Phoronix has published a review of the LIX Systems LX8100-AM2BB-M2NPV, which is a complete HTPC/PVR that ships with GNU/Linux and all of the other goodies. They conclude: "We have become overwhelmingly impressed by the LX8100-AM2BB-M2NPV. This HTPC system is incredibly compact, powerful for video purposes, offers a great deal of installed software and other media features, and is unbelievably quiet. The Lx8100 is extremely well designed for its size and the changeable frontpanel design is interesting and functional for matching the device with other multimedia equipment. The LX8100-AM2BB-M2NPV came loaded with all of the hardware needed to get going. The software also came completely configured and required virtually no setup."

"As mentioned in part 1, Java 6 has to please end-users but it must also appeal to developers in order to make those killer desktop applications. I think that many GUI developers will agree that the Swing API is very powerful and flexible. That said, many feel it's too difficult and ultimately question its ability to deliver a robust desktop application (for a reasonable cost - whether that be monetary or mental!) As promised, I shall offer an overview to what Java 6 will offer developers to ease them towards putting Java on the desktop."

Computer code that exploits a flaw in Apple's Mac OS X was released over the weekend. The code takes advantage of a weakness in core parts of Mac OS X and could let a user gain additional privileges. Apple provided a fix for the error-handling mechanism of the kernel last week, but the exploit appears to have been authored before then. "It appears to have been written well before the vulnerability was fixed," said Dino Dai Zovi, a researcher with Matasano Security who was credited by Apple with discovering the flaw when the patch was released. Obviously anything but spectacular (since it's fixed), but it does raise the age old question: will the growing popularity of both Linux and OS X lead to more of these exploits-- possibly one that does get released 'in time'?

Slackware 11.0 contains the 2.4.33.3 Linux kernel (default), 2.6.17.13 in /extra and 2.6.18 in the /testing directory. This Slackware version is by far the most cutting edge ever released, it includes KDE version 3.5.4 (including the Amarok media player), XFCE 4.2.3.2, the latest versions of Firefox and Thunderbird, plus SeaMonkey 1.0.5 (replacing the Mozilla suite). It also includes glibc-2.3.6, gcc-3.4.6, X11R6.9.0 from X.Org, and more.

The Vista Team Blog has an interesting article on Vista's installation routine, more specifically on how long it takes to install Vista. "PC World got the conversation going on installation times in Windows Vista. While they quote Jim Allchin that Windows Vista can take as little as 15 minutes to install, my installs have been more like 20 minutes (still rocking fast), so I thought I would talk with David D'Souza who manages our Deployment and Installation team to get some more information about the different deployment scenarios and their installation time."

It's not just Symantec that wants to call foul on Microsoft; McAfee got in on the action today with a full-page ad in the print edition of the Financial Times. The ad accuses Microsoft of engaging in dangerous practices that are creating 'inherent weaknesses' in Windows Vista. And by 'inherent weaknesses', McAfee means limitations on what their own products can do.