Microsoft not amused by open source Kinect drivers
DIY hardware company Adafruit Industries recently offered a $3,000 bounty to encourage the development of open source drivers for Microsoft's Kinect motion control camera. Developer Hector Martin claimed the prize this week and h...
Blazing fast Firefox 4 beta 7 impresses
Mozilla has announced the availability of Firefox 4 beta 7, a prerelease build for users who want to help test the next major version of the popular open source Web browser. It includes JaegerMonkey, Mozilla's enhanced JavaS......
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 improves scalability, virtualization
Red Hat has released a new major version of its flagship server platform, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The RHEL 6 update brings some noteworthy improvements in key areas like virtualization and scalability.
Red Ha...
Apache Foundation to vote down Java 7, protesting Oracle abuses
The Apache Software Foundation (ASF) is in a difficult position. The nonprofit organization can't certify that its open source Java runtime implementation—called Harmony—is compatible with Java standards because Oracl...
Beautiful Modeler Sculpts 3D Models Using An iPad [Video]
Of all the purposes we’ve seen the iPad used for, 3D models are kind of a novelty. Interactive Fabrication released a software tool for “gestural sculpting” which uses the iPad as a multitouch-based remote controller. The software renders 3D models on a Mac, the iPad is used for touch controls up to 5 fingers. TUAW...
Five features Google needs to deliver in Android 2.3
Android 2.3, codenamed Gingerbread, is expected to materialize this month. Little is known about Gingerbread's features, however, because Google develops the operating system behind closed doors and doesn't publish a roadmap. Thi...
Symbian Foundation scales back as vendors lust after Android
In a press briefing this morning, the Symbian Foundation announced plans to scale back and shed most of its staff. The organization will become a legal entity that is responsible for managing Symbian licensing. Nokia will take th...
Dissecting Android’s openness
Oh, Steve Jobs, you certainly do know how to get tongues wagging. During last quarter's earnings call he attacked Google's stance that Android is the superior mobile OS because it is "open," restating the debate into terms of "integrated versus fragme...
Week in tech: TSA patdowns, ridiculous P2P verdicts, and more
Assume the position: TSA begins new nut-busting pat-downs: Want to avoid the new backscatter airport scanners by opting for a pat-down? It got more unpleasant last week.
Third P2P verdict for Jammie Thomas: $1.5 million: Judge Mi...
Hands-on: latest Firefox Mobile beta is svelte and smooth
Mozilla has released a new beta of Firefox 4 for Mobile. The new version resolves several long-standing problems with the Android port, finally making it viable for day-to-day use. The new version also brings a minor theming refr...
Linux beyond X: Shuttleworth contemplates Wayland
Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth wrote a blog post this week contemplating the possibility of making Ubuntu's new Unity shell work on the Wayland display system, with the aim of eventually shipping Wayland as Ubuntu's stan......
Android "MoodTracker" catches Pentagon’s attention
You never know which mobile phone application the Department of Defense is going to glom onto next. Last time we checked, it was an automatic voice translation gadget to help our troops communicate with Pashtun and Dari speakers ......
