Tag Archives: Creative Commons

Computers

Intel's first 'open-source PC' on sale for $199

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Intel has shipped its first “open source PC,” a bare-bones computer aimed at software developers building x86 applications and hobbyists looking to construct their own computer.

The PC, called the MinnowBoard, is basically a motherboard with no casing around it. It was codeveloped by Intel and CircuitCo Electronics, a company that specializes in open-source motherboards, and went on sale this month for US$199 from a handful of retailers.

It’s the first open-source PC to be offered with an Intel x86 processor, and the board’s schematics and design files are published and can be replicated under a Creative Commons license. Development kits based on x86 processors from Via Technologies are already sold for robotics and other projects, but those boards are not open source.

Intel has also shared server designs through Facebook’s Open Compute Project, but they’re aimed primarily at large companies that design and build servers in-house. The MinnowBoard, which measures 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) by 4 inches, is Intel’s first open-source hardware design for enthusiasts and developers.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld

Linux

Muses: a new Krita Training DVD by Ramon Miranda

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Following the succesful “Comics with Krita” DVD by Timothee Giet (now sold out!), and supported by the Krita Foundation, Ramon Miranda has started working on the second Krita training DVD: Muses. Let yourself be inspired by Ramon’s Muses, and learn how to paint wonderful and evocative images from a professional artist.

The DVD will have more than three hours of HD video focused on creating digital illustrations from scratch to the final print, including

  • An explanation of Krita’s gui and the best way to setup Krita for maximum productivity and fun. Ramon will demonstrate a solid and productive workflow.
  • Creating interesting new brush presets, working with layers, masks and filters. color in theory and practice and an introduction to styles in art.
  • Creating an illustration from scratch: creating the ideas to begin with, sketching, getting into the flow, blocking, shading and values, painting a face, finishing the artwork with color and effects, printing considerations.

“Muses” will come with a full set of brushes and brush presets, icons ready to use with your own presets and much more. The voice over will be in English and Spanish, with unobtrusive pop-over messages for extra clarity.

Muses — the color sketch for the projected DVD cover

You can pre-order the DVD now from the Krita Foundation. If you do not wish to use paypal, contact foundation@krita.org for alternative payment methods. Pre-ordering the DVD will help support Krita development. Currently, Dmitry Kazakov is being sponsored by the Krita Foundation to work on improved mask handling, performance and much more. The contents of the DVD will also be released as Creative Commons.

The pre-order price is just €27.50, including shipping. The DVD is expected to be ready for presentation at Akademy 2013 in Bilboa, Spain, July 13th.

Muses: Painting with Krita DVD
Special pre-order price including shipping and V.A.T: €27.50

And everyone who pre-orders will be credited on the DVD, too.

Ramon Miranda is an illustrator from Spain who has been using open source tools professionally for a long time. He is well known for his instruction videos, his beautiful art and his work on Gimp Paint Studio.

If you are at the Libre Graphics Meeting in Madrid, you will be able to meet Ramon.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Planet KDE

Linux

Stephen Michael Kellat: Gathering Story Bits

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These are some bits collected from around the Internet on 12 January 2013 relative to the death of Aaron Swartz.

Aaron Swartz, Coder and Activist, Dead at 26 | Threat Level | Wired.com
We often say, upon the passing of a friend or loved one, that the world is a poorer place for the loss. But with the untimely death of programmer and activist Aaron Swartz, this isn’t just a sentiment; it’s literally true. Worthy, important causes will surface without a champion equal to their measure. Technological problems will go unsolved, or be solved a little less brilliantly than they might have been. And that’s just what we know. The world is robbed of a half-century of all the things we can’t even imagine Aaron would have accomplished with the remainder of his life.
Aaron Swartz – James Fallows – The Atlantic
An influential and gifted technology figure dies at age 26.
Althouse: “Prosecutor as bully.”
Althouse: “Reddit, Creative Commons and Demand Progress co-founder Aaron Swartz committed suicide in New York City on Friday, Jan. 11.”
Daring Fireball Linked List: Lawrence Lessig on Aaron Swartz
Daring Fireball Linked List: ‘Unsolved Forever’
Farewell to Aaron Swartz, an extraordinary hacker and activist | Electronic Frontier Foundation
Hacker and Reddit co-founder Aaron Swartz dies | The Verge
Aaron Swartz, the 26-year-old who helped build internet institutions like Reddit and Creative Commons, committed suicide in New York yesterday. The news was confirmed by MIT newspaper The Tech,…
Internet activist, programmer Aaron Swartz dead at 26 | Reuters
(Reuters) – Internet activist and computer prodigy Aaron Swartz, who helped create an early version of the Web feed system RSS and later played a key role in stopping an online piracy bill in Congress,
johnsu01: Aaron Swartz
Aaron was an inspiration to me personally, politically, and professionally ever since we met (ice cream and word games with a small group in a bank vault at Herrell’s in Harvard Square) several years ago. I don’t understand how things got to this point, but I know I’m angry along with Lessig. I’m…
Lessig Blog, v2 — Prosecutor as bully
Prosecutor as bully (Some will say this is not the time. I disagree. This is the time when every mixed emotion needs to find voice.) Since his arresting the early morning of January 11, 2011 — two…
Online activist Aaron Swartz commits suicide, relative says – CNN.com
Aaron Swartz, an Internet savant who at a young age shaped the online era by co-developing RSS and Reddit and became a digital activist, has committed suicide.
Reddit Co-founder Meets Tragic End | FOX8.com – Cleveland news & weather from WJW Television FOX 8
By David Ariosto, CNNNEW YORK (CNN) — Aaron Swartz, the Internet activist who co-founded Reddit and co-wrote the initial specification for RSS, has committed suicide, a relative told CNN Saturday. He was 26.
RIP, Aaron Swartz – Boing Boing
Web Mourns Internet Activist Aaron Swartz, 26 | News & Opinion | PCMag.com
Swartz commits suicide exactly two years after his arrest for downloading 4.8 million academic articles via MIT.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Planet Ubuntu

Computers

Hactivist, Internet innovator Aaron Swartz commits suicide

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Aaron Swartz, the brilliant Internet pioneer, passionate political activist and computer programming prodigy, committed suicide on Friday as he faced hacking-related charges that could have landed him in jail for decades, according to published reports.

Aaron SwartzDemand Progress
Aaron Swartz

Swartz, who was 26, killed himself in his New York City apartment, according to The Tech, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) newspaper that first reported his passing on Saturday.

Swartz played key roles in the development of the RSS online content syndication technology, in the creation of the Creative Commons licenses, in a campaign against the SOPA and PIPA bills and in the success of the Reddit news sharing site.

He apparently hanged himself and was found by his girlfriend, according to The New York Times.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld