First Open-Source Car Unveiled

The world’s first open-source car was unveiled this week at the AutoRAI show in Amsterdam. The c,mm,n (or “common”) was developed by three Dutch technical universities: Delft, Eindhoven and Enschede.

More...

US 'no longer technology king'

The US has lost its position as the world's primary engine of technology innovation, according to a report by the World Economic Forum.

The top spot went for the first time to Denmark, followed by Sweden.

More...

40% Of Developers Use MySQL

Data released Thursday from an Evans Data Group survey of database usage among developers shows MySQL use increased from 32 percent in 2004 to 40 percent last year. The survey tallied real production use in corporate environments, not just tire-kicking or pilot projects, Evans spokesman Jon Broenen said.

"We continue to see the maturation of open-source databases reflected by the continually increasing levels of adoption," said Evans Data President John Andrews in a statement. "In an increasing number of our ratings categories, we're seeing open-source databases meeting or exceeding proprietary databases."

More...

Open source... hardware?

Open-source, object-oriented development, personalization, even hacking, are presaging and inspiring new manufacturing methods that will overhaul today’s plodding techniques born during the Industrial Revolution, according to panelists speaking Monday at the O’Reilly Emerging Technology Conference in San Diego.

"We’re seeing hardware become more like software, and rapid development become a competitive advantage," according to John Hagel, a business consultant and author.

More..

QualiPSo: Europe, Brazil and China Unite to Foster OSS

Six Competence Centres - running the collaborative platforms, tools and process developed in this project - will be set up to support the development, deployment and adoption of OSS by private and public Information Systems Departments, large companies, SMEs, end users and ISVs. Of these Competence Centres, four will be based in Europe (in Berlin, Madrid, Paris, Rome), one in China and one in Brazil (Sao Paulo).

More...

If You're Going To Steal Software, Steal From Us: Microsoft

Microsoft business group president Jeff Raikes estimates that between 20% and 25% of all software used in the United States is pirated, but said some pirates end up becoming paying customers.

More...

The value of non-paying customers

What's the value of a customer who doesn't pay you anything? If you're running a hot dog stand, the answer is probably "zero." But if you're running a two-sided market - a market, like eBay or Monster.com or AdWords or YouTube or Digg or even Second Life, that needs to attract both buyers and sellers (or content generators and content consumers) - the answer may be "a lot."

More...

Interpreting recent open source IPO buzz

Open source IPS maker Sourcefire is now a publicly-traded company, with its IPO last week on the Nasdaq. Meanwhile, reports say that open source database company MySQL is thinking about a similar move.

More...

Linux Starts to Find Home on Desktops - WSJ.com

The much-hyped notion that Linux would be viable software to run desktop and notebook PCs seemed dead on arrival a few years ago. But the idea is showing some new vital signs.

More...

Shadow Chancellor calls for Open Source Politics

"Just as companies all over the world are changing the way that they do business, so too must we evolve.

In short, I believe that we need to recast the political settlement for the digital age. We need open source politics."

More...

Open Source is Greener

A new report from the U.K. Office of Government Commerce about Open Source Software Trials in Government, has found that servers running Linux could combat the rising problem of e-waste because they last up to twice as long as machines running Windows.

More...

Open Source Architecture

Nonprofit Architecture for Humanity is convincing the building industry to share -- be it blueprints, engineering specs or construction tips -- through its latest project, the Open Architecture Network.

The open source site, which goes into beta today, is a one-stop spot for anyone involved with innovative and sustainable buildings (think: architects, engineers, community leaders, nonprofit groups, government agencies and technology companies).

Loaded with projects and concepts, the site is built so people can upload info, comment on and, in some cases, download building or project specs.

More...

Tories want open source in Whitehall

The government could save more than £600 million a year if it used more open source software, the shadow chancellor has estimated.

George Osborne said the savings would cut 5% off Whitehall's annual IT bill.

More...

HP Sees Huge Linux Desktop Deals

Hewlett-Packard is closing custom deals for thousands of desktop PCs running Linux, which has the company assessing the possibility of offering factory-loaded Linux systems, an HP executive said.

"We are involved in a number of massive deals for Linux desktops, and those are the kinds of things that are indicators of critical mass. So we are really looking at it very hard," said Doug Small, worldwide director of open source and Linux marketing at HP.

More...

New open-source malaria drug welcomed by Medecins Sans Frontieres

The medical organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) welcomes the introduction of a new user-friendly and cheaper 2-in-1 tablet of artesunate-amodiaquine against malaria. The treatment, also called ASAQ, is the result of research by the non-profit Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) in cooperation with Sanofi-Aventis. It demonstrates how research and development can take place without patenting for availability in the public domain.

More...