October 11, 2007
by sjvn01
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Linspire 6.0 desktop Linux released

A bit later than expected, the troubled Linux distributor Linspire finally released the next version of its commercial desktop Linux: Linspire 6.0.

This is Linspire’s first commercial release in more than two years. Like its earlier versions, Linspire 6.0 continues to focus on ease of use and bundles proprietary software where there are no viable open-source alternatives, providing improved hardware, file type and multimedia support, such as MP3, Real, Java, Flash, ATI, nVidia, Wi-Fi, and many others. This distribution is also the first commercial Linux release to incorporate Microsoft technologies. These include Windows Media, True Type Fonts and Open XML translator. These enable OpenOffice users to open and edit Microsoft Word .docx, and Open XML-formatted documents.
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October 5, 2007
by sjvn01
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How dumb are HDTV Customers?

So, how dumb is the typical would-be HDTV customer? According to a recent Best Buy survey, the answer is somewhere between Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

To be exact, in Best Buy‘s telephone survey of 1,012 customers, the company found 89% of those surveyed felt that they don’t completely understand HDTV (high-definition television) technology. That self-estimate may have been on the high-side.

You see, nearly four in ten consumers–39%–didn’t even know that you needed an HDTV to watch HDTV. In my head I now have this image of someone who paid over a grand for one of the first generation HD-DVD players watching The Bourne Identity on a 19″ SDTV (standard-definition television) and telling themselves how great it looks. The true horror is that I am absolutely sure that there are people doing that

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October 4, 2007
by sjvn01
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New openSUSE arrives

On Oct. 4, Novell released openSUSE 10.3, the newest version of its popular community Linux distribution. This version of openSUSE includes a flexible Linux-Windows dual-boot configuration, improved user interface, Microsoft Office file compatibility with the latest OpenOffice.org office productivity suite and enhanced multimedia support.

“The openSUSE community continues to deliver innovations and has created a new version of openSUSE that will excite a wide range of computer users,” said Andreas Jaeger, director of the openSUSE project, in a statement. “OpenSUSE 10.3 provides a stable and state-of-the-art operating system based on Linux kernel 2.6.22, and it contains a large variety of the latest open-source applications for desktops, servers and application development.”

At openSUSE 10.3’s core, you’ll find the 2.6.22.5 Linux kernel. This supports the newest versions of the GNOME and KDE desktop environments, including a KDE 4 preview, for the desktop interface. Specifically, openSUSE comes with GNOME 2.20 and KDE 3.5.7.

GNOME users, who’ve had to put up with a YaST system management tool that didn’t look or feel like a GNOME application, will be pleased by the new GTK version of YaST. Now all of openSUSE’s GNOME controls will have the same look.

If you have a graphics card with some 3-D power in it, you can also install the Compiz 0.54 3-D desktop. And you can download and install Compiz Fusion, a program that adds extra features from the now deceased Beryl project, and Compiz Extras, a set of additional features, to Compiz.

Historically, the SUSE distributions have included everything including the kitchen sink when it comes to the latest Linux software. This distribution continues that tradition. If it happens that the program you want somehow isn’t already in the distribution, with openSUSE’s new One Click Install, you can quickly grab it.

The name, One Click Install, is a bit misleading. What it really is, is one click to a wizard that automatically finds the program you want on the Web-based file repositories and guides you through its installation. It is, however, still a great help.

With One Click Install, you no longer need to jump through the hoops of finding a program and then adding such repositories as the Packman project, Guru’s RPM site and of openSUSE’s own Build Service to install less common programs. While not as easy to use as Freespire or as Linspire’s still-alpha CNR service will be in the future, it’s certainly a giant step forward in software installation for openSUSE users.

OpenSUSE 10.3 also now includes MP3 support out of the box for Banshee and Amarok, which are the default media players in openSUSE. Since Freespire broke the unspoken Linux distribution rule of not including proprietary software, or easy access to such programs, other distributions have been making it easy to get to proprietary device drivers and media codices. Now, openSUSE is joining the practical over idealistic distributions.

With One Click Install, openSUSE users can choose to install what Novell calls Restricted Format software. These proprietary programs and drivers include Adobe Flash, Sun Java, MP3 support, the ability to play encrypted DVD, and codex for DivX, Xvid and the WMP (Windows Media Codices).

For desktop users, openSUSE is one of the first distributions to include the latest
OpenOffice.org 2.3 office suite. This Novell version includes Novell and Microsoft work toward making it easier for OpenOffice users to share files with Microsoft Office users.

OpenSUSE 10.3 also now includes MP3 support out of the box for Banshee 0.13.1 and Amarok 1.4.7, which are openSUSE’s default media players.

For instant messaging, openSUSE includes Pidgin. This renamed version of the Gaim IM client has been troubled by memory leaks, but recent versions, such as the one used in openSUSE, Pidgin 2.2.1, have addressed many of these memory issues.

OpenSUSE has also moved its default e-mail and groupware client, Evolution, up to the latest version, Evolution 2.12. This is a significant upgrade to an already excellent e-mail program. For example, it includes a new bogofilter spam plug-in that works with SpamAssassin for improved spam detection and destruction and stunning performance improvements to the Exchange Connector. This program enables you to use Evolution as a Microsoft Exchange client. While it’s worked decently for some time, no one would ever mistake it for a fast program, until now. Exchange file folder loading has gone from minutes to microseconds.

If you’re an Evolution user, like I am, this feature alone is enough reason to upgrade or switch to openSUSE 10.3.

OpenSUSE includes the newest version of Novell AppArmor. This program protects your Linux operating system and applications from attacks and malicious applications. While other programs, such as SELinux, provide essentially the same functionality, I’ve found AppArmor to be far easier to administer.

The distribution also includes the latest virtualization programs such as Xen 3.1, KVM and the increasingly popular VirtualBox 1.5. If you have the RAM for virtualization, openSUSE has the tools you need to give it a try.

For server users, openSUSE includes all the usual LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP/Python/Perl) servers and tools you’ll need. Another small, but nice, addition is that you can now use YaST You to configure disk quotas and rules for user accounts from within YaST.

OpenSUSE 10.3 is now available for free download from the openSUSE download site. The distribution is available for 32-bit, PowerPC and most 64-bit CPU-powered computers.

You can download openSUSE in several ways. For those with broadband, there’s a 4.1GB DVD ISO image. You can also download it as a CD with the base operating system for either GNOME or KDE. After that, you then add additional software using One Click Install. You can also download a mini-CD (73MB). With this option, which is recommended for experts, you boot your system with the CD and then download everything else you need piecemeal off the Net. You can use BitTorrent, ftp or HTTP for your downloads.

You can also get the distribution on DVDs along with a comprehensive user manual and 90 days of installation support for a $59.95 retail edition at the Novell sales site. In addition, it will be available soon from retail outlets and Novell resellers.

October 3, 2007
by sjvn01
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Microsoft’s Open-Source Trap for Mono

Microsoft is claiming that releasing the .NET Framework reference source code under the Microsoft Reference License will give developers the opportunity to understand more about .NET.

That sounds good for open source, doesnt it? Wrong! Microsofts so-called opening up of .NET Framework is setting a trap for open-source programmers. Open-source developers should avoid this code at all costs.

You see, as Scott Guthrie, general manager of the Microsoft .Net Framework in Microsofts Developer Division, himself explains, the Microsoft Reference License allows viewing of source code, but not modification or redistribution. The source code will be downloadable and viewable by anyone who accepts the license agreement. This is another step in Microsofts Shared Source Initiative attempt to confuse people on what open source is, and isnt.

Microsoft had the sheer gall to submit two of its Shared Source Licenses to the OSI (Open Source Initiative) for approval as an open-source license. Fortunately, the OSI shows no signs of agreeing that these are in any way, shape or form open-source licenses. In particular, the Microsoft Permissive License is unlikely to be approved, according to Michael Tiemann, the president of OSI.

In licensing circles, theyre arguing over Microsofts language. Though with this .NET Framework move, we can see Microsoft poisoning open source in action.

The key is that Microsoft will let you look at the code but you cant use it in your own programs or modify it and use in your software. Now, theres already a set of open-source programs, Mono, that let you develop and run .NET client and server applications on Linux, Solaris, Mac OS X, Windows and Unix.

Mono is sponsored by Novell. Its led by noted open-source developer Miguel de Icaza. The Mono code is covered by three different real open-source licenses. The C# Compiler and tools are released under the terms of the GPLv2 (GNU General Public License); the runtime libraries are under the LGPL 2.0 (GNU Library GPL 2); and the class libraries are released under the terms of the MIT 11 license.

Thanks to Mono, we now have the popular Linux programs such as the Banshee music player, Beagle search tool and F-spot photography program. With Mono, you can also now run Visual Basic programs on Linux. Mono is also working on porting Microsofts Silverlight 1.0, a cross-browser, cross-platform plug-in for delivering richer Web user experiences in a project called Moonlight.

All of these programs are now in danger from Microsoft.

I know, I know, if you just look at the headline, the executive summary, “Microsoft opens up .NET,” it sounds great for Mono open-source developers. Its actually a death trap for Mono.

Lets say a year from now, Microsoft does a SCO. They claim that Mono contains code that was stolen from the .NET Framework reference source code. They point at their code, they point at the license, and sure enough, theres similar code. After all, both projects are implementing .NET; there will almost certainly be lines of code that looks alike.

Better still, from Microsofts point of view, all they need to do is find one Mono programmer who has signed the license to look at the .NET Framework reference source code. With that “proof,” theyll claim theyve found their smoking gun. SCO failed in its attempts because it never did have any evidence that there was Unix code in Linux.

Microsoft, however, is baiting its trap for Mono programmers with .NET cheese. Theyll claim, come that day, about how open it was in letting people look, but not touch, their code. With the combination of “proof” that some Mono code has been stolen from Microsoft and its attempt to muddy the waters about what open source really means, it can look forward to having a much better chance of killing off an open-source project than SCO ever had with Linux

If you ever, and I mean ever, want to write open-source code, I recommend you not come within a mile of Microsofts .NET Framework code or any other similar projects that the boys from Redmond “open” up.

If you do, youre nibbling on the cheese of a trap that will eventually snap shut on you and kill up your program and quite possibly your job and finances.

A version of this story first appeared in eWEEK.

October 1, 2007
by sjvn01
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The Return of the Microsoft Media Connectors

Here we go again. After falling on its face the first time around with Media Extenders, Microsoft is ready to tackle the Apple TV with a new set of Windows Media Extenders.

This time around there are three companies offering extenders. These are Linksys with the Media Center Extender with DVD Player (DMA2200) that combines an upscaling DVD player with a dual-band Wireless-N Extender for Windows Media Center. Linksys will also offer the Media Center Extender (DMA2100), which doesn’t include a DBD player and has a smaller device footprint. These are scheduled to go on sale in the U.S. this November at estimated street prices of $349.99 and $299.99, respectively.

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September 28, 2007
by sjvn01
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Night of the Living Vista

Today, I think of Vista as the zombie operating system. It stumbles around, and from a distance you might think its alive, but close up its the walking dead.

The first sign that Vista was in real trouble was when major vendors started to offer XP again on new machines. In February, Microsoft insisted it had already sold more than 20 million copies of Windows Vista. Oh yeah, like there were actually 20 million copies of Vista already out there and running. Pull the other leg, its got bells on.

If Vista was doing great, then why did Dell break ranks with the other major OEMs to start offering XP again and
become the first top-tier vendor to offer XP in replacement for Vista in April? Adding insult to injury, Dell
actually had the effrontery to offer desktop Linux to its customers.

Other OEMs followed Dells lead, or to be more precise, its customers demands. Lenovo, for example, when it rolled out its revamped high-end ThinkPad T61p workstation notebooks in July, made a point of offering not just Vista but XP Pro and, yes, several Linux distributions, including Novells SUSE, Red Hat and Turbo Linux.

So it came as no surprise at all to me when Mike Nash, Microsofts corporate vice president for Windows product management, announced that, due to OEM demand, Microsoft will keep selling XP until June 2008. Of course, he also claims there is little chance the June 30 date will be extended.

Want to bet?

Nash and Microsoft apologist Rob Enderle claim that its no fault with Vista thats causing customers to stay away from it. Indeed, Nash insists that Vista is on track to become the fastest-selling operating system of all time. Really? Then why in the world is Microsoft continuing to offer in-house competition?

At the same time, Enderle, an analyst who counts Microsoft as a customer, said, “Vista adoption is well below where I thought it would be by now…Corporations arent even close to being ready for Vista, and many of us have been expecting this move. The biggest issue is that most dont seem to see the value in the product. Right now the majority of the comments Im getting would indicate the people [who] dont want Vista right now are in the majority.”

Enderle, mind you, is about as pro-Microsoft an analyst there is in the business today. If hes saying that people dont want Vista, and the OEMs, which at the end of the day are all about selling units, dont want to sell it, the only conclusion you can come to is that Vista is failing to win the market.

There are many reasons why Vista is doing the zombie stumble. Microsoft has and continues to mislead
customers about how much PC is really needed to run Vista. Even some of Windows most loyal users are finding that its poor performance, lousy software support and pathetic driver support is too much to stomach. People who wouldnt touch any Microsoft product until the first service patch appears. And, last but never ever least, if XP isnt broke, why “fix” it with Vista?

Now you might think some of this is legacy backlash. People dont like change. Theyd rather use Windows 2000 than XP, Windows 98 SE than 2000,and Windows ME more than…well, OK, no one liked ME. But Ive been through these cycles many times before. This is different.

XP SP2, with XP SP3 finally due to show up soon, is not only the best Windows to date, I cant think of a single reason to switch from XP to Vista. Im not talking a good reason, I really mean any reason.

If you want a better operating system than XP, may I recommend Xandros as the most painless way for an XP user to give Linux a try, or if the idea of installing Linux gives you hives, you can just buy an Ubuntu-powered Dell 1420 laptop, which is a very sweet machine. Or just bite the bullet and go ahead and buy, say, the new MacBook Pro 15-inch to give Mac OS a try.

Whatever you do, even if its just sticking with XP, youll be doing better than moving to Vista. Vista is the walking dead of the operating-system world.

A version of “Night of the Living Vista” was first published in eWEEK.

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