Cobind Desktop: Linux Done Right
Linux is all about choice. Endless debates carry on each day, but a new company with a new distribution, Cobind, has a classic, but novel, approach: Do one thing, and do it well.
Monthly Archive:: April 2004
Apple’s Core Business Shifting
Longhorn Server Back on Microsoft Roadmap
Microsoft Corp is doing a U-turn on its Longhorn roadmap, with plans for a server operating system version alongside the long-expected client due in 2006. A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed Friday that there will be a Longhorn server sometime after the company delivers the Longhorn client OS.
Symbian to Hang on to Smart Phone OS Lead
Symbian is expected to retain the top honors in mobile phone software through the decade, despite an emerging threat from Microsoft, according to a study from ABI Research.
Painless FreeBSD System Updating
One of the greatest advantages that *BSD has over other Unix variants is the cvsup/make world process. The cvsup/make world process allows you to update your system at any time.
Microsoft Needs Geek Appeal
"I thought I had a pretty good handle on the differences between the open-source community and the traditional proprietary approach to software development. But watching a Microsoft spokesperson defend his company and its whole approach to business in front of a room full of Linux zealots last week helped crystallize the gulf between the two camps--not just in business strategy but in fundamental philosophy and political bent." Read the editorial at ZDNet.
GNOME Foundation & Mozilla Foundation On Discussions
The GNOME Foundation had a meeting with some representatives of the Mozilla Foundation about how they could collaborate a little closer in future. More info here about what was discussed.
Linux Must be Slicker to Grab Desktop Space
The open-source operating must make key cosmetic adjustments, according to speakers at the Desktop Linux Summit. Elsewhere, the software giant ventured into hostile territory on Wednesday to argue its case during a live debate over the future of the Linux desktop.
SkyOS: A Sticky Development
Am I the only one amazed at the progress being made on SkyOS? Kelly writes in to tell us that SkyOS has just gotten sticky note support (screenshot). Read on for more.
NetBSD Trademark Application Completed
The NetBSD Foundation announced that it has registered the
'NetBSD' trademark...An official policy on the use of the NetBSD trademark is currently being drafted and will be made public soon.
A Standardized Open Source Network Authentication System
The open source community has mastered many challenges and has been successful in numerous areas. However, there is one glaring weakness that needs to be remedied.
Konstructing a New KDE Desktop
The purpose of this tutorial is to introduce a better solution to upgrading KDE, one that will allow a user to get his/her hands on a release the night it hits the mirrors, without having to overwrite the base OS install. Konstruct compiles KDE into a new desktop rather than using RPM or DEB.
Finding the Missing Link in Linux-Windows Compatibility
In a small seminar room of the De La Salle University (DLSU)in the Philippines, Caslon Chua, chief software architect of SpecOps made a demonstration of the "bridge" software "David". More at inq7.net.
Miguel de Icaza on Longhorn
In Miguel de Icaza's latest blog entry the Mono project leader discusses the threat Longhorn's new technologies and frameworks pose to Linux and open source. He also directs uses to this recent USENET post about the goals of Mozilla, which is a very interesting read.
SkyOS Gets an ISS
ISS (Integrated sound system) has been implemented into SkyOS. The ISS is a very well integrated sound system which makes it very easy to access the audio multimedia services of SkyOS, though providing a very powerful interface.
Unofficial Win98 SE Service Pack
Majorgeeks.com has posted a link to an unofficial independent release of a Service Pack for Windows 98SE. While it does introduce some fixes and additional support, it is important to note that this is not official software.
Computer Loyalty
"People tend to develop strong ties to a specific computer, even if it means waiting to use their favourite machine, say researchers. A team at Pennsylvania State University found that people were drawn to a PC because of their tendency to assign human attributes to machines." Read the article here.
Data Access Performance in ADO.NET
This article introduces some of the basic data-access performance issues to consider while developing database applications using ADO.NET. It shows you how to analyze network load, load on the database server, un-optimized SQL, opening and closing a connection, fetching a result set, blob access, and metadata retrieval. It then provides suggestions for improving database application performance.
DVD Forums Adopts Windows Media
"The battle to create and own a proprietary industry standard generates rapid improvements in price and performance, at least until somebody emerges totally dominant. If fact, even after a monopolist emerges, there is still considerable pressure to innovate, because unless you can induce your installed base to upgrade frequently, you have a hard time continuing to grow." More at streamingmedia.com.
Little Hoopla Over New Java Spec
J2EE 1.4, Sun's new Java Specification, will undoubtedly be widely adopted by the makers of Java-based software, but though Sun's attempts to hype it have not been as successful as in the past. Aside from the fact that the software industry just isn't as exuberant as it once was, many vendors are already "ahead of the spec" and have implemented functionality that customers demanded without waiting for Sun and Java to blaze the trail.