Comment Re:Yep.. (Score 1) 255
Suddenly even Myspace sounds like a real option for the first time since puberty,
Two weeks ago.
Oh, you also just turned 33?
Microsoft and Yahoo Reach Deal 301
e9th writes "We know that Microsoft failed last February in its attempt to buy Yahoo. Now, Advertising Age reports that they've reached a deal. Instead of a buyout, the two will enter into a revenue sharing agreement, and Bing will become Yahoo's default search engine. The meat of the AdAge article can be found in Yahoo News. This deal may give Google something to worry about."
Comment Re:Full Time (Score 1) 354
Unfail
Comment Re:Full Time (Score 1) 354
Boycotting
Fail
Comment Re:And What of the Others? (Score 1) 650
Umm... most distributions of Linux and FreeBSD do in fact make it easy to download other browsers. You won't hear me condoning Apple business practices wrt bundling Safari, but since they are not a convicted monopolist they probably will not need to worry about this.
Comment Re:And What of the Others? (Score 4, Insightful) 650
Legal definition != dictionary definition. See Sherman anti-trust laws.
Comment Re:Mmmm, Kay. (Score 1) 439
Well, in a case when you need to know the length, you have to use strict evaluation (sort of- I'm simplifying), in which case Haskell is reducing to what "normal languages" do. In the case where you do not need the length, you get the benefits of laziness.
Submission + - Update Java and get OpenOffice.org for free
snoyberg writes: "So I start my computer up at work today and there's a little icon in the try with a balloon letting me know I can update Java and get OpenOffice.org for free. Is this a great new method to get Windows users over to OSS?"
Submission + - Embedded Linux Primer Review (geeksinside.com)
s1axter writes: "Embedded system development is crucial in this day of high tech specialized appliances and devices. However much of the knowledge of embedded development resides in the heads of engineers who have been doing it for years. The hardware aspect of embedded systems is now available to the smaller startup companies, however many specialized, propriety operating systems are not. This is where Linux and the book Embedded Linux Primer: A Practical Real-World Approach enters. Embedded Linux Primer is written to introduce engineers and designers to using the Linux operating systems for embedded applications.
Prentice Hall's Embedded Linux Primer by Christopher Hallinan was published September 18th, 2006 as part of their Open Source Software Development Series. Very much like a textbook, Embedded Linux Primer is very informative and an excellent source of information for an engineer looking to enter or move to the embedded Linux field. The text is a decent size, with 537 pages spanning 17 chapters and 6 appendices; it retails for around $45 USD.
I had some reservations on reviewing a detailed technical book since most of the ones I have are dry and have a very segmented structure. However after taking a look at the sample chapter, chapter 7 "Bootloaders", available on the Prentice Hall website along with the table of contents for the text I figured I would give it a look and I am very glad I did.
Many technical books focus on a specific demographic in the technology world, mostly beginners or professionals expanding their knowledge base. I was quite pleased to see this text is written for both professional developers and emerging embedded engineers.
Professional engineers will find the text informative on the Linux operating system and how flexible it is to implement on even the most custom hardware. The author understands that a large number of embedded system engineers work with proprietary systems and explains items that might be new and different than these systems. For example Chapters 4-6 detail the Linux boot sequence and describe common pitfalls engineers new to the embedded Linux methodology might make. Chapters 8-11 dive further into the operating system and explain device driver creation, the important file system and how Linux handles volatile and non-volatile memory systems using the MTD subsystem.
Engineers starting in the field of embedded systems will find information on what an embedded system is in Chapter 1, processor and board comparisons in Chapter 2 and setting up an embedded environment for development in Chapter 12.
It is quite obvious throughout the text the author has an extensive in depth understanding of embedded systems and the inner workings of the Linux operating system. With such a deep understanding of the material an author many times explains items in such detail it clouds the mind of the reader. The first line in Chapter 2 says (paraphrasing) that the best way understand something is to understand the 'big picture' . This is exactly the approach the author takes through out the text, first explaining the theory and high level aspect of the system, then diving into the detail of how it is done on the low level. Also, rather than get sidetracked in chapters by explaining every processor attribute or software package, the author suggests external sources mid-text and in the "Suggestions for Additional Reading" at the end of each chapter.
For the first edition of a book, Embedded Linux Primer is rather complete, with the only exception being chapter 8, Device Driver Basics, which is...well, rather basic. I started the chapter expecting to finish with a detailed understanding of how the Linux kernel processes driver requests and a look into some common drivers. This is not the case; for a second edition of this text I would suggest beefing up this chapter to provide more of an insight into kernel-driver interaction.
Overall Embedded Linux Primer is an excellent source of information for both the seasoned professional and aspiring embedded engineer. I know that when I dive fully into the world of embedded Linux this book will have a permanent place on the bench right next to the spec sheets.
For those interested in this text, the Prentice Hall book page can be found here: http://www.phptr.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=01 31679848&rl=1
Sample Chapter "Bootloaders": http://www.phptr.com/articles/article.asp?p=674698
Geeksinside.com review link: http://geeksinside.com/review.php?r=3
*s1axter is the main poster for Geeksinside.com.
*Geeksinside.com is a DIY, hardware hacking, technology blog that showcases projects, reviews and technical links"
Prentice Hall's Embedded Linux Primer by Christopher Hallinan was published September 18th, 2006 as part of their Open Source Software Development Series. Very much like a textbook, Embedded Linux Primer is very informative and an excellent source of information for an engineer looking to enter or move to the embedded Linux field. The text is a decent size, with 537 pages spanning 17 chapters and 6 appendices; it retails for around $45 USD.
I had some reservations on reviewing a detailed technical book since most of the ones I have are dry and have a very segmented structure. However after taking a look at the sample chapter, chapter 7 "Bootloaders", available on the Prentice Hall website along with the table of contents for the text I figured I would give it a look and I am very glad I did.
Many technical books focus on a specific demographic in the technology world, mostly beginners or professionals expanding their knowledge base. I was quite pleased to see this text is written for both professional developers and emerging embedded engineers.
Professional engineers will find the text informative on the Linux operating system and how flexible it is to implement on even the most custom hardware. The author understands that a large number of embedded system engineers work with proprietary systems and explains items that might be new and different than these systems. For example Chapters 4-6 detail the Linux boot sequence and describe common pitfalls engineers new to the embedded Linux methodology might make. Chapters 8-11 dive further into the operating system and explain device driver creation, the important file system and how Linux handles volatile and non-volatile memory systems using the MTD subsystem.
Engineers starting in the field of embedded systems will find information on what an embedded system is in Chapter 1, processor and board comparisons in Chapter 2 and setting up an embedded environment for development in Chapter 12.
It is quite obvious throughout the text the author has an extensive in depth understanding of embedded systems and the inner workings of the Linux operating system. With such a deep understanding of the material an author many times explains items in such detail it clouds the mind of the reader. The first line in Chapter 2 says (paraphrasing) that the best way understand something is to understand the 'big picture' . This is exactly the approach the author takes through out the text, first explaining the theory and high level aspect of the system, then diving into the detail of how it is done on the low level. Also, rather than get sidetracked in chapters by explaining every processor attribute or software package, the author suggests external sources mid-text and in the "Suggestions for Additional Reading" at the end of each chapter.
For the first edition of a book, Embedded Linux Primer is rather complete, with the only exception being chapter 8, Device Driver Basics, which is...well, rather basic. I started the chapter expecting to finish with a detailed understanding of how the Linux kernel processes driver requests and a look into some common drivers. This is not the case; for a second edition of this text I would suggest beefing up this chapter to provide more of an insight into kernel-driver interaction.
Overall Embedded Linux Primer is an excellent source of information for both the seasoned professional and aspiring embedded engineer. I know that when I dive fully into the world of embedded Linux this book will have a permanent place on the bench right next to the spec sheets.
For those interested in this text, the Prentice Hall book page can be found here: http://www.phptr.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=0
Sample Chapter "Bootloaders": http://www.phptr.com/articles/article.asp?p=67469
Geeksinside.com review link: http://geeksinside.com/review.php?r=3
*s1axter is the main poster for Geeksinside.com.
*Geeksinside.com is a DIY, hardware hacking, technology blog that showcases projects, reviews and technical links"
Submission + - Eight common misunderstandings about GPLv3
snoyberg writes: "To quoth the article: 'The official release of the third version of the GNU General Public License (GPLv3) is still a couple of months away, yet already, the misunderstandings about it are almost as numerous as those for the second version (GPLv2).'
Perhaps Slashdotters would like to hear what we've been getting wrong for the past era."
Perhaps Slashdotters would like to hear what we've been getting wrong for the past era."
Submission + - Gentoo's Graphical Installer is Unnecessary
mattb0611 writes: "Gentoo has long been a distribution aimed towards the power Linux user. It allows users to foray into the inner workings of their computers, emphasizing total customizability for optimal performance and minimum size. It is not for users who are looking for an operating system as soon as possible. With the release of this year's first Gentoo, 2007.0, comes an updated LiveCD featuring a completely rewritten GTK+ based installer, making installations more automated than was previously possible. However, isn't such an installer defeating some of the purposes of the distribution?"
Submission + - Tux Logo on Indy Car
AC77 writes: Marketing Linux has always been a tricky proposition. As a community, we have relied on corporations who have a stake in the Linux operating system to market Linux to the world at large. Today, we have an opportunity to change that, and make Linux marketing as much a community effort as Linux development. That effort begins with the Tux 500 project.
Our goal is simple: we want to collect community donations to enter a Linux sponsored car in the 2007 Indianapolis 500. We need your help! If less than 1% of the Linux community donates $1, this will happen... will you do your part? http://tux500.com/
Our goal is simple: we want to collect community donations to enter a Linux sponsored car in the 2007 Indianapolis 500. We need your help! If less than 1% of the Linux community donates $1, this will happen... will you do your part? http://tux500.com/
Submission + - ATI to go opensource ?
BESTouff writes: As seen on Chris Blizzard's blog: The ATI marketing guy on stage (Henri Richard) at the Red Hat Summit just committed to fixing the ATI problems with open source. To paraphrase "most people are worried about what they will lose...IP, etc...we're worried about what we can win." They know it's a problem and they are committed to fixing it.
Submission + - Chips on DVDs could prevent theft
Kiralan writes: New technology designed to thwart DVD theft makes discs unplayable until they're activated at the cash register.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070509/ap_on_hi_te/te chbit_dvd_theft
From the story:
"A chip smaller than the head of a pin is placed onto a DVD along with a thin coating that blocks a DVD player from reading critical information on the disc. At the register, the chip is activated and sends an electrical pulse through the coating, turning it clear and making the disc playable."
This appears to be a decent use of security technology, but what is the potential of this being the new DIVX?
Submission + - Google Apps Problems
dawhippersnapper writes: "Google's DNS has had major failures today for their Google Apps, I have not seen a reply from Google yet.
http://groups.google.com/group/hosted-the-basics/b rowse_thread/thread/ba884d5bf12c1704
This shows a list of some people experiencing the problems.
The problem is the Custom URL option uses a CNAME to change their hosted apps to ghs.google.com, then Google's DNS server routes it to the proper page. I believe the latter function is broken."
http://groups.google.com/group/hosted-the-basics/
This shows a list of some people experiencing the problems.
The problem is the Custom URL option uses a CNAME to change their hosted apps to ghs.google.com, then Google's DNS server routes it to the proper page. I believe the latter function is broken."
