in servers, Novell's Linux began to make inroads on what had seemed to be secure territory. Also, Beagle 0.0.3 was released today (screenshot).

Red Hat tells Sun’s Schwartz to get a dictionary

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-23 Red Hat 34 Comments

Reacting to claims by Sun COO Jonathan Schwartz that Red Hat is a proprietary incarnation of Linux, Red Hat's vice president of open source affairs Michael Tiemann believes Schwartz should get his facts straight and expressed doubts over how open any open source Solaris is likely to be.

Java flaw could lead to Windows, Linux attacks

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-23 Java 29 Comments

A flaw in Sun Microsystems's plug-in for running Java on a variety of browsers and operating systems could allow a virus to spread through Microsoft Windows and Linux PCs.

New Linux Distros, Old Problems

Submitted by TTF 2004-11-23 Linux 36 Comments

Several new distributions make communicating with a Windows network more difficult than it should be.

Review: Fedora Core 3 Vs Ubuntu Warty Warhog

Guest post by Fabian M. Schindler 2004-11-23 Rumors 125 Comments

Linux distros are advancing everywhere. Not only servers but also on the desktop pc and notebooks. There are wild discussions, if Linux-Distributions are ready for serious business work or personal use. This critical review will deal with two long awaited Linux-distributions, Fedora Core 3 and Ubuntus Warty Warhog. Why these two? Because both feature Gnome 2.8 and it would not be a comparision on equal terms to compare Gnome to e.g KDE. Also, both use kernel 2.6.8+ and have their very own theme for the default desktop. Bluecurve for Fedora and Human for Ubuntu.

OS4emu: AmigaOS4 emulation for MorphOS

Eugenia Loli 2004-11-23 Morphos 16 Comments

Itix has released a first version of OS4emu, an AmigaOS4 emulator which makes it possible to run OS4 programs on MorphOS.

OPENSTEP 4-beta Video Available

Guest post by Marcus 2004-11-23 OpenStep, GNUstep 20 Comments

Yes, the legendary GUI design study which has never been officially released by NeXT in the past and you will hardly find any information on the web - except of a single screenshots and some info on the newsgroups. Well, I did a small video running NEXTSTEP/OPENSTEP 4 BETA on Virtual PC 2004.