So Long Google Reader. Hello Feedly, InoReader

by Dietrich Schmitz If you depend on Google Reader, hopefully you've made plans for the switch being turned off, Monday July 1, 2013. It was one of those tools that I found indispensable and used for the longest time.  I started using Akgregator, then BlogLines because it was always available from any PC with a login to the subscription.  Then I discovered Google Reader and have been using it since around 2006 to present. The good...

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Warning U.S. Cloud Tenants: There's a Fox in the Henhouse

by Dietrich Schmitz It's more than a bit worrisome not just for Amazon Web Services, but other Cloud ISPs as well as their customers who need to come to terms with the legality of what the disclosure of the NSA PRISM surveillance program means in pure risk management terms. (Image credit: ncsl.typepad.com) "What are the chances of an unforeseen issue causing extended interruption of service to my Cloud ISP infrastructure (vis a vis MegaUpload...

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Privacy. It's Your Right. Own It With Zero Knowledge Application Framework

by Dietrich Schmitz It's really time to stop having our Internet Privacy rights trifled with.  And SpiderOak's new Crypton Zero Knowledge Application Framework (ZKAF) could not have come soon enough, a toolset for developers world-wide to employ in encrypted data storage applications. The idea behind ZKAF is that a developer need not understand cryptography to write applications which need to implement ZKAF to the underlying data store's...

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Google's Chrome Packaged Apps (Local) Development Strategy

by Dietrich Schmitz I've been watching Google's progress for some time. We've seen most recently related technology improvements made to the Linux Kernel that specifically relate to support for software drivers and hardware on the Google Chromebook. A few months ago, we saw the newest Pixel Chromebook arrive on the scene with superior display and other performance characteristics -- arguably as good as Apple's Retina MacBook line. Now another...

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The Puzzling Case of Google Chromebook Packaged Apps

by Dietrich Schmitz Ah, Google Chrome packaged applications.  I see.  What?! So maybe you are as confused as I am.  Apparently, Google is, once again, on the move not sitting still, not complacent, innovating as they are wont to do and on Internet Time. That means, a frenetic pace, which hasn't let up continues with more announcements that makes one's head spin. The most recent is packages.  Now, you are wondering, for what...

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Your Career: Large Linux Project Involvement Key

by Dietrich Schmitz When everyone pulls their own oar and to a beat the vessel moves along quite well does it not? Every organization operates much like this on a certain level. Without a cadence, timing, planning, and execution, the vessel won't move forward -- at least not efficiently. It might even sit still and possibly move backwards. When conflicting goals and interests arise, those oars no longer operate in unison. What would...

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Don't Become a Big Fish in a Little Pond

by Dietrich Schmitz I see it quite often.  Many, too many, Developers 'think' they've got talent. They live and associate in small circles and naturally compare themselves in the context of their achievements within a small, close-knit community. To a large degree, these individuals believe their skill set is superior to those around them with whom they choose to affiliate.  Their esteem and self concept continues to develop and...

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Open Source Downloads An Endangered Species

by Simon Phipps With news this week that GitHub is banning storage of any file over 100Mb and discouraging files larger than 50Mb, their retreat from offering download services is complete. It's not a surprising trend; dealing with downloads is unrewarding and costly. Not only is there a big risk of bad actors using download services to conceal malware downloads for their badware activities, but additionally anyone offering...

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