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News

• Free desktop tools that aren't OpenOffice

  Most everyone who's had some experience with free open source software has learned about the OpenOffice.org suite of productivity programs: a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, database, and drawing tool that provide a good deal of the functionality of their commercial counterparts. For users who need powerful productivity tools but don't require a high degree of compatibility with Microsoft-formatted files, OpenOffice.org is almost a no-brainer.

• Ubuntu 10.10 approaches with 'Meerkat' Release Candidate

  Ubuntu 10.10, or "Maverick Meerkat," is just one step away from its final version, thanks to the release on Thursday of the Linux software's official Release Candidate.

• Linux roundup: Fedora 14 gets MeeGo, Madriva is reborn

  There's never a dull moment in the land of Linux, and recent weeks have been no exception. Since no outlet can hope to give full coverage to every development that occurs, here's a roundup of some of the key events.

• 5 reasons Nokia's N8 is dead on arrival

  So far, Nokia's new Symbian phone, the N8, is getting lukewarm reviews, and few are willing to bet on anything except its slow demise. There are reasons, mainly its operating system, that make the phone a very hard sell to Americans consuming both Android and Apple iOS systems and applications.

• Fedora 14 tests desktop virtualization

  The newly released version of the Fedora Linux-based operating system will be the first to incorporate desktop virtualization capabilities, the Fedora Foundation announced on Tuesday.

• Linux kernel exploit gives hackers a back door

  Linux is well-known for its security advantages over many other operating systems, but that doesn't mean it's immune to problems.

• Galaxy Tab to use Chrome OS, not Android?

  Samsung's Galaxy Tab may have just barely arrived at the starting gates, but the rumor mill is already gearing up with speculation about what changes may be in store for the wildly anticipated "iPad killer."

• VMware considering Novell purchase, report says

  VMware is among a number of companies in talks to purchase Novell, according to published reports.

• Why Android is good for business

  It's lonely at the top, as the old saying goes, and that appears to be just as true for technologies as it is for people.

• Firefox 4 revs its JavaScript engines with JägerMonkey

  Microsoft may be on the verge of releasing the public beta version of Internet Explorer 9, but Mozilla has been busier than ever fortifying its Firefox browser with upgrades and new additions designed to keep it ahead.

• Linux Wi-Fi gets easier with new Broadcom driver

  Wireless chip maker Broadcom on Thursday announced good news for Linux users in the form of a fully open wireless driver that's compatible with the operating system.

• 'Here You Have' Is a Windows Problem

  Every time a virus like the current "Here You Have" worm comes around, people shake their heads, wring their hands and wonder how "computer security" can be improved.

• Fact or fiction? Top 8 Linux myths debunked

  If the idea of using Linux in your business is one that makes you nervous, chances are you've fallen prey to one or more of the many myths out there that are frequently disseminated by competing vendors such as Microsoft. After all, each Linux user means one less sale for such companies, so they have a powerful motivation to spread such FUD.

• Apple browsing share tops Linux, Android steals share

  More people browsed the Internet last month with a device running Apple's mobile operating system, iOS, than used Linux to do so.

• A guide to today's top 10 Linux distributions

  One of the most confusing things for the newcomer to Linux is how many distributions, or versions, of the operating system there are. Ubuntu is the one most people have heard of, but there are hundreds of others as well, each offering some variant on the basic Linux theme.