Microsoft's GPL v3 Stance Puts Future of Novell Pact in Doubt
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft has issued a statement that it does not consider itself bound by GPL v3, the new open source license that was designed, in part, to put a kibosh on the types of partnerships Microsoft has signed with Novell and other Linux distributors. With Novell intent on supporting GPL v3, it appears to put important elements of the Microsoft-Novell deal on a collision course. READ MORE >

Oracle Says 11g Database Is Better, Cheaper, and Faster
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

Charles Phillips, president of database and application software supplier Oracle, made a prediction at the launch of the company's 11g relational database in New York City last week. "What normally happens in this process is that, initially, there will be many articles written about how no one needs another version of the database. The pundits are already writing that, and it is typical." But software companies add features to software and change it to address new demands, and Oracle is no different. READ MORE >

NEC, Stratus Flesh Out Fault Tolerant Server Lines
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

Back in March, partners NEC and Stratus Technology previewed a two-socket fault tolerant server that was based on Intel's quad-core "Clovertown" Xeon 5300 processors. This week, that box has started shipping, and the two companies are also starting to take orders for smaller configurations of their fault tolerant machines, which are based on Intel's dual-core "Woodcrest" Xeon 5100s and which come with one or two logical sockets per server. READ MORE >

Mad Dog 21/21: To Avatar and Avatar Not
by Hesh Wiener

In the Hindu tradition, an avatar is the physical manifestation of a god; the principal avatars are incarnations of Vishnu, but there are others, too. Similar concepts exist in other religions, even ones that are not dharmic. In computing, an avatar is an animated sprite or icon that represents a real or invented player in a virtual amusement such as Second Life. In finance, an avatar is what IBM set up in Holland to obtain favorable tax treatment for a $12.5 billion stock repurchase, provoking the IRS to ban future incarnations of that particular caper. READ MORE >