Open Letter to Software/Game/Hardware Makers - Be Linux Compatible

Evolution of Technology is truly amazing.
In my previous open letter to computer video game makers entitled "Investigate the niche of GNU/Linux compatibility", I wrote about how game makers should investigate the GNU/Linux niche market for computer-based video games.

In the letter, I made a prediction that GNU/Linux would become the predominant platform of choice for computers everywhere within the next couple of years. For this reason, I suggested that computer video game makers port their games to GNU/Linux, or at least take steps to define the demand for games on GNU/Linux and ensure they were prepared to embrace the opportunity of GNU/Linux as the Universal Operating System.

While I still fully stand behind the idea of porting software and games directly over to GNU/Linux, I now realize things are happening faster than I originally predicted. A few examples are: the movement of Linux into netbooks(no this has not failed, despite all the marketing from from the tech-media-puppets), and the announcement of the Google Chrome OS.

So now I'd like to update my message to also include the entire spectrum of computer software applications, computer games, computer peripherals, and of course computer hardware in general. The message is this: Now is the time for you to make your products work well with GNU/Linux! Now is also the time to show that you support GNU/Linux!

As for how to add GNU/Linux support to your product, here are some of the ways that it can be done effectively:

• Hardware/Peripherals - Get Free Linux Driver Development for your devices, or you can create your own open source driver initiative (e.g., the Hewlett Packard Open Source page on Sourceforge.net). Also, you should proudly display on your hardware packaging that your equipment works with Linux!
  
• Games - port your games to GNU/Linux, or at the very least - make your games work well with WINE. Also, consider using/improving an Open Source game engine and building your games in cross-platform friendly 3d technologies (e.g., OpenGL). At the
  
• Software Applications - When building your software, think of the bigger picture. Design your software to be cross-platform capable from the start. This will give your software the capability to scale across more platforms and devices. Help to build and maintain the giant upon whose shoulders we ride. Build your software using Open and Interoperable Standards. Also, if your program uses fonts, consider using Open Source Fonts to make porting the software to different platforms less painful. At the very least - make your applications work well with WINE. While some software companies have made massive profits on purposely working against Open Standards. These companies tirelessly weild vendor-lockin, predatory, and destructive practices on computer technology, which are the same actions, along with the willingness of other companies to embrace Open Standards, that will spell defeat and extinction these companies (Good Riddens). Technology is meant to enable humans, people increasingly will not accept companies who destroy innovation, and our technological future. We have arrived at the day when purposley destroying technological interoperability is considered Bad Corporate Citizenship!
  

Note on Software Applications: Porting everything over to GNU/Linux on the drop of a hat can be difficult or impossible for some companies. So at the very least, make your programs work well with the WINE software. WINE is translation software that enables Windows software to be run on GNU/Linux, MAC OSX, and Solaris. There are many popular games and software that already work well with WINE (78 pages worth of entries), but there's always room for improvement.

Here's looking forward to the exciting future of enabling humans with technology and GNU/Linux!

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Shannon VanWagner
humans enabled

Linux on Netbooks - ALIVE and WELL!

Doing my part to bring out the truth about Linux on the Netbook.

There's been a lot of buzz lately about netbooks, and many sources out there have not done their due diligence to debunk the myth of "Linux is Dead on the Netbook". C'mon people, don't just jump on the bandwagon and repeat the marketing spew, do some research and tell the truth!

The real problem is that the vendors who are selling Linux on Netbooks are being mum about it, and so there's not much spoken proof of the true figures of Linux Netbook sells.

Well here's what I say: "Linux IS NOT DEAD on the Netbook!". Why do I believe this? Well, simply have a look at the screen-shots I captured TODAY(07-11-2009) at Dell, HP, and Target websites. Yep, every one of them provides a Linux netbook option. Now why would these prominnet computer sellers (and Target) be offering a "Dead" netbook? Doesn't make much sense does it. Here's a hint, because it sells!

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Oh and guess what I saw when I went to the nearby Target store in Factoria(Seattle), WA this past Friday - Yep, you guessed it, the Linux version of the Asus EePc, sitting right there on the shelf.

So technology reporters out there... How about we skip all the predatory Marketing and Sales tactics, and start doing some real research before reporting on technology!

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below.

Shannon VanWagner
humans enabled

Open Letter to Logitech - Secure Your Spot as the Premier Linux Devices Provider

Dear Logitech,

As an IT Professional, electronics consumer, and GNU/Linux user, I am continuously looking for Peripherals providers that support the "Universal Operating System" (GNU/Linux).

I'm the guy that you'll find in the nearby BestBuy store, or Walmart, or even Office Depot, hunkered down in the electronics aisle, flipping over boxes looking at "System Requirements" to see if there's any indication of vendors doing the right thing and printing "Works with GNU/Linux"(or perhaps even affixing the Tux Penguin emblem) on their packaging. And although a great number of peripherals and hardware work with GNU/Linux, sometimes it's still a bit difficult to be absolutely positive. With your help, I aim to change that.

Yes, GNU/Linux is perhaps one of the greatest achievements of technologically advanced human beings since electricity itself was implemented in a useful fashion. The truth is, supporting GNU/Linux is not only a great humanitarian effort, it's a great contribution to the advancement of science and technology. Also, by helping to advance GNU/Linux, this is perhaps the most excellent indicator of outstanding Corporate Citizenship. Companies that help GNU/Linux are companies that care about the future of technology, and they should be rewarded with the best business.

When I go to the nearby electronics store I see basically two types of peripherals and related hardware, the type that are made by a company based in Redmond, and Logitech. I would like to see the Logitech type become more prominent.

After doing some research, I see that your company already has the beginnings of being a great supporter of GNU/Linux compatible products. For instance, when I point my browser to http://logitech.com and search for Linux - some results for webcams appear. On the webcams pages, it says: 'Enjoy fast easy setup of basic video calling features on ... and Linux'. I also see that the Logitech inspired website called http://www.quickcamteam.net provides the GNU/Linux drivers for many webcams. The list of Linux capable Logitech webcams is at: http://www.quickcamteam.net/devices

So I'd like to take this moment to extend to you the idea of your company securing its rightful spot as a "Premier provider of GNU/Linux compatible peripherals and hardware", and ask that you proudly display the "GNU/Linux compatible" markings on your product packaging.

Here's to your future as a great company, corporate citizen, prosperous business leader, and premier provider of peripherals and hardware for technology.

Thank You.

Shannon VanWagner
humans enabled

Attention GNU/Linux Supporters - A Call To Action, It's Time for Fight

Ever cheered for the opponent you wanted to win, yelled in encouragement until you're hoarse, and then in a glorious moment.. see your team win? Have you ever seen the underdog team come out of the shadows and strip the victory from the season's statistically best team?

I have. And I'm about to see it happen again, right in front of the watchful eyes of the world.

It's happened all through history, David vs. Goliath, the Normans vs. the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings, the Spanish vs. the French on Cinco de Mayo, the colonial U.S. vs. the British Empire for the Revolutionary War, and other scenarios - time and time again, all throughout history. In each of these instances the comparatively smaller, less anticipated warrior(s) valiantly battled the oppressive giant and miraculously won with an unexpected victory.

Such is proof, it's not the immense number, massive size, or even the high popularity of an entity that wins the battle, rather it's the passion of the ideas, the will power to the core, and the passion of the warriors, that so propels their souls that nothing can stop them from claiming the victory they rightly deserve.

This same story of glorious human will, is the passionate core of the GNU/Linux ideals, and of those who make GNU/Linux a reality everyday. This passion currently embodies the hearts and minds of millions of humans who use GNU/Linux already, and is growing stronger everyday - at a wildfire pace. It's BATTLE ON for the FREEDOM of GNU/Linux.

What's to lose? Everything that is important to any user that seeks to be enabled by the power of computerized technology, every entity that seeks to contribute to the present and future of technology as a vehicle for advancing humankind.

On planet Earth, we face the most difficult challenges in the history of humankind thus far, overpopulation, widespread disease(list includes cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's to name a few), diminishing resources, widespread famine, and the need to expand out into the Universe onto other planets to continue the existence of humankind. These challenges are so immense and complex, they will take the participation of the entire planet to bring through the solution.

These are the challenges that require the GNU/Linux model of human capability and accomplishment. Newton once said that we ride upon the shoulders of giants - technology is the giant and GNU/Linux is the ideal that will make the giant even larger.

These are very exciting times, we are in our best moment. Through our capability to evolve technology, we have begun to recognize and engage the challenges and shortcomings we face as humans. We are presented not only with such immense challenges, but more importantly with great possibilities of accomplishment. Accomplishment through computerized technology and the freedom and power of the GNU/Linux ideals.

So this post is for you, GNU/Linux makers, users, and supporters. Your time has come to be at the front and to take the lead in making computerized technology better and more effective than ever before. Are you ready?

A simple, yet profound example of the power of the GNU/Linux community is shown in the amount of attention these articles received:
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Ubuntu_Causes_Girl_To_Drop_Out_of_College
and
http://digg.com/linux_unix/Update_Girl_drops_out_of_college_because_of_Linux

GNU/Linux users, how can they say you don't count, how can they say you shouldn't get access, because you didn't pay hundreds of dollars for your OS, because you don't believe in paying for something that is legally free(and better), because you don't conform to putting your head down and "just taking it", because you're different? Wel it's time for a reprieve, it's time to put your foot down.

You are a person that believes in open standards by which humans everywhere can share and advance technology, no matter how rich or poor they are. You are about the human essence of adaptation, you are about the future of technology, and a level of accelerated technology that enables humans everywhere.

It's time to stand up and do something about it. It's time to stand up and fight! The good news is... You won't need any guns or swords and you won't even have to have any military training... but if you want to get in shape -that's perfectly all right.

Here's what you can do: Arm yourself with a GNU/Linux livecd, install Ubuntu, get booted into Linux, surf the web, click advertisements that interest you (to show you're coming from GNU/Linux), tell your family, neighbors, friends, everyone you know about the benefits of GNU/Linux. Purchase products that support GNU/Linux. Ask your local retailer "Where's Linux". Demand software and hardware that is compatible with Linux. Make stickers and paste them everywhere, write it down, send people to getgnulinux.org. And for the love of progress... Write letters to everyone who needs to know(like these bogus, puppet-head column writers who call themselves "analysts") - let them know that if they don't support GNU/Linux, they are not supporting the enablement of humankind with technology, let them know that you know how to advance progress with technology using GNU/Linux.

It's time to stand upon the mountaintops and call out to your fellow human beings to bring them to what they deserve...to bring them to GNU/Linux. You owe it to yourself.. and you owe it to the progress of the future of technology.

Humans enabled with technology... that's the way it's supposed to be.

Won't you join me in this fight to win what's right for everyone?

Viva la GNU/Linux!

I support humans enabled with technology.
Shannon VanWagner
Technology Enthusiast and GNU/Linux Supporter

Open Letter to Adobe - Make Flash Player an Open Web Standard for Content Delivery

May 11th 2009

Dear Adobe Inc.,

I'm writing on behalf of the whole planet of Internet users who benefit everyday from open and interoperable Web Standards. Being open and interoperable is what makes our Internet such the powerful information source that it is.

In this day and age we need more than de-facto standards for sharing data, rather we need documented standards that are rigorously engineered, refined, tested, and most of all proven to be standards-worthy and capable of working on any device that is connected with the Internet. An open standard should allow for future development and use by future members of the community.

We are at a crucial turning point in the Information age, what we do now will profoundly affect the future of computing technology, and we need a media delivery engine that is unbiased, freely adaptable, extensible, and open to the sharing of information in an unbiased way.

In the interests of making media delivery available to everyone on the Internet in a standards compliant way, I am asking that you make the Adobe flash player an open standard so that it can remain the king of the delivery of dynamic content on the Web.

The Flash player in its current form threatens the openness of the web and I don't believe Adobe to be the type of company that is interested in abusing the Internet in such a way. Also, there are competitors of the Flash player that threaten to fragment the Internet standards for content delivery even further. Making Flash the Open Web Standard would prevent the fragmentation from the competitors.

Open standards such as those set forth by the W3C are what make our Internet the immensely successful platform that it is, please consider making a contribution to this effort.

Adobe is well known for including many types of platforms(i.e., GNU/Linux, cellphones, etc.) when developing the Flash player, which has obviously been very successful. Please extend your efforts to the highest degree and consider making Adobe Flash Player an open standard and hold true to being a company that is committed to developing the future of computing technology in the most effective way.

Sincerely,

The Future of the Internet as Seen through the Flash Player

See also:
http://digg.com/software/Adobe_Strikes_Back_Flash_vs_Silverlight_Microsoft
http://digg.com/tech_news/Fans_shafted_as_Major_League_Baseball_revokes_DRM_licenses
http://digg.com/tech_news/Why_baseball_benched_Microsoft_Silverlight_CNET_News