TV Linux alliance will define a standard API that will simplify the implementation of TV middleware and device drivers for the Linux operating environment, allowing network operators to select from a variety of vendors whose offerings are interoperable with the common API. The alliance plans to capitalize on Linux designs already underway among various founders and harmonize early work across the industry to ensure that Linux is delivered to the digital set-top under a common framework of evolving standards-based specifications.

David Coursey offers some ideas for reforming people's, what he calls, "wrong-headed notions of Linux" and says that Linux will never become common as a desktop os, and no amount of believing will change that. It only makes adherents look stupid. Linux is too complex, and there isn't enough money to make it worth someone's time to build a really great environment for desktop apps. And then software companies would need to build applications, but how large a market is there?

Dynamic Shared Object (DSO) Support

To be able to use the functionality of a module which was built as a DSO you have to place corresponding 'LoadModule' lines at this location so the directives contained in it are actually available before they are used. Please read the file README.DSO in the Apache 1.3 distribution for more details about the DSO mechanism and run 'httpd -l' for the list of already built-in (statically linked and thus always available) modules in your httpd binary.

"Managers can learn much from open-source practitioners, or hackers. Open-source hackers are people who `solve problems and build things.' Most engineers would be proud to be described that way. So would most project managers. So should we replace professional management ethics codes with the five hacker attitudes? I suggests starting with the last one and working backward. As a reward for your competence, support of freedom, reduction of others' drudgery, and appreciation that people should not waste their time and brainpower, you get to manage attacks on fascinating problems," says Cioffi.

According to Neal Leavitt, although Linux has grown in popularity, it may have reached a turning point at which it can either address several important challenges or face problems that could limit future adoption. Among the chief reasons for its limited future growth are fragmentation (there are close to 200 Linux distributions), a lack of mainstream commercial Linux applications, almost no groupware and limited support for databases containing more than a terabyte of data.

"Though not properly considered a `Linux handheld' because it ships with WinCE, Compaq has designated it an "open handheld" and provided support for projects seeking to run Linux on it. For power users who want more, the iPAQ running Linux is a very versatile platform. Anyone interested in mobile, `personal' computing would be well rewarded giving Linux on an iPAQ a try. While not quite ready for end users yet, it is definitely worth experimenting with," says Chris Halsall in an overview of the Compaq iPAQ.

Moshe Bar takes a look at upgrading your Linux installation to the 2.4 kernel. He also maintains that Linux distributions are declining in quality. "Why then, are the Linux distributions going backward? I think I have the answer: Money. Linux is now probably facing its most difficult moment. Had it maintained the hacker philosophy that drove it in the beginning, it would be far more isolated from problems like the New Economy crash and such", he says.

Caldera International has announced the availability of its OpenLinux Server 64 preview, a fully functional snapshot of 64-bit Linux for Intel Itanium-based systems. Caldera's offering complements its recently announced AIX 5L technology--a UNIX system solution for Itanium based systems. The combination of AIX 5L with Linux affinity feature and OpenLinux Server 64 provide the industry with the most complete suite of platforms to deploy Linux solutions on Itanium based processors.

"Almost a month ago I wrote Part 1 of my series of articles on moving my business desktop to Linux. Many of you may be wondering: Have I had to go back to Windows? The answer is short and sweet: NO! Was everything about the move totally smooth? I would say my experiences were smooth enough that Bill G. & Co. should be worried. So the real question is - can I move my business workstation use to Linux? The answer is a definite YES!" writes William Henning.

Korea's Linux companies have decided to sever ties with Red Hat, signaling that the once amicable partnership is now on the verge of collapse and that the US-based Linux forerunner could be dealt a serious blow. This move came as Korean firms are beginning to feel that this partnership did not bring much value apart from brand recognition, considering the scale of fees Red Hat demands. Nethertheless, a host of key Linux players in Korea have made some inroads into the server and applications market, demonstrating signs that their foray into the open-source platform will pay off in the end.