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If Novell intends to still support KDE on SuSE, they should say so quickly.

Well, they haven't made any such announcements, but there is this positive note in their press release:

"Novell is firmly committed to open standards and maintaining the existing open source kernel development efforts. From advocacy and development resources to events and support of open source efforts like kernel projects, XFree86, ReiserFS, KDE, GNOME and Mono, Novell stands side-by-side with the open source community."

They wouldn't have specifically mentioned KDE if they intended to kill it - well, I hope so anyway! Personally, I think they should give lots of support to freedesktop.org, and thus help out X, KDE and GNOME all at the same time...

Having read about Gates' describing Longhorn and then reading the OSDL announcement of Linux-2.6.0-test9 ready for big tests, I couldn't help noticing some differences in style.

Longhorn addresses some OS issues, but other parts of the press release talk about issues that would seem to me to belong at a higher level in the application area.

• fundamentals like security and scalability,
• new presentation technology that includes a rebuilding of Windows' graphics system,
• a new file storage system called WinFS that makes heavy use of XML, extensible markup language data, and
• new Web services and communications technology.

The first objective is great, the second and third are tolerable, and the last one makes little sense for an operating system. It's like an excuse to define a new technology because you own an old one.

"Agenda-Setting and Innovation are owned by us."

"This is what you're going to get (we'll tell you later how much you're going to pay.)"

The OSDL release announcement has much more of ringing tone of desperation:

"We need you testers. Our OS will be buggy without you."

I speak for myself, not for the excellent organisations of which I am a member, and quote from this article:

http://prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104& STORY=/www/story/09-30-2003/0002027026

People mistakenly refer to Linux as 'free' software because it can be freely altered and distributed. Yet while the software itself is free, the cost to maintain and upgrade it can become very expensive.

Tom, you've got that last bit completely bass-ackwards. Linux is not always free to purchase, but it is very rare for the ROI to be other than a big improvement on MS-Windows - which to cut through a lot of bulldust is what it would be replacing in Massachusetts.

I charge half as much again as a typical MS-Windows technician for my Linux work, and I'm so busy I have to turn people away because the Linux-based results are so much better than any proprietary ones they've ever seen.

The ROI results for OpenOffice.org, the office suite that MA will be replacing MS-Office with, are even more astounding. Fetch a copy of OpenOffice.org 1.1 yourself and try it out. Proper crash recovery, no viruses, scads of extra features including PDF and Flash output, and getting even better while you wait.

Both of these products are examples of one of the strongest forms of Open Source, the GPL or "Free (as in speech) Software".

It is ironic that Massachusetts, as the only state remaining in the lawsuit accusing Microsoft of antitrust violations, is creating its own state-imposed monopoly on software./

If it's a monopoly, you should be able to name the company or political force which is in control of it. Can you?

Not a hope! Open Source is not a brand, it is not a production line, it has no office, no secretariat, no board of directors, no legal department, no shares.

Open Source is people. Lots and lots of people. People combining their efforts and building on each other's work instead of hiding and WASTING it, or working to destroy each other as proprietary software makers so often do.

Massachusetts' actions will not form a monopoly, they will BREAK an existing, entrenched, CONVICTED monopoly. Microsoft and their lackeys claim to only want a level playing field, but on any modern playing field they are the 800lb gorilla and everyone else is a capuchin underfoot. Is that fair?

Should we stand back, as we have been doing, and let all of the corporate capuchins be crushed in the name of "free market"?

most studies conclude that acquisition costs represent only 5 to 10 percent of total cost of ownership. Maintenance, training and support are far more expensive with open source than proprietary software.

Go and have a look at who FUNDS those studies (and if not directly, then have a look at the organisation's biggest customer), and then have a little think about who the government WASTES most IT funding on.

Then go and read some real studies. Perhaps some which include the costs of fighting viruses and worms, perhaps some which count the cost of regular crashes, lost data and lost privacy. Not even the esoterica of trying to count the WASTE in re-invented wheels, a WASTE which CAGW seem particularly hostile to.

You've been duped, Tom Schatz, and the quicker you wake up to having been suckered, the less damage will be done - to you, and to those you oppose.

If you do not recant swiftly, you will be written off and backwatered as

Funny thing is a quote from CAGW is being served by none other then microsoft.com themselves. Odd situation here.. they are against wasting tax payer money so they stand with MS's fight against using open source in the government.

One of their press releases released last year looks very similar to the recent MA complaints. The president of CAGW seems to have somewhat good intentions as a whole, but does not seem to have enough knowledge of the commercial software industry to justify his postion on this issue. Saving taxpayers money is one thing and consistant with what CAGW stands for, the theory he has I quoted below is good, but his final conclusion on how this can actually save taxpayer money is very misguided and provides the opposite of what he is trying to point out. Spoon fed?

When purchasing software, the government should examine which
products are the most compatible, efficient, technologically advanced, and
cost-effective on the market. Purchasing source codes would provide no
inducement for software makers to become competitive and would hinder the
development of new products.

I wonder if he could explain what he means by that or who is he looking out for there.
Maybe someone should ask him how far in the future he is looking or if he is aware of Microsoft's save some now but pay later and forever method of licensing through "software assurance" and their long standing history of making sure just enough information is held back to make any true competition is hard to find. Add in the cost of getting everything MS so it works just right or to ensure compatibility and it looks much worse.

And Mandrake and Red Hat Enterprise (somewhere).

64-bit Windows beta is available via MSDN if you need Evil Empire compatability.

There's even a bootable CD of 64-bit America's Army. Linux based, of course.

Maybe good as a competitive move against IBM, but bad for Linux and good for SCO...

HP's Actions Support SCO's Position That Linux is not Free

Yay, HP! You've handed SCO an opportunity to spread more FUD. Do you think we'll be hearing from Ms. DiDio soon?

Gee, I wonder why IBM didn't do this.

"Member is responsible for the content and accuracy of all news copy and other information submitted by it. Because of the volume of information and copy submitted to PR Newswire, PR Newswire cannot be responsible for verifying any facts contained therein. Member represents and warrants to PR Newswire that (i) it has the right to deliver to PR Newswire all information and copy submitted to it, (ii) it will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and laws relating to "spam", and (iii) no information or copy submitted by Member will contain any content that is obscene, libelous, slanderous or otherwise defamatory, false or misleading or which violates any copyright, right of privacy or publicity or other right of any person. Member shall indemnify and hold harmless PR Newswire, its affiliated companies and its third party vendors, including distributors, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of or relating to any breach by Member of the foregoing representations and warranties or otherwise arising out of or relating to the contents or nature of copy and other information provided by Member.

(emphasis mine)

I suggest that Bruce and Eric file a complaint with PR Newswire that Darl and SCO are not complying with their terms and conditions.

"Member is responsible for the content and accuracy of all news copy and other information submitted by it. Because of the volume of information and copy submitted to PR Newswire, PR Newswire cannot be responsible for verifying any facts contained therein. Member represents and warrants to PR Newswire that (i) it has the right to deliver to PR Newswire all information and copy submitted to it, (ii) it will comply with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including but not limited to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 and laws relating to "spam", and (iii) no information or copy submitted by Member will contain any content that is obscene, libelous, slanderous or otherwise defamatory, false or misleading or which violates any copyright, right of privacy or publicity or other right of any person. Member shall indemnify and hold harmless PR Newswire, its affiliated companies and its third party vendors, including distributors, from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising out of or relating to any breach by Member of the foregoing representations and warranties or otherwise arising out of or relating to the contents or nature of copy and other information provided by Member.

(emphasis mine)

I suggest that Bruce and Eric file a complaint with PR Newswire that Darl and SCO are not complying with their terms and conditions.

It's only PR Newswire that keeps spreading SCOs shit around w/o rebuttals. But then again, that's what they're paid to do.

If you're not happy w. SCOs' fud, there's nothing stopping you from calling up your local news writers and giving them the low-down :-)

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/business/65 58801.htm

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT= SVBIZINK3.story&STORY=/www/story/08-18-2003/000200 2335&EDATE=MON+Aug+18+2003,+07:04+AM

dani++

To clarify for you:

PS2 worldwide figures: Asahi Shimbun (also contains Nintendo figures)
Xbox worldwide figures: MSFT 4th Quarter Earnings Report
Gamecube worldwide figures: Forbes from Reuters (at the bottom of the page). There are a few other pages quoting this figure as well.

PS2 US figures: NPDFunWorld
Xbox US figures: Unknown. Possibly the same as above?
Gamecube US figures: Guessed from estimate listed on AMO.NET Please note that this article does seem to be biased towards the Xbox, with multiple opinions to that effect. Nevertheless there is one good quote:

The real truth about these sales figures and future sales opportunities is that no single gaming system fan can be trusted with anything he or she has read regarding one system selling better, or performing better than the other.

They had such a pleasant time at the last one. I wonder if I should walk down to Moscone and see if they have a little booth. Maybe get a phamphlet and a discount on their exciting new license. If there's anything left of them...

Want to hear more details on the conspiracy and long term viability of Linux? Check out their conference call today:

Where: Toll Free within North America: 1-800-238-9007
International: 719-457-2622
Password to enter call: 274040

When: Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003
2:00 p.m. EDT, 11:00 a.m. PDT

I'm in Oshkosh, WI and I've had one for about 4 months now. Overall it's great, but there's little things that I wish they would iron out with a firmware upgrade. When you choose to record all episodes of a show it records all occurances, so you might record the same show 5 times in the same day if it's aired multiple times on multiple channels. It also has a tendency to crash once in a while and need to be factory reset. The AV inputs and the firewire connectors can't be used right now. But overall it's a great box, and well worth the money. I work 2nd shift and it lets me catch all the shows I miss during primetime and the ability to pause live tv is especially useful when my wife (seriously I have mod points and I got a wife) is feeling extra emotional. I work for Charter and I'm still waiting to see the DVR they have rolling out this fall in Minnesota.

How is he wrong?

I just bought a Pioneer A06 which is multiformat.

For those keeping count at home of the multiformat drives, that gives us Sony's dru500/510 series, Pioneer A06, TDK's indiDVD multiformat burner, and Memorex's dual format burner. Seems like most companies are jumping on the 'both' wagon.

Any journalist who can't tell the difference between a comma and a full stop needs their eyes checked...

• IPv6- The Next Generation Internet - About IPv6.
• IPv6 Forum
• IP Version 6 (IPv6) - IPv6 at Sun.
• No shortage of IP addresses - Cnet Asia
• Big players push IPv6, but masses resist.
• Ready for IPv6 - PC World
• Ready for IPv6, Part 2 - PC World
• Verio Brings IPv6 to North America
• NTT Com Expands IPv6 Coverage
• KDDI Labs Pilots IPv6 Network Between Japan and the US
• Foundry Does 10GigE for N+I
• Perspective: IPv6, the Net's next frontier

"This is an important victory for the Java community". See their rose-colored-glasses take on it here.

Here's some more info: Netflix Issued Patent on Subscription Rental Service and complete copy of the patent (PDF). You can also search for patent # 6584450 on the US Patent office website.

It better be covered by my company's Service Plus contract for 75 users. They already moved their programming and tech support to India!

Reading SCO's response to Novell is highly amusing. We concede all of your points, but we're going to keep going the way we have been. These guys need a reality check. But then so does their market cap.

is entering the market including Nokia and sony.

Sony's handheld is called the PSP.

Official Announcement here

Just thought people would like toknow

SCO Suspends Distribution of Linux Pending Intellectual Property Clarification;

Read it
here

America's Army gets an upgrade

Discusses America's Army servers now using AMD Opterons, very nice, also of note UT2k3 and CS are going to be running on this type of server as well.

Good quotes on getting people to port to Linux so that they can easily take advantage of 64bits or just recompiling what they already have.

My first /. post and I hit submit instead of preview. Please accept my sorries ...

PhatNoise product page

Press release

A more detailed summary is available here and this is the project web site.

Compared to proprietary systems such as Ai's HAL, Meaningful Machines Knowledge Engine, and Lobal Technologies LAD, EBLA is the only system to incorporate grounded/perceptual understanding of language.

Here

"D&M Holdings intends to keep all ReplayTV
customers and will design, manufacture and distribute a line of ReplayTV and
Rio products."

This is not bad nws

Silicon Valley Biz Ink is indicating that all current customers will be retained. Hopefully, it works out that way.

-- I

You must have missed the last State of the Union address where Bush said he wanted $1.2 Billion put towards developing fuel cell technologies. I know, I know, it isn't the same as the military budget, but it shows that he isn't ignoring the alternatives, as you implied. See it here: link.

I dunno why they posted this under "Ask Slashdot", but here's some more info:

DSLReports (forum)
DirecTV DSL (info for customers)
Press Release from Hughes (parent company of DirecTV)

Here's a related nVidia story about a commercial studio using Linux and nVidia

NVIDIA Quadro4 Professional Graphics Selected as the Standard at Digital Domain

Award-Winning Production Studio Integrates NVIDIA Quadro4 XGL Solutions And NVIDIA Linux Drivers Throughout Its Production Pipeline

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NVIDIA Corporation (Nasdaq: NVDA), the worldwide leader in visual processing solutions, today announced that its NVIDIA Quadro(R)4 graphics solutions and Linux drivers are now the standard at Digital Domain. One of the largest digital studios in the world, Digital Domain hosts an integrated production studio that includes divisions for feature film visual effects, commercial production, music videos, location-based entertainment and feature film development. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020613/NVDAL OGO ) "Like Digital Domain, we've founded our company with a mission to create world class visual imagery through the use of technology," said Dan Vivoli, vice president of marketing at NVIDIA. "To consistently produce great work, Digital Domain has to arm the best creative and technical teams with the best tools in the industry. NVIDIA provides them with the complete package -- graphics technology that exemplifies the standard of excellence Digital Domain embodies, and the level of technical and customer support they expect from a strategic technology partner." Digital Domain is transitioning all of its 2D and 3D production workstations to include NVIDIA Quadro4 XGL professional graphics solutions, NVIDIA's Unified Driver Architecture (UDA), and the Linux operating system. The company is also deploying NVIDIA Quadro4 graphics hardware and Linux software drivers in its software development, digital content creation studio and systems administration departments. NVIDIA's graphics solutions will be used to support every phase of commercial and feature film digital content creation-from the creation of 3D animation and effects to 2D compositing, painting and rotoscoping. In fact, NVIDIA Quadro4 graphics solutions are currently being applied to Digital Domain's visual effects work on two feature film projects, The Day After Tomorrow and Daredevil, as well as a multitude of commercials. In addition to standardizing on NVIDIA Quadro4 graphics solutions, Digital Domain and NVIDIA have completed extensive testing of Digital Domain's proprietary NUKE software on NVIDIA Quadro4 graphics hardware. NUKE is Digital Domain's Academy Award(R)-winning compositing software for the Microsoft(R) Windows(R), Linux and IRIX(R) operating systems, and it has been used on every feature film Digital Domain has worked on, including True Lies, Titanic and xXx. Digital Domain's new software subsidiary, D2 Software, Inc., will soon begin making NUKE commercially available, and when it does, the digital artist community can be assured that extensive testing has been done to ensure that it will operate flawlessly with NVIDIA Quadro4 professional graphics solutions. "What has distinguished NVIDIA most for us has been their customer service and their commitment to helping Digital Domain experience a smooth transition to Linux," said Michael Taylor, Vice President of the Digital Studio at Digital Domain. "We're also impressed with the quality of their Linux drivers and the level of cooperation we received to make sure that NUKE runs impeccably with their professional graphics hardware. We don't give praise lightly and we pick our technology partners with great care. NVIDIA has earned our business by providing outstanding graphics hardware, software and support that we can rely on."

About Digital Domain With its cutting-edge production pipeline, Digital Domain has established a world-class reputation for innovation and artistry, having received two Academy Awards(R) for What Dreams May Come and Titanic (the highest-grossing film in motion picture history), as well as two Technical Achievement Academy Awards(R) for proprietary software. Over the last nine years, the company's feature film division has produced visual effects for films that have generated over $4 billion dollars in worldwide box office receipts. In addition, the company's commercial division is widely considered the premiere visual effects studio in the advertising industry and has been awarded fourteen CLIO Awards, including a "Hall Of Fame" Award in 2001 for its Jeep Snow Covered spot. The company has also been honored with BAFTA Awards, numerous Gold Lions and a Grand Prix award from the Cannes International Advertising Festival, MTV Music Video Awards and a Grammy for Best Music Video.

About NVIDIA NVIDIA Corporation is a market leader in visual computing technology dedicated to creating products that enhance the interactive experience on consumer and professional computing platforms. Its graphics and communications processors have broad market reach and are incorporated into a wide variety of computing platforms, including consumer digital-media PCs, enterprise PCs, professional workstations, digital content creation systems, notebook PCs, military navigation systems and video games consoles. NVIDIA is headquartered in Santa Clara, California and employs more than 1,400 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.nvidia.com .

Certain statements in this press release, including the statements relating to the Company's performance expectations for NVIDIA's family of products and expectations of continued revenue growth, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, manufacturing and other delays relating to new products, difficulties in the fabrication process and dependence of the Company on third-party manufacturers, general industry trends including cyclical trends in the PC and semiconductor industries, the impact of competitive products and pricing alternatives, market acceptance of the Company's new products, and the Company's dependence on third-party developers and publishers. Investors are advised to read the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, particularly those sections entitled "Certain Business Risks," for a fuller discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties.

NOTE: All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice.

Make Your Opinion Count - Click Here http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X65343843

Olympus issued a press release about their new xD-Picture Card. Will be offered with capacities of up to 256MB this year, and 2 GB the next. It's only the size of a postage stamp and has adaptors for PC Cards and Compact Flash.

Which is great, assuming you don't swallow the expensive little bugger. Or need to write on it.

While I agree that relatively high-capacity solid-state flash media is the obvious choice to replace the venerable floppy (and the unreliable Zip), I have to take issue with A) The price and B) The physical size.

Firstly, floppies were great because you could just give them to people. Didn't need a computer with you or anything. Email has replaced floppies most of the really obvious matters, but the need for such media does come up every now and then, and burning CDs is a pain (not to mention non-reusable, another floppy advantage). But if they aren't dirt cheap, you're not going to be giving them away.

Secondly, these little cards are getting too damn small. Anything smaller than a stick of gum has no room to write on or read off, can't be held well with just your fingers, and is just begging to be lost. (From a design point of view, I think Sony's memory stick is superior to the alternatives). Olympus has been using the wafer-thin smartmedia cards for a while, and they have a marked tendency to break. Wonder how this new one will be .

sorry, the url got broken...
shold have been http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT= 104&STORY=/www/story/05-20-2002/0001731069&EDATE=

Their press release.

Here is the story on the GF4 Ti. Totally an option if you care to pay for it.

No link with this, but I am pretty sure that the last 2 Nvidia cards were first shown/announced at MacWorlds - at least the GF4 was.

The official press release is at: palm.

Definitely the perfect combo. Xybernaut and Microvision did make a collaborative announcement last year. I am hoping something will come of it.

"We have important things to say about this, but not now."

Apple is claiming soaring rates of QT adoption.

I think it is just because it is the only way to view the latest Star Wars and LOTR trailer. Personally that's the only reason I downloaded QT software.

• The technology and people from Be are highly regarded," said Carl Yankowski, Palm chief executive officer. "We look forward to them joining forces with our own outstanding engineers on future versions of the Palm OS. This move will help us expand the PalmOS platform into broader markets using their multimedia media and Internet expertise.

Incidentally, let's all hope that they drop the Newco moniker.

Let's see, Palm CEO announced this in June, the official press release came out in July, and it is only now hitting Slashdot?

Three fourths of News is New.

BeOS is pretty much dead since it was bought by Palm. Hopefully we will see elements of BeIA in some future Palm device.

Well, something like 98% of Palm's revenue comes from the sale of hardware, and what's left from PalmOS licensees. They did recently spin off a subsidiary to handle PalmOS and licensing it. Now Palm proper is just a hardware company.

Alan Kessler just left Palm (it was mentioned in the same press release as the Be buyout. Maybe JLG can take over that position (it's great timing), Kessler was in charge of the Platform Solutions Group (the OS).

Palm issued a Press Release this morning stating that they purchased Be for $12M. ...anactofgod...

Ack! I can just see Gasse on his knees pleading with Palm, "Please buy us! I'll even take it all in [gulp] stock!"

Also notice that the press release says that Palm is buying intellectual property only! Smart move. From the release, Be Inc will retain "rights and assets [which] include Be's cash (they have cash?) and cash equivalents, receivables, certain contractual rights, and rights to assert and bring certain claims and causes of action, including under antitrust laws." IOW, Be is probably going to file bankruptcy once the sale of the IP is complete.

And in news that maybe be related/unrelated, Alan Kessler, big-wig at Palm, will be leaving the company soon.

And in news that maybe be related/unrelated, Alan Kessler, big-wig at Palm, will be leaving the company soon.