This update helps resolve an issue on computers running Windows XP Service Pack 2. Programs that connect to IP addresses in the loopback address range may not work as expected and you may receive an error message indicating you cannot establish a connection. After you install this item, you may have to restart your computer. Elsewhere, this download installs Microsoft Windows Script containing Visual Basic Script Edition (VBScript.) Version 5.6, JScript Version 5.6, Windows Script Components, Windows Script Host 5.6, and Windows Script Runtime Version 5.6.

The X.Org Foundation announced the release of an update for the X Window System, which addresses the possible security vulnerability announced on September 15, 2004. This bug affects all known versions and releases of the X Window System shipping versions of libXpm, whether from X.Org or other vendors. Slackware upgraded to it today.

The software maker plans to announce in Paris on Monday that Office 2003 will be added to its Government Security Program (GSP), launched in early 2003 to address growing security concerns. The program gives government agencies secure access to source code for key Microsoft programs--initially, the current versions of the Windows operating system.

"Mandrake 10.1 Community, released in Sept. 16 is an incremental upgrade to Mandrake 10. The new features make it a worthy upgrade for home users but the bugs that remain are certainly not what a business desktop should upgrade to until later when the Official version is released." Read the review at SpiderTools.

The KOffice team released the third bugfix package that builds upon the previous 1.3.x versions, with many fixes, mainly in the core libraries and in some filters.

Apple computer posted on the open-source section of its site a list of softwares included in the next version of Darwin, 8.0 (currently in beta). Here a glance at the new software included.

A few days ago we read about the Deli Linux, which aims to fill-in the gap of Linux distros in the 486/586 machine range by running lightweight/older applications. The disto comes with Dillo and Links as its browsers, but I bet there aren't many people who know that there is yet another very lightweight browser for GTK+ 1.2.x and it is more powerful and more memory-optimized than Dillo: Access' NetFront. Check for info and screenshots inside.

On the XML and Java technology frontier, where numerous technologies jostle for space, XMLBeans is making a mark for itself in a very short time. This article introduces the technology with a simple example, takes you through the step-by-step process of compilation and binding, and discusses advanced features like XML cursors, tokens, and XQuery expressions. It also discusses how XMLBeans is more powerful than other XML-Java technology data binding techniques.

CentOS 3.3, based on Redhat Enterprise Linux Update 3, has been released for i386 and AMD64.

On MenuetOS 0.78-pre3 there is a new screen layout, with a new panel application, graphics designed by Andrew Youll. The menus, applications and icons are completely under user control now - just edit MPANEL.DAT to make changes. You do not need to re-boot for changes to take effect.

Subversion is a version control system that is a compelling replacement for CVS in the open source community. This is a minor bugfix release.

OneFinger is a general-purpose GUI for composing CLI commands with the mouse. Although entirely graphical, it does not attempt to hide the underlying CLI language. Requires Python for Qt3.

SCO has been seeking more time for its Unix intellectual property case against IBM, while IBM strives to end the case quickly. The SCO Group Inc. and IBM are locked in a blizzard of claim and counterclaim paperwork in the U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City. Matters reached a climax Wednesday as the court heard arguments on four motions.

Bryan Clark is discussing what a good "Find" dialog would be to be used with applications.