Silicon.com examines an e-government proposal from the European Union suggesting governments should share Open Source software. Some people are even suggesting that Open Source would be good in commerce.

LinuxWorld.com has the story talking about X11, Blackbox, Sawfish and other window managers. ” There are countless other window managers out there. Some have so few features they’re practically useless, while others have innovative approaches to window management like pwm, fluxbox and larswm.”

“Sun Microsystems and its allies will unveil the detailed workings of their Liberty Alliance specification Monday, providing competition to Microsoft’s Passport service for easing the hassle of logging on to different Web sites,” says News.com.

Jennifer Olson writes: Guardian Digital, Inc., the first full-service open source Internet server security company, has today announced a special incentive program designed to provide companies with an alternative to Windows-based servers and applications as the July 31st deadline for Microsoft s new licensing program approaches.

Labeled “Project Volition,” business customers can receive up to 30% savings on Guardian Digital products at www.guardiandigital.com through August 10th, 2002.
The award-winning EnGarde Secure Professional enterprise server software solution offers unsurpassed levels of security, ease of use, and the most sophisticated open source Web-based management system available. Capable of supporting thousands of virtual Web sites, e-mail and DNS domains, this proven enterprise-ready solution marks EnGarde Secure Professional as the reliable and robust platform for building a complete corporate Internet presence.

“Companies are concerned about the new Microsoft Software Assurance plan and the increased costs for their organization associated with it, writes Benjamin D. Thomas, director of product development for Guardian Digital. Guardian Digital products, including EnGarde Secure Linux, are engineered to be secure, easy to manage, and provide a cost-effective alternative to proprietary offerings from Microsoft.”

Small and midsized businesses, already confronted with downsizing and reduced budgets, could pay up to 77% more per year with the new licensing program according to Guernsey Research analyst Chris LeTocq. Gartner stated in a recent report that Microsoft has “eliminated the most popular way that midsize organizations upgrade their software and raised the upgrade price in the process.”

Engineered Internet Security for the Enterprise

Recently awarded Editor’s Choice by Network Computing Magazine, EnGarde Secure Professional includes “a textbook example of an ideal patching interface automated notification, simplified downloading and straightforward descriptions”, as stated by Network Computing in their review.

Engineered from the ground up with specific regards to security and ease of management, EnGarde Secure Linux Professional is a comprehensive solution that reduces the time and resources required to develop and maintain an online presence.

The EnGarde Workgroup Suite accompanying module, designed exclusively for EnGarde Secure Professional, adds productivity and versatility to the stable and secure EnGarde foundation. Simple and secure remote access, firewall and VPN management, Windows file and print sharing, WebMail and user quota support enable small and midsized organizations to supplant existing Windows servers or seamlessly complement their operations.

The EnGarde Alternative: Simple, Secure, and Cost-effective

In a shift from how Microsoft previously distributed their software, the company will shortly force their customers to commit to multi-year upgrades up front, or lose out on future discounts.

Leveraging tools from the best open source security projects on the Internet, coupled with the security and network expertise of Guardian Digital, EnGarde eliminates per-seat charges and uses only industry-proven standards-based technologies.

The result of implementing Guardian Digital software in organizations with as little as fourteen or even four thousand users is apparent. Savings over proprietary solutions as well as off-the-shelf Linux software increase exponentially as Internet threats are discovered daily.

“It’s an administrators, programmers, and developers dream come true,” said Steven J. Daniels, CEO of WaveWizard Internet, Inc. of EnGarde Secure Linux.

Carlos Ramos, director of Information Technology for orthopedic implant company Implex, Inc., writes of Guardian Digital and EnGarde Secure Linux, “It has been one of the most seamless integrations I ve ever handled, and would gladly recommend it for any size organization requiring a real turn-key solution with the expertise, and professionalism that it requires. Our network has never been this secure.”

Simon Hickman, Firewall Specialist with AT&T New Zealand said of Guardian Digital, “With experience of product support over the last 12 years working within the IT sector, Guardian Digital stands out as the most exceptional product vendor to date. Other commercial vendors pale in comparison. A fine product and a fine team.”

Pricing and Availability

During the promotional period ending August 10th, 2002, customers may purchase EnGarde Secure Linux Professional v1.2 at $494.95, a 10% savings from the regular price of $549. Enterprises seeking to deploy EnGarde throughout their organization can receive up to 30% discount on 5 or more copies purchased directly from Guardian Digital.

EnGarde Secure Linux Professional v1.2 includes 60 days of phone, e-mail and Web support as well as a 60-day trial subscription to the Guardian Digital Secure Network as the primary means to obtain system and security updates. Beyond the trial period it is necessary to purchase a subscription to the Guardian Digital Secure Network or an annual support subscription in order to obtain system and security updates.

About Guardian Digital, Inc.

Guardian Digital, Inc., the first full-service open source security company, is dedicated to providing secure Internet infrastructure solutions for business. Guardian Digital produces software to securely manage all Internet opera-tions, perform intrusion detection and firewall functions, conduct eBusiness, as well as secure turn-key server appliances. Guardian Digital products address the increasing demand for cost-effective and standards-based platforms for developing a secure Internet presence. To learn about Guardian Digital s products and comprehen-sive service offerings, visit Guardian Digital on the Web at http://www.GuardianDigital.com or call 1-866-GD-LINUX.

“They provide freedom from the desktop in the home or business office, but are wireless PC monitors worth their own, albeit lighter, weight? Some industry analysts argue that their higher price and limited functionality, plus the size dilemma — they seem either too big or too small — will inhibit the popularity of wireless monitors among consumers.” Read the rest at NewsFactor.

Annette Oevermann writes: MontaVista Software Inc., the company powering the embedded revolution, and Embedded Performance Inc. (EPI), suppliers of advanced hardware and software tools for RISC processors, announced today the availability of a joint, embedded Linux-based solution for hardware debugging of Intel® XScale ™ microarchitecture processors.
The joint MontaVista Software/EPI solution provides developers who are embedding MontaVista ™ Linux® on Intel® PXA250 and Intel® PXA210 processors with a high-speed debugging tool. These developers can now leverage the EPI MAJIC® series Multi-processor Advanced JTAG Interface Controllers to perform hardware-based debugging, accelerate system bring-up and conduct source-level debugging of the MontaVista Linux kernel and device drivers.

“Our joint offering is significant in that it brings the power of JTAG-based run-control and real-time execution tracing, a mainstay of traditional embedded development, into the mainly software-based embedded Linux arena,” states Norbert Laengrich, EPI president and CEO. “The MontaVista Linux platform and accompanying development tools, and our high-speed MAJICMX® intelligent debug probe complement each other, accelerating our mutual customers’ development, debug, and deployment processes.”

“MontaVista Software’s partnership with EPI helps both companies serve the rapidly-emerging handheld and wireless markets,” comments William Weinberg, director of strategic marketing for MontaVista Software. “Hardware-based debug capability is key to overcoming system integration bottlenecks and to bringing quality embedded products to market on time and within budget.”

Availability and Technical Details

Embedded Performance Inc. will immediately begin offering pre-built configurations of MAJICMX interface software and probes for MontaVista Linux Professional Edition 2.1 for the Intel XScale microarchitecture. For booting and debugging the MontaVista Linux kernel and drivers, developers will be able to use the familiar, standard GDB debugger interface on Linux as well as on Microsoft Windows development hosts, with options for Ethernet or RS-232 serial communications between the developer workstation and the MAJICMX unit.

About EPI Inc.

Founded in 1987, Embedded Performance Inc. is one of the world’s leading suppliers of compiler, debuggerand emulation tools for the embedded RISC market. The company supplies complete software toolkits, intelligent debug probes and development boards for a variety of RISC architectures. Company headquarters are located in Milpitas, Calif. Local sales offices with application assistance and technical support are available worldwide through a network of representatives and distributors. For more information, contact EPI sales at 408-957-0350, fax: 408-957-0307, or email: sales@epitools.com.

About MontaVista Software Inc.

MontaVista Software Inc. powers the embedded revolution by providing open-source systems software solutions for embedded developers. Founded in 1999 by real-time operating system (RTOS) pioneer James Ready, MontaVista Software?s principal products include MontaVista? Linux® Professional Edition and MontaVista? Linux® Carrier Grade Edition. The Professional Edition is a Linux-based embedded source and binary distribution, cross development platform and a set of tool kits for x86/IA-32, PowerPC, StrongARM, MIPS, SH, ARM, XScale, Xtensa and other microprocessor architectures. The Carrier Grade Edition is a second-generation high availability product that is an ideal Linux platform for telecommunications and carrier-grade applications. MontaVista Software also provides several complementary technology products addressing specific customer needs such as the Java development environment, high availability technology, powerful graphics toolkits and more. MontaVista offers developers a family of products and services for embedded design and development targeted for applications ranging from communications infrastructure to consumer devices.

Headquartered in the heart of Silicon Valley, in Sunnyvale, Calif., MontaVista Software is a privately held company funded by leading investors such as Alloy Ventures, US Venture Partners, RRE Ventures, WR Hambrecht + Co., IBM, Intel Capital, Panasonic and Sony Corporation. For more information about MontaVista Software, please visit http://www.mvista.com, email to info@mvista.com or call (408) 328-9200.

Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. MontaVista is a trademark of MontaVista Software Inc. MAJIC, MAJICMX and EPI are registered trademarks of Embedded Performance Inc. Intel, PXA210, PXA250, PCA and XScale are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the United States and in other countries. All other names mentioned are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective companies.

###

Contacts:

Joe Samagond,
Director of Marketing and Corporate Communications,
MontaVista Software Inc.,
Phone: (408) 328-9234,
E-mail: jsamagond@mvista.com

Bill Weinberg,
Director of Strategic Marketing,
MontaVista Software Inc.,
Phone: (408) 328-9213,
E-mail: bill@mvista.com

Patricia Colby,
PR Strategy and Business Development,
Pacifico Inc.,
Phone: (408) 293 8600 x340,
E-mail: pcolby@pacifico.com

Jackie Su,
Intel XScale Product Manager,
Embedded Performance Inc.,
Phone: (408) 719-5613,
E-mail: js@epitools.com

Anonymous Reader writes “Reza Pakdel pens this great article about Linux on the Desktop. Offering a very comprenhensive look at Linux from its origins to reference guide to tips for practical everyday use, Pakdel’s collection of experiences and knowledge is a must-read for all Linux users . . Read
more at DesktopLinux.com.”

– by Tina Gasperson –

Larry Kettler, the new director of Builder sales at Lindows, says the response to last month’s announcement of the Builder Program “has been overwhelming.” In an email letter, he says that many OEMs are preparing to launch LindowOS on “a number of computer system SKUs [stockkeeping unit].”
The Builder Program, designed by Michael Robertson’s company, Lindows.com, offers original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) a flat fee license to install LindowsOS on new systems. Microsoft charges computer builders a per-system fee.

According to Lindows, OEMs will be able to license the product for a flat monthly fee, installing it on as many or as few systems as desired.

“To join the Lindows.com Builder’s Program, and become authorized to license LindowsOS on as many computer systems that you want each month, there
is a Membership Fee of $500 US, which includes your first month of licensing. Then, every month thereafter, you will be automatically billed a flat licensing fee of $500 US each month. That’s it!”

The Free Software Foundation has been working with LindowsOS to bring it into compliance with the GPL, and has promised the company a rewritten, FSF-acceptable OEM license. The current OEM license states in part:

“Subject to the terms
and conditions hereof and only for the term hereof, Lindows.com hereby grants
to Licensee a nontransferable limited right and license solely to install the
Lindows.com Software Product in executable form on, or bundle the Lindows.com
Software Product with, Licensee Product(s) to make Composite Product(s) for
distribution and resale only; with exception to Section 19 regarding broader
rights granted for certain Software Programs in the Lindows.com Software
Product. This license does not allow or authorize Licensee to sell or resell
Lindows.com Software Products separate from the Composite Product(s).”

This language seems contradictory to the GPL, however, another section of the license states:

“To the extent the GPL requires that
Lindows.com provide rights to use, copy or modify a Software Program that are
broader than the rights granted elsewhere in this agreement, then such rights
granted shall take precedence over the rights and restrictions set forth in
this Agreement.”

That clause alone seems to override much of the language in the very proprietary-sounding agreement, with terms like “trade secrets” and “confidential information” and ” Licensee shall not: (i) distribute, transfer, loan, rent, or provide access to the
Lindows.com Software Product, except as provided herein; or (ii) remove or add any Proprietary Rights notice associated with the Lindows.com Software Product
without the express written permission of Lindows.com.”

And while the GPL appears to take precedence over the statements that seem to violate it, are the OEMs going to know enough about the GPL to understand which parts of the “Builder Program” agreement they can ignore?

You can view the entire agreement here.

Slashdot: “Not to beat on the poor America’s Army servers any further, but their
sitrep for today featured the following interesting tidbit: “That’s not all. We’re also
working on an in-game browser, linux port, and host of other features. Yes, we’ve
been busy the past week!” For those not familiar with AA:Operations,
it is a free (as in beer) first person shooter developed under the watchful eye of the US
Army. It received mounds of praise at this year’s E3 and was released to Windows users July 4th.”

“The hardcore gamers who make these games successful can usually obsess over only one game at a
time. There are only so many hours in a week, after all, and MMORPGs are nothing if not massively
time-consuming. (For this very reason, says Cole, “I think there is room for only a handful of these games in
each genre.”) And because many gamers have long since established a social network on established
MMORPGs, it’s unclear how these new titles can lure them away.

“I play Everquest currently and have for three years,” says Jennifer Powell, an online community consultant
and freelance writer based in Colorado. “The only thing that would make me switch would be if all my friends
did, since my friends, including my husband, are the main reason I continue to play.” More at Salon.com.