Linux certificate puts kernel developers in impossible position

A patent expert has attacked the Open Source Community's latest initiative to document the provenance of code contributed to the Linux kernel so that proving its origins will be quicker and easier in the face of litigation. The Developer's Certificate of Origin 1.0 asserts that the developer submitting the code which it covers has either written or modified that code according to their rights to do so, or it is being submitted, unchanged, on behalf of someone else who asserts these rights. ...more

Sun unveils Sun ONE Instant Messaging 6.0

Instant messaging for enterprises, courtesy of Sun Microsystems. As well as chat and conferences, the enterprise-scale software supports the use of alerts, news, polls and file transfers. New features in version 6. ...more

Socket surfing

56K modems? Pah. ADSL? Too slow. No, to really 'connect' you want to plug in to a domestic electric socket and enjoy always-on bandwidths of up to 3Mbits/sec, 20-30 times faster than ISDN, according to companies involved in powerline technology. ...more

Panasonic follows the Sony print path

Panasonic has announced the UK release of its digital photoprinter, the NV-APD1, for printing photo quality prints straight from the camera or media. Released in October, the NV-APD1 weighs in at 2.4kg. ...more

Sun custom builds enterprise software

Sun Microsystems officially unveiled its simplified software suites, under the Java brand, that it will offer pre-customised to individual requirements and which it claims will cost about a quarter of the price of its rivals. Scott McNealy, CEO at Sun, said: 'The new Sun Java System totally changes the rules and reinforces Sun's commitment to 'systemsness'. Our total focus on delivering systems for network computing that solve customer problems. ...more