Get up to date on some of the new interface changes and features in Windows Server 2003, including a skinnable interface, folder compression to save space, built-in methods for CD burning, and remote desktop assistance.

When you're through with this chapter, you'll know not only how to use SOAP straight out of the box but also how to extend SOAP to support your diverse and changing needs. You'll have also followed the development of a meaningful e-commerce Web service in Java.

The Gnoppix Project released Gnoppix 0.8. Gnoppix 0.8-Series comes with Gnome 2.6 and Kernel 2.6.7, gcc 3.4, egroupware, Openoffice, etc. The Mono/MonoDevelop environment is also included. There is also a GUI Installation tool, that lets you install Gnoppix with 7 clicks to disk.

Tired of seeing a prosaic, two-dimensional splashscreen every time you boot your system? Sun Microsystems recently released to developers early code for Project Looking Glass, a 3D desktop enhancement application Sun hopes will soon liven up a desktop near you.

Version 1.3 of the LLVM Compiler Infrastructure is now available. LLVM is a open-source system that focuses on providing compiler components to build all kinds of compiler-related programs, including traditional static compilers, JIT compilers, profile systems, debuggers, script engines, etc. Release 1.3 provides many new features, including new beta support for PowerPC code generation and improvements to the C/C++ compiler's optimizer.

PHP 5.0.1 is a maintenance release which adds many non-critical bugfixes and new Unix and Windows installation documentation which is auto-generated from the PHP Manual. Gambas 0.97 is now compiled with gcc 3.4. A new class, Settings, allows you to manage configuration files. The divide operator now behaves exactly as in other BASIC languages; it returns the whole floating point result, and not the integer part only. FOX 1.2.9 back-ports an FXTopWindow placement patch and fixes a bug in inquireDNDTypes(). FOX 1.3.8 (development) adds an FXSplashWindow class, an FXMemMap class for memory mapped files, and some missing APIs to FXFileSelector and FXFileDialog.

Linux kernel 2.6.8 is now available (42 MB). Changelog is available here. Update: A patch (2.6.8.1) that fixes an NFS bug (a typo) has been released. Users who use NFS should upgrade.

Think Windows Firewall is tough enough to keep your system safe? Check FlexBeta's review. Elsewhere, the Express Install for WinXP SP2 is now available (90 MB).

YDL 4.0 RC2 was released today to ydl.net subscribers. A final release is now closer.

GTK+ 2.4.6 and GLib 2.4.6 were released today. These are bug-fixing releases. Pango 1.4.1 was released a few days ago. Vote for it at GnomeFiles. Update: GTK+ 2.4.7 released.

Installation reports for Microsoft's new security-focused upgrade range from trouble-free to complete system failures. Our Take: I had one random reboot and one freeze since I installed SP2 this week. The _only_ other time in the past that my XP had crashed was when I plugged-in a SONY external DVD-+RW drive to a USB 1.1 port last month. Except that DVD-RW incident last month, my XP was crash-free for 2.5 years (which might have been a SONY issue, I give the benefit of the doubt to MS). But with the SP2, I had two crashes in 4 days. Unforgivable. SP1 was really solid, can't say the same for SP2.

"Linux has made some excellent advances in making itself more consumer friendly, but it cannot directly compete with the Mac OS or Windows yet. Also, while there are plenty of applications available for Linux, few consumer-oriented app makers produce apps for Linux. The Mac's app base is smaller than that of Windows, but it is far more robust than Linux's base, and apps are key." Read the rest of the editorial at MacObserver. Also, "Who's Losing Most Desktops to Linux, Apple or Microsoft?" LinuxWorld discusses on the other side.

ThinkSecret has the specs for the new iMacs, while Apple has filed for a European design trademark which may provide a tantalising glimpse of the company's long-awaited tablet computer.

The first beta of a Linux distribution that hopes to compete with enterprise server products from SuSE and Red Hat is set for release on 1 September - but few in the industry can see it gaining much support. Backed by open source advocate Bruce Perens, the free UserLinux distribution claims to offer the same functionalities as existing enterprise Linux distributions.