OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

New Java Language Features

Adam Scheinberg 2003-05-09 Java 28 Comments

Holger Benl writes "Sun's Java site has a very informative article about the most important new language features planned for J2SE 1.5 (expected beta-release: late 2003). Looks like Java may finally replace C++ as my favorite programming language."

Sun’s Schwartz on Solaris vs. Linux

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-09 Oracle and SUN 22 Comments

This is part 2 of a 3 part interview series with Jonathan Schwartz, EVP of Sun Software. In part 1, Mr. Schwartz talked about how Sun is expanding its software business. In this segment, he talks about why Sun isn't worried about Linux.

Windows Client Roadmap; Longhorn UI Videos, Shots; DVD Formats

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-09 Windows 53 Comments

Microsoft Corp. said it will act as a neutral arbiter in the ongoing battle between the competing recordable DVD standards, supporting all of them in the upcoming Longhorn release. Microsoft added support for DVD-R and DVD-RW into Longhorn, due in 2005. Longhorn already supports the DVD-RAM, DVD+RW and DVD+R formats. Also, here is a picture, showing the Windows Client roadmap: Windows XP Tablet PC Version 2 due 2003, Windows XP Media Center Edition Version 2 due 2004. Beta 1 and Beta 2 of Longhorn due 2004. In the meantime, here are a few screenshots and videos of Longhorn.

Passport Problems Could Cost Microsoft

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-09 Privacy, Security 30 Comments

Microsoft faces a possible investigation and significant fines for a security lapse that could have exposed the personal information of millions of consumers.

Windows XP to See Double

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-08 Windows 58 Comments

Microsoft plans to retool its Windows XP operating system so that two people can run applications on the same machine concurrently (one via a Smart Display), an important step toward the company's goal of transforming the PC into a home entertainment center.

Editorial: Windows or OS X?

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-08 Rumors 93 Comments

"It?s been a while since we had a discussion about Windows & Mac users hasn?t it? Ok well I guess it hasn?t as every Mac or Windows news site under the sun seems to be running some sort of ?Mine is better than yours? argument each day. I guess the question still remains, which one is best? Or is there even a ?best OS? out there?" Read Byron Hinson's editorial. Update: Second part, here.

SuSE 8.2 — Better than Mandrake for New Users?

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-08 SuSE, openSUSE 36 Comments

"I have been using SuSE Linux 8.2 Professional for two weeks now, and it is as close to Linux desktop perfection as I have found so far. (I know I'm not the first to say this, but I figure saying it one more time can't hurt.) This doesn't mean it's totally perfect, and my experience is on one particular laptop and may not be duplicated on your hardware, but this is the first SuSE version I have actually liked -- and the first one I've kept on my "production" machine for any length of time." Read the review at NewsForge.

Use Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect Via Remote Display

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-08 General Development 8 Comments

Complete the sign-up form to experience Visual Studio .NET 2003 running on Windows Server 2003 in a completely hosted environment. No complex setup or installation needed. You will receive a three-hour trial to: Test drive and take a guided tour of Visual Studio .NET 2003 Enterprise Architect. Take a look at the new Windows Server 2003. Access 100+ code samples and other resources to quickly evaluate Visual Studio .NET.

Create a Window Manager Theme, Get a Free Tech Book

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-08 Graphics 96 Comments

One old Sawfish theme I always admired is "Friday". I liked its concept of having its window manager buttons shaped after the purpose they served (the Min button was a triangle looking down, and the max button a triangle looking up). I modified the theme to my liking (undoubtly it could still be done better by a pro graphics person) and here is its mockup. Update: An alternative design, possibly much better.

SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for Intel Itanium2 CPU

Submitted by HeavyD 2003-05-08 SuSE, openSUSE 4 Comments

Russell Pavlicek writes: "With all the talk about AMD's Opteron processors recently, we cannot forget that Intel, too, has a 64-bit platform that runs Linux. I took SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 for Intel Itanium2 Processor Family for a test drive. And I liked what I found."

Microsoft Catches Up on Storage in Windows Server 2003

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-08 Windows 8 Comments

Windows Server 2003 makes strides toward putting storage control back inside the OS, InfoWorld says. Microsoft plans several enhancements to Windows Server 2003: an iSCSI release in June, a NAS 3.0 release in the second quarter; an ADS release in the third quarter; a Small Business Server release "in a few months", and a virtual server release in the fourth quarter. Read the article at ExtremeTech.

Microsoft Details Longhorn Roadmap

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-07 Windows 42 Comments

Longhorn will not ship in beta form until early 2004, and will not be released to manufacturing until 2005. Also, Microsoft revealed that the company's Blackcomb project will not be delivered as a major server upgrade as previously expected, but will instead be phased in over several years, beginning with technology that Microsoft will release this year as "out of band" upgrades to Windows Server 2003.

RISC OS Select 3 in Detail

Submitted by Ian Hawkins 2003-05-07 RISC OS 18 Comments

Drobe have an in-depth article detailing the upcoming new features in RISC OS Ltds latest version of their OS, 'RISC OS Select 3'. One of the big changes (amongst many other improvements) is that it will support alpha channel sprites at OS level. There's lots of screenshots as well.

Mono 0.24 Released

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-07 Mono 43 Comments

Mono 0.24 is released, while .NET advocate John Carroll says that .Net develops advantages over Java.

Cocoa 101: Object-Oriented Programming for the Masses – Part 2

Guest post by Jared White 2003-05-07 General Development 24 Comments

Welcome back to Part 2 of Cocoa 101: Object-Oriented Programming for the Masses! I received a lot of great feedback on my previous article, and I'm looking forward to sharing with you once again what I've learned about Cocoa and the Objective-C language. If you missed Part 1 of this tutorial, read it here.

Public Review of IPv6 Proposed Enhancements for X11

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-06 Wayland 33 Comments

The members of X.Org announced the availability for Public Review of the proposed enhancements to the X Window System for the support of IPv6. The proposed code and documentation enhancements for both the X Window X11R6.6 Sample Implementation and the XFree86 V4.3.0. As agreed by the members of X.Org, the review of the proposed IPv6 enhancements will be open until 30th May 2003.

Next Palm OS Due Late 2003

Submitted by Stan Broné 2003-05-06 Wireless 19 Comments

The next version of the Palm operating system for handhelds will be available to licensees at the end of the year, according to a PalmSource executive. The company expects to make the debut of major OS releases every 12 months to 18 months after the first hardware ships. In other news, a company named TopWave is making a handheld-game-console, based on PalmOS.

Mac OS X 10.2.6 Update Released

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-06 macOS 15 Comments

The new Mac OS X 10.2.6 update addresses an issue for Mac OS X 10.2.5 in which a kernel panic message may appear if certain USB hubs or devices are connected. Improves printing compatibility for PostScript OpenType fonts. Improves compatibility for Maya Auto Paint and Paint Effects features.

Mandrake Linux 9.1 Packs Have Arrived

Submitted by TweakHound 2003-05-06 Mandriva, Mandrake, Lycoris 26 Comments

Mandrake Linux 9.1 packs are currently available for purchase at MandrakeStore. MandrakeStore offers a new tracking system which allows customers to monitor their orders each step of the way. The full press release is here.

Longhorn, New PCs on Tap for WinHEC

Eugenia Loli 2003-05-06 Microsoft 50 Comments

Microsoft will disclose more details about the next "big" version of Windows and show off prototypes of smart. Also, Gates cites Microsoft breakthroughs at eWeek. Check out pictures of the Athens PC.