Want to read Slashdot from your mobile device? Point it at m.slashdot.org and keep reading!

 



Forgot your password?
typodupeerror
×
Linux

Submission + - Nokia Preps Linux OS for Low-End Smartphones (itworld.com)

itwbennett writes: "Nokia is going after the low-end smartphone market with a Linux-based OS code-named 'Meltemi.' The phones are expected to cost under $100 without subsidies. A Nokia spokesman's no-comment comment went like this: 'Of course, we don't comment on future products or technologies. However, I can say that our Mobile Phones team has a number of exciting projects in the works that will help connect the next billion consumers to the Internet.'"
Debian

Submission + - Get a copy of the Debian Administrator's Handbook (ulule.com) 2

buxy writes: "Roland Mas and me are the authors of a French Debian bestseller. We want to translate this book into English and publish it under a license compatible with the Debian Free Software Guidelines. That would be the first free and up-to-date book about Debian that can be integrated into Debian. But we need your support to make this happen.

Pledge some money and get a copy of the book once it's done! As a special bonus, if you use this link to support the project, about 12% of the donated money will be given back to the Debian project."

SuSE

Submission + - LibreOffice Celebrates First Anniversary (ostatic.com)

Thinkcloud writes: SUSE and community volunteers new to the project have provided around 25% each of the commits, with a further 20% coming from RedHat and another 20% coming from the OpenOffice.org code base. Add to that the 15 million downloads and the estimate of 200 million LibreOffice downloads by the end of the decade does not seem far-fetched.
Software

Submission + - Darth Vader was an Amazing Project Manager (fnxstudios.com)

bkoeller writes: The Sith Lord Darth Vader, of Star Wars fame, often gets a bad rap, particularly in what we all think of as his 'dark years'. From a certain perspective his mass murder, brutal oppression, and frequent deception to serve his own ends makes him seem like a pretty bad guy. But if you look past all that to his action, you will find a very capable and effective project manager! In the name of finding silver linings in dark clouds, I'd like to present the top 10 reasons why Darth Vader was an amazing project manager.
GNOME

Submission + - GNOME 3.2 Released (gnome.org) 1

supersloshy writes: Today marks the release of the latest edition of the GNOME Desktop for Linux-based operating systems. There are numerous fixes and improvements in this release such as smaller title bars (for small screens), the integration of GNOME Contacts and GNOME Documents for easy data management, web application integration, many more configurable settings, and other updates such as a more unified appearance and better chat integration. You can read the release notes on GNOME.org.
Android

Submission + - Is Samsung preparing to drop Android? (extremetech.com)

MrSeb writes: "Samsung must now pay Microsoft a royalty for every Android device it sells — but in other news, announced yesterday, Samsung is now the co-founder (with Intel) of the Tizen project, an open source, Meego-derived Linux-based smartphone and tablet OS.

Did Samsung agree to pay a royalty to Microsoft purely because it has an exit strategy already lined up?"

Android

Submission + - Amazon Fire Tablet (bloomberg.com)

cortex writes: Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), the world’s largest online retailer, unveiled its Kindle Fire tablet computer, taking aim at Apple Inc. (AAPL)’s bestselling iPad with a device that’s smaller and less than half the price.

The Kindle Fire will have a 7-inch display and sell for $199, compared with $499 for Apple’s cheapest iPad, Amazon executives said in interviews with Bloomberg Businessweek. The device, a souped-up version of the Kindle electronic- book reader, will run on Google Inc.’s Android software, the Seattle-based company said.

Power

Submission + - SeaTwirl Puts a New Spin on Offshore Wind Turbines (gizmag.com)

Zothecula writes: One of the main drawbacks of wind turbines is the fact that for maximum efficiency, the power that they generate must be fed into the grid right as the wind is blowing and their blades are spinning. While that power can be stored in batteries for later use, some of it will always be lost in the process. Sweden's experimental new SeaTwirl system, however, is designed to kinetically store wind energy until it's required — it's basically a seagoing flywheel.
Software

Submission + - What Do You Do With Your Over-the-Hill Computers? 3

theodp writes: When it comes time to get rid of an old computer, Nicholas Morgan gets all sentimental. And even though he's now the proud owner of a shiny MacBook Pro, Morgan couldn't bear to part with his over-the-hill Dell, with which he learned PHP, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript. 'The memories I have on this machine are worth more than the $200 or so I would get from selling it,' he writes of the laptop that now sits in his closet. In fact, Morgan still regrets trashing his first computer, an old Windows 95 Packard Bell machine with its top of the line Pentium processor and a software suite that included lots of educational games, Sierra's '3D Ultra Pinball', and 'The Incredible Toon Machine'. Nice. So, when it comes time to put down your aging computer like Ol' Yeller, do you trash it, sell it, give it away, or hoard it?

Submission + - Amazon Kindle Fire surfaces. (bloomberg.com)

MrCrassic writes: "It looks like another competitor has joined the fight for tablet market share. Amazon released specs and pics of its newest offering, the Kindle Fire, which is bound to turn heads at $199. However, I wouldn't sell your Nook Color or iPad just yet.
From the article:


The Kindle Fire doesn’t have an embedded camera or a microphone. The device offers Wi-Fi connectivity, though not 3G access, and comes with a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime, the company’s $79-a-year membership service that includes streaming video and free two-day shipping.

"

Linux

Submission + - Intel finds a way to let go of MeeGo (cnet.com)

PolygamousRanchKid writes: Like the Moblin operating system before it, Linux-based MeeGo will will be merged out of existence. MeeGo will become Tizen, Intel said today. "Intel joined Linux Foundation and LiMo Foundation in support of Tizen, a new Linux-based open source software platform for multiple device categories," the company said in a statement.

"Tizen builds upon the strengths of both LiMo and MeeGo and Intel will be working with our MeeGo partners to help them transition to Tizen," Intel said. The initial release of Tizen is expected in Q1'2012, enabling the first devices in the market mid-2012, Intel said.

Meego began as Moblin, an OS for small devices like Netbooks and smartphones. But its one shot at the consumer device big time came to an abrupt end when Nokia ditched it in favor of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 platform. LG, less unceremoniously, also backed away from the OS after initially indicating it might use it on a smartphone.

PRK: It seems one of those strengths is not actually making it into a product on the market yet.

The Courts

Submission + - Australian users may have a case on windows 8 (zdnet.com.au)

lukemartinez writes: "The Linux Australia community began petitioning the ACCC this week after Microsoft aired plans to mandate the enabling of Unified Extensible Firmware Interface's (UEFI) secure boot feature for devices bearing the "Designed for Windows 8" logo. This means that any software or hardware that is to run on the firmware will need to be signed by Microsoft or the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to be able to execute. This would make it impossible to install alternative operating systems like Linux..."
Microsoft

Submission + - Linux users file formal Windows 8 complaint (delimiter.com.au)

daria42 writes: Microsoft might have attempted to alleviate concerns expressed by the Linux world about its restrictive UEFI boot implementation in Windows 8, but it doesn't look as though the issue is going to die down. Confirmation arrived today that Linux users in Australia have registered a number of formal complaints with the country's competition regulator over the issue, claiming Microsoft's actions were anti-competitive. It looks so far as though the regulator has responded with a form letter, but attempts to push the issue are ongoing.
Debian

Submission + - What is a free book worth? (raphaelhertzog.com) 2

migla writes: Debian developer and author of Cahier de l’Admin Debian — "The Debian Administrator's Handbook" in French, announced campaigns for crowd-funding the translation and liberation of the book. The translation is estimated to require six person-months, for which € 15K (about $20K) of donations are being solicited. The price-tag for the immaterial property of the publisher is set to € 25K (approaching $35K). Is it worth it?
Slashdot.org

Submission + - Stephenson Mentions Slashdot in Reamde (cmdrtaco.net) 1

CmdrTaco writes: "It's total navalgazing and I wouldn't post it if I was still working here, but I thought my heirs would be pleased to know that Slashdot got a mention in Neal Stephenson's Reamde. Be proud and keep up the fight. It's page 161 if you have the hardcover."

Slashdot Top Deals

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny ..." -- Isaac Asimov

Working...