Practical Technology

for practical people.

January 13, 2011
by sjvn01
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Google removing H.264 from Chrome does nothing to HMTL5

In some technology circles, you’d think Google was proposing throwing cats into a wood-chipper from the way some people are reacting to Google’s announcement that it was focusing its support on its own open VP8/WebM and Theora video codecs, and dropping support for H.264. This is not a step back for openness; any kind of new road-block for HTML5; nor is it going to ruin the Chrome browser. It’s just another chapter in the Web’s video standard wars.

Let’s start from the top: How can Google’s move be a step back for openness when both WebM and Theora are the only video codecs that actually are open source? H.264 while extremely popular is a proprietary format and its encumbered by patents held by MPEG LA, a patent holding company. Historically, MPEG LA hasn’t charged much for the use of H.264, but who’s to say that MPEG LA is always going to stay that generous?

Ed Bott thinks that Google may be moving into possible patent troubles by relying VP8/WebM. He’s right. Of course, they are. Welcome to technology post Bilski.

Today, as the patent lawsuit madness surrounding smartphones shows, technology innovation is starting to take a backseat to patent litigation. Even the open-source favorite Theora isn’t completely clear of patent issues.

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January 12, 2011
by sjvn01
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World IPv6 Day has Facebook, Google & Yahoo Support

Yes, we all know we need to convert our networks and Web sites over to IPv6, but no one wants to be the first. Well, now the Internet Society, the non-profit organization supporting Internet standards, education, and policy-making, is trying to solve the problem for us by getting many major Internet Web powers such as Facebook, Google, and Yahoo! and important content delivery network (CDN) providers, including Akamai and Limelight Network to use IPv6 on June 8, 2011.

According to The Internet Society, “The goal of the Test Drive Day is to motivate organizations across the industry – Internet service providers, hardware makers, operating system vendors and web companies – to prepare their services for IPv6 to ensure a successful transition as IPv4 addresses run out.”

Today, only a few Web sites, ISPs, and CDNs support IPv6. Martin Levy, director of IPv6 strategy for Hurricane Electric, an IPv6 specialist that provides ISP backbone and co-location services, said today that there are only a handful of sites and CDNs that support IPv6. These include Google; Netflix, to a degree; Germany’s Heise Online; Facebook at ipv6.facebook.com; and Limelight.

Specifically, the Society hopes World IPv6 Day will “expose potential issues under controlled conditions and address them as soon as possible.

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January 11, 2011
by sjvn01
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CPTN Holdings is still trying to buy Novell’s patents

When I first read a story that CPTN Holdings-a Microsoft-led group that also includes Apple, EMC, and Oracle–was no longer in the running to buy 882 of Novell’s patents, I knew the story couldn’t be right. Yes, the Open Source Initiative (OSI) had protested against the patent deal to the German Federal Cartel Office, but just because CPTN has withdrawn a filing to the Office didn’t mean that CPTN was giving up on the deal. Far from it.

I suspected that since Attachmate’s acquisition of Novell has been delayed by Attachmate needing more funds to seal the deal and Novell had to re-set the acquisition clock thanks to the Christmas holidays, that the closely-associated CPTN deal had run into similar problems. I was right.

Sources close to Novell told me that was indeed the case. The CPTN group will be re-filing to obtain the patents. Their plans haven’t changed a bit. A Microsoft representative confirmed that CPTN was still planning on buying the patents. The PR rep said, “This is a purely procedural step necessary to provide time to allow for review of the proposed transaction.”

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January 11, 2011
by sjvn01
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Android vs. iPhone: The GPL Question

Well, now we know. You can’t sell software using the General Public License (GPL) on the Apple App Store& because it conflicts with its Terms of Service (ToS) . The popular VLC media player, was the first major GPLed software to be pulled from Apple’s App Store, it won’t be the last. But, what about Google’s Android Market? I asked the experts and they tell me that, in general, GPL developers can offer their wares on Android.

I asked Columbia Law School professor Eben Moglen and head of the Software Freedom Law Center (SFLC) about whether GPLv3 programs, as well software like VLC, which is under the GPLv2, would be restricted from Apple’s App Store, and he replied, “Yes. The problem isn’t in the license terms. The problem is that the Apple App Store ToS for people wanting to distribute through it require that each app sold (even at price zero) must be licensed for use on a single device only. Permissively-licensed FOSS can be transacted for in the App Store, because its license can be replaced by single- device-only terms. Copylefted software can’t be un-freely relicensed, so it can’t be transacted for there under Apple’s current ToS.”


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January 10, 2011
by sjvn01
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Real Help for your Network’s IPv6 Transition

The Internet’s IPv4 clock keeps ticking down. As Robert Cannon, the FCC’s senior counsel for Internet law, observed recently, “The original [Internet] address space, IPv4, is nearly exhausted.” He’s so right.

Still, I’ll bet most of you are still scared to death of having to learn IPv6, never mind actually deploying it. I know I would be if I were an overworked network administrator. Fortunately, there is help.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has just released Guidelines for the Secure Deployment of IPv6 (PDF Link). This is an excellent and free 188 page guide to IPv6.

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January 10, 2011
by sjvn01
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Black Duck gets Bigger

When Black Duck Software started in the early 2000s, its mission was to reassure companies that there was no real legal risk in using open-source software, despite SCO crying wolf. That was then. This is now. Today, Black Duck is becoming a one-stop, open-source business advisor for organizations, government bodies, and businesses. The company took a big step forward in doing this by acquiring The Olliance Group, a privately-held, open-source business and strategy consulting firm.

This acquisition, Black Duck’s third in a matter of months, expands the company’s offerings to include open-source business and strategy consulting services to help its enterprise IT clients capitalize on the significant strategic, technological, and financial benefits of open-source software. Black Duck acquisitions include Koders.com, an open-source code search engine, best known for its Ruby resources; Ohloh.net, a popular directory of open-source software and a vibrant Web community; and SpikeSource, a software tools and services provider.

Olliance Group, while it will be wholly owned by Black Duck, will remain an independent business within the company. Andrew Aitken, Founder of the Olliance Group, and Greg Olsen, Senior Partner, will join Black Duck. Aitken will serve as General Manager of the Olliance Group business unit, and also will continue to independently organize and manage the Open Source Think Tank, a commercial open-source industry conference.

Black Duck plans to take a hands off approach to Olliance.

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