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HP’s WebOS Now Open Source

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Hewlett Packard’s exit from the tablet market was quite a jolt even though a lot of people already predicted that it was inevitable. One of the fallouts of HP’s move was that the operating system that they bought from Palm for $1.2 billion, WebOS, was suddenly placed in limbo. HP finally addressed the issue when it announced that it has decided to release WebOS as an open source software.

HP’s decision to turn WebOS to the public was a bit of a shock. Most people were speculating that the company will just sell it to recoup some of its investment. Others thought that HP will just totally mothball the OS. HP’s decision leaves many to conclude that it still believes in WebOS and that it will benefit from open source development. [Read more…]

Music App Songbird Now Lets You Sync iPod and Rip CDs

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songbird

I remember using  the free music app Songbird a long time ago but didn’t quite fully maximized its features.  In fact, I thought the app was no longer existing until now that I learned about its latest software update, Songbird version 1.4.2.

In case you never heard of Songbird before, it’s an open-source music app that you can use if you’re tired of using iTunes and Winamp as it provides simple interface with powerful features to let you manage and listen to your music files.

For its latest version, Songbird is introducing new features such as Mass Storage Class Support, CD Rip support, and Purple Rain Feather.

MSC Device Support lets you sync tracks from MSC devices to phones and MP3 players including the iPod  through MSC mode.  Music tracks which are in incompatible formats are transcoded on the fly to be supported by Songbird.

Songbird also now lets you rip CDs into FLAC/OGG or WMA for Windows users.

Finally, the new Songbird now sports a new Purple Rain Feather for a sleek-looking and cool interface. It now has dedicated toggle buttons for frequently used Media Views and simplified display pane management.

How Google Chrome OS Will Handle Web Security

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Before you get drown into the waves of news items explaining what Google Chrome is and what it is not, let’s not forget one of its most  important feature  which might make it click among Internet security geeks, like us.

The Official Google Blog explains why Chrome OS is very a secured OS by saying that since all apps that you will use will be living within the Chrome browser, Google has made sure that security was given utmost priority. [Read more…]

Torvalds likens Linux development to a social network

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linux.gifLinus Torvalds, the Linux project coordinator who has written 2% of the Linux code, compares open source development to social networks where trust and relationship are the primary drivers of development process.

In an interview with the CEO of Linux Foundation, Jim Zemlin, goes beyond technological capabilities of its members. He said:

“What happens is people know. They’ve seen other people do work over the last months or years, in some cases decades, and they know that, ‘OK, I can trust this person. When he sends me a patch, it’s probably the right thing to do even if I don’t understand quite why’ — and you kind of build up this network.

While Linux development is current confined in the US and Western Europe, it does not mean that people around the globe do not appreciate open source. Rather, there are several stumbling blocks such as language barriers, cultural difference and online connectivity.

And just any regular social networking site like MySpace and Facebook, connections really matter. If you have a huge following, it can easily help fast track the development and send the message to community quickly.

Via Computerworld

Ribbit is not just another phone company

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ribbitRibbit, Silicon Valley’s first phone company and a new platform for developing Web-based voice applications, has formally launched today.

Combining the power of Web-based VoIP and open development platforms, the company boasts its superiority among other companies in the market.

“The world doesn’t need another phone company,” said Ribbit cofounder and CEO Ted Griggs. “What it needs is a new kind of phone company, one that liberates voice from its current confines — devices, plans, and business models — and more readily integrates into the workflow of our professional and personal lives.”

Ribbit SmartSwitch is the core technology behind this startup company. It is a sophisticated multi-protocol soft-switch that bridges the worlds of traditional telephony with next generation networks and protocols.

It works well from any location with an Internet connection and with any Flash-enabled browser. Compared to existing VoIP operators, users can receive and place calls without downloading any soft-phone application.

Ribbit supports other Web-based services including Skype, Google Talk, and MSN. It can even transcribe voicemail to text messages similar to what other paid services like SpinVox and Simulscribe do.

Via NewsFactor