IBM will buy SUN ?

Are a lot of rumors on internet right now and is possible to be the witness at one of the biggest deals in Computer industry: IBM will buy SUN. Sun started decline in is hardware department but is increasing every day in Open Source world. IBM can save SUN and can monetize what SUN builds.

Any transaction would strengthen IBM's position against rival H-P. It could be the largest acquisition in IBM's history, surpassing the acquisition of Cognos Inc. last year.

IBM in Talks to Buy Sun in Bid to Add to Web Heft
IBM + Sun = Perfect for open-source monetization

Innodb improvements with the latest google patch

Mysql is becoming stronger with the help of google (and oracle off course) :

http://www.innodb.com/innodb_plugin/plugin-performance/
http://www.innodb.com/innodb_plugin/plugin-performance/innodb-plugin-103-modified-sysbench-test/
http://www.innodb.com/innodb_plugin/plugin-performance/innodb-plugin-103-modified-sysbench-test-with-tcmalloc/
http://www.innodb.com/wp/2009/03/11/innodb-plugin-version-103-for-mysql-5130-32-33-released/


And the google mysql improvements page :http://code.google.com/p/google-mysql-tools/wiki/Mysql5Patches
http://code.google.com/p/google-mysql-tools/wiki/SmpPerformance

Another good resource is:
http://www.ducea.com/2009/03/13/innodb-plugin-version-103-released-enhances-concurrency-and-scalability-on-multi-core-systems/

New in this version of innodb

* Enhanced scalability: the Google SMP enhancement for synchronization
* More efficient memory allocation: ability to use platform allocator tuned for multi-core systems
* Improved out-of-the-box scalability: unlimited concurrent thread execution by default
* Dynamic tuning: at run-time, enable or disable insert buffering and adaptive hash indexing

And all this in a STABLE INNODB Storage for Mysql.

And I almost forgot ... You can download the sources from here http://www.innodb.com/wp/2009/03/11/innodb-plugin-version-103-for-mysql-5130-32-33-released/innodb_plugin/download/v103/

Patching the linux kernel without rebooting

I think, everyone from Linux industry, knows about kexec (fast rebooting … actually not rebooting just switching kernels) or Pannus (live kernel patching, but right now the project is dead) and their use. The Linux community started very earlier to think at a method to switch or patch a live kernel ...

read more | digg story

Patching the linux kernel without rebooting

Yes, is working. Just look here ... is named ksplice and you can find there all the sources and documentation.

Now you will never reboot a production server just for a kernel security patch. All can be done online.

You can not change the entire kernel without rebooting ! The changes need to don't introduce any semantic changes to the data structure, but for almost all security patches is enough.

Right now supports just x86-32, x86-64, and ARM architectures and have been tested on Linux kernel versions ranging from 2.6.8 to 2.6.28-rc6.

Recovery Act of 2009

What is Recovery Act of 2009? Is a set of measures to increase energy efficiency in the U.S.A (but is better for every one to do that). I found a post from AMD blog: http://blogs.amd.com/work/2009/03/11/energy-efficiency-a-little-can-go-a-long-way/ about this problem. So the main idea is: get new pc's wit more energy efficient cpu's and graphics cards. The example found it on AMD blog post is a very good one: airports. Just read the post and you will understand the problem.

Anyway did you know ATI-Fire pro can be used with 4 monitors in the same time ?

http://blogs.amd.com/work/2009/03/11/energy-efficiency-a-little-can-go-a-long-way/

The most long flame what I ever see

Look here: http://kerneltrap.org/node/5610

It started 3 years ago when someone post several reasons "Why Windows is better than Linux" ... after that they never stoped ... in flame :)

Anyway the reasons why the windows is better then linux are:

1. installing programs is easy ( is easy as apt-get install program )
2. Anytime you try to install or change something on your own computer you have to type a password. (this is why in linux are so few accidental security flaws)
3. Installing anything good in Linux requires an entire weekend ending up in learning how to reinvent the wheel. (hmmmm ... Yes is true ... linux is user friendly ... but is selective with his friends )
4. To truly use any Linux distribution your going to have to either take classes in how Linux works or spend time reading a lot of books and forums. (Is true if you use it as a enterprise server :) )

I can't stop to comment on his "stupid" arguments. Anyway I think someone from Linux community is made that just to start the flame :)

Browsers War - News from the battle zone 4

Safari is the fastest Browser in the world according Zdnet: http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-272792.html. They used SunSpider suite of JavaScript tests to determine which browser was the quickest.

In this moment the top is:

1) Safari 4
2) Mozilla Minefield 3.2a1
3) Google Chrome
4) Firefox 3
5) Opera 9.6
6) Internet Explorer 8
7) Internet Explorer 7

Best Road Sign Ever

I think you already read about how to hack the road signs, if not just search http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=hack+road+sign&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

Anyway this is the best message ever:




Regards

New bugs released by Bill Gates

This time are not software bugs and real mosquito's bugs. That happened on a TED conference where Gates was talking about mosquito, malaria and the other problems in country's with poor medical assistance. Anyway the mosquito's was malaria-free and no other incident was reported.

At least this bugs was for a good cause.

A recorded session of the Bill Gates speach can be found here: http://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_unplugged.html

Vmware VDI is Open Source Now

Vmware come with another good news for Open Source community.

VMware has open sourced its View Client software which enables connections from Linux clients to remote Windows desktops managed by VMware View. VMware would like to see their partners developing the client for non-x86 devices using operating systems other than Windows XP or Linux.

VMware View(Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) ), allows to host Windows virtual desktops controlled by View Manager inside datacenters making them available to thin clients running on a large variety of devices from any location. What is really missing from this VDI is the client for MAC and other platforms, so probably this will speed up development for this platforms.

You can get the sources from Google code site. The sources are licensed unde LGPL v2.1 .

Webmaster Web Tools

I just discovered a very interesting site ... or I can say sites ? In fact are 2 twin sites integrated each other: webmaster web tools and hostmaster web tools.

The tools what this sites provide are:

Backlink Checker
Lookup/reverse and ip/host
Spider View
IP Locator
Alexa Rank Checker
Your IP
Google DataCenter Query
Traceroute
HTML Validation
Ping
Sitemap Validation
Visual Traceroute
Link Popularity
Domain Dig
Meta Tag Extractor
XML Validation
Link Extractor
Html Encrypt
Website Speed Test
Source Viewer

The tools are not extraordinary but I was impressed by 2 tools:

1. Visual Traceroute
2. Your IP

Both based on Google maps are doing a very good job. Just check them out.

I recommend this site.

DeMotivational posters II

Demotivational Nr 2. I hope you like them :)

Browsers War - News from the battle zone 3

Brian Rakowski, Chrome's product manager, wants to release Chrome for Mac and Linux before the first half of 2009 is up. It seems both version (Mac and Linux) are in the same stage of development and soon we will have some beta's.

"That team now is able to render most Web pages pretty well. But in terms of the user experience, it's very basic,"

Now there are three Chrome development trunks: stable, beta, and developer preview.

New features with version 2.0.156.1:

• Autocomplete
• Full-page zoom (Ctrl+ and Ctrl-)
• Browser profiles
• Import from Google Bookmarks site.
• Autoscroll,
• Faster Safe Browsing
• An update of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine from version 0.3.9.3 to 0.4.6.0.

Cyanide and Happiness

Cyanide & Happiness @ Explosm.net

Most cheap Ipod and Mp3 players

I just found a list with the most cheap mp3 players sale by amazon this week:

Creative Zen 4 GB Portable Media Player (Black)
Price: ~64$




SanDisk Sansa Clip 4 GB MP3 Player (Silver)
Price: ~ 54$






Zune 4 GB Digital Media Player (Black)
Price: ~80$










Archos 705 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (160 GB)
Price: ~346$