Although Palm OS Cobalt was introduced over a year ago, Palm, Inc. has never released a handheld or smartphone running it, and it´s very unlikely that it ever will do so.

Instead the company has continued to use the previous version, Palm OS Garnet, in all its devices. It has, however, continued to modify and tweak this version to better fit its needs.

www.brighthand.com

Freespire, a claimed "free" (and apparently unsanctioned) variant of Linspire Linux with proprietary components and trademarks removed, is reportedly available for download. The initial release, dubbed 5.0, is currently offered in liveCD format only, and is supported by a free repository of some 1,500 Debian Linux packages, DistroWatch reports.

"It certainly looks like an interesting idea: combining the benefits of Linspire´s excellent usability and hardware auto-configuration with a free repository of Debian packages," says DistroWatch.

www.desktoplinux.com

Basically, the RAID5 rack fails and they need to get the data off. It's been created on Windows, but the theory behind RAID should mean that even with a missing drive we should be able to recreate it.

The solution involves Knoppix, a certain amount of trial and error and some simple programming to completely recreate the old RAID volume based on images taken of the disk.

Many of the principles here could just as easily have been carried out on any Unix system -- Knoppix really only features as an effective way of copying the original disks off (using dd) into an image to be used when recreating the volume.

I've done similar things - on all sorts of platforms - to recover data or repair machines. Some of the simpler things are recovering the text and formatting from a document that had been corrupted in Word - I opened it with OpenOffice, which didn't have the same hang-ups as Word did, resaved it as RTF and then opened it again in Word, and presto! Document back.

Using dd, I've stripped sections from documents or headers that were causing problems (a package courier here in the UK supplies a PDF file for the address label, but when you download it they include a 128-byte header of stuff you don't need which just confuses Acrobat), and I've lost track of the number of times I've used emacs to recover, repair or reformat something that was considered damaged beyond repair by a client or associate.

It's these types of lateral thinking that turn your good administrator into an excellent IT administrator.

Now this is not really a Linux story - and I'm not trying to dress it up as such - but Linux  (and Unix) comes with a lot of these low-level tools that enable you to work with information without protecting you from it all the time.

From an 'average joe' perspective, the protection is good, but when it comes to an administrator or IT expert repairing or resolving the issue, that low-level access and toolset becomes invaluable.

www.computerworld.com

Chilean software development firm Linux Center and its Mexican subsidiary Tallard Telecom plan to open five Linux showcase operation centers in the region -- one in Santiago, three in Mexico and one in Venezuela -- according to Chilean newspaper La Segunda.

In each center, the company plans to install IT systems running entirely on a Linux operating system, where end users and distribution channel partners will be able to see the benefits of this system.

"We will implement servers and work stations with Red Hat (Nasdaq: RHAT)  software, Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL)  applications such as network management and e-mail, clusters with Oracle's (Nasdaq: ORCL)  RAC technology, CRM provided by Humano2, Avira antivirus and others," said Carlos Munoz, the general manager of Linux Center Latin America.

Each center will also have a special room where channel partners will be able to develop seminars to strengthen client knowledge about the technologies implemented in the center.

Once I had ="window.status='http://www.enlightenment.org/';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;" target="_blank">Enlightenment installed on my laptop there was no going back. I tried out a few other window managers, but the efficiency of E16 was hard to beat. My only complaints were that Enlightenment seemed a bit short on conveniences such as launchers, so I ended up running GNOME stripped down to one panel and the main menu with E16 as the window manager. Meanwhile, I read the descriptions of the new "desktop shell" that the Enlightenment crew was working on, dubbed ="window.status='http://www.enlightenment.org/Enlightenment/DR17/index.html';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;" target="_blank">Enlightenment DR17 (or E17, as I'll refer to it from here on) and thought it sounded like exactly what I wanted.

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/desktoptreebg.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">I should mention that "window manager" isn't quite the right term for E17. The developers call it a desktop shell, intending it to fill in the space between a simple window manager like the original Enlightenment and a full-featured desktop environment like GNOME. In other words, they were setting out to create a desktop not unlike my own E16/GNOME hybrid. In this respect it does not disappoint.

In creating E17 the Enlightenment crew have created a set of shared libraries (the Enlightenment Foundation Libraries) with the goal of building a complete set of applications to="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/e17sky.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;"> create an integrated environment where all files and programs are readily available that remains fast and non-resource-intensive. Essentially, E17 breaks down a desktop environment into its essential components (window manager, file manager, launcher, main menu, etc.) and offers them as a completely customizable package, where the user chooses which elements to use at any time.

Early Impressions

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/desktopmilktheme.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">When I started using E17 back in early May, I had already been a regular user of E16 for a while. My first impressions were that E17 sported some neat features, but configuring the menus (by making all those damn eapp files, E17's special icon format -- read on for more details) was a hassle, plus E17 was missing many of the small features, such as edge-flipping or icon boxes, that I liked in E16. But I stuck with it, updating it on a regular basis and reading the continually updated user guide at ="window.status='http://www.get-e.org/';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">Get-E.org, and usability has steadily increased. Also, a number of the features I had been missing were added (like edge-flipping) or had been there all along (turns out there is an icon box module called ibox, which is disabled by default).

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/exige.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

run command

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A graphical eap creator and other additions like a run command, alt-tab window switching (complete with a well designed display) and, for those who use sloppy or mouse focus, automatic placement of the cursor in the newly selected window have improved general usability.

Peeves

One functional feature of E16 I still miss is using middle-clicks to shade windows. I made an attempt at setting this mouse binding in E17, though what happened was middle-clicking anywhere in the window (as opposed to directly on the titlebar) would shade it, which is problematic when, say, browsing in Firefox and trying to open links in new tabs by middle clicking.

• no easy configuration of module appearance
• click-to-raise only works on titlebar under mouse/sloppy focus, while click-to-focus works anywhere in the window.

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Evidence in icon view with shelf displayed

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I remember someone writing that one of the biggest considerations in your choice of an OS or window manager was answering the question, "Does this help you get your work done?" For a short time last month I switched back to Fluxbox, as I found minor things like focus issues distracting while trying to work. But while writing this review, I've found that those minor issues are either fixed or there are workarounds, and E17 has become my standard desktop again. I recently loaded up E16 on the home computer and was struck by how inelegant it is compared to E17.

And so I have stayed with the new Enlightenment. Bugs are fixed, people are creating new themes and icon sets, the ="window.status='http://www.get-e.org/User_Guide/English/index.html';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">user guide at Get-E is becoming ever more detailed, and of course, since this is Linux, there are plenty of opportunities for users to join in and make the damn thing better still.

Installation
As far as installation goes, you can manually configure, compile, and install following the directions at ="window.status='http://enlightenment.freedesktop.org/';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">Enlightenment.freedesktop.org, or you can avail yourself of a few less labor intensive options. Packages are available for ="window.status='http://shadoi.soulmachine.net/';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">Debian, rpms for ="window.status='http://sps.nus.edu.sg/~didierbe';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">Fedora, and ebuilds (both snapshots and CVS) in portage for Gentoo. More information on installation can be found ="window.status='http://www.get-e.org/User_Guide/English/_pages/2.html';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">here. I use both the Fedora rpms and Gentoo ebuilds (from CVS). At the rate E17 is updated, last month's version is already rustic. I tend to update it every other week. Thus far, I have had no upgrades leave me with an unstable or unusable E17.

The Strange and Wondrous World of the EAP
The only major hurdle facing a new user of E17 is the creation of eap files, which are essentially small files consisting of an icon plus basic information about a program, including its name and executable. In a desktop environment like GNOME, you create launchers on the panel by choosing an icon and entering the program's name and executable in the launcher Fortunately, it is easily done with an included script or using a guicreation tool. Creating an eap is a similar process, but newly created eaps are stored for Enlightenment to use in the menus, launchers, icon boxes, taskbars, and pagers.

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/ibar.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

The ibar launcher

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/eapedit.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

eap editor

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/entangle.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

menu editor

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="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/emblem.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

background chooser

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="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/mainmenu.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/confupgrade.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

Modules
A central feature of the E17 desktop is the collection of modules which can be added or removed as the user wishes, allowing Enlightenment to be as light or heavy as one desires. Currently there are 16 official modules available, ranging from the useful (pager, launch bar) to the informative (cpu/memory monitor, weather) to eye candy (dropshadow, flame, snow). Discovering the modules was a bit of an adventure, as there was no obvious way to list all available choices, only the loaded ones. (By the way, you can find all the available modules - in Gentoo anyway - by looking in /usr/lib/enlightenment/modules/ and /usr/lib/enlightenment/modules_extra/)

The following three flash videos show off the various modules in use:

• ="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/flash/modules.html';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;" target="_blank">Basic modules
• ="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/flash/flame.html';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;" target="_blank">Flame
• ="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/flash/snow.html';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;" target="_blank">Snow

Evidence

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/evidenceicon.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

icon view

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/evidencebrowser.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

browser view

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="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/evidencetree.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

tree view

="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/evidencecommand.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

command shell

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="window.status='http://linux-blog.org/uploads/mp3tag.png';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">

editing mp3 tags

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Engage and Other Applications
Possibly the most popular of the new EFL applications, or at least the one asked about most frequently on various forums, Engage is a combination app launch bar, taskbar, and system tray similar to the dock in Mac's OS X. Engage is available in two different forms: a standalone form which can be used with any window manager or a module form for use with E17. The standalone version is a bit more robust and configurable than the module form, but I have been using Engage in place of the iBar launcher recently without any troubles, and having the system tray available was quite useful in creating the Wink movies for this review.

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Entice

www.linux-blog.org
="window.status='http://www.enlightenment.org/Enlightenment/DR17/index.html';return true;" ="window.status='';return true;">www.enlightenment.org

I've thought of projects I could start millions of times in Linux. I'm usually content with just supporting in other roles such as Project Management or Webmaster. Now I find myself wanting to become a programmer to address this issue. But what language? What programming language would work for all xwindow environments? This is a questions I'd put to you, the reader. Mainly because I have no experience with menu or wizard designing and I'd like to know. I'd like to know if it is difficult and takes tons of time or if it is something that you can do in an afternoon of work.

Nothing get's me more riled than hearing people get mad when someone suggests that Linux become more user friendly. "No!" they shout. "Let them find out things for themselves! I did and I'm better for it." Fine. Be exclusive. Rumble off into your l33t Linux club and close the door on open source. Or...perhaps you can understand that an operating system is something that should be made to WORK FOR YOU. Not against you. The main goal an operating system should have...ANY operating system...is to become easier to use and more efficient. I say that wizards will do just that for new users. As for older and more experienced users close the wizard when it launches or push cancel. Easy enough eh? You don't have to use them if you don't want them.

I know, I know. Perhaps I'm being crass and standoffish...but I'm really tired of people not understanding the benefit of an operating system that caters to your need and becomes more efficient. Sure Windows is a money hog and is full of security holes. However, it is extremely new user friendly with wizards for installing, removing, and adding hardware. With this the case, wouldn't open source benefit from also having similar functions as well? We don't have to make it 'just like Windows' but we can make it friendlier than it is right?

Perhaps you're not convinced yet. Perhaps you're a die hard open source fan that just can't get past your favorite Linux distro becoming more 'windows-like'. That's fine. That is your prerogative and is your right. However, don't trash new users who don't share your view. The beauty of open source (in our case, Linux) now is that just about anyone can use it if they have a bit of technical knowledge. I hope we can expand that audience to include users that have zero technical knowledge. The idea? Let open source and Linux become inclusive and not exclusive. Appealing to a wider audience will never hurt Linux.

To make things truly user friendly, more care needs to go in to letting people know what is going on with their operating system and how they can control it. A user should have to be able to program in perl or C++ to tell what error their music player gave them when it crashed. Things should be more user friendly. The menu driven wizard will do much for making Linux more user (especially new user) friendly. Hopefully, people will realize this fact instead of criticize this fact.

Gentoo have released v0.1 (alpha) of the Gentoo Linux Installer which consists of a LiveCD running Gentoo that also includes the facilities for installing Gentoo onto your hard drive.

The LiveCD includes all the normal goodness we associated with a LiveCD, including a fully running Linux system combinted with a range of applications such as the X Windows system, GNOME, Firefox, Thunderbird and OpenOffice. The installer is designed to create a fully working Gentoo-based OS on your hard drive, copying across everything you need.

I'll be quite happy to admit that Gentoo is my favorite distribution. That's for a number of reasons, including the fact that it is incredibly easy to update the system using the emerge tool to automatically download, build and then install the kit. It even handles the dependencies for you.

Better still, as a die-hard porter and avid compiler there's nothing I like more than watching software compile. To me it somehow feels like the system is doing something. Installing binaries is just so old.

Of course, the benefit of installing from from source each time is that the system, applications and other components are built on your system. That means the ultimate system should be faster because it's actually been compiled for your platform (without you having to worry about downloading architecture specific binaries) and you know everything is going to work because it's only going to compile if all the libraries are there - and Gentoo and emerge make sure they are.

I now run Gentoo almost exclusively here; the main mail gateway runs Gentoo with Amavis and other components to filter mail. My MythTV box is gentoo and my desktops run Gentoo too (!). Having a LiveCD that simplifies the whole process of installing Gentoo might be sacrilege; that's half the fun of using Gentoo.

I think the Gentoo installation procedure should be a must-have skill, because it ensures you are up to date on so many other aspects you need during administration, but still, I'm all for spreading the good work for the masses that don't want to go through the process by hand.

www.computerworld.com