RealNetworks will release open-source software this year that will let Linux computers play Windows Media files.

The confab for fans of the open-source operating system kicks off Tuesday, when Linux and open-source diehards will head to San Francisco to hear what's new. On the cards: Advanced Micro Devices to launch "Rev F" versions of its Opteron chips, Sun to provide more details on moving Java into open-source development, and all the latest Linux trends.

Dell, long a provider of choice for companies looking for PCs based on Intel hardware and Microsoft software, says that Linux now makes up 25 percent of its enterprise market.

A Sun Microsystems Inc. executive said Tuesday said the company is "months" away from releasing its trademark Java programming language under an open-source license.

Taiwan has mandated that all PCs purchased for government use must now be compatible with the Linux operating system.

PC sellers, smarting at Microsoft for juggling them in a legal trapez, are now looking upon an 83-year old crusader to settle their old scores with the IT behemoth. Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan is on a trip to develop the state as India’s FOSS (Free and Open Software Systems) destination, with backing from National Informatics Centre (NIC).

The co-founder of one of the most popular mobile Linux platforms has predicted a "revolution" in the use of open-source software on phones and handheld devices.

Allchin says Ballmer, the world's 13th wealthiest man with a fortune of about $18 billion, spent almost two days trying to rid the PC of worms, viruses, spyware, malware and severe fragmentation without success.

SanDisk is reported to have quietly approached the open source developers behind Rockbox, a free operating system for MP3 players.

Five years ago Yodlee Inc. purchased a proprietary application to monitor its core application and network infrastructure. Then the troubles began.

The Redwood City, Calif.-based provider of risk management applications implemented Hewlett-Packard's OpenView product to monitor

its own IT infrastructure, but instead of a smooth, carefree process, the company quickly realized several unforeseen challenges on the radar screen.