News (115)
Mozilla refreshes its open-source backbone
Ten years on, Mozilla has concluded that its open-source underpinnings are due for a refresh. Read more »
Microsoft pulls Windows 7 download tool
Microsoft has halted distribution of a tool aimed at making it easier to put Windows 7 on netbooks amid allegations that the utility makes improper use of open-source code. Read more »
What made Microsoft open up to Linux? Ask Novell
Microsoft's move to offer several Linux drivers owes a lot to a key programmer at Novell. Read more »
Open source licence victory in model-railway case
A federal appeals court in the US has upheld the right of a copyright holder to distribute software under a free or open source licence while preventing such code being used commercially without following the licensing conditions. Read more »
When worlds collide: Microsoft funds Apache
Microsoft, one of the biggest rivals to open source programming, has begun funding the Apache Software Foundation (ASF), one of open source software's biggest supporters. Read more »
Gmail gets free Yahoo phishing protection
Google on Tuesday said it is now using an email authentication technology to keep phishers from luring Gmail users to fake eBay and PayPal Web pages in order to steal usernames and passwords. Read more »
Java will be free this year, says Sun
The struggle to open up Java completely is finally coming to an end. Read more »
Skype caves in to GPL requirements
Skype has abandoned its efforts to avoid complying with an open-source licence that requires it to provide source code with Linux-based VoIP phones. Read more »
Sun to launch first MySQL update
The next version of MySQL won't contain bugs of the past, according to Sun execs who have promised not to change the culture of the open-source database organisation that was acquired by Sun for US$1bn in January. Read more »
Open specification promise is true: Microsoft
Microsoft has struck out at the Software Freedom Law Centre's (SFLC) claims that its Open Specification Promise is not as open as it should be. Read more »
Features (23)
Why qooxdoo falls short on its goal of simplification
The days of building Web applications from scratch are over, as a variety of JavaScript libraries are freely available to provide a solid foundation. Qooxdoo is an open source AJAX Framework that simplifies building Web user interfaces. Read more »
Gosling looks down Sun's open road
James Gosling discusses Sun's decision to release Java under the General Public License, whether open source is more secure than proprietary software, how IT departments can cut development costs, and why Microsoft still owns the desktop. Read more »
Building on top of osCommerce
By choosing to modify an existing open source e-retailing system, Damian Hickey was able to accelerate the development process, but also took on board a score of additional problems. Read more »
A look inside Google's open source kitchen
Google's Chris DiBona says the search giant has a lot of involvement in open source, but is also a firm believer in proprietary software. Read more »
Is it kill or cure for Oracle's database buy?
Purchase of a company with close ties to open-source rival MySQL has people wondering about the database giant's motives. Read more »
Special report: Linux.conf 2005
Builder AU will be covering the latest news, interviews and blogs from Linux.conf.au 2005 live in this special report from Canberra. Read more »
The open-source patent conundrum
The latest tactic in the software-patenting battle is the granting of patent rights to open-source developers. But are the grants really the equivalent of wolves in sheep's clothing? Read more »
Sprucing up open source's GPL foundation
Modernisation is coming to the General Public License, a legal framework that supports a large part of the free and open-source software movements and that has received sharp criticism from Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. Read more »
Java's future lies in FOSS
Australian developer Brandon Franklin says the time is now for Sun to make Java available under a free software licence. Read more »
Six barriers to open source adoption
The benefits of open source software are well known--lower TCO, more choice, and increasing quality and functionality of the code. Several barriers must be overcome before Linux and other open source projects are broadly accepted across enterprises, but they aren't insurmountable. Read more »
Blog (4)
Samba gets an inside look at Microsoft documentation
-- A complicated third-party arrangement means that the open-source Samba project will be able to make use of proprietary documents describing Microsoft file-sharing software. Read more »
Busybox settles a second GPL suit
-- The folks behind Busybox have settled a second lawsuit that argued a company violated the widely used free and open-source license. Read more »
Sun open sources Niagara 2 chip
-- Sun Microsystems has followed through on a promise to release the designs of a second server processor as open-source software. Read more »
GPL 3 -- a bridge too far?
-- Now it's time to create a new phrase: "free as in free software," meaning the freedom to make adversaries of potential partners -- the kind of freedom one has when one's work must be carefully excluded from other people's projects. Read more »
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Microsoft shows off IE9 previewThis week, highlights from Microsoft's MIX10 conference and more in the Roundup. Read more »
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In a split decision by the judges, the winner of the W3C/WHATWG video codec consensus is H.264, taking home the future of video playback on the internet while loser Ogg goes home with nothing but thoughts of what might have been. Read more »
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Google launches Apps Marketplace
Google launches and app store, while Mozilla plans to re-write its open-source license. More of this week's news in the Roundup. Read more »
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Filter protesters brave Vic weather
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CNET first look at Google Buzz
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