ZDNet reports that German company MediaBeam is testing a product that woulddetect
ad-blocking software and charge the people using it a fee to view a Web site’s content.

From The Associated Press: “Soon, the government may not
have to worry about viruses and other
Internet threats on its sensitive data.
That’s because it may have a whole new
Internet of its own.

Government officials asked the
computer industry Wednesday to tell
them how much the new network,
dubbed GOVNET, would cost and how
they could ensure their voice and data
communications would be protected.”

Reuters reports that Linux made “its first big splash at home Thursday when it was embraced by Finland’s leading
broadband Internet provider, Sonera Entrum.”

Posted at LWN.net: Alta Terra Ventures Corp. (ATT on
CDNX) today received confirmation that its BearOps Linux Desktop OS has been
certified on systems by three major hardware manufacturers by the independent
testing arm of Linuxcare of San Francisco, CA.

Wired.com reports that Wisconsin’s Russ Feingold “is singlehandedly trying to add pro-privacy changes to an eavesdropping bill that would hand
police unprecedented surveillance powers.”

In response to an uncertain political climate and the recent economic downturn, the USENIX Association and the Atlanta Linux Showcase, Inc. jointly announced today that they will offer free registration to everyone wishing to attend technical sessions at next month’s Annual Linux Showcase & Conference in Oakland, California.

USENIX and ALS are making this unprecedented offer because they believe the networking opportunities and high-caliber technical content at this conference provide an important service to their membership and the general open source community.

The current political situation impacts a community already struggling due to the failure of many dot-com companies that used open source operating systems and open source techniques.

“We recognize this may only be a temporary readjustment until the ‘brick and mortar’ companies start using open source products to a greater degree. Therefore, we feel that it is crucial to provide current technical information to the community at this time,” said Jon “maddog” Hall, USENIX Director and ALS Invited Talks Program Chair. “There are also several political issues facing the open source community right now such as DMCA, SSSCA, copyrights, and software patents. The ALS invited talks track reflects this and we felt that we could not put off these important discussions to a later time.”

Such focus on the open source community is not new for ALS, which originated as a local Atlanta, Georgia event.

“ALS has historically been a community based show,” said Marc Torres, ALS, Inc. President. “Since 1997, it has grown in scope and technical depth along with the open source community. It is a place for Linux developers to comfortably gather, compare notes, and create new ideas. ALS has always been where open source professionals can relax and discuss their projects and interests with their peers. We kept that community very firmly in mind during this decision process.”

Hall agrees. “At ALS, people get to talk to the developers and visionaries of Open Source projects. For example, when was the last time that both of the originators of Beowulf were at the same conference?” Hall asked. “This conference is also important for making open source professionals aware of the issues, both political and technical, and to get them mobilized to address them. And to have fun.”

“In tough economic times, it’s even more important that the public has access to great software at minimal prices. It’s even more important to come together to build open solutions that empower consumers and the little guys,” said John Gilmore, USENIX Director. “In times when security testing is condemned by Congress as terrorism, its important that we look each other in the eye and remember that we are not the enemy. In times when the economic bubble has burst, its important that we reaffirm that we’ve been doing open source because it’s good for the world, and because it’s fun, and not because it was a shortcut to personal wealth.”

USENIX, a 25-year old, non-profit association, sponsors conferences that serve the needs of their members and community in the long term rather than the short-term profit model demonstrated by the larger tradeshows.

“We chose the course that provides the most benefits to the community,” said Gilmore. “Even in normal times, much of the Linux community work is done by widely distributed people, working alone in their homes, universities, or offices, communicating by email, IRC, and Web sites. We, the people who collectively keep pushing open source technologies, need opportunities for social interaction and one-on-one conversations with technical peers. We need places to meet each other and have a beer. Places to spend an afternoon arguing over the best directions to send our next three months of work.”

The 5th Annual Linux Showcase and Conference
November 5-10, 2001
Oakland Marriott City Center
Oakland, California
http://www.linuxshowcase.org

About the USENIX Association
USENIX is the Advanced Computing Systems Association. For over 25 years, it has been the leading community for engineers, system administrators, scientists, and technician working on the cutting edge of the computing world. USENIX conferences are the essential meeting grounds for the presentation and discussion of technical advances in all aspects of computing systems. For more information about the USENIX Association, visit http://www.usenix.org

Press Registration: email your name, publication, title, street address, email, phone/fax, and URL to Monica Ortiz at monica@usenix.org.

Metro Link, Inc. (http://www.metrolink.com/) announced today the official release of Metro EnableWorks UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) Software Development Kits (SDKs) supporting the C and C++ programming languages on the Linux and VxWorks platforms. Metro Link’s C-based UPnP protocol stack at just 55K includes a full HTTP server, GENA, SOAP and all of the other components required for a full featured UPnP compliant protocol stack.
The Metro EnableWorks UPnP Device SDK for C provides developers with a complete C-based protocol stack for UPnP. Using the protocol stack and associated application programming interfaces (APIs), developers can export devices to the UPnP network, allowing them to be viewed and controlled by UPnP-enabled control points (Windows ME and XP, set-top boxes, and other user-interface devices).

“We see a tremendous need from our customers for a fully functional, small footprint UPnP solution for integration into our 8, 16 and 32-bit microcontrollers,” said Richard Sessions, director of embedded systems for Mitsubishi Electric & Electronics USA, Inc. “We applaud Metro Link’s efforts and commitment to develop optimized UPnP solutions for embedded memory constrained devices and believe they are a leader with their current offering.” Mitsubishi Electric, one of the worlds leading microcontroller suppliers, is a founding member of the UPnP Forum and sits on its steering committee.

Metro EnableWorks simplifies the development of UPnP compatible devices by handling all aspects of device discovery, description, control, and eventing through a simple, well-documented, C object model and API.

“We are excited to offer the smallest footprint, 100% UPnP compatible, UPnP stack designed specifically with printers, routers, hubs, DSL modems, residential gateways, consumer appliances, electronics and other connected devices in mind.” Rob Lembree, Director of Automation Technologies at Metro Link.

The Metro EnableWorks SDKs support both C and C++ programming languages on any Linux or VxWorks-compliant x86 platform. Customers can have UPnP running with their device within minutes of installing the SDK.

The EnableWorks Device SDK for C is the latest SDK in a growing family of UPnP tools used specifically for the embedded market space. In fact, Metro Link?s EnableWorks Device SDK in Java? was the first embedded UPnP product ever shipped.

Additional EnableWorks SDKs include Control Point, Gateway and Device packages in Java. These allow the development of Java or Web based control points, gateways with multiple device and protocol translation, and device support under the Java environment. With these SDKs interconnectivity between UPnP and a number of other popular device connectivity standards, including OSGi, HAVi, and VHN are easy to accomplish. Support is also included for legacy technologies like X-10 and RS232 (serial).

About Metro Link
Metro Link Inc., a software development company founded in 1989, enables consumer electronic devices to connect with appliances such as set-top boxes, Internet appliances and white goods via any TCP/IP network using its UPnP technology. Metro Link is the premier provider of UPnP device connectivity and control technology and a leader and founder in both the UPnP Forum and the CEA R7.4 standards bodies. Metro Link’s products are used by ATI (ATYT), Compaq (CPQ), Hewlett Packard (HPW), IBM (IBM), Intel (INTC), Mitsubishi Electric, Motorola (MOT), Red Hat (RHAT), Sun (SUNW), Transmeta (TMTA).

All trademarks are property of their respective holders.

Contact Information:
Greg Lafferty
954-660-2444 phone
954-267-9398 fax
greg@metrolink.com
http://www.metrolink.com/

A column at ZDNet focuses on the money Microsoft and its partners are spending to promote Windows XP. “Why does a monopolist need to advertise its products at all? I’m not being totally facetious. To
some extent, it doesn’t matter whether anyone wants or needs Windows XP–or even knows it
exists. Its success is almost a foregone conclusion, because Windows XP will be bundled on
practically every PC shipped starting Oct. 25.”

From GNOME.org: “Gnome 2 is coming up fast, most of it will be just porting applications
to the new rather nice platform that was announced recently.
So, what features would people like in GNOME? They might not
make them for GNOME 2, because after all, porting will take time. But from your
suggestions we can make a list, and from a list we can make a website, and from
a website we can make GNOME be what you want it to be.”

ZDNet reports that the music industry wound up being grilled by the judge in the Napster trial about its own efforts to create competing products.
“I’m really confused as to why the plaintiffs came upon this way of getting together in a joint
venture,” the judge said. “Even if it passes antitrust analysis, it looks bad, sounds bad, smells bad.”