The SimplyGNUstep project was started a little over two years ago. It's goal was to create a pure GNUstep based user oriented desktop operating system. It used the Linux kernel and the standard GNU software, but it was not like any other standard Linux distribution.

Mandrake Linux, has just hit the street in an all new version 9.2 (codename: FiveStar). This new version is based on Linux version 2.4.22 (an optional Linux 2.6.0pre is also available and included), XFree86 4.3, binaries built upon GCC 3.3.1, Apache 2.0.43, KDE 3.1.3, Gnome 2.4.0, OpenOffice 1.1 and more.

"Apple Power Macs did well on Photoshop, but the 64-bit AMD-based systems won handily on most tests", says PCWorld.

In the world of "free" open source software, there is no greater villain than SCO, owner of the Unix operating system. But the spread of Linux could be hurt by another group--and ironically, it's the free-software proponents themselves, Forbes says.

Earlier in the month we made a call for contributions, and we had an overwhelming response. Hopefully we'll be seeing some new articles from OSNews readers in the near future. I'd like to announce that we've set up a mailing list for those readers who might be interested in contributing articles and reviews. I'd also like to make a public apology to those people who I mistakenly added to the list. "Read more" for details.

After years of backing only one format in the recordable DVD format war, Apple Computer is adding limited support of a rival format into its operating system.

A recent study said that many Windows users are planning on evaluating other platforms. What about the tech savvy OSNews readers? Are you staying with Linux, OSX or Windows, or switching to something else? Come in and vote!

Among the technology industry's historic monuments sits Xerox PARC, the almost-legendary R&D facility nestled in the heart of Silicon Valley. Xerox also has a big research center in New York, and researchers from that facility and from PARC recently held a soiree in San Francisco to show some of the company's key research efforts. Read the article at PC Magazine.

In interesting releases of web browsers lately, Mozilla 1.4.1 is out, Opera 7.21b for Unix, Firebird 0.6.1, iCab 2.9.6 and Epiphany 1.0.1.

With the one year anniversary of Microsoft's Windows XP Tablet PC Edition operating system approaching in November, several PC makers have released or will soon release new tablet PC models designed around the OS.

The rush to endorse open source alternatives to Microsoft's dominant Windows software has been criticised by senior technology executives who warned that companies risked falling victim to growing hype around software such as the Linux operating system.

Roderick W. Smith discusses how to resize and defrag the Linux filesystems.

"Seems the new version of Samba ups the ante in file/printer sharing options for Windows network, with a 2.5x performance gain over Windows Server 2003, according to tests by IT Week." Read it here.

Richard Seibt, boss of the largest European offerer of Linux operating systems, the Suse Linux AG, expects: "I believe that Apple computers in the future, will run the Linux operating system". He said so (Google translation) in the "citizens of Berlin newspaper" (Monday issue). Seibt also said that Linux will make it "really big" by the year 2013.