Tag: Open source

  • Proxmox Mail Gateway 8.2: SpamAssassin 4.0.1 and New Features

    Proxmox Mail Gateway 8.2: SpamAssassin 4.0.1 and New Features

    Key Takeaways

    1. Proxmox Mail Gateway is essential for organizations due to the increasing volume of email threats.
    2. The latest version, Proxmox Mail Gateway 8.2, is based on Debian 12.9 and offers kernel versions 6.8 and 6.11.
    3. It provides anti-spam and anti-virus features for mail servers in a straightforward manner.
    4. Although open-source, it offers premium support and access to the Enterprise Repository, starting at 180 euros per host per year.
    5. Users can seek additional assistance through the Proxmox Support Forum.

    Since the volume of threats carried by email is on the rise every single day, a solution like Proxmox Mail Gateway isn’t just good to have; it’s essential. This open-source solution, originating from Austria, is aimed at organizations of all sizes and offers a straightforward method to implement and deploy anti-spam and anti-virus features on mail servers. Proxmox Mail Gateway 8.2, based on Debian 12.9 “Bookworm” and launched yesterday, defaults to the newer 6.8 kernel version, while users also have the option to choose 6.11 if they prefer.

    Features of Proxmox Mail Gateway 8.2

    Along with the kernel versions mentioned earlier, Proxmox Mail Gateway 8.2 comes packed with several important features. The necessary downloadable content for setting up Proxmox Mail Gateway is available on this page, and alternate ISO downloads can be found here. Even though it is an open-source solution, Proxmox Mail Gateway offers premium support and access to the Enterprise Repository. The subscriptions start at 180 euros for each host per year, providing support for an unlimited number of users and domains.

    Source:
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  • Modular Laptop with Mechanical Keyboard: MNT Reform vs. Framework

    Modular Laptop with Mechanical Keyboard: MNT Reform vs. Framework

    The new notebook from MNT Research is being marketed as a viable choice compared to modular laptops such as the Framework Laptop 13. With its hardware and firmware being fully open source, this laptop allows for extensive modifications, making it particularly appealing to enthusiasts and DIY-ers.

    Features and Specifications

    The device includes a mechanical keyboard that uses Kailh Choc Brown switches and comes with RGB lighting. It features a 12.5-inch 1080p IPS display, and all parts, including the battery and motherboard, can be replaced after purchase. The left and right sides of the laptop have smaller boards for the ports, enabling users to change them without affecting the motherboard. Out of the box, the MNT Reform Next has three USB-C ports (one designated for charging), one USB-A port, an HDMI output, Gigabit Ethernet, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

    Performance Considerations

    While the modular design contributes to a weight of 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) and a thickness of 2.6 cm (1.02 in), it also comes with a downside: the built-in Rockchip RK3588 CPU, which has four Cortex-A76 and four Cortex-A55 ARM cores, lacks the power of modern Intel and AMD processors. However, this chip is efficient enough that it doesn’t need a cooling fan, allowing the MNT Reform Next to operate quietly. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0, and it will come pre-installed with Debian Linux.

    Pricing and Availability

    The MNT Reform Next laptop is currently available for crowdfunding on Crowd Supply and has successfully reached its $100,000 goal. The starting model, which features 16 GB of memory and 256 GB of eMMC storage, is priced at $1,099. For $1,599, the “Hyper” version includes 32 GB of RAM and a 2 TB SSD. MNT Research provides free shipping worldwide, but purchasers should be aware of possible import taxes and duties.

    Source: Link

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  • Open Source AI Video Generator Pyramid Flow Now Online

    Open Source AI Video Generator Pyramid Flow Now Online

    Already gaining traction in YouTube tutorial clips, Pyramid Flow is an innovative AI system trained on freely available datasets, amounting to about 10 million videos. This project is a collaborative effort between AI specialists from Peking University, Kuaishou Technology, and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Notably, Pyramid Flow is itself open-source. Licensed under the MIT License, it can produce virtual high-resolution (768p) video content, and it particularly excels at 384p. Its developers claim that it can generate a five-second video in under a minute, utilizing an A100 GPU in an unspecified hardware setup.

    Performance Insights

    In various situations, Pyramid Flow performs exceptionally well. Nevertheless, when handling certain text prompts, the output can be inadequate. Like many generative AI tools, there is a degree of unpredictability involved with this model. On the positive side, Pyramid Flow requires significantly less computational power compared to its rivals. Furthermore, since its code is open-source, those who are interested can implement it in local or cloud settings without any licensing concerns.

    Copyright Concerns

    While the AI team behind Pyramid Flow has provided a list of all datasets used for its training, they did not address potential copyright issues that could arise. Some content creators argue that using open-source materials to make virtual videos infringes on the rights of copyright owners. Nevertheless, Pyramid Flow might be beneficial for refining such content without needing to engage third parties.

    Pyramid Flow (on GitHub, via Tech Xplore)

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  • Winamp Source Code Released Online Sparks Controversy

    Winamp Source Code Released Online Sparks Controversy

    Back in May, the CEO of Winamp revealed that the source code for this legendary media player would be publicly available on September 24th. With little announcement, the code was released yesterday. However, the licensing model stands in stark contrast to the principles of open-source software. Despite this, some initial forks—which are not permitted under the licensing agreement—have already surfaced online.

    Licensing Conflicts

    During the May announcement, Alexandre Saboundjian, the CEO of Winamp, stated, "Winamp will remain the owner of the software and will decide on the innovations made in the official version." A significant issue arises from a partial contradiction between the Winamp Collaborative License (WCL) Version 1.0 and GitHub’s Terms of Service. This conflict primarily concerns how Winamp plans to manage the distribution of modified versions and forking. According to GitHub’s ToS,

    "By setting your repositories to be viewed publicly, you agree to allow others to view and ‘fork’ your repositories (this means that others may make their own copies of Content from your repositories in repositories they control)."

    Community Reactions

    Moreover, every public page and repository on GitHub grants users of the platform

    "a nonexclusive, worldwide license to use, display, and perform Your Content through the GitHub Service and to reproduce Your Content solely on GitHub as permitted through GitHub’s functionality (for example, through forking)."

    Reactions to Winamp’s licensing model on GitHub have been quite critical, with some users referring to it as "a dogwater license" and "unpaid labor." Discussions are also happening on Reddit, particularly in the r/linux community, where a post titled "The source code to Winamp was released. No Forking allowed, but people forked anyway" captures the sentiment (refer to the Source(s) section for the link).

    Future Considerations

    The unfortunate reality is that while Winamp claims to have "opened the source code," they are offering very limited access and asserting copyright over any community contributions to this code. It is likely that several unofficial forks will gain traction in the coming weeks, forcing Winamp to either revise its licensing model to align with GitHub’s ToS or remove the code from the platform altogether.

    Perhaps the Winamp team should have consulted "GitHub For Dummies" before finalizing the WCL 1.0, but it’s not too late for them to take action. This guide is available on Amazon in Kindle format for $18, with a paperback version priced at $25 for new copies and starting at $19.39 for used ones.

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  • Xiaomi’s In-House IoT Platform Vela Becomes Open Source

    Xiaomi’s In-House IoT Platform Vela Becomes Open Source

    Xiaomi Unveils Update to IoT Software Platform at 2023 Partner Conference

    Xiaomi has made a significant announcement at the 2023 Xiaomi IoT Ecological Partner Conference by unveiling its updated IoT software platform, Xiaomi Vela. This move is aimed at strengthening Xiaomi's position in the Internet of Things (IoT) space. Although the Xiaomi Vela software platform was initially announced in 2020, the company has now made it open source. The announcement was made by Lu Weibing, partner and president of Xiaomi Group, and Zeng Xuezhong, senior vice president and president of the mobile phone department of Xiaomi Group.

    Xiaomi Vela: An Innovative IoT Embedded Software Platform

    During his presentation on "How to Build a Thriving IoT Ecosystem," Zeng Xuezhong revealed that Xiaomi's self-developed system, Vela, is now open source for global software and hardware developers. Xiaomi Vela is built on the open-source real-time operating system NuttX and provides unified software services across various IoT hardware platforms. What sets Xiaomi Vela apart is its ability to offer rich components and user-friendly frameworks to address fragmented IoT application scenarios. Moreover, Xiaomi Vela boasts lower system resource requirements compared to Linux while delivering similar functionalities and performance. This makes it a cost-effective alternative, especially for low-end IoT devices.

    Customization and Compatibility with Xiaomi Vela

    Developers who choose Xiaomi Vela can enjoy the benefits of reduced hardware costs and improved overall product cost performance. Xiaomi Vela ensures compatibility through the POSIX interface, allowing existing open-source libraries and components on the Linux platform to be seamlessly ported to Xiaomi Vela. This flexibility and compatibility make Xiaomi Vela an attractive option for developers looking to leverage their existing resources while exploring new IoT opportunities.

    Shaping the Future of IoT Technologies

    Under the leadership of Fan Dian, Xiaomi Vela aims to promote collaboration among developers across different platforms within the IoT ecosystem. The platform has already extended its reach to smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart speakers. In the future, Xiaomi Vela will welcome other smart home appliances, camera ISPs, and sensors. As part of the IoT ecosystem, Xiaomi Vela is set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of IoT technologies.

    With the open-sourcing of Xiaomi Vela, global software and hardware developers now have the opportunity to leverage and contribute to this innovative IoT embedded software platform. Xiaomi's commitment to openness and collaboration is expected to drive further advancements and accelerate the growth of the IoT industry as a whole.

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