Author: JT Smith
It was a week of releases in the Open Source world from a new version of the Mandrake Linux distribution, to a business-focused KDE initiative, to a much-anticipated update to Mac OS X, to a new version of Linux itself.
Let’s start with the Linux 2.4.10 release, which began hitting the Web when Linus Torvalds sent an email announcing it last Sunday. Torvalds told readers to “give it hell,” and outlined these changes: “In addition to the VM changes that have gotten so much attention there are architecture updates, various major filesystem updates (jffs2 and NTFS), ACPI updates, and tons of driver merges. And, of course, the min()/max() changes.”
Over at Mandrake, version 8.1 of the desktop-friendly Linux distro was announced Thursday. Among the new features: The latest versions of the KDE and Gnome GUIs and MandrakeFirstTime, an “easy-to-use wizard that helps to setup desktop environment, choose a theme and configure email settings.”
Apparently, not everyone was impressed with the new Mandrake offering, however. Adequacy.org, a sometimes-critic of the Open Source culture, reviewed Mandrake 8.1 and compared it with the new Windows XP. The reviewer’s main complaint is that Mandrake doesn’t run Windows applications. Take a look if you want to see what a lot of uninformed outsiders think about Linux in general, even if the article is a parody.
Apple’s BSD-based Mac OS X limped toward an upgrade this week, with rumors that 10.1 would be released this weekend. NewsForge’s sister site, SourceForge, has added 10.1 to its compile farm, meaning developers will be able to test drive their 10.1-compatible applications at SourceForge.
And finally, to end our new products wrap-up, the crew at KDE announced the KDE::Enterprise initiative this week, an attempt to promote KDE to corporate desktop users.
Nasdaq drops its $1 rule
Good news this week for a handful of Open Source companies with stock hovering at or below the $1 range: They’re no longer in danger of being delisted from Nasdaq. The tech-heavy stock exchange has suspended its rule that stocks must stay above $1 or face getting booted from the exchange. Probably a good move for Nasdaq, or who’d be left?
Microsoft watch
A couple of news items from everyone’s favorite monopolist this week. The new judge in the Microsoft antitrust case apparently thinks there are more important things going on in the world. She’s encouraging Microsoft and the government to settle the case quickly.
Better news from the Gartner Group. The tech analyst is encouraging corporate network admins to replace Microsoft IIS servers because they just aren’t secure enough. Welcome to the Open Source revolution, Gartner! Microsoft, of course, is standing by its products.
New in NewsForge
Stories that appeared first in NewsForge this week:
