ProductWiki

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate

Mon, 08 May 2006 11:17:52 -0400

It was more than five years ago that Microsoft released Windows XP, and on January 30th, 2007 Microsoft is launching Vista, the latest operating system in the Windows family. The most notable improvement is the development of Windows Aero (Authentic, Energetic, Reflective, Open); a new graphical interface and visual style featuring eye candy such as window transparencies and animations. Other new features include tightly integrated search and a Windows Sidebar as a space to put desktop gadgets like a clock, calendar, weather, RSS, and other small applets.

Microsoft Windows 7

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:56:03 -0400

Windows 7 (formerly codenamed Blackcomb and Vienna)is the current version of Microsoft Windows and the successor to Windows Vista. Microsoft has stated that it is "scoping Windows 7 development to a three-year timeframe", and that "the specific release date will ultimately be determined by meeting the quality bar." The first public beta was released to the public on January 9th, 2009 and will expire August 1st, 2009, with a downloadable ISO available to the first 2.5 million people. The operating system was finally made available to the public on October 22nd 2009

Apple Mac OS X Lion

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:48:25 -0400

Lion is the eighth release of the Macintosh operating system from Apple. As the successor to 2009’s Snow Leopard, this version of the operating system introduces several features borrowed from Apple’s iOS mobile platform. The Mac App Store aims to provide users with a simple way of purchasing and updating apps, similar to the system found on the iPhone and iPad. Launchpad serves as a multifunctional application launcher, giving users rows of icons and folders for straight-forward access to their most used programs, similar to iOS. Many apps will have "full-screen" modes that use the entire display, and multiple full-screen apps can be running at once. For the first time in a Mac OS, there is an autosave function that backs up work. There is also a "Resume" function that reloads apps to precisely where they were before a system restart. "Mission Control" is a feature that displays all running programs and full-screen apps, allowing one-click access to any given running program. Lion also updates gesture controls, with new motions for changing between apps, instantly viewing Mission Control, and navigation and zoom functions. The "Air Drop" function allows wireless file sharing even without a Wi-Fi network, as long as potential recipients are close. "Versions" compiles various edits of the same file or document to display its development. Lion will also include numerous tweaks to the existent Snow Leopard applications, interface, and navigation.

Features

Mac App Store
Launchpad with folders
Full-screen apps
Mission Control
Multi-touch gestures
Autosave
Versions document snapshots
Resume functions restores apps
Air Drop wireless sharing
Includes iLife ‘11

Microsoft Windows Phone 7

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:53:53 -0500

Introduced at MWC 2010, Windows Phone 7 is the latest Windows CE based phone operating system from Microsoft. Featuring a complete redesign - both inside and out - it is intended to bring what was Windows Mobile into the new age of the smartphone, competing with the likes of Android, iPhone OS, and WebOS. The operating system will feature a redesigned Zune-like UI, tight social integration, and connectivity with popular Microsoft stores and services such as the Zune Marketplace and XBox Live.

Features

redesigned modern interface
seamless social site integration
integration with other Microsoft services - Zune Marketplace for music, XBox Live for gaming
minimum hardware requirements for standardized user experience

Mac OS X Leopard

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 17:21:24 -0400

Mac OS X version 10.5, known as "Leopard", is the 6th version of the OS X line of Mac operating systems. Apple introduces over 300 new features in the upgrade from Tiger to Leopard including substantial changes to the desktop. It released today with only one version, in stark contrast to Vista's approach. The biggest new features according to Apple are the new Dock, the new Finder system, the Time Machine feature, and Spaces. The OS in general remains somewhat similar to Tiger so if you're familiar with OS X at all, then you'll be able to use Leopard right away.

Pricing

Single license - $129
Family 5-pack license - $199

The new Dock has a change in look and is more 3D, with the "stand" portion reflecting in real-time what is above it, including program windows and wallpapers. Stacks are a new feature of the dock that work similar to smart folders. Leopard will automatically group similar files together and put them under one icon in the doc, you then click on the icon to have the files fan out or appear in a grid view.

Finder undergoes significant changes to its look featuring a more streamlined and accessible side bar. The biggest change is the introduction of a new view named "Cover Flow". This view works similar to iTunes' album view where you flip through the icons. Apple is also introducing a new technology named Quick Look which lets you do an in-depth preview of a multitude of files before fully opening them. Combining Quick Look with Cover Flow lets you easily perform mini slide shows with images, or view videos in quick succession. Quick Look even lets you page through PDF or Keynote presentations.

Spaces is a virtual desktop management system that lets you keep four different virtual desktops, each with their own set of programs running. You can switch between the desktops easily, and rearrange their positioning relative to one another.

Time Machine is an automatic backup, and quick recovery system for your files. With a few clicks you can specify which folders you want to keep backed up, and where they should be stored. Storage can occur on the local drive, or for better backup reliability on an external, or networked drive. The system then keeps a record of every single file that is in those monitored folders, and lets you recover a lost file, or return to a previous version.

As opposed to other recent Operating System releases, Leopard comes in one form that includes everything for all users. This includes 64-bit support, as Steve Jobs said "Leopard is 64-bit top to bottom".

Official site: www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/

Google Chrome OS

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:39:33 -0400

Google Chrome OS is a free open source, lightweight operating system designed and optimized for web use, and will mainly be targetted to netbooks. Google Chrome OS will run on both x86 and ARM processors and is planned to be included in a number of OEM netbooks in 2009-2010. It is a separate project from Android, however there are areas where to the two operating systems overlap.

Android

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 15:15:19 -0500

Android is an open-source mobile phone platform developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance, announced on November 5th, 2007 and released on October 22, 2008 with the T-Mobile G1 in the USA. It is an open-source operating system based on Linux, and is designed to be embedded on mobile devices adhering to the Android standard. The most significant features of Android is that it carries no licensing free to be used by phone manufacturers and is an an open platform that third-party developers can easily create applications for using standard API calls implemented by the independent hardware manufacturers. Android comes equipped with many built-in applications including dialing, messaging, media playback, and with immediate availability to mobile versions of Google search, Google Maps, and Google Products but the intention is to have other developers create new applications in the future. All applications are given equal weight, such that even the basic dialing app can be overwritten. An SDK and an NDK are freely available for download, and so developers can get started developing for the Android platform. The Android OS is used in handsets manufactured by HTC, LG Electronics, Motorola, Samsung, Acer, Huawei, and Sony Ericsson, and Android devices are available on all national carriers in the U.S. (T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, AT&T). The current version of Android is 2.1 (Eclair), released on January 5, 2010, and version 2.2 (Froyo) has been announced at Google I/O in May 2010.

Demo Video

Microsoft Windows XP

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:46:14 -0500

Windows XP is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. The letters "XP" stand for eXPerience. It was codenamed "Whistler", after Whistler, British Columbia, as many Microsoft employees skied at the Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort during its development. Windows XP is the successor to both Windows 2000 Professional and Windows Me, and is the first consumer-oriented operating system produced by Microsoft to be built on the Windows NT kernel and architecture. Windows XP was first released on October 25, 2001, and over 400 million copies were in use in January 2006, according to an estimate in that month by an IDC analyst. It is succeeded by Windows Vista, which was released to volume license customers on November 8, 2006, and worldwide to the general public on January 30, 2007.

Different Editions

The most common editions of the operating system are Windows XP Home Edition, which is targeted at home users, and Windows XP Professional, which has additional features such as support for Windows Server domains and two physical processors, and is targeted at power users and business clients. Windows XP Media Center Edition has additional multimedia features enhancing the ability to record and watch TV shows, view DVD movies, and listen to music. Windows XP Tablet PC Edition is designed to run the ink-aware Tablet PC platform. Two separate 64-bit versions of Windows XP were also released, Windows XP 64-bit Edition for IA-64 (Itanium) processors and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition for x86-64.

Stability, Security

Windows XP is known for its improved stability and efficiency over the 9x versions of Microsoft Windows. It presents a significantly redesigned graphical user interface, a change Microsoft promoted as more user-friendly than previous versions of Windows. New software management capabilities were introduced to avoid the "DLL hell" that plagued older consumer-oriented 9x versions of Windows. It is also the first version of Windows to use product activation to combat software piracy, a restriction that did not sit well with some users and privacy advocates. Windows XP has also been criticized by some users for security vulnerabilities, tight integration of applications such as Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player, and for aspects of its default user interface.

Windows XP had been in development since early 1999, when Microsoft started working on Windows Neptune, an operating system intended to be the "Home Edition" equivalent to Windows 2000 Professional. It was eventually merged into the Whistler project, which later became Windows XP.

DirectX Support

A feature that Windows XP took over from previous versions Windows 95 and 98 is DirectX; DirectX is a standard of hardware accelerated programming interface (API) which is used to increase performance and introduce rich features like 2 and 3dimensional graphics, real time sound manipulation (such as spacial 3d sound) and new input devices. The 3D API built into DirectX "Direct3D) is a competitor to OpenGL and is being constantly augmented and improved in order to provide rich gaming experiences using features of hardware accelerated graphics cards, which is also a great innovation factor in this sector. Using windows update, new versions of this will continue to be released.

Driver Support

Drivers are little bit of software that enable using system hardware & peripherals (such as Motherboards, Processors, USB devices) and owing to the great usage of Windows XP driver support is second to none; only old hardware (>15 years) can not easily be integrated into the XP environment. A major point of critizism is that certain drivers (e.g. graphics card drivers) run in a mode with elevated rights (kernel mode) which, if buggy, can compromise the stability of the system.

Open Source software can also be integrated into the Windows XP environment, e.g. Firefox / Thunderbird as default web browser / mail client, and the work to do so is relatively little.

Licensing models: Retail vs OEM

OEM Windows is sold as part of specific hardware (e.g. a laptop) tries to integrate application software a lot tighter into the Operating System by preinstalling features like windows desktop search, windows live email, msn browsers etc and also by not providing install disks but so called "rescue disks" that can only restore the custom-built (and highly Microsoft biased) state of a machine. Also these can usually not be used when the PC is upgraded (e.g. new Motherboard).

Retail Windows is sold as a stand alone package and can have Service Packs (SP1, SP2, SP3) already integrated. It usually installs fairly easily on any PC and hardware can be easily added and supported even by the layman.

Windows XP Variants

via Wikipedia (link)

Apple iOS 5

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 10:40:46 -0400

From September 2011, iOS 5 will be the standard operating system for Apple wireless devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch). Aesthetically it resembles the previous incarnations of iOS, but has some notable upgrades. Notifications no longer interrupt user activities and remain listed in a constantly-refreshing notifications window, with individual notifications appearing at the top of the screen, regardless of which app you're currently running. iMessage is a major upgrade, as it allows inter-Apple device messaging, for free, over 3G or WiFi connections (similar to RIM's BlackBerry Messenger). Newsstand is a new app that stores and updates all your magazine/newspaper subscriptions and organizes them on a bookshelf in the same way books are displayed currently in iBooks. "Reminders" is a new app that consolidates a to-do list with a calendar, and also synchronizes with iCal, Outlook, and iCloud.

Certain standard iOS apps feature upgrades as well, such as "reading list" bookmark update and tabbed browsing for safari, easier photo editing for iPhoto, and being able to take pictures from the lock screen using the camera. Another key feature is that all wireless iOS 5 devices are capable of updating themselves without a separate computer. Also, devices on a WiFi network are capable of syncing wirelessly with a home computer, either for updates or transfers.

Features

iMessage messenger
Reminders to-do app
Wireless syncing
No need for separate computer
Newsstand organizes/updates subscriptions
Safari browser tweaks (bookmarks and "reader" mode)
Twitter app preloaded
Improved photo editing controls
Notification Center combines and organizes notifications
New multi-tasking gesture controls for iPad
Compatible with iPod Touch 3 and 4, iPhone 3GS and 4, iPad and iPad 2

Microsoft Windows 8

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:09:00 -0400

The Microsoft Windows 8 is the follow up effort to Microsoft's generally well-received Windows 7 desktop OS. Windows 8 is unique to previous Windows desktop releases as it is designed to run on ARM as well as x86 architecture types, making it more tablet friendly. Additionally, Windows 8 blends elements of Windows 7 and Microsoft's Metro UI (as seen on Windows Phone 7 devices).

Windows 8's Metro UI is designed specifically for touchscreen use, making it more comfortable to use on tablets than Windows 7. The Metro UI features a number of user-configurable live tiles meant to provide the user with direct access to important apps; this would be most useful for ARM-based tablet devices. At any time, however, the user can switch to a more typical desktop OS similar to Windows 7 (this would likely be the default state of the OS when installed on an x86 machine), offering greater functionality than tablet-only operating systems.

Features

ARM and x86 compatibility
Metro UI for tablet devices
Standard Windows 7 desktop interface
Utilizes traditional Windows desktop apps as well as HTML5 and Java-based mobile apps
Internet Explorer 10
Built-in app store
Integrated Office services

Ubuntu

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:55:04 -0400

Ubuntu is an open-source, freely distributed operating system based on Linux developed by Canonical Ltd. Ubuntu's first release was on October 20th, 2004 as a fork of the Debian GNU/Linux project. Ubuntu differs from its Linux roots because of 1) its emphasis on usability, 2) regular releases every 6 months, 3) ease of installation, 4) rarely requires command-line instructions of any kind. These four factors make the Ubuntu operating system far more appealing to mainstream users over most other Linux distributions. Ubuntu can be installed on desktop PCs, laptops, servers, 64-bit systems, and Mac computers. The most recent release is, version 9.10, is nicknamed "Karmic Koala," and was released Oct, 2009. The next release is due in April of 2010.

The Ubuntu Promise

Ubuntu will always be free of charge, including enterprise releases and security updates.
Ubuntu comes with full commercial support from Canonical and hundreds of companies around the world.
Ubuntu includes the very best translations and accessibility infrastructure that the free software community has to offer.
Ubuntu CDs contain only free software applications; we encourage you to use free and open source software, improve it and pass it on.

Ubuntu Variants

Ubuntu has two main variants: the Desktop or Server edition. The Desktop edition is used general computing, and comes preloaded with software to surf the web, read email, create and edit documents and spreadsheets, and to play music. The server edition is used to run services such as, but not limited to, the Apache webserver, OpenSSH, Samba/NFS for a file fileserver, or CUPS for a print server.

Canonical Ltd, the complany that develops Ubuntu, is currently working a version of Ubuntu for MID's. It aims to support flash, media playback, Web 2.0 services, and productivity software. It will be customizable and integrate well with Internet services such as Facebook, Google, and Youtube.

Additionally, there are versions off Ubuntu specifically designed for different groups of applications:

Edubuntu, a distribution designed for classrooms using GNOME
Gobuntu, a free software distribution
Kubuntu, a desktop distribution using KDE rather than GNOME
Xubuntu, a "lightweight" distribution based on the Xfce desktop environment instead of GNOME
Ubuntu JeOS, "an efficient variant [...] configured specifically for virtual appliances"
Ubuntu Studio, a desktop distribution explicitly geared towards multimedia creation.

* source Wikipedia

Availability

Ubuntu is free, and will remain free. The desktop and server version can be downloaded from the Ubuntu website. All of the Ubuntu variants are free and can be downloaded as well from their respective websites. Ubuntu gives you the option to have a Ubuntu installation CD for either Ubuntu Desktop/Server, Kubuntu, or Edubuntu mailed to you, but delivery may take as long as 10 weeks, so downloading is strongly encouraged. The installation of the desktop operating system will take approximately 25 minutes. The current release is version 8.04 as of April 24th, 2008.

Microsoft Windows Vista

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:10:50 -0400

Vista is Microsoft's sixth generation Operating System and features more focus on bundled functionality, more streamlined networking, and improved security. Compared to the previous standard - Windows XP - Vista contains a more integrated and consistent technology base which Microsoft hopes will reduce the number of software and hardware compatibility issues. On the security side, every module has been made secure to reduce and prevent malicious software from ruining the computer, however the downside is the Vista "User Access Control" panel which has been made the butt of many jokes for being too annoying.

Versions

Vista comes in 6 flavors, that differ in bundled features and are targeted towards different markets.

Windows Vista Starter - much like Windows XP Starter Edition, this edition sells only in "emerging markets" such as Mexico, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Thailand, China, Indonesia and the Philippines — mainly to offer a legal alternative to using unauthorized copies. Microsoft does not make it available in the United States, Canada, Europe, Israel, Australia or New Zealand (although users can install a three day trial-version from the 32-bit DVD).

Windows Vista Home Basic - Similar to Windows XP Home Edition, Home Basic targets budget-conscious users not requiring advanced media support for home use.

Windows Vista Home Premium - Containing all features from Home Basic, this edition also supports additional features aimed for the home market-segment, such as support for HDTV and DVD-authoring.casino slot games

Windows Vista Business - Comparable to Windows XP Professional and Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, Windows Vista Business Edition targets the business-market. It includes all the features of Home Basic with the exception of Parental Controls and the Windows Vista Standard theme.

Windows Vista Enterprise - This edition targets the enterprise segment of the market: it comprises a superset of the Vista Business edition. Additional features include support for Multilingual User Interface (MUI) packages, BitLocker Drive Encryption, and UNIX application-support.

Windows Vista Ultimate - combines all the features of the Home Premium and Enterprise editions, plus the "Ultimate Extras" and stronger encryption. "Mainstream Support" for Ultimate ends on April 10, 2012, while Microsoft flags "Extended Support" as "Not Applicable".

Common Vista Features

Aero - this is the new fancy graphical style that uses the 3D processing power of the computer for additional effects and animations.

Shell - replaces Windows Explorer to be more streamlined and easier to navigate.

Instant Search - improved search examines information inside of files, and returns results as soon as typing starts.

Sidebar - an area for Desktop Gadgets which are mini-applications that usually focus on performing one specific task.

Mail - built-in mail program that replaces Outlook

Games Explorer - a dedicated and unified area where all your games can be accessed and launched.

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS "Hardy Heron"

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:07:14 -0500

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, nicknamed "Hardy Heron," is the most recent LTS release of the Ubuntu Linux operating system. It is the eighth Ubuntu release, and the second long-term support (LTS) release. The Desktop edition will be supported until April 2011, and the server edition will be supported until April 2013.

Screenshot

screenshot: default 800x600 desktop of Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron"

Availability

Ubuntu is free, and will remain free. As with the other releases, it is available in both desktop and server editions. A free install CD may be requested, however the shipping process may take 6-10 weeks. For more information, see Ubuntu.

Installation

Ubuntu 8.04 has a completely revamped install system for Windows, called Wubi (Windows-Based Ubuntu Installer.) It allows users to install Ubuntu just like they install any other program on Windows, without having to partition their hard drive. It also allows for easier installs of the full operating system, and migrates users settings, such as backgrounds and bookmarks, to Ubuntu. A version for Mac, Mubi, is expected to be released soon.

Apple iOS 4

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:03:34 -0400

iPhone OS 4 is the fourth generation of Apple's iPhone Operating System that powers their popular iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad devices. With this iteration Apple responds to many of their critics in incorporating application multitasking and background processing. However, in true Apple fashion, they have devised their own take on these features that they claim preserves battery life and responsiveness while offering the ability to run and switch between multiple applications. This differs from a typical multi-tasking implementation as Apple created seven new services that the OS can run in the background and that 3rd party apps have access to, but the actual 3rd party apps are paused and resumed rather than concurrently executed. Alongside multitasking Apple introduces some other major functionality in iPhone OS 4, including a comprehensive gaming social network akin to Xbox Live, and a rich integrated ad platform called iAd. It must be noted that some functions such as multitasking are not compatible with iPhone versions older than the 3GS.

Additions with this Release

limited background processing
- background audio - for apps like Pandora and Last.fm stream music while using other applications
- Voice over IP - for apps like Skype receive calls even when it's not open
- Background location - for apps like Loopt to automatically update your location
- Push notifications
- Local notifications
- Task completion - for apps like flickr to continue uploading a photo even after the app is closed
- Fast app switching
change your homescreen wallpaper
homescreen folders
- drag and drop apps on top of one another to automatically create app group folders
enhanced mail app
- unifies inboxes
- view e-mails as conversations
enhanced enterprise features
cross game mobile social network (a la Xbox Live)
- matchmaking
- achievements
iAd
- in-app advertising platform that's run on the OS level. Let's you interact with ads without leaving an app
more API functions for developers

Multitasking Details

To preserve battery life background applications are run in a limited state that can perform a limited set of functions that Apple claims are the most crucial. Switching between applications is accomplished through a mini-dock that comes up when you press the home button twice.

While programs are running in the background they have access to a limited set of core functionality. Specifically they can play music, start or continue Voice over IP calls, update location information, display notifications, and complete started tasks. Apple claims that these services will provide the key functionality that people want from the apps while not compromising battery life or performance.

iAd

The iAd platform is part of the core operating system. This means that apps can have rich, interactive advertisements that don't require you to leave the app. Apple claims that this will let people engage with the ads better, which will let developers monetize off their free applications better. The hope for end users is that there will be even more, and better quality free apps.

MeeGo

Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:14:50 -0400

MeeGo is an operating system for mobile devices under development by Nokia and Intel. It is an attempt to merge Nokia's Maemo and Intel's Moblin operating systems, combining their advantages. Like its two older parents, MeeGo is Linux-based, but its scope will be wider than just mobile phones - netbooks, vehicle computers, connected TVs, handhelds like PMPs, and telephone and video calling/conference systems are all part of the concept. Its success remains to be seen as it is still under heavy development and no commercial products are announced as of April 2010. A first snapshot version (without a GUI) was released on March 31, 2010, and a quite impressive version 1.0 was released on May 27, 2010.

Supported Hardware

In general MeeGo v1.0 for Netbook will run on Atom® based Netbooks and has been tested on the following platforms,

Asus EeePC 901, 1000H, 1005HA, 1008HA, EeePC 1005PE, Eeetop ET1602
Dell mini10v, Inspiron Mini 1012
Acer Aspire One D250, AO532-21S, Revo GN40, Aspire 5740-6025
Lenovo S10
MSI U130, AE1900
HP mini 210-1044
Toshiba NB302

Linux

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:46:59 -0500

Linux is a "UNIX-like" operating system first developed by Linus Torvalds, a 21 year old Finnish software engineer, in 1991. It is one of the most well-known examples of open-source and free software. From the beginning, Linus made the source code for his operating available to the community of developers, and since then, the Linux operating system and kernel are often used as a prime example of the benefits of open-source community development.

Uses

Linux is most popular used as a server operating system, and in embeddable systems. The stable, customizable, and free nature of Linux make it an ideal choice often in these cases. Many web servers run on Linux, with a LAMP (Linux-Apache-MySQL-PHP) setup being the most common.

Distributions

There are many distributions and variations of the Linux Kernel. Many of the distributions are customized to specific applications and are often made to have a more familiar UI. Debian, Ubuntu, Red Hat, Gentoo, and SUSE are five of the most common distributions of the Linux Kernel.

Symbian ^3

Mon, 03 May 2010 00:08:13 -0400

Scheduled to be released in the 2nd half of 2010, Symbian^3 is the evolution of Nokia's smartphone operating system Symbian, and a direct successor to Symbian S60 5th Edition. Over its predecessor, Symbian^3 is promised to feature a highly polished, simplified user-interface, support for high-definition media such as HDMI, an improved networking architecture, better hardware graphics acceleration, tighter social networking integration, and availability of the Qt 4.6 application framework. Most importantly, though, Symbian^3 is an open-source mobile operating system, following the trend set by Android, Moblin, Maemo, MeeGo, LiMo, and Bada. Symbian^3's first handset will be the Nokia N8.

Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango)

Wed, 25 May 2011 17:17:39 -0400

Microsoft Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango) is an update for the Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system. It brings features based on user feedback as well as new enhancements. One item that missing at the launch of the WP7 operating system is copy and pasting. New features include threaded conversations that integrates content from different messaging services such as Facebook chat, Windows Live Messenger, and text messaging. Other communications improvements include the addition of Twitter and LinkedIn feeds, voice messaging, and an integrated inbox that can now display emails from multiple accounts all at the same place. Microsoft have also strongly advertised the extended capabilities of the Internet Explorer 9 browser, as well as the Local Scout and Bing search functions. Some original features have been improved, these include better multi-tasking and home screen Live Tiles that can now display more real time information than before. The Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update will be welcomed by all current owners as it extends the functions of the devices as well as enhancing current features.

Features

Improved Live Tiles
Multitasking
Live Agents
Threaded Conversations
Deeper Social Network Integration
App Connect
Internet Explorer 9
Local Scout
Bing
Quick Cards

Mac OS X

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:47:31 -0500

Mac OS X (pronounced /mæk.o?.?s.t?n/) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc., the latest of which is pre-loaded on all currently shipping Macintosh computers. Mac OS X is the successor to the original Mac OS, which had been Apple's primary operating system since 1984. Unlike its predecessors, Mac OS X is a Unix-based operating system built on technology that had been developed at NeXT through the second half of the 1980s until Apple purchased the company in early 1997.

The first version released was Mac OS X Server 1.0 in 1999, and a desktop-oriented version, Mac OS X v10.0 followed in March 2001. Since then, five more distinct "end-user" and "server" versions have been released, most recently Mac OS X v10.5 in October 2007. Releases of Mac OS X are named after big cats, for example Mac OS X v10.5 is usually referred to by Apple and users as "Leopard". The server edition, Mac OS X Server, is architecturally very similar to its desktop counterpart but usually runs on Apple's line of Macintosh server hardware. It includes workgroup management and administration software tools that provide simplified access to key network services, including a mail transfer agent, a Samba server, an LDAP server, a domain name server, and others. Apple also produces customized versions of OS X for use on three of its consumer devices, the Apple TV, the iPhone and the iPod touch. The modified OS only contains what is needed for that particular device (un-needed drivers and components are removed), though certain sources have reported that simple hacks could install features in the Mac OS to the stripped down version, which could indicate Apple wants to improve upon a common platform on all its hardware devices.

Windows Mobile 6.5

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:31:08 -0500

Introduced officially on February 16th 2009 at the GSMA Mobile World Congress, Windows Mobile 6.5 is the latest version of Microsoft's operating system for smartphones and underpowered mobile devices such as PDAs and MIDs. Featuring enhancements such as an application store, backup/restore service, and an improved web browser, the user interface has also been redesigned to be 'finger friendly' - as the majority of new devices now utilize touchscreen panels.

Features

free 'My Phone service': allows users to backup personal information to a password-protected website, offers synching and backup of all contacts, appointments, text messages, and other information
Windows Marketplace for Mobile: introduces an application store for searching, browsing and buying applications
Internet Explorer Mobile: a newly upgraded browser based on the Internet Explorer 6 engine, includes flash and javascript support as well important mobile features such as zoom
New UI: designed to be 'finger friendly', the interface features a honeycomb design that is easy to interact with through touch sensitive displays

Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 "Etch"

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:31:10 -0400

Debian GNU/Linux 4.0 "Etch" is the 9th release, and current oldstable version of Debian GNU/Linux. It is supported until one year after the next release, which happened in February 2009. Etch can be ran with either KDE, GNOME, or Xfce as the default GUI. It can also be ran with no GUI whatsoever, and can be used as a server. Major features that were added to Etch are the ability to install on the amd64 architecture, transition to X.Org and udev, as well as a graphical installer.

Installation

Etch was the first release of Debian to have a graphical installer that allows the user to use a mouse to point and click during the install, rather than just the keyboard. To initiate the graphical installer, which does not start by default, type "installgui" at the boot screen, as shown below.

Supported Architectures

Etch can be installed on the following computer architectures:

i386 – x86-32 architecture designed for Intel/AMD 32-bit PCs and various other systems
amd64 – x86-64 architecture designed for Intel/AMD 64-bit PCs and various other systems
alpha – DEC Alpha architecture
sparc – Sun SPARC architecture on Sun-4m, Sun-4u, and Sun-4v systems
arm – ARM architecture on Risc PC and various embedded systems (little-endian)
powerpc – PowerPC architecture
hppa – HP PA-RISC architecture
ia64 – Intel Itanium (IA-64) architecture
mips, mipsel – MIPS architecture (big-endian and little-endian)
s390 – IBM ESA/390 architecture and z/Architecture

Source: wikipedia (link)

Screenshot

Default background Debian 4.0 "Etch" running GNOME.

Apple Mac OS X Snow Leopard

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 23:18:11 -0400

Mac OS X 10.6 "Snow Leopard" is the latest OS developed by Apple Computer under the company's CEO Steve Jobs. Was released September '09. This is the first OS touted by Apple computer to have "no new features", yet features greatly enhanced underpinnings.

New updates to the operating system include:

Full 64-bit addressing. This increasing security and memory allocation while providing backward compatibility with 32-bit programs
Grand Central Dispatch is the clever name for a new open source, system wide thread-pool that allows programers to more easily utilize all the processing power of modern multi-core processors. This makes system wide slowdowns much less common and removes data bottlenecks.
OpenCL allows programers to more easily harness the computing power of graphics co-processors for general computing tasks. This increases speed and takes pressure off of the main processor.

The net result is a more stable, secure, fast, and functional operating environment for users.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:34:07 -0500

From Wikipedia: Containing all features from Home Basic, this edition will also support more advanced features aimed for the home market segment, such as HDTV support and DVD authoring. Extra premium games, mobile and tablet PC, network projector, touchscreen, and auxiliary display (via Windows SideShow) support, and a utility to schedule backups are also included. Home Premium supports 10 simultaneous peer network connections (compared to 5 in Home Basic). The version of Meeting Space included will also allow for interaction (in Home Basic, meetings may only be viewed). This edition is comparable to Windows XP Media Center Edition. 64-bit Home Premium will support up to 16 GB of physical memory, and will be supported until 2012.

Microsoft Windows Server 2003

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:10:11 -0400

Windows Server 2003 is based off of the same core technology as Windows XP and formed the basis for a wide variety of Server systems released by Microsoft. You can think of Server 2K3 as Windows XP expanded to provide the services and functionality required by a server infrastructure. There are a multitude of further enhancements and specializations of Windows Server 2003 that fulfill specific niches in Microsoft's vast array of server initiatives and technologies.

Compared with Windows NT 4.0 which is the predecessor server technology to 2K3, there are a host of improvements that include all the ones introduced in vanilla Windows XP. Compared to the consumer operating system, Microsoft has implemented various technologies that are suited to the server market. One of the more notable changes is to the IIS technology which is significantly faster and more stable than the XP counterpart.

Versions

Windows Small Business Server
Web Edition
Standard Edition
Enterprise Edition
Datacenter Edition
Windows Compute Cluster Server
Windows Storage Server
Windows Home Server

HTC Sense UI

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:38:32 -0400

HTC Sense is a user experience, based on the TouchFLO 3D UI, developed by HTC for mobile devices running Android. It features highly customizable, time-responsive (work, weekend, etc.) themes built on top of the functionality found on top of Android. The first phone announced with this UI was the HTC Hero, followed by the HTC Tattoo. Both have Q4 2009 US release dates.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:32:31 -0500

From Wikipedia: Similar to Windows XP Home Edition, Home Basic is intended for budget users not requiring advanced media support for home use. The Windows Aero theme with translucent effects will not be included with this edition. 64-bit Home Basic will support up to 8 GB of physical memory, and will be supported until 2012.

RIM BlackBerry OS 6

Sat, 01 May 2010 14:30:46 -0400

The RIM BlackBerry OS 6 is the 6th generation of RIM's Blackberry Operating System for use with BlackBerry smartphones. The core applications have all been redesigned and it features updated graphics, animations and transitions with contextual menu pop-ups that expand upon the RIM's BlackBerry OS 5 theme. There is a new customizable homescreen with multiple views based on content type (all, favorite apps, downloads, media, etc.) as well as universal search. The RIM Blackberry OS 6 uses a touchscreen with multitouch features similar to the iPhone such as pinch-to-zoom. Other updates include a revamped media player and improved social networking capabilities with better integration with Facebook and Twitter. The RIM Blackberry OS 6 will also feature an improved WebKit browser that uses the same technology that is behind Apple's Safari browser on the iPhone OS. The browser will support multiple sessions and tabbed browsing.

Features

Redesigned core applications
Updated user interface
Customizable homescreen with multiple views
Touchscreen with multitouch capablitlites
Social networking integration with Facebook and Twitter
Web browser with multiple session support and tabbed browsing

Microsoft Windows Home Server

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:25:41 -0400

Windows Home Server is a home server operating system from Microsoft. Announced on January 7, 2007, at the Consumer Electronics Show by Bill Gates, Windows Home Server is intended to be a solution for homes with multiple connected PCs to offer file sharing, automated backups, and remote access. It is based on Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

Windows Mobile 5

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:47:45 -0500

Windows Mobile 5.0, originally codenamed "Magneto", was released at Microsoft's Mobile and Embedded Developers Conference 2005 in Las Vegas, May 9–May 12, 2005. It features support for persistent storage such as flash memory, Microsoft Exchange Server push functionality, OS update support through "adaptation kit upgrades", Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, Office Mobile, DirectShow support, a GPS management interface, and ActiveSync 4.2. Microsoft plans to offer mainstream support for Windows Mobile 5 through October 12, 2010, and extended support through October 13, 2015.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:05:09 -0400

Successor to Windows Server 2003, built on the Windows NT 6.0 kernel, Like Windows Vista.

Microsoft Windows 7 Release Candidate

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:16:25 -0400

Windows 7 is the next generation OS by Microsoft. It is the direct sucessor to Windows 7.

Windows 7 brings several useful improvements over the badly reviewed Vista and is aimed at overcoming a large part of the major issues the previous OS has.

New Features:

-Improved 'Start' and Taskbar

-Improved memory efficiency

-Internet Explorer 8

-Vastly improved Wordpad, Paint and other Windows Tools

-Homegroups

-Better Diagnostics

-Easier Device Management

-Improved UAC

Also the versioning will be more streamlined as each edition is a subset of its respective superior (i.e. (Home Basic<)Home Premium

Note: This is the Beta Version. Therefore the Software is FREE and only Ultimate is available. This is still a test platform!

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx"

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:10:11 -0400

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Long Term Support) is a version of Ubuntu Linux operating system slated for release on April 29th 2010. Support for this version shall last 3 years for desktop users (up from regular 18 months) and 5 years for server edition.

iPhone OS

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:11:38 -0500

The iPhone OS is the operating system developed by Apple Inc. for the iPhone and iPod touch. This operating system did not have an official name until the release of the first beta version of the iPhone SDK on March 6, 2008. Before then, Apple marketing literature simply stated that the "iPhone uses OS X," a reference to Apple's desktop operating system, Mac OS X. iPhone OS has four abstraction layers: the Core OS layer, the Core Services layer, the Media layer, and the Cocoa Touch layer. Some multitasking is permitted, but it is not obtrusive or obvious, and it is limited to Apple's own applications. OpenGL ES is used as graphics API. As of Nov. 4, 2009, there are over 100,000 applications officially available for the iPhone, and 2 billion downloads had been achieved. On September 9, 2009, Apple announced version 3.1 of the iPhone OS.

OpenSUSE

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 08:49:51 -0500

gOS

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 10:11:01 -0500

gOS is an freely distributed operating system based off of the Ubuntu distribution and Enlightenment window manager. Most notably, it comes pre-installed on the affordable Everex series of PCs. It is marketed as an alternative O/S that includes a minimal amount of installed desktop software, relying heavily on online web applications like GMail, and Google docs for productivity. gOS does come with open-source pre-installed software packages like GIMP and OpenOffice. gOS can be downloaded for free, and fits compactly on under 2GB of disk space.

Versions History

gOS 1.0.1 was launched in November, 2007 and was featured in the Everex gPC. At CES 2008, on January 7th, 2008 the current version (v2.0) debuted and is known as gOS Rocket. Download the gOS 2.0 beta here.

Symbian S60 3rd Edition

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 15:47:49 -0500

Symbian S60 3rd Edition is a true multi-tasking smartphone operating system released by Nokia in 2005. It is geared toward non-touch smartphones such as Nokia's 2006 flagship model, the N95. It supports application development in Java MIDP, C++, Python, and Adobe Flash, but lacks an integrated app store such as the Nokia Ovi Store found in the 5th edition of the operating system. In contrast to the 1st and 2nd edition of Symbian S60, the 3rd edition OS integrates mandatory code signing. This means that only applications signed by registered developers for specific devices can be installed. While intended to increase the quality and legitimacy of software, the implementation of this feature has been criticized by developers as cumbersome, and it prevents owners of rather uncommon devices from installing software. The operating system is mainly sold with Nokia devices, however, it has also been adopted by LG and Samsung in some of their phones. In 2010, Nokia aims to keep Symbian S60 3rd Edition alive by moving it to the entry- and mid-range smartphone market; the latest addition has been the Nokia C5, scheduled to be released in Q2 2010.

Microsoft Windows

Fri, 16 Nov 2007 11:44:31 -0500

Microsoft Windows is the name of several families of software operating systems by Microsoft. Microsoft first introduced an operating environment named Windows in November 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Microsoft Windows eventually came to dominate the world's personal computer market, overtaking Mac OS, which had been introduced previously. At the 2004 IDC Directions conference, IDC Vice President Avneesh Saxena stated that Windows had approximately 90% of the client operating system market. The current client version of Windows is Windows Vista. The current server version of Windows is Windows Server 2003. The successor to Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008 is currently being beta tested.

Microsoft Windows Vista Business

Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:35:26 -0500

From Wikipedia: This edition combines all the features of the Home Premium and Enterprise editions, a game performance tweaker (WinSAT), and "Ultimate Extras". On January 7, 2007, at CES, Microsoft began to announce what some of these Ultimate Extras will be. When Vista launches to consumers on January 30, Microsoft will immediately make the following Extras available for Ultimate users: "Dream Scene", a utility that will allow for full-motion video desktop backgrounds; "Hold'Em", a Vista-customized version of the Texas Hold'Em poker game; Multi-user interface language packs, designed to allow individuals fluent in different languages to share the same PC; BitLocker Online Secure Key Storage, where Ultimate customers will be offered a secure place to store their BitLocker encryption keys in the Online Vista Marketplace; and "Digital publications," a collection of tips and tricks, blog links and other resources for getting the most out of Ultimate.

Debian GNU/Linux

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:05:10 -0500

Debian is a free and open-source operating system based off of the Linux kernel and the GNU Project. The latest stable release is 5.0, nicknamed "Lenny" Debian comes with over 18,730 precompiled packages, all free. Debian can be used in may ways. It can be either an operating system or a server, and the current release can run on eleven different architectures and has over 26,000 packages avaliable for install. Debian can be installed from one CD, and the packages can then be downloaded as the user requires them, or a user can download a full install CD set that includes all of the packages. The current release has over 20 CDs of packages that can be used on the i386 architecture.

History

Debian was first announced by Ian Murdock in August of 1993. It was the second major attempt at a linux and software package release. The first, created by the Softlanding Linux system, failed to due to poor maintence and a vast amount of bugs. The name Debian is a combination of Ian Murdocks name, and his then girlfriend, later wife and ex-wife, Debra.

Releases

Version	Code name	Release date	Archs	Packages	Support	Notes
1.1	buzz	17 June 1996	1	474	1996	`dpkg`, ELF transition, Linux 2.0
1.2	rex	12 December 1996	1	848	1996	-
1.3	bo	5 June 1997	1	974	1997	-
2.0	hamm	24 July 1998	2	~ 1,500	1998	glibc transition, new architecture: `m68k`
2.1	slink	9 March 1999	4	~ 2,250	2000-12	`APT`, new architectures: `alpha`, `sparc`
2.2	potato	15 August 2000	6	~ 3,900	2003-04	New architectures: `arm`, `powerpc`
3.0	woody	19 July 2002	11	~ 8,500	2006-08	New architectures: `hppa`, `ia64`, `mips`, `mipsel`, `s390`
3.1	sarge	6 June 2005	11	~ 15,400	2008-04	Modular installer, semi-official `amd64` support
4.0	etch	8 April 2007	11	~ 18,000	2010-02	Graphical installer, udev transition, modular X.Org transition, new architecture: `amd64`, dropped architecture: `m68k`. Latest update 4.0r7 was released 2009-02-10
5.0	lenny	14 February 2009	12	~23,000	TBA	32-bit SPARC architecture dropped. New architecture/binary ABI: `armel`. Almost complete UTF-8 support. Full Eee PC support. First Debian Live CD.
6.0	squeeze	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA

source: wikipedia (link)

WebOS

Mon, 03 May 2010 00:08:42 -0400

WebOS is Palm's true multi-tasking operating systems for touch-enabled smartphones, released on June 06, 2009. Most notably, it features significant social networking and Web 2.0 integration (hence the name). The operating system is currently only used in Palm's Pre and Pixi models (along with their "Plus" versions), but after Palm's takeover by HP, scheduled to be completed in late 2010, it is expected that HP and Palm with extend the range of devices to MID's, tablets, and perhaps even netbooks.

Microsoft Windows Azure

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 21:26:08 -0400

Windows Azure is the name of the upcoming cloud-based operating system by Microsoft, announced by Ray Ozzie at the Microsoft PDC on October 27, 2008. It was pre-announced as "Windows Cloud" at a Microsoft Student Technology Day on October 1, 2008 by Steve Ballmer. According to Steve Ballmer, Windows Azure is to be based on Windows Server, with features including geo replication, network management model, and a SOA model.

Windows Mobile 6 Professional

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:48:07 -0500

Windows Mobile 6 Professional is the edition of Windows Mobile 6 that includes support for touchscreens.

Windows Mobile 6 Standard

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 00:48:01 -0500

Windows Mobile 6 Standard is the version of Windows Mobile 6 for smartphones (without touchscreens).

Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon"

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:54:52 -0400

Ubuntu 7.10 "Gutsy Gibbon" was released October 18th, 2007. It was the latest release until April 2008, when Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron" was released. Gutsy is still supported until April 2009. As with the other Ubuntu releases, it is avaliable in both desktop and server editions.

Screenshot

Default background of Gutsy Gibbon, Desktop edition, 800x600

Avaliability

As with the other Ubuntu releases, Gutsy Gibbon is free and will remain free. Gutsy Gibbon is avaliable for download, however it is recommened that you instead download the most recent release, which currently is Hardy Heron. Gutsy Gibbon still recieves security updates, bugfixes, and support until April 2009. You can update to Hardy Heron for free at anytime.

Symbian S60 5th Edition

Tue, 04 May 2010 18:13:07 -0400

Symbian S60 5th Edition is Nokia's true multi-tasking smartphone operating system for touch-enabled phones, integrating Nokias Ovi application store. It was launched in October 2008 and is, for example, used in Nokia's N97, 5800 Xpress Music, X5, and in Samsung's i8910 (Omnia HD).

Debian GNU/Linux 5.0 "Lenny"

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:56:10 -0500

Announced on February 14th 2009 and released the same day, Debian GNU/Linux 5.0 "Lenny" is the 10th and most recent stable release of Debian GNU/Linux. Lenny can be run on a total of 12 hardware architectures, with new/updated support for Marvell's Orion platform, netbook devices and ARM-based devices. Lenny can be run with either KDE, GNOME, or Xfce as the default GUI. It can also be run with no GUI whatsoever, and can be used as a server. Not many new features have been added, however Lenny is the first to include a live CD feature - allowing users to try the operating system without installing it on their disk drive / destroying data already on their PCs. For the most part Lenny is a standard release with many individual package updates. This allows users to utilize newer, more feature rich versions of popular programs while ensuring the same rock hard stability and security Debian is known for.

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Foundation

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:36:27 -0400

Windows Server Foundation provides a foundation to run most small-business applications. An affordable platform for the core portfolio of IT capabilities, including file and print sharing, remote access and security.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:37:19 -0400

XP Pro is the the business targeted flavor of XP and contains many features that make working in a corporate environment more convenient and secure. The features are weighted towards expanded networking abilities, user profiles, and operating system maintenance. Two of the biggest additions to Pro over Home are the Remote Desktop functionality that lets other users control your computer over a network or the Internet, and also the inclusion of IIS which is a built-in web and FTP server.

List of differences between XP and Home

The ability to become part of a Windows Server domain, a group of computers that are remotely managed by one or more central servers.
A sophisticated access control scheme that allows specific permissions on files to be granted to specific users under normal circumstances. However, users can use tools other than Windows Explorer (like cacls or File Manager), or restart to Safe Mode to modify access control lists.
Remote Desktop server, which allows a PC to be operated by another Windows XP user over a local area network or the Internet.
Offline Files and Folders, which allow the PC to automatically store a copy of files from another networked computer and work with them while disconnected from the network.
Encrypting File System, which encrypts files stored on the computer's hard drive so they cannot be read by another user, even with physical access to the storage medium.
Centralized administration features, including Group Policies, Automatic Software Installation and Maintenance, Roaming User Profiles, and Remote Installation Service (RIS).
Internet Information Services (IIS), Microsoft's HTTP and FTP Server.
Support for two physical central processing units (CPU). (Because the number of CPU cores and Hyper-threading capabilities on modern CPUs are considered to be part of a single physical processor, multicore CPUs are supported using XP Home Edition.)
Windows Management Instrumentation Console (WMIC): WMIC is a command-line tool designed to ease WMI information retrieval about a system by using simple keywords (aliases).

(source: wikipedia)

Microsoft Windows XP Home

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:37:44 -0400

Windows XP Home edition is the standard version of XP intended for everday people to use in their homes. The Home edition is relatively full featured when compared to the more expensive Professional and Media Center editions that are intended for business and home theater uses respectively.

Windows XP Media Center Edition

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:15:10 -0400

Windows XP Media Center Edition is an expanded version of Windows XP Professional that is centered around the Windows Media Center application. This comprehensive system is responsible for managing and playing all of the media content that is stored on any storage devices that are connected to the computer, either directly or over a network. Media Center Edition also contains the support for TV tuner hardware which lets you watch and stream live television programs. Microsoft also uses Media Center Extenders which give you access to the full Media Center experience from other televisions that aren't directly connected to the Media computer, the Xbox 360 is one example of an extender.

Slackware: Standard-bearer for Old-school Linux

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:07:38 -0500

On the first day the distribution gods created SLS and Yggdrasil and saw that it was good. However, Patrick Volkerding became convinced it could be better, so he created the Slackware distribution in 1993. Slackware is the oldest living Linux distribution. Linux devotees feel a certain nostalgia for Slackware based on that fact alone. Slackware is notable for its adherence to a number of community philosophies that have become less esteemed in recent years. Hark back: remember that before Linux there was UNIX (bow your heads) and the Unix banner proclaimed Live Free or Die. Slackware took up the banner, and still carries it, but many other distributions have laid it down. It has become apparent in recent years--some would say painfully--that the most statistically popular distributions have chosen safety over freedom in an attempt to become more like Microsoft Windows. Some would say, god forbid. However, Slackware, besides being the standard-bearer for old-school Linux, remains the base for a number of other distributions, most of which share a commitment to refrain from treating the user like he is something that must be saved from itself. Consider: many of the most popular distributions don't even install the gcc compiler. That is inconceivable. A platform that was originally conceived for the creative has been replaced by one that targets the inept. If you want to know what a Linux distribution in a Unix tradition looks like, check out Slackware or one of its derivatives.

Gentoo

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:22:20 -0400

Tibco Silver

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:57:10 -0400

TIBCO Silver, the industry's first rapid application delivery platform designed specifically for building and deploying cloud applications inside Global 2000 IT environments.

TIBCO Silver is unique because it is the only software delivery platform built from the ground up that allows enterprises to reduce the time required for building and deploying cloud applications from months to minutes. With TIBCO Silver, enterprises can overcome the impediments to widespread enterprise adoption of cloud computing -- issues such as availability, security, integration, governance and scalability.

Red Hat

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 22:07:48 -0500

Microsoft Windows Server

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:02:31 -0400

Windows Server is a brand name for server operating systems released by Microsoft Corporation. This name has been used for the following software releases:

Windows 2000 Server, the release based on Windows 2000
Windows Server 2003, the previous release of Windows Server
Windows Server 2008, the current release of Windows Server
Windows Server 7, the next release of Windows Server
Windows Small Business Server, an operating system based on Windows Server with some integrated Microsoft Servers, for small businesses
Windows Essential Business Server, a product similar to Small Business Server, but for medium-sized businesses
Windows Home Server, a home server operating system for file sharing and streaming, automated backups, and remote access

See related products

Ubuntu 9.04 "Jaunty Jackalope"

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:24:56 -0400

OpenMoko

Mon, 19 May 2008 18:39:21 -0400

Urbi

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 11:19:56 -0400

Urbi is an open source cross-platform software platform in C++ used to develop applications for robotics and complex systems. Urbi is based on the UObject distributed C++ component architecture. It also includes the urbiscript orchestration language, which is a parallel and event-driven script language. UObject components can be plugged into urbiscript and appear as native objects that can be scripted to specify their interactions and data exchanges. UObjects can be linked to the urbiscript interpreter, or executed as autonomous processes in "remote" mode.

Pros:

* Open source with a GPL compatible license (GNU AGPL v3) since May 2010

* Interoperable with Willow Garage's ROS

* Frequent releases, and a core dev team

* Real support on the Urbi forum

* Tutorials on the Urbiforge community portal

Cons:

* Using urbiscript requires learning a relatively new language in terms of parallel/event-based programming paradigm

* Webots professional robot simulator, which can run Urbi, is expensive

* Software for visual robot control Gostai Studio and Gostai Lab are proprietary

Symbian ^4

Thu, 06 May 2010 15:00:14 -0400

Ubuntu 9.10 "Karmic Koala"

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:05:27 -0400

Moblin

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:56:59 -0400

Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex"

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:08:07 -0500

xubuntu

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 15:47:48 -0500

OpenSolaris

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 19:22:17 -0500

Microsoft Windows Server 2000

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 23:25:22 -0400