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.

Menlo Park, CA., April 25, 2001 – X.Org, the global consortium empowered to develop, stabilize, maintain,
and promote the X Window System technology and standard, announces today the release of X11R6.6. This
release includes 86 code fixes and new features, including: integration of Compaq Computer Corporation’s
AccessX client and server-side code, the first installment of Sun Microsystems’ internationalization (xi18n)
code, critical fixes to Xprint, and correction of “free” license and copyright statements to ensure “permission
to distribute” for all files. This release uses X.Org’s “FastTrack” process, making released software immediately
available to the entire community. It is available for public download April 25, 2001, at http://www.X.Org.

This release is dedicated to our community of users–who prove the growing relevance and awareness of this
fundamental technology in today’s network age.

About The X Window System

The X Window System is judged worldwide to be one of the most successful open source, collaborative
technologies developed to date. It is the de facto standard graphical engine for the UNIX and Linux operating
systems and provides the only common windowing environment bridging the heterogeneous platforms in
today’s enterprise computing. The inherent independence of the X Window System from operating system and
hardware, its network-transparency, and its support for a wide range of popular desktops are responsible for its
continuing and growing popularity. All major hardware vendors support the X Window System. Many third
parties provide technologies for integrating X Window System applications into network or personal computer
environments under DOS, Windows, Windows 9x, and Windows NT, while thousands of independent software
developers provide X Window System applications. The world-wide community of users of the X Window
System currently exceeds 30 million.

About X.Org

X.Org’s mission is to provide stewardship of the X Window System standards and technology for its global
community of distributors, developers, and users. X.Org policy is defined and executed exclusively by its
members. X.Org membership is fee-based. X.Org activities are focused in Task Forces whose membership is
open to all interested participants. Task Force information is available at http://www.X.Org. All X.Org
activities are supported by contributed effort and funded by membership fees.Members include some of the
leading computing companies in the world–including Compaq Computer Corporation (NYSE: “CPQ”),
Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE: “HWP”), Hummingbird Ltd. (NASDAQ: “HUMC”), International
Business Machines Corporation (NYSE: “IBM”), SGI (NYSE: “SGI”), Sun Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ 100:
“SUNW”), as well as the XFree86 Project. A complete list of members is also available at http://www.X.Org.
X.Org’s operations are facilitated by The Open Group.

The current X.Org release of the X Window System is available for download at http://www.X.Org.

Note to editors: UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the US and other countries. LINUX is a
registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. “XFree86″ is a trademark of The XFree86 Project, Inc. All company
names are trademarks of the registered owners.”