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On the heels of their December release, the 13.02 release of the Genode multi-server microkernel OS framework continues to deliver major new features. Under the hood, there's support for the IOMMU, bringing safe bus master DMA to userspace drivers (overcoming one of the final advantages monolithic kernels had). They've also added full virtualization support, good enough to boot Linux as an application. In the cool department, they've added a new low latency audio interface that could very well pave the way for something akin to JACK, and right now provides a lightweight way for the system to beep at you in real time . A few more libraries have been ported (libssh, curl, iconv) in preparation for a port of git to the Noux native GNU runtime. There are also a bunch of other improvements to their NOVA microkernel, support for running on the Exynos 5250 and Freescale i.MX53, a new console multiplexer, improvements to the display server, simplification of the base libraries, and more. I'll be attempting to build it and give it a spin to see how well it works in practice sometime soon.

Norman Feske writes "The OS Group of Technische Universität Dresden (TUD:OS) has released a live demo CD of their custom operating system project. TUD:OS is a microkernel-based operating system targeted at secure and real-time systems. Some highlights of the demo CD include a new approach for securing graphical user interfaces called Nitpicker, multiple L4Linux kernels running at the same time on top of a custom L4 microkernel, a survey on the reuse of device drivers on the TUD:OS platform, native Qt-applications, the DOpE windowing system, games, and a lot more. More information is available at the demo CD website demo.tudos.org. And yes, there are screenshots, too!"

zib writes "Ever felt a need to peek under the hood of your Skype client? This paper (PDF) explains all the details. Among other issues, it focuses on the NAT capabilities of Skype and audio compression."

kid_wonder writes "Wired is running an article describing an answer to this previous /. story. Packets are sent through a network of randomly selected servers each of which knows only its predecessor and successor. Packets are unwrapped by a symmetric encryption key at each server that peels off one layer and reveals instructions for the next downstream node. As a 'connection-based low-latency anonymous communication system,' Tor seems to be the answer to JAP to allow anonymous networking activities of all kinds."

An anonymous reader asks: "Now that it has been a month since the University of Dresden's Java Anonymous Proxy was back-doored via court order, what is the status of forked projects? Have any universities or individuals in countries with more respect for freedom taken the initiative to provide a truly anonymous alternative? Could a Freenet/P2P type system, with plausible deniability, be developed from the remnants of the JAP program? I would be willing to operate a mix if I could restrict the bandwidth usage and use a SOCKS proxy for my P2P apps. Could a phoenix rise from the ashes of JAP which delivered a 1-2 punch to censorship and media conglomerate entrapment?"

'lonzo writes "Version 1.0 Fiasco, a GPL re-implementation of the L4 microkernel has recently been released. This microkernel is designed to be a flexible hardware abstraction layer rather than YetAnotherCloneOfUnix. Its 'mechanism not policy' design allows far more opportunities for *ghasp* innovation than any of the Unix clones. It also provides people with an alternative to the macrokernel design of Linux. Get your copy here. Linux has already been ported to this OS, get it here, and another port."

'lonzo writes "Version 1.0 Fiasco, a GPL re-implementation of the L4 microkernel has recently been released. This microkernel is designed to be a flexible hardware abstraction layer rather than YetAnotherCloneOfUnix. Its 'mechanism not policy' design allows far more opportunities for *ghasp* innovation than any of the Unix clones. It also provides people with an alternative to the macrokernel design of Linux. Get your copy here. Linux has already been ported to this OS, get it here, and another port."