October 2007 - wlug - list.wlug.org.nz

KDE 4 looking nice
by Ian McDonald 17 Oct '07

17 Oct '07

http://kde.org/announcements/announce-4.0-beta3.php -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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Linspire 6 doesn't inspire
by Ian McDonald 17 Oct '07

17 Oct '07

They say it basically pampers to Microsoft and many features are missing. In the past Linspire was a distro that was gaining popularity for ease of use and features but this doesn't sound positive. http://www.linux.com/feature/119866 -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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PulseAudio
by Ian McDonald 17 Oct '07

17 Oct '07

PulseAudio is a cross-platform, open source sound server that supports advanced software mixing capabilities and network transparency. PulseAudio is designed to be a drop-in replacement for the Esound daemon and uses a pluggable Esound module for backwards compatibility. PulseAudio provides the infrastructure needed to bring a next-generation audio experience to the Linux desktop. PulseAudio will make it possible to independently control the volume of individual applications, support moving audio streams between devices on the fly, output audio on multiple devices simultaneously, and provide compatibility with GNOME's fast user switching functionality. For more see: http://arstechnica.com/journals/linux.ars/2007/10/17/pulseaudio-to-bring-ea… -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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NZer helps stop most of Amazon 1-Click patent
by Ian McDonald 17 Oct '07

17 Oct '07

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071017-amazons-1-click-patent-picked… Note - the issue here was prior art (i.e. Amazon patented something already invented). This is different to whether software patents are valid altogether... -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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Redhat/Novell get sued for patents
by Ian McDonald 17 Oct '07

17 Oct '07

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071012-patent-holding-company-target… The patent seems to be (as I read it) for the multiple desktop support in bottom right corner where you click on it. It was patented by Xerox in 1987 and they must have bought it at some time. I know this has been in X Windows forever (I used it in the 1980s) if I read it correctly. Will be interesting to see what comes of it. Of course there is a (tenuous) Microsoft link. -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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Microsoft gets approval for two open source licenses from OSI
by Ian McDonald 16 Oct '07

16 Oct '07

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071016-microsoft-gets-official-open-… -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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Red Hat Global Desktop
by Ian McDonald 15 Oct '07

15 Oct '07

An update on this here: http://desktoplinux.com/news/NS6584091276.html They say it's going to rapidly evolve but lists Gnome 2.16 which is now two versions old. I think most people who want to play will use Fedora or Ubuntu but this might be of some use for businesses who like conservative stuff. -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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Announcing the Release Candidate for Ubuntu 7.10
by Simon Green 11 Oct '07

11 Oct '07

Date: 12 Oct 2007 10:21 To: ubuntu-announce(a)lists.ubuntu.com The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the Release Candidate for version 7.10 of Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Gobuntu, and Xubuntu codenamed "Gutsy Gibbon". The Release Candidate includes installable live Desktop CDs, server images, alternate text-mode installation CDs, and an upgrade wizard for users of the current stable release. We consider this release candidate to be complete, stable, and suitable for testing by any user. The final release of version 7.10 is scheduled for 18 October 2007 and will be supported for 18 months on both desktops and servers. Users requiring a longer support lifetime on servers may choose to continue using Ubuntu 6.06 LTS, with security support until 2011, rather than upgrade to 7.10. Before installing or upgrading to Ubuntu 7.10 please read https://wiki.ubuntu.com/GutsyReleaseNotes About The Release Candidate --------------------------- The purpose of the Release Candidate is to solicit one last round of testing before the final release. Here are ways that you can help: * Upgrade from Ubuntu, Kubuntu, or Edubuntu 7.04 to the Release Candidate by following the instructions given above. * Participate in installation testing using the Release Candidate CD images, by following the testing and reporting instructions at http://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/ISO Desktop highlights ------------------ Compiz Fusion: This innovative compositing window manager enables 3-D desktop effects that let users work with, and see, their desktops in completely new ways. Printer installation: In GNOME, printers are automatically configured for use as soon as they are connected. Free Flash support with Gnash: Ubuntu 7.10 leads the pack with a preview of this Flash browser plugin. Although still actively in development and not yet fully supported by Ubuntu, Gnash gives a glimpse into the future of free Flash, bringing partial Flash support to 64-bit desktop systems. Automated Firefox plugin installation: Beyond the addition of Gnash, Firefox in Ubuntu now supports automatic installation of popular plugins through the standard Ubuntu package repositories, for a richer web-browsing experience with the integrated security support of the rest of the Ubuntu system. Server highlights ----------------- AppArmor: This easy-to-deploy kernel technology limits the resources an application is allowed to access and can be used to provide an added layer of protection against undiscovered security vulnerabilities in applications. Pre-configured installation options: Mail Server, Print Server, Database Server, and File Server options join existing LAMP and DNS options for pre-configured installations, easing the deployment of common server configurations. Edubuntu highlights ------------------- Faster thin clients: Thin clients have been sped up significantly through the use of compressed images. Updated login manager: The thin-client login manager has been completely reworked, with themes for all Ubuntu flavors, support for autologin, and optional unencrypted graphics transport for improved performance on slower hardware. Kubuntu highlights ------------------ As well as the above desktop highlights, the following new features are specific to KDE users: Dolphin file manager: This updated file manager gives Ubuntu users a glimpse of the upcoming KDE 4. Strigi desktop search: Another pillar of KDE 4 available now in Kubuntu. Restricted-manager: Kubuntu 7.10 includes a KDE front-end for easy installation of proprietary drivers, complementing the existing GNOME front-end. Please see https://wiki.kubuntu.org/GutsyGibbon/RC/Kubuntu for details. Gobuntu highlights ------------------ Gobuntu 7.10 is the debut full release of the Ubuntu version that is composed entirely of open source non-restricted software. For experienced Linux enthusiasts, Gobuntu will act as the test bed for developing a user-friendly operating system with no compromise in terms of the open source philosophy. This initial release comes without any software from the restricted component, and with artwork for usplash and the isolinux CD bootloader. The full release notes can be found at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/710rc To Get the Ubuntu 7.10 Release Candidate CD ------------------------------------------- To perform a new installation or try out 7.10 "live" from CD, download the Ubuntu 7.10 Release Candidate (choose the mirror closest to you): Europe: http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Sweden) http://nl.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (The Netherlands) http://ftp.snt.utwente.nl/pub/linux/ubuntu-releases/7.10 (The Netherlands) http://ie.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Ireland) http://it.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Italy) http://gb.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Great Britain) http://de.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Germany) http://fr.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (France) Asia/Pacific: http://tw.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Taiwan) http://mirror.optus.net/ubuntu-releases/7.10 (Australia) Africa: http://za.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (South Africa) North America: http://ca.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Canada) http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (United States) South America: http://br.releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Brazil) Rest of the world: http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.10 (Great Britain) Please download using Bittorrent if possible. For more information about using Bittorrent, see: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BitTorrent Upgrading from Ubuntu 7.04 -------------------------- To upgrade from Ubuntu 7.04 to Ubuntu 7.10 Release Candidate, follow these instructions: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/GutsyUpgrades Feedback and Helping -------------------- If you would like to help shape Ubuntu to better meet your future needs, take a look at the list of ways you can participate at http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/ Your comments, bug reports, patches, and suggestions will help turn this release into the best release of Ubuntu ever. Please report bugs through the Launchpad bug tracker: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/gutsy/+bugs If you have a question, or if you think you may have found a bug but aren't sure, first try asking on the #ubuntu IRC channel on FreeNode, on the Ubuntu Users mailing list, or on the Ubuntu forums: http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users http://www.ubuntuforums.org/ More Information ---------------- Ubuntu is a Linux distribution for your desktop, laptop, thin client, and server, with a fast and easy install. Ubuntu comes in several variants, including Ubuntu Desktop, Server, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, and Xubuntu. The Ubuntu project makes no distinction between a free edition and an enterprise edition - this is our best work and it is freely available. Used by businesses, home users, schools, and governments around the world, Ubuntu offers regular releases, a tight selection of excellent packages installed by default and professional commercial technical support from Canonical Ltd and hundreds of other companies. You can find out more about Ubuntu and about this preview release on our website, IRC channel, and wiki. If you are new to Ubuntu, please visit: http://www.ubuntu.com/ To sign up for future Ubuntu announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu's very low volume announcement list at: http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-announce -- ubuntu-announce mailing list ubuntu-announce(a)lists.ubuntu.com Modify settings or unsubscribe at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-announce

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Linux the cause of Ebay phishing...
by Ian McDonald 09 Oct '07

09 Oct '07

http://www.osnews.com/story.php?news_id=18738 The moral of the story is that unsecured (particularly unpatched) Linux boxes are just as bad (or worse) than Windows boxes. I've seen a lot of people just install Linux machines and leave them running. Yes they run forever, but that doesn't make them secure. It seems like Linux is now more and more a target. -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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Microsoft make noise about RedHat
by Ian McDonald 09 Oct '07

09 Oct '07

Ballmer is back to his talk (and no action): http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2200717/microsoft-sharpens-aims-patent -- Web1: http://wand.net.nz/~iam4/ Web2: http://www.jandi.co.nz Blog: http://iansblog.jandi.co.nz

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