News
What’s Going On With Red Hat Desktop Systems? An Update
Red Hat is well known as a supplier of server systems, so the latest developments with our desktop products and technologies sometimes find themselves in the shade. It’s time for an update on the current state of the desktop at Red Hat.
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The iPhone SDK and free software: not a match
Apple's recently released a software development kit (SDK) for the iPhone, but if you were hoping to port or develop original open source software with it, the news isn't good. Code signing and nondisclosure conditions make free software a no-go.
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Just announced: MySQL to launch new features only in MySQL Enterprise
MySQL will start offering some features (specifically ones related to online backups) only in MySQL Enterprise. This represents a substantive change to their development model — previously they have been developing features in both MySQL Community and MySQL Enterprise. However, with a shift to offering some features only in MySQL Enterprise, this means a shift to development of those features occurring (and thus code being tested) only in MySQL Enterprise.
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Exclusive: Google App Engine ported to Amazon's EC2
One of the biggest criticisms of Google's App Engine have been cries of lock-in, that the applications developed for the platform won't be portable to any other service. This morning, Chris Anderson, the Portland-based cofounder of the Grabb.it MP3 blog service, just released AppDrop — an elegant hack proving that's not true.
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Sun Tackles Video Codec
Looking to boost the Web, Sun is working on a royalty-free and open video codec and media system, company officials said Thursday afternoon.
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Harvard starts teaching open source
It's about time that United States elite academic institutions finally got around to not only using open-source software, but also teaching it. In the April 2008 edition of Harvard Business Review, Harvard gives its MBA students a taste of the decision facing every company that leverages technology as part of its business (namely, everyone):
Should I embrace or fight open source?
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Google shares its security secrets
Google is offering security professionals a look into its security systems..
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Microsoft gets a new open-source chief
Sam Ramji just got a promotion: Sam will now be running Microsoft's worldwide open-source and Linux team (roughly 120 people and counting).
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Google gives Web developers a leg up with App Engine
Looks to make it easier for more people to get started developing, and to scale their apps.
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Red Hat Asks Federal Court To Limit Patents On Software
Today, Red Hat took a public stand challenging the standards for patenting software
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Microsoft gets a new open-source chief
Sam Ramji just got a promotion: Sam will now be running Microsoft's worldwide open-source and Linux team (roughly 120 people and counting).
Sam had been the director of Microsoft's open-source software lab. In this new role, he'll continue to oversee the lab but also take on a more strategic role within the company (and, by extension, within the industry).
I've known Sam for a few years now, and both like and respect him. We've had enough disagreements for me to know that while he's an active open-source proponent, he's not easily swayed by anemic reasoning (for or against Microsoft). He's a guy who recently told me that he has run Office 2003 and World of Warcraft on CrossOver (WINE) on Ubuntu (verdict: performance "not too bad"). He has an open-source-friendly background.
Sam's promotion is good for Microsoft. It's also good for open source, as I see him as a credible, earnest advocate for open source within Microsoft. He has earned his stripes within commercial and community-based open-source projects. I've heard some of open source's oldest advocates praise his name.