ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/alan/linux-2.4/. Intermediate diffs are available from http://www.bzimage.org. Cox: “This is just bug fixes – focused on getting this right and rock solid ready for the 2.4.10 battle.”

2.4.9-ac18
o Fix aic7xxx and ncr53c8xxx compiles (Erik Andersen)
o Next PPC merge (Paul Mackerras)
o Updated patch-kernel (Dave Gilbert)
o Fix pgtable_cache_init escape on S/390 (Russell King)
o Fix alpha build (Dave Gilbert)
o Further scsi ifdef fixes (Arjan van de Ven)
o Revert softirq changes

2.4.9-ac17
o Fix vfree error on swap off (Hugh Dickins)
o Further USB serial fixups (Greg Kroah-Hartmann)
o ISDN cleanups – flags, includes, license texts (Kai Germaschewski)
o Fix bitfields in struct documentation (Tim Jansen)
o Next batch of MODULE_LICENSE tags (Arjan van de Ven)
o Fix the gendisk bugs (me)
o Endian fixes for cisco hdlc over isdn (Bjoern Zeeb,
Kai Germaschewski)
o PPPoE memory corruption fixes (Chris Mason)
o RSS accounting fix (Hugh Dickins)
o ide-tape fixes for HP colorado (Pete Zaitcev)
o Fix APM disable handling (Randy Dunlap)
o Fix mousedev behaviour with new gpm (Vojtech Pavlik)
o Add support for the ib700 watchdog (Charles Howes)
o Fix sysreq build fail (me, Junio)
o S/390 tree warning fixes (Martin Schwidefsky)
o Update the IBM serveraid driver (Keith Mitchell)
o Apply usb list_del fix (Georg Acher)
o Further midibuf fixes (Adrian Cox)
o Fix toshoboe pci initialisation (Adam J Richter)
o pci registration fixes for tlan (Adam J Richter)
o NFS lock reclaiming fixes (Trond Myklebust)
o Add Belkin F5D5050 USB ethernet idents (Dane Johnson)

Saint write, “Modern graphical user interfaces (GUIs) have made computers accessible to millions of people, but they have had the unfortunate side effect of preventing some people from using computers at all. A slight hand tremor can be enough to stop someone positioning a mouse with accuracy and then making a click, while a person with one useable hand can find reaching across a keyboard a tiring and offputting chore — and that’s before they have to hold down the shift or control keys. For people with very limited movement, the modern GUI is an impossible barrier. Skipper (screenshot here) is a new open source accessibility package which makes the best use of whatever people with severe movement impairment can move. It removes the barrier to GUI use for the disabled. Complete story at LinuxMedNews.com.”

From Slashdot: “newSlashUser points out a very interesting article at ExtremeTech about a new means of more quickly controlling LCD panel response , so the old complaint that LCD panels make poor displays for gaming and high-motion video may be whittled down a bit. As a bonus, the change is all in the controller, so it doesn’t require any change in the way the panels are manufactured.”

From Wired: “ExciteAtHome, the leading provider of high-speed Internet access over cable television lines, said Friday it will sell its network to AT&T for $307 million and file for bankruptcy protection. Under the agreement, the once high-flying company’s network would become a part of AT&T, which already has a controlling interest in ExciteAtHome. The deal is subject to a bankruptcy judge’s approval.”

From C|Net: “Software makers are busy tweaking operating systems, with Apple Computer introducing its first major upgrade to Mac OS X and Microsoft putting the finishing touches on Windows XP.”

Kernel available at ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/alan/linux-2.4/, with intermediate diffs available from http://www.bzimage.org.
“Next batch of bugfixes and updates. I want to get these in before I import the Linus changes beyond 2.4.10pre9 which is where the merge currently sits.”

2.4.9-ac17
o	Fix vfree error on swap off			(Hugh Dickins)
o	Further USB serial fixups			(Greg Kroah-Hartmann)
o	ISDN cleanups - flags, includes, license texts	(Kai Germaschewski)
o	Fix bitfields in struct documentation		(Tim Jansen)
o	Next batch of MODULE_LICENSE tags		(Arjan van de Ven)
o	Fix the gendisk bugs				(me)
o	Endian fixes for cisco hdlc over isdn		(Bjoern Zeeb,
							 Kai Germaschewski)
o	PPPoE memory corruption fixes			(Chris Mason)
o	RSS accounting fix				(Hugh Dickins)
o	ide-tape fixes for HP colorado			(Pete Zaitcev)
o	Fix APM disable handling			(Randy Dunlap)
o	Fix mousedev behaviour with new gpm		(Vojtech Pavlik)
o	Add support for the ib700 watchdog		(Charles Howes)
o	Fix sysreq build fail				(me, Junio)
o	S/390 tree warning fixes			(Martin Schwidefsky)
o	Update the IBM serveraid driver			(Keith Mitchell)
o	Apply usb list_del fix				(Georg Acher)
o	Further midibuf fixes				(Adrian Cox)
o	Fix toshoboe pci initialisation			(Adam J Richter)
o	pci registration fixes for tlan			(Adam J Richter)
o	NFS lock reclaiming fixes			(Trond Myklebust)
o	Add Belkin F5D5050 USB ethernet idents		(Dane Johnson)

2.4.9-ac16
o	Fix VM breakage from my merge error		(Rik van Riel)
o	Shmem race fixs					(Hugh Dickins)
o	Improve scan_swap_map optimisiations		(Hugh Dickins)
o	Fix swapoff race				(Hugh Dickins)
o	Fix add to swap cache race			(Hugh Dickins)
o	Remove the PG_swap_cache bit			(Hugh Dickins)
o	Remove unused functions				(Hugh Dickins)
o	Remove unused argument from get_swap_page	(Hugh Dickins)
o	Make use of exclusive_swap_page when we can	(Hugh Dickins)
o	Make swap almost ready to lose BKL		(Hugh Dickins)
o	Add initial pieces for EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL	(me)
	| kernel symbols for GPL only use
o	smc-ircc module inits				(Keith Owens)
o	Update the hp100 driver				(Jaroslav Kysela)
o	Update kernel-doc for struct and enum		(Tim Jansen)
o	Fix mac89x0 skb->len poking			(David Weinehall)
o	Big chunk of MODULE_LICENSE updates		(Arjan van de Ven)
o	Add the tainting proc hook			(Keith Owens)
o	Nand flash driver build fixes			(David Woodhouse)
o	Fix self-parenting problems in clone properly	(Dave McCracken)
o	CPIA camera fix					(Michael Marxmeier)
o	USB serial fixes				(Greg Kroah-Hartmann)
o	Fix cisco hdlc protocol	for isdn		(Bjoern Zeeb)
o	Further tunnel driver fixes			(Taral)
o	ISDN isar driver small fix			(Karsten Keil)
o	Further sscanf fixes				(Paul)
o	Fix iph5526 clash with ptrace namespace		(Dave Jones)
o	First block of block device updates from Al	(Al Viro)
o	Fix atm ioctl bug				(Mitchel Blank)
o	ISAPnP updates					(Jaroslav Kysela)
o	Merge IBM MWave support				(Paul Schroeder)
o	ISDN return value fixes				(Andrew Morton)
o	Add Acerscan 1240ut to the USB scanners		(Morgan Collins)
o	Fix init includes for aironet4500		(Keith Packard)
o	Fix GART docs to reference DRI not utah		(Robet Love)
o	Reiserfs speed ups				(Chris Mason)
o	Maestro init fixups				(Adam J Richter)
o	Lock function cleanup				(Trond Myklebust)
o	Make the DRM options clearer			(Keith Owens)
o	Add compiler.h from 2.4.10
o	Update ns83820 driver				(Ben LaHaise)

CNet reports that PayPal is filing for an IPO to raise $80.5 million, despite bleak market conditions.

Chris Testa writes: “giFT, an open source implementation of the FastTrack network (used by Kazaa and Morpheus) is being blocked as of the latest versions of these two applications (version 1.3.3). Please see here for more information.”

From Reuters (via ABC): “She may have banned her servants from carrying them, but now Queen Elizabeth has entered the high-tech revolution by getting her own mobile phone.”

From CNet: “The Internet’s top standards-setting body plans to focus on the security of the online addressing system at its annual meeting in November, pushing aside other issues such as new domain names.”