Monday, January 15, 2001		Latest in IT world

Linux 2.4 kernel released

The much-awaited update of the Linux operating system is finally here. Linux creator Linus Torvalds and his team delivered the final release of the long-awaited 2.4 code that is now available for download. The 2.4 kernel contains several improvements. For desktop use, the most notable improvement is support for the multitude of printers, digital cameras, scanners, keyboards, mice, network cards, modems, Zip drives and other devices that plug into the universal serial bus (USB) port. For server use, the most significant changes are improvements that will let Linux take better advantage of systems with multiple processors--a key feature for spreading Linux into more powerful servers. Linux is a clone of the Unix operating system. It competes with Unix variants such as Sun Microsystem's Solaris and with Microsoft's Windows operating system. Unlike those commercial packages, it can be obtained for free and can be freely modified.

Government of India has chalked out its detailed regulatory framework to facilitate convergence of broadcasting, telecommunications and various IT-enabled multimedia services in the country. A draft Communication Convergence Bill is almost ready according to Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sushma Swaraj. An announcement to this effect was made by the Union minister at a three-day Partnership Summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). "Perhaps, India will be the second country in the world, after Malaysia, to enact such a comprehensive integrated law to facilitate convergence.", the minister said. "The Indian entertainment industry is second in the world, next only to the US industry, both in terms of demand for its TV programmes, films and music as well as the volume of production of such programmes and software." The Minister estimated the turnover of the Indian entertainment industry to reach Rs 60,000 crore in the next five years from the current level of Rs 15,000 crore, registering a compounded growth rate of around 32 percent per annum. The revenue turnover of television software industry would increase from its current level of Rs 1,700 crore to Rs 9,000 crore during this period.

Internet giant America Online Inc. acquired cable and media conglomerate Time Warner Inc, on Friday, becoming the world's largest media company after winning conditional approval from the Federal Communications Commission. Exactly a year and a day after the companies announced their historic marriage of old and new media, the five-member FCC unanimously agreed to let AOL and Time Warner go forward despite a dispute over what conditions to put on the companies. However, the commissioners voted 3-2 on Thursday to place restrictions on the new company's advanced instant messaging system when it runs over Time Warner's cable lines. They also voted to force further access to the cable pipeline by competing Internet services.