linux

End of the line for Progeny Linux

It's long been clear that Progeny Linux, an attempt to commercialize support for the Debian version of the open-source operating system, had ceased to be relevant. But the company made it official on Monday.

A note on its Web site reads, "We are sorry to inform you that Progeny Linux Systems, Inc. ceased operations April 30, 2007."

Debian and Progeny founder Ian Murdock already had left the company in 2006 to work on the Linux Standard Base project. In March, Murdock joined Sun Microsystems as its chief operating systems officer, where he balances involvement with Linux with … Read more

MontaVista buys two Linux firms

MontaVista Software has acquired a business partner and another company, both of which, like MontaVista itself, focus on Linux for embedded computing devices such as slot machines and mobile phones.

The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said Tuesday that it has fully acquired joint venture MontaVista Limited and also has absorbed Liberte Software, a Linux design services company that had worked closely with MontaVista Ltd.

The acquisition of the two U.K.-based endeavors will bolster MontaVista's sales and services staff, the company said.

"The growth in the embedded Linux market in Europe is phenomenal, and MontaVista Software … Read more

Crave Podcast: This time it's pearl

Greetings Podypusses, it's episode 30 and golly gosh do we have some plush content for you this week! Resident mobile phone limpet Andrew Lim lays serious cusses on the Motorola Motofone and Rory Reid tries hard to convince us all that operating systems are redundant--such as Windows and Linux--in the face of Web-accessible software.

Meanwhile, Chris Stevens probes the latest outlandish Apple rumors and Kate Macefield keeps the motley crew under control with Tasers and her rusty medieval torture equipment.

Tune in and bong out to the 30th edition of the world's finest audio experience. It's all … Read more

Palm developing its own Linux-based platform

At Palm's analyst and investor conference in New York Tuesday, CEO Ed Colligan announced the company is investing in a new Linux-based platform for its line of Treo smart phones.

Colligan said the Linux platform "will build a new foundation for Palm" and give the company, users and developers more flexibility.

The platform has been in development for "a number of years," he said, but emphasized repeatedly that Palm is still committed to the Palm OS and will continue to ship products based on that platform.

Those were the only details provided.

Access purchased PalmSource, … Read more

According to Novell ads, Linux is a cute girl who needs a haircut

Novell has made a series of ads parodying the iconic (can we call them "iconic" now?) "I'm a Mac" commercials. Like Apple's ads, they feature a dweeby PC and a "cool kid" Mac, although Novell's Mac looks less like a 2007-era hipster and more like a Freddie Prinze, Jr.-ish jock from a late '90s teen movie. (I mean, a Mac would at least be more inclined to resemble a slightly edgier character played by Ethan Embry.)

Then there's Novell's addition, Linux. In an obvious pander to male geeks, … Read more

Touch and go - Motorola A1200

My general interest in the ever growing area of touch screen technology along with my odd obsession with cell phones recently led me to the Motorola A1200. While touch screens are the norm for smart phones, the Motorola A1200 stands out in two respects. First is that it is one of a very few phones to run on the open source platform Linux, and second is that it weighs an infinitesimal 3.3 ounces.

Say what? Debian developers are 'childish'

Andreas Barth and fellow Debian version 4 release manager Steve Langasek probably predicted a little bit of resentment from fellow contributors to the Linux project when they set up an "experiment" help fund their efforts. After all, they called it Dunc-Tank, which naturally reminds us of a really fun carnival sport.

While the rest of the team is getting paid nothing, as is the norm in open-source communities, Barth and Langasek have reportedly raised enough to pay themselves $6,000 each.

They probably didn't predict, though, that Dunc-Tank, which they said was designed to help speed the … Read more

Score one for open-source pastries

Enough of those proprietary Nabisco confections! MAKE and CRAFT have posted a link to geek/chef Joseph Hall's recipe for Ubuntu sugar cookies.

A fellow Craver also tracked down Ubuntu cake and, uh, soup. M'm! M'm! Linux.

(Photo: Joseph Hall)

Hack your cell phone

If you think your cell phone's software is lame, stop complaining and do something about it. That, at least, seems to be the philosophy behind this Linux handset from FIC, as seen on Slashgear.

Other manufacturers--most notably Motorola--are taking steps toward adopting the communal software philosophy, and standards are in the works. But FIC seems to be forging ahead on its own, going measurably further to make its phone a true open-source device that will allow anyone to build custom applications and share them with other hackers through a wireless repository.

And if you're not interested in … Read more