OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing - Page 1635

Microsoft to Exit Mac Market If Sales Continue to Lag

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-15 Microsoft 104 Comments

"On the eve of Apple Computer's semi-annual MacWorld event, Microsoft has dropped a bombshell on the company: Work harder to accelerate Mac OS X sales, or Microsoft will exit the Mac market forever. This sentiment is one shared by many Mac developers, as Mac OS X has not sold well at all." Read the report at WinInfo and MacMinute's report of the original Wall Street Journal article.

Microsoft Announces New Technologies

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-15 Microsoft 12 Comments

"In Microsoft's first salvo, the company revealed details about the next version of its digital media technology, code-named Corona, including that it officially will be known as Windows Media 9 Series. Microsoft is expected to make other digital media and consumer announcements this week designed to steal thunder from Macworld, which starts Wednesday in New York. Last week, Microsoft said that later this year it will release a new line of 802.11b wireless networking products." Read the story at News.com.

Microtel PCs with Mandrake Linux Available at Walmart

Submitted by Gaël Duval 2002-07-15 Mandriva, Mandrake, Lycoris 11 Comments

"To meet the growing demand for low-cost and fully-featured personal computers, MandrakeSoft and Microtel Computer Systems will be offering PCs preloaded with Mandrake Linux at Walmart.com. Prices start at $389." Read the press release and browse the aisles of Mandrake/MicroTel/Wal-Mart PCs.

A Closer Look at the New Amiga Systems

Guest post by Mike Bouma 2002-07-15 Amiga & AROS 93 Comments

This article includes many exclusive pictures, 5 new AmigaOS4 screenshots and some exclusive AmigaOS4 information. Within the first section of this article I will try to give some relevant background information about the history of new Amiga products. Then sections will follow regarding the new PowerPC based Amiga hardware platform, the new AmigaOS4, how users can contribute and finally I will write about the potential niche markets for new Amiga systems.

SkyOS Switches to DLL Format, MenuetOS gets Ethernet

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-15 SkyOS 11 Comments

Robert Szeleney made the switch and now all SkyOS applications are .PE and all are using the DLL format, reducing the overall code size. Robert has also published a new screenshot of SkyOS, showing his new Windows-like Start panel. In the meantime, MenuetOS 0.69 has just been released, and it includes many bugfixes, improvements and for the first time, an Ethernet interface.

Macs to Get Real POWER?

Guest post by Nicholas Blachford 2002-07-15 Editorial 59 Comments

According to a brief paragraph on MacOS Rumours Apple may be switching to IBM POWER4 CPUs instead of the Motorola G5 for future Macs.

Humor: Ten Dumbest Things Linux Users Say

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-14 Humor 40 Comments

"In the true fashion of top ten lists, I've written and published for geeks without brains and decency my list of reasons for hating them." Read the top ten list at TUX Reports.

Debian GNU/Linux 2.2r7 Released

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-14 Debian 21 Comments

This is the seventh revision of Debian GNU/Linux 2.2 (codename 'potato') which mainly adds security updates to the stable release, along with a few corrections of serious bugs. Those who frequently update from security.debian.org won't have to update many packages. On a related note, DebianPlanet interviews Ian Jackson, Debian personality and a current member of the technical Debian commitee as well as the author of dpkg.

Apple Plugs Software Update Hole

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-13 macOS 12 Comments

Security Update 7-12-02 increases the security of the Software Update process for systems with Software Update client 1.4.5 or earlier. Packages presented via the Software Update mechanism are now cryptographically signed, and the new Software Update client 1.4.6 checks for a valid signature before installing new packages. Downloaded packages which do not contain a valid signature are deleted from the system.

The 64-Bit Question

Submitted by James Wall 2002-07-13 Intel 33 Comments

"Here's a riddle: What's a little bigger than a Wheat Thin, has more transistors than the adult population of the United States, draws as much power as a small vacuum cleaner, and costs as much as a top-quality HDTV? Give up? It's Intel's 64-bit McKinley CPU, soon to be released as Itanium 2. McKinley is the newest member of the IA64 processor family." Read the article at MCPMag.

Users Update AtheOS, But Still No Word from its Founder

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-12 Syllable, AtheOS 36 Comments

Reportedly, Kurt Skauen hasn't work on AtheOS for the last 9 months, as he currently taking some long vacations away from his pet project. All this time, a lot of dissapointments have been expressed in the (dying) mailing list about the future of AtheOS, already a (semi-)fork has occured with Cosmoe, but still no word from Kurt if or when he will start working on AtheOS again. Update: It seems that a complete fork has already happen, created by some of the main third party AtheOS developers.

Is SuSE 8 SuPERB?

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-12 SuSE, openSUSE 17 Comments

"When my copy of SuSE Linux 8.0 arrived, I almost felt like I was coming home after a long trip. SuSE had been my primary Linux distribution for over two years, until last November, so it was exciting to see what they had been up to. SuSE 8.0 seems as good a way as any to come back to SuSE, after all it was the first distribution to ship with KDE 3, and it comes with a truckload of improvements over previous versions." Read the review at OpenForBusiness.

Top 10 Things Wrong With Linux, Today

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-12 Linux 68 Comments

Adam Wiggins has put together 10 reasons of what he believes it is wrong with Linux today. Our Take: Some of his points seem correct, but others are already fixed for most distributions. I really had a smile in my face reading his point No 5. It is exactly what I was talking about 2 weeks ago, and only the Amiga, OSX and BeOS-6/Dano people were able to follow of what it really means to have a smooth desktop! Read the discussion and explanation starting here and especially here.

Embedded Linux: Is It Dead Yet?

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-12 Linux 10 Comments

There are two recent articles about the current state of Linux in the embedded world: "It's raining penguins. Or rather, that's what many people would like you to think. Linux vendors are laying off scores of workers. Linux publications are folding. So is it doom and gloom time for Linux lovers? PDF here. "The law of supply and demand will face a curious test over the next few years, as embedded Linux vendors search for a way to make engineers pay for an operating system that appeals to users largely because it's free." Article at EETimes.

Bringing KDE Closer to Joe User’s Desktop

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-11 KDE 120 Comments

KDE 3 was released only a few months ago, and it is, to date, the most successful version of the series, serving more than 50% of the Unix and Linux desktops, surpassing Gnome (~21%) and the rest of the gang. However, KDE is not perfect, and still not as comfortable as the Windows or as sexy as the MacOSX desktops. It lacks two things: integration with the underlying system and UI polishing. Today, I will mostly talk about the polishing part, as a lot has been already said elsewhere about the seemingly unsolvable integration issue (because of the modularity and completely independant/remote software projects.) Update: And as I was just publishing this article, KDE 3.1-Alpha was released. I hope that some of my recommendations will make it to the final version of KDE 3.1.

Microsoft Readying ‘Avalon’ Framework for Longhorn

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-11 Windows 36 Comments

"With Longhorn, the next version of Windows due out in 2005, the company will take its first serious stab at delivering on Gates' vision. And a new application programming interface (API) framework, code-named Avalon, will be at the core of Longhorn's new information-access architecture, according to sources. Avalon is the key to the new "inductive" user interface that will debut in Longhorn, sources say. The new UI will allow users to organize and share information more intuitively, most likely using some kind of "dock," a la Microsoft Office XP, sources say. " Read the report at eWeek.

Gentoo Linux 1.2: Getting Better Every Day

2002-07-11 Gentoo 33 Comments

"I admit it: I have a soft spot for Gentoo Linux. I'm not sure if it's because it's the shiny new kid on the block, or its focus on a part of the Linux market that was fairly ignored before (distribution-wise). Maybe it's just the excitement and energy that tends to surround any new project. Who knows." The review is at LinuxPlanet. Our Take: Hmm, it seems that women like the challenge of Gentoo (count me in). Or, maybe that "soft spot" is for Daniel and Spider. ;-)

Marcelo Tosatti: Big Business and the Future of Linux

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-11 Linux 5 Comments

The new Linux kernel maintainer speaks to ZDNet UK about opportunities for Linux in applications big and small, and explains why UnitedLinux is a good idea.

Liberty Alliance Set to Battle Passport

Eugenia Loli 2002-07-11 Privacy, Security 7 Comments

The Sun-backed group will unveil the detailed workings of their Liberty Alliance specification--leading the way to build "single-sign-on" Web sites and software. Read the report at ZDNews.

OSNews T-shirts, Hats, Mugs

David Adams 2002-07-10 OS News 57 Comments

Show your co-workers, friends, and family that you're a member of the Geek Elite. Buy an OSNews Shirt, Hat, or Mug! Each one will be lovingly hand-crafted just for you by busy robots. In the comments below, let us know if you'd be interested in OSNews shirts with cheeky captions like "I Knew Linux Before Linux was Cool." Suggest some cheeky captions. And let us know if you'd be interested in other OSNews merchandise like bags, other clothing, mouse pads, etc.