NetBSD 6.1 Has Shipped

NetBSD 6.1 Has Shipped: Madwand writes "The NetBSD Project is pleased to announce NetBSD 6.1, the first feature update of the NetBSD 6 release branch. It represents a selected subset of fixes deemed important for security or stability reasons, as well as new features and enhancements. NetBSD is a free, fast, secure, and highly portable Unix-like Open Source operating system. It is available for a wide range of platforms, from large-scale servers and powerful desktop systems to handheld and embedded devices. Its clean design and advanced features make it excellent for use in both production and research environments, and the source code is freely available under a business-friendly license. NetBSD is developed and supported by a large and vibrant international community. Many applications are readily available through pkgsrc, the NetBSD Packages Collection."

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Linux Users Have a Choice: 8 Linux Desktop Environments

Linux Users Have a Choice: 8 Linux Desktop Environments:

'via Blog this'

Linux Mint 15 'Olivia' Release Candidate Is Out

Linux Mint 15 'Olivia' Release Candidate Is Out: New submitter Anand Radhakrishnan writes "The release candidate for the much-anticipated Linux Mint 15 'Olivia' is available for user testing. Its many new features include Cinnamon Control center, an improved login manager with HTML 5 support, a driver manager, and a lot of under-the-hood improvements. 'A new tool called MintSources, aka "Software Sources," was developed from scratch with derivative distributions in mind (primarily Linux Mint, but also LMDE, Netrunner and Snow Linux). It replaces software-properties-gtk and is perfectly adapted to managing software sources in Linux Mint. From the main screen you can easily enable or disable optional components and gain access to backports, unstable packages and source code.' This release with Cinnamon looks really tempting."

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Google Glass successfully unlocked, boots up with Ubuntu at I/O

Google Glass successfully unlocked, boots up with Ubuntu at I/O:

Google I/O 2013 featured a session titled, “Voiding Your Warranty: Hacking Glass,” which was pretty much exactly what you would expect it to be. During the session, Google Glass was successfully unlocked, given root access, and then loaded up with Ubuntu.
Of course most manufacturers wouldn’t encourage people to hack into their devices, but because Google Glass is a developer device, they’re looking for all kinds of experimentation.
In order to install Ubuntu, a few steps (simplified) had to be taken:

• Load Glass with Launcher, Settings, and Notepad APKs
• Pair Glass to a keyboard and trackpad
• Jump into the terminal, unlock and gain root access
• Follow the normal process of installing Ubuntu
• (Load up a terminal emulator, complete Linux installer)

The definition of “hack” that Google would probably use can be found on Urban Dictionary. Check it out after the break.

To program a computer in a clever, virtuosic, and wizardly manner. Ordinary computer jockeys merely write programs; hacking is the domain of digital poets. Hacking is a subtle and arguably mystical art, equal parts wit and technical ability, that is rarely appreciated by non-hackers.

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Google Play Books enables user uploads of e-books, documents

Google Play Books enables user uploads of e-books, documents: The update to Android and iOS will allow users to upload 1,000 PDF and EPUB files that can be synced on the Web and smartphones and tablets. [Read more]

Google and NASA Snap Up D-Wave Quantum Computer

Google and NASA Snap Up D-Wave Quantum Computer: ananyo writes "D-Wave, the small company that sells the world's only commercial quantum computer, has just bagged an impressive new customer: a collaboration between Google, NASA and the non-profit Universities Space Research Association.The three organizations have joined forces to install a D-Wave Two, the computer company's latest model, in a facility launched by the collaboration — the Quantum Artificial Intelligence Lab at NASA's Ames Research Center. The lab will explore areas such as machine learning — useful for functions such as language translation, image searches and voice-command recognition. The Google-led collaboration is only the second customer to buy computer from D-Wave — Lockheed Martin was the first."

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A Computer-based Smart Rifle With Incredible Accuracy, Now On Sale

A Computer-based Smart Rifle With Incredible Accuracy, Now On Sale: WheezyJoe writes "A story on NPR reports that the TrackingPoint rifle went on sale today, and can enable a 'novice' to hit a target 500 yards away on the first try. The rifle's scope features a sophisticated color graphics display (video). The shooter locks a laser on the target by pushing a small button by the trigger... But here's where it's different: You pull the trigger but the gun decides when to shoot. It fires only when the weapon has been pointed in exactly the right place, taking into account dozens of variables, including wind, shake and distance to the target. The rifle has a built-in laser range finder, a ballistics computer and a Wi-Fi transmitter to stream live video and audio to a nearby iPad. Every shot is recorded so it can be replayed, or posted to YouTube or Facebook."

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Google adds Gladstone, Mo., as fifth recipient of Google Fiber

Google adds Gladstone, Mo., as fifth recipient of Google Fiber: The Web giant has picked up the pace of its expansion announcements for the speedy Internet and video service. [Read more]