Posted 10/16/09 at 07:58:34 PM by Ryan Whitwam

Even though Android 1.6 has just been pushed out to Google Experience phones in the last few weeks, we’re already getting our first look at version 2.0. The as yet unannounced Android 2.0, or Éclair, not only adds new features, but tweaks the UI as well.

The new version has added native Exchange, Youtube, and Facebook support. With Facebook integration, users can import contact data from their friends list. The Browser has reportedly been much improved; rivaling the iPhone 3GS in rendering speed. Google has even added a unified email inbox. Google Maps has been totally updated, adding support for Layers. Finally, there’s a new “Car Home” with big buttons for things you might want to use when driving.

This is still an early build, but it gives us a real sense where the OS is going. If there’s one way to describe what Google has done in this revision, it would be “more polish”. From the browser to the contact list, everything looks more well thought out and functional. The firmware appears to be running on the mysterious Motorola Droid. The phone has been reported as being a Google Experience phone, so everyone seems ready to believe this is stock Android 2.0. So, how do the screens strike you?

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Posted 09/11/09 at 08:04:57 PM by Ryan Whitwam

The nonprofit CodePlex Foundation is being set up with backing from Microsoft. The Redmond based software company has contributed $1 million, and provided numerous Microsoft employees to run the nonprofit’s board. Microsoft’s former senior director of platform strategy, Sam Ramji, will serve as the temporary head of CodePlex.

Before you go thinking this is totally out of the ordinary for Bill Gate’s baby, the CodePlex website clears a few things up. CodePlex says that commercial companies are under-represented in the open-source world. While this may seem like a natural situation, the new Microsoft backed venture intends to change that.  The “about” page on the foundation’s site says that companies will be encouraged to contribute code, not patents.

With code still bound by patents, it is unlikely that the larger open-source community will care to get involved. There may be a certain logic to the CodePlex Foundation, though. Allowing a company to contribute code, without giving up their patents may bring new ideas to open-source in the long run. Even with these favorable conditions, will businesses cooperate with an open-source foundation?

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Posted 09/18/08 at 09:00:00 AM by The Maximum PC Staff

I ran across a site that’s selling something called Opal Office. The site, OfficeBestDeal.com, says the suite is compatible with Microsoft Office, but in reality it’s just OpenOffice! You can find that out when you open the program and it says on the first line of text, “OpenOffice.” Apparently, they’re charging $11.95 for it. Is this even legal?

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Posted 09/20/07 at 09:24:11 PM by Erin Simon

The first ever lawsuit alleging copyright infringement for a violation of the GPL was initiated today. Will courts enforce the GPL? Stay tuned.

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