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Google signs up to become defender of Linux
informationweek.com — The search engine joins the Open Invention Networkm, whose set of Linux patents numbered over 100 before Google joined its ranks. The move is directed more at Microsoft than SCO.
HawaiianRules- 1337 diggs
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- benanzo, on 10/10/2007, -0/+77I don't think anyone is worried about SCO anymore.
- unitheory, on 10/10/2007, -15/+5ah there's the Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt. strong as ever. good job MS!
- 4U55l3NlNJ4, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11MS - unreliability & vulnerabilities.. keep using that OS unitheory, like birds of a feather.. a loser using a loser OS..
- goffy59, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12I like Microsoft window xp, direct x and their developers. Just not how the company works. Truth is, windows can do more then the apple OS. Just think about it. The only reason it has more problems because it has more features and more hardware to choose from. I tried using mac, but all of a sudden I felt like the only thing I could do on a mac is watch videos/listen to music/check my email. Can I go out and build my OWN computer and install mac on it? Well can I? Never heard of that before.
But I certainly do support Linux and google :) After all, Linux has more drivers then any OS in history. And google is just awesome. I'm glad they are doing this.- stauken, on 10/10/2007, -17/+5Vista is vastly superior to XP, in just about all capacities.
- HonoredMule, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7Unfortunately, the largest of those capacities is shoveling refuse down the user's mouth, and the rest are almost completely untapped.
- Dumbledorito, on 10/10/2007, -6/+3Used Vista long, have you, HonoredMule? Didn't think so.
It's not going to give you a blowjob while you use it. It's not the second coming. It does work and work well. Is it absolutely necessary to upgrade from XP? Not really, any more than you had to upgrade from Photoshop 5.5 to 7 or CS. Sure, you get some nice bells and whistles, and maybe even some performance upticks, but nothing you can't live without. But if you do get it, it neither complicates your life nor makes it a panacea any more than XP. Upgrade if you want (I did it via purchasing a new computer) or don't. But dont go around wearing a "Doomsday" sign if you haven't even touched the thing.
Remember kids, it's an OS, not a religion. - mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0The one thing i can say with confidence is that the Vista (and XP) Explorer for file management makes Apples Finder look stupid. It's WAY beyond just being dumbed down for home users (and i thought all those workstation users on Mac Pros needed file management too, but i guess not). People seem to handle Explorer just fine without removing basic features, Finder is almost totally worthless in comparison and remains the one major thing keeping me and a lot of people i know from using OS X as a main operating system. There are replacements but they all suck, including pathfinder which is the most bloated thing i have ever seen. The OS X picture viewer is also worthless compared to even the old XP picture and fax viewer.
Microsoft's problem is incompetence,in managing their own products, they have been pushing substandard software into production and fixing it later, if ever. They have also wasted massive amounts of developer time implementing things like Palladium and WMDRM, neither of which users want even if it MAY have stopped viruses (it wont), thats Microsofts problem due to their own incompetence.
The one thing i can say for Microsoft is that they seem to focus on efficient code (xpsp2 was very efficient most of the time), but that doesn't mean they should be rewarded, they ignore everything else in the process and use their position to force things on the market and on users.
- stauken, on 10/10/2007, -17/+5Vista is vastly superior to XP, in just about all capacities.
- unitheory, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0assumed i was using windows? nope. im on linux. but there is one thing MS does well, and that's making money. by whatever means possible.
- goffy59, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12I like Microsoft window xp, direct x and their developers. Just not how the company works. Truth is, windows can do more then the apple OS. Just think about it. The only reason it has more problems because it has more features and more hardware to choose from. I tried using mac, but all of a sudden I felt like the only thing I could do on a mac is watch videos/listen to music/check my email. Can I go out and build my OWN computer and install mac on it? Well can I? Never heard of that before.
- 4U55l3NlNJ4, on 10/10/2007, -2/+11MS - unreliability & vulnerabilities.. keep using that OS unitheory, like birds of a feather.. a loser using a loser OS..
- ianbirtwistle, on 10/10/2007, -18/+13A closer step to a Google OS?
- manicallday, on 10/10/2007, -1/+16Actually yeah. If they improve on their word processing program then Google will have the last piece of the puzzle fixed.
- unitheory, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1actually google's employees use a modified version of ubuntu
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Google OS, or a "Google version" of Linux, is a bad idea, particularly because of Googles relation to advertising. I wouldnt put it past them to integrate advertising into the system, just like Microsoft is trying to implement now with their new patents.
Google needs to stick to applications.
- baalzebub, on 10/10/2007, -5/+66microsoft is the new SCO...
- MrARPA, on 10/10/2007, -1/+33If you research SCO's funding you'll find Microsoft was the "old" SCO too.
- FutureGuy, on 10/10/2007, -12/+2you wish, funny guy. So wher do you think MS is the next SCO, on the desktop where it has over 90% share and still growing.
http://marketshare.hitslink.com/report.aspx?qprid=5 (note the other OS section which would include linux lost 1.45% share in one year, now at 3.49)
or enterpise where its been kicking Linux and Apache for two years now http://news.netcraft.com/archives/2007/08/06/august_2007_web_server_survey.html I know truth can suck for some, so digg down.- init100, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5That Microsoft could be considered to be the next SCO has nothing to do with marketshare, and everything to do with making threats left and right without any evidence at all.
- FutureGuy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4if you are confident there is not evidence, sue it then, why doesn't anyone have the balls for that?
- tech42er, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2I don't think you can sue a company for posturing and threatening lawsuits.
- FutureGuy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4if you are confident there is not evidence, sue it then, why doesn't anyone have the balls for that?
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1So by quoting Netcraft statistics, you seriously take that to mean Microsoft is doing better than LAMP?
Are you ok in the head? Or do you just not understand the topic.....- lengau, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1That and the fact that Apache still has a bigger marketshare than IIS...
- FutureGuy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1now I do like a good argument but what are you trying to say again? Netcraft is the leading tracker or webserver usage and according to its statistics Apache is losing market share fast and by the way if you didn't know the A in LAMP stands for Apache.
- init100, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5That Microsoft could be considered to be the next SCO has nothing to do with marketshare, and everything to do with making threats left and right without any evidence at all.
- NoTiG, on 10/10/2007, -4/+9So is this just the kernel that is protected? Or other things like mono?
- arjie, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8I think they'll protect more than just the kernel. They do have patents in areas that I don't think the kernel is involved.
http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/pat_owned.php - MeneerR, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8It's more like a cold war type of strategy. When Linux is attacked by patent trolls (say Microsoft). They will use their patents to destroy ALL the other ecosystems as well. They would sue Microsoft for violating Linux patents, etc.
Even if Microsoft is not the one suing. The destruction of both the linux and microsoft ecosystems will surely wake up politicians.- init100, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1"They will use their patents to destroy ALL the other ecosystems as well. They would sue Microsoft for violating Linux patents, etc. Even if Microsoft is not the one suing."
I disagree. Why would they sue someone that wasn't involved in the first lawsuit? If some patent troll sued some Linux company, why would OIN sue Microsoft? That doesn't make sense. What makes sense is Mutually Assured Destruction for the parties involved, i.e. to amass patents so that you can launch a countersuit if you are sued for patent infringement. There would be no reason to sue third parties.
- init100, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1"They will use their patents to destroy ALL the other ecosystems as well. They would sue Microsoft for violating Linux patents, etc. Even if Microsoft is not the one suing."
- FutureGuy, on 10/10/2007, -8/+1Ohh yes mono too, since it would need a lot of protection, after all its a direct copy of MS's .Net.
- xenlab, on 10/10/2007, -1/+9mono != linux - they are different projects. And mono is not a direct copy of .NET - Its acts as a CLR Compiler... conforming to the spec MS put out.... which is why you can mix languages in .Net (and Mono).
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I seldom expect real production MS software to conform to their own specs.....it would be funny if Mono conforms better than .NET does.
- arjie, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8I think they'll protect more than just the kernel. They do have patents in areas that I don't think the kernel is involved.
- fatas, on 10/10/2007, -4/+39Hopefully MS will see that they going to become an outcast, if they continue their bullish ways.
- MrARPA, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6Frankly it's never bothered them before ...
- Waterrat, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3 I agree...because even if they became an outcast,they would not see it that way.
I'm just hoping this whole thing blows up in their face and the IBM dog gets sicked on um.- lengau, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I just read the end of your comment as "and the IBM dog gets sick on um."
I was wondering how IBM vomiting on Microsoft would change anything.
- lengau, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1I just read the end of your comment as "and the IBM dog gets sick on um."
- Waterrat, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3 I agree...because even if they became an outcast,they would not see it that way.
- MrARPA, on 10/10/2007, -4/+6Frankly it's never bothered them before ...
- MasterThief117, on 10/10/2007, -1/+54Well, it figures because Google runs pretty much all their stuff off of Linux.
- myfanwy, on 10/10/2007, -27/+5what? they run it *ON* linux. that's why they're joining in this scheme. if they ran it *OFF* linux, they wouldn't care
- willx99, on 10/10/2007, -0/+16Wow, you were in such a rush to correct masterthief that you completly disregarded the fact that on and off are basically interchangable here.
For example:
Q: Where did you get those directions?"
A: "I got them off the internet."
Your not saying you got them offline your saying your source was the internet.
Im sorry I just hate assholes that would jump at the chance to prove someone wrong without even reading for context. - oneoverzero, on 10/10/2007, -1/+3off _of_ linux
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -1/+0Actually you would say that Google provides their services using Linux systems.
- willx99, on 10/10/2007, -0/+16Wow, you were in such a rush to correct masterthief that you completly disregarded the fact that on and off are basically interchangable here.
- phaed, on 10/10/2007, -2/+7Of course they do. They are not dumb. Who the hell wants to be dependent on Microsoft.
- myfanwy, on 10/10/2007, -27/+5what? they run it *ON* linux. that's why they're joining in this scheme. if they ran it *OFF* linux, they wouldn't care
- dattaway, on 10/10/2007, -5/+12Always someone willing to claim the property of others. If it wasn't the name "Linux" itself, its now a land grab for all the code in an obfuscated legal language. In the Land of The Free, everything has to be owned.
- donkeySays, on 10/10/2007, -3/+36On a side not, I take this opportunity to make a statement: "NOBODY GET INTO THE SilverLight TRAP!"
- JamesWilson, on 10/10/2007, -1/+1Adobe Flex representin!!
- TheRealToma, on 10/10/2007, -3/+47Im starting to really like Google. :( Is it possible to be a Google Fanboy?
- swoopdog, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14yeah it is, I too am a google fanboy.
when business does everything right they are impossible to hate.- Waterrat, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5 Well,I like Google and hope they call MS's bluff.
- init100, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2They don't do everything right. The cooperation with Chinese authorities is one thing they did wrong (not wrong from a business viewpoint though). Another problem with Google is the sheer potential for data mining that they have.
That said, they do many things right too. A simple search page. Non-intrusive ads (e.g. text ads and no popups). Etc, etc.- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0The data mining is going to become the real problem. Its too easy to force a massive entity to be complicit in spying, and using them unknowingly is probably close behind.
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Yes, for a one time fee you too can have targeted ads displayed on your forehead.
- goffy59, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3FoSho! Google is the *****!
- McLurker, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5"Is it possible to be a Google Fanboy?" You're new round here, aren't you?
- FutureGuy, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Google fanboy? haha it would be as like being Exxon fanboy. Google is the most cunning and hypercritical IT company. I love this comment made by their CEO "We believe Linux innovation moves fastest when developers can share their knowledge with full peace of mind.". I think search engine innovation can move forward faster if Google open sources its search engine code? How about that, can't eat its own dog food?
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1Google's search isn't really a single application, and would probably be useless to anyone but their own engineers.
- swoopdog, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14yeah it is, I too am a google fanboy.
- cjnkns, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10This is good news indeed
- SteveTheSultan, on 10/10/2007, -15/+2So if google creates and OS, are the Mircosoft fanboys going to be as lame as the current Linux Fanboys?
- Ratatosk, on 10/10/2007, -1/+18Great move by Google. They have joined many other open source organizations too:)
- Myztry, on 10/10/2007, -0/+21This is great news. Microsoft's protection racket is failing. They'll have to find means other than 'hinting' they'll beat up the patrons. Unless they want to get an all deserved beating back.
The dark days of Mafia like 'agreements' are coming to an end at last.- billyoneal, on 10/10/2007, -14/+2Yeah.... they are failing sooooo badly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system#Today
Even Windows 98 has a larger installed user base.
Please do research before you go trumpeting "Company X is dominating Company Y"- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Who said dominating?
He said their protection racket is failing, not their operating system. moron
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Who said dominating?
- billyoneal, on 10/10/2007, -14/+2Yeah.... they are failing sooooo badly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operating_system#Today
- jonesin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Here's the OIN press release
http://www.openinventionnetwork.com/press_release08_06_07.php - livevil, on 10/10/2007, -9/+3Google Fanboy-ism will no increase exponentially.
- gr8one, on 10/10/2007, -8/+1now
- gr8one, on 10/10/2007, -9/+1now
- X-Cruciating, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Probably, there should be a FUD protection fund somewhere by now? We got to kick the hell out of M$'s butt!
- BLACKEAGLE, on 10/10/2007, -17/+2open source=gay
- jtb4, on 10/10/2007, -2/+6Man, is that gay gamers site still down? Why did so many of you wander into Digg?? Hey, I heard Pride.com had a really good article on booting up you might want to see
- TnTBass, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0How so? Explain.
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0You must love secrets.
- rabidmonkey1, on 10/10/2007, -3/+3I'm still waiting for Google Linux.
- jtb4, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4It will track your computer usage on and off line.
- skyshock1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I wouldn't hold your breath.
- greenmountain, on 10/10/2007, -9/+1WTF?
Google offers cash for a defense fund? No.
Were Linux users in fear of being sued by Google? No.
Google is going to "open" up their search tech? ??
Nah. It is like modern women.
What is yours, is mine. And, what is mine is mine.
One of the richest, most
powerful groups in the world
is standing on their right to
Never Pay for the Software
that enables their empire.
Well, I do not know what this means in terms of liability,
in fact I am not sure this means absolutely anything at all,
a bit like a politician saying "I support the truth".
But has Google just offered up its pockets to be picked?
The depth there could really temp MS to take
them down by a few B's.- TheShad0w, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2Are you an idiot? You do realize that Google has been one of the financial contributers to the Linux foundation for a while now. You also realize that they have released several tools and libraries to the open source community. Where the heck your insane and illogical claims come from is completely beyond me.
- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Stop talking, stop writing, and go away.
- cwall658, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Further, if google is so interested in protecting linux, why are the being complacent regarding adwords advertising and trademark dillution from other unix vendors. Not sure what I mean? Do a search for "linux" in google and see what the top paid search result is.
Allowing Sun to plug their OS as the most advanced OS on the planet when people are looking for linux is dirty pool, and google's response to a complaint was that they don't get involved.
In other words - we're getting money for this.- mrsteveman1, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0I see Linux.org....And Ubuntu...And Redhat
- motang, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2Good Linux side can use someone like this.
- postalblowfish7, on 10/10/2007, -1/+2i don't understand all the pro-google sentiment. sure their algorithms can't be beat and google earth kicks ass - but ***** christ i hate google ads. why let one company control so much of the internet? absolute power corrupts absolutely.
- cantormath, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4GO GOOGLE!!!!!!!!!!
- anzhansen, on 10/10/2007, -0/+1This is great news. Not sure what side Novell will take in this rivalry...
- nuxx, on 10/10/2007, -0/+2personally, I'd say Novell can suck my nutsack....but they've already got a mouthful of Microsoft, so I'll just let 'em finish.
- MicahBurgher, on 10/10/2007, -0/+0Replying to the tributes paid to him at a testimonial dinner, Herbert Bayard Swope said; ''I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure -- try to please everybody.
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