Fsf-friends October 2004

fsf-friends@gnu.org.in

34 participants
51 discussions

Linux Technology Extension(LiTE) centre
by OST ＠ C-DIT 21 Oct '04

21 Oct '04

Hai Friends, One of the strong criticisms against the free softwares is the lack of technological support for those choosing to adopt it. The Centre for Development of Imaging Technology, an autonomous centre under Govt of Kerala is coming up with a creative response to the criticism by establishing 100 Linux Technology Extension (LiTE) centres all over Kerala. They will be launched on 20th October by the Hon'ble Chief Minister Sri. Oommen Chandy in the CM's Chamber. These centres will initially provide installation, trouble shooting, and user training for Linux and Open Office. In the next phase they will also be equipped to give support for development of free software solutions. As the Linux user base gradually increases, C-DIT hopes that these centres will generate more and more micro-employment. More details on www.cdit.org/lite.htm Expecting your valuable suggestions, comments and above all support. regards Team Leader Open Source Technology Team, Centre for Development of Imaging Technology, C-DIT City Centre, Near Press Club, Statue, Thiruvananthapuram - 695001. Keralam, India. Telephone: ++91-471-2339539 Fax: ++91-471-2335995 Email: ost(a)cdit.org Website: www.cdit.org

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Re: Fsf-friends Digest, Vol 18, Issue 19
by Free Software Foundation 20 Oct '04

20 Oct '04

hi friends

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Anyone from Palakkad out there!
by Praveen A 20 Oct '04

20 Oct '04

Hello friends, I have started a group to promote [gnu]linux in Palakkad. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/s2s2pkd/ [ Swatantra Software Solutions and support Palakkad, inspired by efforts of s2s2 Kannore http://s2s2net.netfirms.com/ ] I am looking for anyone [preferrably from Palakkad] to be a part of this effort to spread the message of free software and [GNU]linux [target being Palakkad]. Looking forward to your support. With love Praveen A

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GNU/Linux updates: Microsoft's Linux expert, etc
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 20 Oct '04

20 Oct '04

INTERVIEW: Martin Taylor, Microsoft's Linux expert VNUNet.com - London,England,UK Then I've got a technical team. I've hired quite a few people from the Linux open source world to run a research and development centre. ... <http://www.vnunet.com/analysis/1158834> SHARP pulls Linux Wi-Fi PDA out of US The Register - London,England,UK Sharp has confirmed reports received by The Register that the company has dropped its Zaurus Linux-based PDA in the US market. According ... <http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/10/19/sharp_drops_sl-6000/> See all stories on this topic: <http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=g…> LINUX gains are more than money Search Enterprise Linux - USA ... King said applications running on Linux provide a new upgrade path for businesses that don't wish to get locked into a pattern of forced upgrades. ... <http://searchenterpriselinux.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid39_…> See all stories on this topic: <http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=g…> NEW Linux technology specifically engineered for automotive ... Auto Industry - UK ... Corporation, founded in 1985 as an independent subsidiary of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., has introduced �automotive-grade' Linux technology specifically ... <http://www.autoindustry.co.uk/news/industry_news/news-56gp5bd245> See all stories on this topic: <http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=g…> SRS Labs' New WOW XT(TM) for Linux Targets Growing Asian Handset ... PR Newswire (press release) - USA SRS Labs Delivers WOW XT(TM) Audio Enhancement Solution Optimized on MontaVista Linux for ARM-Based Mobile Phones SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. ... <http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/10-1…> See all stories on this topic: <http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=g…> RED Hat plans to bring Linux to Primetime Desktop Machines eBCVG - USA The Linux Company appointed former Sun Microsystems VP Karen Tegan Padir as VP of Red Hat's new desktop infrastructure technologies group. ... <http://www.ebcvg.com/news.php?id=4047> See all stories on this topic: <http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=g…> GARTNER Analysts Give Nod to Prime-Time Linux eWeek - USA Opinion: Analysts at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo are finally acknowledging that Linux and open source should be part of a company's plans in every IT area. ... <http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1679959,00.asp> TOSHIBA ships Linux with mini-ITX-based PVR ref design Linux News - USA ... a 333MHz MIPS RISC-based SoC (system-on-chip). The design runs Linux. According to Toshiba, the kit supports simultaneous real-time ... <http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7757625666.html> See all stories on this topic: <http://news.google.com/news?ie=utf8&oe=utf8&persist=1&num=30&hl=en&client=g…> NOVELL Offers GUI Choices for Linux Desktop eWeek - USA ORLANDO, Fla.--At Gartner Inc.'s Symposium/ITxpo, eWEEK.com got a sneak peek of Novell Inc.'s forthcoming Linux Desktop. According ... <http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1679393,00.asp> COMMERCIAL developers tap open-source joy Sydney Morning Herald (subscription) - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia ... That's been a big benefit for Cyclades, a commercial vendor that sells Linux-based network monitoring equipment built around its open-source AlterPath software ... <http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/18/1097951615242.html>

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Re: user group assn.
by Ramanraj K 20 Oct '04

20 Oct '04

Nagarjuna G. wrote: >> ..... >>Raj Mathur has been asking for publication of accounts etc. If we could >>dispose such requests first, then we should be able to ask others to do >>the same, with more conviction. Having access to information would help >>us to act upon it in a better way. > > > Arun is arranging to get the stuff up soon. Thanks. I am sure that will help. >>FSF India could play a major role in channelising dev and advocacy >>efforts. Drafting petitions and memorandums to have our requests >>processed, would be the main channel of making suitable requests. >> >>Yesterday, Raman.P., of ILUGC, suggested that free software user groups >>in India join together to form an association. While software cos. have >>NASSCOM, software user groups have no corresponding association that >>could effectively air their views and needs. In the free software >>community, the line between developers and users is virtually >>non-existent, and FSF India could lead in co-ordinating all the free >>software user groups, including LUGs that are willing to join. Most >>user groups meet once a month, and discuss over mailing lists also, and >>hence important issues could be discussed at all LUGS and based on >>consensus, better representations could be sent to authorities. >> > > > We would want someone take it up as a clear responsibility and do it, > be in touch with all the FSUGS/GLUGS and LUGS and other free software > groups in the country. We do have now more serious people and are > willing to work. It is good if each person takes one responsibility > and coordinates on behalf of FSF India. Many lug and user group representatives are members of this list, and if a consensus does evolve, we may take further steps. Thanks, Ramanraj.

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Re: [Fsf-friends] "Software-Patents" in Europe: The threat prevails
by Mayank Sharma 20 Oct '04

20 Oct '04

On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 Frederick Noronha(FN) wrote : "Software-Patents" in Europe: The threat prevails > >Soon the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers will >againdecide about the legalisation and adoption of so-called "software >patents" in Europe, which are already used by large companies in other >countries to put competitors out of business. This can lead to the >termination of manysoftware projects such as KNOPPIX, at least within >Europe, > <snip> This is very disturbing (again). But I am a little unclear on what the end result might be. Maybe Mahesh could clear up. a) What's the status of India and Software Patents? b) Is Software Patent a geographical bounbdary bound thing? I mean would Klaus be able to host Knoppix on (say) an Indian server and distribute here? c) Would he be violating patents if he continues development? I mean would no EU citizen be able to contribute to FLOSS projects? d) How can people be so stupid as to grant patent on things that are so essential to computing? I have gone through the docs at http://swpat.ffii.org/index.en.html but couldn't find ready answers to the questions I had. Answers in the form of text or URLs welcome. Mayank

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Correction
by OST ＠ C-DIT 20 Oct '04

20 Oct '04

Friends, There was a correction in the previous mail. Please read the following line as "These centres will initially provide installation, trouble shooting, and user training for Linux and Open Office" as "These centres will initially provide installation, trouble shooting, and user training for GNU/Linux and OpenOffice.org". regards -- OST @ C-DIT <ost(a)cdit.org>

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"Software-Patents" in Europe: The threat prevails
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 19 Oct '04

19 Oct '04

------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [DE] [ES] [FR] [PL] [JP] [RU] +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ "Software-Patents" in Europe: The threat prevails Soon the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers will again decide about the legalisation and adoption of so-called "software patents" in Europe, which are already used by large companies in other countries to put competitors out of business. This can lead to the termination of many software projects such as KNOPPIX, at least within Europe, because the holders of the over 30,000 already granted "software patents" (currently without a legal foundation) can claim exclusive rights and collect license fees for trivial things like "progress bars", "mouseclicks on online order forms", "scrolling within a window" and similar. That way, software developers will have to pay the "software-patentholders" for using these features, even in their own, completely self-developed applications, which can completely stall the development of innovative software for small and medium companies. Apart from this, the expense for patent inquiries and legal assistence is high, for even trying to find out if the self-developed software is possibly violating "software-patents", if you want to continue to market your software. Contrary to real patents, "software-patents" are, in the draft proposed by the commission, monopolization of business ideas and methods, even without any tangible technical implementation. More about the current major problem at http://swpat.ffii.org/index.en.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha (FN) Nr Convent Saligao 403511 GoaIndia Freelance Journalist P: 832-2409490 M: 9822122436 http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks http://fn.swiki.net http://www.ryze.com/go/fredericknoronha http://fn-floss.notlong.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Difficulties to send email across? Write to fredericknoronha at vsnl.net ============================================================================

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RMS on software patents
by Mahesh T. Pai 19 Oct '04

19 Oct '04

http://www.groklaw.net/article.php?story=20041018113238672 -- Mahesh T. Pai <<>> http://paivakil.port5.com >From The Devil's Dictionary (1881-1906) [devil]: LAWYER, n. One skilled in circumvention of the law.

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[Fsf-friends] Time and chance to act and produce a result ! Go to schools !!
by Praveen A 19 Oct '04

19 Oct '04

Hello friends, I got a chance to go through the text books of 8, 9 and 10th standard for IT @ School programme [Kerala]. I was very happy to see GNU/Linux every where with equal or more importance than windows. The book covers all basic functions like word processing, graphics processing ... But the fact is different from the text books. Today I went to our nearby school to arrange a training programme for the teachers so that they get some confidence in what they teach. But what I learned from there is very disturbing. The higher authorities try to avoid GNU/Linux completely out of the picture by instructing the teachers to only teach Windows. They are gone so far as to tell them that since it is free software there are so many problems and they should not use it and they should not let the students use it either. One thing I could understand that though the teachers are interested they don't know the things and they don't feel the confidence to do it. So what we are planning is to give them training in GNU/Linux this vaction (December). I hope by sharing the experience and knowledge we posses to them we can help spreading the cause. I hope all of us can do a better work in gong to the schools with our friends and help them understand the underlying philosophy as well as expertise so that we can spread the message of Free software and GNU. It is very important that the younger generation be aware of their options and choices. So this is a golden opportunity for every one of us to act. I hope we can make use of this opportunity to fulfil our dreams of free software and free society. With love Praveen A

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Fsf-friends October 2004