OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

SciTech SNAP Graphics for Linux 2.0 now Available

Submitted by AndrewB 2003-09-04 General Development 14 Comments

SciTech Software, Inc. today announced that it is has released SciTech SNAP Graphics for Linux 2.0 – The Simple Driver Solution. This release is based on SciTech’s SNAP (System Neutral Access Protocol) architecture and targets the Linux enterprise markets with a host of features designed to reduce the total cost of ownership associated with maintaining Linux on corporate enterprises. Read more for the rest of the press release.

Power Mac G5: Mac OS X Server 10.2.x Not Supported

Submitted by CooCooCaChoo 2003-09-04 macOS 37 Comments

The Power Mac G5 computer is not supported for use with any version of Mac OS X Server 10.2, or any earlier version of Mac OS X Server. Mac OS X Server 10.3 will be supported on Power Mac G5 computers, Apple reported. Elsewhere, Unix users will be major beneficiaries of the upcoming 'Panther' version of OS X, Apple Computer told the AUUG conference.

Microsoft Patches Critical VBA Flaw

Submitted by Marcel 2003-09-04 Privacy, Security 14 Comments

An identified security issue in Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications could allow an attacker to compromise a Microsoft Windows-based system and then take a variety of actions. Windows and Office users should update their system.

What’s Next for Oracle?

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-04 Databases 7 Comments

Built on grid computing and due to debut at Oracle World, Oracle 10G marks the company's biggest technology release in a decade. Can Oracle tackle the grid & PeopleSoft, too? Read it at eWEEK.

Desktop Linux Consortium Announces Boston Area Conference

Submitted by Jill Ratkevic 2003-09-04 Linux 8 Comments

The Desktop Linux Consortium (DLC) announced their first conference today, hosted at Boston University's Corporate Training Center (BUTrain) located just outside of Boston, Massachusetts in Tyngsboro on November 10, 2003. The conference marks the group's first event that brings together industry leaders to share their insights and discuss the trends, technologies, and solutions that are driving the next generation of desktops based on Linux.

Interview with a Maddog

Submitted by mangeli 2003-09-04 Linux 5 Comments

Tinyminds.org sits down with Linux International Director, Jon "Maddog" Hall. Jon has been in the computer industry since 1969, using Unix since 1977, and Linux since 1994. He has been a software engineer, systems administrator, product manager, marketing manager and professional educator. Jon has been the Executive Director of Linux International since 1995, the first four years as a volunteer. Jon has been employed by VA Linux systems, Compaq Computer Corporation in the Digital UNIX Marketing group and Bell Laboratories among other companies. Read the full interview at Tinyminds.org.

Why Wait for Utility Computing?

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-04 Editorial 3 Comments

"Back in the 1980s, the folks at Digital Equipment had a problem. While their VAX systems were selling like hotcakes, the systems still couldn't deliver the kind of scale found on mainframes. Digital, which had no plans to build big iron, set out to find a way to use existing equipment to increase capacity--a search that led to the development of the VAX cluster and the concept of horizontal scaling." Read the editorial at ZDNews.

Access USB Devices from Java Applications

Submitted by Bob 2003-09-04 Java 4 Comments

The Java platform has traditionally prided itself on its platform independence. While that independence has many benefits, it makes the process of writing Java applications that interact with hardware quite tricky. In this article, a research scientist examines two projects that are making the process easier by providing APIs through which Java applications can make use of USB devices. While both projects are still in embryo form, both show promise and are already serving as the foundations of some real-world applications.

SkyEye 0.3.2 released; Now Supports XSCALE Simulation

Submitted by chenyu 2003-09-04 Hardware No Comments

SkyEye is a simulator for typical embedded computer systems. It can simulate Atmel AT91 based on the ARM7TDMI, EP7312 based on ARM720T, StrongARM SA1100/SA1110, and 8019as NIC, etc. Some operating systems, such as ARM Linux, uClinux, and uc/OS-II(ucos-ii), can run and be debugged and analyzed at the source level. This Skyeye snapshot version it can simulate the Xscale PXA 250 Lubbock developboard.

Fleecy Moss on AmigaOS 4 Release Date and More

Submitted by Derek Hofmann 2003-09-04 Amiga & AROS 55 Comments

Session 18 of the Fortnightly Q&A's with Fleecy Moss is available here. This one has some important Q&A's (rootless X server, self-hosted IDE, 32 or 64-bit platform, OpenGL support) and even a clue about the biggest question of all concerning Amiga OS 4: when will it be released.

Phoenix Developing DRM-Equipped BIOS

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 In the News 55 Comments

BIOS maker Phoenix Technologies said it is currently shopping a digital-rights-enabled BIOS system to top PC OEMs, the most aggressive use of DRM technology to date. On other DRM news, Microsoft has made available for download the first of several components of its forthcoming stable of rights-management software.

AutoPackage 0.3 Released

Guest post by Mike Hearn 2003-09-03 Linux 34 Comments

I wrote an article a while ago on Linux packaging and Autopackage. There seemed to be quite a lot of interest in it so we got version 0.3 released today.

Poll: Do you Run Anti-Virus Protection on your Main OS/Computer?

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 Bugs & Viruses 147 Comments

Lots of talk in the past month about the viruses unleashed to the open. Read more to vote!

Momentum Computer Offers YDL with PPC Embedded Systems

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 Linux 2 Comments

Momentum Computer, a developer specializing in quick turnaround of high-performance board-level solutions, has announced that all of their PowerPC-based single-board computers will now be available with the complete Yellow Dog Linux (YDL) operating system package from Terra Soft Solutions, Inc. Additionally, HackInTheBox recently posted a review of YDL for Macs.

Libranet 2.8.1 Review at OSForge

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 Debian 15 Comments

"We all know dependencies are one thing we hated about installing application on the Linux boxes. If you worry about wiggling with those dependencies, Libranet is coming to rescue you from the apps installation nightmare." Read the short review at OSForge.

SuSE, Mandrake, and Lycoris Reviews

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 Linux 12 Comments

TuxReports has a team review of SuSE, Mandrake, and Lycoris with screenshots. Read it here.

Free Download of Windows XP Embedded Evaluation Edition

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 Windows 10 Comments

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

Submitted by P.B.Prabhuram 2003-09-03 Linux 9 Comments

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

Submitted by Idean 2003-09-03 General Development 1 Comment

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

Submitted by Chris 2003-09-03 Privacy, Security 20 Comments

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.