Short takes from this week's technology
news
Novell to boost Linux support with OpenSuSE
Novell is preparing to release a public version of its OpenSuSE
project, which aims to improve support for its Linux platform. The
project aims to bolster third-party software support by making it
easier to develop applications that will run on SuSE Linux and SuSE
Linux-based distributions, Novell said. The framework will provide
open source contributors and
application developers with tools and resources to streamline
code and patch contributions to SuSE Linux, said Novell.
OSDL aims to ease open source patent
worries
The Open Source Development Lab is supporting an initiative to
increase accessibility to open source software code and
documentation that can be used as prior art during the patent
examination process. The Open Source Software as Prior Art project
aims to reduce the number of software patents that can be used to
threaten software developers and users, and thus increase
innovation, the OSDL said.
Microsoft Elixir for line-of-business apps
As part of its strategy to encourage users to build applications
based on its Office suite, Microsoft has released sample code for
project Elixer. The project is designed to demonstrate how users
can link Outlook into line-of-business applications and has been
run by sales personnel at Microsoft to provide a complete view of
customers, integrated with workflow. Elixer uses a web service
developed by Microsoft as a front end to its line-of-business
applications.
Network suppliers form Ethernet Alliance
Network suppliers have formed the Ethernet Alliance to support
new Ethernet technologies. The alliance includes 3Com (which
invented Ethernet), Agere Systems, Broadcom, Foundry Networks,
Intel, Samsung, and Sun Microsystems, However, it does not include
Cisco, which is the biggest supplier of Ethernet switching
products.