In a move that reflects the growing power of the open-source programming movement, Sun Microsystems plans Monday to share a modest chunk of Java source code, an experimental user interface for desktop computers called Project Looking Glass.
The move, planned for Sun's JavaOne conference in San Francisco, acknowledges that the open-source software philosophy is important even in areas such as Java, where Sun has been reluctant to let it encroach. In the case of Looking Glass, Sun hopes the open-source move will trigger developer interest in using Java for interfaces with 3D graphics. Releasing the source code of the Looking Glass interface and the prefabricated Java 3D software it uses should indeed arouse attention from developers and software companies, said John Loiacono, Sun's recently promoted executive vice president of software.
Java has been criticized as being too slow to run applications such as computer-aided design that tax a computer's 3D graphics abilities, but the Java3D extension changes that, Loiacono said. "We've proven with Java3D you can do CAD or an entire user environment in 3D, and Java performs quite well," he said. With open-source software, most prominently exemplified by the Linux operating system, anyone may see, modify and redistribute the programs. The idea has proved powerful enough that even Microsoft, which typically maintains tight secrecy, has released some programming tools as open-source software.
News source: C|net
The move, planned for Sun's JavaOne conference in San Francisco, acknowledges that the open-source software philosophy is important even in areas such as Java, where Sun has been reluctant to let it encroach. In the case of Looking Glass, Sun hopes the open-source move will trigger developer interest in using Java for interfaces with 3D graphics. Releasing the source code of the Looking Glass interface and the prefabricated Java 3D software it uses should indeed arouse attention from developers and software companies, said John Loiacono, Sun's recently promoted executive vice president of software.
Java has been criticized as being too slow to run applications such as computer-aided design that tax a computer's 3D graphics abilities, but the Java3D extension changes that, Loiacono said. "We've proven with Java3D you can do CAD or an entire user environment in 3D, and Java performs quite well," he said. With open-source software, most prominently exemplified by the Linux operating system, anyone may see, modify and redistribute the programs. The idea has proved powerful enough that even Microsoft, which typically maintains tight secrecy, has released some programming tools as open-source software.
News source: C|net
One of my favorite rumors is the introduction of a 30-inch HD Cinema Display. This has been floating around the web as speculation since July 2003. So the rumor goes, Apple’s Cinema Display will no longer have the “Fisher Price” plastic look. Instead it will sport an aluminum frame (brushed metal look). With a speculated resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels (viewable area of 29.7 inches), it will certainly be one beast of a monitor. However, interestingly enough it will use DVI format as opposed to Apple’s own Apple Display Connector (ADC) format. This switch to DVI will help to sell this display especially for Windows users. Considering its price I’d say it needs to be. This monitor might also be changing Apple’s monitor lineup; Apple could be looking to revise it to a 30-inch, 23-inch, and 20-inch monitor, and dropping their older and smaller models. This new display is expected to run for $2,999.
One of the most widely spread rumors is about Apple’s world famous iPod. Essentially, it goes along the lines that the new product will pack a color screen; OLED or LCD, this feature would certainly make a nice product really top notch. Another rumor regarding the next generation iPod is that Apple will announce a 60 GB hard drive version (inline with the new hard drives that Toshiba have recently announced, and had been previously used on other iPod versions). It's also widely rumored that the next generation iPod will be a video iPod. This one seems pretty unlikely (although clearly not impossible); Steve Jobs has said countless times that watching any video on such a small screen isn't a good idea.
In reality, little is known about what’s going to be announced prior to the event. Apple most likely leak little bits if only to fuel speculation and interest. In 3 days we'll know for sure what Apple has been keeping secret for so long.
jk, lol
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