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General FOSS News

Open-Source Software a Big Tech Player by admin — last modified 2004-07-20 12:43 AM

It powers more than 70 percent of all Web servers and routes much of the world's e-mail traffic. It makes surfing the Internet simple and provides the muscle behind Google Inc.'s search engine and countless e-commerce sites.

FOSSAP Findings and Recommendations Released by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2004-07-26 06:05 PM

The summary findings and recommendations from the Free and Open Source Software Asia-Pacific (FOSSAP) consultation have been released. Contained within the final report include the experiences, needs and challenges facing countries in the Asia-Pacific region when attempting to fully utilized Free and Open Source Software (FOSS).

Gender Equity and Free and Open Source Software by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2004-08-02 12:12 PM

Call for Chapter Submissions of a New Book

Intel more active in desktop Linux in China and India by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2004-11-25 03:43 PM

Intel has begun an effort to make it easier for sales partners in China and India to sell desktop computers running Linux, starting a more active phase in the company's help with the open-source operating system.

EU boost to open source software by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2004-09-07 12:10 AM

The European Union (E.U.) is hoping to give the European open source software industry a competitive boost through a Euro 1.5 million (AUD$2.68m) research project kicking off this week.

Developing Nations See Linux as a Savior From Microsoft's Grip by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2004-08-12 10:48 AM

In developing countries such as China and Brazil, eager to assert themselves on the international scene, the political and economic arguments can seem irresistible: Open-source software offers a way to slip out from under the yoke of American supremacy, saving money in the process.

NGOs find an alternative that works... in software by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2005-01-21 03:10 AM

For a sector that talks of alternatives, the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or voluntary sector stays surprisingly aloof from one significant alternative that has really worked -- free software. But there are stirrings on the horizon that could bridge this huge chasm. In end-January 2005, India's technology mecca Bangalore is to be the venue of an international 'camp' meant to promote FLOSS (Free/Libre and Open Source Softare) among the NGO sector.

Linux is mission critical for Czechs by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2005-02-01 11:20 PM

The Czech postal service is putting its faith in open source, by migrating a vital application onto SuSE Linux

Open Source Initiative Changes Leaders by Russell John — last modified 2005-02-06 12:04 AM

The Open Source Initiative announced Tuesday that it is replacing its longtime president, Eric S. Raymond, and other officers.

Open Source Leaders Accept New Challenges by Russell John — last modified 2005-02-06 12:04 AM

The several hundred attendees heard from Linux kernel creator Linus Torvalds; Linux 2.6 kernel maintainer Andrew Morton; Brian Behlendorf, chief technology officer at CollabNet and one of the founders of the Apache Foundation; and Mitch Kapor of the Open Source Applications Foundation.

Free/Libre/Open Source Software: Policy Support Developer Survey by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2005-04-01 01:19 PM

FLOSSPols a project by the Maastricht Economic Research Institute on Innovation and Technology, supported by the European Union, is running a survey to find out, first, how learning is organised and perceived within the FLOSS community and, second, to understand better the role of women within the community.

Comparison Study of Free/Open Source and Proprietary Software in an African Context: Implementation and Policy-making to Optimise Community Access to ICT by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2005-06-02 11:00 AM

Bridges.org study identifies harsh realities of using free/open source software (FOSS) and proprietary software in public computer labs in Africa

EU to fund global research on open source by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2005-05-30 08:27 AM

The European Union is putting money toward research into open-source software and standards across the world. The newly approved funding -- 660,00 euros, or $825,594 -- is for the two-year FLOSSWorld project, Europe's first initiative to support international research and policy development on "free/libre/open source software."

Toolkit to Help Governments Navigate the Minefield of Free/Open Source Software Policy in Africa by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2006-07-10 03:01 PM

There is increasing debate on the role and potential benefits of free/open-source software (FOSS), particularly in supporting developing countries in their attempts to increase the use of information and communication technology (ICT). And as a result, governments around the world are investigating whether and how they can integrate FOSS into their strategies for social and economic development. This document provides information to governments that are considering designing and implementing FOSS policies to support national development goals.

Bringing free software to the masses by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2006-04-16 10:58 PM

Peter Brown, the executive director of the Free Software Foundation, hopes to 'get the message of free software outside the hacker world'

Open Video Contest by Russell John — last modified 2006-06-20 12:19 PM

Creative Commons and the Fedora Project are pleased to announce the Open Video Contest taking place now. The contest promotes flexible copyright, open media formats and the Fedora Project.

Open source booming in Asia by Khairil Yusof — last modified 2006-12-11 05:37 AM

Open source code is now used by over 70 per cent of software developers in Asia, according to a new report.

Wind River acquires RT Linux from FSMLabs to boost expertise in hard-real-time Linux by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-02-26 08:40 AM

ALAMEDA, Calif. 23 Feb 2007. Real-time software specialist Wind River Systems Inc. in Alameda, Calif., has acquired real-time Linux technology from Finite State Machine Labs Inc., (FSMLabs) in Socorro, N.M.

Microsoft imposes Vista tax on Mac and Linux virtualization by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-02-26 09:24 AM

Computer users wanting to run Vista on Mac OS or Linux will have to buy an expensive version of Vista if they want to legally install it on their systems using virtualization technology.*

Open Source Guru Bashes Red Hat's Fedora by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-02-27 09:44 AM

"Over the last five years, I've watched Red Hat/Fedora throw away what was at one time a near-unassailable lead in technical prowess, market share and community prestige," charged Eric Raymond, cofounder of the Open Source Initiative. "The blunders have been legion on both technical and political levels."

South African Government Adopts Open Source Policy by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-02-27 10:00 AM

South Africa announced Thursday its plan to use open source software on government-run computer systems. Officials said the strategy will lower costs an enhance local IT skills. The use of open source solutions has been on the rise within government, particularly within governments outside of the United States, said Gordon Haff, principal IT advisor and analyst for Illuminata.

Carnegie Mellon Folds Open Source Into New Degree Offering by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-02-27 10:42 AM

Carnegie Mellon West's Software Management program is built on the university's existing software engineering curriculum, the school explained, but adds a business and organizational component that "breaks with tradition by giving students the broader perspective needed to collaborate with and lead the global, distributed teams that are defining next-generation software organizations."

Dell Users Seek Linux, OpenOffice by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-02-27 11:00 AM

"We are at our best when we are hearing directly from our customers," said Dell CEO Michael Dell at the unveiling. "We listen, learn and then improve and innovate on what our customers want. It is one of the real advantages of being a direct company." Dell currently supports Linux on its servers, and offers a set of three desktop computers preinstalled with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.

OpenLogic CEO Steve Grandchamp: Tailor-Made Open Source by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-02-27 11:20 AM

OpenLogic maintains a library of several hundred certified open source projects that it integrates into customers' computer configurations. "The pace of adoption [of open source] will pick up, not slow down," said CEO Steve Grandchamp. "We are already at the end of proprietary code. This is why we are seeing a need for complimentary business."

Linux makes for greener computing by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-03-20 03:27 PM

The UK Government reckons that servers with Linux installed are greener than those running Windows.

Microsoft to Teach Open Documents to Speak Chinese by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-05-22 07:29 AM

Microsoft is partnering with Chinese institutions to create an open source translator between China's Unified Office Format and the Ecma Open XML file formats. By working with China, Microsoft can further the Open XML standard, which was created by Microsoft and has been widely criticized as too large and unwieldy to encourage easily-built applications based on the standard.

Microsoft vs. Open Source: Military Moves by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-05-22 07:39 AM

We're now seeing Microsoft's true stripes. The performance of the products is a charade, an unfortunate cost of doing business in a once competitive market. The real means to profits and market share are really about legal positioning, but in essence necessitates a military posture. For what are laws and lawyers but a means to avoid violence and warfare in lieu of a day in court?

Gartner: Software Users Must Fight for Open Source by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-05-22 07:47 AM

"Vendors increasingly want to tweak the meaning of open source to include, for example, attribution licensing, which says the user can modify and redistribute the software, and make derivative versions based on it only if they give the author credit," said Gartner analyst Brian Prentice.

Microsoft Patent Claims: Rattling Sabers or Ready to Rumble? by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-05-22 08:00 AM

With Microsoft's recent assertions that various forms of open source software violate at least 235 of its patents, are Linux developers, distributors and users safe? Any legal action taken by Microsoft will likely be subdued. The company will probably stop short of going after the supposed infringements with a full-on legal assault, which would cause a meltdown in the software industry.

OLPC and Microsoft: Happy Together? by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-05-22 08:10 AM

For his part, One Laptop Per Child founder Nicholas Negroponte wasn't touting Windows itself as much as user choice. He stressed the educational theories behind his project's original interface, which is open source so as to let children tinker with it. Government ministers had not really been asking him about Windows on the machines, citing Egypt as a rare exception, he added.

Open Source: Ready for Its Closeup by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-05-22 08:18 AM

For many filmmakers, the economics alone make open source filmmaking an attractive option. When free or low-cost production tools like CinePaint and Blender are combined with free hosting services like Internet Archive, writers and filmmakers are free to focus on film production rather than financing. Some filmmakers are even going beyond simply sharing ideas and also sharing the footage they've shot.

What If Every Child Had A Laptop? by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-05-22 08:57 AM

(CBS) Nicholas Negroponte, a professor at MIT, had a dream. In it every child on the planet had his own computer. In that way, he figured, children from the most impoverished places – from deserts and jungles and slums could become educated and part of the modern world. Poor kids would have new possibilities.

Why Microsoft Is Going Open Source by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-08-15 03:25 PM

No one would have believed me if I had said five years ago that Microsoft would have a page on its Web site called “Open Source at Microsoft” with the following remarkably sane and reasonable statement on the subject:

A five year deal with Microsoft to dump Novell/SUSE by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-08-15 03:36 PM

Wake up little SUSE, Wake up. No, that's not good enough. Wake up SUSE customers, wake up. Novell is jeopardizing the future of Linux for its own short-term rewards. If you want to see Linux flourish, let alone survive after Novell's five year deal with Microsoft expires, I suggest we make an alternative five year deal with Microsoft. In this case, our part of the deal is to spend the next five minutes, months, or years migrating away from every shred of Novell/SUSE software in our home, office, or enterprise.

Asia Finds Security in Open Source by Myk Gumapos — last modified 2007-10-05 12:48 PM

For businesses in Australia, China, India, and Korea, security is the No. 1 reason to buy open-source software, an IDC survey says