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International Open Source Network
IOSN Site News
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1 hour 2 min agoOctober 10, 2004
17:34
IBM, C-DAC, IIT Bombay to set up Open Source Software Resource Centre
MUMBAI: IBM India, C-DAC and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay, have signed a co-operation agreement to set up an ‘Open Source Software Resource Centre’ (OSSRC) in Mumbai with an investment of $1.2 million over the next three years.
October 7, 2004
03:39
Open approach offers Mindef more choice (Singapore)
The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has installed the OpenOffice productivity suite on 5,000 new desktop computers. This move is aimed at giving employees in the ministry an additional choice in productivity software. It will also help Mindef make 'significant' savings in terms of capital costs
October 1, 2004
16:29
Indians Inch Towards Completely Localized Linux
When it comes to lingual diversity, India clinches the top spot hands down. With an immense untapped potential in the worldwide local language software market, Indian tech gurus have taken the lead to push their own mantra, “Be Indian, Buy Indian”.
02:01
Sun pushes OpenOffice standard
Sun Microsystems is backing European Union efforts to standardize office document formats, including a proposal that would enable people to switch easily between Microsoft-based documents and those created with open-source software.
September 29, 2004
23:32
Munich to press on with Linux switch
More than a year after the German city of Munich declared its landmark intention to abandon Microsoft Windows in favor of upstart rival Linux, its councilors are finally ready to go ahead with the plan.
22:39
Dhaka Red Hat Meetup Group Formed
Meet other local Red Hat users from Dhaka to discuss Linux, Open Source and Free Software. This Meetup is officially brought to you by Red Hat.
September 28, 2004
01:48
OpenOffice XML Format Will Probably Become an ISO Standard
Tim Bray of Sun Micro Systems in his blog writes that in mid-July, the European Commission has written a formal letter to the participants in a meeting where Sun and Microsoft proposed their XML document formats, informing them of the outcome and highlighting a couple of key points. In the letter the EC writes that it is considering taking the OpenOffice XML format to ISO as a consideration as an international standard.
September 26, 2004
23:17
Africans get tools to cross the digital divide
A few pioneering experts want to remove the English barrier so the continent can fully join the computer age.
06:28
Red Hat pushes wider use of open-source computing in Philippines
One of the world’s largest providers of Linux software on Monday said the Philippines has great potential for developing open-source computing because Filipinos have a thorough understanding of its value: that Linux is more cost-effective, scalable, and has more robust architecture than proprietary software like Microsoft Windows.
September 25, 2004
07:54
Dzongkha computing on Linux
The Dzongkha Development Authority, the Department of Information and Technology and Sherubtse College in Kanglung are working together to enable Dzongkha computing on the Linux operating system.
07:49
India shares open-source experience
India's National Informatics Center has launched a Web site to share the government's experiences with open-source software
September 23, 2004
23:22
Linux goes mission-critical for Danish government
The Danish Ministry of Finance has chosen JBoss running on Linux over Microsoft's BizTalk to run a data-exchange system
September 20, 2004
22:42
Security fears spark Linux drive in Iran
Tehran - Iran has become the latest country to edge towards ditching the ubiquitous Microsoft computer operating system in favour of the open-source Linux solution, even if its refusal to abide by copyright laws means that the Islamic republic does not pay a penny to Bill Gates.
05:42
Preview of Interactive User Guide to Using the Linux Desktop
UNDP-APDIP's International Open Source Network (IOSN), has released for public review a preview of upcoming interactive mulitmedia guides to using the Linux desktop, based on the popular User Guide to Using the Linux Desktop printed training materials.
September 19, 2004
16:51
Old computers good as new in Linux labs
With help from the nonprofit Hawai'i Open Source Education Foundation, a dozen schools and organizations have opened PC labs using recycled computers loaded with free software for about $3,000, much less than what a lab using off-the-shelf computers and commercially-available software could cost — up to $30,000.
12:35
Brazil "just says 'No!'" to Microsoft
National Public Radio (NPR) is airing a story about the Brazillian government's initiative to migrate 40 percent of its computers to Free Software such as Linux by 2006. The four-minute spot includes great quotes from Brazillian government officials, including one likening Microsoft's marketing tactics to those of a drug dealer.
September 18, 2004
16:50
Developing Nations Copyright License Frees Creativity Across the Digital Divide
The law-and-technology nonprofit Creative Commons offers a tool for authors and publishers to encourage innovation in developing nations while protecting their rights in the developed world.
September 17, 2004
19:43
Dhaka Red Hat Meetup Group Formed
Meet other local Red Hat users from Dhaka to discuss Linux, Open Source and Free Software. This Meetup is officially brought to you by Red Hat.
01:34
BBC planning to open source its archives
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), one of the world's largest public service networks, will shortly launch what it hails as a pioneering new approach to public access rights, and it is turning to the open source community to contribute to its successful rollout.
September 14, 2004
00:12
Free Standards Group Announces General Availability Of Linux Standard Base 2.0
San Francisco, Calif. - September 14, 2004 -- The Free Standards Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing and promoting open source software standards, today announced the availability of the Linux Standard Base (LSB) 2.0, an essential component for the long-term market success of Linux. Important new features delivered in this release include the long-awaited inclusion of a new application binary interface (ABI) for C++ and support for 32- and 64-bit hardware architectures. The Free Standards Group also announced today that the standard has earned support from the majority of Linux distribution vendors throughout the world, marking a significant stage in the deployment of a true global standard for Linux.
September 13, 2004
06:14
IOSN Releases Draft Primer on Free/Open Source Software Licensing for Public Review
IOSN has produced a primer on Free/Open Source Software Licensing and an early pre-copyedited draft of the primer is now available for public review and feedback.
September 12, 2004
07:38
IOSN General Mailing List
IOSN General Mailing List and auto-subscription resulted in new discussions, but also caused a lot of users to be distressed by the large amount of emails generated. IOSN explains the reasons behind their actions.
September 8, 2004
10:06
ICT R&D Grants for Asia Pacific
The Pan Asia ICT R&D Grants Programme has announced the October 2004 Competition round for ICT R&D grant applicants from developing countries in the Asia Pacific region. This open theme competition welcomes proposals that address ICT related issues. Grants are open to Free/Open Source Software projects and IOSN encourages those interested to apply.
01:43
Does Microsoft Need China?
Microsoft, the US$36 billion software company co-founded by Gates, famously got off on the wrong foot in the PRC, and the troubles afflicting its presence still abound. It owns the desktop market there, yet earns little money because 97 percent of its software is illegally copied. Prominently among Asian governments, China's state planners support Linux, the open-source—read non-proprietary and low-cost—operating system that competes with Microsoft's Windows. Every time Microsoft pressures the government to crack down on the pirates, the government makes a move to support the rival system.
September 7, 2004
02:41
National Institutes of Health America, Proposes Free Access For Public to Research Data
The National Institutes of Health has proposed a major policy change that would require all scientists who receive funding from the agency to make the results of their research available to the public for free.
02:41
National Institutes of Health America, Proposes Free Access For Public to Research Data
The National Institutes of Health has proposed a major policy change that would require all scientists who receive funding from the agency to make the results of their research available to the public for free.
September 6, 2004
16:10
EU boost to open source software
The European Union (E.U.) is hoping to give the European open source software industry a competitive boost through a Euro 1.5 million (AUD$2.68m) research project kicking off this week.
September 5, 2004
18:41
Dr Molly Cheah wins ICT Excellence Awards for Open Source
Dr Molly Cheah, president of Primary Care Doctors’ Organisation Malaysia or PCDOM (www.pcdom.org.my), a non-governmental organisation of general practitioners, won the Open Source Software Award for PCDOM Primacare.
16:56
Election love-fest on open source
Four days into the election campaign and we now know exactly where the Australian Coalition, Labor and Democrats stand on the the use of open source software in government.
16:48
Open source push reflects need for FTA action: Lundy
Even modest adoption of open source software could trim 2.5 percent from the government’s IT spend, Labor senator and shadow minister for IT Kate Lundy told approximately 150 gathered attendees in a broad keynote speech that kicked off the AUUG’2004 conference in Melbourne.
08:29
Professor Lessig promotes open source software in Asia
A prominent U.S. law professor Lawrence Lessig has called on Taiwan and other Asian countries to join in the worldwide movement in the collaborative sharing of software programs as a means of encouraging technical innovation and fueling the growth of the IT revolution.
August 27, 2004
00:15
Like ants doing their own thing... an annual day to promote FLOSS grassroots-style
LIKE AN army of ants scattered across the globe, each group joining in hopes their small actions could result in a wider impact, through coordinated action and the power of networking people. Softwarefreedomday.org is being held for the first time ever, on August 28 this year, writes Frederick Noronha.
August 24, 2004
04:13
USP-IOSN Microgrant Programme for Pacific Island Countries
The University of the South Pacific (USP) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme’s Asia Pacific Development Information Programme (APDIP) is pleased to launch the USP-IOSN (International Open Source Network) Microgrant Programme for Pacific Island Countries. This Microgrant Programme is a competitive grants scheme made available to individuals or teams in the Pacific Island Countries.
03:38
Linux Friendly Brazil
Twenty percent of all computers used by the Brazilian ministries are running Linux and other open source software. In a few months this number should grow to 100 percent. Through its Digital Inclusion Program Brazil wishes to democratize the use of computers. Government telecenters are being created throughout Brazil.
August 23, 2004
23:45
Linux may power South Korean schools
South Korea's education ministry could soon switch to the Linux operating system--a further testament to the growing popularity of open-source software among regional governments.
23:45
Linux may power South Korean schools
South Korea's education ministry could soon switch to the Linux operating system--a further testament to the growing popularity of open-source software among regional governments.
August 21, 2004
13:39
Linux adoption in India gaining momentum
More and more state governments, educational institutions and corporates are exploring the possibility of adopting Linux operating system, industry experts say.
August 19, 2004
06:46
Mozilla Affiliate in Japan Kicks Off
August 18, 2004 (the Internet) - The Mozilla Foundation and Mozilla Japan today announced the launch of the Mozilla-Japan.org web site and the creation of Mozilla Japan, a non-profit organization that will promote, develop and help deploy Mozilla products in Japan.
August 18, 2004
06:06
User Guide to Using the Linux Desktop
UNDP-APDIP International Open Source Network (IOSN) has released Linux end user training materials. "User Guide to Using the Linux Desktop" is an introductory guide for a user to use a modern personal computer (PC) running the Linux operating system. The main aim is to provide a self-learning guide on how to use a modern Linux desktop system. It assumes that the user has no prior knowledge of Linux or PC usage.
02:14
Why India is struggling with localized language computing
While IT is improving the quality of life in many developed nations, the use of technology is still out of reach for people in many other countries. Nowhere is this digital divide as big or visible than in India. Apart from access to a computer, unfamiliarity with the English language is one of the biggest factors contributing to this problem. In countries like India, where the majority of the population is English-illiterate, computing has to speak a language the locals understand. This is where user-interface localization steps in.
August 16, 2004
23:39
Asia Linux project close to launch
BEIJING (Reuters) - A North Asian government alliance to promote the Linux operating system and reduce dependence on Microsoft's Windows plans to release its first products for China in six months, a senior official says.
August 15, 2004
12:55
New Zealand Draft Digital Strategy Feedback
The New Zealand Linux Users Group group has made a call to look over the New Zealand Digital Strategy draft and give feedback. The deadline is this Monday 5pm August 16th 2004.
August 12, 2004
15:18
China Open Source Software Promotion Alliance
Alliance with IBM, HP, and others aims to promote open-source development and application in China
15:13
Mozilla and Pango integration
Sayamindu reports that Christopher Blizzard has added a new feature to Mozilla which enables it to handle complex scripts like Hindi, Thai, Tamil etc through Pango. Pango provides an open-source framework for the layout and rendering of internationalized text.
07:15
China Gets a Linux Boost
Members of Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) -- home to Linux founder Linus Torvalds -- announced on Wednesday the establishment of its first office in China in the city of Beijing.
02:49
China denies 'Asian standard' for Linux
China has never intended to develop an isolated Asian standard for Linux, which some Japanese industry executives fear, said a senior Chinese Government official last week.
02:48
Developing Nations See Linux as a Savior From Microsoft's Grip
In developing countries such as China and Brazil, eager to assert themselves on the international scene, the political and economic arguments can seem irresistible: Open-source software offers a way to slip out from under the yoke of American supremacy, saving money in the process.
August 11, 2004
08:08
Delay to Munich's Linux move only "few weeks"
The Munich city administration has said that it expects its planned migration to Linux to be delayed by only a few weeks as the impact of proposed European Union software patenting legislation is examined.