Posts by candtalan

Jobs' 'nuclear war' is not doing Apple any good - analyst

All of the Apple law suit fuss

alerted me to the Samsung Galaxy Tab10.1

So, I looked at it, then liked it, and then, bought one! Talk about unintended consequences.

LOL

Ubuntu savaged by rivals infected with fondleslab fever

GreyGeek77 said:

'After all, Unity was written to appeal to Windows users, not Linux users. And, it was written to eliminate the problem of maintaining a separate DE for a desktop, a laptop, a netbook, a tablet and a smartphone. Unity is a single DE designed to run on ALL of those devices and present a single interface regardless of which device is used. Those new arrivals to Ubuntu/Unity have never run Gnome and most probably have never seen it. Judging by the ratio of Windows users to Linux users at a Linux website, I'd say Canonical's game plan is working'

I think you are correct in this. However, the *way* in which the changes have been handled has caused upset, offence, and even enemies that did not exist before. How people (users) *feel* about a product is the stuff of a good marketing specialist, and not all to do with the product content or quality. For example, if you know you are going to do something which is going to hurt someone else, but still has to happen anyway, it is human to recognise this and at least be apologetic. This is a piece of the jigsaw I have not yet seen.

Red Hat engineer renews attack on Windows 8-certified secure boot

I have a house full of recycled PCs that originally were sold with Windows. They all now run Ubuntu. None run Windows.

Cabinet Office shuns open-source in IT-tracking deal

The 2011 Cabinet Office ICT Strategy includes

"....The adoption of compulsory open standards will help government to avoid lengthy vendor lock-in......"

?

http://bit.ly/gVWOMl

http://bit.ly/e6Xpb2

RM shares take a caning following Board warning

Mandatory Open Standards coming to a street near you

UK Government ICT Strategy (March 2011)

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/content/government-ict-strategy

Includes:

'....impose compulsory open standards, starting with interoperability and security'

'....avoid lengthy vendor lock-in, allowing the transfer of services or suppliers....'

Desktop Linux: the final frontier

Really *enjoy*

using your PC

Judge guts suit against Sony for killing Linux in PS3

Interesting that Microsoft are

apparently encouraging hacking of the Kinect. Maybe Sony have not learned that 'allowing', by some means or another, most of the world to use your stuff the way they want to, or even free, you trash the competition, and get pretty rich anyway.

Big stink over Malawi farting ban

A valuable source of renewable energy

Vehicles might run on flatulence power?

Brits blow millions on over-priced ink

The coming generation of printers ...

.... are being made with *smaller* cartridge print capacity. This is what my (UK) retail contact said when I asked them if buying a newer inkjet would/could reduce ink costs. The message was very clear - across all manufacturers, and all types of printers, apparently, the capacity is being reduced. So, more replacements, eh?

Sky confirms UK Online closure

There is always a compelling reason -

@Fizzle

...to give up your freedom

:-(

Great minds thinking alike?

@Ed 16

Although I am still a UKOnline customer (for a few more days yet) I was fascinated to see that you used to use Demon, as I did. Then I moved to UKOnline too. And, hey! I have just signed up with Be! I am a relatively low throughput user, and my ISP costs seem to be reducing not increasing.

Gov depts to cut back office, IT spending

UK Cabinet Office says that

'Open Source has been one of the most significant cultural developments in IT and beyond over the last two decades.....'

[...]

'But we need to increase the pace:......'

Policy Documents

Title: Open Source, Standards and Re-use: Government Action Plan

Topic: Open Source Software Policy

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/govtalk/policydocuments/open_source_software/open_source_standards_and_re-use.aspx

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/253407/Open%20Source%20Final.pdf

Las Vegas death ray roasts hotel guests

Create a photovoltaic sculpture feature

which tracks the moving beam, possibly partly powered by the beam itself. Could be a form of a tracked or suspended item. If (another) architect were to be used who had an artistic bent it could look quite good. It could generate power. Use some power also for a nice water feature near the pool......

Police spent tens of thousands on failed BitTorrent probe

Thieves will pay, they actually DID pay

Using proper survey methods, a random sample of internet users of ages between 18 to 44 has shown that users of P2P technology spend considerable money on traditional media and entertainment. 34% more on movies in theatres, purchases of 34% more DVDs and rents, 24% more movies that the average internet user.

"It is clear that it is not just about free content. P2P users are important to the revenue model of traditional media and entertainment companies."

(2009)

Media Companies' best customers are the ones who steal content:

http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=138587

Dell comes clean on open source

GPL? which GPL?

I believe that there are as many different GPLs as you might wish to compose, with probably few of them mandating free software. As I understand it, the GNU GPL is more specifically what is intended in the reference, although it would be quite nice to have that confirmed.....

Intel to get whacked in Q3 by PC slowdown

I would buy Computers

With no operating system, as long as they were warranted compatible with GNU/Linux (Ubuntu in my case). Easy sale of two, if not three. Failing their availability (what's new?), I will be perfectly happy with my existing kit. It runs well on Ubuntu anyway.

Lexmark files patent gripe against 24 cartridge makers

A reason

to avoid buying Lexmark

Canonical scoops Alfresco man for operations

Brought to you by the letter 'F'

I certainly wish Matt all the best. I have followed his blogs from time to time and have noted his promotion of open source. But I have not noticed a love of the Libre aspect, F for freedom, the ethical and political stance which provides the motivational powerhouse of energy sustaining the FOSS movement.

'Open source' is a useful stepping stone concept but it is not what it is all about. I trust that Canonical will continue to appreciate the letter 'F'.

Oz anti-censorship site is censored

Oz anti-censorship site is censored

Oh dear, bad news

Big business bullies EU into open source U-turn

Open Fallacy

This shows the weakness of a focus just on 'Open Source'. I know the concept of Software Libre (Free software) is more complex than 'Open Source', however, it is the 'freedom' aspect of Software Libre, Free Software, which is important. As Microsoft is showing, Open Source may not necessarily mean 'freedom'.

The GNU GPL is pretty good at enshrining ' freedom'. I am not even sure it mentions open source though.

Dell: Linux v Windows netbook returns a 'non-issue'

Dell don't sell XPS M1330 in the UK anymore #

@ Callum

I was asked recently by two elderly female friends to help them purchase a Ubuntu laptop each, not netbooks because they wanted large displays. One had actually previously asked for this in a large London department store, but as one might expect, got nowhere.

I was surprised that Dell no longer offered this type, and had a brief discussion with Dell sales.

However, Linux Emporium were just the job, and made two quick sales.

:-)