The Linux kernel patch was spotted by chip info leaker @KOMANCHI_ENSAKA on Twitter, with the patch having been signed off by an Intel senior graphics software engineer Kan Liang. This is by no means conclusive evidence that 10nm desktop parts are on their way. However, it does suggest that rumours of Intel skipping the 10nm process node for its desktop CPUs to pursue a 7nm fabrication process instead are not accurate; in fact, an Intel spokesperson also told us that such rumours were piffle. (Source: The Inquirer)
GNOME’s patent-troll counterattack
Rothschild Patent Imaging LLC filed a patent suit against the GNOME Foundation in September, asserting a violation in the Shotwell photo manager. GNOME has now gone on the counterattack, questioning the validity of the patent and whether it applies to Shotwell at all. There is also an unspecified counterclaim to strike back against Rothschild. “We want to send a message to all software patent trolls out there — we will fight your suit, we will win, and we will have your patent invalidated. To do this, we need your help.” (Source: LWN)
Firefox 70 is Here with New Logo, Secure Password Generator + More
The release, the latest stable update to the hugely popular open source web browser, features a number of notable improvements and privacy enhancements. Firefox 70 includes a new ‘securely generated password’ option that works in HTML password fields. Rounding out the security and privacy updates, there’s yet more enhanced tracking protection, plus integration with Firefox Lockwise (formerly Lockbox; requires a Firefox account). (Source: OMG! Ubuntu)
Ikey Doherty Launches Open-Source Focused Game/Software Development Company
Well known open-source figure Ikey Doherty who rose to prominence for his work on the Solus Linux distribution and then went on to work on Intel’s Clear Linux project is now having his hand at game engine development. Ikey shared with us that he left Intel back in May to begin his new adventure: Lispy Snake. Lispy Snake is a UK software development firm that at least initially is working on a game engine and games. Given Ikey’s experience, the firm is focused on leveraging open-source technologies. (Source: Phoronix)
Clear Linux Working On A New Software Store
Intel developers are still working on some interesting improvements to Clear Linux itself this quarter on top of keeping up to date with the latest upstream software it packages. For those users of this Intel-optimized rolling-release Linux distribution, Q4’2019 is set to bring more improvements to its installer, Python 2 should finally be cleared out, the user bundles / third-party support looks like it will be ready, and they are even working on a new alternative to GNOME Software that will be focused on their bundles packaging architecture. (Source: Phoronix)
Proper Linux Screen Sharing Coming to Chromium & Electron Apps like Discord
There’s some good news for multi-monitor Linux users fed up at not being able to share a specific screen in apps like Google Meet and Discord. A patch to add ‘screen enumeration’ to the Chromium browser is currently pending merge upstream. Once this fix is accepted Chromium and Chromium-based apps (like Discord) will finally support full screen sharing on Linux in a manner similar to that on Windows and macOS. Not being a multi-monitor user, or someone who shares their screen often, I wasn’t aware of this particular limitation until recently. (Source: OMG! Ubuntu)
Disney+ Won’t Work on Linux
If you plan to get Disney+ with the hopes of using it on a Chromebook, Linux computer, or some Android streaming players, you may be out of luck. Sadly, early testing in the Netherlands has shown Disney+ does not work on these devices. Disney has set its DRM (Digital Rights Management) to a very high level to help prevent piracy. Disney uses a DRM system created by Google called Widevine. The Widevine system has three different levels of security, and Disney has set their level of security all the way up to 1 according to Hasdegoede who first reported this and Cord Cutters News has later confirmed. Sadly many devices including Chromebooks and Linux do not support level 1 Widevine as their support stops at level 3. (Source: Cord Cutter News)
Samsung Kills ‘Linux On DeX’
Samsung has reportedly sent out emails to a relatively small number of its customers that it’s shutting down the Linux on DeX (aka Linux on Galaxy) beta program. The South Korean company warned users that it would no longer provide support for the program for future operating systems and devices. (Source: TFiR)
Wine 4.18 Released With Many Bug Fixes
While three weeks have passed since the previous Wine development release compared to the usual two-week cadence, Wine 4.18 is out today and isn’t too busy on the feature front but there are more than three dozen bug fixes. The delay and Wine 4.18 not being particularly big appear to be due to WineConf taking place last week in Toronto keeping many of the developers busy. New Wine 4.18 feature work includes implementing more VBScript functions, cleanups/improvements to the Apple macOS Quartz code, and fixes for test case failures. (Phoronix)
Mirantis Partners With OpenStack Foundation to Support Upgraded COA Exam
Mirantis announced today that it is providing resources to the OpenStack Foundation, including becoming the new administrators of the upgraded Certified OpenStack Administrator (COA) exam. (Mirantis)