OPINION
Operating system
looks to potential well beyond phones: Malik
GigaOm Oct 21, 08 2:45 PM CDT
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Google’s release of the code for its Android operating system today—a day before the G1 phone hits stores—paves the path for transformation of the cell-phone industry and beyond, Om Malik writes on GigaOm. As coders enhance Android and develop add-ons, either for existing devices or new ones, consumers will benefit from increased choice and cheaper, faster phones, Malik writes.
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Campus prefers education campaign to punishment
Ars Technica Aug 28, 08 8:18 PM CDT
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Northwestern University has a way to decrease peer-to-peer sharing of copyrighted files: send students emails. The system, called Be Aware You’re Uploading, delivers email notifications to active p2p users on the network, Ars Technica reports. BAYU has a successful track record of reducing p2p usage and copyright violations. It’s not a real punishment, but BAYU works by informing users oblivious to illegal uploading.
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NEW RELEASE
'While it’s not perfect, it comes pretty close,' reviewer says of Mozilla's latest
Wired Jun 17, 08 2:20 PM CDT
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Download Firefox 3, out today. That’s what Michael Calore suggests on Webmonkey. The new version of the open-source browser lets users set application-specific links on Web pages—such as “mailto” links—to launch webapps instead of other applications—say, Gmail instead of Outlook. It also supports using webapps offline, allowing users to synch them up when they’re back on line. Read on to see Calore's reasons for saying the browser's among 2008’s “most kick-ass software releases.”
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Move gives new life
to seemingly immortal operating system
Internetnews.com May 17, 08 11:15 AM CDT
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Now that Microsoft has signed on to the One Laptop Per Child initiative—aimed at getting low-cost PCs to kids in poor countries—its Windows XP operating system is again getting a new jolt of life, reports InternetNews.com. The project originally used only free, open-source software such as Linux, but sales were slow because of little enthusiasm from government clients over the system, the New York Times notes.
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New York Times Apr 13, 08 11:38 AM CDT
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Tech companies that blend social missions with business ambitions are all the rage in Silicon Valley. Called “social enterprises,” they often generate sizable revenue (unlike most nonprofits), that’s then retained and reinvested (unlike most for-profits). Now, an ecosystem of related organizations is emerging, such as specialized legal services and independent Internet providers, reports the New York Times .
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Wireless chief praises open-source mobile system, but doesn't commit to it
Wall Street Journal Apr 3, 08 12:01 PM CDT
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Google’s Android mobile operating system may find a home with AT&T, the Wall Street Journal reports. Signalling what could be a major victory for the platform, the telecom’s wireless chief said he was “confident” Android “is something we are going to want in our portfolio.” He cited its open-source technology, which would allow AT&T flexibility in customizing its phones’ software.
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Applications and entertainment options more important than iPhone's aesthetics
Wired Mar 31, 08 4:07 PM CDT
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The iPhone may have buzz, Wired writes, but the smartphone market is deviating from the model of Apple’s “Jesus phone,” particularly in the software area. Wary of Apple’s restrictive software development policies, Wired pegs the Nokia N95, with an open source application platform, as more influential in the development of future handsets. That’s not to say that the N95 doesn’t somewhat resemble the iPhone externally.
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But skeptical regulators say it's deja vu from
US software giant
Wall Street Journal Feb 21, 08 5:41 PM CST
(Newser)
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Microsoft plans to share the secrets of its most popular products, the company announced today, in an effort to satisfy EU regulators who want the software giant to improve its interoperability. The European Commission did cautiously applaud the move, but noted that Microsoft has already made at least four similar statements, to little effect, the Wall Street Journal reports.
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Social sites like Twitter, Facebook part of Google's new venture
CNET Jan 17, 08 6:33 PM CST
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A Google-funded website that uses technology to spread the word about emergencies launches today, CNET reports. The company's charitable arm has put $5 million into InSTEDD, which will use social software like Twitter and Facebook to alert humanitarian groups to crises and organize rescue operations. “Social networking in the humanitarian space, that's something you're going to see,” InSTEDD’s CEO said.
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Open-source software developer latest acquisition for giant
MarketWatch Jan 16, 08 6:07 PM CST
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Sun Microsystems revealed two surprises today: The computer company showed quarterly earnings that have nearly doubled from a year ago, and it said it would buy open-source software developer MySQL for $800 million in cash and $200 million in assumed options. Sun’s earnings in the second quarter—which ended Dec. 30—could reach $265 million, beating 2006’s $133 million mark, MarketWatch reports.
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Jimmy Wales' new project combines networking, search
Wired Nov 17, 07 9:13 AM CST
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Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is apparently going after Facebook and Google in the social-networking arena, Wired reports. Wales showed slides of his upcoming project during a speech in South Africa, and a tech blogger on hand described it as a "search/social networking hybrid" that incorporates elements of both internet powerhouses.
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'Android' will bring familiar Google apps onto handsets
CNET Nov 3, 07 1:05 PM CDT
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Google is set to unveil Android, a mobile phone software platform based on open-source technology which could be a bellwether for an industry sea change, news.com reports. A press conference next week is expected to unveil the platform and give specifics on its collaborators, dubbed the "Open Handset Alliance." Surprisingly, it may include most of the major cellphone tech firms.
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Rumored deal with OpenSocial could
boost both partners
CNET Nov 1, 07 3:04 PM CDT
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Tech bloggers are buzzing about a rumored partnership between MySpace and Google’s about-to-be-launched OpenSocial project; a big reveal may come as soon as today. Though it still leads Facebook in membership and traffic, the social networker has lost much of its spotlight recently—and CNet’s Caroline McCarthy says the deal is likely a good move for MySpace owner News Corp.
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Upcoming rollout could revolutionize social networking
TechCrunch Oct 29, 07 2:35 PM CDT
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Google is set to launch its hush-hush rival to Facebook next month. Code-named “Maka-Maka,” the watershed social networking service will introduce a completely open source platform and a slew of new applications. Details are scarce, but the vision is a social layer that combines all of Google’s existing services—think GoogleChat, iGoogle, Orkut—and incorporates outside data, TechCrunch reports.
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