QNX Momentics v6.3 Released
QNX Software Systems released today the QNX Momentics development suite v6.3. In the coming weeks, there will be a 30-day QNX Momentics Professional Edition evaluation available for download.
Opinion: Linux In 2004 – Usability Needs A Facelift
During the majority of my time working with computers, Windows was the operating system of choice. Reason being, it's all I've known. In 2002, I took a college course titled "Linux Administration" which entitled me to a few cd-roms of Redhat 7.x. While this course was nothing more than a few extra credits for me, I fell in love with Linux and went through the entire textbook a week into the class. It was a nice feeling to use something "different" than what I was used to.
OpenBSD: Monolithic Simplicity
A recent thread on the OpenBSD project's misc@ mailing list discussed why OpenBSD has chosen to stick to a purely monolithic kernel, instead of trying to optimize performance by using kernel modules. As described in the OpenBSD FAQ, the OpenBSD team only supports the GENERIC kernel that is provided with the distribution. Numerous reasons were provided, including security, the ability to fully test, and simplicity.
Linux: x86 No Execute Support
Ingo Molnar announced the availablity of support for AMD's NX, or "no execute" bit for the x86 architecture. Originally introduced by AMD with their Athlon 64 and Opteron processors and marketed as Enhanced Virus Protection, Ingo notes that support for this new bit was also announced by Intel, Transmeta and VIA.
Is the PDA dead?
Sony's decision to cut back its PDA business isn't a huge surprise. The popularity of the personal digital assistant has been steadily eroded by smart phones, digital cameras, music players and other devices that can provide many PDA functions. Check out the article portal here.
Free Software Group Not Well With Mono
This article discusses the political differences between Mono & dotGNU, two .NET re-implementations.
Waimea Developer Returns From Beyond
From Slashdot: Waimea 0.5.0 was released after about a year from the developer disappearing. It turns out he was just working on getting the OpenGL backend for Cairo completed. Waimea is the first window manager that uses Cairo for rendering.
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger to sport updated Finder, .Mac integration
Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger will include tighter integration with Apple's internet services and sport a refreshed Finder interface, according to reports that cannot be positively confirmed, but are believed to reflect accurate information on the latest builds of the OS.
“From Genesi(s) to Revelation”: The Pegasos review
Professor Fulvio Peruggi illustrious member of Amiga community in Naples, Italy, wrote a long review on his Pegasos II G4 machine: what means Amiga philosophy, usage of Pegasos, compatibility of programs, productivity, multimedia, office applications, Mac emulation, MorphOS and more.
Inkscape – A Union of Contributions Makes a Difference
I had to reread Bulia's email three times. It was one of those nigh-mythical events that you read happens in Open Source projects, but never see in person. Yet, amazingly, here it was, and I knew Fred's patch would instantly double Inkscape's utility.
EIOffice: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Nicholas Petreley takes a spin at the Java-based EIOffice office suite. I also tried this software 2-3 weeks ago but it has ugly dependencies in regards to its installation routine:
IEEE & Open Group Okay FreeBSD to Utilize POSIX
The IEEE and The Open Group have granted permission to the FreeBSD Project to incorporate material from the joint IEEE 1003.1 POSIX standard and The Open Group Base Specifications Issue 6.
Sun Confirms Plans to Open Source Solaris
So said Sun Microsystems' COO Jonathan Schwartz at an Asia Pacific press conference in Shanghai today. "I don't want to say when that will happen. But make no mistake, we will open source Solaris," he declared. The move is a widely anticipated one. Still, what will keep users and the press guessing for now is what form the licensing model of its longstanding server operating system will take as Schwartz refused to elaborate.
SUSE LINUX 9.1: The Complete Review
DesktopOS.com has published a comprehensive review of SUSE LINUX 9.1, Personal and Professional editions. At over 11,000 words and with 40 screenshots, this is a most thorough SUSE review.
PostgreSQL 7.4 and Berkeley DB XML Basics
The latest release of PostgreSQL contains a host of new features for advanced database design. Here's an introduction to some of the best. Also, based on the ubiquitous Berkeley DB, Berkeley DB XML is a new database that stores, retrieves, indexes, and searches XML documents. Better yet, you can embed Berkeley BD XML in almost any application. Roll up your sleeves for this hands-on introduction.
Moving from Red Hat to Fedora
In November 2003, Red Hat announced that "Red Hat will discontinue maintenance and errata support for Red Hat Linux 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, and 8.0 as of December 31, 2003." In other words, "No more free Red Hat software." Red Hat's missive confirmed that it was going to focus its efforts on large, enterprise-wide Linux installations and suggested that Red Hat Linux users migrate to Red Hat Enterprise Linux, albeit at a significantly increased annual cost. But then again, Fedora was unveiled.
Microsoft Granted Patent for Extended Mouse Button Pressing
Microsoft has been granted a patent on the double-click by the US Patents and Trademark Office. The patent, number 6,727,830, was granted on April 27. An abstract of the application says: "A method and system are provided for extending the functionality of application buttons on a limited resource computing device. Alternative application functions are launched based on the length of time an application button is pressed. A default function for an application is launched if the button is pressed for a short, i.e., normal, period of time." Our editorial on patents.
Something “Fundamentally Different” Heads Your Way
Syllable: New Developer Pack; Dock Alpha 2, Registrar
The Syllable team has a few interesting news to announce, new dev tools, a new dock and a registrar, printed magazing exposure and more.