OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

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.

HP Partners with Chinese Linux Distributor

David Adams 2003-09-03 Linux 9 Comments

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 GNU/Linux – Not Just Another Pretty Face (Part I)

Submitted by ladislav 2003-09-03 Debian 56 Comments

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.

GUI vs. CLI: A Qualitative Comparison

Guest post by Greg Afinogenov 2003-09-03 Graphics 65 Comments

It is not fashionable nowadays to speak of the merits of the command line, in an age where things like streaming video and Aqua are an integral part of our daily life. However, I do not think that typed-in commands must necessarily be consigned to the dustbin of computer history. Of course, I am not suggesting that we all drop X and Windows and pretend like we are living in the early eighties. The command line interface still has much to offer us, and many of its benefits simply cannot physically be emulated or even replaced by graphical ones.

YellowTAB Zeta Preview in Beyond Magazine; Filesystem Overview

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 Zeta 28 Comments

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.

.NET Passport 2.5 Software Development Kit: Software and Docs

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 .NET 2 Comments

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.

eCS File and Directory Standard (eFDS)

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-03 OS/2 3 Comments

During development of eCS 1.1 operating system defined standards was used. The eCS DevGroup published the eCS File and Directory Standard (eFDS) so you can test your own software product to compliance of operating system standards and release updated version if needed.

A Galaxy of Possibility: Mandrake Linux 9.1 ProSuite

Submitted by Timothy R. Butler 2003-09-02 Mandriva, Mandrake, Lycoris 14 Comments

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."

Sun Mulls Joining Java Eclipse Effort

Eugenia Loli 2003-09-02 Oracle and SUN 30 Comments

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.