Simple Xalan Extension Functions: Mixing Java with XSLT

  Submitted by anonymous Java No Comments
The Xalan XSLT processor can invoke almost any method in almost any Java class in the classpath. Doing so can improve performance, provide features like trigonometric functions that aren't available in XSLT, perform file I/O, talk to databases and network servers, or implement algorithms that are easy to write in the Java language but hard to write in XSLT. Learn the basics of invoking Java code from Xalan.
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Sylllable 0.6.2 Released

Syllable, AtheOS 19 Comments
The Syllable team has just released Syllable 0.6.2. Highlights: "A new audio framework for the media server, with new and improved audio drivers and support for multichannel and digital audio; a new look, with new fonts, icons and wallpapers; a huge number of translated applications for non-English users; upgrades to important system components and a switch to GCC 4.1.1, which has yielded noticable performance improvements, and much more."
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‘Novell Is Not SCO’

Novell and Ximian 44 Comments
"Novell is not SCO. Novell is not the great anti-GPL. Get over it. I'm getting a little tired of the constant Novell-bashing. Do I think that Novell made a smart long term move by partnering up with Microsoft? No, I don't. For the record, the only software company that I can think of that has ever partnered with Microsoft and done well is Citix Systems. And, they did it by acting as if they were a branch of Microsoft. That is not, I repeat not, the case with Novell. What Novell is doing is a smart, short-term move. Novell makes a great Linux, but it's not been making great gains to go with it."
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Charities Shun Open Source Code

  Submitted by Coxy Open Source 86 Comments
The theory behind open-source software is that it avoids many of the pitfalls - including cost - of closed alternatives. But Steven Buckley, who runs Christian Aid's common knowledge programme, prefers to buy software from the likes of Microsoft. Is this not odd for a charity? "Open-source doesn't mean free," he told BBC World Service's Digital Planet programme. "Quite often, if you install open-source software within an organisation, you have a support contract that goes with it - it's an essential part of operating that software. Over time, that can actually cost more than having Windows on an enterprise machine."
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Vista’s Last Mile

Windows 55 Comments
Each day, members of the Windows team gather inside the 'shiproom' to go over the bugs that remain, and to debate which of these can still be fixed in the days left until Vista is declared finished, a milestone that is expected any time now. The intense 'end game', as these final weeks are known, is a well-worn tradition inside the shiproom, which is on the third floor of the Windows development building. The small room, with its dated, dark wood conference table has been the war room for every Windows release since Windows 2000. In the meantime, Ars takes a look at running Vista on older hardware.
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Apple Updates MacBook Line with Core 2 Duo Processors

Apple 51 Comments
Apple has updated its line of MacBook laptops, equipping them with Core 2 Duo processors. "At just one-inch thin, the new MacBooks are up to 25 percent faster than the previous generation and feature a built-in iSight camera for on-the-go video conferencing, Apple's MagSafe Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain, and the iLife '06 award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications."
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Novell-Microsoft: Financial Details Revealed

Novell and Ximian 93 Comments
Microsoft will pay Novell USD 348 million up front, but Novell will return USD 200 million of that amount over five years. The specific numbers came in an a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission made by Novell late Tuesday. "The financial commitments Microsoft is making as part of this agreement are significant," company CEO Ron Hovsepian said in a statement. In related news, Microsoft has denied that its patent deal with Novell is in breach of the GPL or will automatically spread Microsoft's patent protection to other Linux distributions.
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How to Compile a Kernel – the Ubuntu Way

  Submitted by falko Ubuntu 27 Comments
"Each distribution has some specific tools to build a custom kernel from the sources. This article is about compiling a kernel on Ubuntu systems. It describes how to build a custom kernel using the latest unmodified kernel sources from www.kernel.org (vanilla kernel) so that you are independent from the kernels supplied by your distribution. It also shows how to patch the kernel sources if you need features that are not in there."
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Server or Desktop: Can Linux Companies Make it Work?

  Submitted by Jonathan Coachman Linux 9 Comments
"Lately, I've found myself troubled with the changes taking place with Xandros. As many of you probably know by now, Xandros has gone through a reorganization that meant that they had to layoff roughly five employees. What's even more disturbing is that they are looking at letting go of their support for the desktop market and focusing on the server realm instead. Granted they'll still support their open circulation desktop to some extent, but the fact remains that I'm seeing a possible trend brewing within the Linux Desktop market that has me a little shaken up."
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Review: Fedora Core 6

  Submitted by Valour Fedora Core 35 Comments
Yet another review of Fedora Core 6. "I'm through hoping that the next version of Fedora Core will fix all of the problems with the previous release. Fedora's identity has gradually eroded over six releases, finally ending up as a second class clone of Ubuntu. On the other hand, Red Hat Linux was never really all that easy to install, configure, and use, so I guess this is just the natural evolution of a product that was destined to be eclipsed by more complete distributions like Mandriva and more easily configured distributions like SUSE."
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SEDarwin Released

  Submitted by Mark Williamson BSD & Darwin 2 Comments
Posted to the Apple Darwin-kernel mailing list today by Todd Miller: "SEDarwin is a port of the TrustedBSD Mandatory Access Control Framework to Apple's Darwin operating system platform, along with a Type Enforcement policy based on SELinux. SEDarwin is still experimental, but currently allows the enforcement of mandatory process and file protections under Darwin 8.7 (Mac OS X 10.4.7) on Apple PowerPC hardware."
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VMware Opens Virtual-Appliance Marketplace

  Submitted by Eunos Senjatas OS News No Comments
VMware, long an advocate of prepackaged software appliances that can be loaded onto virtualization software, launched a program Tuesday to certify and sell such virtual appliances. The move expands VMware's earlier support for virtual appliances as a good way to try software. Now its Virtual Appliance Marketplace provides a way to buy as well. The EMC subsidiary also launched a certification program to ensure such appliances are working properly.
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Review: Nokia 9300i Communicator Smartphone

  Submitted by Sonia Chang Wireless 5 Comments
"While Nokia may not have hit wonders like the Motorola RAZR or LG's Chocolate in its product line, its phones pack a plethora of features with latest technologies to wow you. Take the Nokia 9300 smartphone, for instance. The 9300 is a direct competitor to Palm's Treo and RIM’s BlackBerry offerings, and we must say, Nokia has a fairly durable solution on its hands for executives on the go."
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Perens: ‘Novell Is the New SCO’

Novell and Ximian 127 Comments
"Often cast as the peacemaker in free software disputes, Bruce Perens is on the warpath. When we caught up with him, he wasn't in a mood to be charitable to Novell. On Friday the Utah company, which markets the SuSE Linux distribution, revealed that it was entering into a partnership with Microsoft. Redmond would pay Novell an undisclosed sum in return for Novell recognizing Microsoft's intellectual property claims. Novell received a 'Covenant' promising that it wouldn't be sued by Microsoft."It's a case of 'Damn the people who write the software'", he told us. "Novell is in a desperate position - it has a smaller share of the market than Debian,"" he told The Register. Update: Novell responds to community's questions: here, here and here. Update 2: Havoc Pennington's take.
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