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OSWALD Newsletter Archives (by issue #, click to view)

The Open Source Law Weekly Digest or OSWALD first launched late in 2002. Since then it has been regularly providing updates on all things open source related. The focus of this newsletter is on business, rather than technical developments in open source. Another strong component of the newsletter is IP news, as it is of interest to me and has an effect on open source.

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OSWALD #495 Period ending 29 July 2013

Welcome to the Open Source Law Weekly Open Source Digest (OSWALD)

I've been away, and this is still a little late. As we slowly lumber towards issue 500, this issue is still top heavy with NSA and Snowden related articles - clearly a lot of concern about government snooping at the moment. Myriad has lost its patent fight in the US Supreme Court, but is apparently falling back on other patents. The ITC in the US is also heading into stormy waters with decisions in Samsung v Apple and Motorola v Microsoft.


*From my blog:
http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2013/07/29/it-pricing-report-available/
http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2013/06/14/should-governments-specify-licence-conditions/
http://brendanscott.wordpress.com/2012/11/16/ip-issues-paper-42-costs/

Verbatim distribution with attribution ok.

Other distribution - email me.

Regards

Brendan

***** Open Standards/ODF


Google Public Alerts For Taiwan Highlights Need For Open Source Data About Disasters
http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/11/google-public-alerts-for-taiwan-highlights-need-for-open-source-data-about-disasters/

Google. org’s goal is to encourage governments to adopt international standards of Web data such as the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for publishing and sharing alerts and the Keyhole Markup Language (KML) for geographic data.

***** Off Topic


NSA affair: Ex-President Carter condemned U.S. snooping (via Google Translate)
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/nsa-affaere-jimmy-carter-kritisiert-usa-a-911589.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57594179/aclu-warns-of-mass-tracking-through-license-plate-scanners/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57594171-38/google-tests-encryption-to-protect-users-drive-files-against-government-demands/
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/07/nsa-admits-it-analyzes-more-peoples-data-previously-revealed/67287/
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/07/the-creepy-long-standing-practice-of-undersea-cable-tapping/277855/
http://www.volokh.com/2013/07/17/metadata-the-nsa-and-the-fourth-amendment-a-constitutional-analysis-of-collecting-and-querying-call-records-databases/?ModPagespeed=noscript
http://www.harvardlawreview.org/issues/126/may13/Symposium_9477.php
http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/16/4526770/will-the-nsa-use-the-xbox-one-to-spy-on-your-family
http://www.dailytech.com/Microsoft+Wants+You+to+Let+it+Watch+Your+House+in+NearReal+Time/article31977.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jul/16/microsoft-eric-holder-permission-information-national-security
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/12/AR2007101202485.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fisa-court-seeks-release-of-declassified-filings-in-secret-yahoo-case/2013/07/15/61fa1314-eda0-11e2-bed3-b9b6fe264871_story.html?hpid=z2
http://jonathanturley.org/2013/07/13/what-arent-they-collecting/
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/42706/what-medical-tests-should-teach-us-about-the-nsa-surveillance-program/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/13/reuters-article-dead-man-s-switch
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/517151/microsofts-surveillance-collaboration-voluntary-aid-or-new-legal-tactic/
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/10/us/nation-will-gain-by-discussing-surveillance-expert-tells-privacy-board.html?_r=1&
http://www.lawfareblog.com/2013/07/making-fisc-more-adversarial-a-brief-response-to-orin-kerr/
http://www.volokh.com/2013/07/08/a-proposal-to-reform-fisa-court-decisionmaking/?ModPagespeed=noscript
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/12/edward-snowden-to-meet-amnesty-and-human-rights-watch-at-moscow-airport-live-coverag
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/12/justice-department-proposes-curbing-power-to-seize-reporters-records/
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/12/edward-snowden-moscow-airport/2511207/
http://readwrite.com/2013/07/11/skype-has-been-funneling-your-audio-and-video-calls-to-prism-for-two-years
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323823004578593591276402574.html?mod=rss_opinion_main
http://www.news.com.au/technology/nsa-whistleblower-edward-snowden-surfaces-to-meet-activists-at-moscows-sheremetyevo-airport/story-e6frfro0-1226678729528
http://en.ria.ru/russia/20130712/182205722/Snowden-Asks-for-Temporary-Asylum-in-Russia--Reports.html
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/07/more_nsa_codena.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/11/microsoft-nsa-collaboration-user-data
http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Kremlin-recipe-for-avoiding-leaks-use-typewriters-4659379.php
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23634329/document-yahoo-petition-fisa-court-nsa-prism-spying-objection?source=pkg
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_23635466/yahoo-asks-secret-surveillance-court-unseal-files
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-nsa-slide-you-havent-seen/2013/07/10/32801426-e8e6-11e2-aa9f-c03a72e2d342_story.html
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57592778-38/nsa-senate-oversight-bill-may-handcuff-u.s-companies/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/09/james-comey-fbi-director-senate-hearing
http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2013/jul/09/fisa-courts-judge-nsa-surveillance
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/08/heres-what-can-go-wrong-when-the-government-builds-a-huge-database-about-americans/
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/privacy-vs-security-false-choice-poisons-debate-nsa-leaks-6C10536226
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-654_en.htm
http://www.volokh.com/2013/07/07/hints-and-questions-about-the-secret-fourth-amendment-rulings-of-the-fisa-court/?ModPagespeed=noscript
http://gigaom.com/2013/07/08/justice-dept-defends-secret-rulings-in-new-spy-court-filing/
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-government-surveillance-john-roberts-fisa-court-20130705,0,1255674.story
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/interactive/2013/jul/06/us-request-extradition-edward-snowden
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2013/jul/08/edward-snowden-video-interview
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/08/us-usa-security-germany-idUSBRE9670PM20130708
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/07/07/castro-backs-snowden-asylum/2497297/
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/nsa-head-when-obama-took-office-he-narrowed-overbroad-data-collection/
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2013/07/211891.htm#SNOWDEN
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/snowden-be-damned-government-renews-us-call-record-order/
http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/60838-does-the-nsas-se-linux-code-need-a-review?
http://www.lightbluetouchpaper.org/2013/07/19/nsa-award-for-best-scientific-cybersecurity-paper/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/nsa-surveillance-program-has-had-compliance-problems-official-says/2013/07/26/f64c9820-f63d-11e2-a2f1-a7acf9bd5d3a_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/27/world/europe/edward-snowden.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/us-usa-security-snowden-germany-idUSBRE96P0NQ20130726
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/judge-denies-governments-bid-to-delay-lawsuit-to-halt-nsa-metadata-collection/
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/us-usa-security-snowden-ties-idUSBRE96P0HI20130726
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57595529-38/feds-tell-web-firms-to-turn-over-user-account-passwords/
http://surprisinglyfree.com/2013/07/23/jane-bambauer/
http://www.computerworlduk.com/news/security/3460473/us-cloud-firms-face-backlash-from-nsa-spy-programs/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/proposal-to-restrict-nsa-phone-tracking-program-defeated/2013/07/24/af233280-f47e-11e2-9434-60440856fadf_story.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-edward-snowden-us-russia-20130724,0,1473976.story
http://lauren.vortex.com/archive/001062.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-edward-snowden-moscow-airport-20130724,0,1731387.story
http://www.lawfareblog.com/2013/07/what-happens-when-we-actually-catch-edward-snowden/
http://rt.com/news/snowden-entry-airport-asylum-521/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jul/24/edward-snowden-moscow-airport-spy
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/312929-wyden-warns-data-collection-under-patriot-act-is-limitless
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23430126
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlf7YM71k5U&feature=youtu.be
http://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/blog/post/wyden-on-nsa-domestic-surveillance
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/snowden-gets-whistleblower-award-in-germany/483527.html
http://www.wired.com/opinion/2013/07/the-catch-22-of-internet-commerce-and-privacy-could-mean-youre-the-bad-guy/

Ex-Präsident Carter: "Die Invasion der Privatsphäre ist zu weit gegangen"


Telstra found to be storing data for USA intelligence agencies
http://www.freitasm.com/8493

Now come word that Australian Telstra has been working with American authorities since 2001 in a manner not different from AT&T and it famous Room 641A. In essence the telco agreed to store electronic communications data originating or terminating in the USA and going through their Reach network, making this available to US enforcement agencies on demand. The data is available through systems involves not only “metadata” but content of emails, instant messages and voice calls.


In 'Chilling' Ruling, Chevron Granted Access to Activists' Private Internet Data
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/07/11-3

Following their guilty sentence for the dumping of 18.5bn gallons of toxic waste in the Ecuadorian Amazon, Chevron is amassing the personal information of the environmentalists and attorneys who fought against them in an effort to prove 'conspiracy.' (Photo: Rainforest Action Network/ cc/ Flickr)The US government is not the only entity who, with judicial approval, is amassing massive amounts of personal information against their so-called enemies.


Databoard for Research Insights
http://www.google.com/think/tools/databoard.html

Need some stats for a presentation? You shouldnât have to go data mining. Weâve created this interactive tool to help you quickly find what you need from our vast archives of industry-leading research. Itâll even help you tell a story from the stats, turning selected charts and data points into infographics that you can share.


Five consecutive quarters of sliding PC sales mark a new industry record
http://arstechnica.com/business/2013/07/five-consecutive-quarters-of-sliding-pc-sales-mark-a-new-industry-record/

In new data published on Wednesday, global shipments fell to 76 million units in the second quarter of 2013, down 10.9 percent from the same period in 2012. IDC, meanwhile, put the drop at 11.7 percent.


Counterterrorism Mission Creep
http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2013/07/counterterroris_1.html

The most egregious example of this are the three anti-nuclear pacifists, including an 82-year-old nun, who cut through a chain-link fence at the Oak Ridge nuclear-weapons-production facility in 2012. While they were originally arrested on a misdemeanor trespassing charge, the government kept increasing their charges as the facility's security lapses became more embarrassing. Now the protestors have been convicted of violent crimes of terrorism -- and remain in jail.


Justice Dept. Told Not to Delay Aaron Swartz FOIA
http://legaltimes.typepad.com/blt/2013/07/justice-dept-told-not-to-delay-aaron-swartz-foia.html#more

A federal trial judge in Washington today urged the government to continue reviewing thousands of pages of documents that could be released in a public records lawsuit seeking information from the Secret Service about the Internet activist Aaron Swartz.


The MOOC That Roared
http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2013/07/georgia_tech_s_computer_science_mooc_the_super_cheap_master_s_degree_that.html

Georgia Institute of Technology is about to take a step that could set off a broad disruption in higher education: It’s offering a new master’s degree in computer science, delivered through a series of massive open online courses, or MOOCs, for $6,600.

***** Government/Policy


Birmingham Amps Up Research With New Linux Supercomputer
http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/supercomputers/birmingham-amps-up-research-with-new-lin/240157761

The Linux-based array is one part of the overall Birmingham Environment for Academic Research (BEAR) being jointly developed by the university, the supercomputer's supplier IT services firm OCF, and other specialist partners.


Open source downloads are an endangered species
http://opensource.com/life/13/7/open-source-downloads

Not only is there a big risk of bad actors using download services to conceal malware downloads for their badware activities, but additionally anyone offering downloads is duty-bound to police them at the behest of the music and movie industries or be terated as a target of their paranoid attacks. Policing for both of these—for malware and for DMCA violations—is a costly exercise.


Welcome to Microsoft Trustworthy Computing
http://fossforce.com/2013/07/welcome-to-microsoft-trustworthy-computing/

The news was damning three weeks ago when we discovered that Microsoft had been cluing-in federal intelligence agencies about unpatched security holes in their products, which our government would then use to compromise the computers of “terrorists” and “unfriendly governments.” Now the Guardian has revealed that Microsoft’s involvement goes much deeper. They’ve been giving the spooks at No Such Agency encryption keys, access to SkyDrive and more:


Professor Yochai Benkler's Testimony at Bradley Manning Trial
http://boingboing.net/2013/07/10/us-vs-bradley-manning-defens.html

I traveled to Ft. Meade, Maryland today to observe the trial of Army PFC. Bradley Manning. The 25-year-old Oklahoma native has admitted to providing Wikileaks with more than 700,000 leaked documents, which included battle reports from Iraq and Afghanistan, State Department diplomatic cables, and military videos from combat zones.


How Intellectual Property Reinforces Inequality
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/how-intellectual-property-reinforces-inequality/?partner=rss&emc=rss
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/myriad-fresh-off-supreme-court-loss-keeps-on-suing-over-gene-patents/
http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2013/07/myriad-seeks-to-enforce-its-brca1brca2-gene-patents.html
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130613/01524223447/using-patents-to-needlessly-drive-up-healthcare-costs-economic-impact-evergreening-drugs.shtml

In the war against inequality, we’ve become so used to bad news that we’re almost taken aback when something positive happens. And with the Supreme Court having affirmed that wealthy people and corporations have a constitutional right to buy American elections, who would have expected it to bring good news? But a decision in the term that just ended gave ordinary Americans something that is more precious than money alone — the right to live.


Facebook And Google 'Degrade Our Humanity,' Says 4chan Founder
http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-and-google-degrade-our-humanity-2013-7

Poole’s argument was that by forcing users to go be their real names online, Facebook and Google force these users to live a single version of themselves online – the public-friendly version.


Duck Duck Go: Illusion of Privacy
http://etherrag.blogspot.jp/2013/07/duck-duck-go-illusion-of-privacy.html

DDG stated, "We literally do not store personally identifiable user data, so if the NSA were to get a hold of all our data, it would not be useful to them since it is all truly anonymous." I would like to direct readers to this article which basically nullifies whatever protection DDG thinks it can provide, or you the reader think you have.


Court rules Apple fixed ebook prices, led an illegal conspiracy
http://paidcontent.org/2013/07/10/court-rules-apple-fixed-ebook-prices-led-an-illegal-conspiracy/
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324425204578597453053469898.html
http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/07/25/penguin-appeases-eu-regulators-by-ditching-e-book-deal-with-apple

A federal court in New York has come down hard on Apple in a closely watched case over ebook pricing. In a ruling issued Tuesday morning, US District Judge Denise Cote ruled that the company “brilliantly” organized a conspiracy to raise prices and thwart competition.


This accused hacker is a jerk. Heres why he shouldnt be a felon.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/07/09/this-accused-hacker-is-a-jerk-heres-why-he-shouldnt-be-a-felon/

AT&T had accidentally published tens of thousands of e-mail addresses to a public Web site, and Auernheimer used an automated program to download them. He then passed the addresses to the news media in an effort to embarrass AT&T. The federal government responded by indicting him on federal computer-hacking charges in 2011. He was convicted in April.


Pirate Bay co-founder to release Hemlis encrypted messaging app
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jul/10/pirate-bay-hemlis-encrypted-messaging-app-encrypt

The app, called Hemlis, the Swedish word for "secret", will be free to download but users will be able to pay extra for more features such as sending images. The base product will simply allow users to send text messages.


The European Commission launches new startup accelerator network
http://venturevillage.eu/eu-accelerator-network

A new initiative from the EU aiming to boost entrepreneurship has been launched: Startup Europe’s Accelerator Assembly. It brings together a group of 20 accelerator programmes plus entrepreneurs and policy makers, in a bid to open up communication between these parties and provide more support for European startups.


Agreements with private companies protect U.S. access to cables data for surveillance
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/agreements-with-private-companies-protect-us-access-to-cables-data-for-surveillance/2013/07/06/aa5d017a-df77-11e2-b2d4-ea6d8f477a01_story.html

The agreements, whose main purpose is to secure the U.S. telecommunications networks against foreign spying and other actions that could harm national security, do not authorize surveillance. But they ensure that when U.S. government agencies seek access to the massive amounts of data flowing through their networks, the companies have systems in place to provide it securely, say people familiar with the deals.


Safeguarding the open internet for all
http://blogs.ec.europa.eu/neelie-kroes/open-internet/

Huge innovation can be found online: we must safeguard it for everyone. Currently too many Europeans find that services are blocked and throttled by their internet provider. I believe every European should have access to the full and open internet, absolutely guaranteed, without such discrimination. And so I am coming forward with new rules to bring such practices to an end once and for all.


US homeland security offers R&D grants for FLOSS cybersecurity projects
http://opensource.com/government/13/7/homeland-cybersecurity-grants

The Homeland Open Security Technology (HOST) project has begun a seven-week open call for investment applications that support open source software to improve cybersecurity. Applications will be accepted from July 2 to August 14, 2013. Award notifications will be sent out October 1.

***** Patent/CR/DRM News+Policy


Customs Gets Embroiled in the Smartphone Patent Wars
http://www.patentprogress.org/2013/07/15/customs-gets-embroiled-in-the-smartphone-patent-wars/
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-12/microsoft-sues-u-s-customs-for-failed-google-phone-ban.html

Microsoft is basically asking CBP to go beyond the Commission’s opinion, and decide on its own that Google calendar on Motorola’s phones also infringes the ’566 patent.


HBO Asks Google to Take Down Infringing VLC Media Player
http://torrentfreak.com/hbo-asks-google-to-take-down-infringing-vlc-media-player-130715/

Over the past months HBO and many other copyright holders have built up a dubious track record when it comes to DMCA takedown notices. In addition to many “bogus” claims the company also tried to have its own website removed from Google.


Canadian patent troll Wi-Lan loses East Texas trial
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/canadian-patent-troll-wi-lan-loses-east-texas-trial/

An Ottawa-based patent-licensing firm named Wi-Lan is one of several patent-licensing operations that claims to own patents relating to wireless Internet.


Aereo Wins Another Court Battle, as Court Rejects Move to Retry Case
http://allthingsd.com/20130716/aereo-wins-another-court-battle-as-court-rejects-move-to-retry-case/?refcat=news

Another legal victory for Aereo, the controversial TV-over-the-Web service: A federal appeals court has denied a motion to re-hear a case they ruled on in April, when they allowed Aereo to keep offering its service in the New York City area.


A New Bipartisan House Bill Targets Patent Troll Litigation
http://www.patentprogress.org/2013/07/11/a-new-bipartisan-house-bill-deals-with-patent-troll-litigation/

The momentum for dealing with patent trolls in Congress is nothing short of amazing. Yesterday afternoon, Reps. Blake Farenthold (R-TX) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) introduced a bipartisan bill in the House to address issues with patent troll litigation. The bill is H.R. 2639, the Patent Litigation and Innovation Act of 2013.


Amazon hit with six new patent lawsuits covering Kindle, cloud and retail
http://www.geekwire.com/2013/amazon-hit-patent-lawsuits-covering-kindle-cloud-ecommerce/

Amazon has been hit with six new patent infringement lawsuits, covering everything from the technology behind the Kindle Paperwhite display to the features the company uses to maximize its online retail sales. - Todd Bishop, GeekWire


Only Gandalf can protect Europe from the Unitary Patent
http://brevet-unitaire.eu/content/only-gandalf-can-protect-europe-unitary-patent

Gandalf Now that, despite all legal, political and economic issues, the European Parliament has approved the regulation on the unitary patent, just as anticipated, it is time to move away from the legislative battle. The unitary patent has still a long way to go before becoming applicable.


Patent Trolls Are Now Crushing Parts Of The Developer Economy
http://www.forbes.com/sites/haydnshaughnessy/2013/07/04/patent-trolls-are-now-crushing-parts-of-the-developer-economy/

Jon is particularly incensed that some aspects of the Samsung vs Apple litigation turn on issues as trivial as the shape, or bevels, on a smartphone slab. The patent system is now seen as such easy pickings that trolls are even chasing down developers, pre-revenue.


Future of IP Software with Carl Hewitt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuksQ4pFvWA

Patenting software is imposing large direct financial costs and is increasingly stifling innovation. Because of advancing technology and new applications, software patentability is turning into a quagmire as patent examiners and courts are becoming increasingly overwhelmed.


Prenda fails to pay $455 appeal fee, leading to a $9,425 setback
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/prenda-fails-to-pay-455-appeal-fee-leading-to-a-9425-setback/

Today, the appeals court told him his time is up. The case is closed, and the order to pay $9,425 in attorney's fees to defense lawyer Nicholas Ranallo is now final. It will be interesting to hear whether the collection process meets with success.


Prendas motion to reduce $238,000 appeal bond falls flat
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/prendas-motion-to-reduce-238000-appeal-bond-falls-flat/
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/sf-court-orders-prenda-to-pay-22531-in-attorneys-fees/

On Tuesday, a three-judge appeals panel ruled that Prenda was wrong. One judge dissented, solely on the issue of the bond amount, agreeing with Prenda that it was inappropriate to raise the bond amount from about $100,000 to the higher amount of nearly $238,000.


Congress looking to act on patent assertion entities
http://opensource.com/law/13/6/congress-patent-assertion-entities

A number of legislative proposals have now been advanced. Some are at a public draft stage, while some have been formally introduced.


Apple asks for stay on ITC ban on iPhone and iPad models pending appeal
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9240680/Apple_asks_for_stay_on_ITC_ban_on_iPhone_and_iPad_models_pending_appeal
http://essentialpatentblog.com/2013/07/itc-releases-public-version-of-the-commission-opinion-and-dissent-in-samsung-apple-case-337-ta-794/

The ban could come into effect on Aug. 5 after a 60-days review period during which U.S. President Barack Obama can veto the order.


Apple drops 'app store' lawsuit against Amazon
http://www.zdnet.com/au/apple-drops-app-store-lawsuit-against-amazon-7000017851/

After two years, Apple no longer wants to legally pursue Amazon over the use of the term "app store".


The Webs longest nightmare ends: Eolas patents are dead on appeal
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/07/the-webs-longest-nightmare-ends-eolas-patents-are-dead-on-appeal/

The inventor of the Web, Tim Berners-Lee, had never testified in court before last year. In February 2012, he left Cambridge to fly down to Tyler, an east Texas city of about 100,000, to testify at a patent trial. It was the culmination of a bold campaign by a man named Michael Doyle to levy a vast patent tax on the modern web.


Patent TrollsPosner
http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/2013/07/patent-trollsposner.html

ment, hoping that if the threat is plausible this will induce a favorable settlement. If the target refuses to settle, the troll, to maintain the credibility of its threats, may litigate the suit to judgment. The troll does not practice the patent; but, in its own terminology, “asserts” it.


Large-scale NPE Economics: License or Litigate?
http://www.rpxcorp.com/index.cfm?pageid=14&itemid=33

Much of the debate about patent reform – certainly the coverage in the mainstream media – has focused on the economic impact of nuisance litigation: Can legislation or regulation lower risk for operating companies in cases where the cost to fight may far exceed the cost to settle up front?


For Whom the Bell Trolls: Life for a startup on the receiving end of a patent lawsuit
http://pandodaily.com/2013/07/19/for-whom-the-bell-trolls-life-for-a-startup-on-the-receiving-end-of-a-patent-law-suit/

Invariably, the envelope contains a bill, a consequence of a patent lawsuit that has cost Wright’s startup more than $100,000 over the last six months. And that’s with a discount.


Apple, Samsung in Renewed Settlement Talks, but Deal Elusive
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324263404578615822955627726.html

There is no indication that the two sides are close to a settlement, but talks between the companies are still going on, the people familiar with the discussions said.


Another Potential Smartphone Patent War Headache for Customs
http://www.patentprogress.org/2013/07/18/another-potential-smartphone-patent-war-headache-for-customs/

Is CBP really going to have to decide when corners are uneven enough to change the “overall impression” of the phone? And what if Samsung changes the colors of the icons at the bottom so that they stand out more? When do they stop “blending into the background of the display”?


Victory Lap for Ask Patents
http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2013/07/22.html

There are a lot of people complaining about lousy software patents these days. I say, stop complaining, and start killing them. It took me about fifteen minutes to stop a crappy Microsoft patent from being approved. Got fifteen minutes? You can do it too.

***** Applications/Gadgets


Novena open source laptop trades Raspberry Pi headers for power
http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/Novena-open-source-laptop-trades-Raspberry-Pi-headers-for-power-1912998.html

Currently, Huang either wants to sell the system as a kit for self-assembly or have a process whereby potential buyers need to correct a Python or JavaScript program and submit a patch via GitHub to be able to buy the laptop.


Tiny board aims TI SoC at embedded imaging apps
http://linuxgizmos.com/tiny-cpu-board-aims-ti-dm385-at-embedded-imaging-apps/

The DM385-SOM primarily targets embedded imaging tasks, such as surveillance and medical imaging devices, and is supported with a carrier board, several I/O adapters, and customized Linux and Android software stacks.


Raspberry Pi Ushers in Synthesizer and Home Security Concoctions
http://ostatic.com/blog/raspberry-pi-ushers-in-synthesizer-and-home-security-concoctions

Among highlighted synthesizers that make use of the Raspberry Pi, there is Marc Girard’s TronPi. It's capable of Choir, Strings, Brass and Flute sounds and is controlled with a standard USB/MIDI keyboard. Then there is a concept synthesizer called Piana from Phil Atkin. You can find a video featuring it here.


Dota 2 Test Available For Linux
http://www.webupd8.org/2013/07/dota-2-test-available-for-linux-steam.html

Dota 2 is multiplayer online battle arena game developed by Valve, which uses the Source engine.


Inventors Seek to Save Art of Handwriting With Linux Pen
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/07/linux-pen/

The pen uses a custom embedded Linux operating system with custom, closed-source software that controls the sensors and handles handwriting recognition.


Wireless energy management controller runs Linux
http://linuxgizmos.com/wireless-energy-management-controller-runs-linux/

Check-It Solutions is shipping a Linux-based control and monitoring appliance for home and commercial building automation and energy management.


OLPC XO Tablet may hit Walmart shelves July 16
http://linuxgizmos.com/olpc-xo-tablet-android-4-2/

The One Laptop Per Child organization’s 7-inch, Android 4.2-powered “XO Tablet” will go on sale at Walmart stores in the U.S. next week, according to a July 8 post by OLPC CEO Rodrigo Arboleda on the OLPC’s blog.


Collusion: See who's tracking you in real-time
http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2013/07/17/collusion-see-whos-tracking-you-in-real-time/

Once installed, you can access the graph by clicking on its icon in the bottom-right of the browser window, or from the menu – Tools -> Collusion Graph. This image shows all the websites that are able to track me when I visited the nytimes.com. That’s just one site I visited and 14 other sites can track me.


New Android eyewear butts heads with Google Glass
http://linuxgizmos.com/android-eyewear-device-offers-simpler-alternative-to-google-glass/

GlassUp, an Italian startup, has started taking pre-orders on Indiegogo for an Android eyewear display system billed as a simpler, lower-cost alternative to Google Glass.


VLC media player returns to the iOS App Store after 30-month hiatus
http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/07/vlc-media-player-returns-to-the-ios-app-store-after-30-month-hiatus/
http://gigaom.com/2013/07/19/review-vlc-returns-to-ios-after-long-hiatus-yet-still-needs-refinement/

All versions of VLC were then open-source and licensed under GPLv2; the App Store imposes its own licensing and DRM restrictions on apps. One of VLC’s original developers, Rémi Denis-Courmont, claimed that the licensing policies did not mesh and filed a complaint against the app. It was shortly removed.


4K UltraHD media player runs Android 4.2 on Tegra 4
http://linuxgizmos.com/4k-ultrahd-media-player-runs-android-4-2-on-tegra-4/

Perhaps the closest competition is Nvidia’s own Tegra 4-based Nvidia Shield Android game console, which was delayed until later this month with a reduced price of $299, the same as the Nuvola NP-1. While the Shield can hook up to a 4K UltraHD TV to stream 3840 x 2160 content, it is primarily designed to be a handheld game player for mobile use.


Google Expected to Release New Nexus 7 Tablet, Android 4.3 Next Week
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/google-expected-release-nexus-tablet-android-43-week/story?id=19700059

Technology website Android Central has gotten what is allegedly the first images of the refreshed 7-inch tablet, which appears to have a slightly different black design, two cameras and a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor. The model was also running a new version of Android 4.3.


One Laptop Per Child launches $150 tablet
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/one-laptop-child-launches-150-tablet-6C10660697

After much anticipation, non-profit organization One Laptop Per Child finally launched their affordable, child-friendly slate on Walmart's website. OLPC teamed up with multimedia equipment maker Vivitar to produce the $150 XO Tablet, which features a 7-inch 1,024-by-600 touchscreen with a 1.6GHz dual-core processor running Android Jelly Bean. It also comes with front and rear cameras and Wi-Fi connectivity and is available for pre-order. It will be available in stores in August.


Cloudera Open Sources Sentry Tech to Secure Big Data
http://www.enterpriseappstoday.com/data-management/cloudera-open-sources-sentry-tech-to-secure-big-data.html

With Sentry, Cloudera's goal is to expand the usefulness of Hadoop so organizations will feel more confident about storing and analyzing sensitive Big Data information.


Hackable measurement board runs Linux on ARM+FPGA
http://linuxgizmos.com/hackable-measurement-board-runs-linux-on-arm-fpga-processor/

[red-pitaya-thm.jpg] [Updated July 25] — Red Pitaya has launched a Kickstarter campaign to build an open source Linux-based measurement and control single-board computer. The $359 Red Pitaya, which can replace thousands of dollars worth of test equipment, will initially ship with apps for oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, waveform generator, frequency response analyzer, and PID controller functions.


Googles $35 Chromecast Streaming Device Bridges Gap Between Devices And TV
http://hothardware.com/News/Googles-35-Chromecast-Streaming-Device-Bridges-Gap-Between-Devices-And-TV/

While it’s not the silver bullet needed to bridge the gap to the TV once and for all, Google’s new Chromecast device does offer a new way to get content from your devices onto the TV. The little dongle plugs into your TV, and once you connect it to your WiFi network and open a supported app, it streams content to the television via the Internet. You can control it with a smartphone, tablet, or computer.


Google unveils new Nexus 7 tablet, Android 4.3 and Chromecast
http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/google-unveils-new-nexus-7-tablet-6C10732363
http://www.zdnet.com/google-teams-with-asus-on-upgraded-android-4-3-based-nexus-7-7000018451/
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57595295-93/googles-new-chromecast-dongle-sells-out-on-play-store/

"Today, we are going to talk about two things," Sundar Pichai — senior vice president of Android, Chrome and Apps — said as the event began. The first is a new Android device, the second, a new Chrome device.

***** Reports


Red Hat Adds VMware Exec to Promote Global Strategic Alliances
http://www.internetnews.com/blog/skerner/red-hat-adds-vmware-exec-to-promote-global-strategic-alliances.html

Linux vendor Red Hat today announced the appointment of former VMware exec Scott Musson as Red Hat's new VP of Global Strategic Alliances. That's a big job and a critical one for the present and future growth of Red Hat.


New Unix Chips Coming
http://www.unixmen.com/new-unix-chips-coming/

Fujitsu’s joint venture with Oracle, code-named Athena, brings its own SPARC64 X+, the successor to its current SPARC64 X, which supports up to 16 cores and a maximum clock speed of 3.0GHz.


Android Jelly Bean Usage Eclipses Gingerbread for the First Time
http://mashable.com/2013/07/09/android-jelly-bean-eclipes-gingerbread/

According to the Android Developers' Dashboards section, 37.9% of users are running Android version 4.1 and 4.2 on their smartphones, while Gingerbread (2.3) slips into second place with 34.1%. Ice Cream Sandwich (4.0) takes third place with 23.3%.


Citrix goes all in for open-source XenServer cloud
http://www.zdnet.com/citrix-goes-all-in-for-open-source-xenserver-cloud-7000017724/

After Citrix bought Xen in 2007, the core of this popular open-source hypervisor remained open source, but some of the rest became proprietary software. Now Citrix has decided to take all of its virtual machine manager and cloud XenServer software back to its open-source roots.


Drone Enthusiasts Use Open Source Hardware To Drive Innovation
http://www.npr.org/2013/07/08/200104701/drone-enthusiasts-uses-open-source-hardware-to-drive-innovation

His civilian drone company is open source — a business model that's completely contrary to the military's model of proprietary secrets.


SUSE to support SUSE Studio customized Linux distros
http://www.zdnet.com/suse-to-support-suse-studio-customized-linux-distros-7000017777/

Easy. "When you create a SUSE Linux-based distribution or application, SUSE Studio creates a 'Supportability Report' for each SUSE Linux Enterprise appliance. This report executes an automatic analysis of the generated appliance and uses heuristics to determine out what SUSE will support."


Boxee sells itself to Samsung at a loss
http://linuxgizmos.com/boxee-sells-itself-to-samsung-at-a-loss/

Boxee, the Israeli startup that achieved fame first as the developer of an innovative, free, media-streaming software platform, and later through its partnership with D-Link around the iconic Linux-powered Boxee Box device, has been acquired by Samsung. According to reports by Haaretz and the New York Times, the company’s selling price was less than the $28.5 million it raked in from optimistic investors over the past six years.


Inside the Bluebox Android Master Key Vulnerability
http://www.esecurityplanet.com/mobile-security/inside-the-bluebox-android-master-key-vulnerability.html
http://www.itworld.com/security/364589/android-app-signing-flaw-underscores-patch-paralysis
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2044513/alternative-fixes-released-for-android-master-key-vulnerability.html
http://www.zdnet.com/google-releases-fix-to-oems-for-blue-security-android-security-hole-7000017782/

That means if a user gets their applications from trusted sources like Google Play, the risk of the master key exploit is not high, even if the given device has not been updated with the latest patched Android code.


Build a Tizen app, win $200,000
http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2013/07/09/build-a-tizen-app-win-200000/

The Linux Foundation, which is responsible for the project, has just announced a Tizen Developer Challenge that starts now and ends on November 1, 2013. Developers can submit as many apps as they can afford to code, and hope that one or more gets to the top of the heap.


MontaVista certified for Carrier Grade Linux using ARM chips
http://linuxgizmos.com/montavista-claims-first-carrier-grade-linux-5-0-for-arm/

MontaVista Software announced that its MontaVista Linux Carrier Grade Edition (CGE) 6.0 is the first Linux distribution to have been registered for Carrier Grade Linux (CGL) 5.0 under the ARM profile.


Web servers Microsoft IIS and NGINX battle for second place
http://www.zdnet.com/web-servers-microsoft-iis-and-nginx-battle-for-second-place-7000017838/

When NGINX zoomed up to take second place from Microsoft's Internet Information Services (IIS) in the Web server derby, it looked like NGINX, a fast open-source Web server, would leave IIS in the dust and challenge long time Web leader Apache. It hasn't worked out that way.


OpenStack Hong Kong summit could be effort to keep China from going rogue
http://www.itworld.com/cloud-computing/364612/openstack-s-hong-kong-summit-could-be-effort-keep-china-going-rogue

The OpenStack Foundation may have good reason to host its next summit in Hong Kong, and not just because OpenStack is growing in popularity in China. The foundation could hope that its decision to base the summit in Hong Kong in November might draw contributors into the fold so that they don’t splinter.


Red Hat Makes OpenStack, Linux Hybrid Cloud Push Official
http://thevarguy.com/cloud-computing-channel-partner-program/red-hat-makes-openstack-linux-hybrid-cloud-push-official

The age of the OpenStack hybrid cloud has arrived, and traditional datacenter virtualization is passé. So says Red Hat (RHT), which on Wednesday rolled out Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform and Red Hat Cloud Infrastructure to drive hybrid deployments


Mm, Linux-on-mainframe admin brains: IBM wolfs down Israeli upstart
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/12/ibm_buys_csl_linux_mainframe/

This week, Big Blue snapped up Computing Solutions Leaders, which was founded in 2004 and which is located in Herzliya Pituach, Israel. The small company has expertise in managing Linux and virtualization on IBM mainframes.


IRS Puts Open Source Projects Under Microscope, Spawns Nonprofit Black Hole
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/06/irs-open-sourc/

That has provided the documentary evidence for a phenomenon that many open source project leaders know all too well: For the past four years, it’s been close to impossible to get an open source project approved for 501(c)(3) classification — a nonprofit status that allows supporters to make tax-exempt donations to the organization.


Android Gaming Consoles: The Ultimate Guide
http://mashable.com/2013/07/16/android-game-console-guide/
http://www.itworld.com/open-source/365558/are-android-gaming-consoles-doomed

It's likely only one or two Android consoles will float to the top in the next couple of years, but at this point, it seems to be anyone's game.


OS X apps on their way to Linux courtesy of Darling project
http://www.zdnet.com/os-x-apps-on-their-way-to-linux-courtesy-of-darling-project-7000018051/

Similar to how Wine allows Windows applications to run in Linux OS, the Darling project is trying to build a software compatibility layer to run OS X apps.


Elon Musk to release open source Hyperloop plans in August
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/16/elon_musk_to_release_open_source_hyperloop_plans_in_august/

Elon Musk has been dropping hints about a revolutionary form of transport called Hyperloop for over a year, and on Monday he said that the full details will be released on August 12, and that the system's key technologies will be open sourced.


VMware Unloads Zimbra to Telligent
http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/unified_communications/vmware-unloads-zimbra-to-telligent.html

Telligent plans to enhance Zimbra with a social community base. Telligent is not only acquiring Zimbra, they are also merging with it to form a new company called Zimbra, offering a unified social collaboration suite.


Tiny mini-PC runs Linux and Android on i.MX6 SoC
http://linuxgizmos.com/compact-mini-pc-arm-linux-android-freescale-i-mx6/

CompuLab announced a tiny mini-PC based on a 1.2GHz, single-, dual-, or quad-core Freescale i.MX6 system-on-chip. Supported with Ubuntu and Android, the 5.3 x 3.9 x 0.8-inch Utilite offers up to 4GB RAM and up to a 512GB internal SSD, as well as dual gigabit Ethernet ports, dual serial ports, five USB 2.0 ports, and dual-head HDMI and DVD-D, all starting at $99.


Android closing Apple's iOS developer revenue gap
http://www.zdnet.com/android-closing-apples-ios-developer-revenue-gap-7000018151/

The findings were detailed in VisionMobile's Developer Economics survey, which aims to track the mobile app economy. The survey, released Wednesday, queried 6,000 mobile developers. VisionMobile is a London-based research outfit.


Missing Open Source Licenses May Cost Industry $59 Billion
http://thevarguy.com/open-source-application-software-companies/missing-open-source-licenses-may-cost-channel-59b

Open source consulting firm BlackDuck says up to $59 billion may be locked up in open source projects with no explicit license. Is that lost revenue for channel partners and software companies?


Start-up morphs open-source security system for research networks into commercial platform
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2013/071613-broala-271856.html

A start-up named Broala has been formed to expand the open-source intrusion detection system known simply as Bro that has been used in high-speed research networks for about two decades.


Data.gov gets an open-source revamp
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2044498/datagov-gets-an-opensource-revamp.html

The update should also help federal agencies comply with a White House executive order issued in May to make government data machine-readable by default.


Khan Academy rolls out plan to fund open-source developers
http://gigaom.com/2013/07/17/khan-academy-rolls-out-plan-to-help-fund-open-source-code/

Open source developers don’t get paid for their contributions. Khan Academy is trying to change that by giving $125 each week to developers through Gittip.


Red Hat's Cloud Strategy Centers on Bundled Products and Top-Notch Support
http://ostatic.com/blog/red-hats-cloud-strategy-centers-on-bundled-products-and-top-notch-support

The company has proven that it can support open source platforms with skill, and putting good support for OpenStack in place likely explains why Red Hat was slow to enter the OpenStack market.


Cryptography: "The Beautiful and Secure Messenger"
http://lists.randombit.net/pipermail/cryptography/2013-July/004728.html

It's worth noting that the maintainer of record (me) for the Linux RNGquit the project about two years ago precisely because Linus decided toinclude a patch from Intel to allow their unauditable RdRand to bypassthe entropy pool over my strenuous objections.>From a quick skim of current sources, much of that has recently beenrolled back


Red Hat will switch from Oracle MySQL to MariaDB, reports
http://www.zdnet.com/red-hat-will-switch-from-oracle-mysql-to-mariadb-reports-7000017907/

Is Red Hat switching from Oracle's MySQL to MariaDB for its default database management system (DBMS) in its next major operating system Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)? Officially, Red Hat hasn't decided to switch to MariaDB. Unofficially, it appears to be a different story.


T-Mobile to launch its first Firefox phone next week
http://www.techhive.com/article/2044127/tmobile-to-launch-its-first-firefox-phone-next-week.html
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2422304,00.asp

T-Mobile will begin its rollout of phones based on Mozilla’s Firefox OS when it puts the Alcatel One Touch on sale in Poland next week.


Ditching commercial offerings for open source private cloud software
http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/news/2240186856/Ditching-commercial-offerings-for-open-source-private-cloud-software

Between the high-cost commercial private cloud packages, and low-cost do-it-yourself open source platforms, a sea of smaller players is vying for the attention of would-be private cloud implementers, all promising to facilitate the implementation of a private cloud more easily or for less money.


A banner year for patent litigation in 2012
http://opensource.com/law/13/7/banner-year-patent-litigation

According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' (PwC) 2013 Patent Litigation Study, 2012 was a "banner year for patent infringement litigation." Patent actions continued their dramatic rise in 2012 with 5,189 filings—the highest number ever recorded, and a 29% rise over last year, primarily resulting from the impact of the anti-joinder provision of the America Invents Act. Meanwhile, the 2012 median damages award, boosted by several unusually large damages awards, rose to nearly $10 million, which is double the average award seen over the previous six years.


Verizon backs Ubuntu smartphone
http://www.zdnet.com/verizon-backs-ubuntu-smartphone-7000017954/

Canonical has had good luck getting European telecomms to back Ubuntu on smartphones. But until July 11th, it hadn't managed to persuade any US carriers to back its Linux phone. Now, Verizon Wireless has joined the Ubuntu Carrier Advisory Group.


Google Chromebook Under $300 Defies PC Market With Growth
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-10/google-chromebook-under-300-defies-pc-market-with-growth.html

Google Inc. (GOOG)’s Chromebook was dismissed as a bare-bones laptop with limited appeal when it debuted two years ago. Now it’s defying skeptics and gaining share as the rest of the personal-computer market shrinks.


Former Windows chief illustrates Microsoft's mobile app dilemma
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57592681-94/former-windows-chief-illustrates-microsofts-mobile-app-dilemma/

Without mentioning Windows, Sinofsky illustrates Microsoft's challenge in catching up with iOS and Android, which dominate mobile computing with more than 800,000 apps each. Microsoft's Windows Store has about 100,000 apps since it officially launched in October 2012. While the growth rate for Windows apps is impressive in a short period, and Windows has replaced BlackBerry as the third choice for developers, many popular iOS and Android apps are missing.


Chrome Packaged Apps gaining Android powers
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57592764-93/chrome-packaged-apps-gaining-android-powers/

It's small improvements like these that Google and other browser developers hope will continue to keep developers interested in coding for the Web, as well as making Chrome a bit more like Android. But keep those dreams of Chrome and Android merging in check -- that's still years away.


Judge Orders U.S. to Release Aaron Swartzs Secret Service File
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/07/swartz-foia/?cid=9593124

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. on Friday ordered the government to promptly start releasing thousands of pages of Secret Service documents about the late activist and coder Aaron Swartz, following months of roadblocks and delays.


Open Source OpenStack Cloud Platform Turns 3
http://www.serverwatch.com/news/article.php/3893726/Rackspace-NASA-Partner-on-OpenStack-Cloud-Computing-Install.htm

Cloud hosting vendor Rackspace is teaming up with NASA to launch a new open source effort for building large enterprise clouds. Officially called the OpenStack project, the effort will involve both compute and storage elements, enabling users to build large distributed pools of connected resources.


1.5 million Android activations a day, reminds us just how popular Android is
http://phandroid.com/2013/07/18/google-larry-page-android-activations/

As mentioned above, this is nothing new but it is a nice reminder of how far Android has come. We are sure Google will hit 1 billion activations by the next big announcement.


OpenIncubate launches to supercharge infrastructure startups with open-source cred
http://gigaom.com/2013/07/18/openincubate-launches-to-supercharge-infrastructure-startups-with-open-source-cred/

All systems are go for OpenIncubate, a new accelerator seeking startups focused on open IT infrastructure. Austin Ventures, Battery Ventures and The Valley Fund are behind the accelerator, which plans to officially launch Thursday and hopes to shake up staid, proprietary corners of IT.


Linux for Workgroups and Microsoft's Open Source Relationship
http://thevarguy.com/open-source-application-software-companies/linux-workgroups-and-microsofts-open-source-relationship

The Linux for Workgroups title—an homage to Windows 3.11, better known as Windows for Workgroups, which Microsoft released way back in August 1993—is the official code name Linux founder Linus Torvalds has bestowed upon Linux kernel 3.11. Linus also unveiled a new logo for Linux that harkens back to the old Windows 3.x splashscreens.


Can any tablet OS challenge Android and iOS?
http://www.zdnet.com/can-any-tablet-os-challenge-android-and-ios-7000018313/

Does anyone else have a chance? Blackberry may have given up, but there are many others who want to dethrone Android and iOS. Here, are the leading contenders in the order I rank their chances.


Mozilla Comes under Attack - and of Age
http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/open-enterprise/2013/07/mozilla-comes-under-attack---and-of-age/index.htm

It's entitled "Has Mozilla Lost Its Values?", which is strange, because what follows is a rambling moan about precisely those values, and Mozilla for daring to adhere to them. As you might expect, Mozilla has not "lost its values", it's defending them here just as it has always defended them. Here's the central argument of the IAB piece.


Home automation kit includes Arduino, RasPi dev boards
http://linuxgizmos.com/wig-wag-home-automation-kit/

WigWag developed a home automation kit that combines a Linux-based 6LoWPAN router with sensor units running the open-source Contiki OS. Controllable via an Android smartphone app in conjunction with a WigWag cloud service, users can add ZigBee, Bluetooth, and other modules to expand the home network, and a development kit includes shields for the Arduino and Raspberry Pi.


Ubuntu Superphone Fundraiser Rakes in $1M on Debut
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/07/ubuntu-laptop-replacement/
http://www.zdnet.com/ubuntu-edge-might-just-change-the-computing-world-7000018464/

Canonical — makers of the Ubuntu distribution of Linux — is asking geeks to collectively cough up $32 million dollars in the next month to crowdfund a smartphone that could serve as a laptop replacement. Supporters have already pledged over $1 million in the first five hours of the fundraiser.


Did we all just witness Windows start to die?
http://www.zdnet.com/did-we-all-just-witness-windows-start-to-die-7000018344/

Go back five years and there was no choice. That last example of grandparents Skyping the grandkids -- that would have needed a PC. Now it can be done with a free-on-contract smartphone. Or an iPad, a Nexus 7, Kindle Fire, etc.


Donate your Android device's processing power to science with BOINC
http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/23/dnp-use-your-android-devices-processing-power-to-discover-stars/

Android smartphone users will soon have a chance to participate in important scientific research every time they charge their phones. Using a new app created by researchers at UC Berkeley, users will be able to donate a phone's idle computing power to crunch numbers for projects that could lead to breakthroughs ranging from novel medical therapies to the discovery of new stars.


The coming push for open source everything
http://www.infoworld.com/d/data-center/the-coming-push-open-source-everything-223011

With open source, the veil is already lifted, and an army of developers inspects the code all the time. The potential for hidden backdoors is dramatically reduced. But that doesn't really matter if you go deep enough.


BitTorrent P2P beta syncs Android, Linux, Windows, Mac
http://linuxgizmos.com/bittorrent-brings-p2p-sync-to-android-linux-windows-mac/

[btsync-thm.jpg] BitTorrent released a beta version of a new Linux- and Android-ready peer-to-peer file sync package. BitTorrent Sync currently operates on Windows, Mac, and Linux PCs and laptops, Android smartphones and tablets, and an evolving list of Linux-based devices, including the Raspberry Pi and numerous NAS products, enabling on-the-go, secure uploads and sync from mobile to storage devices, as well as M2M/IoT scenarios.


Oracle Linux Gains Momentum
http://www.serverwatch.com/server-trends/oracle-linux-gains-momentum.html

Growth for the Oracle Linux business comes from a number of different areas. One of them is existing customers that increase the number of servers under Oracle Linux support at time of renewal.


New TCL smart TVs to run Linux-based Opera TV
http://linuxgizmos.com/new-tcl-smart-tvs-run-linux-based-opera-tv/

[opera-tv-thm.jpg] Chinese consumer electronics giant TCL will build its next-generation Smart TV systems using the Linux-based Opera Devices Software Development Kit (SDK).


Android crowned king at AT&T
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57595177-94/android-crowned-king-at-at-t/

Sales of Google Android smartphones outpaced sales of the Apple iPhone at AT&T in the second quarter, as the No. 2 wireless carrier looks for more efficient ways to make a profit in the competitive wireless business.


Baidu Turns to Open Source to Power Part of Its Empire
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/07/cloudfoundry/

The latest to turn to open source is Baidu, the fifth most popular website in the world. A recent presentation describes how the Chinese company is using an open source “platform cloud” called Cloud Foundry to power part of its web empire.


IBM Standardizes On Cloud Foundry, The Open-Source Developer Platform
http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/23/ibm-standardizes-on-cloud-foundy-the-open-source-developer-platform/

IBM is getting into the platform-as-a-service (PaaS) market by standardizing on Cloud Foundry, originally developed by VMware and now part of Pivotal, the EMC spin-off.


Debate intensifies about how to change OpenStack
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2013/072213-openstack-272063.html?hpg1=bn

As OpenStack celebrates its third birthday this month, some project backers are reflecting on just how far the project has progressed, while pundits are saying that unless it makes some major changes, there may be less to celebrate in years to come.


Build your own supercomputer: First $99 Parallella boards ship
http://www.zdnet.com/build-your-own-supercomputer-first-99-parallella-boards-ship-7000018443/

Linux is the top supercomputer operating system. But while you can build your own Linux supercomputer using commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, even with just Raspberry Pi boards, these don't natively support massively parallel computing — the cornerstone of modern supercomputing. That's where Adapteva, with its $99 Parallella parallel processing single-board supercomputer, comes in. ParallellaBoard Parallella: A $99 parallel-processing supercomputer in a credit-card sized board.


Shutterstock's Chris Fischer: Making the Most of Open Source's Huge Tech Edge
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Shutterstocks-Chris-Fischer-Making-the-Most-of-Open-Sources-Huge-Tech-Edge-78518.html

Shutterstock's storage appetite continued to grow. Towards the end of 2012 it stored some 20 million images. Since then it has added an average of 10,000 images per day. The cost of operating its own cloud storage facility kept the company's operations budget on a diet, however, thanks to open source technology.


OpenDaylight Grows Open Source SDN
http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/netsp/opendaylight-grows-open-source-sdn.html

OpenDaylight officially launched in April with a who's who list of leading networking vendors. That list has now grown to 27 member companies. The project has also grown from being just a Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller to an expansive collection of technologies to enable a new era of networking.


Azure inhales open source Java implementation
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/24/windows_azure_java_openjdk/

Microsoft and Azul Systems have hoisted the open source Java implementation OpenJDK onto the Redmond's Azure cloud, giving developers access to the language on Azure's Windows-based cloud services.


2014 Lexus IS heralds rise of Linux in automotive IVI
http://linuxgizmos.com/linux-based-in-vehicle-infotainment-on-the-rise/

A Linux Foundation executive revealed that the 2014 Toyota Lexus IS is the second major automobile to offer an in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system based on Linux.


IBM Debuts Entry-Level Mainframe for Linux
http://www.serverwatch.com/server-news/ibm-debuts-entry-level-mainframe-for-linux.html

The zBC12 is powered by up to 18 microprocessors running at 4.2 GHz, and it delivers up to 36 percent improvement in performance per core compared to its predecessor, the zEnterprise 114 (z114).


Open-source project, Crypton, seeks to make encryption easier
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2045274/opensource-project-crypton-seeks-to-make-encryption-easier.html

Users have peace of mind that even if a company was subpoenaed by a court, the company would not be able to decrypt the data, making it useless, Oberman said. The encryption keys remain on a user’s computer. The same approach is being used by Mega, the online storage service from Kim Dotcom that succeeded his controversial Megaupload service.


Developer Training Platform Pluralsight Acquires PeepCode To Expand Into Open-Source Content
http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/24/developer-training-platform-pluralsight-acquires-peepcode-to-expand-into-open-source-content/

This is an important addition, given that many pro developers are interested in familiarizing themselves with open source technology and tools.


The open source job market is booming
http://www.infoworld.com/t/information-technology-careers/the-open-source-job-market-booming-223463

"Everybody's got a 'we're hiring' booth." Bray sees it as a symptom of an improved economy and open source becoming mainstream.


IBM throws its weight behind Pivotals open source Cloud Foundry
http://venturebeat.com/2013/07/24/ibm-throws-its-weight-behind-pivotals-open-source-cloud-foundry/

In a statement to the press, IBM claims it has seen a voracious appetite from its customers for cloud-based mobile, social and analytics applications. But CIOs are also asking for a more open platform, which the company hopes it can offer through this partnership.

***** Snippets


SUSE Updates Enterprise Linux Server with Secure Boot
http://www.serverwatch.com/server-news/suse-updates-enterprise-linux-server-with-secure-boot.html

New Debian leader seeks more innovation within project
http://www.itwire.com/business-it-news/open-source/60564-new-debian-leader-seeks-more-innovation-within-project

Google Pays $34,901.10 for Chrome 28 Flaws
http://www.internetnews.com/blog/skerner/google-pays-34901.10-for-chrome-28-flaws.html

Qt 5.1 arrives with Qt for Android and iOS previews
http://linuxgizmos.com/qt-5-1-arrives-with-qt-for-android-and-ios-previews/

The Linux Desktop Beauty Pageant, Round Eleventy
http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/The-Linux-Desktop-Beauty-Pageant-Round-Eleventy-78422.html

Final Term: A 2013 Spin on a 1978 Relic
http://www.thepowerbase.com/2013/07/final-term-a-2013-spin-on-a-1978-relic/

Are You Making PRISM or Other NSA Changes?
http://fossforce.com/2013/07/are-you-making-prism-or-other-nsa-changes/

The Too Many Distros Theory
http://fossforce.com/2013/07/the-too-many-distros-theory/

Publish Photos with Pygmyfoto on Raspberry Pi
http://scribblesandsnaps.com/2013/07/10/publish-photos-with-pygmyfoto-on-raspberry-pi/

Is Unity bashing a hobby?
http://myubuntublog.com/is-unity-bashing-a-hobby/

Open Source Xen 4-3 Advances Server Virtualization Security
http://www.serverwatch.com/server-news/open-source-xen-4.3-advances-server-virtualization-security.html

GNOME 3 Classic is more of a hybrid desktop
http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2013/07/08/gnome-3-classic-is-more-of-a-hybrid-desktop/

Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform Opens for Business
http://www.datamation.com/cloud-computing/openstack-grizzly-open-source-cloud-platform-debuts.html

Open Source Apache Server 2.0.x Updated for the Last Time
http://www.internetnews.com/blog/skerner/open-source-apache-server-2.0.x-updated-for-the-last-time.html

GNOME Online Accounts 3.9.4 Enables Flickr by Default
http://news.softpedia.com/news/GNOME-Online-Accounts-3-9-4-Enables-Flickr-by-Default-367605.shtml

How to buy a laptop with Linux pre-installed
http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2013/07/how-to-buy-laptop-pre-installed-with.html

Chromebooks: A bright spot in the dark PC market
http://www.zdnet.com/chromebooks-a-bright-spot-in-the-dark-pc-market-7000017964/

Is It Time to Restore Civility to Linux Development?
http://www.internetnews.com/blog/skerner/is-it-time-to-restore-civility-to-linux-development.html

Announcing Kunjika, a Free Software Stack Overflow clone
http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2013/07/13/announcing-kunjika-a-free-software-stack-overflow-clone/

4 Free Software alternatives to Matlab
http://www.linuxbsdos.com/2013/07/14/2-free-software-alternatives-to-matlab/

Linux 3.11 features
http://www.parityportal.com/2013/07/12/linux-3-11-features/

The Importance of Open Source Licensing Realized by GitHub
http://www.internetnews.com/blog/skerner/the-importance-of-open-source-licensing-realized-by-github.html

GitHub gets smart over open source licences
http://www.h-online.com/open/news/item/GitHub-gets-smart-over-open-source-licences-1918463.html
http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source-software/github-finally-takes-open-source-licenses-seriously-222708
http://opensource.com/law/13/6/quick-open-source-licensing
http://blogs.computerworlduk.com/simon-says/2013/07/no-black-duck-the-sky-is-not-falling/index.htm
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/web-designer/choosing-an-open-source-software-license-for-your-development-project/

The Future of Linux: Evolving Everywhere
http://www.infoworld.com/d/open-source-software/the-future-of-linux-evolving-everywhere-222544

Linus, Linux, Civility and Fighting in Hockey
http://www.internetnews.com/blog/skerner/linus-linux-civility-and-fighting-in-hockey.html

openSUSE 13.1 Milestone 3 Arrives
http://ostatic.com/blog/opensuse-13-1-milestone-3-arrives

PCLinuxOS Releases Trio of Maintenance Updates
http://ostatic.com/blog/pclos-releases-trio-of-maintenance-updates

Linux 3.11: Linux for Workgroups
http://www.zdnet.com/linux-3-11-linux-for-workgroups-7000018091/

XBMC Will Gain Full Wayland Support Before Mir
http://www.thepowerbase.com/2013/07/xbmc-will-gain-full-wayland-support-before-mir/

Is Linus Torvalds too "abusive" on the Linux Kernel Mailing List?
http://www.itworld.com/software/365342/linus-torvalds-too-abusive-linux-kernel-mailing-list

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.10 Updates Server Security and MySQL
http://www.serverwatch.com/server-news/red-hat-enterprise-linux-5.10-updates-server-security-and-mysql.html

Suricata 1.4.4 released
http://suricata-ids.org/2013/07/18/suricata-1-4-4-released/

The Raspberry Pi Needs A Roadmap
http://ostatic.com/blog/the-raspberry-pi-needs-a-roadmap

The no-excuses guide to introducing yourself to a new open source project
http://opensource.com/education/13/7/introduce-yourself-open-source-project

MIT Moves to Intervene in Release of Aaron Swartzs Secret Service File
http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2013/07/mit-swartz-intervene/all/1

Google: Alternatives to the search giant
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23318889

Linus Torvalds defends his right to shame Linux kernel developers
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2013/07/linus-torvalds-defends-his-right-to-shame-linux-kernel-developers/

Has Patent, Will Sue: An Alert to Corporate America
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/14/business/has-patent-will-sue-an-alert-to-corporate-america.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

Elop explains: why Nokia didn't choose Android to replace Symbian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2013/jul/12/elop-explains-nokia-android

Pidora: The Raspberry Pi Fedora remix
http://opensource.com/life/13/5/pidora-raspberry-pi-fedora-remix

Raspberry Pi Camera Module Review - Eye Pi
http://www.linuxuser.co.uk/reviews/raspberry-pi-camera-module

Why This Hacker Stood Up Against Verbal Abuse in Linux Land
http://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/07/sarah_sharp/

Happy Birthday OpenStack! How did you grow up so fast?
http://www.zdnet.com/happy-birthday-openstack-how-did-you-grow-up-so-fast-7000018266/

Google Play Store serves up more than 50 billion downloads
http://androidandme.com/2013/07/applications/google-play-store-serves-up-more-than-50-billion-downloads/

IBM high-fives Netflix open-source tools
http://gigaom.com/2013/07/21/ibm-high-fives-netflix-open-source-tools/

LinuxCon Program Announced Join the Most Technical Mardi Gras Parade In History

https://www.linux.com/news/featured-blogs/167-amanda-mcpherson/729405-linuxcon-program-announcedjoin-the-most-technical-mardi-gras-parade-in-history


OLPCs New $150 Android Tablet Is on Sale at Walmart
http://www.wired.com/design/2013/07/olpcs-new-150-android-powered-tablet-in-schools-and-walmart-shelves/

Windows user's open letter to Android boss Sundar Pichai
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57594219-1/windows-users-open-letter-to-android-boss-sundar-pichai/

Apache Releases Open Source OpenOffice 4
http://www.datamation.com/applications/apache-releases-open-source-openoffice-4.html

Ubuntu vs. Kubuntu
http://www.datamation.com/open-source/ubuntu-vs.-kubuntu.html

juntaDados GNU/Linux 5.0.1 now based on Debian GNU/Linux Wheezy

https://diaspora.juntadados.org/u/juntadados


Cloudant Merges BigCouch Database into Open Source Apache CouchDB
http://thevarguy.com/cloud-computing-services-and-business-solutions/cloudant-merges-bigcouch-database-open-source-apache

Linux 3.11 rc2

https://lkml.org/lkml/2013/7/21/100


The great Ars Android interface shootout
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/07/the-great-ars-android-interface-shootout/

How I Use My Raspberry Pi
http://www.linux-magazine.com/Online/Blogs/Productivity-Sauce/How-I-Use-My-Raspberry-Pi

Linux: We're all in this together right?
http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2013/07/linux-were-all-in-this-together-right_24.html

Delicious Raspberry Pi
http://things-linux.blogspot.com/2013/07/delicious-raspberry-pi.html

Linux for mobile: A visual history
http://www.networkworld.com/slideshow/112000/linux-for-mobile-a-visual-history.html

Apache OpenMeetings 2.1.1 released

https://blogs.apache.org/openmeetings/entry/apache_openmeetings_2_1_11


It's a cloud, cloud, cloud, cloud world
http://www.zdnet.com/its-a-cloud-cloud-cloud-cloud-world-7000018431/

Ubuntu Vs Xubuntu
http://myubuntublog.com/ubuntu-vs-xubuntu/

Top Google Apps Partners Promote Chromebooks
http://thevarguy.com/information-technology-channel-partner-programs/top-google-apps-resellers-promote-chromebooks

LibreOffice 4.1.0 is Here with New Goodies
http://ostatic.com/blog/libreoffice-4-1-0-is-here-with-new-goodies

Linux Mint 15 - An alternative review
http://www.everydaylinuxuser.com/2013/07/linux-mint-15-alternative-review.html

Hands on With the Ubuntu SDK Beta
http://ostatic.com/blog/hands-on-with-the-ubuntu-sdk-beta

Is LPI cert losing ground? Linux Career Skills Watch update
http://www.linuxcareer.com/it-skills-watch

Top 5 Features in Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
http://www.zdnet.com/top-5-features-in-android-4-3-jelly-bean-7000018522/

BOINC seeks to occupy your Android device
http://linuxgizmos.com/boinc-releases-official-android-app/

Eolas Doesn't Own Internet, Ubuntu Hacked & More...
http://fossforce.com/2013/07/eolas-doesnt-own-internet-ubuntu-hacked/

How Linux is taking over the network
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/data-center/how-linux-is-taking-over-the-network/

Google Makes Android 4.3 Official, Offers Multi-User Restricted Profile Accounts And Bluetooth S
http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/24/google-makes-android-4-3-official-offers-multi-user-accounts/

Hidden permissions manager found in Android 4.3, lets you set the rules
http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/26/hidden-permissions-manager-android-4-3/

Mark Shuttleworth on reddit
http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1j166z/hi_im_mark_shuttleworth_founder_of_ubuntu/

Handwriting Feature Added to Google Translate Homepage
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2422295,00.asp

Apple, Samsung, & Design Patents: Is More Necessarily Better?
http://www.project-disco.org/intellectual-property/071813-apple-samsung-design-patents-is-more-necessarily-better/

FTC Google Final Order
http://www.consortiuminfo.org/standardsblog/article.php?story=20130724114556227
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