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).

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.

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 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.

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.

Download the Microsoft .NET Passport 2.5 Software Development Kit (SDK), which includes Microsoft .NET Passport, a suite of Web-based services that helps make signing in to Web sites faster and easier. Also, DirectX 9.0 SDK Update (Summer 2003) - RC0 was released to beta testers.

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."

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.

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).

"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.

"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).

PyGTK 2.0.0 and PyOrbit 2.0.0 are released, while the awaited gtk2-perl is on the final stages of its beta phase. Additionally, gtkmm 2.2.7 was released and the Gnome/Gecko browser, Epiphany 0.9.3, too.

From Mac news site MacMinute: "Victor Kulesh today announced the release of Veta Universal Palm Edition, which will turn a Bluetooth-enabled Palm PDA into a wireless remote control for your Mac. "Now users can use their Tungsten T Palms to remotely control many applications such as iTunes, Keynote, DVD Player and even the mouse on their computers." Veta Universal Palm Edition is priced at US$10."

Aiming to provide Linux users with industry acclaimed quality network services, Conectiva, leading company in Linux services in Latin America, has just announced partnership with Novell. From now on, Novell Nterprise Linux Services, which provides file, printing, message and directory management, will be supported and run on Conectiva Linux Enterprise Edition. The agreement also provides that both Conectiva and Novell shall work in close cooperation as a team to provide service to major Nterprise Linux clients.