Wired.com reports that the U.S. music industry will continue to experiment with controversial copy-protected CDs, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA’s Hilary Rosen, in a stern response to a congressman, insists that copy-protected CDs must continue to be developed.

KDE.org has another feature on a contributor, this time Falk Brettschneider, who works on KDevelop 2 and QextMDI.

Paul Gillin, TechTarget VP of Editorial writes: Hewlett-Packard Co.’s latest ad campaign spotlights the company’s history of innovation. But there is nothing innovative about HP’s proposed acquisition of Compaq Computer Corp., and history offers no reason to believe that it will be successful.

HP and Compaq both have long and illustrious histories of innovation. Compaq invented the portable computer market in 1982 and became the first company to score $100 million in sales its first year. In 1986, it took the then unthinkable step of beating IBM to the 80386-based PC. In some respects, that bold action set the table for Microsoft Corp. to break IBM’s stranglehold on the PC market years later.

In the early 90s, Compaq conceived the vision of servers powered by Intel Corp. processors. That vision succeeded, despite its technical limitations, and Intel-based servers have become a mainstream computing platform.

Of HP’s long history of innovation, one event stands out in particular to me. That was HP’s bold decision in the late 80s to become the first computer company to move its mainstream corporate computers to the still immature Unix operating system. HP endured two years of losses and layoffs while it made the painful shift. But the bet paid off as Digital Equipment Corp.’s and IBM’s proprietary computing businesses imploded in the early 90s while HP snapped up market share.

Click to read the full opinion piece by TechTarget VP of Editorial Paul Gillin.

– By Robin “Roblimo”
Miller –
Since I became editor in chief of Linux.com, I have gotten
hundreds of emails requesting — even demanding — “free
support” for “free Linux,” not to mention endless
complaints about how dare anyone put advertising on a “free
software site” or charge money for a Linux distribution or
how free software advocates often receive speaking fees for
talking about free software. It’s time to come up with a
new name for software released under the GPL and
similar licenses.

“Software Libre” is an alternative I have seen proposed
many times, although it will probably never be acceptable
to most Americans because it sounds too much like the “Cuba
Libre!” slogan that has been used for decades by Cubans of
one political persuasion or another to boost their cause,
not to mention the fact that “Cuba Libre” is also the name
of a popular
cocktail.

You’ve got to admit, “Software Libre” would make a great
drink. Perhaps Finnish vodka (in honor of Linus Torvalds),
cranberry juice (in honor of the Free Software Foundation’s
Massachusetts roots), and a squeeze of lime (because limes
are grown in many countries — and because lime tastes good
with vodka and cranberry) served in a salt-rimmed glass (to
give the concoction a little “pucker factor” for those not
used to it).

But we’ll leave the drink experimentation to “after the LUG
meeting” sessions, and get back to the business at hand,
namely giving “free software” a name that will be widely
and unambiguously accepted in places like the United States, where
we may hear truisms like, “the best things in life are
free,” but we also hear, “If a deal sounds too good to be
true, it usually is.”

In another column, a few weeks ago, I briefly mentioned the
idea of using the title “Public Service Software” for
programs written with the intention of helping make others’
lives better or easier. “Open Source” sounds nice, but it
describes a code licensing technicality that zooms right
over the heads of most computer users, who are more
interested in having their software work properly without a
lot of fuss than in how many eyeballs it takes to make a
bug move from the deep end of the pool to the shallow end.

Who can argue with the idea of Public Service Software? It
echoes John F. Kennedy’s ringing inaugural statement, “My
fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you:
Ask what you can do for your country.” It is a call to arms
in which the country named is not important, one that has
been heard by selfless coders all over the world who work
on everything from kernel development to user-level GUIs to
network administration packages for use in underfunded
schools.

Perhaps Public Service should not describe a certain type
of software license, but an intent to write and distribute
software freely to those who need it without worrying about
their ability to pay. Perhaps there should be a Public
Service Software Foundation that promotes this activity,
not only by individual programmers but by large
corporations and wealthy individuals who want to sponsor
worthy computing advances the same way they now sponsor
hospital buildings, charity fund-raisers, TV documentaries,
and race cars.

Imagine yourself immensely wealthy, wanting to do something
good for the world. Which would you rather have your name
on, Free Software or Public Service Software? Wouldn’t you
love to see “The [your name here] Center for Public Service
Software Development” carved in marble over an imposing
entryway?

I’m serious enough about this that I have personally
registered the domain names PublicServiceSoftware.org and
PublicServiceSoftware.com. I have no personal need for
these domain names, and I am far too busy to start the
Public Service Software Foundation myself.

How about you? Are you involved in writing, distributing or
advocating Free Software? Can you put either or both
of these domain names to good use? That is, use them
effectively to help boost the idea of Public Service
Software, either as a direct replacement for the confusing
“Free Software” moniker that needs endless explanation of
the difference between free speech and free beer — and
still seems to confuse 90% of the “mainstream” people who hear it —
or as a way to get attention and support from corporate
executives and government agency managers who hear the word
“free” and instinctively wonder, “What’s the catch?”

This is just a thought I’m broaching here. A raw idea. A
discussion starter. Something someone else — like you —
can probably take a lot farther than I ever could. This
whole concept, of finding a more politically acceptable
name for “free software,” is going to take a lot of
discussion — no doubt over a Software Libre or two.

The idea of a Public
Service Software Team was first put forth (as far as I
know) by University of Chicago Computer Science Professor
Michael
J. O’Donnell. I have merely expanded on his original
concept a bit. Professor O’Donnell deserves most of the credit,
and IMO has “first dibs” on the Public Service Software
domain names if he wants them.

Wired.com reports that House Republicans are calling Sen. Fritz Hollings’ proposed legislation mandating anti-copying devices on all consumer electronics too intrusive. A spokesman for the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property said: “(The chairman) is concerned that this approach is too interventionist and could lead to standards which favor certain brands of software over others, and which could quickly become obsolete as technology improves or changes.”

From Brad Rutledge: Linux NetworX, a provider of powerful and easy-to-manage cluster supercomputing solutions, announced today Stephen Hill has been named president and CEO and Bernard Daines has been elected chairman of the board. Former Linux NetworX Vice President Stephen Hill replaces Glen Lowry as president and CEO. Daines, a recognized expert in the networking and Ethernet industry, has been a member of the company’s board of directors for more than two years.

As president and CEO, Hill will direct overall company strategy and continue to position Linux NetworX as the leading Linux clustering company. Hill formerly served as Linux NetworX Vice President, helping the company gain capital funding and form technology relationships. He is best-known for his work as one of the lead counsel for Caldera, Inc. in its historic antitrust lawsuit settlement with Microsoft Corp.

Daines was instrumental in the development of the IEEE standards and innovative solutions for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet networking technology. Linux cluster supercomputing, the technology Linux NetworX specializes in, relies on fast networks such as Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet to connect multiple computers together to form a unified and powerful system. With more than 30 years experience in the networking industry, Daines is poised to guide Linux NetworX as it advances its technology and grows its customer-base.

Since designing and delivering the world’s first commercial Linux cluster supercomputer in 1997, Linux NetworX has delivered industry-leading cluster systems and management tools to some of the largest organization worldwide. The company’s award-winning products help organizations achieve supercomputing power for a lower cost-of-ownership.

Former Linux NetworX President and CEO Glen Lowry opted to leave the company in Oct. 2001. Hill has acted as the company’s president and CEO since that time, and officially accepted the position in Feb. 2002.

Biographical Sketches

About Stephen Hill

As president and CEO, Hill works closely with the company’s board of directors to drive the overall direction of the company. Having formerly served as vice president for Linux NetworX, Hill was key to raising capital funding and helping to form key technology relationships for the company. He brings with him a keen understanding of the role the Linux operating system is playing in today’s marketplace. Hill played an integral role in Caldera, Inc.’s antitrust lawsuit settlement with Microsoft Corp., acting as one of the lead counsel, assembled the trial team, and served as the point of contact for negotiations in the settlement.

Hill is a recognized expert in the high-tech field and has been interviewed by various international and national print and broadcast media. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics from BYU. Hill then earned his law degree from BYU, where he was an article editor of the Law Review. He was admitted to the Bar in Washington in 1977 and in Utah in 1981. Prior to joining Linux NetworX, Mr. Hill worked for Snow, Christensen & Martineau in Salt Lake City where for many years he represented Novell, Caldera and other technology companies in antitrust and other commercial litigation matters.

About Bernard Daines

Bernard Daines has over 30 years experience delivering innovative solutions in the high-speed networking industry. He is widely recognized as an expert in Ethernet technology. Daines has been instrumental in the development of the IEEE standards and innovative solutions for Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet. His contributions to the advancement of the networking industry have been recognized on a worldwide basis. He is often called upon to provide insight at conferences and industry forums. Daines also serves as CEO and CTO of World Wide Packets, a company that offers cost effective solutions to bring broadband services to the end subscriber via optical networks. In 1994 he founded Packet Engines, a Gigabit Ethernet routing switch manufacturer, sold to Paris-based Alcatel in 1998. In 1992, Daines co-founded Grand Junction Networks, a Fast Ethernet switch manufacturer, sold to Cisco Systems in 1995.
Daines holds a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Brigham Young University and was instrumental in the development of the Computer Science department at BYU, lending his expertise in course instruction and curriculum formation.

About Linux NetworX

Linux NetworX brings its powerful cluster supercomputing systems and empowering management tools to organizations demanding high performance computing and high availability systems. Linux NetworX provides solutions for organizations involved in oil and gas exploration, aeronautical and chemical modeling, biotechnology research, graphics rendering and visual effects, Web serving, ISPs, ASPs, and other technological research fields. Through its innovative EvolocityTM hardware, award-winning ICETM cluster management tools and professional service and support, Linux NetworX provides industry-leading clustering solutions. To date, the company has built some of the largest cluster systems in the world, and boasts numerous Fortune 500 customers.

# # #

CONTACT:

Brad Rutledge

Linux NetworX

801-562-1010 ext. 218

brutledge@linuxnetworx.com

Anonymous Reader writes, “StreamCast announced that it was hackers into the FastTrack network who brought down Morpheus several days ago. It was a two prong attack that not only hit Morpheus’ servers with a massive Denial of Service attack, but also changed the registry settings on user’s PC as they attempted to log on the network. It is unknown as of now what the full extent of the registry changes on all those PCs mean.

http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/2002/morpheusha ck.html.”

Dave B writes, “The German parliament will use Linux on servers from 2003. Full story in Heise Online. http://www.heise.de/english/newsticker/data/anw-28 .02.02-006/.”

arnoschmidt writes, “I saw this piece (at ZDNet) about IBM dissing .Net in favour of Java. It looks like they think it’s dumb to support lots of different programming languages. I wonder if this is going to turn into a public fracas?”

pkej writes: “zez.org: about code has a new article by Jan Borsodi covering the ins and outs of references in PHP.”