OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

Debian: Server Yes, Desktop No

Eugenia Loli 2006-12-13 Debian 55 Comments

DesktopLinux.com's executive editor recently decided to retire Red Hat 7 after seven years of loyal service as his home LAN's firewall/router OS. This article chronicles his trials and tribulations as he presses "pure Debian" into service, first as a server and then as a Linux desktop. Read the complete tale here.

Signals as a Linux Debugging Tool

Submitted by IdaAshley 2006-12-13 Linux 4 Comments

By focusing on the analysis of data captured using signal handlers, you can speed up the most time-consuming part of debugging: finding the bug. This article gives a background on Linux signals with examples specifically tested on PPC Linux, then goes on to show how to design your handlers to output information that lets you quickly home in on failed portions of code.

Microsoft Delivers Seven Security Bulletins, Three Critical

Thom Holwerda 2006-12-12 Microsoft 43 Comments

Microsoft released seven security bulletins, including fixes for three critical vulnerabilities, as part of its monthly Patch Tuesday update delivered on Dec. 12. The software giant shipped 11 security patches in total, including a cumulative Internet Explorer bulletin and an update meant to fix a flaw in the Windows Media file format.

Review: Mandriva Flash Delivers Linux to Go

Thom Holwerda 2006-12-12 Mandriva, Mandrake, Lycoris 14 Comments

"Mandriva Flash is a 2GB Dane-Elec USB key loaded with Mandriva Linux 2007. It gets points for style: the key is an attractive deep blue surrounded by a sturdy metal fence that leaves room on both ends to attach the key to a lanyard or keychain. The release notes say that the operating system and related files only take up half the space on the USB drive, leaving 1GB for my own files. This little powerhouse packs a lot of punch, once you get it up and running."

AROS Status Update

Thom Holwerda 2006-12-12 Amiga & AROS 5 Comments

The AROS team has published a new status update. "Our latest status update is about three months old, but in the meanwhile we didn't sit somewhere doing nothing. Lots of improvements and bugfixes have been made to several components of AROS, in order to make it work better."

Submitted by frik85 2006-12-12 ReactOS 7 Comments

ReactOS, the open source implementation of a Windows XP/2003 compatible operating system, just published a new interview in their series of interviews with ReactOS developers. Today's interview features the developer Johannes Anderwald, who has worked on source compatibility with Visual Studio Development Suite lately.

Which Vista Edition Is Right for You?

Submitted by Jeremy 2006-12-12 Windows 155 Comments

ExtremeTech takes a look at the six different versions of Vista and has devised a way in helping people choose which one is best for them. The article outlines several key features and differences between versions in a comparison chart.

Submitted by Francis Kuntz 2006-12-12 Microsoft 53 Comments

Longtime Windows development chief James Allchin wrote in a January 2004 e-mail to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and company co-founder Bill Gates that the software vendor had "lost sight" of customers' needs and said he would buy a Mac if he wasn't working for Microsoft. "In my view, we lost our way," Allchin, the co-president of Microsoft's platform and services division, wrote in an e-mail Jan. 7, 2004. The e-mail was presented as evidence late last week in the Iowa antitrust trial, Comes v. Microsoft. Update: Today, he wouldn't though.

‘Why I Stay with RISC OS and Why I Always Will’

Submitted by teigetje 2006-12-12 RISC OS 48 Comments

"I'm a confirmed RISC OS user, enthusiast, promoter and what some may even say, evangelist. Why did I feel inspired to write this short article and share my views with people? Partly in response to an article and partly because there are a number of rather ignorant, yet arrogant, PC users inhabiting some of the comp.sys.acorn.* newsgroups who love to complain about RISC OS and prosthetalize about how good PC applications are to their RISC OS counterparts - usually without the skill set or experience to make a valid judgement. I'm all for argument, but when people argue through ignorance or though blinkers, I feel like shouting 'Oi! No!' in their faces, but instead I'll settle for writing this article."

What’s Next in Linux Desktop Standardisation?

Submitted by anonymous 2006-12-12 Linux 44 Comments

Over the past week, some of the Linux desktop's foremost developers gathered together in Portland, Oregon at the OSDL Desktop Architects Meeting to work further on bringing order to the Linux desktop. According to John Cherry, the OSDL's Desktop Linux initiative manager, there was a good turnout of about 45 developers from the community, including major Linux vendors such as Novell and Red Hat, and ISVs like Google and Adobe."

OpenOffice.org 2.1 Released

Submitted by Patrik Buckau 2006-12-12 Office 87 Comments

"OpenOffice.org 2.1 is recommend for all users, as it represents a significant improvement over all previous versions. Among other things: multiple monitor support for Impress; improved Calc HTML export; enhanced Access support for Base; even more languages; automatic notification of updates."

Showing off Windows Vista SideShow

Submitted by Ricus 2006-12-12 Windows 6 Comments

"Todd Bishop, Robert McLaws and even I have been keeping a close eye on Windows SideShow, one of the last remaining features in Windows Vista yet to be thoroughly explored. Largely due to hardware constraints, not many people have seen SideShow devices let alone play with one. So apart from the infamous Channel 9 video, a few screenshots and concept art, we really don't know much about the experience. Or should I say, until today."

Resolve Memory Leaks Using AIX 5.3

Submitted by BlueVoodoo 2006-12-12 Unix 5 Comments

Memory leaks can be tough and costly problems to solve, so it makes sense to use good tools to clearly point out and understand where the leaks are coming from. This article outlines an approach you can use while tackling memory leaks, and it discusses how to take advantage of the MALLOCDEBUG tool that is supplied with AIX.

Audio/Video Improvements in Vista; Gaming SDK Released

Eugenia Loli 2006-12-12 Windows 38 Comments

This article discusses resolution independence while this article illustrates the per-application volume settings in Vista. Additionally, Microsoft released today the XNA Game Studio Express.

Solaris 10 11/06 Released

Submitted by Rob Shepherd 2006-12-12 Solaris 69 Comments

"Sun has released Solaris 10 11/06 today. Internally, we called this 'Update 3'. The biggie features for this update are Trusted Extensions and Secure by Default. Yes, all of the security features you loved back in Trusted Solaris, are now standard as part of Solaris 10. This isn't just for the feds either. Banks love it. Wall St. loves it. Corporations that need to follow Sarbanes-Oxley love it." Get it here, a what's new guide is also available.

Submitted by Valour 2006-12-12 Oracle and SUN 18 Comments

"There are several 'business', 'corporate', or 'professional' desktop operating systems on the market today, all aimed at seeping into large corporations that already use GNU/Linux on servers. It's a pretty good plan, and most of the operating systems in this arena are pretty good - not perfect, but pretty good. Xandros has had such a product for a while now, and it's always been near the top of the list in terms of features and quality. The market is now mature and the products are more competitive, though, and the product formerly known as Xandros Business Desktop, while still a good operating system, isn't keeping up with the industry's pace."

Aqua To Be Replaced with Illuminous?

Thom Holwerda 2006-12-11 macOS 66 Comments

Apple website Apple Gazette is ~~reporting~~ rumouring that Leopard will come with an all-new interface, supposedly with lots of black glossy things (similar to Vista, indeed): "Apple Gazette has received a tip from an apple insider that the Mac OS Aqua User Interface will be replaced with a new UI named Illuminous. The source goes on to say that we will see a demonstration of Illuminous at Macworld 2007." I have never heard of this website, so I cannot make an assessment of its reliability, but suffices to say that it is highly debatable. Interesting nonetheless. Update: More info.

Submitted by Charles A Landemaine 2006-12-11 PC-BSD 22 Comments

PC-BSD 1.3 RC1 has been released. From the changelog: "Fixed icon size issues in KMenu; installer now does not display extended partitions; installer now can use empty primary partition space to install; fixed issue with BSDStats not properly reporting usage; fixed problem with 'Start' icon text not being translated properly; fixed issues when using installer to upgrade system from 1.2 to 1.3; closed numerous other issues from BETA2." Get it here.

Review: OpenSUSE 10.2

Thom Holwerda 2006-12-11 SuSE, openSUSE 29 Comments

Yet another review of OpenSUSE 10.2. "I'm very disappointed in it. It hasn't changed much. It still is one of the best desktop Linux solutions available, its configuration tools are brilliant, its Gnome desktop is great and uniquely designed but the quality of its package manager is simply unacceptable. If you've ever used APT before you can't decently consider using this." Update: Another. Update2: One more.

Microsoft Answers IP Questions

Submitted by John Mills 2006-12-11 Linux 71 Comments

"Mid November, Steve Ballmer said 'Linux uses our intellectual property' and Microsoft wanted to 'get the appropriate economic return for our shareholders from our innovation.' Many people didn't understand what he really meant, among them the LXer editors. Therefore, LXer sent an Open Letter to the Waggener Edstrom Rapid Response team, and two weeks later, the answers are in (no pun intended). Check the full story for the answers a Microsoft Spokesperson gave us, which hopefully can answer some of our questions."