OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

In Praise of the Internet Refrigerator

David Adams 2003-09-22 Editorial 28 Comments

A Siliconvalley.com article notes that the application of networking technology in the home can be silly and frivilous, but if applied correctly, could really be beneficial. A refrigerator with a flat panel display on it to check your email in the kitchen is truly silly, but a home that can notify the out of town owner that there's been a power failure can prevent that owner from coming home to a fridge full of rotten food.

PF for Beginners

Submitted by gijsbert 2003-09-22 OpenBSD 14 Comments

gijsbert points us to this comprehensive guide to setting up and configuring PF, the BSD packet filter. PF is one of the more robust enterprise firewall applications available today.

Linux Compilers and Assemblers

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-22 General Development 9 Comments

Rafeeq Rehman and Christopher Paul explain how to use compilers and assemblers productively in a development environment.

Securing Sun Linux Systems: Part I, Local Access and File Systems

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-22 Linux 12 Comments

This article is the first part of a two-part series that provides recommendations for securing the Sun Linux 5.0 operating system. This part provides recommendations for securing local access and file systems. The information in this article applies only to the Sun Linux 5.0 distribution, although some of the techniques or recommendations might apply to other Linux distributions. This article is ideal for a reader with a beginner to Intermediate level of expertise.

Installing a Secure BSD System

Submitted by Fred C Williams 2003-09-22 BSD & Darwin 27 Comments

The LittleWhiteDog web site posted an article showing how to configure and secure a BSD system.

Skinning & Theming: Why Is It So Underestimated?

Guest post by Thom “Slakje” Holwerda 2003-09-21 Graphics 69 Comments

Skinning does not really receive the appreciation it deserves. After posting my comparison article about LiteStep and Talisman, I was astonished to (still) hear people say that skinning and theming is useless. They literally said:

ThinkSecret: Apple Seeds Panther build 7B74 to Testers

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-21 macOS 16 Comments

Apple seeded build 7B74 of Mac OS X 10.3, Panther, to developers and testers, ThinkSecret reports. The new build was posted to the Apple Developer Connection Web site late Saturday. Apple has determined which bugs will be fixed in the initial Panther release.

Code Editors Renew Approach to IDEs

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-21 General Development 43 Comments

Call it a back-to-basics movement or simply professionals seeking the best tools to get the job done well and on time. With enterprises putting a premium on productivity, a quiet revolution among programmers is eschewing the heavy, feature-filled IDE and turning instead to the venerable standby: the code editor. Developers seek more control over productivity with an old programming tool standby.

Maximum Linux Kernel Performance

Submitted by Jeremy Andrews 2003-09-21 Linux 13 Comments

Anyone interested in squeezing maximum performance out of their GNU/Linux operating system and willing to compile a new kernel will be interested in this KernelTrap article about Andrew Morton's -mm patchset. The patchset currently offers better stability and performance than the mainline 2.6.0-test kernel, as well as containing numerous functionality enhancements. Much of the additional functionality is described, as well as providing simple step by step installation instructions. Reading this, one can understand why Linux creator Linus Torvalds has chosen Andrew to soon become the 2.6 maintainer.

Source Mage and Onebase Linux

Submitted by Ladislav 2003-09-21 Linux 43 Comments

The concept of source-based distributions, where all software is compiled from source code locally for maximum control and performance, took off with the introduction of Gentoo Linux and its wonderful package management called Portage.

Microsoft Goes After Google

Submitted by Patrick Johanson 2003-09-21 Microsoft 39 Comments

Microsoft, which is trying to drive growth by investing in everything from small business software to video games, has quietly set its sights on a new industry -- searching the Web.

Steve Jobs: Apple Would Like More Market Share; Panther Gets Closer

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-21 Apple 108 Comments

"Apple would like more market share, but making the 'best personal computer' is top goal", Apple CEO Steve Jobs said recently. Additionally, the Mac OS X 10.2.8 update was released internally late last week, sources confirmed to ThinkSecret. Sources also speculated that the update will be provided to users Monday or next week. Separately, Apple seeded build 7B72 of Panther Server to developers on Thursday, posting two installation discs as well as a Server Admin CD.

Syllable gets USB Support; SkyOS, ReactOS, OpenBeOS Updates

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-20 Syllable, AtheOS 44 Comments

Arno Klenke has completed his work on the PCI and USB bus managers for Syllable. Not only does this simplify the internel managment of devices in Syllable, it also means USB UHCI support. The current implementation is a port of the Linux UHCI driver which has been re-written by Arno as a Syllable bus manager, and a native USB mouse driver. On other hobby OS news, SkyOS has some updates on SkyOS 5 while ReactOS can now run some simple Windows applications. IsComputerOn has an update on the OpenBeOS' bootloader too.

General MorphOS 1.4 Improvements

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-20 Morphos 7 Comments

At the morphos.net site there is an overview about the new features introduced in MorphOS 1.4.

AmigaOS4 Running on AmigaOne at Pianeta Amiga 2003

Mike Bouma 2003-09-20 Amiga & AROS 13 Comments

This weekend at the Italien Pianeta Amiga 2003 fair AmigaOS4 is being publicly demoed running on AmigaOne hardware for the first time. You can view an actual AmigaOS4 screenshot here at the AmigaWorld.net portal. Hyperion will also attend the upcoming Benelux Amiga Show planned for the 4th and 5th of October in Rotterdam. Some videos of AmigaOS4 running on the AmigaOne from the show have now been uploaded here and here.

Red Hat’s Enterprise Linux 3 Out Soon

David Adams 2003-09-20 Red Hat 19 Comments

Within the next 90 days, Red Hat will release Enterprise Linux 3, "an open-source architecture for the enterprise," and an enhanced Red Hat Network with new management features aimed at the Enterprise market's needs.

Sun Speaks out on Linux and SCO

Submitted by "Special Contributor" 2003-09-20 Solaris 54 Comments

Also, let me really clear about our Linux strategy. We don't have one. We don't at all. We do not believe that Linux plays a role on the server. Period. If you want to buy it, we will sell it to you, but we believe that Solaris is a better alternative, that is safer, more robust, higher quality and dramatically less expensive in purchase price. Read more on eweek's interview with Sun's Schwartz here.

Lessons in Packaging Linux Applications

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-20 Linux 9 Comments

This article records experiences with packaging an application for many distributions and shows areas in which packagers, Linux distributions, and developers can improve coordination for better and easier distribution. The author looks at communication problems, packaging errors, package dependencies, menu entries, and bug tracking systems.

PC Magazine Reviews Dual 2 GHz G5

Kevin05 2003-09-20 Apple 55 Comments

PC Magazine has reviewed Apple's new dual 2 GHz G5 PowerMac. They say that the performance of Apple's new top of the line workstation is "generally as fast as the best Intel-based workstations currently available". Read the review over at PC Magazine.

Lycoris Update 3 Released

Submitted by tim1980 2003-09-20 Mandriva, Mandrake, Lycoris 42 Comments

Lycoris Desktop/LX Update 3 hits shelves this week, after a wait of a whole year. This much anticipated Update the award winning Desktop/LX OS features a new Help Center with interactive audio-visual tutorials, hundreds of updated drivers, crisper font handling, increased printer support for HP printers, extended digital camera support from Vivitar and Olympus, auto-configuration of WiFi connections, and exclusive Signature Wallpapers from Organic Light Photography. Currently Update3 is available via retail purchase, free download version will be made available on November 1st.