- wlug - list.wlug.org.nz

CuBox-i Tiny PCs Run Linux and Android, Start at $45
by Peter Reutemann 04 Sep '13

04 Sep '13

'Although the Raspberry Pi has grabbed the most headlines as a tiny, ultra-inexpensive, pocketable computer running an open source operating system, it's actually only one of many tiny LInux computers being heralded as part of a new "Linux punk ethic." We've written about a number of other miniscule computers that run Android and Linux here. Now, there is a pretty cool looking $45 cube computer that runs Android and Linux, shown here, called the CuBox-i1. This thing looks like it could gain an audience.' -- source: http://ostatic.com/blog/cubox-i-tiny-pcs-run-linux-and-android-start-at-45 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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Gnome Web Drops Google For DuckDuckGo
by Peter Reutemann 01 Sep '13

01 Sep '13

"In a blog post on the Gnome.org site by Claudio Saavedra, the Gnome Web browser team announced that they had switched the default search engine from Google to DuckDuckGo. The team cites issues with privacy and collaboration as the main motivators, and were inspired by a talk by Jacob Applebaum at GUADEC 2012." -- source: http://ostatic.com/blog/gnome-web-drops-google-for-duckduckgo Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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Hand of a Thief Linux Malware Goes for the Money
by Peter Reutemann 30 Aug '13

30 Aug '13

'One of the top reasons for choosing Linux, according to many users, is enhanced security. In particular, if you have spent much time using Windows PCs, you're familiar with the fact that Windows is the primary target for malware worldwide. Linux, on the other hand, is rarely targeted by virus writers and hackers. However, according to the Avast blog, a new Linux Trojan dubbed "Hand of a Thief" is actually targeting Linux users' bank accounts.' -- source: http://ostatic.com/blog/hand-of-a-thief-linux-malware-goes-for-the-money Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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X.Org Foundation Loses 501(c)3 Non-Profit Status
by Peter Reutemann 27 Aug '13

27 Aug '13

"The X.Org Foundation, which drives the X.Org Server projects, Mesa, and Wayland open-source programs, had its tax-exempt status revoked by the IRS. It turns out the X.Org Foundation had put in quite a lot of work to become a non-profit organization, with guidance from the Software Freedom Law Center. They got in trouble after failing to routinely file their taxes on time. There's also been a host of other X.Org accounting errors in recent years. There was also the recent news of the IRS going after open-source projects, too." -- source: http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/08/27/1244247 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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Has the Apache Software Foundation Lost Its Way?
by Peter Reutemann 26 Aug '13

26 Aug '13

"Complaints of stricture over structure, signs of technical prowess on the wane — the best days of the Apache Software Foundation may be behind, writes InfoWorld's Serdar Yegalulp. 'Since its inception, the Apache Software Foundation has had a profound impact in shaping the open source movement and the tech industry at large. ... But tensions within the ASF and grumbling throughout the open source community have called into question whether the Apache Way is well suited to sponsoring the development of open source projects in today's software world. Changing attitudes toward open source licensing, conflicts with the GPL, concerns about technical innovation under the Way, fallout from the foundation's handling of specific projects in recent years — the ASF may soon find itself passed over by the kinds of projects that have helped make it such a central fixture in open source, thanks in some measure to the way the new wave of bootstrapped, decentralized projects on GitHub don't require a foundation-like atmosphere to keep them vibrant or relevant.' Meanwhile, Andrew C. Oliver offers a personal perspective on his work with Apache, why he left, and how the foundation can revamp itself in the coming years: 'I could never regret my time at Apache. I owe it my career to some degree. It isn't how I would choose to develop software again, because my interests and my role in the world have changed. That said, I think the long-term health of the organization requires it get back to its ideals, open up its private lists, and let sunshine disinfect the interests. My poorly articulated reasons for leaving a long time ago stemmed from my inability to effect that change.'" -- source: http://apache.slashdot.org/story/13/08/26/210200/has-the-apache-software-fo… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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WLUG meeting tonight
by Peter Reutemann 26 Aug '13

26 Aug '13

Hi everyone There is a wlug meeting tonight: http://www.wlug.org.nz/event_calendar/view/737/meeting With a committee meeting beforehand at 6.30pm: http://www.wlug.org.nz/event_calendar/view/3080/committee-meeting Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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GNOME 3.10 Will Bring New Map App
by Peter Reutemann 25 Aug '13

25 Aug '13

'Woohoo, our old friend Matthias Clasen, GNOME developer extraordinaire, has posted some new screenshots to show the new features coming in GNOME 3.10. He says, "we're already at the beta – I've just released 3.9.90, which is the first beta release. High time to show some of the nice new things that will come in GNOME 3.10."' -- source: http://ostatic.com/blog/gnome-3-10-will-bring-new-map-app Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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As Ubuntu Stumbles, Firefox OS Rolls On
by Peter Reutemann 23 Aug '13

23 Aug '13

"The Ubuntu Edge smartphone today failed by about $19 million to make its $30 million Indiegogo funding goals, and the roughly 20,000 investors will receive refunds. Earlier this week, the first Firefox OS phone available in the U.S. and U.K. -- the unlocked version of the low-end, 3.5-inch ZTE Open handset – sold out on eBay in three days." -- source: http://www.linux.com/news/embedded-mobile/mobile-linux/734705 Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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CoreOS: Building the Cloud from a Garage
by Peter Reutemann 22 Aug '13

22 Aug '13

"Wired posted an article yesterday profiling the creators of CoreOS, a minimal Linux server OS built from the combination of Docker and Google's ChromeOS. I have been complaining for a long time that server installs were too bloated, and even though the minimal installs have taken care of much of that, the CoreOS project looks like they strip it down even more. Alex Polvi and his team are building a new, open way to build a datacenter that should have other commercial datacenter vendors worried. " -- source: http://ostatic.com/blog/coreos-building-the-cloud-from-a-garage Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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Install an Open Source Dropbox Alternative on Linux in 10 Steps
by Peter Reutemann 22 Aug '13

22 Aug '13

"Dropbox has made its mark as an integral productivity tool. Simple file sharing and syncing makes it easy to keep all your important documents and files on hand, wherever you are. If you're anything like me, you've hit the space limit of your free Dropbox account, and wondered if the Open Source world has any alternatives. Good news! Sparkleshare has you covered. Combined with a Bitbucket account and a little effort, you can have practically unlimited storage, for free!" -- source: http://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/734125-how-to-install-sparkleshare-you… Cheers, Peter -- Peter Reutemann, Dept. of Computer Science, University of Waikato, NZ http://www.cms.waikato.ac.nz/~fracpete/ Ph. +64 (7) 858-5174

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