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Software

+ - Is Microsoft getting paid for patents in Linux?

Submitted by
kripkenstein
kripkenstein writes "In an interview, Jeremy Allison (of the Samba project) implies that Microsoft is secretly getting paid for patent licenses on Linux-related products:

[Interviewer:] One of the persistent rumors that's going around is that certain large IT customers have already been paying Microsoft for patent licensing to cover their use of Linux, Samba and other free software projects.[...]

Allison: Yes, that's true, actually. I mean I have had people come up to me and essentially off the record admit that they had been threatened by Microsoft and had got patent cross license and had essentially taken out a license for Microsoft patents on the free software that they were using [...] But they're not telling anyone about it. They're completely doing it off the record.
If true, is this slowing down Linux adoption? Or are these just rumors — which may accomplish much the same effect?"

OpenMoko Schedule Announced 165

Posted by CowboyNeal
from the preflight-check-lists dept.
levell writes "The schedule for the OpenMoko, an open source, Linux-based Neo1973 smart phone was posted to the community mailing list by Sean Moss-Pultz this morning. On Feb 11, free phones will be sent to key community developers and the community websites/wiki/bug tracker will be available. Then on March 11 (the official developer launch) we'll be able to buy an OpenMoko for $350. After allowing some time for innovative, slick software to be created there will be a mass market launch at which point Sean hopes that 'your mom and dad will want one too.'"
Operating Systems

+ - Why isn't ReactOS gaining momentum?

Submitted by
CSMatt
CSMatt writes "I find it puzzling and interesting that, given all of Microsoft's negligence on Windows, the community still doesn't seem to support ReactOS development near as much as the Linux distributions or even the BSDs. ReactOS could easily do to Windows what the GNU project did to UNIX, but it seems like it is constantly falling short of a suitable Windows alternative due to either a lack of developers or a lack of money. Yes, I know that it takes about a decade for the community to write a complete operating system, and it will probably take at least 15 years to write one as complex as Windows, but there still seems to be something that is slowing the project down. Is it disbelief that the final version will be able to provide compatibility with Vista or Vienna programs because ReactOS will inevitably have to play catch-up with Windows? Is it the idea that it would still be used only by hobbyists and free software advocates, even though it is possible that the low price of zero might woo OEMs into preinstalling it?"
Portables

+ - Debian Linux gains faster ARM port

Submitted by
An anonymous reader writes "The Debian project has just gained a whole new ARM port that promises much, much faster floating point performance, especially on phones and other mobile devices based on newer VFP-enabled ARM cores. The ARM EABI port, aka "armel," currently has about 10,000 packages, thanks to the efforts of Lennert Buytenhek, who was sponsored by board vendor ADS to sit down with three donated Thecus N2100's and compile, compile, compile. Early reports suggest that mp3 compile times drop from 68 minutes to 4 minutes, using the new ARM port."
Announcements

+ - Linux-based console to compete with Wii, 360, PS3

Submitted by Wertigon
Wertigon (666) writes "The Open Game Console Consortium aims to create an open console that will be free of royalties of any kind. Right now the project is in it's early phases, but the people behind it are hoping to make it in time to Christmas this year.

FTA:
I'm sure some are saying things like, "How is this going to be any more successful than the 3DO or Indreama?" or "Is this just another Phantom?" The 3DO was a similar idea in that it was going to allow multiple manufactures to release the same consoles; however, it was a very closed platform. If you wanted to make a 3DO compatible system you would have to license proprietary chips and software from Matsushita, and by having an open standard, with open source software and off-the-shelf PC components the barrier to entry will be much simpler and less restrictive.
"
Sun Microsystems

+ - Sun to GPLv3 OpenSolaris

Submitted by uservoid
uservoid (666) writes "Sun Microsystems is set to license OpenSolaris under the upcoming GNU General Public License Version 3 in addition to the existing Common Development and Distribution License, sources close to the company have told eWEEK. OpenSolaris currently is licensed only under Sun's CDDL, but company executives have previously floated the idea of a dual license with GPLv3. Sources told eWEEK that this is very likely to happen after the release of that version of the GPL, which currently is being rewritten and is expected to be made final soon. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2084284,00.as p?kc=EWEWEMNL011507EP28A"

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