Monthly Archive:: January 2007

Looking Ahead: Where Computers and Emotion Meet

Submitted by Esther Schindler 2007-01-24 Geek stuff 3 Comments

New computer software applications--in the labs and in the market--are using emotion as data input and responding to it. This CIO.com feature looks at current applications that focus on human emotion, and looks ahead to work being done on that subject, in computer labs around the world.

Branching Registers with the PowerPC Processor

Submitted by IdaAshley 2007-01-24 IBM 3 Comments

In Part 1 of this series you saw how programs on the POWER5 processor work using the 64-bit PowerPC instruction set, then in Part 2 you learned how the PowerPC instruction set addresses memory, and how to do position-independent code. In this article, you learn how to use the very powerful condition and branch instructions available in the PowerPC instruction set.

Intel: Open Source Drew Us to Solaris

Submitted by MaxxTotal 2007-01-24 Solaris 14 Comments

Open source was behind Intel's decision to add Solaris to its list of supported operating systems, according to a top official from Intel during a teleconference with reporters. In other news, Sun returned to profitability.

22 Percent of Windows Installs Non-Genuine

Thom Holwerda 2007-01-23 Windows 133 Comments

Microsoft disclosed Monday that over one in five Windows installations were deemed non-genuine through the company's Windows Genuine Advantage program, which requires users to validate their operating system before downloading updates from the company. Since WGA launched in July 2005, over 512 million users have attempted to validate their copy of Windows, Microsoft said. Of those, the non-genuine rate was 22.3 percent. 56000 reports have been made by customers of counterfeit software, which grants that user a free replacement copy of Windows.

Jobs ‘Questioned Over Options Backdating’

Thom Holwerda 2007-01-23 Apple 20 Comments

Apple chief executive Steve Jobs was questioned by US investigators about stock options backdating at the company, according to several reports citing unidentified lawyers. Apple and Jobs' attorney did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment on Tuesday. The US Attorney's Office in San Francisco was also not immediately available.

The Ultimate Windows Vista Laptop

Thom Holwerda 2007-01-23 Hardware 28 Comments

"The most visible part of Windows Vista is the Aero interface, and while we can't deny that it looks very swish we find it very hard to get excited by a shiny new GUI. Instead, we're looking forward to new Vista hardware, which includes a new use for the humble USB memory key and much, much more. So what will the ultimate Windows Vista notebook offer?"

Wal-Mart Takes Advantage of Novell-Microsoft Deal

Submitted by WillM 2007-01-23 Novell and Ximian 35 Comments

Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores is contracting with Microsoft and Novell - Microsoft's preferred Linux partner - to build out the company's Web operations, according to a Wal-Mart executive. On Tuesday, Microsoft and Novell are expected to announce that Wal-Mart is the latest customer to purchase both Microsoft software and support certificates for Novell's Suse Linux Enterprise Server.

Linspire Standardizes Software Installation Across Linux Distributions

Submitted by Adam Scheinberg 2007-01-23 Linspire 59 Comments

"Linspire announced plans to standardize software installation across Linux distributions by expanding its popular CNR digital download and software management service to support several of the most popular desktop Linux distributions in 2007. Previously available only for Linspire and Freespire desktop Linux users, the CNR Service will begin providing users of other desktop Linux distributions a free and easy way to access over 20000 desktop Linux products, packages and libraries."

Should You Buy Vista Ultimate?

Submitted by Deathspawner 2007-01-23 Windows 56 Comments

"With the Vista launch imminent, you may be wondering what version you should be buying. Thanks to the four primary versions available, this is no easy task. Many will be swaying towards the Ultimate Edition, but should you save your cash?"

SDK for Java v6 Early Release Program for Linux

Submitted by anonymous 2007-01-23 Java 8 Comments

IBM has released an SDK for Java 6. Product binaries are available for Linux on x86 and 64-bit AMD, and AIX for PPC for 32- and 64-bits. In addition to supporting the Java SE 6 Platform specification, the new SDK also focuses on, Data sharing between Java Virtual Machines, Enhanced diagnostics information, Operating system stack backtraces, Updated jdmpview tool, platform stability, and performance.

Maemo Development VMware Appliance

Submitted by konfoo 2007-01-23 Wireless 5 Comments

A VMware appliance built on Ubuntu which allows for easy Nokia N800 Internet Tablet console and GUI development, including debugging in the nested Xephyr X server is available. This appliance is targeted at the N800's Maemo Bora 3.0 platform. This is of particular interest to developers who are thinking about developing for the N800 or wanting to do a quick port/recompile, and are unsure of or not willing to go through the install procedures.

An Interesting Offer: Get Paid to Contribute to Wikipedia

Submitted by anonymous 2007-01-22 Microsoft 166 Comments

"So I was a little surprised to receive email a couple of days ago from Microsoft saying they wanted to contract someone independent but friendly (me) for a couple of days to provide more balance on Wikipedia concerning ODF/OOXML. I am hardly the poster boy of Microsoft partisanship! Apparently they are frustrated at the amount of spin from some ODF stakeholders on Wikipedia and blogs. I think I’ll accept it: FUD enrages me and MS certainly are not hiring me to add any pro-MS FUD, just to correct any errors I see." So basically, it seems as if Microsoft is trying to 'hire' people to edit Wikipedia.

Sun, Intel Announce New Partnership

Thom Holwerda 2007-01-22 Oracle and SUN 13 Comments

In their joint announcement, Intel agreed to support the Solaris OS, while Sun will use a number of different Xeon processors in its x86 line of servers and workstations. In a collaboration that one CEO called 'historic', Sun Microsystems and Intel jointly announced a new partnership that will see both companies support the other's technology. The announcement, which had first been reported in the Wall Street Journal and formally detailed at a joint news conference in San Francisco on Jan. 22, will allow Sun to develop x86 servers using Intel's Xeon processors.

Microsoft Offering Free Vista ‘Test Drive’

Thom Holwerda 2007-01-22 Windows 32 Comments

"Microsoft recently unveiled a new web site called 'Windows Vista Test Drive', designed to allow business users, consumers, and the merely curious to find out what running Microsoft's latest operating system might be like, without actually having to install it."

Is Solaris Really a Bright Choice for Developers?

Thom Holwerda 2007-01-22 Solaris 30 Comments

"So, you're tired of Windows and thinking of trying Linux. There are lots of good distros, RedHat or Novell have all the enterprise cred you might need. And there's a support community too, it's a no brainer... Well, that's all true enough – but why not try Solaris - in its OpenSolaris form - too? It's just as available, at Open Solaris.org, where there's a pretty active community going."

Malware More Compatible with Vista Than Anti-Malware Products

Submitted by Governa 2007-01-22 Windows 32 Comments

Malware writers appear to be much further along in developing malware for Vista than the security industry is in making products to protect the new operating system. Speaking exclusively to IT PRO, Tim Eades, senior vice-president of sales at security company Sana Security said that 38 per cent of malware is already Vista-compatible. "Malware writers have gone through the WHQL list to make sure that their code works on new machines," he said. "They have managed to port code to Vista quicker than the security industry."

Vista Service Pack 1 Is Coming

Submitted by danwarne 2007-01-22 Windows 47 Comments

Reckon you won't upgrade to Vista until the first service pack is released? That's looking likely to be the second half of this year, according to Microsoft's latest email blast. The company has put out a call for "customers and partners (to) actively test and provide feedback on Windows Vista SP1 to help us prepare for its release in the second half of CY07". Microsoft hasn't released details of exactly what changes will be wrought in Vista SP1, which has been assigned the codename 'Fiji' but some OS components which missed the RTM cut-off will almost certainly be rolled into the update. One of the candidates for this better-late-than-never brigade would be the Windows PowerShell, previously Microsoft Shell - a .NET-based command line shell with its own scripting language.

Can Red Hat Rival Microsoft?

Submitted by WillM 2007-01-22 Red Hat 23 Comments

"Oracle's Linux initiative has so far failed to make a serious dent in Red Hat's business or even in its stock price. Red Hat is actually worth slightly more today than it was when Larry Ellison launched his apparently not-so-scary RHEL clone the week before Halloween. But it is a little early to conclude that we are living in the best of all possible worlds for Red Hat. True, the company's financial results for the November quarter reassured easily-stampeded Wall Street investors who panicked in the first days after Oracle's announcement. But the fact remains that Red Hat's stock is worth 25% less today than it was a year ago. This decline reflects fundamental concerns not about the immediate threat from Oracle but about the long term value of Red Hat's business model."

Windows on the Mac Changes Everything

Submitted by alcibiades 2007-01-22 Apple 65 Comments

"The lines between the Mac OS and Windows are starting to blur. And that portends major changes going forward in the world of PCs. At last week's MacWorld, a little company called Parallels won awards for the latest version of its hit product, which enables you to run both operating systems at the same time on a Macintosh. It's a major breakthrough."

Novell: Desktop Linux Costs 10% of Microsoft’s Vista

Submitted by Robert 2007-01-22 Novell and Ximian 38 Comments

Novell might have signed a patent and interoperability deal with Microsoft Corp but it is not about to give up competing with the software giant and last week released a study that suggests its Linux desktop product is better value than Windows Vista. The company's competitive guide compares SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop with Windows Vista and claims that the Linux product provides 90% of Vista's functionality and 10% of the price.