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Linux Pipeline Newsletter www.LinuxPipeline.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2006 In This Issue: - Firefox Users Draw Surprise Beta-Test Duty - F-Secure Moves Fast To Patch Windows, Linux AV Products - IBM's 2005 Results: Soft Sales, Higher Profits - More News... - Review: Browsing Off The Beaten Path - GPL Debate: Who Gets Final Say On Open Source? - EU Initiative Could Revive Software Patent Debate - Extra: It's Salary Survey Time! - More Picks... This issue is sponsored by Red Hat. Learn. Network. Experience open source. Red Hat Summit Nashville | May 30 - June 2, 2006 Early bird special. Register before 2/17/06 and save $300. Learn more: "http://www.redhat.com/summit" ----------------------------------------- Editor's Note: Mozilla Mystery! Yesterday afternoon, I found myself gawking at a surprise on my OS X desktop: A Firefox popup window telling me that a "version 1.5.0.1 update" was ready to download, and that Mozilla "strongly suggested" installing it as soon as possible. As you'll soon learn if you haven't already heard, this was Mozilla's way of asking for volunteers to test a release candidate for its first Firefox bug-patch update since releasing version 1.5 nearly two months ago. I had, indeed, worked quite a bit with the OS X versionis of the Firefox 1.5 beta releases, and then with the release candidates. And this time around, when Mozilla Corp. once again needed some tire-kicking help with Firefox 1.5.0.1, the company assumed that, like a lot of other Firefox 1.5 beta testers, I might be willing to do a little more tire-kicking on its behalf. Mozilla was right, at least in my case. Nevertheless, its whole approach to this process struck me as more than a little screwy. For starters, the update notice on my desktop didn't say anything about a release candidate or software testing -- it simply said that Firefox version 1.5.0.1 was available, and that I should come and get it right away. To make matters worse, the "more info" link included with the update notice took me to a page full of release notes for every previous version of Firefox -- but it didn't have any information at all concerning the 1.5.0.1 release. By the time I checked out some other breaking-news pages on the Mozilla site (no luck) and then ran the auto-update on my Windows and Linux Firefox clients (both negative), I wasn't thinking "release candidate." I was thinking, "Russian mobsters are about to hijack my browser, compromise every computer on my home network, and probably drain every last cent of that $57.14 nest egg in my checking account." Fortunately, I got a clue before I went into full freakout mode and yanked all the cables out of my router. But really: Some things do NOT make fun-filled surprises, and mystery-meat software updates are among them. There has got to be a better way of rounding up volunteers. Take The Linux Test! Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols is probably my favorite writer covering the Linux and Open Source beat these days. He's a great communicator, has a spot-on sense of humor, and of course, he knows the subject matter better than almost any other journalist around these parts. In one of his recent columns on DesktopLinux.com, Steven mentioned an interesting decision-making tool for indecisive desktop Linux users. The Linux Distro Chooser Quiz comes courtesy of Daniel Eikeland, a project leader at Zegenie Studios in Norway. Consultants, even Open Source consultants, aren't known for their fun-loving ways, but Daniel's quiz is a fun way to find out which Linux distro might be worth your time to try. The Linux distro world is a big and sometimes confusing place. And while I'm still riding my Ubuntu high these days, one of the great things about Linux is its chameleon-like ability to adopt to so many different platforms, applications, skill levels, and other variables. Check out Daniel's quiz when you have a moment -- and be sure to drop me a line afterwards. I'm curious to hear about the results. Enjoy the rest of your week, and stay in touch.
Matt McKenzie
Don't let future editions of Linux Pipeline Newsletter go missing. Take a moment to add the newsletter's address to your anti-spam whitelist: linuxed@techwire.com If you're not sure how to do that, ask your administrator or ISP. Or check your anti-spam utility's documentation. Thanks. Top Linux News Firefox Users Draw Surprise Beta-Test Duty Why does your Firefox auto-update wants you to install software that hasn't yet been released? Mozilla is testing release candidates for its next minor update, and it has a favor to ask.
F-Secure Moves Fast To Patch Windows, Linux AV Products
IBM's 2005 Results: Soft Sales, Higher Profits
Firefox 1.5 Passes 20 Million Mark
Unofficial Firefox For Intel Macs Debuts
EC Grants Microsoft Extension; DoJ Says Tardy
Google News Goes Final, Adds Feature
Microsoft Internet Explorer 7 Beta 2 Leaks To Web Editor's Picks Review: Browsing Off The Beaten Path Microsoft's and Mozilla's browsers may get the most attention, but they're not the only games in town. There are also some lesser known (and in at least one case, all-but-forgotten) browsers that sport a number of unique, and often quite compelling, features.
GPL Debate: Who Gets Final Say On Open Source?
EU Initiative Could Revive Software Patent Debate
Google: Messaging, VoIP Interop As Easy As XMPP
Consumers Say Feds Should Protect Their Right To Internet Services: Survey
EXTRA: It's Salary Survey Time! Cast Your Vote Now! This week, we want to know what you think about the impact the Sony BMG Entertainment case will have on the use of aggressive digital rights management systems on users' PCs. Will Sony's deal settling the class-action lawsuits filed against it scare the rest of the industry straight? You've got opinions -- and we're all ears. Bring it on! Get More Out Of Linux Pipeline Try Linux Pipeline's RSS Feed Linux Pipeline's content is available via RSS feed: Get RSS link. The feed is also auto-discoverable to many RSS readers from the Linux Pipeline home page. Note: RSS feeds are not viewable in most Web browsers. You need an RSS reader, Web-based service, or plug-in to view RSS. Find out which RSS readers the Pipeline editors recommend.
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