Monthly Archive:: September 2003

Apple today released Mac OS X 10.2.8. It features security fixes, "enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: Audio, Bluetooth, Classic support, Finder, Graphics, LDAP, Power Management, Safari, FireWire and USB device compatibility." This version is not compatible with PowerMac G5s and is meant to be used with G3/G4s only.

Early last week I received an AMD Opteron 240 and an Asus SK8N motherboard. I was so anxious to get Linux on it I could hardly sit still... A week later, Linux is on it, in 32 bit mode only, and my hard drive has informed me that if I reinstall again it is going to go on strike.

Microsoft has told firms to wait until next month for clarification of its roadmap for Windows, after the latest delays to the next release left firms unable to plan for the future.

The FreeDOS Project has released kernel v2032 which fixes a few bugs and adds new features.

"Red Hat and Fedora Linux are pleased to announce an alignment of their mutually complementary core proficiencies leveraging them synergistically in the creation of the Fedora Project, a paradigm shift for Linux technology development and rolling early deployment models." Read more at Fedora Linux's site.

A Siliconvalley.com article notes that the application of networking technology in the home can be silly and frivilous, but if applied correctly, could really be beneficial. A refrigerator with a flat panel display on it to check your email in the kitchen is truly silly, but a home that can notify the out of town owner that there's been a power failure can prevent that owner from coming home to a fridge full of rotten food.

Rafeeq Rehman and Christopher Paul explain how to use compilers and assemblers productively in a development environment.

This article is the first part of a two-part series that provides recommendations for securing the Sun Linux 5.0 operating system. This part provides recommendations for securing local access and file systems. The information in this article applies only to the Sun Linux 5.0 distribution, although some of the techniques or recommendations might apply to other Linux distributions. This article is ideal for a reader with a beginner to Intermediate level of expertise.

Skinning does not really receive the appreciation it deserves. After posting my comparison article about LiteStep and Talisman, I was astonished to (still) hear people say that skinning and theming is useless. They literally said:

Apple seeded build 7B74 of Mac OS X 10.3, Panther, to developers and testers, ThinkSecret reports. The new build was posted to the Apple Developer Connection Web site late Saturday. Apple has determined which bugs will be fixed in the initial Panther release.

Anyone interested in squeezing maximum performance out of their GNU/Linux operating system and willing to compile a new kernel will be interested in this KernelTrap article about Andrew Morton's -mm patchset. The patchset currently offers better stability and performance than the mainline 2.6.0-test kernel, as well as containing numerous functionality enhancements. Much of the additional functionality is described, as well as providing simple step by step installation instructions. Reading this, one can understand why Linux creator Linus Torvalds has chosen Andrew to soon become the 2.6 maintainer.

The concept of source-based distributions, where all software is compiled from source code locally for maximum control and performance, took off with the introduction of Gentoo Linux and its wonderful package management called Portage.

"Apple would like more market share, but making the 'best personal computer' is top goal", Apple CEO Steve Jobs said recently. Additionally, the Mac OS X 10.2.8 update was released internally late last week, sources confirmed to ThinkSecret. Sources also speculated that the update will be provided to users Monday or next week. Separately, Apple seeded build 7B72 of Panther Server to developers on Thursday, posting two installation discs as well as a Server Admin CD.

Arno Klenke has completed his work on the PCI and USB bus managers for Syllable. Not only does this simplify the internel managment of devices in Syllable, it also means USB UHCI support. The current implementation is a port of the Linux UHCI driver which has been re-written by Arno as a Syllable bus manager, and a native USB mouse driver. On other hobby OS news, SkyOS has some updates on SkyOS 5 while ReactOS can now run some simple Windows applications. IsComputerOn has an update on the OpenBeOS' bootloader too.