Linux News for Apr 28, 2009

• Starling Netbook with Ubuntu Remix 9.04 (Apr 28, 2009, 23:02)
  ItRunsOnLinux: "System76 introduces their Starling Netbook, which features Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04."


• Are there too many desktop Linuxes? (Apr 28, 2009, 22:17)
  Cyber Cynic: "Most people want to use 1 (one) operating system and that's more than enough for them. And, that may be one of the reasons why desktop Linux has had fits gaining market share."


• Dell Sues Tiger Direct, Alleges Old Computers Sold As New (Apr 28, 2009, 21:32)
  ChannelWeb: "Dell is currently in a lawsuit seeking damages from Tiger Direct, one of its former resellers, alleging the company infringed on its trademarks and made false representations in selling used Dell products as new."


• Microsoft stuck at top of open source incline (Apr 28, 2009, 20:50)
  ZDNet: "Even while it has sprinkled itself in open source waters Microsoft has generally stayed at the top of both this and the development incline I described in 2008."


• Kernel Log: What's coming in 2.6.30 - File systems: New and revamped file systems (Apr 28, 2009, 20:47)
  The H Open: "Support for the EXOFS and NILFS2 file systems is new, as is the cache for the AFS and NFS network file systems. There are also a few fixes for the almost forgotten ReiserFS file system."


• Linux Storage and Filesystem Workshop, day 2 (Apr 28, 2009, 20:02)
  LWN.net: "The solid-state device topic was the most active discussion of the morning. SSDs clearly stand to change the storage landscape, but it often seems that nobody has yet figured out just how things will change or what the kernel should do to make the best use of these devices. Some things are becoming clearer, though. The kernel will be well positioned to support the current generation SSDs. Supporting future products, though, is going to be a challenge."


• Microsoft's TomTom patents posted for patent review (Apr 28, 2009, 19:17)
  LinuxDevices: "Open Invention Network (OIN) announced that three of the eight patents cited in Microsoft's lawsuit against TomTom have been posted for prior art review by the Linux community. The evidence is being compiled to convince the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that the patents are invalid."


• Brits Back Away From 'Big Brother' Data Storage Plan (Apr 28, 2009, 18:32)
  LinuxInsider: "As part of a zealous effort to combat terrorists and cybercriminals, the British government has considered maintaining a huge database housing every phone call, email and Web site visit its citizens made. A loud outcry ensued over privacy rights, and the government is now looking for an alternate approach."


• Intelligent NIC downloads while host PC sleeps (Apr 28, 2009, 17:47)
  LinuxDevices: "Developers at the University of San Diego say they will demonstrate massive power savings for desktop PCs from embedding an ARM- and Linux-based Gumstix CPU into a network interface. The "Somniloquy" can handle file-sharing and long downloads independently, and only wakes a host PC when necessary."


• Conficker's estimated economic cost? $9.1 billion (Apr 28, 2009, 17:05)
  ZDNet: "In a recent blog post, the Cyber Secure Institute claims that based on their previous studies into the average cost of such malware attacks, the economic loss due to the Conficker worm could be as high as $9.1 billion."


• Open source developer? Uncle Sam wants you (Apr 28, 2009, 17:02)
  Computerworld UK: "The US Defence Department is enlisting an open source approach to software development -- an about-face for such a historically top-down organisation."


• Pragmatic Version Control Using Git (book review) (Apr 28, 2009, 16:23)
  The geek world is full of exciting drama and conflict if you know where to look. We're going to take a look at "Pragmatic Version Control Using Git" by Travis Swicegood, which I believe is the first printed Git book by a major publisher. But before we look at the book, let's take a quick stroll down memory lane because the birth of Git is a fascinating story, all full of thunder and drama.



• Ubuntu Jaunty Tries to Set the Usability Agenda (Apr 28, 2009, 16:17)
  Datamation: "Ever since last summer, when Mark Shuttleworth called on Ubuntu to surpass Mac OS X in desktop design within two years, Ubuntu mailing lists and blogs have become one of the main places to go for detailed discussions about GNU/Linux usability. However, the discussions can become convoluted and acrimonious, as developers argue the logic of design principles"


• Linux Boxee users get Hulu relief (Apr 28, 2009, 15:32)
  DeviceGuru: "The Linux version of Boxee's eponymously-named multimedia platform has finally been updated to include several new features introduced into the OS X and Windows versions over the past few months. Key additions include an "App Box" and restored support for Hulu."


• HP Launches ProBook with Linux Pre-Installed (Apr 28, 2009, 14:47)
  Datamation: "It is HP's first-ever Linux pre-install on a standard business laptop, the company said. The PC maker does offer some netbooks with Linux."


• System76 Launches Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook (Apr 28, 2009, 14:02)
  WorksWithU: "Less than one week after Canonical debuted Ubuntu 9.04 Netbook Remix edition, System76 is playing an encure by launching an Ubuntu 9.04 netbook. The move had been rumored for several weeks. And it's certainly the first of many Ubuntu netbooks that will hit the market. Here’s a bit more about System76's new device."


• The Bittersweet Facts about OLPC and Sugar (Apr 28, 2009, 13:32)
  Free Software Magazine: "Recently, I had to fact-check some older articles I wrote about One Laptop Per Child in order to bring them up to date. This meant digging through the controversy in 2008, and what I found was some pretty appalling human behavior."


• Europe funds secure operating system research (Apr 28, 2009, 13:02)
  Industry Standard: "A Dutch university has landed a European Research Council grant to continue work on a Unix-type operating system that aims to be more reliable and secure than Linux or Microsoft Windows."


• Benchmarked: Firefox 3.5 beta 4 (Apr 28, 2009, 12:32)
  TuxRadar: "We installed the current build of Firefox 3.5b4 ("Shiretoko", or "end of the earth" if you're into minority Japanese languages) on Ubuntu Jaunty and compared it against the stock Firefox 3.0.9 that shipped with the distro by running it through the SunSpider JavaScript benchmark."


• Is desktop Linux too fragmented to succeed? (Apr 28, 2009, 12:02)
  Computerworld: "If one desktop Linux distribution were to gain a significant lead over all the others, it could boost mainstream Linux adoption significantly. After all, desktop Linux makes a compelling replacement for Windows XP for organizations about to refresh their hardware or software, offering lower per-head costs than a move to Vista or Windows 7. But so far, the ideal Linux desktop remains a moving target."


• Kaffeine 1.0 Pre-Release Preview - First KDE4 Port (Apr 28, 2009, 10:32)
  TuxArena: "This is first KDE4 port of Kaffeine for KDE3, which was one of the most powerful players for KDE, including support for DVD menus, subtitles, video effects, and supporting a huge number of video and audio formats via the Xine engine."


• A Gaming Team For Ubuntu Has Been Started (Apr 28, 2009, 09:02)
  Phoronix: "Take it as you will, but a group of interested Linux gamers have launched the Ubuntu Gaming Team. The mission of this newest Ubuntu focus group is "to give the open source gaming world a boost!""


• More Funny Applications Errors From Linux, Unix And Elsewhere (Apr 28, 2009, 07:32)
  The Linux and Unix Menagerie: "Keyboard not found. Hit F1 to continue"


• SimplyMEPIS 8.0.06 Is Here (Apr 28, 2009, 06:02)
  Softpedia: "MEPIS LLC announced, through Warren Woodford, the release of SimplyMepis 8.0.06 for both 32- and 64-bit processor architectures, two months after SimplyMepis 8.0 was launched. This new version doesn't bring important changes, but updates many packages from the Debian Lenny pool. Also, the Linux kernel is now at version 2.6.27.21."


• Gnash Developers and Linux Fund Raise Funds for OpenStreetMap Bounty (Apr 28, 2009, 04:32)
  Linuxfund press release: "Gnash Developers and Linux Fund Raise Funds for OpenStreetMap Bounty"


• Tutorial: Sidux 2009-01 AMD64 Installation Guide (Apr 28, 2009, 03:02)
  Raiden's Realm: "Sidux is a full featured Debian sid based live CD with a special focus on hard disk installations, a clean upgrade path within sid and additional hard- and software support. The ISO is completely based on Debian Sid, enriched and stabilized with sidux' own packages and scripts."


• Creating an invoicing system with OpenOffice.org (Apr 28, 2009, 01:32)
  Worldlabel: "If you run a business, finding an efficient system for managing invoices is critical for sustaining a positive cash flow. Here's how you can create an easy invoicing solution using OpenOffice.org Writer and Calc."


• Kubuntu 9.04 Falls Short (Apr 28, 2009, 00:02)
  IT News Today: "Unfortunately, while the new release of Ubuntu last week was completely amazing, the new Kubuntu has a few problems and an almost completely broken network manager that keep it from perfection, yet its speed and stability may still impress."