Submitted by admin on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 20:57
Here are some tidbits from the open source world that might be of interest...
- Sun makes Java open source. This is a big one. A few components (like the compiler javac, and others) have been open sourced under the GPL, with the rest of the SDK to follow next year. Find details at the Open JDK Project.
- Make has a kit for an open source mp3 player. Yes, open source hardware. Cool!
- This is old news, but I'm finally getting to understand it. Some really big 800-pound gorillas (Microsoft and Oracle) are bullying their way into the open source sandbox. The Oracle issue is much more straightforward - Oracle unveils 'unbreakable Linux' - providing support for Linux that severely undercuts Red Hat's support prices. There are some interesting theories afloat about this one (a ploy to then do a hostile takeover of Red Hat?) The second was the deal with Microsoft and Novell. Basically, they have agreed to collaborate on technologies and support. Here's the kicker. Novell is paying Microsoft basically protection money. Microsoft agrees to give Novell customers indemnity against any patent or IP challenges. Eben Moglen thinks that this deal will be dead in the water because of the GPL 3.0. I'm not so sure, since no software project has to choose to adopt 3.0. It does mean that there will be a lot to watch in the next year or so.
- After you camp out, and fend off the violent hordes to get your Sony Playstation 3 - you can boot linux on it.
- Watch this documetary on Net Neutrality
