Category: Software

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Stephen E. Arnold: Open Source and Innovation Go Together

Innovation, Software
Stephen E. Arnold
Stephen E. Arnold

Open Source and Innovation Go Hand in Hand

Posted: 08 Aug 2013 09:18 PM PDT

Open source, in all of its iterations, drives innovation and efficiency. More than ever, information technology circles are buzzing with news about how open source software (and an emerging open source hardware market) ensures that organizations of every shape and size can get their specific needs met by open source solutions. Tom Trainer covers this very topic in his article for Network Computing, “Open Source Poised for Innovation Explosion.”

Trainer begins:

“Open source software is now a common component in most organizations’ IT infrastructure, particularly at the server OS layer where Linux has made significant inroads. Now open source software is becoming more common in other data center realms such as storage, and is poised for significant growth.”

Trainer goes on to say that open source will continue to dominate the market for many reasons, but chief among them will be cost effectiveness. Even though the economy is on the rebound, efficiencies are still being demanded as the recession proved that companies really could do more with less. However, security and customer support are still concerns. For organizations with those concerns, a value-added open source solution is often a good fit. For instance, LucidWorks offers solutions for the enterprise including Big Data, with cloud and hybrid deployments. And while the solutions are award winning, the customer service and training offered by LucidWorks is unbeatable.

Emily Rae Aldridge, August 16, 2013

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search

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Stephen E. Arnold: A World Without Open Source?

Software
Stephen E. Arnold
Stephen E. Arnold

Imagining a World Without Open Source

Posted: 02 Aug 2013 04:49 PM PDT

Open source technology has made substantial changes to the culture of technology in a remarkably short period of time. Open source software started the movement and now open source is even moving into hardware. Wired covers the impact that open source had made in their article, “In a World Without Open Source.”

The article muses on what would happen if the world lacked open source:

“It’s thought-provoking when you consider software in this way, and a breathtaking demonstration of the power and influence of open source software (OSS) in our lives. If you’re a techie or a software developer, you know this and live it every day. But stop a moment to consider this: for the rest of the world, how deeply OSS has become a part of daily life, both in the enterprise and for consumers, is news.”

From mobile to financial services to automotive, open source impacts every area of our lives, and the article covers it all. And while open source touches consumers in ways they often don’t realize, enterprises know how dependent they are on open source technology each and every day. More and more enterprises of all shapes and sizes realize the need for open source, but turn to value-added solutions to save the hassle of having to build their infrastructure from scratch. LucidWorks for instance, offers LucidWorks Search and award-winning LucidWorks Big Data. These packages allow for multiple modes of deployment with full support and training offered by LucidWorks. It is the best of open source with the support and hassle-free implementation of a customized solution.

Emily Rae Aldridge, August 9, 2013

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search

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Stephen E. Arnold: Open Source Affordability Pressures Oracle and Others….

Cloud, Software
Stephen E. Arnold
Stephen E. Arnold

Open Source Affordability Pressures Oracle and Others

The budget crunch is hitting everyone. IT departments are being asked to slim down and do more with less. Apparently the government is no exception. The affordability of open source has the government’s attention and is changing the content management and enterprise playing field. Read more about the changes in the Information Week article, “Feds Move To Open Source Databases Pressures Oracle.”

The piece begins:

“Under implacable pressure to slash spending, government agencies are increasingly embracing open source, object-relational database software at the expense of costly, proprietary database platforms. That’s putting new pressure on traditional enterprise software providers, including Oracle, to refine their product lineups as well as their licensing arrangements.”

So giants like Oracle are feeling the crunch, and it is trickling down throughout the proprietary world. But many organizations might not feel comfortable going completely open source, as in creating their own customized solution. So many are turning to a smart compromise, a value-added open source solution like LucidWorks. Customers get the affordability and agility of open source, but the support and expertise of an industry leader. Check out their support and services for assurance that going open source does not mean you will be left out on your own.

Emily Rae Aldridge, August 6, 2013

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search

Continue reading “Stephen E. Arnold: Open Source Affordability Pressures Oracle and Others….”

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Stephen E. Arnold: Open Source to Help Secure Cloud Storage

Cloud, Software
Stephen E. Arnold
Stephen E. Arnold

Open Source to Help Secure Cloud Storage

Posted: 02 Aug 2013 04:44 PM PDT

As technology advances quickly, so do security concerns. It stands to reason that new technologies open up new vulnerabilities. But open source is working to combat those challenges in an agile and cost-effective way. Read the latest on the topic in IT World Canada in their story, “Open-Source Project Aims to Secure Cloud Storage.”

The article begins:

“The open source software project named Crypton is working on a solution that would enable developers to easily create encrypted cloud-based collaboration environments. There are very few cloud services that offer effective encryption protection for data storage, according to Crypton. Security has always been the top concern for many enterprise organizations when it comes to cloud services and applications.”

It is reasonable that enterprises are concerned about security when it comes to cloud services and storage. For that reason, many prefer on-site hosting and storage. However, some open source companies, like LucidWorks, build value-added solutions on top of open source software and guarantee security as well as support and training. And while LucidWorks offers on-site hosting as well, those who venture into the Cloud can have the best of both worlds with cost-effective open source software and the support of an industry leader.

Emily Rae Aldridge, August 5, 2013

Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Beyond Search

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Mini-Me: Give Every Afghan a Radio? Or Give Every Afghan OpenBTS with a Radio App? + OpenBTS Meta-RECAP

BTS (Base Transciever Station), Crowd-Sourcing, Design, Education, Governance, Hardware, Innovation, Mobile, P2P / Panarchy, Politics, Resilience, Software, Spectrum
Who? Mini-Me?
Who? Mini-Me?

Huh?

Overheard in the World Cafe:

Speaker A:  My friend is creating a wide-area radio network for Afghanistan.

Speaker B:  Afghanistan has no infrastructure — including radio stations.  Although radio is popular, it is mostly shortwave, with a few local FM stations for the local Iman.  And electricity for radio stations is spotty at best including in Kabul.

Speaker A:  Well, I can build really cheap, “ultra” cheap, radio receivers.

Speaker B:  As long as you are doing that, why not give them OpenBTS cell phones running on ambient energy, and include a radio app?  Then get someone else — Google, Virgin Mobile, the Chinese or India — to focus on all-purpose cellular towers and tethered ballons?

Continue reading “Mini-Me: Give Every Afghan a Radio? Or Give Every Afghan OpenBTS with a Radio App? + OpenBTS Meta-RECAP”

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Jan Lievens: 3D Printing an Aston Martin

Design, Innovation, Manufacturing, Software
Jean Lievens
Jean Lievens

3D Printing an Aston Martin

We recently heard about a Solidoodler in Auckland, New Zealand, named Ivan Sentch, who’s building an entire car from scratch with the help of his Solidoodle, 2nd Gen 3D printer. When we saw photos of his project in progress, it was a bit hard to believe that this was his first time using 3D printing or that anyone would undertake something so massive with a desktop 3D printer. Leave it to one of our users to baffle our minds. We’re not sure if it’s insane, brilliant or both, but it’s certainly impressive.

Read rest of article.

3d aston

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Richard Stallman: Challenge Ubuntu — For $32 Million Why NOT Open Source?

Software
Richard Stallman
Richard Stallman

Ubuntu is aiming to raise $32 million in crowdfunding to fund Ubuntu Edge, a mobile computer that can dual-boot between Android and Ubuntu GNU/Linux.

Will Ubuntu Edge commit to using only free software? If the project succeeds and has $32 million available to spend, this is surely possible, but there is no indication in any of the promotional materials that this is part of the plan.

Isn't Android already free software? In theory, yes, but in practice, no. To work on actual hardware, Android ends up relying on device drivers that are either outright proprietary or use proprietary firmware blobs. All commonly available Android devices also come with proprietary software applications installed.

This is why today we announced a fundraising partnership with the Replicant project, which produces a version of Android that runs on existing devices without proprietary system software.

Isn't Ubuntu already always committed to free software? No. Ubuntu's default GNU/Linux distribution includes nonfree drivers, and its software marketplace promotes proprietary programs.

But, we don't want to make assumptions about what Ubuntu Edge will or won't be. We and many other free software supporters excited about the possibility of a GNU/Linux mobile device would like to hear official confirmation:

  1. Will the Ubuntu Edge versions of both Android and Ubuntu contain or rely on any proprietary software or proprietary firmware?
  2. Will the Ubuntu Edge include any Digital Restrictions Management (DRM) software?
  3. Will the device's bootloader be free software?
  4. Will the device have Restricted Boot, or will users be able to replace the operating system with a free one of their choice?
  5. Will Ubuntu Edge include F-Droid, the free software Android application repository, as part of a commitment to promote and recommend only free software?

Ubuntu in the past has said they are forced to make temporary compromises in software freedom in order to have their operating system work on the computers people own and speed adoption of free software. But in this case, Ubuntu would have the chance to dictate the design of the hardware themselves. Software freedom should be the foundation of that design. There is no reason for compromise.

Conveniently, Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth is doing an AMA on Reddit starting at 12:30 EDT, so maybe we will get some answers.