I just saw this exciting news item on engadget. Some highlights are as follows:

• Intel and Nokia merge Moblin and Maemo to create MeeGo*, a Linux-based software platform that will support multiple hardware architectures across the broadest range of device segments, including pocketable mobile computers, netbooks, tablets, mediaphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems.
• MeeGo offers the Qt application development environment, and builds on the Moblin core operating system and reference user experiences. Using Qt, developers can write once to create applications for a variety of devices and platforms, and market them through Nokia's Ovi Store and Intel AppUpSM Center.
• MeeGo will be hosted by the Linux Foundation and governed using the best practices of the open source development model. The first release of MeeGo is expected in the second quarter of 2010 with devices launching later in the year.

I think this will prove to be a very exciting partnership and platform. I can't wait. Just from my experiences of using Maemo on the N900 and developing on the platform it is a super powerful platform that I would love to have it in my car, on my phone, TV, and anywhere else I can through some elecrtonics.

I loved this video, It really cracked me up. Enjoy

Play from YouTube

it is from the Linux foundation website linuxfoundation.org. You can find a link to this video here and other videos on their website.

Our next LUG meeting will be on 3:30PM Saturday, February 13th at the Al Ayam Media Center(for directions see Al Ayam Media Center Directions). the topic will be as follows:

Beowulf Supercomputer

A Beowulf-class supercomputer is a cluster of personal computers connected through a local area network (LAN) used as a cheap alternative to multi-million dollar custom built supercomputers. The Beowulf system is mainly used at universities and research centers running computationally intensive applications. The system is constructed by Commodity Off The Shelf (COTS) components and consists of a number of PCs, called compute nodes, performing the computation job and a single PC acting as a server (system controller) connected via a network switch. The system processing power is determined by the number of compute nodes, increasing with the addition of more nodes. The system currently being install at UoB, funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research, consists of 34 Dell Optiplex 320 running at 3.2 GHz as compute node and Dell PowerEdge SC1430 Dual Core Intel Xeon processor running at 1.6 GHz connected via Dell Power Connect 3448 switch. Linux is used as the operating system with free Fortran, C, and other software available on the system. An example problem for such a system will be presented (so get your physics books ready... you are warned......)

The presenter for this topic will be Dr.Mohamed Alothman. He is a faculty member at the Department of Physics, University of Bahrain and currently the chairman of the department. he holds a Ph.D. in Astronomy and his research area is space physics, specifically, magnetospheric physics and the radiation belts.

Presentation Slides
Presentation slides are attached below to this story
download video: low resolution (74.7 MB) - high resolution (107.6 MB)

Firefox has now officially made it's way to Maemo 5. The download is available right now for all Nokia N900 and N810 owners. It also comes with a pretty neat feature called Weave Sync. Weave sync basically harmonizes your booksmarks, tabs, history, and passwords across the device. This is a great feature because it helps make the transition from your computer to your mobile a slick one. Flash support is still somewhat not as perfect and doesn't come enabled by default. You can enable it and experience it as you would on a desktop browser. Just simply go to this link using your Nokia N900 or 810 and follow the instructions.

sources: www.engadget.com

Play from YouTube

To the people throughout the world who think Linux may be at a stop sign, you should think again. In a recent article on Engadget Google's Android has been ported onto the NOKIA N900. The great thing about this is that Android is being dual-booted. So Maemo 5 is still installed and with Android on there, this phone is no doubt going to have some increases in sales soon. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if NOKIA makes the switch to Android. 

Nokia told a group of Mameo developers that by 2012 its legacy Symbian operating system would be gone from the high-end N-family devices.
It says that Linux-based Mameo operating system is the future of its high-end smartphones.
Nokia also offered a version of its Ovi Maps application for Nokia smartphones at no extra cost.

http://www.infoworld.com/d/mobilize/nokia-ousts-symbian-os-high-end-smar...
http://www.pcworld.com/article/187445/nokia_sets_navigation_feature_free...
http://maps.ovi.com/services/

Who said developers cannot make money developing open source software?
According to LWN.net founder and kernel contributor Jonathan Corbet, most Linux kernel code is written by paid developers at major corporations.
Lines of code originated from 18% of contributions to the kernel were made without a specific corporate affiliation, suggesting true volunteer efforts. An additional 7% weren't classified. The remainder were from people working for specific companies in roles where developing that code was a major requirement. "75% of the code comes from people paid to do it," Corbet said.

Source: http://apcmag.com/linux-now-75-corporate.htm
 

France has echoed calls by the German government for web users to find an alternative to Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE) to protect security.
Microsoft insists that only the older versions are vulnarable and that IE8 was the "most secure browser on the market" and people should upgrade.
Although the vulnerability has so far been exploited only in IE6, security researchers warned that could soon change. "Microsoft themselves admit there is a vulnerability, even in IE8," said Graham Cluley of security firm Sophos.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8465038.stm

The German government has warned web users to find an alternative browser to Internet Explorer to protect security.The warning from the Federal Office for Information Security comes after Microsoft admitted IE was the weak link in recent attacks on Google's systems.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8463516.stm