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GNU is Not Unix

Submission + - How Many FOSS Developers in the World?

Submitted by niyam
niyam writes: Somebody threw me quite a curve the other day: How many active FOSS developers exist in the world? An off-the-cuff and non-validated remark like "oh! about 10% software developers must be developing free software..." makes no sense! So first step: It took me time to define 'FOSS developer' for myself: Someone who authors software under ANY free license as mentioned on the fsf.org site, and for any platform. gpl, bsd, Apache, MIT, etc.... Sourceforge currently displays: Registered Projects: 151,709 Registered Users: 1,621,651 But that doesn't mean anything. Some large corporations like Google, IBM, Intel, Apple, even Infosys..., may just have a large pool of engineers writing software that is published as Free software. I also wonder if 'foss developer' should include QA teams and documentation-people. Slashdotters, any help? niyam
Technology (Apple)

Submission + - Steve Jobs addresses new AT&T/iPhone controver (blorge.com)

Submitted by
destinyland
destinyland writes: "Working Assets is calling for a boycott of the iPhone. Locking all iPhones to AT&T is unnecessary, they argue, and AT&T is "a corporation whose practices seem to run counter to everything Apple stands for..." (They specify AT&T's stand on net neutrality, warrantless wiretapping, and their handing over of customer records to the NSA.) This article says Steve Jobs was asked specifically about the AT&T lock-in Thursday, and he responded that AT&T's GSM network makes the iPhone a "world phone". But asked point-blank about whether other U.S. carriers would service the iPhone — he didn't answer."
Announcements

Submission + - Car bomb found in central London (bbc.co.uk)

Submitted by include($dysmas)
include($dysmas) writes: from the bbc : Police say the area will be closed for some time Police have disabled a car bomb containing gas cylinders in the heart of central London.

Officers carried out a controlled explosion after reports of a suspicious vehicle parked in Haymarket shortly before 0200 BST (0100 GMT).

Professor Paul Wilkinson, a terrorism expert, said a passer-by had tipped off the police and officers would be concerned they did not have advanced intelligence.
Biotech

Submission + - Integrated HIV successfully cut out of humangenome (dw-world.de)

Submitted by Chris
Chris writes: German scientists have succeeded in snipping the virus that causes AIDS out of human cells, leaving them healthy again. The procedure is a breakthrough in bio-technology and fuels hope of a cure for AIDS.

Feed Engadget: Nokia N95 + RC plane = unlimited DIY aerial photography (engadget.com)

From feed by engfeed

Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation

If you've found yourself tempted by other interesting DIY aerial photography rigs, but spent all your dough on the Nokia N95 instead, you may still be able to make a lifelong (or momentary) dream come true. A pioneering lad over at the N95 Blog has suggested that nearly unlimited high-resolution aerial photography can be yours if you're willing to strap your precious handset to an RC plane and get savvy with Pict'Earth software. The application allows users to create a theoretical Google Earth of their own if the existing imagery isn't up to snuff with their personal standards. Still, we'd have to mull this one over mighty hard before attaching such a valuable communicator to a potential death bed, but feel free to let us know how things go if you can muster the courage.

[Via AllAboutSymbian]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!
The Internet

Submission + - Driving on fumes? ... How far?

Submitted by
netbuzz
netbuzz writes: "How far can you drive after the the fuel-tank warning light has come on? The question has dogged car owners since the first Model T rolled off Henry Ford's assembly line. Now a new crowdsourcing Web site hopes to harness the input — as well as the courage — of the masses to get a good answer for every make and model.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/?q=node/1663 2"
Software

Submission + - Second Earth (technologyreview.com)

Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes: A new Technology Review article discusses what'll happen when Second Life meets Google Earth: The World Wide Web will soon be absorbed into the World Wide Sim: an environment combining elements of Second Life and Google Earth. ... As these two trends continue from opposite directions, it's natural to ask what will happen when Second Life and Google Earth, or services like them, actually meet. Because meet they will, whether or not their owners are the ones driving their integration. Both Google and Linden Lab grant access to their existing 3-D platforms through tools that let outside programmers build their own auxiliary applications, or "mashups." And many computer professionals think the idea of a "Second Earth" mashup is so cool that it's inevitable, whether or not it will offer any immediate way to make money. "As long as somebody can find some really strong personal gratification out of doing it, then there is a driver to make it happen,"
Biotech

Submission + - MS Research: Clusters of Human Brains (technologyreview.com)

Submitted by Future Linux-Guru
Future Linux-Guru writes: Microsoft research has figured out a way to use human subconscience thinking for processor intensive tasks like facial recognition. From the article:

>>"Given that the brain is constantly processing external information," says Tan, "we can start to use the brain as a processor." In one scenario, he explains, pictures would be placed in people's peripheral vision, which doesn't require focused cognitive attention, so they could go about their daily tasks.
Biotech

Submission + - Fruit Could Make Powerful Fuel (technologynewsdaily.com)

Submitted by
s31523
s31523 writes: "Scientists are exploring a new kind of bio-fuel, called 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), which can be synthesized from the sugar found in apples and/or oranges. Ethanol is currently the only massed produced liquid fuel that is renewable, but it has several drawbacks that DMF solves. DMF is approximately 40% greater than ethanol when it comes to energy density, is not water soluble, and takes about 1/3 less energy to manufacture. More research is needed to commercialize the product, but for now, there is a new kid on the block of alternative fuels."
Businesses

Submission + - ATT/Cingular block Google411 1

Submitted by
mcraig88
mcraig88 writes: "Hello everyone...

In case any of you didn't know this, Google has a voice operated directory assistance service. I have been trying to use this from my Cell phone and have been receiving a "Network is busy" message, instead of getting through. I have been able to call from Work, home, and other non-cingular cell phones just fine.

On a whim, I called Cingular's customer service, and they confirmed that they are blocking Google's service. "Google is a competitor, so we have blocked their phone number"

This is absolutely ridiculous. I can't think of another time that a Phone/Cell company has ticked me off so bad.

And people complain about Microsoft's anti-competitive practices!

Try it for your self if you have a Cingular cell phone.

Google's web page about new service: http://labs.google.com/goog411/

To try this service, just dial 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411) from any phone. (Except ATT/Cingular)"
Censorship

Submission + - Government Approved Baby Names (cnn.com)

Submitted by
soapthgr8
soapthgr8 writes: "In an attempt to provide a meaningful name for their newborn, a New Zealand couple has encountered resistance from the Registry of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. It seems that "numerals are not allowed" in names, although, the Registrar-General indicates that the "name has not at this stage been rejected." How far is too far for governmental prevention of the crime of possible "offense"? This appears to cross that line."

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