Free Software Linux

The fledgling bank is funding only open source hardware projects using capital raised from other hardware geeks. It's like a community of Facebook friends borrowing and lending among themselves — a peer-to-peer bank.

A long time ago, I complained about the crappy Windows software for the HP 2400 scanner. My struggles back then with getting the thing to work properly in the supported platform of Windows led me to avoid even trying to set it up for the past two years in the red-headed bastard step-child oh-my-GOD-unsupported platform of GNU/Linux.

Licensing your work can be the most daunting task in the whole process of creation. In this highly connected world, your work matters, and what matters more is how you decide how your work is used. People could simply use your work without your permission. Licensing the work is thus very important. This post will be about licensing software (particularly). Although it applies to any other kind of work as well, but I’d concentrate on the software and hardware part, adhering to the topic of this blog.

Open Source indeed has better future than closed source. Why? Well, I’ll describe in this post about both Open Source software and hardware. Before I say one word more, I’d say that this article is not and is of course not meant to be against proprietary programs/hardwares and/or their companies, but this is definitely and is only in favor of Open Source (In fact my whole blog is about that).

I’ll describe this post with examples for both Open Source softwares and hardwares. In case of softwares, the merits are well known:

We've shown you how to make a couple of different compact keychains, but DIY web site Instructables is back with the ultimate fulfillment of the streamlined keychain and multi-tool: the Swiss Army...

Inquisitor is a mature hardware diagnostics, stress testing, certification and monitoring platform, running on GNU/Linux. It's
suitable for both enterprise and home use, customizable, modular and
available in standalone version, server-controlled network boot production system and serverless Live CD format.

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"Thousands of Neo FreeRunners have been loaded into planes and fired around the world," announced Sean Moss-Pultz, the Openmoko CEO, in a frequently philosophical email titled "let us impact the material world", posted to the Openmoko community mailing list. He continued, "many of our distributors have already begun shipping. In about another week, Steve and Harry will announce the opening of our own webshop." The CAD files for building the smartphone hardware are available under the Creative Commons, and the software has been released under the GPL, including a patched 2.6.24 Linux kernel. Sean continued, "whenever I talk publicly about Openmoko, or so it seems, the following question is asked: How can you compete again the giants of this industry?

Wired's How-To Wiki runs down how to put together your own PC on the cheap with Linux for $150 (mouse, keyboard, and monitor not included).

If you've been scanning the news today, you might be under the impression that VIA Technologies had released an open-source notebook design. The OpenNote mini-note reference design has gotten a a sudden burst of press attention, but most of the stories don't seem to understand what's really open about this design.

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If you buy Linux, you’re not only keeping money away from Microsoft, you’re telling OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), that you really do want Linux. And, if enough people do that, the OEMs will support Linux on more of their systems, their vendors will make drivers for Linux components, and the entire Linux desktop world will be the stronger for it.

On Saturday you learned how to control hobbyist hardware using the Arduino microcontroller, and today we've got another neat Arduino project: a Gmail notifier lamp. Blogger Jamie Matthews connected...

I’m a firm believer in the idea that if you pay for hardware, you should be able to make full use of it. However, DRM and content protection mechanisms are increasingly making this difficult for people.

Macworld contributor Brian Jepson isn't content with just connecting external drives, mice, scanners, and printers to his Mac—he wants to control custom hardware. He explains how to do just...

Ultra-Mobile Personal Computers (UMPC) are so hot right now that major PC manufacturers are competing to create the lightest, fastest and sexiest-looking portable machines imaginable. Most of these emerging sub-notebooks are pre-installed with Linux, and I wasn't surprised.

Although consumers are still living in Windows world, computer makers now value Linux more than ever. It's really a huge gamble, but I think it's paying off. Mainstream consumers just don't care any longer even if most of these UMPCs come with Windows as an option. As long as they can surf the web, create documents, and write emails they are at peace with Linux.

Web site Linux.com offers a few tips for taking advantage of the second Ethernet port on the back of your computer. For example, in Linux you can bond your two ports for load balancing and fault...