From TecTracks: “Open-source software is the future and Linux is leading the charge. The proprietary OS game is dying in the enterprise given the high costs that have come with systems growth in recent years. The driving factors behind the success of Linux will be application development, knowledge base and cost.”

SuSE Linux 7.1 is now available for download. You’ll probably have better luck downloading a complete package from a mirror FTP site near you.

From LinuxPR: “Today Richard M. Stallman, founder and president of the Free Software Foundation (FSF), addressed the members of the Brazilian Congress on the issues of free software, the ethics of copyright, and the dangers of software patents. Stallman stressed both the ethical and practical importance of free software, which grants other developers the freedom to examine and improve the software. He also discussed issues of copyright and patents, and how they should be interpreted in terms of freedom for software users and programmers.”

From CNN: “On the surface, the new box is a small and simple portable game machine just like its predecessor, Game Boy Color. But the screen is 50 percent bigger and its image processor is three-times faster, running at 32-bits, up from eight-bits — a renovated home for its massively popular Pokemon character.” The Game Boy Advance should be on store shelves starting Wednesday.

Info World reports: “Despite reports that some carriers are hitting snags with the implementation of 3G (third-generation) wireless networks and services, Sprint PCS Group announced on Tuesday that it is on track to begin migrating its U.S. network to 3G technology later this year. 3G technology lets carriers significantly increase their wireless networks’ capacity to transmit voice and data.”

German electronics giant Siemens has decided to shutter its plans to provide high-speed Internet access via power lines. While other German companies plan to launch the service in small towns this summer, Siemens said that regulatory delays have made mass-market implementation of powerline Internet service virtually impossible. Instead, the company will concentrate on expanding its DSL and cable broadband services. Full story at Info World.

From Reuters via NewsAlert: “Software firm Turbolinux Inc. has withdrawn a $60 million initial public offering due to current market conditions, joining the more than 60 companies that have pulled IPOs this year for nearly the same reason.”

Remember CDDB, the open database server that changed its name to Gracenote and its mission to for-profit? Linux Journal’s Brian Proffitt writes: “What Gracenote has done is hijacked public information, plain and simple. Ironically, it got that information from users who were essentially hijacking it from the CD labels and typing it into their computers. Now Gracenote has taken this information, claimed it as proprietary, and is only doling out the data to those who will pledge obedience to the keepers of the data.” Small wonder, then, that free CD-lookup database alternatives have gained in popularity.

CBS Marketwatch reports on Microsoft’s new software, Hailstorm. “Gates unveiled Internet-based software Monday that lets people store and manage their personal records. The new service makes the world’s largest software
company’s product a central repository for storing credit card numbers, financial records, appointment books and other types of personal information. The
company eventually will charge a to-be-determined monthly fee for the service.”

From Slashdot: An unnamed reader writes “Daily DaemonNews is running a story about Chili!Soft doing a port of Chili!Soft ASP to FreeBSD. It seems they’re trying to gather enough interest to make a port worth while. A phone number and link is mentioned in the article.””