I’ve read the USTR‘s Special 301 report so you don’t have to. The worrying conclusions are over on ComputerWorldUK.
Filed under: ComputerWorldUK | Comments Off on ☝ Special 301
☝ BT, Set My Music Free!
Posted on May 3, 2011 by Simon Phipps
The Free Software Foundation Europe has a new campaign group in the UK, and their first target is BT’s upcoming music streaming service. Read about it over on ComputerWorldUK.
Filed under: ComputerWorldUK | Comments Off on ☝ BT, Set My Music Free!
☂ Flattr Is Back
Posted on May 2, 2011 by Simon Phipps
Flattr is a system that allows you to show your satisfaction with things you find on the internet by making tiny gifts to them. If enough people make the tiny gifts, they build up into a more substantial payment, with the result that authors can be rewarded by their readership. Sounds like a great idea.
I used to have a Flattr button on here, but there was a distinct problem. In order to receive gifts, my account had to be reloaded with cash each month so that I could also make gifts myself. But at that stage, there were virtually no english-language web sites with Flattr buttons on them – they were all in German (since Flattr started in Germany). Since my payments would just go to waste, and since without making payment I couldn’t receive them either, I removed the button.
On Sunday, however, Flattr removed this requirement, so I have added the Flattr button back to the web site (it’s down in the bottom right margin) and will be very grateful of any gifts (as well as very interested to see if any happen!)
Filed under: Webmink | Tagged: Flattr | 1 Comment »
☆ Document Foundation Member
Posted on April 24, 2011 by Simon Phipps
Having applied for membership as soon as the process was announced, I’m honoured to have been accepted today as a Member of The Document Foundation. Having been associated with OpenOffice.org for over a decade in a variety of capacities, I have a deep appreciation of what has been achieved both technically in creating a cross-platform productivity suite and politically in challenging what looked like an entrenched monopoly.
Today, LibreOffice and ODF have a maturity and global acceptance that even those of us imagining the possibilities at the start of the previous decade could not have anticipated. I look forward to working with the Steering Committee and the rest of the community to continue the amazing achievements to date.
Filed under: LibreOffice, Webmink | Tagged: Document Foundation, LibreOffice, ODF | Comments Off on ☆ Document Foundation Member
☂ Transparency and Privacy Article Available
Posted on April 22, 2011 by Simon Phipps
I’ve edited the article on balancing transparency and privacy in open source communities that appeared here and on CWUK earlier to reflect conversations on identi.ca and elsewhere and you’ll now find it in the Essays section.
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☝ Open Source Landmark
Posted on April 20, 2011 by Simon Phipps
News just broke jointly from the US Department of Justice and the German Federal Cartel Office that they have directed CPTN to change the way they acquire Novell’s software patents so that the open source community is protected, just as OSI and FSFE requested
Read my views on CWUK.
Filed under: ComputerWorldUK, Open Source | Comments Off on ☝ Open Source Landmark
☂ Sentinel Principle Article Available
Posted on April 13, 2011 by Simon Phipps
My article proposing using openness sentinels – the existence of an open source co-developer community working on an implementation as validation of the openness of a standard – is now available in the Essays section.
Filed under: Standards, Webmink | 1 Comment »
⚡ Investment
Posted on April 9, 2011 by Simon Phipps
https://twitter.com/#!/wouterdewanckel/status/55563903240900608
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☝ The Sentinel Principle
Posted on April 6, 2011 by Simon Phipps
If we try to define what an “open standard” is, we’ll probably find the definition being gamed by well-funded corporate interests within a short time. But what if there was another way to get an indication that a standard was problematic? I suggest using a sentinel. Read about it on ComputerWorldUK.
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⚡ Tune In
Posted on April 5, 2011 by Simon Phipps
https://twitter.com/#!/webmink/status/55039904840826880
Filed under: Tweets | Tagged: FLOSS Weekly | Comments Off on ⚡ Tune In
Wild Webmink 