PC-BSD 7 is a mixed bag

FreeBSD is a Unix-like open source operating system that can trace its ancestry back to the original Unix. It's well known and well respected in the server marketplace, but until recently FreeBSD lacked an easy-to-use desktop version. In 2005 the PC-BSD project was started to provide just that. This month PC-BSD version 7 was released. I downloaded and installed it to see how it squares up to user-friendly Linux distributions like Ubuntu. I came away a little disappointed.

Read more here: PC-BSD 7 is a mixed bag

Twelve Myths about Free and Open Source Software

Bruce Byfield has written a great piece about the 12 myths of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software):

His points include:

1. If software costs nothing, it's no good
   
2. FOSS is inferior to proprietary software
   
3. FOSS is piracy (or at least encourages it)
   
4. FOSS has no support
   
5. FOSS is only for developers
   
6. Using FOSS means working from the command line
   
7. FOSS is only good for small projects
   
8. FOSS is unable to develop games
   
9. Having the code freely available makes it less secure than proprietary code
   
10. FOSS is unable to innovate
    
11. Since the license places restrictions on the users, FOSS isn't really free
    
12. FOSS is all about price
    

Read more here: Twelve Myths about Free and Open Source Software

Adobe AIR launches on Linux

Adobe announced today that Adobe AIR now runs on Linux. AIR is a cool cross-platform runtime that enables developers to create Rich Internet Applications that merge the desktop with the Web. Bringing it to Linux removes yet another roadblock to bringing disruptive applications to Linux.

This beta release of AIR for Linux isn't perfect--supported distributions only include Ubuntu 7.10, Fedora 8, OpenSuSE 10.3; and it lacks some other functionality--but it's a great, running start:

Read more here: Adobe AIR launches on Linux/a>

My OpenSolaris review on Linux.com

The folks over at Linux.com have published an article of mine about OpenSolaris. The review called OpenSolaris 2008.05 is robust and ready looks at installing OpenSolaris and well as looking at its unique features like ZFS.

I hope you like it! Gary

10 things you wanted to do with Ubuntu but didn't know how!

The How-to Geek has a great post about 10 things you wanted to do with Ubuntu but didn't know how! They include:

1. Set Gmail as Default Mail Client in Ubuntu
   
2. Add the Trash Can Icon to Your Ubuntu Desktop
   
3. Change the GRUB Menu Timeout on Ubuntu
   
4. Configure How often Ubuntu checks for Automatic Updates
   
5. Create a Bootable Ubuntu USB Flash Drive the Easy Way
   
6. Enable Smooth fonts on Ubuntu Linux
   
7. Speed Up Amarok With Large Music Collections
   
8. Share Folders on the network using Samba
   
9. Hide Removable Drive Icons from Your Ubuntu Desktop
   
10. Clean Up Ubuntu Grub Boot Menu After Upgrades
    

Read more here: 10 things you wanted to do with Ubuntu but didn't know how! :: The Tux Geek

Downloading an Entire Web Site with wget

If you ever need to download an entire Web site, perhaps for off-line viewing, wget can do the
job—for example:

$ wget \
--recursive \
--no-clobber \
--page-requisites \
--html-extension \
--convert-links \
--restrict-file-names=windows \
--domains website.org \
--no-parent \
www.website.org/tutorials/html/
This command downloads the Web site www.website.org/tutorials/html/

Read more here: Downloading an Entire Web Site with wget | Linux Journal

Can open source survive Congress?

If the House's proposed 2009 Defense Department budget is any indication, Congress may want to see more open-source software (OSS) in defense systems.

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (H.R. 5658) includes language that calls for the services to consider open source software when procuring manned or unmanned aerial vehicles.

It's surprising to see a concept as technical as OSS in an actual congressional bill. But there it is. Whether it will remain in the final authorization is another question. The House's version of the bill was passed in May; This week, the Senate is debating its own version of the bill (S. 3001). When the two halves of Congress come together, will the open source language survive in the resulting authorization?

Read more here: Can open source survive Congress?

Ubuntu 9.04 gets a codename: Jaunty Jackalope

Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth has announced a codename for Ubuntu 9.04, the version of the Linux distribution slated for an April 2009 release. And that name is Jaunty Jackalope.

Each version of Ubunty has come with an alliterative codename where the first word is an adjective and the second is an animal. Or in this case a mythical animal. 8.10 will be called Intrepid Ibex. And even though the codenames aren't supposed to have much meaning once the product is officially launched, many people sitll think of Ubuntu 7.10 as Gutsy Gibbon and 7.04 as Feisty Fawn.

Read more here: Ubuntu 9.04 gets a codename: Jaunty Jackalope

(Via Download Squad.)

What's Coming in Ubuntu 8.10?

The next Ubuntu release is already around the corner. Only two more months, and the next tidal wave of brown 2 paragraph reviews will be upon us. PolishLinux decided that they'd be ahead of the pack, by taking a look at what Ubuntu 8.10 looks like right now, and what new features it brings. Of course, many of these features come from upstream, and will find their way into other distributions as well - or are already there.

By default, Ubuntu 8.10 comes with a pre-configured guest account, allowing people to make their system accessible to others without the risk of losing data or messing up the system. A related addition is the ~/Private directory, which can be encrypted and is inaccessible to others.

Other changes include a graphical configuration tool for fontconfig settings, tabs in Nautilus, a cleaning utility for the package database, a new look for the installer, and a lot more. The theme will also receive a redesign, but it is not yet complete for the current alpha releases.

Read more here: What's Coming in Ubuntu 8.10?

Chromium - Open Source Chrome

Did you know that Google's web browser Chrome is open source?

The open source project is called Chromium, after the metal used to make chrome. In typical Google fashion, the project page has documentation, FAQs, and build-instructions. Even though Chrome is only available for Windows XP and Vista systems right now, users on Linux and Intel Macs running Mac OS X Leopard can compile the Chromium source and run some command line tests (in the case of Linux) and TestShell (OS X). The UI layers for Linux and Mac systems have not been developed -- but many of the underlying core modules can be tested.

Read more here: Chromium - Open Source Chrome

Intel acquires Linux distro developer

Poky Linux" and Matchbox developer OpenedHand announced that it has been acquired by Intel Corp. The U.K.-based embedded Linux services team will join the Intel Open Source Technology Center, and will focus on Moblin development for mobile Internet devices and other mobile devices.

According to OpenedHand, Intel will continue to support open source projects led by OpenedHand staff, including Clutter and Matchbox, "and in most cases, will accelerate these projects as they become an integral part of Moblin," says the new Intel unit. OpenedHand contributions will now be made available from the Intel Software Network's open source site.

Read more here: Intel acquires Linux distro developer

Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

The so-called "distribution for the average Joe" market has been expanding at a rapid pace in recent years. While the vast majority of these projects is invariably based on Linux, we have also witnessed a few attempts to create a user-friendly "distribution" based on operating systems that traditionally belonged to the hacker's domain, notably FreeBSD and OpenSolaris. One of them is PC-BSD, a project launched in 2005. Its main goal? To hide the complexity of FreeBSD and to deliver an alternative to Linux on the desktop. Its main claim to fame? The web-based software installation infrastructure called PBI. Its community? Over 8,000 registered forum members and a growing network of world-wide community sites. All this thanks to the original vision and undying conviction of Kris Moore (pictured on the right), the founder and lead developer of PC-BSD.

Kris was kind enough to answer a few questions about his beginnings with FreeBSD and the forthcoming release of PC-BSD 7.0.

Read more here: DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

Should More Employers Subsidize Open Source Development?

The Hi-Tech Squad raise the interesting question: Should more employers subsidize open source development?

I used to work for Digital Equipment Corp (DEC) who invented the VAX, VMS, main stream 64 bit computing with the Alpha chi and of course Ethernet, to name a few. There was an unwritten rule that you could spend 10% of your time working on other things. Why? Because it broadened your horizons and increased your knowledge. This in turn had a positive effect on the project you where working on.

Google has a similar rule.

Read more here: Should More Employers Subsidize Open Source Development?

(Via .)

Things you should never EVER type in Linux. Ever!

If you’re a Linux guru or or experienced enough to know what all of these things are then you probably don’t need this article and we can go our merry ways. If not, then DO NOT, DON’T, NEVER EVER EVER EVER run these commands in a terminal session. If you do you will render your system anything from useless without a forced reboot to devoid of any useful purpose ever.

Read more here: Things you should never EVER type in Linux. Ever! | ArsGeek

Download 25 Most Beautiful FireFox Desktop Wallpapers

Here is a cool collection of firefox desktop wallpaper collection for firefox fans.

You can download the 25 most beautiful firefox wallpapers below:

1024×768 | 1152×864 | 1280×960 | 1280×1024 | 1400×1050 | 1600×1200

1024×768 | 1152×864 | 1280×960 | 1280×1024 | 1400×1050 | 1600×1200

1024×768 | 1152×864 | 1280×960 | 1280×1024 | 1400×1050 | 1600×1200

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768





1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

1024×768

Read more here: Download 25 Most Beautiful FireFox Desktop Wallpapers

(Via TechTreak.com.)

Quebec government sued for buying Microsoft software

Quebec's open-source software association is suing the provincial government, saying it is giving preferential treatment to Microsoft Corp. by buying the company's products rather than using free alternatives.

Facil estimates the Quebec government is spending $80 million a year on Windows Vista licences alone. (Mary Altaffer/Associated Press)The lawsuit by Facil was lodged with the Quebec Superior Court on July 15 and made public on Wednesday. In it, the group says the provincial government has refused to entertain competing bids from all software providers, opting instead to supply public-sector departments with products bought from proprietary vendors such as Microsoft and Oracle Corp.

Government buyers are using an exception in provincial law that allows them to buy directly from a proprietary vendor when there are no options available, but Facil said that loophole is being abused and goes against other legal requirements to buy locally.

Read more here: Quebec government sued for buying Microsoft software

Anatomy of Linux dynamic libraries

Dynamically linked shared libraries are an important aspect of GNU/Linux®. They allow executables to dynamically access external functionality at run time and thereby reduce their overall memory footprint (by bringing functionality in when it's needed). The article linked below investigates the process of creating and using dynamic libraries, provides details on the various tools for exploring them, and explores how these libraries work under the hood.

Read more here: Anatomy of Linux dynamic libraries

(Via Linux.com :: Newsvac.)

Integrating Linux into the SME

DesktopLinux.com have an article that summarizes the experiences of one small- to medium-sized enterprise (SME) using a heterogeneous mix of Linux and Windows XP systems.

Written by the founder of an international PC distributor, it compares and contrasts various Linux-based distributions, and assesses their suitability for business use.

Author Michael C. Barnes, president of Nohrtec, begins with a brief history of his company's use of Linux. He then outlines the following as criteria used to evaluate various operating systems for business use:

• Compatibility with hardware
  
• Installation ease
  
• Repository system
  
• Performance
  
• Interface
  
• Applications
  
• Stability
  
• Configurability
  
• Scalability
  
• Security
  

Barnes goes on to look at about a dozen different operating systems, including Microsoft OSes as well as Linux distributions, in the context of the above criteria. To read the full story, click the link below.

Read more here: Integrating Linux into the SME

10 must-have Linux (and not only) cheat-sheets

Need a quick reference card? Here you have a list you can choose from:

1.Linux Command Line Tips
2.Unix/Linux Reference Card
3.One Page LInux Manual
4.Linux Security Quick Reference
5.Screen VT100/ANSI Terminal Emulator Cheat Sheet
6.Vi/VIM Graphical Cheat-Sheet
7.Firefox Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts
8.Gimp Reference Card
9.Debian Reference Card
10.Google Cheat Sheet

Read more here: 10 must-have Linux (and not only) cheat-sheets

10 Most Beautiful Plasma Themes for KDE 4 Desktop

The latest series of the K Desktop Environment now utilizes Plasma, a new desktop and panel user interface tool that aims for a more functional, user-friendly, and sleek KDE desktop. Plasma also supports Dashboard-like widgets called plasmoids.



If you want to further enhance the look of your KDE 4 desktop, below is a list of some of the most beautiful Plasma themes available:

Read more here: TECH SOURCE FROM BOHOL: 10 Most Beautiful Plasma Themes for KDE 4 Desktop