Monthly Archive:: February 2013

The just released version 13.02 of the Genode OS Framework comes with major improvements of the underlying kernels. Using the NOVA kernel, the framework can be used to build custom operating systems for IOMMU-enabled machines while also leveraging hardware virtualization. Using Genode's custom kernel or the Fiasco.OC kernel, the new version targets ARM Cortex-A15-based systems such as the Exynos 5250 SoC.

"Mobile phones may generate the fastest-growing segment of Google's revenue, but the experience of using them still bothers Google co-founder Sergey Brin. Speaking at the TED Conference today in Long Beach, Calif., Brin told the audience that smartphones are 'emasculating'. 'You're standing around and just rubbing this featureless piece of glass', he said." He's definitely right, but whether Glass is the answer, I don't know. The geek in me loves the technology, but I doubt its practicality.

Sailfish developers released the alpha preview of their upcoming SDK along with some details on OS architecture and interface design. You can note that some Sailfish system gestures resemble Harmattan. Currently the SDK consists of a virtual machine with rootfs environment which includes Mer core, Nemo middleware as well as Sailflish-specific Qt components.

Well paint me red and call me a girl scout. "In its latest push to get porn off your computer, Apple now deletes all iCloud emails that contain the phrase 'barely legal teens'. It doesn't send the messages to spam, or flag them, it just straight up deletes them, and there's nothing you can do about it." So, at least we can finally put that silly myth to rest that Apple respects users' privacy. They scan your emails, including attachments, just like everyone else.

"It's officially true: Hewlett-Packard is back in the mobile race. Today, HP is announcing its first Android product: the HP Slate 7. But it looks like the company won't be making a splash right away: Starting at $169.99, the new device will launch this April with a fairly unimpressive set of specs." As I've been working my behind off on a huge Palm article, HP turns around and slaps this thing in my face. You had one job, HP.

Lucky bas... Joshua Topolsky got to use and test Google Glass. "Is it ready for everyone right now? Not really. Does the Glass team still have huge distance to cover in making the experience work just the way it should every time you use it? Definitely. But I walked away convinced that this wasn't just one of Google's weird flights of fancy. The more I used Glass the more it made sense to me; the more I wanted it. If the team had told me I could sign up to have my current glasses augmented with Glass technology, I would have put pen to paper (and money in their hands) right then and there. And it's that kind of stuff that will make the difference between this being a niche device for geeks and a product that everyone wants to experience. After a few hours with Glass, I've decided that the question is no longer 'if', but 'when?'" No wonder Google is going into retail. They need physical stores to sell this.