I am ashamed to use proprietary software, Feb 14, 2008

Krishnakant Mane says that the freedom and flexibility provided by open source software enables him to work with a variety of interfaces and is integral to his work at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.

We are using two dozen open source products, thanks to which we have saved close to $6 million for Virgin America in the last two years. Products today are mature enough to not cause undue risk. Our e-Commerce site, which does 80 per cent of our business today, runs on open source.

The Bangalore-based EI Labs India has just released ``LinSeed version 1,'' a single chip embedded Linux computer that original equipment-makers can use to create a host of handy devices, including wirelessly connected pocket computers.

And it seems a terrible shame to throw away perfectly good old computers just because they won't run a modern version of Windows. What we need is a Granny Linux, something that is safe from both malice at one end of the modem cable and bafflement at the other.

The lack of a compelling desktop client version may stall the progress of Linux

Red Hat, a leading provider of open source solution, on Friday launched a Hindi version of its Linux - Red Hat Enterprise Linux v.4 Hindi - in Madhya Pradesh.

Linux distributions for the consumer desktop may be imperfect; but Indian developers have already created some compelling applications, especially in local languages

A low key ceremony in the office of the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, on Wednesday, saw the launch of a programme anchored by the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT), where 107 computer training institutes spread across all 14 districts of Kerala have been beefed up as `Linux Technology Extension (LiTE) centres.'

The President [of India], A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, today advised defence scientists to shun proprietary systems and opt for open source codes to enhance software security in defence networks.

"Open source codes can easily introduce the users to build security algorithms in the system without the dependence of proprietary platforms. We should take maximum care to ensure that our solution is unique to protect our own defence security solutions implemented on open platforms," the President observed at the silver jubilee celebration of the Indian Navy's Weapons and Electronic System Engineering Establishment (WESEE). During his interaction with IT experts in civilian and defence fields, Mr. Kalam has consistently advocated the use of open source software over proprietary software whose building block is rarely disclosed by corporates who own and sell them.

Linux distributor Red Hat, plans to beef up its staff in India as part of its plans to expand business in Asia.

In India, Red Hat has hired four to take its staff in the country to 20. In Australia Red Hat has taken the strength of its staff to 30 by adding five more employees.

Red Hat has in the last year adjusted its business from distributor of one variant of Linux to selling, supporting and certifying whole systems based on the open source operating system.