SuSE, Mandrake, and Lycoris Reviews
TuxReports has a team review of SuSE, Mandrake, and Lycoris with screenshots. Read it here.
Free Download of Windows XP Embedded Evaluation Edition
Microsoft has just released a downloadable version of the "evaluation edition" of Windows XP Embedded with Service Pack 1. Previously, the evaluation edition was available in CD/DVD format only, and had to be ordered from Microsoft for a nominal charge. The first downloadable evaluation version of Windows CE was made available earlier this year.
Onebase Linux 1.0 Released
DistroWatch reports that the first stable version for source-based Linux distribution Onebase Linux 1.0 has been released. Grab it from the server or support the project by buying it from their store. Read its full announcement, change-Log and base-packs or download it (222 MB).
Metaclass programming in Python, Part 2
This article revisits the working of metaclasses and their relation to other OOP concepts. It contrasts class instantiation with inheritance, distinguishes classmethods and metamethods, and explains and solves metaclass conflicts.
User Authentication Based on Keyboard Usage
Just as access can be granted based on a fingerprint or retina scan, biometrical analysis of the keyboard typing style can produce a unique pattern. A project to produce an authentication scheme based on hardware that every computer has already (unlike a retina scanner) was started in 1999 for BeOS but now is available on MacOS X, in a beta release.
HP Partners with Chinese Linux Distributor
HP will be establishing a laboratory at its Beijing facility for Red Flag Linux developers to work with HP engineers, and will be putting together packages of HP hardware running Red Flag for the Chinese market, and perhaps other markets in the future.
Debian GNU/Linux – Not Just Another Pretty Face (Part I)
Debian is not quite like any other distro out there. If bigger is better, then Debian wins hands down. Aside from having the largest collection of free software packages, Debian also runs on 11 platforms. But there is more to Debian than just size. Travel writer and recent Debian convert Robert Storey tackles the whole installation procedure head on and gives his report.
GUI vs. CLI: A Qualitative Comparison
It is not fashionable nowadays to speak of the merits of the command line, in an age where things like streaming video and Aqua are an integral part of our daily life. However, I do not think that typed-in commands must necessarily be consigned to the dustbin of computer history. Of course, I am not suggesting that we all drop X and Windows and pretend like we are living in the early eighties. The command line interface still has much to offer us, and many of its benefits simply cannot physically be emulated or even replaced by graphical ones.
YellowTAB Zeta Preview in Beyond Magazine; Filesystem Overview
Beyond is a free magazine in PDF format, publishing in the English and Italian languages, focusing on BeOS and other alternative OSes. The first issue includes articles like "Explaining the BeOS and MacOSX filesystems", "Dossier ADSL: connect to the internet with BeOS", "Amiga Alpe Adria 2003", "REBOL Tutorial (part I)", "Preview: Zeta from YellowTab" and much more.
.NET Passport 2.5 Software Development Kit: Software and Docs
eCS File and Directory Standard (eFDS)
During development of eCS 1.1 operating system defined standards was used. The eCS DevGroup published the eCS File and Directory Standard (eFDS) so you can test your own software product to compliance of operating system standards and release updated version if needed.
A Galaxy of Possibility: Mandrake Linux 9.1 ProSuite
Timothy R. Butler writes: "Our last consideration of Mandrake Linux was early this year when my colleague Eduardo Sanchez thoroughly reviewed Mandrake 9.0. In that review, Sanchez noted the numerous advances made in 9.0, but also reported some serious flaws that somewhat limited his enthusiasm. With that considered, we were anxious to find out if 9.1 could again return Mandrake to the amazing quality achieved in release 8.2. See what we found, here."
Sun Mulls Joining Java Eclipse Effort
In an about-face that could have a dramatic impact in the Java tools space, Sun Microsystems Inc. has indicated it might be willing to join the IBM-sponsored Eclipse open-source development platform effort—but only if momentum to spin off the effort into an independent organization continues.
Apple Shooting for Supercomputer Heights
The company lands a big customer for its Power Mac G5: Virginia Tech, which will use 1,100 G5s as part of a cluster designed to make the list of the world's largest supercomputers. In the meantime, Apple delays the shipping of its dual-processor Power Mac G5 to individual consumers, opting instead to send the first of the fast desktops to schools, Europe and selected customers.
GNOME Desktop 2.4 Beta 2: “Subotai” Released
The GNOME Desktop 2.4 Beta 2: "Subotai", is available for immediate download on ftp.gnome.org and mirrors since August 31st. The RC1 of Gnome 2.4 is expected to be released in a few days while work for the GTKFileChooser API has started (most possibly to be included on Gnome 2.6 next year).
Linux Format Reviews SciTech SNAP Graphics for Linux
"Whether X configuration is getting you down or you need a lightweight graphics solution for that embedded app, Richard Drummond thinks SciTech has the answer." LinuxFormat's complete review is posted at SciTech's web site in PDF format.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux release 2.95 AS Beta (Taroon) Preview
Red Hat released the beta for their upcoming Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) line. The release is tagged release 2.95, Taroon. The next official release will probably be called RHEL release 3 (as usual, Red Hat does not confirm their upcoming release version and date).
Linux: We Have Met the Enemy, and He is Us
"Forget SCO & Microsoft. The single biggest thing keeping Linux from the desktop is Linux itself. It's time to stop adding new features, and finish what's there." Read the 3-page editorial at ExtremeTech. Our Take: While there is no such thing as "finished software", as software by definition can always be improved, it is true that Linux projects (especially desktop apps) need to outline and release full-featured, solid, well tested versions of their software and offer less smaller ones that require the user to constantly upgrade and be in a state of flactuation. What is needed in smaller projects are real release engineers that can outline goals and releases wisely (the Gnome project, PostgreSQL and Apache are good on that for example, smaller projects could learn a thing or two from these bigger projects).
Surrounding GTK+ Technologies are Released
Installing XFce-4 on SuSE 8.2
This guide will introduce you to XFce, the popular (CDE-inspired in the past) Unix/X11 graphical environment, and it will give you pointers how to install it.