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GNOME 2.0 Released

Gnome 2.0 is finally here! Read the press release, download Gnome 2.0 for various architectures, mirrors here, while the Sun Solaris 8 version can be found here. Update: Compilation instructions here. You might want to use the CVSGnome script which downloads and compiles everything for you, but make sure you will give it a subdir on your ~/ or on /opt/gnome2 as PREFIXDIR, and not anywhere outside your $HOME or /opt. Type "world stable" when you are asked to, and it will do everything for you. You will need to modify the script's compiler CPU defaults from "athlon" to whatever you got. Or, you could use Garnome.

Microsoft’s Palladium: Security, but for Whom?

ExtremeTech features a series of articles regarding Microsoft's new security chip, codenamed Palladium. It seems that Intel, AMD and even National are part of this plan, while it is not clear if alternative operating systems will be given specs for this technology. Even if these OSes will choose to not use the chip, Microsoft is quite likely to advertise the "feature" as a Good Thing (TM) for the users (which may or may not be true), making the other OSes to sound unsecure.

WindowsXP Tablet PC Edition Reviewed

"Since the dawn of the PC era, various companies have undertaken various initiatives to move computing away from keyboard and mouse-based input and towards the more natural interfaces of pen and voice. And while voice computing has seen some limited success, pen computing is set to explode with the introduction of Microsoft's Tablet PC platform, driven by a new Windows XP version logically named Windows XP Tablet PC Edition." The review and screenshots can be found on WindowsSuperSite. In related news, Microsoft today announced that "Mira," the code name for new software technologies that will power a wide range of smart displays, will officially be named Microsoft Windows CE for Smart Displays.

Microsoft Releases Web Matrix Development Tool

"Microsoft is pitching a new development tool at non-professional developers who want to make use of the features of .NET. The new tool, known as the Web Matrix project, offers all of the basic single-user features that would be expected and doesn't have some of the management features that are to be found in Visual Studio .NET. The idea is to provide a simple and easy to use development tool that will promote the use of .NET at all levels and also engender the idea of a development community where individuals help each other to come up with solutions. Web Matrix is available free of charge as a relatively small 1.2 MB download." Read the story at TheRegister.

Tablet PCs, Wireless to Make Noise at High-Tech Show

Handheld PCs and their computing cousins plan to take the stage in New York City. Microsoft and Fujitsu will be making the case for tablet PCs, while PC makers will spin visions of a wireless paradise. Read the report at C|Net News.com. In the meantime, all major mobile operators in Europe and the US will launch cell phones and other wireless devices in the coming year that use Microsoft software, sources say. Read this story at News.com.

Proposal for the Development of a Web Services Application

If there was a single application making someone use MacOSX full time, that application would be Watson. This application is possibly the most awarded in the MacOSX world, and it is the best idea for an application that I saw the last few years. Despite the idea being dead simple, and even seem redundant at first, Watson is an excellent, original and handy tool. I would like to initiate an open source project for a multi-platform clone of Watson (Karelia say that they have no plans for any ports - with only a remote possibility for a Windows port). I will start by putting $100 USD on the table while readers are most welcome to co-sponsor the project as well. What we really need though, is willing and capable C++ developers.

YellowDog Linux 2.3 for PPC Released

YDL 2.3 surpasses YDL 2.2 with an array of timely updates, improvements: kernel 2.4.19, the 'Liquid' theme, CUPS print system, apt-get, OpenOffice 1.0, Mozilla 0.9.9, Galeon 1.2, Evolution 1.0.5, AbiWord 1.0.2, netatalk 1.5.3.1, and support for the Radeon 7500 (excluding 'Mobility') video card among its 1000 packages spread across 3 CDs.

Who wins the Phone/PDA OS Wars?

Operating systems are all the hype in the PC world and lots of companies want to get a good market share within the wireless space, especially in the new smartphone category. Microsoft is pushing their Smart Phone operating system, Danger has developed a new OS for their Hiptop, Palm is throwing theirs into the playing field and of course there is Symbian. Developers have a lot to choose from.

Mozilla 1.0 and Netscape 7.0 Show Promising Start

OneStat today reported that Mozilla 1.0 has shown a fast adoptation rate with a global usage share of 0.4 percent in the first two weeks of its public launch. Netscape 7.0 has gotten off to a quick start in its first month of release. The global usage share of Netscape 7.0 is 0.3 percent. However, Microsoft’s Explorer 6.0 continues to rise with a global usage share of 1.7 percent since April 2002 and has a global usage share of 46.4 percent. Check out the complete statistics.

Is Red Hat Going to Be the Next Microsoft?

"Could Red Hat become the next Microsoft -- that is, could it become the dominant (not necessarily domineering) operating systems provider? What a ridiculous proposition, you might say. How could a little company that provides Linux open source software hope to topple Microsoft?" The editorial is at ZDNews. In another Red Hat related article, LinuxDevices wondering "What's up with Red Hat's embedded strategy?"