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Foreword -- Microsoft today laid off 1,400 workers, with another 3,600 on the block within 18 months. We asked Linux Foundation Director Jim Zemlin what if any role Linux played in Microsoft's misfortunes, how Microsoft will react, and what it could mean for Linux and the open source community. Enjoy . . . !

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Q1 -- Jim, thank you for your support in talking with LinuxDevices today. Do you think it was really Linux that hurt Microsoft? Or was it the emergence of netbooks? XP seems to ship on most, but Microsoft isn't making much money selling XP for low-cost PCs [story], are they?

A1 -- When an OEM negotiates a price agreement with Microsoft, they now have a viable alternative. It changes the negotiating relationship. It's a combination of Linux, missteps by Microsoft, and not enabling Vista for a low-power, long battery-life device.

Q1b -- Vista, codenamed Longhorn, was five years late. Do you think it was written for processors more powerful than Intel and AMD were ultimately able to deliver? Did Microsoft fail to anticipate the end of Moore's Law?

A1b -- Microsoft's playbook has always been based on the assumption that hardware costs are decreasing, and PCs are becoming more powerful, with more memory and more CPU. And that's not what's happening.

There's a concept in product development called the "demand-side learning curve." By having a seven-year product development model, where you set out a roadmap... as you approach your ship date, features slip. That doesn't happen in Linux, which has a transparent development model with constant incremental releases.

Microsoft had no insight into these netbooks, and they were unable to capitalize on them when they came out. Linux was [able to], because it has a very fast demand-side learning curve.

Q1c -- ...meaning that the supplier (in this case Linux) is able to learn what's in demand and deliver it very quickly?

A1c -- Yes. The market has learned from this, and Microsoft is in fact behind. The market is moving toward Linux-based low-powered devices of all kinds, not just in netbooks, but in [lists numerous embedded and device market sectors].

Q2 -- Investors view Microsoft as a bellwether of the technology sector. Yet, if Microsoft's woes are an indication that Linux has gained viability in new markets, isn't that actually a good thing for tech? Its affect on Microsoft aside, is Linux's maturation helping tech companies, and if so, do investors grasp that?

A2 -- People will realize quickly that Linux is something they can use. It's a $12 billion investment [story] they can leverage to compete better in the market. That realization is happening.

[Companies] have learned that they can participate in the higher-value, higher-margin choice Linux offers, both in embedded and on the enterprise side. They can offer their own branded software platform based on Linux, gaining a more direct relationship to the consumer, instead of Microsoft branding [taking precedence]. If Microsoft is getting 75 percent margins, you would like some of that high-margin business. That is really the lesson.

Q2b -- Exactly. But does Wall Street "get it"? Does it see Linux as a threat to a great American bluechip, without considering its potential to positively affect the broader tech market?

A2b -- Microsoft was down, but HP was up, Google was up, and IBM came out with better-than-expected earnings. These are companies that have faced the innovator's dilemma and have overcome it. HP and IBM have been willing to innovate, and to base a lot of their solutions on Linux. I'd like to point out that both have lucrative Unix-based businesses as well. However, they're perfectly willing to offer a competing low-cost, high-value platform, knowing that they can make money on services.

Both HP and IBM started restructuring years ago. Both faced reality. Microsoft has only done so recently, for example trying to buy Yahoo! Now, they understand that they'd better web-enable, better get into cloud computing. But you see them reacting, not leading, while companies like HP and IBM enjoy the high-growth, high-margin opportunities.

In a tough economy, you see an acceleration, a sharpening of business trends that have probably been happening for a while. If there are chinks in the armor, those weaknesses are magnified 100 times when times are bad. Everyone's hurting, but especially companies clinging to old business models.

Q3 -- Do you think Google Apps is also a force effecting change for Microsoft?

A3 -- Yes, and it's not only Apps. At CES, there were several Android-based netbooks. There were also netbooks running Nokia's Maemo platform, and of course there's the Moblin initiative [story]. Without a doubt, there's a new generation of platforms that are going to effect Microsoft's strategy. What does Microsoft do next? How do they react?

Q3b -- Well, they've had a scrape or two previously...

A3b -- Yes they have. The layoffs announced today were a strong reaction from a smart company, albeit unfortunate because a lot of good people will be losing their jobs.

Microsoft will redouble efforts to get into online services, double down on being part of the digital home (with gaming consoles and media products), and they'll hit hard in the enterprise by returning to the tactic of decrying Linux TCO [total cost-of-ownership]. They'll try to debunk Linux's low-cost, cost-effective value proposition. And, they'll leverage the position they have with MS Office, where they have less competition. Why do you think they fought so hard over ODF? Office is extremely profitable, making more for Microsoft than their operating systems do.

Q4 -- Yeah, they really figured out how to hold users' data hostage, with closed document formats that change from time to time, forcing upgrades. Any closing thoughts? It sounds like you've had a busy day.

Q4 -- It sucks to see 5,000 people lose their job. It's a real shame. It's a sign of the economic times. So, let's hope that Microsoft is able to shift their business practices, be more open, and participate more in the open community.

---

copy from www.linuxdevices.com

US mobile phone customers will at last gain the option of a Linux-based handset later this year, when operators begin offering a high-end Motorola Linux/Java smartphone aimed at business professionals. The A780 will roll out globally in early Q4, reaching select US regions before 2005, according to Motorola.

(Click for larger image)

"It sort of depends which operators get through the first testing cycle for launch," said Motorola's Jonathan Nattrass. "But we're expecting it'll reach market in the US in Q4." Nattrass is director of product management for Motorola's high-performance GSM products group.

Motorola has so far introduced three Linux phones outside the US, including the A760, A768, and E680, and the phones have been well received, says Nattrass. "We're very pleased with market reaction and takeup, and the operators are very pleased with performance."

The A780 will be the first Motorola Linux phone -- and almost certainly the first Linux phone of any kind -- to reach the US market, confirming statements in a March, 2004 interview with Motorola Linux phone GM Michael Sudol that the company would time the debut of Linux phones in the US with the holiday season, and "ramp up" its Linux strategy globally toward the end of 2004.

Meanwhile, interviews (see stories here and here) with mobile phone browser giant OpenWave suggest that Linux will hit its stride in the global phone market in 2006, possibly becoming a standard platform for smartphones that, much as DOS did for PCs, will spawn a rich third party software market.

For its part, Motorola will continue its strategic investments in Linux as a cell-phone platform, but will continue to offer phones with other OSes as well. "We're holding fast with [our multi-OS] strategy. Java is at the core of our mobile OS strategy, and Linux is the OS we've primarily paired with Java. But, we'll continue to work with MS, Symbian, and BREW, based on operator needs," said Sharen Santoski, senior manager of global partner and tech communications for Motorola's personal communications sector.

Concurrent with this week's announcement of the A780, Motorola also announced the Windows Mobile based MPx220, which boasts a 1.23 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and quad-band wireless, as well as the CN620, which runs Windows CE 4.2 and offers seamless roaming between GSM/GPRS cellular and 802.11a Wi-Fi networks. Motorola offers Symbian and BREW based phones as well, but sold a 19 percent stake in Symbian in Sep., 2003.

Clearly, though, Motorola has high hopes for its Linux mobile phones. Says Nattrass, "You can see how we've gone from the traditional smartphone, the A760, and branched out into more focused areas, such as providing better consumer entertainment experiences [with the E680] and offering more for business professionals [with the A768 and A780], because we found that a lot of people are using camera phones for business purposes. Realtors and insurance agents, and so forth. I think we're only going to continue to build on that strength, and the key focus for us will be offering both the higher-tier functionality, and driving our Java/Linux technology down into mid-tier and mass market phones."

About the A780

The A780 is a quad-band phone phone supporting the 800/850MHz and 1900MHz bands used in the Americas as well as the 900/1800MHz bands commonly used around the world. In addition to voice service, the phone will provide Internet access via normal GPRS or via "EDGE," or Enhanced Data Rate for Global Evolution technology.

GPRS, or General Packet Radio Service, provides theoretical data rates up to 171.2Kbps, and is widely available from "2.5G" carriers around the world. EDGE is theoretically capable of 240Kbps data rates, which puts it close to the broadband-like speeds (384Kbps and higher) offered by 3G networks. East European carriers with new equipment, and European carriers that do not have a 3G license are likely candidates to roll out EDGE services, according to Nattrass, who adds, "The A780 can fall back on GPRS if the EDGE service is not available."

According to 3G Americas, an industry association of operators and manufacturers in the GSM technology market, EDGE service is currently available from 44 operators in 26 countries in the Americas, and 49 operators in 37 countries outside the Americas. Nattrass cites Cingular and AWS among US-based carriers offering or planning to offer EDGE services and phones.

Hardware features

The A780 is among the first devices to use the PXA270, a member of Intel's XScale family of ARM-based system-on-chips. Intel launched the PXA27x chip family, formerly codenamed "Bulverde," in April of this year, touting the processor's ability to capture higher quality pictures, extend battery life, and deliver fast multimedia performance. The chips are part of Intel's Personal Internet Client Architecture for wireless devices that combine voice communications and Internet access capabilities. Initial PXA270s are expected to run at 312 MHz, with future chips reaching double that speed, but Motorola did not disclose what speed processor runs the A780.

The A780 includes about 48MB of built-in user storage space, and supports an additional 48MB of removable storage on a TransFlash card. It includes a USB device port that uses a standard USB cable to attach to a PC, where it appears as a USB mass storage device. Rather than IrDA, the device implements Bluetooth wireless, enabling users to transfer large files reasonably quickly (and over greater distances), a feature useful for printing photos directly to Bluetooth printers, according to Nattrass.

The phone utilizes the classic Motorola flip-phone form-factor, but the phone buttons are actually positioned on the outside of the flip-lid. Opening the phone reveals the full expanse of the PDA-like 240 x 320 color touchscreen.

Another enticing feature is the 1.3 megapixel digital camera.

Software features

Like Motorola's previous Linux-based phones, the A780 is based on MontaVista Linux. MontaVista first pledged to support Intel's new PXA27x chips in November of 2003.

The A780 also includes a Java J2ME MIDP 2.0 runtime engine with support for several advanced Java APIs, including 3D Java, also supported in Motorola's E680 phone. Motorola revealed some of its Java plans in October of last year, and Nattrass says the company will continue to improve and extend Java support in its Linux phones. "Our roadmap is to roll out as many APIs as possible for Java. We're really focusing on Java support to enable and broaden application support from Java development community."

At least one native application will also be available for the A780 -- Motorola announced last week a deal with Certicom to offer its Movian VPN client for the device.

The A780's messaging client, like those in the A760 and A768, will continue to support POP3 and IMAP4 email protocols. However, the A780 will be Motorola's first phone to support "Motosync." Motosync is a Bluetooth-based synchronization feature that works initially with Microsoft's Mobile Enterprise Exchange 2003 servers, with agreements in place to add support for other commercial email servers in the future. Nattrass describes Motosync as follows: "There's a very simple, one-time setup and registration on the network with your corporate email system. Then you've got three possibilities for synchronizing your email: either manually, or a timed event such as every 10 minutes, or at a 'push' notification from the server. You can synchronize your inbox, calendar, and contacts."

Like the A768, the A780 will also include Picsel Technology's ePage document browser, which translates Microsoft Office, Flash, PDF, and HTML files, as well as common graphics file formats, to an internal "eFIF" format, enabling a single display application to display and edit many kinds of files without requiring native application support for the original file format.

Unlike the A768, which uses Picsel as its Web browser, Motorola opted for Opera 7, a full HTML browser, for the A780. Opera 7 supports small and medium size screens, as well as xHTML, DHTML, WAP, and, in its newest version, IRC (Internet Relay Chat).

The phone is also supplied with a fullscreen viewfinder for the camera, hands-free speaker phone, speaker-independent voice dialing, mp3 player, video recorder/player, 3D games, PIM, and a message client supporting MMS, SMS, IM (WV), and SMTP, in addition to POP3 and IMAP4.

copy from www.linuxdevices.com

Mass in a tent village. Handouts of donated chocolate Easter eggs, and a holiday lunch consisting of aid food.

It's not the way people in L'Aquila expected to celebrate their Easter holiday. But in the wake of a deadly earthquake that killed nearly 300 people and left some 45,000 homeless, it's a poignant reality they must live with.

"It is hard for us to believe right now," the Archbishop of L'Aquila told those assembled for an emotional Easter Mass. "But we must pray, we must pray that God gives us hope."

For many victims, who have lost their homes and loved ones, hope is hard to come by.

"I'm a believer. I go to church, I feel these religious holidays, but this year I don't really feel it," Chiara di Crosta told CNN. "Some of my friends died under the rubble. This isn't really a meaningful Easter for me."

For many quake victims, life changed irrevocably on Monday, when a 6.3 magnitude quake struck L'Aquila, northeast of Rome. The temblor reduced homes to rubble and cost nearly 300 people their lives.

Some 25,000 people remained in tents Easter Sunday. Others were housed in hotels away from the hardest-hit region.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was to attend one of the Easter Masses in L'Aquila, at the police academy, where Friday's funeral Mass was held. Afterward, he was to hand out candy to children.

But no matter how hard officials or aid workers try to inject some Easter spirit into the day, it remains bitter for many.

Di Crosta said she believes it was Shuala, her German shepherd, who saved her family's life. In the moments preceding the quake, Shuala barked and yelped, striking her paw repeatedly against a glass door on a balcony.

"She was very agitated," di Crosta said. "She had been for a long time ... Dogs can alert you at times like this ... So I had time to prepare."

The family dressed and prepared a bag for their baby, Laura, before the quake struck.

When it did, "The door wouldn't open. I couldn't make it open," said Laura's father, Vincenzo Breglia. "And the more I pushed the more tightly I held the baby so I was almost suffocating her and everything was falling around us."

But they had no time to get Shuala, who was on the balcony. While they escaped with their lives, they couldn't find the dog for three days.

"I cried all night because I couldn't get back to save her," di Crosta said. "The tremors continued and I couldn't do anything."

But when the family went back to the ruins of their home, they found Shuala at last -- alive and well, and waiting for them by the rubble. Now, the family is trying to celebrate an Easter they hope baby Laura won't remember.

The quake's death toll is now 294, according to Luca Cari, a spokesman for L'Aquila Fire Brigade. The 294th death was that of a man who was rescued earlier in the week, but died Sunday at a hospital.

The search-and-rescue operation is over, officials said, because all those on a list of missing persons have been accounted for.taken from cnn.com

Two people were shot and killed Friday at a community college in Dearborn, Michigan, in what police believe was a murder-suicide, an official said.

A man and woman were found dead in a classroom building on the campus of Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn Deputy Chief Gregg Brighton said.

Investigators believe the man shot the woman but would not provide further information, Brighton said.

A shotgun was involved in the incident, which occurred in a classroom that was not being used, he said.

"We're in the very preliminary stages," Brighton said. "We've just made the scene safe. The crime lab is on the scene with detectives." Watch Brighton describe the scene »

Police responding to a report of gunfire at the school had entered the south hallway of the Fine Arts Building when they heard another gunshot, Brighton said.

"We were in the building when we heard the shotgun blast, and when we finally got to that room, we had two deceased parties," he said at a news conference. "We believe this is a murder-suicide."

The campus was briefly in lockdown and will remain closed for the rest of the Friday, a school official said.

The school's emergency system immediately notified students, faculty and staff about the shooting via e-mail and cell phone, said Marjorie Swan, vice president and controller of the college.

"Our hearts go out to the family and the friends of the young woman who lost her life today," Swan said.

copy by CNN