Linux kernel 2.4.4-pre7 is now available. Download from your nearest mirror site, or read the changelog.

LinuxProgramming.com: “Snack adds commands to play, record, and process sound and supports
in-memory sound objects, file based audio, and streaming audio.
It handles fileformats such as WAV, MP3, AU, AIFF, and CSL.
There are optional packages for NIST/Sphere and Ogg/Vorbis file formats.”

The latest beta version of Opera’s Linux Web browser includes many improvements, not the least of which is an overall increase in browser stability. Read the complest list of changes and grab the latest beta from Opera Software.

Eric S. Raymond has announced the 1.2.8 release of CML2, “a configuration system, centered around a domiain-specific minilanguage.” CML2 was was built “to replace the code that currently handles
build-option selection for Linux kernels (that is, when you type `make config’, `make menuconfig’ or `make xconfig’).” New in this release: “Major internal speedup; symbol evaluation is much faster now.” Full details at The CML2 Resource Page.

Is the success of Linux tied to the success of Red Hat? An article at ZDNet says: “Mention Mandrake, SuSE, or Debian, and eyes glaze over. Red Hat, to the uninitiated, is Linux. And the public’s impression of Linux-and even of Open Source software-rides on Red Hat doing well.”

“Acucorp, Inc. an international provider of application extension solutions
that solve mission critical business issues, today announced plans to deliver extend (TM)5 with ACUCOBOL(TM) – GT on Linux for IBM S/390 in the
second quarter of 2001. The extend 5 family of solutions allows software developers to leverage their investments in COBOL applications by
transforming these applications into modern systems.” Read the full press release at Yahoo.

MSNBC reports that wireless handheld giants Nokia, Motorola, and Ericsson have started a joint “Wireless Village” effort to forge a new specification for handheld instant messaging. If the effort bears fruit, this could enable cell phone users to send instant message to each other, no matter what brand or model of phone they use.

An anonymous reader writes, “Void Main has now released music about Linux, programming and open source on mp3.com. Some of the songs contains sounds derived from the Linux kernel source code. Sounds a bit wierd, but kinda funny.” Download the songs at MP3.com.

ZDNet: “Jabber.com and the Jabber open-source project have joined forces to
establish the Jabber Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that will work
toward developing a Jabber-based open-source Instant Messaging and
Presence standard.”

Michael Hudson posts the weekly summary of traffic on the python-dev mailing list. This report covers traffic between April 12 and April 25. Read the summary at Linux Weekly News.