OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

New Release Expands Scope of QNX Momentics Dev. Suite

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-15 QNX 4 Comments

Embedded developers using QNX Momentics Professional Edition, the integrated development suite for the QNX Neutrino RTOS, can now target a broader range of hardware platforms and leverage an array of new features, including an advanced power management framework, a fault-tolerant flash file system, and Big Endian support for ARM-based processors, including network and control-plane processors from Intel. The features are all part of a new supplemental release for QNX Momentics v6.2.1.

The Wonderful World of Linux 2.6

Submitted by Matthew Baulch 2003-07-15 Linux 26 Comments

Joseph Pranevich has written a lengthy article discussing the changes to the Linux kernel for the 2.6 release. It covers topics such as scalability, responsiveness, the re-written IO subsystem, improvements to support for filesystems such as NTFS and XFS in addition to support for new technologies such as Bluetooth and much more.

IBM Advances Linux for Power Chips

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-15 Linux 18 Comments

IBM has put more muscle behind its effort to improve Linux for its Power family of processors, adding dozens of programmers to Big Blue's Linux Technology Center with plans to hire more.

Why Linux is Ready for the Desktop

Guest post by Mike Martin 2003-07-14 Linux 113 Comments

After reading yet another "why Linux is not ready for the desktop" article/discussion, I decided that, as someone who uses Linux exclusively at home, its about time I wrote my response to the attitudes expressed. I have been using Linux since January 1999 (Red Hat 5.2 off of a cover disc).

Commodore Lives?

David Adams 2003-07-14 Games 28 Comments

Tulip Computers, which bought the rights to the Commodore name in 1997, is "taking over" the main C64 web portal and will be making a vast library of old programs and games available, legally, for download.There are still a lot of C64 enthusiasts out there, some using old hardware, but probably many more using emulators to relive their youth. The downside: Tulip is planning on defending its trademarks, which may mean that fan sites might be getting harrassed. More at PC World.

Java at Center of Desktop Battle

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-14 Java 29 Comments

The latest cell phones can show you the nearest bathrooms in San Francisco or which subway to take in London. They can also help with your diet by tracking calorie intake. Behind such programs and more is the very technology at the center of an intense battle between Microsoft Corp. and Sun Microsystems Inc. over control of desktop computers. Though Sun has mostly lost that fight, the beleaguered Silicon Valley icon is trying to give new life to its Java programming language with an aggressive push into mobile devices. Once again, it finds a foe in Microsoft. But this time Sun has the lead.

Interview with Chris McKillop of QNX Software Systems

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-14 Original OSNews Interviews 48 Comments

Today we host an interview with Chris McKillop, software engineer of QNX Software Systems. Chris is probably the most well known QNX engineer as he is always helping out the QNX community in forums, IRC etc. In this interview we talk about the embedded space, the competition but also about the QNX Momentics 6.2.x release (preview with screenshots), a free OS to download and try out on your PC (~260 MB ISO image, ~1 GB primary partition required for installation).

A Handful of Linux-Related News

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-14 Linux 7 Comments

Wendy, spokesman and policy counsel for the Initiative for Software Choice (ISC), says he just wants to make sure government agencies don't unduly favor open-source or free programs over proprietary software. "We want a process that is not based on automatic preferences," Wendy said.

Linux Kernel 2.6.0-test1 Released

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-14 Linux 57 Comments

Linus Torvalds released on late Sunday the first test (-pre) kernel of the upcoming Linux Kernel 2.6. Download or get more information here and make sure you report any bugs you might find on the way.

ELC to Standardize User Interface, Real-Time, Power Management

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-13 In the News 2 Comments

The Embedded Linux Consortium (ELC) entered a new phase of its standardization activity today, as it launched three key new initiatives aimed at developing specifications covering user interfaces, real-time performance, and power management for embedded Linux based systems and devices.

Start-up’s Goal: Run Software on Any Chip

Adam Scheinberg 2003-07-13 Hardware 27 Comments

"Can Macintosh software run on an Intel machine at speeds that approach the same performance as on Apple hardware, or visa versa? Not yet, but that day may be closer if a Los Gatos start-up gets its product off the ground, and it could have implications for chip makers." Read the rest at siliconvalley.com.

Cosmoe 0.7 RC-20 Released

Kevin05 2003-07-13 Linux 4 Comments

Cosmoe 0.7rc20 is now available. During all the furious patching, "Pulse" started working and now has apparently broken again. Most other patches submitted via the mailing list have now been applied.

XFce 4.0 RC-1 Released

Submitted by Jasper Huijsmans 2003-07-13 Xfce 66 Comments

Jasper writes: "I thought you might be interested to know we have just released the first release candidate for XFce 4.0. This is meant to become 4.0 unless important bugs are found." You can view the announcement, release notes and you can download it directly. Also, check out the screenshots.

Syllable Developers Meeting and Roadmap

Submitted by Shawn 2003-07-13 Syllable, AtheOS 4 Comments

The 2nd Syllable developers' IRC meeting recently concluded, and the logs can be found here. Our first one can be read here with a summary here. According to Shawn, "We are throwing around ideas of what we'd like to see in Syllable 1.0."

NeXTZine Issue 1 Available as PDF

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-13 OpenStep, GNUstep 89 Comments

A new PDF-based magazine is available, regarding NEXTSTEP and OpenStep. You can find information ahbout X11 under NeXT, how to run OpenStep under VMWare, a Rhapsody FAQ and how to run it on VPC and more. This coming week await an introduction article to the NeXT universe, here, at OSNews.

Updated OS/2 USB Basic Support Package Available

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-13 OS/2 21 Comments

IBM released an updated USB Basic Device Support Package provides the basic OS/2 & eComStation support required for devices that meets the USB 1.0 OHCI, USB 1.1 UHCI, or USB 2.0 EHCI specs.

Mono Playing Catch-Up

Eugenia Loli 2003-07-12 Mono 47 Comments

While a 2-year-old project to develop an open-source version of Microsoft Corp.'s .Net Framework is making progress, it's still a long way from prime time. "Yes, of course it's late," said Miguel de Icaza, Mono project leader, last week. "We were supposed to release the ECMA components, but the project has grown." Some Mono observers say they are watchful of Microsoft in this situation, wondering whether the software company is merely tolerating Mono now. "They will either outpace it with rapid-fire revisions to .Net or simply let Mono languish," said an anonymous observer. Read the article at eWeek.

Lindows 4.0: Getting Better

Submitted by Reet Wildered 2003-07-12 Linspire 37 Comments

"I always keep a number of machines around running different versions of Linux and one of them is a Lindows box. Lindows 3.0 was pretty good, but it had a bunch of shortcomings. But the new version, Lindows 4.0, is a much improved, desktop OS with a lot more polish." Read the review at MSNBC.

Create Debian Linux Packages

Submitted by Irish 2003-07-12 Debian 4 Comments

The Debian packaging system is one of the most elegant methods of installing, upgrading, and removing software available. Learn the basics of creating Debian packages for distributing programs and source code. This article shows all the necessary components of a package and how to put them together to end up with a final product.

L4Env and DDE 0.1 for L4 released

Submitted by Anonymous 2003-07-12 OS News 7 Comments

The L4Env, the L4 Environment, and DDE, the Device Driver Environment. L4Env is a programming environment for application development on top of the L4 microkernel family. DDE is an environment for Linux device drivers for using native Linux 2.4 drivers together with L4Env.