Eugenia Loli Archive

The Robotic Operating System, or ROS (download), is intended to operate at the center of behavior-based robotics systems. ROS is an operating system within an operating system, running as a normal program on UNIX-like systems and acting as an operating system for a set of other normal UNIX programs and scripts. ROS is used only to start, stop, and provide other services to behaviors, but without behaviors would perform no function. While a behavior might, technically, run without ROS, it would not fit into a system of behaviors and so would not be useful.

Stefan has released an alpha version of his GNUstep port of WebCore, the KHTML-based renderer used by Apple's Safari web browser. The code includes a simple browser program.

The purpose of this document can be informally stated as follows: if you were to use virtualization in a an endeavor (research or otherwise), here are some things to look at.

Macminute reports that Apple today released a public beta version of iChat AV 2.1, an update to its instant messaging application that adds support for video conferencing with those using AOL Instant Messenger 5.5 for Windows (also released today). Apple has released Bluetooh Software 1.5, the latest version of the short-range wireless connectivity technology for Mac OS X. Version 1.5, available via the Software Update preference pane, provides support for Bluetooth-enabled headsets and printers.

Open Source Development Labs, one of the main groups promoting the business use of open-source software, released its standards for using Linux in enterprise applications. Read the article at C|Net.

Gnome 2.4.2 is a new point release from the stable series of the 2.4.x tree. Download, release notes.

Web surfers battling "spyware" face a new problem: So-called spyware-killing programs that install the same kind of unwanted advertising software they promise to erase. Though the companies that fail to disclose this practice are facing an outcry from consumers and watchdogs, there is little people can do to defend their systems, security firms say.

"KDE 3.2 provides an integrated desktop along with various applications to carry out common desktop tasks such as web browsing, email, instant messaging, multimedia, graphics, etc. Some of the impressive features which you will notice include..." Read the article at FedoraNews.org. Update: Two more KDE articles, one at Enterprise-Linux-IT and one at ITNews.

UnixReview reviews Red Hat's Enterprise Linux 3.0. Joe Casad concludes that "Enterprise Linux 3 looks and feels more like a steady, sober corporate computer system than previous Red Hat offerings, although the changes to the user experience are subtle and may not attract a lot of attention."

Take a look at Sun Microsystems' recently relaunched Java developer Web site, and you'll see something new: a picture of James Gosling.

Foul language, abuse, and threats brought by angry Linux advocates could be giving a good operating system technology a bad name, says CMP's LinuxPipeline. Perens advises against abuse as well.

OpenQNX reports that the next release of QNX, commonly referred as QNX 6.3, is expected in the second quarter of 2004. The new features in QNX 6.3 haven't been talked in the news announcement, but based on earlier news postings on qnx.com, it is believed that we will be seeing the new Netfront back-end web browser for the Voyager UI-shell. The Linux-hosted development option for QNX Momentics will also be available.

"I installed OS X10.3 over a month ago and have begun to get to grips with most of the changes from 10.2.x (Jaguar). Some I like _ but not all. One improvement with 10.2.3 was better memory management. I had been running close to the limits but now have a reasonable amount spare in normal operating conditions." Read the article at BangkokPost.

PalmSource plans to announce next week a revamped operating system strategy in which it simultaneously develops multiple versions of its software aimed at different parts of the market for smart phones and other devices. The new PalmOS incorporates some "ideas" from BeOS, according to Nagel.