Monthly Archives: May 2012

BOOM! BOOM! Out Go The Lights on Oracle v Google

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Robert Pogson

Oracle’s attempt to tax Android/Linux with patents and mess with Android/Linux with copyrights has been shot down. The jury has decided there was not much copying. The patents fell apart and the judge has just ruled that APIs (Application Programming … Continue reading →

Posted in technology | 7 Comments

UK Refuses to Fund IT Projects That Did Not Evaluate FLOSS

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Robert Pogson

It’s about time. The UK now requires proposals for funding IT to consider FLOSS in the mix of solutions. That should take care of a lot of networks, services, databases and desktops. One of my favourite themes is considering price/performance … Continue reading →

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Fedora Considers Building In a Dependency on M$…

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Robert Pogson

Fedora is considering getting M$ to sign a bootloader for them so they can boot Fedora GNU/Linux on UEFI hardware. This is a dangerous precedent. Different evil scenarios: M$ gets this procedure to become standardized in GNU/Linux and then revokes … Continue reading →

Posted in technology | 18 Comments

A Measure of the Bias of NetApplications Against GNU/Linux

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Robert Pogson

Another month approaches and we expect to read once again how GNU/Linux is not making it on the desktop as evidenced by NetApplications biased web-sampling: For the week of April 1, 2012: Region Share (%) USA 1.28 USA without Google … Continue reading →

Posted in technology | 7 Comments

Samsung: New Chrome OS Desktop and Notebook

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Robert Pogson

If anything indicated GNU/Linux is mainstream, Samsung releasing a product based on GNU/Linux for desktop and notebook is. The ChromeOS devices are great for people needing mobility or less clutter on desks who mainly use web/cloud apps. As such, a … Continue reading →

Posted in technology | 15 Comments

Another Canadian School Division Does IT the Right Way – GNU/Linux and Thin Clients

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Robert Pogson

I have long advocated GNU/Linux plus thin clients be the keystone of IT in schools. There are lots of advantages: easy, centralized control of all software and hardware, easy and quick software updates, less money spent on licensing software, improved … Continue reading →

Posted in Linux in Education, technology | 3 Comments

Standby for the ARMed Server Wars

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Robert Pogson

Dell has been quietly grinding out a design for a rackmounted server using ARMed CPUs. You can get over 2000 CPU cores in a rack with a ton of RAM and storage for a few watts per core. HP, Calxeda … Continue reading →

Posted in technology | 13 Comments

Samsung Under Pressure to Seek New Growth-engines

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Robert Pogson

Samsung has been growing like Topsy but is running out of opportunities. I have a few suggestions: Produce GNU/Linux + FLOSS PCs based on ARM. Samsung has all the pieces and the shelf-space to bring it to market in a … Continue reading →

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Illegal Use of Software in China

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Robert Pogson

I have lived and worked off the beaten track. I know how casual people can be about legally copying or using software. China is reputed to be one of the most disrespectful countries for copyright. Recent numbers by the BSA … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching, technology | 5 Comments

Innovation = Freedom: Eben Moglen

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Robert Pogson

I have long touted the four freedoms of Free Software as the best way to do IT and being good for the economy, enabling everyone to participate. Eben Moglen, guru of Software Freedom Law Center, gave a speech along the … Continue reading →

Posted in technology | 45 Comments

Debian Wheeze Freeze approaching!

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Robert Pogson

Debian is working towards freezing the packages to be included in Wheezy (7.0) in June. I have been using Wheezy for months and find it quite usable although the installer did not work for me a couple of times. With … Continue reading →

Posted in technology | 48 Comments

Winter

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Robert Pogson

Winter is the chief killer of deer here. A normal winter kills a fair number of deer and particularly the youngsters who have not bulked up and cannot forage/browse in the deep snow. The past winter was very mild, both … Continue reading →

Posted in hunting | 2 Comments