Open Source Conspiracy Nuts: _OSI, Your BIOS, and You

I’m not a big fan of conspiracy theories. They exist to give weak-minded, irrational people the extravagant and irrational explanations for irrational events they seem to need — belief in widespread conspiracy is a coping mechanism for the mentally unstable.
Bogeymen, secret societies, remote control aircraft, grassy knolls, UFO secrets, and all the rest.
Now add Foxconn [...]

“Free Software Community” = Freeloaders

I saw a headline and snippet in my news feeds this morning that made me wonder if the article was worth reading or just more inane BS confusing what “free” means with respect to the GPL. I should’ve known that it would be belly-aching about price.
Why all the fuss over whether you can sell something [...]

Interview with gOS Founder: “Linux For Human Beings (Who Shop At WAL*MART)”:
At first look, the systems specifications seem pretty meager, until you have a gander at the list of applications. Instead of utilizing applications on the computer locally, the gPC leverages online applications that are delivered via web browser, such as Google Docs and Spreadsheets. [...]

Bloatware Update

Here’s another sign that there’s really no difference between the mindsets of Microsoft and those churning out Linux distros . The latest abortion is Ubuntu’s decision to enable Compiz by default. Why do I have a problem with this? Because it means users will have to weigh their options between OS upgrades and hardware upgrades.
The [...]

Walt Mossberg Reviews Dell Ubuntu Offering

Walt Mossberg notes Ubuntu isn’t for people who want a computer that doesn’t require tech-oriented tweaking and writes, “Even in the relatively slick Ubuntu variation, Linux is still too rough around the edges for the vast majority of computer users.”
Linux’s Free System Is Now Easier to Use, But Not for Everyone:
Dell and Canonical tell me [...]

What Happens When Ubuntu Users Compile Source, and Why Ubuntu Books Are Tediously Pedantic

I recalled Jem Matzan’s rant against the proliferation of overly pedantic Ubuntu books when I read the following article this morning. Jem wondered, “What is it about Ubuntu Linux that makes otherwise competent technical writers switch to Moron Mode?”
Maybe they understand their target audience, Jem. Case in point:
A first look at Python 3.0 alpha 1
I [...]

Open-Sourcing of Java Almost Complete

Sun is announcing today that they’ve completed re-licensing — to GPL version 2 — the core of Java. With this move, Sun hopes to get some help with the rest that isn’t yet GPLed:
Sun hopes the open-source community will help it resolve the issue of Java source code that remains “encumbered,” where Sun doesn’t hold [...]

Ubuntu Going Mobile

Intel is working with Canonical, Ltd, to get Ubuntu on their forthcoming mobile platform.

Dell Selects Ubuntu

It looks like Dell has decided to pre-install Ubuntu on two e-series (one laptop, one desktop) and one XPS (desktop) models.

What’s in a Name: Ub*nt*’s Trademark

Mark Shuttleworth of Canonical/Ubuntu has announced Ubuntu’s new trademark policy. Shuttleworth wrote on his blog:
Classically, “software freedom” was about the copyright license associated with the code. But patents and trademarks are now being brought into the mix. For example, the discussion around Mozilla’s trademark policy was directly linking the concept of “freedom” to trademark policy [...]