January 4, 2013
by sjvn01
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No, Google is not making the Android SDK proprietary. What’s the fuss about?

Free Software Foundation Europe (FSFE) member Torsten Grote claims that Google’s “Android SDK [Software Development Kit] is now non-free software.“On Twitter, Grote summed up his position as “#Android SDK is no longer #FreeSoftware. Is #Google turning evil?“

Grote’s solution is not to drop Android. Rather, he suggests developers use “the truly Free Software version of Android called Replicant.”

The particular clauses that Grote seems to object to is the restrictions in the Android SDK license in section 3.3 and 3.4:

3.3 You may not use the SDK for any purpose not expressly permitted by this License Agreement. Except to the extent required by applicable third party licenses, you may not: (a) copy (except for backup purposes), modify, adapt, redistribute, decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, or create derivative works of the SDK or any part of the SDK; or (b) load any part of the SDK onto a mobile handset or any other hardware device except a personal computer, combine any part of the SDK with other software, or distribute any software or device incorporating a part of the SDK.

This clause applies to the SDK binary, not the SDK source code files, and it has been around for years. The SDK source code, like almost all of Android, is covered by the Apache Software License 2 (ASLv2).

No, Google is not making the Android SDK proprietary. What’s the fuss about? More >

January 3, 2013
by sjvn01
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The 5 things you need to know now about Ubuntu on phones

So, Canonical is bringing Ubuntu Linux to smartphones, but what does that really mean? I’ve seen a lot of confusion about this new offering, even from other Linux and device pros, so, here’s my quick guide to what’s what with Ubuntu on phones.

1) It’s Ubuntu, not Ubuntu for phones.

Yes, Canonical will be releasing Ubuntu for smartphones, but, unlike Microsoft with Windows RT for ARM-powered devices and Windows Windows Phone 8 for smartphones, there will be no separate version for each device. If all goes as planned when Ubuntu 14.04 rolls out in April 2014 one Ubuntu image will support smartphones, smart TVs, and computers.

2) You won’t be buying an Ubuntu phone anytime soon.

Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth said yesterday in the news conference announcing Ubuntu Linux on phones that the soonest it would arrive in late 2013 or 2014. I’m voting for 2014.

Don’t get me wrong. The technology will be there. The problem is getting the carriers on board.

The 5 things you need to know now about Ubuntu on phones. More >

January 2, 2013
by sjvn01
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The Web browser wars continue, and #1 is… well, that depends on whom you ask

In some ways, the “winner” of the top desktop browser wars doesn’t really matter. As end users, as long as we have a choice of Web browser, we can pick the one whose interface works for us. But browser numbers matter a lot more when you’re a software developer trying to understand who’s most likely to use your Web application – or to complain about it not working right. That’s especially true, too, when you support business users inside a company, since there’s just so many desktop configurations any sane sysadmin can maintain.

Which makes these two competing desktop Web browser market share reports all the more confounding.

If you buy Net Market Share’s desktop Web browser numbers, then in December 2012 Internet Explorer (IE) was still in first with 55% of the market with Firefox leading Google Chrome 20% to 18% for second place. But, if you put your faith in StatCounter‘s browser statistics, then Chrome ended 2012 as the top browser with 36% and IE is number two, 31%, with Firefox lagging behind at 22%. What’s going on here?

The Web browser wars continue, and #1 is… well, that depends on whom you ask. More >

January 2, 2013
by sjvn01
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Ubuntu Linux enters the smartphone wars

Instead of going after both the tablet and smartphone with a newly-improved touch-enabled version of Ubuntu Linux, Canonical will be focusing its efforts in 2013 on smartphones.

While the smartphone interface is clearly based on Ubuntu’s Unity interface, it’s not just the same old desktop shrunk down to a smartphone. According to Canonical, the smartphone Ubuntu will use “all four edges of the screen for a more immersive experience. Ubuntu uniquely gives handset OEMs and mobile operators the ability to converge phone, PC and thin client into a single enterprise superphone.”

“We expect Ubuntu to be popular in the enterprise market, enabling customers to provision a single secure device for all PC, thin client and phone functions. Ubuntu is already the most widely used Linux enterprise desktop, with customers in a wide range of sectors focused on security, cost and manageability” said Jane Silber, Canonical’s CEO in a statement. “We also see an opportunity in basic smartphones that are used for the phone, SMS, web and email, where Ubuntu outperforms thanks to its native core apps and stylish presentation.”

Ubuntu Linux enters the smartphone wars. More >

January 1, 2013
by sjvn01
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Canonical, Ubuntu Linux’s parent company, is hinting in big, bright letters that’s its about to release a fully touch-enabled version of Ubuntu Unity. The site’s banner headline now reads “So close, you can almost touch it.” with a clock counting down to 1 PM Eastern time, January 2nd. If this is indeed what Canonical is planning, can Ubuntu-powered tablet and smartphones be far behind?

Canonical has been planning to bring Ubuntu to tablets since it first introduced its controversial Unity interface in 2010. Then, in conversations with Mark Shuttleworth, Ubuntu’s founder, I was told that Unity was meant to be Ubuntu’s master interface for desktops, netbooks, and tablets.

At the time, while a tablet version of Ubuntu wasn’t in Canonical’s immediate plans, Jono Bacon, the Ubuntu Community Manager, told me that “all the pieces are in place to create an Ubuntu tablet.” Even then, before Unity was launched, I was shown the first baby steps to multi-touch Unity.

2013: The year of the Ubuntu Linux tablet and smartphone? More >

December 31, 2012
by sjvn01
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2013: Installing Linux on Windows 8 PC is still a pain

In security’s name, Microsoft has made it difficult to install Linux, or any other operating system, including older versions of Windows, on Windows 8 PCS. In addition, Microsoft has made it all but impossible to install Linux on Windows RT devices such as the Surface RT.

Microsoft has done this by adding a feature to UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface), the next generation of BIOS, called secure boot. Its avowed purpose is to prevent rootkits, malicious programs that run before the operating system boots, from running.

2013: Installing Linux on Windows 8 PC is still a pain. More >

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