Knoppix 3.9 Released

Slashdot | Knoppix 3.9 Released
The Debian-based live-cd Linux distribution Knoppix has been updated to version 3.9. Among the most notable changes are the update to kernel 2.6.11 and the inclusion of OpenOffice 2.0 BETA and KDE 3.4. This is likely the last single-CD version of Knoppix before the split into ‘Light’ and ‘Maxi’ versions. Torrent links here.

Aplle to Switch To Intel Precessors

Apple to ditch IBM, switch to Intel chips | CNET News.com
Apple Computer plans to announce Monday that it’s scrapping its partnership with IBM and switching its computers to Intel’s microprocessors, CNET News.com has learned.

If this is true, it is huge. The big question, as noted in the article, is whether or not Apple will permiot its operating system to run on any other manfacturer’s boxes. To put a finer point on it: Will Apple decide to compete directly with Microsoft in the operating system space? Note of irony: the Microsoft Xbox 360 will use the latest PowerPC design from IBM for its processor.

Richmond IP Institue Launches CyberEducation Project

Intellectual Property Institute Launches the National CyberEducation Project
The University of Richmond Intellectual Property Institute announces the launch of the National CyberEducation Project, an interdisciplinary, grass-roots effort to engage students, faculty, and administrators on college campuses in discussion of contemporary intellectual property issues. Because debates over the intellectual property issues that arise in the digital age often appear to reflect a new generation gap, the Project focuses on educational efforts that work to bridge that gap. It will produce conferences, articles, blogs, education kits, and other student-oriented, campus-centric programs and materials.

Sounds like they could use CALI Author to create some materials that could be accessed over the web by anyone.

Google Testing Sitemaps

BetaNews | Google Testing New Indexing Approach
Since its inception, Google has tried to make sense of billions of Web documents and using advanced in-house technology. But now, Google is experimenting with a new concept to better its search crawlers: ask webmasters for help. The program, called Google Sitemaps, could revolutionize how the Web is indexed.

Specifically, Sitemaps will direct Google’s Web crawlers to content that has been changed or added, removing the need for Google to spider an entire site. Sitemap files are based on XML and contain a number of parameters to aid in the search indexing process.

The Google Sitemaps FAQ is here.

AKFQuiz: Basic quizzing tool

freshmeat.net: Project details for AKFQuiz
The AKFQuiz package lets you easily make your own quiz games or learning exercises. These can be used either with grquiz in a graphical environment (SVGAlib), with crtquiz on the text console, or with diaquiz in a GUI environment. There is also a line oriented variant, linequiz, which can be used as a backend. A CGI-variant can be installed on a Web server to offer exercises via the Web. A mkquiz tool that generates an HTML file for to use with the JavaScript akfquiz3.js is also included. Those can then be published with any Web-space provider.

RedHat Releases Open Source Version of Netscape Directory Server

Main Page – Fedora Directory Server
Welcome to the Fedora Directory Server. The Fedora Directory Server is a robust, scalable open-source server designed to manage large directories of users and resources. It is based on an open-systems server protocol called the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).

This could be used in place of commercial products like Microsoft Active Directory and Novell eDirectory. It is enterprise grade stuff, so it isn’t for the ‘I need an addressbook’ OpenLDAP crowd.

Blogging For Dolloars

Slashdot | Blogging For Paychecks
When you hear about blogging, you’re most likely to hear about personal journals, self-expression and youngsters sharing their daily routines online. However, as Wall Street Journal notes, the word blogger can now frequently be seen in corporate job ads. Blogging jobs pay anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000 and frequently require writing copy for corporate Web sites and ability to promote on the Internet. A search for blogger and blogging on one of the job meta search engines yields several hundred open positions.

Wherein the ‘blogger’ becomes yet another corporate flak. Corps are waking up to the fact that the tools for blogging are easy to use and provide a sort of instant ‘in’ that allows them access to a lot of eyeballs that other wise might be missed. Sooner or later Google will quit adding so much weight to blogs or get better at filtering amatuers from pros and the salaries will go down.

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