Saturday, January 27, 2007
IBM to Open Source Novel Identity Protection Software
coondoggie handed us a link to a Network World article reporting that IBM plans to open source the project 'Identity Mixer'. Developed by a Zurich-based research lab for the company, Identity Mixer is a novel approach to protecting user identities online. The project, which is a piece of XML-based software, uses a type of digital certificate to control who has access to identity information in a web browser. IBM is enthusiastic about widespread adoption of this technology, and so plans to open source the project through the Eclipse Open Source Foundation. The company hopes this tactic will see the software's use in commercial, medical, and governmental settings.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Google Web Search Now Integrates Blog Results
Type in a phrase into Google.com, add the word "blog" at the end of your query and not only will you get web results but more up-to-date gems from Google Blog Search too. That's the word from the Google Operating System weblog. This has been running as a test since November.
Capstone Mobile Selects GE864-Quad for Fleet Tracking Application
Telit Wireless Solutions, Inc., the US-based m2m mobile technology arm of Telit Communications, today announced that Capstone Mobile has signed a supply agreement with Telit. Telit’s module will be used in Capstone Mobile’s fleet tracking devices to enable mobile monitoring and tracking of high value assets.
Capstone Mobile has developed a system that allows customers to manage their vehicle fleets and view tracking information on portable devices such as laptops and PDAs. Useful for not only monitoring fleets of vehicles, this application will monitor the fleets for critical factors such as temperature and humidity level changes, breaches in containers, and, based on variances, recommend environmental adjustments.
“Telit’s modules possess the ability to be both backwards compatible and easily programmable,” said Scott Williamson, Vice President of Capstone Mobile. “Telit is at the top of a launching industry. The need for critical data has never been greater, and Telit has provided the ideal solution for our needs.”
Thanks to its small, external dimensions of 30 x 30 x 2.8 mm and light weight of only seven grams, the GE864 is especially ideal for applications requiring sub-compact form-factors. With the GE864, Telit is the world's first and only module manufacturer to offer a GSM / GPRS module with a ball grid array (BGA) installation concept.
BGA is based on tiny solder balls placed on the underside of a module allowing for direct mounting to the application circuit board, without the need for plugs, cables, or connectors. The module can now be assembled using an automated pick-and-place assembly for standard SMD components. This not only reduces material costs, but also installation time and assembly costs. The board-to-board BGA mounting is extremely stable and reliable. Together, the compact shape and reduced assembly costs are crucial advantages for use in cost-sensitive applications, such as those for the fleet management and consumer markets. The GE864 is the market’s only module viable for very large scale production in these categories.
“Capstone Mobile has a proven, well thought out approach to the application of wireless technology, and we welcome them as the first U.S.-based customer for Telit Wireless Solutions,” said Roger Dewey, President and CEO of Telit Wireless Solutions, Inc. “Their applications are at the cutting edge of the wireless revolution, and together we will ensure they stay there.”
Telit’s approach to m2m is unique—their products are divided into families, each addressing the demands of various vertical markets application groups according to size, production scale, etc. Within these families, products have the same form factor and functionality irrespective of their wireless technology (GSM, CDMA). The advantage for customers is immediately apparent because all modules within a family are interchangeable, due to uniformity in size, shape, connectors and software interface. Customers can easily replace any module with its successor because there is little or no change required to the application.
There are at least ten times more machines, equipment, vehicles and robots than there are humans in the world, creating a critical need to transfer information efficiently between machines or from machines to humans. The relatively new m2m industry delivers increased efficiency, time savings, improved customer orientation and greater flexibility.
Capstone Mobile has developed a system that allows customers to manage their vehicle fleets and view tracking information on portable devices such as laptops and PDAs. Useful for not only monitoring fleets of vehicles, this application will monitor the fleets for critical factors such as temperature and humidity level changes, breaches in containers, and, based on variances, recommend environmental adjustments.
“Telit’s modules possess the ability to be both backwards compatible and easily programmable,” said Scott Williamson, Vice President of Capstone Mobile. “Telit is at the top of a launching industry. The need for critical data has never been greater, and Telit has provided the ideal solution for our needs.”
Thanks to its small, external dimensions of 30 x 30 x 2.8 mm and light weight of only seven grams, the GE864 is especially ideal for applications requiring sub-compact form-factors. With the GE864, Telit is the world's first and only module manufacturer to offer a GSM / GPRS module with a ball grid array (BGA) installation concept.
BGA is based on tiny solder balls placed on the underside of a module allowing for direct mounting to the application circuit board, without the need for plugs, cables, or connectors. The module can now be assembled using an automated pick-and-place assembly for standard SMD components. This not only reduces material costs, but also installation time and assembly costs. The board-to-board BGA mounting is extremely stable and reliable. Together, the compact shape and reduced assembly costs are crucial advantages for use in cost-sensitive applications, such as those for the fleet management and consumer markets. The GE864 is the market’s only module viable for very large scale production in these categories.
“Capstone Mobile has a proven, well thought out approach to the application of wireless technology, and we welcome them as the first U.S.-based customer for Telit Wireless Solutions,” said Roger Dewey, President and CEO of Telit Wireless Solutions, Inc. “Their applications are at the cutting edge of the wireless revolution, and together we will ensure they stay there.”
Telit’s approach to m2m is unique—their products are divided into families, each addressing the demands of various vertical markets application groups according to size, production scale, etc. Within these families, products have the same form factor and functionality irrespective of their wireless technology (GSM, CDMA). The advantage for customers is immediately apparent because all modules within a family are interchangeable, due to uniformity in size, shape, connectors and software interface. Customers can easily replace any module with its successor because there is little or no change required to the application.
There are at least ten times more machines, equipment, vehicles and robots than there are humans in the world, creating a critical need to transfer information efficiently between machines or from machines to humans. The relatively new m2m industry delivers increased efficiency, time savings, improved customer orientation and greater flexibility.
BBC To Host Multi-OS Debate
"BBC is currently seeking submissions from all you Microsoft Windows, Mac and Linux devotees "in 100 words or less, why you are such a supporter of your chosen operating system and what features you love about it". They will then select one user of each platform to go head to head in a debate that will be part of the BBC's Microsoft Vista launch coverage on January 30th."
Street Fighting Robot Challenge
"There's no better way to assure the eventual destruction of mankind then by the event sponsored by Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency. Newscientist has a good writeup of the robot challenge, which is to build a robot that can operate autonomously in urban warfare conditions, moving in and out of buildings to search and destroy targets like a human soldier."
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Blu-ray Protection Bypassed
ReluctantRefactorer writes with an article in the Register reporting that Blu-ray copy-protection technology has been sidestepped by muslix64, the same hacker who bypassed the DRM technology of rival HD DVD discs last month. From the article: "muslix64's work has effectively sparked off a [cat]-and-mouse game between hackers and the entertainment industry, where consumers are likely to face compatibility problems while footing the bill for the entertainment industry's insistence on pushing ultimately flawed DRM technology on an unwilling public." WesleyTech also covers the crack and links the doom9 forum page where BackupBluRayv021 was announced.
Linspire's CNR Goes Multi-Distro
S3Indiana writes with news that Linspire is opening its Click 'N Run installation software to other Linux distributions. After 5 years of development on CNR, the new site cnr.com will be a single source repository for Linux users. Distributions to be supported initially during 2007 are (alphabetically): Debian, Fedora, Freespire, Linspire, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu; other distributions will follow. See the FAQ and the screenshots for more details.
Linspire announced today that it plans to expand its CNR ("Click 'N Run") digital download and software management service to support multiple desktop Linux distributions beyond Linspire and Freespire, initially adding Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu, using both .deb and .rpm packages. And, the standard CNR service will remain free.
CNR was developed by Linspire in 2002 to allow desktop Linux users to find, install, uninstall, manage, and update thousands of software programs on their Linspire-based Linux computers.
Previously available only for Linspire and Freespire desktop Linux users, the CNR Service will begin providing users of other desktop Linux distributions a free and easy way to access more than 20,000 desktop Linux products, packages and libraries, a Linspire spokesperson said.
Support for different Linux distributions will begin in the second quarter of 2007 via a new website, CNR.com. Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu will be the first supported, with others planned to follow.
Even as the Linux desktop has made strong advances in usability and capabilities, the difficulties of finding, installing, and updating software -- with each distribution requiring its own installation process -- has remained one of the most commonly cited complaints among desktop Linux users. With more than five years of development behind it, Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony hopes that CNR will now normalize these tasks for the most popular Debian- and RPM package-based distributions.
Carmony stated, "The CNR Service was designed to solve the complexity of finding and installing desktop Linux applications, as well as educating the world about all the quality Linux software available. It only made sense to expand our successful CNR Service to additional desktop Linux distributions and their users. CNR will normalize the process of installing software across most of the popular distributions, something Linux really needs to gain mainstream adoption."
CNR, which became a free service last August, will remain so for all the distributions supported, Carmony added.
Linspire also said in August that it would release the CNR client under an open source license later in the year. Since then, according to Carmony, Linspire has completely redesigned, updated, and enhanced the CNR technology to support multiple distributions -- both Debian- and RPM-based, Carmony said.
At CNR.com, users of supported distributions will be able to search for applications by title, popularity, user rating, category, function, and so on. An open-sourced plugin for each supported distribution will provide the one-click installation functionality. Not only will the new, multi-distribution CNR system support different distributions, it will also support various versions within each supported distribution, Carmony said.
According to a Linspire spokesperson, the new multi-distribution CNR technology will standardize the installation process for users of multiple Linux distributions without requiring a new or altered packaging system. CNR uses standard .deb and .rpm files, while shielding the user from the complexity of these packaging systems. Application developers can continue using their same packaging methods (.deb or .rpm), and various supported distributions can continue with their normal release management practices.
By building CNR around existing packaging systems, tens of thousands of existing Linux applications are immediately available via the CNR system. According to Linspire, CNR adds both server- and client-side intelligence that overcome the traditional dependency challenges presented by current packaging systems, but without the need for altering these ubiquitous systems.
CNR.com will also allow give users of multiple distros the opportunity to purchase commercial products and services, such as "legally-licensed" DVD players, Sun's StarOffice, Win4Lin Pro, CodeWeavers's CrossOver, and TransGaming's Cedega. CNR's commercial software offerings currently span various categories, including media playback, personal and business productivity, finances, virtualization, development tools, and games.
The spokesperson also said that CNR would allow users quick access to multimedia codecs and hardware drivers, bringing one-click support for MP3, Windows Media, Quick Time, Java, Flash, ATI and nVidia graphics, and so on.
The new CNR.com web site is now active with an informational placeholder where users can learn more about the plans for the multi-distribution CNR.
--Chris Preimesberger
Linspire announced today that it plans to expand its CNR ("Click 'N Run") digital download and software management service to support multiple desktop Linux distributions beyond Linspire and Freespire, initially adding Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu, using both .deb and .rpm packages. And, the standard CNR service will remain free.| Spread the word: digg this story |
CNR was developed by Linspire in 2002 to allow desktop Linux users to find, install, uninstall, manage, and update thousands of software programs on their Linspire-based Linux computers.
Previously available only for Linspire and Freespire desktop Linux users, the CNR Service will begin providing users of other desktop Linux distributions a free and easy way to access more than 20,000 desktop Linux products, packages and libraries, a Linspire spokesperson said.
Support for different Linux distributions will begin in the second quarter of 2007 via a new website, CNR.com. Debian, Fedora, OpenSUSE, and Ubuntu will be the first supported, with others planned to follow.
Even as the Linux desktop has made strong advances in usability and capabilities, the difficulties of finding, installing, and updating software -- with each distribution requiring its own installation process -- has remained one of the most commonly cited complaints among desktop Linux users. With more than five years of development behind it, Linspire CEO Kevin Carmony hopes that CNR will now normalize these tasks for the most popular Debian- and RPM package-based distributions.
Carmony stated, "The CNR Service was designed to solve the complexity of finding and installing desktop Linux applications, as well as educating the world about all the quality Linux software available. It only made sense to expand our successful CNR Service to additional desktop Linux distributions and their users. CNR will normalize the process of installing software across most of the popular distributions, something Linux really needs to gain mainstream adoption."
CNR, which became a free service last August, will remain so for all the distributions supported, Carmony added.
Linspire also said in August that it would release the CNR client under an open source license later in the year. Since then, according to Carmony, Linspire has completely redesigned, updated, and enhanced the CNR technology to support multiple distributions -- both Debian- and RPM-based, Carmony said.
At CNR.com, users of supported distributions will be able to search for applications by title, popularity, user rating, category, function, and so on. An open-sourced plugin for each supported distribution will provide the one-click installation functionality. Not only will the new, multi-distribution CNR system support different distributions, it will also support various versions within each supported distribution, Carmony said.
According to a Linspire spokesperson, the new multi-distribution CNR technology will standardize the installation process for users of multiple Linux distributions without requiring a new or altered packaging system. CNR uses standard .deb and .rpm files, while shielding the user from the complexity of these packaging systems. Application developers can continue using their same packaging methods (.deb or .rpm), and various supported distributions can continue with their normal release management practices.
By building CNR around existing packaging systems, tens of thousands of existing Linux applications are immediately available via the CNR system. According to Linspire, CNR adds both server- and client-side intelligence that overcome the traditional dependency challenges presented by current packaging systems, but without the need for altering these ubiquitous systems.
CNR.com will also allow give users of multiple distros the opportunity to purchase commercial products and services, such as "legally-licensed" DVD players, Sun's StarOffice, Win4Lin Pro, CodeWeavers's CrossOver, and TransGaming's Cedega. CNR's commercial software offerings currently span various categories, including media playback, personal and business productivity, finances, virtualization, development tools, and games.
The spokesperson also said that CNR would allow users quick access to multimedia codecs and hardware drivers, bringing one-click support for MP3, Windows Media, Quick Time, Java, Flash, ATI and nVidia graphics, and so on.
The new CNR.com web site is now active with an informational placeholder where users can learn more about the plans for the multi-distribution CNR.
--Chris Preimesberger
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
MSI GeForce 8800 GTX (NX8800GTX-T2D768E)
As enthusiasts, we are always anxiously awaiting new GPU architectures, with additional pipelines and more memory. All of these aspects usually go into creating the next must-have flagship video card. Like us, you've probably been wondering when single GPU cards would sport a full gigabyte of memory. Dual-GPU cards, like NVIDIA's GeForce 7950 GX2, already boast 1GB of high-speed GDDR3. And as exciting as that may sound, it isn't quite as geek-tastic as having 1GB of memory coupled to a single GPU.
We all know it's coming; it's only a matter of time. NVIDIA's latest line-up, the GeForce 8 Series, got us one step closer as the 8800 GTX features 768MB of fast GDDR3 memory. New architecture, new features, DirectX 10 support, 768MB of GDDR3 RAM and a 384-bit memory interface; the 8800 GTX has a lot of exciting things going for it. And at over ten and a half inches in length, the 8800 GTX is definitely a monster.
Today, we have an MSI 8800 GTX (specifically, the NX8800GTX-T2D768E) on the test bench. In addition to comparing it to a GeForce 7950 GX2 and Radeon X1900 XTX, we'll hook it up to a 65-inch 1080p TV for some big-screen gaming.
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| Memory: 768MB DDR3 Video Output Function: - TV-out + HDTV Support - Two Dual-link DVI Connectors - SLI Bridge 384-Bit Memory Interface | Clocks: - GPU: 575 MHz - Memory: 1.8 GHz (effective) Performance: - Memory Bandwidth (GB/sec): 86.4 - Fill Rate (Billion pixels/sec): 36.8 |
| NVIDIA unified architecture: Fully unified shader core dynamically allocates processing power to geometry, vertex, physics, or pixel shading operations, delivering up to 2x the gaming performance of prior generation GPUs. GigaThread Technology: Massively multi-threaded architecture supports thousands of independent, simultaneous threads, providing extreme processing efficiency in advanced, next generation shader programs. Full Microsoft DirectX 10 Support: World's first DirectX 10 GPU with full Shader Model 4.0 support delivers unparalleled levels of graphics realism and film-quality effects. NVIDIA SLI Technology: Delivers up to 2x the performance of a single graphics card configuration for unequaled gaming experiences by allowing two cards to run in parallel. The must-have feature for performance PCI Express graphics, SLI dramatically scales performance on today's hottest games. NVIDIA Lumenex Engine: Delivers stunning image quality and floating point accuracy at ultra-fast frame rates. 16x Anti-aliasing: Lightning fast, high-quality anti-aliasing at up to 16x sample rates obliterates jagged edges. 128-bit floating point High Dynamic-Range (HDR): Twice the precision of prior generations for incredibly realistic lighting effects - now with support for anti-aliasing. NVIDIA Quantum Effects Technology: Advanced shader processors architected for physics computation enable a new level of physics effects to be simulated and rendered on the GPU - all while freeing the CPU to run the game engine and AI. NVIDIA ForceWare Unified Driver Architecture (UDA): Delivers a proven record of compatibility, reliability, and stability with the widest range of games and applications. ForceWare provides the best out-of-box experience and delivers continuous performance and feature updates over the life of NVIDIA GeForce GPUs. OpenGL 2.0 Optimizations and Support: Ensures top-notch compatibility and performance for OpenGL applications. NVIDIA nView Multi-Display Technology: Advanced technology provides the ultimate in viewing flexibility and control for multiple monitors. PCI Express Support: Designed to run perfectly with the PCI Express bus architecture, which doubles the bandwidth of AGP 8X to deliver over 4 GB/sec. in both upstream and downstream data transfers. Dual 400MHz RAMDACs: Blazing-fast RAMDACs support dual QXGA displays with ultra-high, ergonomic refresh rates - up to 2048x1536@85Hz. Dual Dual-link DVI Support: Able to drive the industry's largest and highest resolution flat-panel displays up to 2560x1600. | Built for Microsoft Windows Vista: NVIDIA's fourth-generation GPU architecture built for Windows Vista gives users the best possible experience with the Windows Aero 3D graphical user interface. NVIDIA PureVideo HD Technology: The combination of high-definition video decode acceleration and post-processing that delivers unprecedented picture clarity, smooth video, accurate color, and precise image scaling for movies and video. Discrete, Programmable Video Processor: NVIDIA PureVideo HD is a discrete programmable processing core in NVIDIA GPUs that provides superb picture quality and ultra-smooth movies with low CPU utilization and power. Hardware Decode Acceleration: Provides ultra-smooth playback of H.264, VC-1, WMV and MPEG-2 HD and SD movies. HDCP Capable: Designed to meet the output protection management (HDCP) and security specifications of the Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats, allowing the playback of encrypted movie content on PCs when connected to HDCP-compliant displays. Spatial-Temporal De-Interlacing: Sharpens HD and standard definition interlaced content on progressive displays, delivering a crisp, clear picture that rivals high-end home-theater systems. High-Quality Scaling: Enlarges lower resolution movies and videos to HDTV resolutions, up to 1080i, while maintaining a clear, clean image. Also provides downscaling of videos, including high-definition, while preserving image detail. Inverse Telecine (3:2 & 2:2 Pulldown Correction): Recovers original film images from films-converted-to-video (DVDs, 1080i HD content), providing more accurate movie playback and superior picture quality. Bad Edit Correction: When videos are edited after they have been converted from 24 to 25 or 30 frames, the edits can disrupt the normal 3:2 or 2:2 pulldown cadences. PureVideo HD uses advanced processing techniques to detect poor edits, recover the original content, and display perfect picture detail frame after frame for smooth, natural looking video. Video Color Correction: NVIDIA's Color Correction Controls, such as Brightness, Contrast and Gamma Correction let you compensate for the different color characteristics of various RGB monitors and TVs ensuring movies are not too dark, overly bright, or washed out regardless of the video format or display type. Integrated SD and HD TV Output: Provides world-class TV-out functionality via Composite, S-Video, Component, or DVI connections. Supports resolutions up to 1080p depending on connection type and TV capability. Noise Reduction: Improves movie image quality by removing unwanted artifacts. Edge Enhancement: Sharpens movie images by providing higher contrast around lines and objects. |
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Like the last MSI card we reviewed, the MSI 8800 GTX is packed in a box sporting an angelic woman and a carrying handle. The back of the box of course boasts some of the main features of the card. Once we opened the box, we were glad to see the $600 card surrounded by styrofoam.
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We were also glad to see a decent bundle included with this flagship card. MSI includes a handful of accessories: two VGA-to-DVI adapters, two PCI Express power cables, one S-video cable and one TV-out cable (with S-video and component video connectors). In addition to the accessories, the bundle includes a bunch of software, including Serious Sam II, CyberLink PowerCinema and Power2Go, and all the utilities listed below.
| MSI developed software | |
| . | VGA Driver |
| . | MSI Live Update Series ( Live VGA BIOS & Live VGA Driver) |
| - | Automatically online download & update VGA BIOS & Drivers, reduce the risk of getting the wrong files, and never have the trouble on web site searching. |
| . | StarOSD |
| - | StarOSD can monitor system information, adjust monitor figuration, and overclock system. |
| . | Dual Core Center |
| . | GoodMen |
| Automatically release the system memory space, reduce the risk of system hang-up. | |
| . | LockBox |
| - | Instantly enter the data lock mode when you must leave your system for a while. |
| . | WMIinfor |
| - | Automatically list the detail system configuration, it helpful for engineering service people. |
| . | MSI VIVID |
| - | Vivid brings the easiest way to optimize graphic quality. Colorize your vision when browsing photos!!! Sharpen characters edge! Enhance contrast when playing game! |
| . | MSI Live |
| - | Including all real time life information you need, such as Live MSI Product News, Live Daily Information, Live Personal Schedule Manager, Live Search and more. |
| . | MSI Secure DOC |
| . | E-Color |
| . | MediaRing |
| . | ShowShift |
| . | ThinSoft Be Twin |
| . | Adobe Acrobat Reader |
| . | Norton Internet Security 2005 |
| . | Microsoft DirectX 9.0 |
Internet Multitasking Disorder -- And How We Read the News
On any given day, Lindsay, a 24-year-old office worker in New York, can be found with several windows open in her Web browser. When she is not sending e-mails or browsing MySpace, she is chatting with her friends or co-workers through AIM – sometimes with multiple conversations going at once.
The New York Times is her homepage, giving her the latest news every morning and recently she downloaded Firefox where she checks the RSS feed for the latest headlines.
This is how Lindsay stays connected to the world. But at times the overflow of information can cause distractions. In an age of instant communication people are accustomed to getting news from multiple sources quickly and constantly, but with so many means of information on her plate, it's easy for Lindsay to just click away – another case of Internet Multitasking Syndrome.
"I think for the most part I'm accustomed to reading the news online as opposed to hardcopy and people like me are the type of person that will be persuaded to click somewhere else," said Lindsay.
Although Internet Multitasking Syndrome is not a known medical disorder (I just made it up five minutes ago), it is not uncommon for people to become so immersed in their online activities that their cognitive abilities wane. After hours starring at a screen, flipping between web pages and information outlets, people can develop a feeling of anxiety, stress and a decrease in mental performance, said John Suler, author of The Psychology of Cyberspace. "There are limits to how much information one person can process," he continued.These are symptoms akin to sensory overload, and while it is rare for a person to become so addicted to the Internet that it damages their relationship to friends, family, or performance at work, Suler said that the juggling act which we perform online can effect the way we read the news. "You are getting a cursory understanding of several different sources of information at one time, it's a delicate balance – do you want to get a shallow understanding of lots of different things or a deep grasp of one topic," asked Suler.
Online, most people opt for the quick glance. The average Internet attention span is roughly 10 seconds according to some statistics, allowing humans to just barely beat out gold fish in terms of staying on topic. One major cause of this decrease in attention are hyperlinks, which are built into Web pages allowing people to jump from one digital location to the next.
Blue highlighted words inserted in our text have become commonplace on the Internet, but no one has made an attempt to study what effect it has on our digital culture, said Joseph Turow, a professor at Penn's Annenberg School for Communications.
"We haven't really taken the time to ask what it means when we have an approach to the world where we think of connections in this way. What are the hidden assumptions that places like Google, Yahoo and MSM create for you, to see the world one way or another," said Turow.
Knowing that readers have such a short attention span and that they can click away at any moment, journalists have to approach writing for the Web in a different manner.
"When you write for the Web… you don't beat around the bush, you get to the point quickly, because you don't have the luxury of putting the reader in the mood or creating the intellectual framework for your argument," said Jack Shafer, author of Press Box a column at Slate Magazine.
But writing for the Web doesn't just mimic the wire stories of old. While the speed at which information comes across is similar, the nature of the information is somewhat different. Shafer uses links only as a referencing tool -- a way to site primary sources that back his arguments -- but often bloggers and even journalists use it as a means to highlight conversations that share their political sentiments.
In these circles people are called "ditto-heads," groups of writers and readers that only link and read views that echo their own beliefs. While this might make for a "good" read – and can even capture a readers attention – it fails to address one of journalisms main components: to create a healthy civic discussion.
It leads to wonder if the Internet is a good place to get the news at all. But many journalists see a great potential for online news to inform readers on important issues in their lives. Saul Hansell, a writer for the New York Times, said that newspapers have always known people don't read to the end of a story. With news online this becomes apparent, but it at least provides a breadth of material that is easy to access.
Readers always have something in their peripheral vision and while the Internet allows them to investigate these issues on a shallow level, it also gives them the tools to focus intimately on other matters, said Hansell. "I would take any of these problems over having too little information or information that is to hard to get at."
Lindsay prefers to get her news online. But as she sifts between news feeds, social networking sites, gossip blogs and chats, the lines between reading the news and just plain reading are blurred and one has to wonder if the news suffers.
8 ways to exercise your brain
By DAWN SAGARIO
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
There are some aspects of aging, such as gray hair, that Laura Bestler-Wilcox can accept.
Mental decline is not one of them.
"I'm only 38, but I have no intention of growing old - mentally, at least," said Bestler-Wilcox, from Ames.
She started playing Nintendo's Brain Age game last month, and says it helps keep her brain active. The goal is to score the ideal "brain age" of 20, which you achieve by doing a range of exercises - from math problems and counting the number of syllables in words, to reading aloud and Sudoku.
"I do math better," said Bestler-Wilcox, who plays the game every other day for about 20 minutes. "It's like doing exercises for different parts of your body. This is exercising your brain."
Staying mentally fit is a hot topic - from new research touting the benefits of mental exercises, to seminars on maintaining your brain health done by AARP and the Alzheimer's Association.
Two new studies, one done in Des Moines, show that brain workouts are beneficial for mental health, and can help improve brain function.
Brain health is an important issue among America's approximately 78 million baby boomers. The AARP Web site includes tips for a healthy brain, as well as brain puzzles. The organization conducted about 30 presentations nationwide on brain health last year, said Michael Patterson, manager of AARP's "Staying Sharp" program.
"People seem to be more willing to put up with physical decline, more than mental decline," Patterson said.
Here are eight ways people of all ages can keep mentally sharp.
1. PLAY HEAD GAMES
Brain games may help improve mental function, and could possibly help prevent dementia.
That's according to a six-month pilot study in Des Moines that included Alzheimer's patients.
Participants used the "Happy Neuron" software (www.happyneuron.com), said geriatrician Dr. Robert Bender, who led the research team. The activities targeted language, visual-spatial and memorization skills.
The findings were released earlier this month.
The games seem to help overall brain health, said Bender, medical director of the Orr Center for Memory and Healthy Aging in West Des Moines. Researchers don't know yet whether doing the exercises can definitely prevent diseases like Alzheimer's.
"The challenge is to stretch yourself, at the same time without making it frustrating," Bender said. "At all ages, we need to challenge our brain to learn new things, and that's the main thing."
The study's "brain wellness program" also included: consistent social interaction, physical exercise, a low-fat diet, stress management and meditation.
Caregivers also participated in the study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. TRAIN YOUR BRAIN
Brain training can help ease daily tasks. Seniors who did certain mental exercises improved their thinking skills, according to a recent study.
They also had an easier time performing everyday tasks, even five years after receiving training, compared to untrained people.
The difference was significant for people who had reasoning training, said Michael Marsiske, one of the principal investigators of the study.
The study included 2,802 adults age 65 and older who were living independently and had normal brain function.
The training exercises included:
- Memory: To help people memorize word lists, one method was to organize a grocery list by the sections of the store, said Marsiske, an associate professor in the department of clinical health and psychology at the University of Florida.
- Visualization: Use all your senses to remember things. For example, if you need to remember a dog's name, visualize what the dog's fur feels like, recall the sound of its bark, and, yes, try to re-create its smell.
- Reasoning: Participants learned to use highlighters to identify key points in complicated information. That included underlining important information like dosage and frequency on a medication.
3. TAXES
Don Eller of Urbandale says he stays sharp by volunteering to do people's taxes as part of a program run by AARP.
"In preparation to do that, there are tax classes you attend," said Eller, 76. "So you are continuing working with numbers and math concepts."
During the off-season, he likes to play Sudoku online. He also tries to take daily walks, and on most days walks about three miles.
Marsiske recommends taxpayers take a crack at those pesky forms and complicated columns of numbers before handing them off to professionals. It's just one way to flex your mental brawn.
"That's where you're engaging your mental activity," Marsiske said.
Another simple numbers tip: Figure out the calculations yourself, first, before breaking out the calculator.
4. BUILD YOUR "COGNITIVE RESERVE"
There's a whole new body of research showing that individuals with a lot of education, highly challenging jobs, and who are very socially engaged have the highest levels of mental function and the lowest levels of decline later in life, Marsiske said.
"If we do things to produce healthy brains early in life, then we will benefit from that later in life," he said.
5. REMEMBER PASSWORDS
Keep track of your passwords - without the help of your computer. This is Marsiske's trick: "I never let my computer remember any passwords," he said. He writes them down in a hidden spot, in a hidden code. "What I want to do is engage in that act of having to remember."
6. RETHINK YOUR CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Remember that you want to find activities that test your mental mettle. One danger with crossword puzzles, Bender said, is that people who regularly do them may already be familiar with the vocabulary. Avoid slipping into the familiar, and try something new.
7. APRENDER EL ESPAÑOL
Translation: Learn Spanish, or another new language or mechanical skill. "It's important to find things that we enjoy because that lowers stress and that helps the brain work better," Bender said.
8. EXERCISE YOUR BODY
What's good for the body is good for the brain. More research is confirming that exercise, diet, a healthy lifestyle and getting an adequate amount of sleep not only keep you physically healthy, but also mentally, Marsiske said.
Reporter Dawn Sagario can be reached at (515) 284-8351 or dsagario@dmreg.com
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
January 22, 2007
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MARK MARTURELLO/REGISTER ILLUSTRATION
There are some aspects of aging, such as gray hair, that Laura Bestler-Wilcox can accept.
Mental decline is not one of them.
"I'm only 38, but I have no intention of growing old - mentally, at least," said Bestler-Wilcox, from Ames.
She started playing Nintendo's Brain Age game last month, and says it helps keep her brain active. The goal is to score the ideal "brain age" of 20, which you achieve by doing a range of exercises - from math problems and counting the number of syllables in words, to reading aloud and Sudoku.
"I do math better," said Bestler-Wilcox, who plays the game every other day for about 20 minutes. "It's like doing exercises for different parts of your body. This is exercising your brain."
Staying mentally fit is a hot topic - from new research touting the benefits of mental exercises, to seminars on maintaining your brain health done by AARP and the Alzheimer's Association.
Two new studies, one done in Des Moines, show that brain workouts are beneficial for mental health, and can help improve brain function.
Brain health is an important issue among America's approximately 78 million baby boomers. The AARP Web site includes tips for a healthy brain, as well as brain puzzles. The organization conducted about 30 presentations nationwide on brain health last year, said Michael Patterson, manager of AARP's "Staying Sharp" program.
"People seem to be more willing to put up with physical decline, more than mental decline," Patterson said.
Here are eight ways people of all ages can keep mentally sharp.
1. PLAY HEAD GAMES
Brain games may help improve mental function, and could possibly help prevent dementia.
That's according to a six-month pilot study in Des Moines that included Alzheimer's patients.
Participants used the "Happy Neuron" software (www.happyneuron.com), said geriatrician Dr. Robert Bender, who led the research team. The activities targeted language, visual-spatial and memorization skills.
The findings were released earlier this month.
The games seem to help overall brain health, said Bender, medical director of the Orr Center for Memory and Healthy Aging in West Des Moines. Researchers don't know yet whether doing the exercises can definitely prevent diseases like Alzheimer's.
"The challenge is to stretch yourself, at the same time without making it frustrating," Bender said. "At all ages, we need to challenge our brain to learn new things, and that's the main thing."
The study's "brain wellness program" also included: consistent social interaction, physical exercise, a low-fat diet, stress management and meditation.
Caregivers also participated in the study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2. TRAIN YOUR BRAIN
Brain training can help ease daily tasks. Seniors who did certain mental exercises improved their thinking skills, according to a recent study.
They also had an easier time performing everyday tasks, even five years after receiving training, compared to untrained people.
The difference was significant for people who had reasoning training, said Michael Marsiske, one of the principal investigators of the study.
The study included 2,802 adults age 65 and older who were living independently and had normal brain function.
The training exercises included:
- Memory: To help people memorize word lists, one method was to organize a grocery list by the sections of the store, said Marsiske, an associate professor in the department of clinical health and psychology at the University of Florida.
- Visualization: Use all your senses to remember things. For example, if you need to remember a dog's name, visualize what the dog's fur feels like, recall the sound of its bark, and, yes, try to re-create its smell.
- Reasoning: Participants learned to use highlighters to identify key points in complicated information. That included underlining important information like dosage and frequency on a medication.
3. TAXES
Don Eller of Urbandale says he stays sharp by volunteering to do people's taxes as part of a program run by AARP.
"In preparation to do that, there are tax classes you attend," said Eller, 76. "So you are continuing working with numbers and math concepts."
During the off-season, he likes to play Sudoku online. He also tries to take daily walks, and on most days walks about three miles.
Marsiske recommends taxpayers take a crack at those pesky forms and complicated columns of numbers before handing them off to professionals. It's just one way to flex your mental brawn.
"That's where you're engaging your mental activity," Marsiske said.
Another simple numbers tip: Figure out the calculations yourself, first, before breaking out the calculator.
4. BUILD YOUR "COGNITIVE RESERVE"
There's a whole new body of research showing that individuals with a lot of education, highly challenging jobs, and who are very socially engaged have the highest levels of mental function and the lowest levels of decline later in life, Marsiske said.
"If we do things to produce healthy brains early in life, then we will benefit from that later in life," he said.
5. REMEMBER PASSWORDS
Keep track of your passwords - without the help of your computer. This is Marsiske's trick: "I never let my computer remember any passwords," he said. He writes them down in a hidden spot, in a hidden code. "What I want to do is engage in that act of having to remember."
6. RETHINK YOUR CROSSWORD PUZZLE
Remember that you want to find activities that test your mental mettle. One danger with crossword puzzles, Bender said, is that people who regularly do them may already be familiar with the vocabulary. Avoid slipping into the familiar, and try something new.
7. APRENDER EL ESPAÑOL
Translation: Learn Spanish, or another new language or mechanical skill. "It's important to find things that we enjoy because that lowers stress and that helps the brain work better," Bender said.
8. EXERCISE YOUR BODY
What's good for the body is good for the brain. More research is confirming that exercise, diet, a healthy lifestyle and getting an adequate amount of sleep not only keep you physically healthy, but also mentally, Marsiske said.
Reporter Dawn Sagario can be reached at (515) 284-8351 or dsagario@dmreg.com
Monday, January 22, 2007
10 Tips That Every PHP Newbie Should Know
I wish I had known these 10 tips the day I started working with PHP. Instead of learning them through painstaking process, I could have been on my way to becoming a PHP programmer even sooner! This article is presented in two parts and is intended for folks who are new to PHP.
Tip 1: MySQL Connection Class
The majority of web applications I've worked with over the past year have used some variation of this connection class:
class DB {
function DB() {
$this->host = "localhost"; // your host
$this->db = "myDatabase"; // your database
$this->user = "root"; // your username
$this->pass = "mysql"; // your password
$this->link = mysql_connect($this->host, $this->user,
$this->pass);
mysql_select_db($this->db);
}
}
// calls it to action
$db = new $DB;
Simply edit the variables and include this in your files. This doesn't require any knowledge or special understanding to use. Once you've added it to your repertoire, you won't likely need to create a new connection class any time soon. Now you can get to work and quickly connect to your database without a lot of extra markup:
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM table ORDER BY id ASC LIMIT 0,10");
More information can be found in the manual--be sure you read the comments: http://www.php.net/mysql_connect/
Tip 2: Dealing with Magic Quotes
PHP "automagically" can apply slashes to your $_POST data for security purposes. It's an important measure to prevent SQL injections. However, slashes in your scripts can wreak havoc. This is an easy method for dealing with them. The way to handle the slashes is to strip them from our variables. However, what if the magic quotes directive is not enabled?
function magicQuotes($post) {
if (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) {
if (is_array($post) {
return array_map('stripslashes',$post);
} else {
return stripslashes($post);
}
} else {
return; // magic quotes are not ON so we do nothing
}
}
The script above checks to see if magic quotes is enabled. If they are, it will determine if your $_POST data is an array (which it likely is) and then it will strip the slashes accordingly.
Understand that this is not true 'validation'. Be sure to validate all your user-submitted data with regular expressions (which is the most common way to do so).
More information about magic quotes: http://www.php.net/ magic_quotes/
More information about SQL injection: http://www.php.net/manual/en/security.database.sql-injection.php/
More information about regular expressions: http://www.php.net/pcre/
Tip 3: Safely Query Database with mysql_real_escape_string
When you are ready to query your database you will need to escape special characters (quotes for instance) for safety's sake by adding slashes. We apply these before we insert variables into our database. Once again, we need to determine which version of PHP you are running first:
function escapeString($post) {
if (phpversion() >= '4.3.0') {
return array_map('mysql_real_escape_string',$post);
} else {
return array_map('mysql_escape_string',$post);
}
}
More information about mysql_real_escape_string: http://www.php.net/ mysql_real_escape_string/
More information about SQL injection: http://php.belnet.be/manual/en/security.database.sql- injection.php
Tip 4: Debugging
If you search the forum there are many good threads with rules about debugging. The single most important thing you can do is ask PHP to report errors and notices to you by adding this line at the beginning of your scripts:
error_reporting(E_ALL);
This will keep you in line as you learn by printing out errors to your screen. The most common error that E_ALL reports is not actually an error, but a notice for an "Undefined index". Typically, it means that you have not properly set your variable. It's easy to fix and keeps you programming correctly.
Another convenient tool while working with queries is print_r(). If your query is returning null or strange results, simply place this after your query command and it will display all the contents of the $result array.
print_r($result); exit;
The exit command stops your script from executing any further so you can specifically review your query results.
More information about error_reporting: http://www.php.net/ error_reporting/
More information about print_r; http://www.php.net/print_r/
Tip 5: Writing Functions (and Classes)
Initially I thought that tackling functions and classes would be difficult--thankfully I was wrong. Writing a function is something I urge all newbies to start doing immediately--it's really that simple. You are instantly involved in understanding how to produce more efficient code in smaller pieces. Where you might have a line of code that reads like this:
if ($rs['prefix'] == 1) {
$prfx = 'Mrs. ';
} elseif ($rs['prefix'] == 2) {
$prfx = 'Ms. ';
} else {
$prfx = 'Mr. ';
}
echo $prfx.$rs['name'].' '.$rs['last_name'];
You could rewrite it like this in a function:
function makePrefix($prefix='')
{
if (!$prefix) return '';
if ($prefix == 1) return 'Mrs. ';
if ($prefix == 2) return 'Ms. ';
if ($prefix == 3) return 'Mr. ';
}
echo makePrefix($rs['prefix']) . $rs['name'] . ' ' . $rs['last_name'];
Now that you've written this function, you can use it in many different projects!
An easy way to describe classes is to think of it as a collection of functions that work together. Writing a good class requires an understanding of PHP 5's new OOP structure, but by writing functions you are well on your way to some of the greater powers of PHP.
More information about writing functions: http:// www.php.net/manual/en/language.functions.php
More information about writing classes: http:// www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.php
Everything I've learned, more or less, came from the manual, trial and error and great help from the many fine people here at PHPBuilder. Good luck programming--and come back soon for Part 2 in this series!
Tip 1: MySQL Connection Class
The majority of web applications I've worked with over the past year have used some variation of this connection class:
class DB {
function DB() {
$this->host = "localhost"; // your host
$this->db = "myDatabase"; // your database
$this->user = "root"; // your username
$this->pass = "mysql"; // your password
$this->link = mysql_connect($this->host, $this->user,
$this->pass);
mysql_select_db($this->db);
}
}
// calls it to action
$db = new $DB;
Simply edit the variables and include this in your files. This doesn't require any knowledge or special understanding to use. Once you've added it to your repertoire, you won't likely need to create a new connection class any time soon. Now you can get to work and quickly connect to your database without a lot of extra markup:
$result = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM table ORDER BY id ASC LIMIT 0,10");
More information can be found in the manual--be sure you read the comments: http://www.php.net/mysql_connect/
Tip 2: Dealing with Magic Quotes
PHP "automagically" can apply slashes to your $_POST data for security purposes. It's an important measure to prevent SQL injections. However, slashes in your scripts can wreak havoc. This is an easy method for dealing with them. The way to handle the slashes is to strip them from our variables. However, what if the magic quotes directive is not enabled?
function magicQuotes($post) {
if (get_magic_quotes_gpc()) {
if (is_array($post) {
return array_map('stripslashes',$post);
} else {
return stripslashes($post);
}
} else {
return; // magic quotes are not ON so we do nothing
}
}
The script above checks to see if magic quotes is enabled. If they are, it will determine if your $_POST data is an array (which it likely is) and then it will strip the slashes accordingly.
Understand that this is not true 'validation'. Be sure to validate all your user-submitted data with regular expressions (which is the most common way to do so).
More information about magic quotes: http://www.php.net/ magic_quotes/
More information about SQL injection: http://www.php.net/manual/en/security.database.sql-injection.php/
More information about regular expressions: http://www.php.net/pcre/
Tip 3: Safely Query Database with mysql_real_escape_string
When you are ready to query your database you will need to escape special characters (quotes for instance) for safety's sake by adding slashes. We apply these before we insert variables into our database. Once again, we need to determine which version of PHP you are running first:
function escapeString($post) {
if (phpversion() >= '4.3.0') {
return array_map('mysql_real_escape_string',$post);
} else {
return array_map('mysql_escape_string',$post);
}
}
More information about mysql_real_escape_string: http://www.php.net/ mysql_real_escape_string/
More information about SQL injection: http://php.belnet.be/manual/en/security.database.sql- injection.php
Tip 4: Debugging
If you search the forum there are many good threads with rules about debugging. The single most important thing you can do is ask PHP to report errors and notices to you by adding this line at the beginning of your scripts:
error_reporting(E_ALL);
This will keep you in line as you learn by printing out errors to your screen. The most common error that E_ALL reports is not actually an error, but a notice for an "Undefined index". Typically, it means that you have not properly set your variable. It's easy to fix and keeps you programming correctly.
Another convenient tool while working with queries is print_r(). If your query is returning null or strange results, simply place this after your query command and it will display all the contents of the $result array.
print_r($result); exit;
The exit command stops your script from executing any further so you can specifically review your query results.
More information about error_reporting: http://www.php.net/ error_reporting/
More information about print_r; http://www.php.net/print_r/
Tip 5: Writing Functions (and Classes)
Initially I thought that tackling functions and classes would be difficult--thankfully I was wrong. Writing a function is something I urge all newbies to start doing immediately--it's really that simple. You are instantly involved in understanding how to produce more efficient code in smaller pieces. Where you might have a line of code that reads like this:
if ($rs['prefix'] == 1) {
$prfx = 'Mrs. ';
} elseif ($rs['prefix'] == 2) {
$prfx = 'Ms. ';
} else {
$prfx = 'Mr. ';
}
echo $prfx.$rs['name'].' '.$rs['last_name'];
You could rewrite it like this in a function:
function makePrefix($prefix='')
{
if (!$prefix) return '';
if ($prefix == 1) return 'Mrs. ';
if ($prefix == 2) return 'Ms. ';
if ($prefix == 3) return 'Mr. ';
}
echo makePrefix($rs['prefix']) . $rs['name'] . ' ' . $rs['last_name'];
Now that you've written this function, you can use it in many different projects!
An easy way to describe classes is to think of it as a collection of functions that work together. Writing a good class requires an understanding of PHP 5's new OOP structure, but by writing functions you are well on your way to some of the greater powers of PHP.
More information about writing functions: http:// www.php.net/manual/en/language.functions.php
More information about writing classes: http:// www.php.net/manual/en/language.oop5.php
Everything I've learned, more or less, came from the manual, trial and error and great help from the many fine people here at PHPBuilder. Good luck programming--and come back soon for Part 2 in this series!
The Anatomy of Pump N' Dump Stock Spamming
"Laura Frieder and Jonathan Zittrain have analyzed pump n' dump spam activity in their paper 'Spam Works: Evidence from Stock Touts and Corresponding Market Activity'. Unbelievably, it appears that spammers are able to achieve a 5% gain on pumped stock before dumping it, along with a dramatic increase in transaction volume of the stock. From the synopsis: ' We suggest that the effectiveness of spammed stock touting calls into question prevailing models of securities regulation that rely principally on the proper labeling of information and disclosure of conflicts of interest to protect consumers, and we propose several regulatory and industry interventions. Based on a large sample of touted stocks listed on the Pink Sheets quotation system, we find that stocks experience a significantly positive return on days prior to heavy touting via spam. Volume of trading responds positively and significantly to heavy touting.'"
Google, Microsoft Escalate Data Center Battle
"The race by Microsoft and Google to build next-generation data centers is intensifying. On Thursday Microsoft announced a $550 million San Antonio project, only to have Google confirm plans for a $600 million site in North Carolina. It appears Google may just be getting started, as it is apparently planning two more enormous data centers in South Carolina, which may cost another $950 million. These 'Death Star' data centers are emerging as a key assets in the competitive struggle between Microsoft and Google, which have both scaled up their spending (as previously discussed on Slashdot). Some pundits, like PBS' Robert X. Cringley, say the scope and cost of these projects reflect the immense scale of Google's ambitions."
Myths, Lies, and Truths about the Linux kernel
Now when I mean a myth, I'm referring to something that was believed to have some truth to them, but when you really examine them, they are fictional. Let's call them the "urban myths" of the Linux kernel.
So, to start, let's look at a very common myth that really annoys me a lot:
This is really a myth, so people should really know better these days about saying this. So, who said this specific quote?:
Ok, well, he probably said this a long time ago, back when Linux really didn't support many different things, and when "Plug & Play" was a big deal with ISA buses and stuff:
Ok, so maybe I need to spend some time and really debunk this myth as it really isn't true anymore.
So, what is the fact concerning Linux and devices these days. It's this:
- USB 2.0
- Bluetooth
- PCI Hotplug
- CPU Hotplug
- memory Hotplug (ok, some of the older Unixes did support CPU and memory hotplug in the past, but no desktop OS still supports this.)
- wireless USB
- ExpressCard
and the list can go on, the embedded arena is especially full of drivers that no one else supports.
But there's a real big part of the whole hardware support issue that goes beyond just specific drivers, and that's this:
And remember, almost every different driver that we support, runs on every one of those different platforms. This is something that no one else has ever done in the history of computing. It's just amazing at how flexible and how powerful Linux is this way.
We now have the most scalable and most supported operating system that has ever been created. We have achieved something that is so unique and different and flexible that for people to keep repeating the "Linux doesn't support hardware" myth, is something that everyone needs to stop repeating. As it simply isn't true anymore.
Now, to be fair to Jeff Jaffe, when he said that original quote, he had just become the CTO of Novell, and didn't really have much recent experience with Linux, and did not realize the real state of device support that the modern distros now provide.
Look at the latest versions of Fedora, SuSE, Ubuntu and others. Installation is a complete breeze (way easier than any other operating system installation). You can now plug a new device in and the correct driver is automatically loaded, no need to hunt for a driver disk somewhere, and you are up and running with no need to even reboot.
An example of this, I recently plugged a new USB printer into my laptop, and a dialog box popped up and asked me if I wanted to print a test page on it. That's it, nothing else. If that isn't "plug and play", I really don't know what is.
But not everyone has been ignoring the success of Linux, as is obvious by the size of this conference. Lots of people see Linux and want to use it for their needs, but when they start looking deeper into the kernel, and how it is developed almost the first thing they run into is the total lack of a plan:
Well, obviously based on the fact that we are successful at doing something that's never been done before, we must have got here somehow, and be doing something right, but what is it?
Traditionally software is created by determining the requirements for it, writing up a big specification document, reviewing it and getting everyone to agree on it, implement the spec, test it, and so on. In college they teach software engineering methodology like the waterfall method, the iterative process method, formal proof methods, and others. Then there's the new ways of creating programs like extreme programming and top-down design, and so on.
So, what do we do here in the kernel?
I guess it makes sense that since we have now created something that has never been done before, we did it by doing something different than anyone else. So, what is it? How is the kernel designed and created? Linus answered this question last year when he said the following to a group of companies when he was asked to explain the kernel design process:
The kernel is not developed with big design documents, feature requests and so on. It evolves over time based on the need at the moment for it. When it first started out, it only supported one type of processor, as that's all it needed to. Later, a second architecture was added, and then more and more as time went on. And each time we added a new architecture, the developers figured out only what was needed to support that specific architecture, and did the work for that. They didn't do the work in the very beginning to allow for the incredible flexibility of different processor types that we have now, as they didn't know what was going to be needed.
The kernel only changes when it needs to, in ways that it needs to change. It has been scaled down to tiny little processors when that need came about, and was scaled way up when other people wanted to do that. And every time that happened, the code was merged back into the tree to let everyone else benefit from the changes, as that's the license that the kernel is released under.
Jonathan on the first day of the conference showed you the huge rate of change that the kernel is under. Tons of new features are added at a gigantic rate, along with bug fixes and other things like cleanups. This shows how fast the kernel is still evolving, almost 15 years after it was created. It's morphed into this thing that is very adaptable and looks almost nothing like what it was even a few years ago. And that's the big reason why Linux is so successful, and why it will keep being successful. It's because we embrace change, and love it, and welcome it.
But one "problem" for a lot of people is that due to this constantly evolving state, the Linux kernel doesn't provide some things that "traditional" operating systems do. Things like an in-kernel stable API. Everyone has heard this one before:
For Linux, we don't have a stable internal api, and for people to wish that we would have one is just foolish. Almost two years ago, the kernel developers sat down and wrote why Linux doesn't have an in-kernel stable API and published it within the kernel in the file:
Here's an example that shows how this all works. The Linux USB code has been rewritten at least three times. We've done this over time in order to handle things that we didn't originally need to handle, like high speed devices, and just because we learned the problems of our first design, and to fix bugs and security issues. Each time we made changes in our api, we updated all of the kernel drivers that used the apis, so nothing would break. And we deleted the old functions as they were no longer needed, and did things wrong. Because of this, Linux now has the fastest USB bus speeds when you test out all of the different operating systems. We max out the hardware as fast as it can go, and you can do this from simple userspace programs, no fancy kernel driver work is needed.
Now Windows has also rewritten their USB stack at least 3 times, with Vista, it might be 4 times, I haven't taken a look at it yet. But each time they did a rework, and added new functions and fixed up older ones, they had to keep the old api functions around, as they have taken the stance that they can not break backward compatibility due to their stable API viewpoint. They also don't have access to the code in all of the different drivers, so they can't fix them up. So now the Windows core has all 3 sets of API functions in it, as they can't delete things. That means they maintain the old functions, and have to keep them in memory all the time, and it takes up engineering time to handle all of this extra complexity. That's their business decision to do this, and that's fine, but with Linux, we didn't make that decision, and it helps us remain a lot smaller, more stable, and more secure.
And by secure, I really mean it. A lot of times a security problem will be found in one driver, or in one core part of the kernel, and the kernel developers fix it, and then go and fix it up in all other drivers that have the same problem. Then, when the fix is released, all users of all drivers are now secure. When other operating systems don't have all of the drivers in their tree, if they fix a security problem, it's up to the individual companies to update their drivers and fix the problem too. And that rarely happens. So people who buy the device, and then use the older driver that comes in the box with the device, which is insecure. This has happened a lot recently, and really shows how having a stable api can actually hurt end users, when the original goal was to help developers.
What usually happens after I talk to people about the instability of the kernel api, and how kernel development works, they usually respond with:
We want more drivers, no matter how "obscure", because it allows us to see patterns in the code, and realize how we could do things better. If we see a few drivers doing the same thing, we usually take that common code and move it into a shared piece of code, making the individual drivers smaller, and usually fixing things up nicer. We also have merged entire drivers together because they do almost the same thing. An example of this is a USB data acquisition driver that we have in the kernel. There are loads of different USB data acquisition devices out in the world, and one German company send me a driver a while ago to support their devices. It turns out that I was working on a separate driver for a different company that did much the same thing. So, we worked together and merged the two together, and we now have a smaller kernel. That one driver turned out to work for a few other company's devices too, so they simply had to add their device id to the driver and never had to write any new code to get full Linux support. The original German company is happy as their devices are fully supported, which is what their customers wanted, and all of the other companies are very happy, as they really didn't have to do any extra work at all. Everyone wins.
The second thing that people ask me about when it comes to getting code into the kernel is, well, we want to keep our code private, because it is proprietary.
So, here's the simple answer to this issue:
Now no lawyer will ever come out in public and say this, as lawyer really aren't allowed to make public statements like this at all. But if you hire one, and talk to them in the client/lawyer setting, they will advise you of this issue.
I'm not a lawyer, nor do I want to be one, so don't ask me anything else about this, please. If you have legal questions about license issues, talk to a lawyer, never bring it up on a public mailing list like linux-kernel, which only has programmers. To ask programmers to give legal rulings, in public, is the same as asking us for medical advice. It doesn't make sense at all.
But what would happen if one day the Linux kernel developers suddenly decided to let closed source modules into the kernel? How would that affect how the kernel works and evolves over time?
It turns out that Arjan van de Ven has written up a great thought exercise detailing exactly what would happen if this came true:
The article goes on to show how the community based distros, like Gentoo and Debian, would slowly become obsolete and not work on any new hardware platforms, and dry up as no users would be able to use them anymore. And eventually, in just a few short years, the whole kernel project itself would come to a standstill, unable to innovate or change anything.
It's a really chilling tale, and quite good, please go look it up if you are interested in this topic.
But there's one more aspect of the whole closed source module issue that I really want to bring up, and one that most people ignore. It's this:
And the rule of the kernel is the GPL, it's a simple license, with standard copyright ownership issues, and many lawyers understand it.
When a company says that they need to "protect their intellectual property", that's fine, I and no other kernel developer has any objection to that. But by the same token, you need to respect the kernel developers intellectual property rights. We released our code under the GPL, which states in very specific form, exactly what your rights are when using this code. When you link other code into our body of code, you are obligated by the license of the kernel to also release your code under the same license (when you distribute it.)
When you take the Linux kernel code, and link or build with the header files against it, with your code, and not abide by the well documented license of our code, you are saying that for some reason your code is much more important than the entire rest of the kernel. In short, you are giving every kernel developer who has ever released their code the finger.
So remember, the individual companies are not more important than the kernel, for without the kernel development community, the companies would have no kernel to use at all. Andrew Morton stood up here two years ago and called companies who create closed source modules leaches. I completely agree. What they do is just totally unethical. Some companies try to skirt the license of the law on how they redistribute their closed source code, forcing the end user of it to do the building and linking, which then causes them to violate the GPL if they want to give that prebuilt module to anyone else. These companies are just plain unethical and wrong.
Luckily people are really starting to realize this and the big distros are not accepting this anymore. Here's what Novell publicly stated earlier this year:
Red Hat also includes some text like this in their kernel package, but hasn't come out and said such a public statement.
Alright, enough depressing stuff. After companies realize that the really need to get their code into the kernel tree, they quickly run into one big problem:
So, how to do it. Luckily, the kernel developers have written down everything that you need to know for how to do kernel development. It's all in one file:
It talks about how the kernel is developed, how to create a patch, how to find your way around the kernel tree, who to send patches to, what the different kernel trees are all about, and it even lists things you should never say on the linux-kernel mailing list if you expect people to take your code seriously.
It's a great file, and if you ever have anything that it doesn't help you out with, please let the author of that file know and they will work to add it. It should be the thing that you give to any manager or developer if they want to learn more about how to get their code into the kernel tree.
One thing that the HOWTO file describes, is various communities that can help people out with kernel development. If you are new to kernel development, there is the:
If you really want to start out doing kernel development, but don't know what to do, the:
I really recommend this project for anyone who wants to start kernel development, but hasn't found anything specific to work on yet. It gets you to search around the kernel tree, fixing up odd things, and by doing that, you will usually find something that interests you that no one else is doing, and you can slowly start to take that portion of the kernel over. I can't recommend this group enough.
And then, there's the big huge mailing list, where everyone lives on:
The Linux kernel mailing list also has another kind of perceived problem. Lots of people can find the reaction of developers on this list as very "harsh" at times. They post their code, and get back scathing reviews of everything they did wrong. Usually the reviewers only criticize the code itself, but for most people, this can be a very hard thing to be on the receiving end of. They just put out what they felt was a perfect thing, only to see it cut into a zillion tiny pieces.
The big problem of this, is we really only have a very small group of people reviewing code in the kernel community. Reviewing code is a hard, unrewarding, tough thing to do. It really makes you grumpy and rude in a very short period of time. I tried it out for a whole week, and at the end of it, I was writing emails like this one:
I'd like to publicly thank Christoph Hellwig and Randy Dunlap. Both of them spend a lot of time reviewing code on the linux-kernel mailing list, and Christoph especially has a very bad reputation for it. Bad in that people don't like his reviews. But the other kernel developers really do, because he is right. If he tells you something is wrong, and you need to fix it, do it. Don't ignore advice, because everyone else is watching to see if you really do fix up your code as asked to. We need more Christophs in the kernel community.
If everyone could take a few hours a week and review the different patches sent to the mailing list, it would be a great thing. Even if you don't feel like you are a very good developer, read other people's code and ask questions about it. If they can't defend their design and code, then there's something really wrong.
It's also a great way to learn more about programming and the kernel. When you are learning to play an instrument, you don't start out writing full symphonies on your own, you spend years reading other peoples scores, and learning how things are put together and work and interact. Only later do you start writing your own music, small tunes, and then, if you want, working up to bigger pieces. The same goes for programming. You can learn a lot from reading and understanding other people's code. Study the things posted, and ask why things are done specific ways, and point out problems that you have noticed. It's a task that the kernel really needs help with right now.
(possible side story about the quote)
Alright, but what if you want to help out with the kernel, but you aren't a programmer. What can you do? Last year Dave Jones told everyone that the kernel was going to pieces, with loads of bugs being found and no end in sight. A number of people made the response:
So, that's what I suggest for people who want to help out, yet are not programmers. Please, run the nightly snapshots from Linus's kernel tree on your machine, and complain loudly if something breaks. If no one pays attention, complain again. Be really persistent. File bugs in:
And if you really feel brave, please, run Andrew Morton's -mm kernel tree. It contains all of the different kernel maintainer's development trees combined into one big mass of instability. It is the proving ground for what will eventually go into Linus's kernel tree. So we need people testing this kernel out to report problems early, before they go into Linus's tree.
I wouldn't recommend running Andrew's kernels on a machine with data that you care about, that would not be wise. So if you have a spare machine, or you have a very good backup policy, please, run his kernels and let us know if you have any problems with stuff.
So finally, in conclusion, here's the main things that I hope people remember:
What is IDS?
IDS is an acronym for Intrusion Detection System. An intrusion detection system detects intruders; that is, unexpected, unwanted or unauthorized people or programs on my computer network.
Why do I need IDS? A network firewall will keep the bad guys off my network, right? And my anti-virus will recognize and get rid of any virus I might catch, right? And my password-protected access control will stop the office cleaner trawling through my network after I've gone home, right? So that's it - I'm fully protected, right?
Wrong!
A firewall has got holes to let things through: without it, you wouldn't be able to access the Internet or send or receive emails. Anti-virus systems are only good at detecting viruses they already know about. And passwords can be hacked, stolen or left lying about on post-its.
That's the problem. You can have all this security, and all you've really got is a false sense of security. If anything or anyone does get through these defenses, through the legitimate holes, it or they can live on your network, doing whatever they want for as long as they want. And then there's a whole raft of little known vulnerabilities, known to the criminals, who can exploit them and gain access for fun, profit or malevolence. A hacker will quietly change your system and leave a back door so that he can come and go undetected whenever he wants. A Trojan might be designed to hide itself, silently gather sensitive information and secretly mail it back to source. And you won't even know it's happening - worse, you'll believe it can't be happening because you've got a firewall, anti-virus and access control.
Unless, that is, you also have an intrusion detection system. While those other defenses are there to stop bad things getting onto your network, an intrusion detection system is there to find and defeat anything that might just slip through and already be on your system. And in today's world, you really must assume that things will slip through - because they most certainly will. From the outside, you will be threatened by indiscriminate virus storms; from hackers doing it for fun (or training); and more worryingly from organized criminals specifically targeting you for extortion, blackmail or saleable trade secrets.
From the inside, you will have walk-in criminals using social engineering skills to obtain passwords to, or even use of, your own PCs; from curious staff who simply want to see what their colleagues are earning; and from malcontents with a grievance.
What you really mustn't assume is that this is fanciful, or that you don't have anything worth stealing. According to experts in the field even something as basic as stored HR data on your employees is worth $10 per person on the black market. Search for 'FBI' on this site, and see the variety of attacks and dangers that exist; and how often there is a degree of success despite firewalls and anti-virus and access control. You still need all of those defenses - but you also need an intrusion detection system.
What do I need in IDS?
Intrusion detection describes the intention - not the methodology. There are several different ways by which this can be achieved; so anything that detects intrusions is an IDS. Which method you choose really depends upon what you need: and if you don't already have in-house security expertise, it would be worth employing a consultant to help reach your decision.
Note that IDS is no longer a new technology - it's a mature technology. Since the term is no longer new, it no longer has that 'buzz' required by marketing managers. This has been aggravated by analyst firm the Gartner Group proclaiming that IDS is dead and replaced by IPS. This is wrong. Ignore it. IPS is different to IDS. Vend ors and security experts know this, but the result is that manufacturers are tempted to find new terms - and one of these is Network Behavior Analysis. This is a good and useful approach; but one of the primary purposes of NBA is to detect intrusions – in other words, IDS.
Remember, too, that good security is the right level of security for you. You need to strike the right balance between the cost of the security and the value of your goods - there's no point in spending more on security than the value of what you're protecting. Risk management principles using a thorough risk analysis will help you decide how much to spend.
Armed with this information, you can look for features such as:
* attack halting (stops the attack, whether it is a program or a hacker)
* attack blocking (closes the loop-hole through which the attacker gained access)
* attack alerting (either pop-up to an online admin, or email or SMS to a remote admin)
* information collecting (on what is done by the attack to the network, and from where the attack came - helps gather forensic evidence should a prosecution become necessary or possible)
* full reporting (so that you can learn from your mistakes, and prevent future problems)
* fail-safe features (such as encrypted messages and VPN tunneling within the IDS to hide its presence from, and inhibit interference by, any hacker).
If you've got a large network, or particularly valuable information, you may like to look out for the extras offered with some intrusion detection systems:
* honeypot or padded cell (a fake network or area designed specifically to attract and contain attacks, so that you can analyze them and learn from their behavior)
* vulnerability analysis (so that you can check your network for all known vulnerabilities in order to pre-empt rather than just detect intrusions)
* file integrity checker (a mathematical way of knowing if a file has been altered in any way, and therefore potentially compromised by an intruder)
One other point - don't think that you're so small you don't need or can't find an IDS. IDS as described above is available for large enterprises on down. But even if you just have a couple of PCs, you can still get, and still need, an intrusion detection system. It's just that for a single desktop system it goes by different names and has less automated features: it's a personal firewall and an anti-spyware program. The purpose is the same - to detect and stop intrusions - it's just that here you have to manually keep it up to date and manually conduct regular scans and it isn’t as intelligent or sophisticated.
Where do I get IDS?
Here are a few suppliers to get you started - but keep checking back to this resource center, because we'll be adding more companies and more products all the time:
* AirDefense
* Arbor Networks
* CounterStorm
* Enterasys
* GFI
* ISS
* Lancope
* Snort
* SonicWALL
* StillSecure
It will also be worth looking at Unified Threat Management. This is often a physical device, an appliance, and it just means that you get more than one security feature in a single box. Unified Threat Management will frequently include an IDS.
How can I evaluate IDS?
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you know what you need, and what you can afford. Then you need to know what's available. Only then can you decide what to get. So first check the Buyer's Guide in this resource centre to see what you can get. Conduct a risk analysis exercise - use a consultant if you need to. And then, knowing what is available and what you need, consult our Comparison Guide and see what product comes closest to that need. And if you have specific queries, problems or worries - get some free help and advice from Ask the Experts .
Why do I need IDS? A network firewall will keep the bad guys off my network, right? And my anti-virus will recognize and get rid of any virus I might catch, right? And my password-protected access control will stop the office cleaner trawling through my network after I've gone home, right? So that's it - I'm fully protected, right?
Wrong!
A firewall has got holes to let things through: without it, you wouldn't be able to access the Internet or send or receive emails. Anti-virus systems are only good at detecting viruses they already know about. And passwords can be hacked, stolen or left lying about on post-its.
That's the problem. You can have all this security, and all you've really got is a false sense of security. If anything or anyone does get through these defenses, through the legitimate holes, it or they can live on your network, doing whatever they want for as long as they want. And then there's a whole raft of little known vulnerabilities, known to the criminals, who can exploit them and gain access for fun, profit or malevolence. A hacker will quietly change your system and leave a back door so that he can come and go undetected whenever he wants. A Trojan might be designed to hide itself, silently gather sensitive information and secretly mail it back to source. And you won't even know it's happening - worse, you'll believe it can't be happening because you've got a firewall, anti-virus and access control.
Unless, that is, you also have an intrusion detection system. While those other defenses are there to stop bad things getting onto your network, an intrusion detection system is there to find and defeat anything that might just slip through and already be on your system. And in today's world, you really must assume that things will slip through - because they most certainly will. From the outside, you will be threatened by indiscriminate virus storms; from hackers doing it for fun (or training); and more worryingly from organized criminals specifically targeting you for extortion, blackmail or saleable trade secrets.
From the inside, you will have walk-in criminals using social engineering skills to obtain passwords to, or even use of, your own PCs; from curious staff who simply want to see what their colleagues are earning; and from malcontents with a grievance.
What you really mustn't assume is that this is fanciful, or that you don't have anything worth stealing. According to experts in the field even something as basic as stored HR data on your employees is worth $10 per person on the black market. Search for 'FBI' on this site, and see the variety of attacks and dangers that exist; and how often there is a degree of success despite firewalls and anti-virus and access control. You still need all of those defenses - but you also need an intrusion detection system.
What do I need in IDS?
Intrusion detection describes the intention - not the methodology. There are several different ways by which this can be achieved; so anything that detects intrusions is an IDS. Which method you choose really depends upon what you need: and if you don't already have in-house security expertise, it would be worth employing a consultant to help reach your decision.
Note that IDS is no longer a new technology - it's a mature technology. Since the term is no longer new, it no longer has that 'buzz' required by marketing managers. This has been aggravated by analyst firm the Gartner Group proclaiming that IDS is dead and replaced by IPS. This is wrong. Ignore it. IPS is different to IDS. Vend ors and security experts know this, but the result is that manufacturers are tempted to find new terms - and one of these is Network Behavior Analysis. This is a good and useful approach; but one of the primary purposes of NBA is to detect intrusions – in other words, IDS.
Remember, too, that good security is the right level of security for you. You need to strike the right balance between the cost of the security and the value of your goods - there's no point in spending more on security than the value of what you're protecting. Risk management principles using a thorough risk analysis will help you decide how much to spend.
Armed with this information, you can look for features such as:
* attack halting (stops the attack, whether it is a program or a hacker)
* attack blocking (closes the loop-hole through which the attacker gained access)
* attack alerting (either pop-up to an online admin, or email or SMS to a remote admin)
* information collecting (on what is done by the attack to the network, and from where the attack came - helps gather forensic evidence should a prosecution become necessary or possible)
* full reporting (so that you can learn from your mistakes, and prevent future problems)
* fail-safe features (such as encrypted messages and VPN tunneling within the IDS to hide its presence from, and inhibit interference by, any hacker).
If you've got a large network, or particularly valuable information, you may like to look out for the extras offered with some intrusion detection systems:
* honeypot or padded cell (a fake network or area designed specifically to attract and contain attacks, so that you can analyze them and learn from their behavior)
* vulnerability analysis (so that you can check your network for all known vulnerabilities in order to pre-empt rather than just detect intrusions)
* file integrity checker (a mathematical way of knowing if a file has been altered in any way, and therefore potentially compromised by an intruder)
One other point - don't think that you're so small you don't need or can't find an IDS. IDS as described above is available for large enterprises on down. But even if you just have a couple of PCs, you can still get, and still need, an intrusion detection system. It's just that for a single desktop system it goes by different names and has less automated features: it's a personal firewall and an anti-spyware program. The purpose is the same - to detect and stop intrusions - it's just that here you have to manually keep it up to date and manually conduct regular scans and it isn’t as intelligent or sophisticated.
Where do I get IDS?
Here are a few suppliers to get you started - but keep checking back to this resource center, because we'll be adding more companies and more products all the time:
* AirDefense
* Arbor Networks
* CounterStorm
* Enterasys
* GFI
* ISS
* Lancope
* Snort
* SonicWALL
* StillSecure
It will also be worth looking at Unified Threat Management. This is often a physical device, an appliance, and it just means that you get more than one security feature in a single box. Unified Threat Management will frequently include an IDS.
How can I evaluate IDS?
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that you know what you need, and what you can afford. Then you need to know what's available. Only then can you decide what to get. So first check the Buyer's Guide in this resource centre to see what you can get. Conduct a risk analysis exercise - use a consultant if you need to. And then, knowing what is available and what you need, consult our Comparison Guide and see what product comes closest to that need. And if you have specific queries, problems or worries - get some free help and advice from Ask the Experts .
Google Working To Make 'iPod/iTunes for Books'
nettamere writes to mention an initiative by Google to take the library online. The end result of the Google Book Search, the company hopes to see a future where they are not mearly referring customers to Amazon, but instead offering them the ability to download books directly. According to the Times Online, Google hopes to 'do for books what the iPod did for music'. From the article: "One of Google's partners, Evan Schnittman of Oxford University Press, said he foresaw a number of categories becoming popular downloads: 'Do you really want to go on holiday carrying four novels and a guide book?' The book initiative would be part of Google's Book Search service and its partnership with publishers, which will make books searchable online with publishers' approval. At present, only a sample of each book is available online."
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Linus Torvalds
By giving away his software, the Finnish programmer earned a place in history
By PETER GUMBEL
Linus Torvalds was just 21 when he changed the world. Working out of his family's apartment in Helsinki in 1991, he wrote the kernel of a new computer operating system called Linux that he posted
Bono & Bob Geldof
Paul Wolfowitz describes the odd couple of advocacy
Václav Havel
He wrote the script for peaceful revolution, says Lou Reed
Christiane Amanpour
She makes the news make a difference
Giovanni Falcone & Paolo Borsellino
They fought the Mafia and paid with their lives
Anna Politkovskaya
Her commitment to the truth killed her
other stories »
Get The Magazine
Try 4 issues FREE
Get unlimited access to the TIME Archive and free delivery to your door
Give a gift of TIME
for free on the Internet — and invited anyone interested to help improve it.
Today, 15 years later, Linux powers everything from supercomputers to mobile phones around the world, and Torvalds has achieved fame as the godfather of the open-source movement, in which software code is shared and developed in a collaborative effort rather than being kept locked up by a single owner.
Some of Torvalds' supporters portray him as a sort of anti-Bill Gates, but the significance of Linux is much bigger than merely a slap at Microsoft. Collaborating on core technologies could lead to a huge reduction in some business costs, freeing up money for more innovative investments elsewhere. Torvalds continues to keep a close eye on Linux's development and has made some money from stock options given to him as a courtesy by two companies that sell commercial applications for it.
But his success isn't just measured in dollars. There's an asteroid named after him, as well as an annual software-geek festival. Torvalds' parents were student radicals in the 1960s and his father, a communist, even spent a year studying in Moscow. But it's their son who has turned out to be the real revolutionary.
By PETER GUMBEL
Linus Torvalds was just 21 when he changed the world. Working out of his family's apartment in Helsinki in 1991, he wrote the kernel of a new computer operating system called Linux that he posted
Bono & Bob Geldof
Paul Wolfowitz describes the odd couple of advocacy
Václav Havel
He wrote the script for peaceful revolution, says Lou Reed
Christiane Amanpour
She makes the news make a difference
Giovanni Falcone & Paolo Borsellino
They fought the Mafia and paid with their lives
Anna Politkovskaya
Her commitment to the truth killed her
other stories »
Get The Magazine
Try 4 issues FREE
Get unlimited access to the TIME Archive and free delivery to your door
Give a gift of TIME
for free on the Internet — and invited anyone interested to help improve it.
Today, 15 years later, Linux powers everything from supercomputers to mobile phones around the world, and Torvalds has achieved fame as the godfather of the open-source movement, in which software code is shared and developed in a collaborative effort rather than being kept locked up by a single owner.
Some of Torvalds' supporters portray him as a sort of anti-Bill Gates, but the significance of Linux is much bigger than merely a slap at Microsoft. Collaborating on core technologies could lead to a huge reduction in some business costs, freeing up money for more innovative investments elsewhere. Torvalds continues to keep a close eye on Linux's development and has made some money from stock options given to him as a courtesy by two companies that sell commercial applications for it.
But his success isn't just measured in dollars. There's an asteroid named after him, as well as an annual software-geek festival. Torvalds' parents were student radicals in the 1960s and his father, a communist, even spent a year studying in Moscow. But it's their son who has turned out to be the real revolutionary.
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