CRM News: Open Source

Whatever You Want, Miro Finds It, Gets It, Plays It
May 16, 2012

The Internet is a hub for acquiring music, video and a just about any other form of content. Miro is one of the most capable player apps that I have seen for all of this media. Keeping up with the various forms of content the Web has to offer can be a daunting task.

Windows RT and the Dastardly Browser-Exclusion Deed
May 14, 2012

Life is never dull here in the world of technology, but some weeks it's hard to remember that this is actually the real world, and not some epic tale of the battle between good and evil. We've seen plenty of examples of good pulling ahead in the struggle in recent weeks, of course -- but there's never any shortage of dastardly deeds being committed, either.

To GNU or Not to GNU? That Is the Question
May 10, 2012

There's no denying the incendiary nature of the topic of desktop Linux, which tends to gets rehashed in heated detail every so often both on these pages and beyond. What some may not remember, however, is that there's another recurring Linux subject that can be equally controversial. It hasn't appeared in some time, but apparently some slow fires have been burning all along, because they just flared up anew.

Who's Afraid of a Big Bad Hacking Story?
May 07, 2012

It's been a cheerily good spring for FOSS fans here in the Linux blogosphere, so we may perhaps be forgiven for our utter shock and disbelief at the affront recently committed against us by a certain brick-and-mortar purveyor of books and magazines. Barnes & Noble yanked the very excellent Linux Format magazine from its U.S. shelves -- apparently because of a cover story on the topic of "hacking."

Ubuntu Linux 12.04: Microsoft's Worst Nightmare?
May 03, 2012

Well there's a new kid in town here in the Linux blogosphere, and it's already caused quite a stir. It's one of the Ubuntu clan, as its nickname makes clear, but that's as far as the foolin' goes. With five years of support and a scaly, tough hide, this one's here to stay. With time on its side and its eye on the prize, it may just blaze a new trail. Can freedom take hold in a world that's been dominated for so long?

LMMS Is a Fearsome Music-Making Machine
May 02, 2012

Music lovers have numerous strong choices for organizing and playing their collections of songs on the Linux desktop. But music creators have far fewer professional-strength options among Linux applications. With Linux MultiMedia Studio, or LMMS, though, one option may be all you really need. LMMS does it all and does it all well.

Linux and Gaming: Full Steam Ahead
April 30, 2012

"It has taken longer than most anyone would have anticipated, but the fact remains that Valve is in fact creating a native Linux port of their Steam game distribution client and of the Source Engine to run natively on Linux," read the announcement on Phoronix on Wednesday. Think gaming is trivial? Think again: In a matter of seconds, the topic was on fire on Slashdot and throughout the Linux blogosphere.

SugarCRM 6.5 Adds Just a Touch of Sweetener
April 27, 2012

SugarCRM has just debuted a controlled release of version 6.5 of its flagship open source CRM offering. In many ways, the release is an iterative change -- it does not represent the same major shift in functionality and user interface as version 6 did, when it was launched in 2010. In one key way, however, the new version is significantly different: The user interface is much more oriented to search technology.

Testimony Weakens Google's Copyright Defense in Java Joust
April 26, 2012

As testimony unfolds in the Oracle-Google lawsuit, now in its second week, it appears that Google's defense against copyright infringement is vulnerable. That is not to say Google will not ultimately prevail in the end. Oracle has alleged that Google's Android OS infringes both Java patents and copyrights. So far, testimony has focused on the copyright issue, and Google's defense against Oracle's allegations appears to have some holes.

Oracle v. Google: The Trial and the Errors
April 26, 2012

With all the fabulous and exciting technologies to talk about here in the world of FOSS -- the shiny, brand-spankin'-new Ubuntu Linux 12.04, to name just one -- it always seems a crying shame to have to waste any breath at all discussing lawsuits. Discuss them we must, however, because in today's litigious landscape, a few powerful software giants keep coming back for more. The latest example? None other than Oracle v. Google, of course.

Advanced Easy Editor Goes Bare Bones, Then Breaks Out the Sandpaper
April 25, 2012

Sometimes too much of a good thing in free software can create bad impressions. For instance, some of the free stuff so easily available in Linux distro package managers is so archaic that newcomers to the OS might understandably shriek in horror. Don't get me wrong. I absolutely am a big fan of FOSS applications.

Linus, Linux and the Millennium Technology Prize
April 23, 2012

It doesn't happen often here in the Linux blogosphere that FOSS fans agree unanimously on -- well, on pretty much anything. Truth be told, there's generally good reason for the dissension. Take Microsoft's latest maneuvers, for example -- are they good news? Bad news? It's not always easy to tell. Last week, however, one of those rare announcements was made that brought universal joy to Linux aficionados around the globe.

Microsoft Open Technologies: Same Old, Same Old?
April 19, 2012

Well the shock had barely worn off from the recent news that Microsoft is among the Linux kernel's biggest contributors when another mind-bending announcement was made on a closely related theme. The development this time? None other than Microsoft's declaration last week that it was creating a wholly owned subsidiary devoted to forging closer ties with the open source community. Is it a dream? A nightmare?

Xournal Makes Short Work Out of Longhand
April 18, 2012

Regardless of how good they are, some Linux applications have very little appeal to all but users with specialized needs. That is not the case with Xournal. Even if you do not use a tablet for inputing notes, this app still lets you create with style. If you are looking for a very handy note-taking application, check out Xournal.

Oracle, Google Fisticuffs Begin in Earnest
April 16, 2012

While it won't likely go down as the "trial of the century," the legal showdown between Oracle and Google that began in San Francisco federal court on Monday could still be quite significant. The case has already been characterized as "the World Series of IP cases" by U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who is presiding over the trial.

Cars and FOSS: Sweet Ride, or Crash in the Making?
April 16, 2012

With the frequent focus on mobile machinations and desktop deliberations here in the Linux blogosphere, it would be easy to assume that all else in the FOSS fiefdom is relatively conflict-free. Easy, perhaps -- but dead wrong, nonetheless. Case in point: cars. There's a growing movement to apply the open source model to the design and manufacturing of electric cars.

Who Cares About Software Freedom?
April 12, 2012

Well it's been a disconcerting kind of week here in the Linux blogosphere, not least because of all the darn construction going on down at the Google+ Grill. First it was the hammering giving Linux Girl a headache. Then, on Wednesday, she walked in after lunch and could barely recognize the place. What is this interface sorcery, she wants to know?

qOrganizer Squares Away Everything but Its Own Interface
April 11, 2012

One of my biggest problems in managing appointments, to-do tasks, notes and reminders is that I work on a variety of desktop and laptop computers in multiple locations. To bridge the access gaps, I rely on a tablet computer and a smartphone tapped into cloud storage.