Operating Systems

Debian 7: A So-So Distro Not Worth Switching For
June 19, 2013

After a hiatus of more than two years, the developers of Debian last month released a major upgrade. That surely came as good news to fans of this granddaddy Linux OS, but the new Debian 7 "Wheezy" may not be worth the wait if you are happily using more popular Linux options. I feel somewhat like a turncoat for saying that about Debian Linux -- I should be revering its 20-year-long lineage.

Microsoft Challenges iAd With Ad Pano
June 18, 2013

In an effort to enable rich, interactive ads for its Windows 8 platform, Microsoft on Tuesday announced Ad Pano, a brand-new advertising platform that runs across Windows 8, apps, Bing, Xbox and Skype. Debuted at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity being held this week in France, Ad Pano gets its name from the panoramic abilities of the ad format.

Zenoss' Alan Conley: Doing the Dynamic Infrastructure Dance
June 18, 2013

A thin line between traditional IT monitoring and management services and monitoring real-time operations divides what Zenoss offers its customers and what other vendors provide. The IT monitoring space is becoming more crowded with proprietary and open source software solutions. Zenoss, according to Chief Technology Officer Alan Conley, offers a uniform platform that extends its reach.

Best Buy Clears Floor Space for New Windows Shops
June 14, 2013

Microsoft is the latest product manufacturer to follow the retail trend of setting up shop within a big box store. Best Buy and Microsoft on Thursday announced plans to open the Windows Store only at Best Buy in 500 retail locations in the U.S. and more than 100 in Canada. The stores will range in size from 1,500 square feet to 2,200 square feet. Microsoft specialists will staff each shop.

2 Years Later, HP's Botched Palm Acquisition Still Stings
June 13, 2013

Former Palm CEO and webOS creator Jon Rubinstein is apparently still brooding over Palm's acquisition by HP. Two years later, he looks back at what HP did with webOS -- or rather what it didn't do -- and he is very disappointed, he said in a recent interview. When HP acquired Palm for $1.2 billion in 2010, it did indeed look as though webOS was destined for great things.

Acer's Android Smart Display Pushes Desktop Boundaries
June 13, 2013

Acer's Smart Display DA220HQL is a 21.5-inch all-in-one touchscreen released earlier this year that runs the Android operating system with a wireless keyboard and mouse and has the potential to change your desktop computing habits. The more I use it, the more adept I get at working in a touch and swipe computing environment that I am not holding in my hands.

Gentoo Creator Daniel Robbins: Making Linux Free and Flexible
June 11, 2013

Open source software is a passion for some and a business for others. Daniel Robbins was driven by a need to make Linux better than he found it. Robbins created two Linux distros: Gentoo and Funtoo. He created Gentoo Linux during his time as a systems administrator. Funtoo, meanwhile, is a project that Robbins created to extend the technologies for Gentoo.

Microsoft's Uncanny Transformation
June 10, 2013

For much of the last decade, Microsoft has set an example more of doing things wrong than right, but at TechEd last week, Microsoft suddenly was showcasing a number of really smart decisions and best practices. It almost felt like an event from a different company -- or the company I remember from the 1990s, before it got arrogant; when it was younger, more vital and a bit more fun.

Testing the Faith of the Linux Masses
June 10, 2013

It doesn't seem too big a stretch to say that fidelity is an increasingly rare virtue in the population at large. Can the same be said of the Linux masses? That's just what TuxRadar apparently set out to learn recently via a thought-provoking Open Ballot. "Do you ever see yourself switching back to Windows or Mac OS X -- or BSD, Solaris, or any other OS -- and leaving Linux behind?" its query read.

The Linux Standard Base: Order From Chaos
June 06, 2013

Imagine going out to do your shopping errands in a world devoid of standards. What would that be like? Without standard sizes, something as routine as buying clothes would be an exercise in frustration. Finding a replacement bulb or buying tires for your car would require unique parts made only by the manufacturer. That's why the world of Linux has the Linux Standard Base.

Microsoft Repairs Windows' Cracks
June 05, 2013

At this week's Computex trade show in Taiwan, Microsoft applied some polish to its beleaguered Windows platform. That included announcing that Outlook will finally arrive on Windows RT as well as making the first public demonstration of its forthcoming Windows 8.1. Also on hand at the show were a variety of new devices decked out to show off Windows' consistent experience across screens.

Mozillux: A Nice Linux Distro With a Unique Software Set
June 05, 2013

As Linux distros go, French Mozillux looks a lot like LXDE-based Lubuntu. But don't be fooled. This year-old OS, which targets both beginners and intermediate users, offers a surprisingly comprehensive selection of installed software for users with a wide range of interests. It's easily as flexible and usable as Puppy and Knoppix, yet leaner and more family-oriented than most young distros.

Windows Phone, iOS Outpace Android
June 04, 2013

Google's Android operating system leads the smartphone market with a majority 51.7 percent share in the United States, but competitors are gaining ground, according to a report released Monday by Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone platforms are now actually surpassing Android in terms of growth rates.

Foxconn Jumps on Firefox OS Bandwagon
June 04, 2013

Foxconn Technology Group, best known as the go-to maker of Apple's iPads and iPhones, said Monday it had embraced Mozilla's Firefox OS and would use the mobile platform on a raft of new devices, including a tablet it showed off at Computex. The company also demoed several smartphones running the Firefox OS and said it would make tablets, laptops and other devices supporting it.

Could Windows 8.1 Be the New XP?
June 03, 2013

Windows has been through four major changes. Huge numbers of folks really didn't like them -- each one was painful. Windows almost had five major changes, but Microsoft Bob was so badly received Microsoft killed it. Windows 8 may seem like the most painful, but since I've lived through all of these I can say from experience that it isn't even close.

Canonical Declares Victory on Ubuntu's No. 1 Bug
June 03, 2013

Declaring a thing may not make it so, but it certainly gets tongues wagging. Case in point: Canonical's announcement last week that Ubuntu's longstanding Bug No. 1 -- which read simply, "Microsoft has a majority market share" -- has now been closed. "We have both competition and good representation for open source in personal computing," said Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth.

Win 8.1 Puts a Stop to the No-Start Blues
May 30, 2013

Seven months and countless complaints after Microsoft launched Windows 8, it has announced that Windows 8.1, aka "Blue," will restore the much-missed Start button. Microsoft also will deliver a host of new features and functionality in Blue, and make it easier for people to navigate the operating system using a mouse and a keyboard.

Angst and Anxiety Over Ubuntu's Chosen Path
May 30, 2013

After all the bold moves Canonical has made regarding Ubuntu in the past few years, it's not exactly any secret that a significant portion of the Linux community remains unconvinced as to the wisdom of its chosen path. Indeed, it was just a few weeks ago that the project decided to launch its very own package format and installer, resulting in more than a few raised eyebrows among FOSS fans.

Apple Stews in EU Pressure Cooker
May 29, 2013

The European Union reportedly is launching an antitrust investigation into Apple's iPhone sales tactics. Company CEO Tim Cook may have made it through last week's congressional hearings on the company's corporate tax policies relatively unscathed, but that doesn't mean the regulatory pressure is off for the tech giant. The EC last week sent several telecom operators a nine-page questionnaire.

Samsung Lights a Match for New Innovation Trail
May 28, 2013

Samsung piqued media interest this week with an invitation to a June 20 event in London, where it is expected to unveil its latest Galaxy smartphones and tablets, along with new entrants in its ATIV lineup of Windows devices. What exactly the company has up its sleeve is speculation at this point. However, there's some consensus as to the likeliest prospects for a big reveal.