Links 30/09/2009: Dell and Linux, Garmin Out
Digital Tipping Point: Clip of the Day
During Emergencies, Linux Geeks Also Care
Locally, a group of Linux advocates set up Sahana, a collection of web based disaster management applications that provides solutions to large-scale humanitarian coordination and collaboration in disaster situation and its aftermath. It's a good start for us to have a centralized area for any possible communication when disaster strikes. There are also others who have been tweeting and plurking the latest news. The updates were related to volunteer work, how to give relief goods, as well as tips on how to check on your car when it gets flooded to info on which shop offers services to laptops which needed to be serviced/recovered after the flood. I also received messages from friends in other countries and amidst the time differences it is heart-warming to receive messages from those who care.
Further Thoughts on the CLI and the Average User
A week ago I published a boring little post on this blog about the command line and the average user. The essence of it was that non-geeks considering switching to Linux shouldn't even be shown the command line, as it may scare them away. Much to my surprise, that post got a lot of attention.
The Linux terminal – Outliving its relevancy?
The terminal has simply outlived its relevancy and has to be relegated as soon as possible. It is a big obstacle in the wider adoption of Linux among everyday computer users that just need their machines to do simple things. Why suffer these people with the language of the geeks?
Ohio Linux Fest 2009 Report
This year was the first time ever that I've had the wonderful opportunity to visit Ohio Linux Fest, sometimes referred to as Ohio Linux Con. This year's theme was "40 Years of Unix" and there was a lot there that focused on that theme.
Playing Games In Linux
Not everything in open source is serious and technical. Find out how to put some games worth playing on your Linux desktop
Free, Native Linux Plug-ins, and How to Use Them in energyXT for Linux
With Linux growing in popularity on netbooks – and an option like the pre-configured Indamixx solution saving you the work of optimizing and configuring it – it's suddenly no longer a stretch to imagine yourself a Linux music user. Of course, what you don't want is to wind up without the arsenal of plug-ins to which we've all become accustomed. There are various ways of hosting Windows VSTs under Linux as though they were native plug-ins; check out dssi-vst (which also enables 32-bit VSTs from Windows under 64-bit Linux hosts), in conjunction with WINE. That should probably be the subject of a separate tutorial. (Ardour 3 also promises Windows VST support.)
General Atomics receives more than $65.5 million in DoD contracts
Poway-based General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. was awarded a $46,040,935 contract for Linux operating systems, technical orders, improved display, and spares for the Predator/Reaper.
Dell Launches New Biz Desktops, Workstation Lines
A wide selection of operating systems will be supported including Windows Vista, Windows XP (via a downgrade), Ubuntu Linux (in certain markets) and FreeDOS.
Linux key to ARM processor breakthrough with Dell laptop
ARM comes of age with a major PC design breakthrough this week.
The key to ARM's success is Dell's plan to run Linux as a second rapid boot operating system on its Windows latptop.
Dell launches Ultra-Wideband Linux laptop
The Linux suite extends battery life and provide instant access to email and web applications.
Dell laptops to feature Arm chips and Linux
Dell's inclusion of Arm and Linux follows longstanding user frustration with the slow Windows boot-up process. During the US Justice Department's antitrust case against Microsoft, the software giant lost its ability to dictate how PCs start.
JFL Peripheral Solutions Announces Linux® Drivers for Visioneer and Xerox® DocuMate® Scanners
JFL Peripheral Solutions, the leading independent provider of scanner driver development services and products, today announced the availability of new Linux drivers, for Visioneer and Xerox DocuMate scanners, that expand the compatibility of these scanners to Linux operating systems with exclusive image processing technology. The new standard SANE (Scanner Access Now Easy) driver enables users to scan on Linux-based operating systems including Ubuntu, Suse, Suse Enterprise, Debian and Fedora. In addition to the SANE driver, JFL also announced a soon to be available TWAIN 2.0 driver that is platform independent.
Proposed X.org development cycle changes
The developers behind X.org, the foundation of nearly all graphical user interfaces (GUIs) for Linux, want to change their current development model. Contrary to the initial plans, recent X.org releases have been rather irregular and unpredictable. Consequently, X.org developer Peter Hutterer has proposed the introduction of a six month development cycle.
Six Linux backup apps and how to choose the one that works for you
When it comes to choosing a data backup system tool for Linux, the problem isn't finding options. It's choosing the one that best matches your businesses' needs. Here are six popular Linux data backup offerings and the pros and cons of each.
Evince: Speed and Functionality Combined
In the heterogeneous computing world of today, documents are encapsulated in a variety of formats, from the mundane PDF to the high-resolution tiffs needed in typography. To be able to view all of them you could use four or five different applications, or you could just employ Evince. GNOME users are probably well familiarized with this document viewer. Every time you click a PDF you downloaded from the web, it will start up and, in an instant, render the document for you to view.
Congrats Fabio!
Well it's official, Fabio is part of the Gentoo developers team now. This is a great thing for Sabayon and Gentoo. It didn't come easy tho, but with support and his desire to do it, he did it. Our relationship with gentoo gets better and better all the time. One just has to put the negative comments aside and remember what is important, making it all better.
GDM Updated In Karmic Alpha 6 (Screenshot Now Included!)
The Login screen for Karmic Koala has finally been pushed on the servers and made available through update manager.
Day 8 – 10 Days of Ubuntu 10.10 Feature Requests
Today's topic is a diverse one, as there are really several issues at play. So bear with me as we tackle each component of the currently lacking Linux online video experience.
Karmic Beta Testing
Ubuntu: Something for Everyone
The world of Linux finally has a front-runner distro that can appeal to a wide variety of users and tasks. It's a shame that so many who are seasoned in 'Nix are walking around bashing the one distro that is actually bringing users into the fold, simply because it's actually useful out of the box and easy to keep up-to-date. In my mind, that's a success for those of us who still believe in the purpose of Linux – a free alternative with choice. If you don't believe me, grab the latest Live CD and fire up the terminal. It's still there – and "ls" still works, I promise. See? There's a little something for everyone.
Native code with Android
Hot on the heels of Android 1.6 (code name Donut), the Android development team has now released version 1.6 rel 1 of the Android NDK (Native Development Kit). The NDK is a toolkit comparable with the standard Android Software Development Kit (SDK), which allows Android developers to write parts of their applications in native code languages such as C and C++.
AT&T Launching Location-Centric Garmin Nuvifone
The smartphone integrates location-based services into multiple aspects of the proprietary Linux-based operating system, and it will come with the same turn-by-turn navigation features found in Garmin's high-end navigation units. This includes audible voice prompts for directions, as well as millions of points of interest like restaurants, gas stations, hotels, and other venues. Users can also mount it to the windshield to act like a regular navigation device.
Garmin Takes a New Tack With Linux-Based Nav Phone
Is there a market for a $300 proprietary Linux-based navigation device with phone capabilities? Garmin's Nuvifone will put that question to the test. Known for its navigators, Garmin might be following Palm's playbook by adding phone capabilities. Given the popularity of the iPhone, the advance of the Androids, Palm's struggle to push the Pre — can the Nuvifone find a niche?
Updates for Android and webOS as Sprint boosts Linux program
Both Google itself and Sprint – launch carrier for the webOS-based Palm Pre but now turning its attentions to Android with the upcoming launch of HTC Hero – were enhancing the Android experience. Sprint announced a series of additions on its Applications Developer web site to make it easier for programmers to support Android. It is providing tools to create and test Android apps for the Sprint network, plus implementation information for Hero, and location-based, messaging and other services available via the Sprint Developer Sandbox.
Smartphones: System overload
With the launch of Motorola's Cliq, the battle between mobile operating systems reaches new heights – and there may soon be a new leader. We survey the top players.
Android has even given traction to other open-source systems, such as Linux-based Moblin.
Qt for Android
Shocked by the title? So I am.
Would you like to see Qt supported on this platform? Just two days ago the answer was like "But it's close to impossible".
Now with NDK 1.6 the "little robot" OS opens more to C/C++ native code. I am eager to read some analysis on the topic.
Nokia N900 Gets Full Review
The Nokia N900 takes the functionality of the older Nokia Tablet devices and repackages them into a slimmed down PDA device that features some design similarities with the Nokia N97. So, we get a full QWERTY keyboard sans the tilted slide function, 3.5-inch touchscreen but with a higher resolution. However, the real added bonus is the powerful Linux Maemo OS. Needless to say, we can't wait to get our hands on especially now the first full-on reviews are appearing.
Kicking tires in the Moblin Garage
The Moblin Garage and App Installer aim to help users to find and install both free and commercial apps. The initial implementation appears promising.
Moblin Brings Btrfs into View, Eschews Ext4
The recently released version 2.0 of Moblin elicited significant feedback. One frequently posed question was, why not ext4?
Yahoo! spruces open source Exchange rival
Amidst rumors that Yahoo! is looking to sell the company, Zimbra has released a new version of its Exchange-battling open source email and collaboration platform.
Available beginning today, version 6.0 of the Zimbra Collaboration Suite adds several administrator and mobile tools as well as countless tweaks to the client interface. This includes client-side changes meant to facilitate the addition of Zimlets, those community-created mini-apps that hook into outside web services. With one Zimlet, for instance, you can instantly open a Yahoo! map when a street address turns up in your inbox.
Time to jump on the open source train
Red Hat must be having a giggle, no make that a cackle, behind proprietary tech firms' backs as they watch their revenues slide whilst the recession is still in full swing.
The company will be celebrating as it just posted results showing a 12 per cent rise in revenues in the second quarter of fiscal year 2010.
How to Make Web 2.0 Work Using Open-Source Enterprise Content Management
Enterprise content management has traditionally been very expensive to license, roll out and scale. It often requires expensive hardware and supporting software. The enterprise content management industry has been dependent on complexity, with the vendor controlling the customer through proprietary power. But there is a cost-effective alternative: open-source software. Web 2.0 sites have changed the way in which content is both accessed and mashed up. Here, Knowledge Center contributor John Newton explains how open-source software gives companies an enterprise content management solution that focuses on lower cost, greater simplicity and greater customer choice.
Open Source was the main topic at the 1st EuroPACS academy course
The major topic was Open Source Software in medical imaging.
Protecode updates portfolio for safe use of open source
Software lifecycle management vendor Protecode Inc. has made available new components in the third release of its portfolio of offerings that aim to help developers better manage the open source code they reuse.
Funambol: open source mobile cloud sync (with contest!)
Funambol is an open source project, allowing you to host your own sync server. Great for DIY-ers and control freaks. If you're not ready to manage your own sync server, you can use the MyFunambol portal, which is a hosted version of their solution.
Funambol Launches Highly Anticipated Version 8 Open Source Mobile Cloud Sync and Push Email for Billions of Phone
Funambol Releases v8 of its Mobile Email Push and Sync Solution
Red Hat CEO explains business model of 21st century, benefits of open source
Red Hat President and CEO Jim Whitehurst opened the third year of Fidelity Investment's lecture series "Leadership in Technology" with his address entitled "The Open Source Opportunity," last night in Engineering Building II.
NYC Schools Overpaying For Proprietary Software
What about the fact that open source applications require more customization and hands-on knowledge on the part of administrators?
Fitzgerald admitted that open source software "requires you devote more time at the outset." But on the other hand, he told me, "you are spending your money in-house, and the skills you acquire developing the tool stay within your school district."
Open Source Can Help India Save Rs 10,000 crore, Says IIM-B Study
Even as the current economic climate has compelled the Indian government to go on the austerity drive, by asking its ministers to air travel by economy class–a more compelling option may lie in looking at replacing proprietary software with open source. A recent report titled, 'Economic Impact of Free and Open Source software-A Study in India', by a team at IIM-Bangalore, highlights several interesting insights, that show how by replacing just 50 percent of proprietary software with open source in desktops and servers, India can save close to Rs 10,000 crore in 2010.
Alert: What's Coming for Open Source CMS in October 2009
Welcome to the October 2009 installment of our what's coming from the open source CMS projects in the next 30 days.
On the merits of open source software
With the advent of Linux for netbooks and companies exploring means to cut costs, use of open source software is on the rise. The next time you need Microsoft Office and go to download an illegal copy of it, why not check out OpenOffice.org for a free equivalent. You're guaranteed not to get a virus, not to get arrested, and you will probably be surprised when you see how good legitimately free software can be.
List of features of OpenOffice.org 3.2
As you could read with the last developer milestone ( DEV300m60) we reached the date to branch the code line for the OOo 3.2 release. The strings for translation were extracted from this milestone and were integrated into Pootle. Also the last features were integrated. So all teams can start to do their work to get released a full localized and stable build of OOo 3.2 at the end of November '09.
The Business of Open Source is Not Software
Luckily, there are enough people out there who "get it" that our business is doing very well this year. Their companies now have a competitive advantage, which, over time, will be demonstrated. Only when these advantages are demonstrated in the market place can open source be said to have "won".
Open-Source Software: An All-Star Lineup
OpenOffice is the undisputed king of open source office software. Boasting most of what you get with the big commercial packages — a word processor, spreadsheet, and presentation application — the individual applications in OpenOffice are even compatible with the file formats used by MS Office and other leading fee-based software.
Open Source and Open Standards at Home
Is there a leading example of an Open Source software company?
Red Hat is an example of one of the best known Open Source companies internationally. They commercially exploit Open Source technologies by providing support and services around a technology platform called Red Hat Linux.
Unisys takes services to the desktop
US secretly tried to make deal with Goldman Sachs in wake of financial crisis
Vanity Fair will report in the next issue of the magazine that US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson — a former head of the investment bank Goldman Sachs — tried to orchestrate secretive deals in the midst of the financial crisis but got blowback from prominent investor Warren Buffett.
HP-UX 11i v3 Update 5 'Vantage' Adds to Security
Kindles yet to woo University users
Though using a Kindle is voluntary, no one has opted out of using a Kindle in Katz' class, so he has permitted his students to use location numbers in their written work for the course.
European project creating the library of all digital libraries
This is now likely to change for the better. The DRIVER project is a co-ordinated, multi-phase effort by European information scientists to create a cohesive, robust and flexible, pan-European infrastructure for digital repositories. The researchers have already created a search engine that regroups over a million 'open access' articles from 260 of Europe's leading institutions.
Wendell Potter: Baucus' Health Care Bill Needs Urgent Care
There are so many problems with the health care reform bill proposed by Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), chair of the Senate Finance Committee, it is little wonder that members of his committee have proposed more than 500 amendments to fix it. Unfortunately, some of the worst amendments that would make the bill even more of a gift to the health insurance industry are being offered by Republicans.
New Oil and Coal Fronts Greenwash Global Warming
Television ads from a new Montana-based group called CO2 Is Green claim: "There is no scientific evidence that CO2 [carbon dioxide] is a pollutant. In fact higher CO2 levels than we have today would help the Earth's ecosystems." The ads urge voters to contact their Senators and Representative, "and remind them CO2 is not pollution."
Exposing How the Government Lied about National Security Letters and the Patriot Act
We learned that the true number of the FBI's unilateral and secret NSL demands in 2004, the year before Bart Gellman's article was published, was over 56,000. That is, the government made over 56,000 secret demands for personal, private information about Americans using these powers expanded by the Patriot Act in one year. Not 30,000 as Gellman had estimated based on whistleblower information, which the Justice Department strongly attacked as inaccurate. The number reported in the press was not too big, It was too small!
The BBC is encrypting its HD signal by the back door
The corporation is set to betray licence-fee payers and the UK tech industry by caving in to Hollywood studios' demands
The federal ban on depictions of animal cruelty violates the right to free speech.
Internet Video Celebrity Caitlin Hill 04 (2007)
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Eben Moglen on SCO and the Legal Future of Free Software (2004)
Posted in FSF, GNU/Linux, Law, Microsoft, SCO, UNIX, Videos at 2:21 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: 2004 talk from Eben Moglen suddenly surfaces as video
THE following video was uploaded to YouTube only a few days ago (by "anonymousinsider") and it would be useful to have it as Ogg as well, for future reference. █
Groklaw Groks Mono, Miguel de Icaza, Microsoft, and More
Posted in GNU/Linux, Microsoft, Mono, Novell at 1:51 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Photo with permission from Jason
Summary: A counter article to Jason Perlow's post from ZDNet is finally published
THE previous post spoke about the "Microsoft hater" label, which conveniently annuls or crosses out any regular critic of Microsoft's practices, including Richard Stallman.
Recent attacks on Stallman [1, 2, 3] (some going back to July) were profoundly based on the assumption that for Stallman to be concerned about Microsoft is "irrational" and "sickly".
Groklaw has published this long article which defends Stallman from critics like Jason Perlow, who is in our IRC channel at the moment having fun with some graphics and banter (the image above is hopefully treated amicably, as Jason chose his favourite dinosaur, the velociraptor). There are also some good comments at Reddit (the Novell/Mono employees who hang out at Reddit must not have responded yet).
Anyway, here are some fragments from the very good analysis at Groklaw:
In short, Perlow attacked the man for something he didn't say. He never said not to use Mono. Nor is Mono even necessary for interoperability with Microsoft. I note Microsoft is letting Intel port Silverlight instead of Mono to Moblin. Surprise, Miguel. Ah, the joys and surprises of partnering with Microsoft. He will drink that cup to the full, no doubt, before this saga is done. Why would *you* want Silverlight on Moblin? I can't imagine one good reason, personally, but the fact that Intel and Microsoft want it to happen may even be part of what's behind the new push to tell us we must use both Windows and Linux and stop being so prissy about it. I note that in Perlow's article on how he can't live without Windows on the desktop, Why I Can Never Be Exclusive to Linux and Open Source on the Desktop,
I hate to burst people's bubbles, but it was just last week that Microsoft sold, or tried to sell, to patent trolls some 22 patents that could be used against Linux. Caught with its pants down when OIN ended up with them instead and told the world all about it, Microsoft quickly announced the Codeplex Foundation, which Perlow calls an open source nonprofit but which actually could more accurately be called Microsoft's Push-Mono-Down-Your-Throat foundation, now that Sam Ramji has announced that giving Mono more "credibility" is the goal. This is the star to guide you if you wish to be "pragmatic" and "compromise" also. I suggest you read Andy Updegrove's understated but — to me, hilarious — analysis of the legal structure of the Codeplex Foundation.
And I have a question for those who tell us we have to compromise and use both proprietary Microsoft software and FOSS. If the purpose of Open Source was nothing more than making money as a Microsoft partner, you tell me — what was it all for? Why not just use Microsoft software, then, and call it good? No. Really. What was FOSS developed for, if that is the end result, a Microsoft-FOSS fusion? Why even bother? The idea was to provide something better, an alternative, one that was totally free of proprietary restrictions, so that it would be you who control your own computer. And that is exactly what Microsoft can't ever offer you.
More obvious mistakes are being pointed out in the comments.
Addressing the real issue which is not the messenger but the promoter of Mono and Microsoft's CodePlex Foundation, well… he is not alone. Miguel is joined by colleagues who bring about "fusion" between Microsoft and Linux, to borrow the term used by Groklaw. Novell helps organise the .NET/Mono Code Camp, which is supported by Microsoft and Novell (and probably Microsoft's CodePlex Foundation). Also worth bearing in mind is Novell's role at the Linux Foundation. The key panel at LinuxCon was moderated by a Novell employee, whose role there has been a little problematic [1, 2]. There is also this:
Generating lots of interest from press, enthusiasts and attendees, LinuxCon touched on everything from what music best represents Linux to "Is Linux bloated?" – which sparked lots of opinions, including one from Novell's own Matt Richards.
Novell used that "bloated" debate which came from Novell's James Bottomley to market its SUSE Studio product (appliances programme). We wrote about this last week. █
If There is a "Microsoft Hater" Label, Should There Also be an "Apple Hater" Label?
Posted in Apple, Free/Libre Software, GNU/Linux, Microsoft at 12:44 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: Quick analysis of the increasingly-characteristic dismissal of valid criticisms using daemonising labels (and what it means to the Linux-hostile Apple, for instance)
EARLIER in the month we wrote about the "Microsoft Hater" label, which Jason now explains in a similar fashion (amongst other familar labels):
Microsoft Hatred
Picking up traction is the idea that "Microsoft Hatred" is driving Mono/Moonlight/CodePlex/Miguel criticism, and perhaps is even the real ideological foundation of the Free Software movement.
Of course, this is absurd and insulting, but I suppose I should take a moment to point out that RMS and the FSF also object to Apple, Amazon, DRM, and Software Patents. It is a very consistent and principled stand for end-user freedom and against those actors trying to control and restrict freedom. It just so happens that Microsoft is one of the largest offenders in this area. So they get a lot (but proportionately appropriate) amount of criticism.
Further the idea that objection and criticism == hatred is false. The intent is to discredit the critic by portraying is message as emotionally driven and irrational. But pointing out that some companies are working very hard to remove freedom through DRM, patents, proprietary formats, price dumping, illegal practices, bribery, vote-stacking, or other offensive practices is fact-based, rational, and grounded in documented evidence.
Boycott Novell actually criticises many companies other than Novell, including Amazon, Apple, McAfee, etc. Microsoft is just the most frequent offender against Free software because it's determined, fixated and hellbent on destroying freedom. One who plays fair might as well put on Microsoft the label "Freedom Hater" and describe Microsoft as pathological for that.
Another company that more quietly attacks Linux would have to be Apple. Its CEO rejected Linux despite its engineers' advice (they wanted to base the iPhone on Linux) and he must know very well the reason to be afraid of Linux, which is technically better than their UNIX and a lot cheaper too. So Apple uses dirty tricks against Linux phones like Palm's and here is the latest twist:
On Tuesday, a Palm spokeswoman confirmed to The Reg that "webOS 1.2 did not reestablish media sync with iTunes."
Palm and Apple have been playing hide the salami with iTunes syncing since the Pre shipped in June. First syncing was in, then it was out. Then in. Then out.
Slate Magazine, which has Microsoft roots, condemns Apple for it, summarising its case as follows: "Apple's hypocritical move to block competitors from accessing its software."
Michael Masnick agrees with the above.
No one's buying Apple hardware because it syncs with iTunes. They're buying it for many other reasons, and Apple can continue to compete on those. Blocking the Pre and other devices from accessing iTunes is petty and unnecessary.
Should the "Apple Hater" label be put into use too? Surely, that must be "irrational hatred", right? And the fault of "zealots" like Michael Masnick, who coined the term "Streisand effect" and typically defended rights and freedom. █
"We should design some of our extensions explicitly so that IBM can't run them under OS/2. We need to put real thinking into this."
–Bill Gates [PDF]
Google Cracks SharePoint and Office Lock-in, Microsoft Still Morbidly Obsessed with GNU/Linux
Posted in Formats, GNU/Linux, Google, Microsoft, OpenDocument, Red Hat, Servers at 12:07 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
"I'd put the Linux phenomenon really as threat No. 1."
–Steve Ballmer, 2001
Summary: Google creates more funnels to lead away from Microsoft software and formats/protocols; Microsoft takes aim at GNU/Linux
MANY migrations without permission seem to involve SharePoint, which is the most total Microsoft piece of lock-in, allegedly. There are some ways out however and another new one has just received coverage from Glyn Moody, who writes about a new Google Sites API.
Cracking Open the SharePoint Fortress
Assuming that I've not missed something here, this new Google Sites API seems pretty big to me: it offers a Get Out of Jail Free card to businesses that would otherwise find some of their content locked away in SharePoint. And once that data is liberated, there are plenty of open enterprise content management solutions out there that would be glad to accommodate it – without the lock-in, of course.
Here is some more new stuff from Google, which enables people to escape the Microsoft Office lock-in. [via Glyn Moody]
As interns on the Google Docs team this past summer, we were excited to be able to work on making Google Docs that much more useful for students like us. We've now added a bunch of back to school features which should help our fellow students make the transition from summer to school that much easier — and we hope they'll be useful to you non-students as well!
There is support for equations now. Since Docs adheres to OpenDocument format (ODF), it will interact nicely with other ODF-compliant software, maybe with the exception of Microsoft Office that does mathematics its own way, thus breaking interoperability [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7].
Without Free software, there would probably be no Google. Microsoft realises what's going on here, so its obsession with blocking GNU/Linux, the "most potent operating system competitor," promptly kicks in again.
Microsoft's server and tools business in the coming year will focus on gaining ground in the high-end database and server market, helping users transition to the cloud and extending its dominance over Linux, according to the division president.
What about UNIX? And if Steve Ballmer says that 60 percent of servers run GNU/Linux, why use the expression "extending its dominance over Linux"?
Is IDG trying to imply that GNU/Linux is behind, that Microsoft is dominant in servers, and that Microsoft is the one with the momentum? Based on the latest results from Red Hat, the most dominant player in the GNU/Linux servers area, their profit is up 37% despite a tough economy, whereas Microsoft's is down by over 30% for two consecutive quarters. It is very clear who has the momentum. Matt Asay has just published this post with the dramatic headline "Red Hat to collide with Microsoft," wherein he claims that:
For years, Red Hat has happily sold Linux to Unix shops anxious to save money at equivalent or better performance. During this time, the company largely avoided Microsoft, which has tended to compete much higher up the stack. No longer. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer argues that one of Microsoft's biggest opportunities lies in enterprise infrastructure and associated application development.
Red Hat, meet Redmond.
More recently, Red Hat told Microsoft to end the racketeering practices and also accused Microsoft of having patent trolls attack Red Hat [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. As a nice new essay recently stated in its headline, we should not blame Microsoft; "It's their nature," indeed. They just can't help acting like thugs. █
"We should whack them [Dell over Red Hat GNU/Linux dealings], we should make sure they understand our value."
–Paul Flessner, Microsoft
Microsoft Blames Vista 7 for Another Delay
Posted in Deception, Microsoft, Servers, Vista 7, Windows at 11:17 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Windows Home Data Toaster
Summary: The product responsible for deleting data rather than backing it up is again delayed (PP3) and the 'glorious' Vista 7 takes the blame
EVERYTHING that goes on at Microsoft these days must — absolutely must — have something to do with the overly hyped Vista 7. Even in the face of bad financial results, Microsoft keeps pointing at Vista 7 as though it is the saviour of the company. Mary Jo Foley plays along with the same talking points, as do others whom Microsoft pays in all sorts of ways.
As readers may recall, one of Microsoft's most disastrous products in recent years (probably worse than Vista) is Windows Home Server, whose defects we wrote about last year. Mary Jo Foley is currently getting across Microsoft's message that an update to Windows Home Server is delayed because of Vista 7, which makes little sense.
In a post to Microsoft's official Windows Home Server Blog, the team didn't offer many specifics as to why PP3 is late. The team said the PP3 update needs more testing to ensure quality.
That remark is priceless. Windows Home Server was shredding people's information silently but to make matters much, much worse, it took Microsoft almost a year to fix this huge defect — almost a year after it had been discovered and publicly reported. In the mean time, Microsoft carried on putting on the shelves a product which was guaranteed to put people's data at great risk, with no solution available whatsoever.
Why again do people distrust Microsoft? █
~100 Novell Employees to Work for Xerox
Posted in Deals, Novell at 10:48 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
"Hey, Steve, just because you broke into Xerox's store before I did and took the TV doesn't mean I can't go in later and steal the stereo."
–Bill Gates, Microsoft
Summary: Novell employees to become Xerox staff (outsourcing revisited)
XEROX has announced that it is buying ACS, which works closely with Novell in the sense that Novell employees are moved there.
Novell claimed that the exact number would be "156 Novell professionals" when it signed the agreement with ACS, but the following report from Utah claims that less than 100 "employees" are affected.
The deal comes just five months after ACS and Novell Inc.'s Provo office formed a strategic alliance in which ACS took over computer operations. Nearly 100 Novell employees went to work for ACS.
The following article provides some more background information about Novell and ACS.
Office equipment supplier Xerox Corporation is to buy Dallas based data center management and business process outsourcing firm Affiliated Computer Services in a cash and stock transaction valued at $6.4 billion.
In June this year Affiliated Computer Services said it would take over the running of Novell's data center operations in Provo, Utah as part of a global services deal which will see the outsourcer take Novell's data center products to market. Under the IT outsourcing arrangement, around 150 Novell data center staff will move to ACS, including the infrastructure and application development and maintenance services operations. ACS will also take over Novell's global SAP roll out by providing consulting and applications development and system integration services in a $135 million, five-year contract.
The above article speaks of "around 150 Novell data center staff." We have already explained the role of Novell offshoring in its cost-cutting moves. █
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