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Linux founder says OS is bloated
"Huge and scary" 22 September 2009 11:20 GMT
Linus Torvals, the creator of the Linux kernel and therefore the founder of the open-source OS, has claimed that the operating system that he birthed has become "bloated", labelling it "huge and scary now".

As a result of its success and more widespread adoption,...
Android games console revealed
ODROID handheld coming soon? 2 September 2009 9:31 GMT
A company called Hardkernal has released info on a new handheld console that will be running Google's Android OS.

Called the ODROID, it appears a little cluttered in that it features three sets of buttons, although it is powered by the same CPU as the iPhone...
BBC wants your help in making open source documentary
All about the web 19 August 2009 19:28 GMT
The BBC is to embark on an ambitious project to make an open source documentary about the web.

Currently called Digital Revolution, the mini series of four programmes will be a crowdsourced documentary due for transmission on BBC in 2010 that will look at the...
Linux Foundation launches credit card
Fund-raising plastic 28 July 2009 10:29 GMT
Open Source software devotees in the States can now help the Linux cause "by carrying Tux in their pockets".

The Linux Foundation, the non-profit organisation that supports the growth of the OS, has announced the launch of a credit card that will see money going...
One-second Linux boot demonstrated
Super speedy 15 July 2009 9:32 GMT
Boot times for operating systems are given a lot of attention when a new one is released. When the Windows 7 beta appeared, much was made of its sub-30 second boot time. However, a Linux build has appeared which claims to boot in one second.

It's been produced...
Daily Tech Deal: Extra value PC from Ebuyer
Money saving deals, offers and innovations 14 July 2009 13:37 GMT
For today's tech deal we have an "extra value" desktop PC from Ebuyer.com selling for £219.86.

Coming with an Intel Dual Core E5300 processor, 4GB DDR2 800Mhz RAM and 500GB hard drive, what it doesn't come with is an operating system.

For some...
VIDEO: Dell shows 10v netbook running Cupcake Android
"It is possible... it runs fairly nicely" 20 May 2009 12:57 GMT
As well as an Ubuntu "Netbook Remix" model, Dell has shown off its new Mini 10v netbook running the Cupcake version of Android.

Sadly for fans of the Google made mobile operating system, the Dell bod in the video says there are no product plans for such a model,...
Chumby launches in the UK
Widget-loving squishy internet device finally available 22 April 2009 12:14 GMT
Chumby has been launched in the UK. The internet-connected device, popular in the States, is now available to be shipped to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

For those that don't know, chumby is a sort of hackable, Wi-Fi-enabled, widget-happy,...
VIDEO: "I'm Linux" winning video revealed
"Get your freedom" 14 April 2009 16:10 GMT
The winner of the Linux Foundation's competition to create a video to showcase their take on "I'm Linux" (in 60 seconds or less) has been revealed.

Amitay Tweeto, a 25-year-old graphic designer from Israel wins a trip to Tokyo to participate in the Linux Foundation's...
Government plans to use more open source software
New guidelines suggest avoiding proprietary offerings 25 February 2009 17:24 GMT
The UK government has said it is to implement plans to accelerate the take-up and use open source software within the country's public services.

In a move that some in the open source industry suggest could save the government around £600 million a year, under...
Unix clock to strike 1234567890
We're gonna party like all ten decimal digits are in sequence 13 February 2009 17:36 GMT
At 11:31:30pm tonight champagne corks will be popping as the ten-digit clock used by Unix computers will display all ten decimal digits in sequence.

The 1234567890 milestone is due to be celebrated by Unix-lovers around the world with parties planned from "London...
"I'm Linux" video competition launched
Open source OS to get home-grown video campaign 29 December 2008 12:57 GMT
The Linux Foundation has announced a contest that will see fans of the open source operating system create "I'm a PC/Get a Mac" type videos.

The Foundation, acknowledging they can't spend millions promoting Linux on TV - "it's simply not our style (or in our...
Survey says 85% of companies using Open Source software
And remainder will do so within a year 18 November 2008 10:12 GMT
According to the analysts at Gartner, a whooping 85% of some of the world's top companies are using Open Source software.

And the remainder are planning on moving across within the next year.

The findings come after a survey of 274 end-user organisations...
OpenOffice 3 released
Now Mac OS X compatible 13 October 2008 12:40 GMT
Following 3 years of "continuous improvement", OpenOffice.org has now been released as the "landmark" version 3.0, with a host of new features.

The release includes the basic components of the open source productivity software, which include word processor,...
Landmark legal victory for open source developers
Win the right to copyright protection 15 August 2008 16:54 GMT
Open Source software may be given away for free but its developers have been fighting for legal protection for their creations.

And they have now won a landmark legal victory in the United States.

A US Federals Appeal Court ruled that open source...
Netgear launches open source router
With community support 1 July 2008 14:54 GMT
Netgear has announced the launch of the Open Source Wireless-G Router, WGR614L, designed to serve as a "reliable, high performance" platform to support a wide variety of applications created by the open source community.

The router is "Works with Windows Vista"...
Leopard hacked fastest in contest
MacBook Air pwned in less than 2 minutes 28 March 2008 11:28 GMT
At the CanSecWest security conference's annual PWN 2 OWN hacking contest Leopard was the operating system to fall fastest this year.

The competition saw hackers pitted against three laptops running Vista Ultimate SP1, Leopard OS X 10.5.2 and Ubuntu 7.10 in...
Nokia to acquire Trolltech
"We embrace open source technology" 28 January 2008 16:07 GMT
Nokia and Trolltech have announced that they have entered into an agreement that Nokia will make a public voluntary tender offer to acquire Trolltech, a Norwegian software provider.

Nokia says the acquisition will enable it to speed up its cross-platform software...
Mozilla conisders dropping Thunderbird to concentrate on Firefox
Fly free Thunderbird, fly 27 July 2007 14:54 GMT
Via a blog entry, Mozilla's CEO, Mitchell Baker, has announced that Mozilla's email client, Thunderbird is to be let go from the Mozilla family though a "new, separate organizational setting".

This is so that the Mozilla Foundation can focus even more on Firefox,...
Microsoft's Open XML is approved by standards body
Rival to ODF format will be Office 2007 default format 11 December 2006 11:49 GMT
Microsoft's open-source file format has been approved by one international standards body, and now is being fast tracked through the another for general approval.

The ECMA (formerly European Computer Manufacturers Association) International standards voted by...