OSnews - Exploring the Future of Computing

Browsers Go Head-to-Head

Submitted by dillond 2006-10-26 Internet 21 Comments

"The top two browsing programs of net users got a big update this month as Microsoft released Internet Explorer 7 and Mozilla unleashed Firefox 2.0. Here we take a quick spin through some of the features to be seen in the new versions." Meanwhile, a spoofing bug has been found in IE7. Update: Another Firefox 2.0 review.

Third Qt Jambi Technology Preview Released

Submitted by anonymous 2006-10-26 Qt 4 Comments

"We are pleased to present the third technology preview of Qt Jambi to our commercial customers and the open source community for testing and feedback. Qt Jambi is a prototype technology that enables Java developers to utilize Qt: the leading framework for high-performance, cross-platform applications." And you can win a MacBook.

Debugging Make

Submitted by IdaAshley 2006-10-26 General Development 3 Comments

Most UNIX and Linux programs are built by running make. Make and utilities like it are fundamental tools for streamlining the application build process. Learn the structure of the makefile, how to avoid common mistakes in its creation, and how to solve or work around portability issues and other problems as they crop up.

Oracle’s Red Hat Rip-Off

Submitted by Anonymous 2006-10-26 Databases 57 Comments

"No one saw this coming. People talked about Oracle making its own Linux, or buying a Linux company (Ubuntu?). But, the news that Oracle is erasing Red Hat's trademarks from Unbreakable Linux and supporting it for less than Red Hat is a bolt from the blue. Or, perhaps, I should say that Oracle is firing a shot at the heart of Red Hat, and commercial Linux? This really, really ticks me off." Apparently, Oracle announced that they will provide full enterprise support for Linux and so it competes with RH.

Wozniak: Apple Didn’t Need NeXT, OS 9 More Secure Than OS X

Thom Holwerda 2006-10-25 macOS 78 Comments

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak says that Apple did not need NeXT, the company that provided the foundation for Mac OS X; he argues that System 7 wasn't nearly as bad as it was made out to be. Wozniak also says that Mac OS 9 was more secure than OS X is now: Mac OS X is built in Unix and is therefore more prone to attacks because people are familiar with the holes in Unix, explained Woznaik. "Some of the holes in Unix are well known. So keeping Firewalls on is more important. And we keep announcing, even our own security fixes, not as many as Microsoft but still we never really had those in the OS 9 days."

AIX Commands you Should not Leave Home Without

Eugenia Loli 2006-10-25 Unix 5 Comments

AIX has a vast array of commands that enable you to do a multitude of tasks. Depending on what you need to accomplish, you use only a certain subset of these commands. There are a few core commands that you commonly use. This article will cover some of the core commands with the intent to provide a list that you can use as a ready reference.

Submitted by netpython 2006-10-25 Windows 31 Comments

The company maintains that it has built a version of its Authentium ESP Enterprise Platform that can bypass PatchGuard without setting off the desktop alarms produced by the security feature when the Vista kernel is compromised. ESP Enterprise, an SDK sold by Authentium to telecommunications carriers and so-called managed services providers, offers virus protection, anti-spyware, data recovery, firewall and transaction security capabilities.

Reviews: Fedora Core 6

Submitted by luna6 2006-10-25 Fedora Core 36 Comments

Two reviews of the recently released Fedora Core 6. "FC 6 certainly is one of the best looking distro’s I have seen, especially for a default installation. but several smaller issue bugs that crept into FC 6 made me wonder how organized they really are. The problems I encountered with Fedora Core 6 were not huge issues, but there were enough smaller bugs that made me wonder if this release was rushed." And secondly, "FC6 is here, at last, and we've been busy putting it through its paces to let you see what's new. You're probably most interested in the following questions: Is Yum still slow? (yes). How good is AIGLX? (excellent). Does it still lack many configuration tools (yes)."

Submitted by andymc 2006-10-25 OS News 2 Comments

After a couple of months of serious work, Visopsys 0.64 has been released. There are only a handful of new, user-visible features (including right-click context menus and 32-bit .bmp/.ico support). The real focus of this release has been stability, quality, and debugging, plus large scale GUI re-engineering. In addition, graphics mode now works under Bochs 2.3 (as well as Qemu and VmWare). Downloads here and changelog here.

Submitted by jayson.knight 2006-10-25 Mozilla, Gecko 54 Comments

This week the Mozilla Foundation released Firefox 2.0, and that occasion did not go by unnoticed at Microsoft's Internet Explorer team. "The Microsoft Internet Explorer Team sent us a cake for the ~~upcoming~~ release of Firefox 2! A big thanks to Redmond, Washington!" What's next, Stallman on a dinner date with Ballmer?

Submitted by chrishaney 2006-10-25 OS News 8 Comments

The Xen team writes: "We're pleased to announce the official release of xen 3.0.3! This release includes many new features as well as enhanced stability and performance." TheCodingStudio has a screenshot walkthrough of this new release.

Why Apple Bounced Back

Submitted by 2006-10-25 Apple 9 Comments

'Why Apple Failed' promised to reveal an accidental discovery that was key to Apple's recovery. Here's it is: the real reason the company was able to turn things around and create new growth for the Mac platform. Why Apple Bounced Back.

Microsoft Sets Sender ID Free

Submitted by Shelton Bernds 2006-10-25 Microsoft 7 Comments

Microsoft's Sender ID e-mail authentication technology can now be used without fear of the software giant's intellectual property lawyers. The company said Monday it is making the 'Sender ID Framework' available under its Open Specification Promise program. That means Microsoft will not sue anyone who creates products or services based on the e-mail technology.

A Call to Distros: Give Users What They Want

Eugenia Loli 2006-10-25 Linux 178 Comments

A few months ago we ran a poll about the most important non-free Linux apps. We had over 8,000 votes in that poll and we consider the results pretty interesting. Interesting enough to push Linux's market share if a distro capitalized on them?

Which Vista Is the Right Vista?

Thom Holwerda 2006-10-24 Windows 139 Comments

"Eventually, we're going to see Vista come out. Yes, I know, even at this late date, Vista is still getting unexpected delays - it was set to go to manufacturing Oct. 25, but it's not going to make it - but it is on its way. My question, though, is: What version will actually work for you come that day?"

Security Analysts: Mac Attacks Rare But May Rise

Thom Holwerda 2006-10-24 macOS 52 Comments

"Apple computers have long been prized for being relatively virus-free. But as more people use Apple products, experts say the company is increasingly becoming a target for cyber pranksters and criminals writing viruses and other forms of malware. Oliver Friedrichs, director of security response at Symantec, a leading anti-virus software vendor, said 72 vulnerabilities were discovered in the Mac's OS X operating system in 2006, up from 19 in 2004." Please consider the source, though.

Submitted by diegocg 2006-10-24 SuSE, openSUSE No Comments

"Novell today announced the availability of SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time, enabling customers to realize the benefits of Linux for real-time applications. SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time from Novell adds real-time technology from Concurrent Computer Corporation to the flexible and scalable SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 platform."

HSBC Freezes NetSurf Users’ Web Bank Accounts

Thom Holwerda 2006-10-24 RISC OS 21 Comments

NetSurf users are reeling from HSBC's shock decision to suspend their accounts because their RISC OS computers are allegedly infected with spyware. The high street bank has confused the open source browser NetSurf with a strain of PC malware going by the same name, and has locked their customers out for security reasons, it is believed. Punters say they were forced to turn up at their local branch with photo ID and sign a form promising to use Microsoft Windows XP with anti-virus software installed before they could access their money again.

Sun Gilds Solaris Lily

Thom Holwerda 2006-10-24 Solaris 19 Comments

"When eWEEK Labs first reviewed Sun Microsystems' Solaris 10 early last year, we were impressed by the new facilities the operating system offered for better serving up applications and making the most of the SPARC and x86 hardware on which it runs. With this summer's Solaris 10 update, labeled 6/06, Sun has significantly improved on its already excellent operating system with the addition of the much-heralded Zettabyte File System."

Nvidia Has Balls and May Circumvent X86 Licences

Thom Holwerda 2006-10-24 Hardware 49 Comments

"Nvidia is making a CPU, but the only questions are what kind of CPU, and how the heck is it going to do it. Making an X86 based CPU is not a trivial venture, and there are enough problems to make even a company with the engineering bandwidth of Nvidia cringe. Those problems are mainly called lawyers."