Slashdot reports on a GPL licensed 3D modelling/rendering tool called “OpenFX.” Currently it is only available for the Win32 platform, but ports to the free Unixes and Linux are underway.

Mozdev.org has a report on the New York Mozilla developers meeting during LinuxWorld. Highlights included presentations on state of Mozilla Web tools and Tinderbox2.

MSNBC reports on the increasing availability of high speed satellite Internet access.

MSNBC reports that Napster may yet again face shut down on Monday, resulting in many users being very busy downloading what music they can while they can.

The CBC reports that the Atlantis shuttle mission to bring the Destiny research module to the International Space Station is going off without a hitch to date.

LinuxWorld.com reports on the pre-LWCE speakings of Microsoft concerning Linux’ inevitable doom. IBM, on the other hand, was predicting a boom for the free operating system.

ZDNet has news of the latest network computing device from Oracle chief Larry Ellison: “It runs Linux, the free
open source code operating system, a 266 MHz Cyrix
processor, 64 megabytes of memory, a CD ROM drive and a
56K modem. The device contains no hard disk and for $199
no monitor is included. It can be used on either an Ethernet
local area network or be plugged into a phone jack.” Ellison hopes the new device will help undercut the Windows monopoly — if for no other reason than to swat that pesky Bill Gates out of holding the richest man in the world title (Ellison is a close second).

From ZDNet: “Linux seller Caldera Systems has changed the terms of its
planned acquisition of Santa Cruz Operation’s Unix
products, adding more software to the deal, delaying the
closing date by a quarter and agreeing to pay SCO $31
million in cash.”

A post at LWN.net announces the call for papers for LinuxTag 2001, taking place this year from July 5 to July 8 in Stuttgart. With more than 17,000 visitors, LinuxTag 2000 was the largest Linux exhibition in Europe and the 2001 show promises to be even bigger. If you’d like to speak at one of the LinuxTag public talks — any subject on Linux or Unix should do — then click through to submit your proposal.

Daemon News presents its security guide for FreeBSD, saying “With more and more script kiddies being born, we all need to learn a few basic rules of protecting ourselves. This guide will outline the basics of FreeBSD security, and works best with FreeBSD version 4.x.”