Communicating freely


Archive for the ‘Sun’ Category

Podcast interviews with Simon (Sun) and Tim (Chaos Radio)

Monday, March 5th, 2007

I was at FOSDEM recently and bumped into Simon Phipps from Sun Microsystems.  The last time we spoke was at LUG Radio Live so there was a lot of catching up to do.  

Simon has beaten me into the podcasting world with his new LiveMink show.  He interviewed me about the Freedom Task Force and I’m pretty happy with the result.  We recorded the show sitting on a stairwell in a dusty hallway about four metres from the action-packed FOSDEM hallway and yet (astonishingly) the sound quality is fine.  Kudos to Simon and his nifty microphone.

This was the second podcast I had participated in over the last couple of weeks.  When Tim Pritlove of Chaos Radio was in Zurich we had a chance to record together.  It was the first time I had the opportunity to speak properly with Tim and I have to say I was impressed with how he organises his show.  It was a genuine pleasure to chat.

Ah!  Now, when will I get my own podcast?

Sun, Java and the FTF

Monday, November 13th, 2006

Java is now going under the GNU GPL. This is great news. Java always delivered transportable services in a really cool way, but the underlying system was controlled by one company and that left a question mark over its long-term future. It is to Sun’s great credit that they recognised this and that they recognised that only Free Software could provide a solution.

Everyone is going to gain from Java going GPL. Developers have the assurance that Java is Free and will remain Free forever. Users have the assurance that their platforms are open to adaptation, improvement and are fundamentally substitutable in ways that are only possible with Free Software. Sun has just harnessed the brain-power of thousands of the finest development minds by opening Java to the world. This is now our language. This is our solution.

Free Software has been in the mainstream for a while. Our technology is powering hundreds of millions of devices and Java bolsters this. It’s another support strut in the foundation we’ve built. It’s a foundation that ensures people have access to and control over the systems that they use.

FSFE’s Freedom Task Force (FTF) is part of the growing Free Software eco-system. We’re here to provide a pillar of support with regards Free Software licensing and legal issues. We help people understand the emerging technologies and licenses and we help make sure everyone gets the maximum benefit.

I guess I’m going to have an interesting week. It was looking crazy enough with our formal launch of the FTF this morning, but Sun’s move to make Java Free has really let the cat out of the bag. Free Software licensing and its implications are most certainly the topic of the day.

Well, we’re here to answer questions. That’s why I have a comfortable white desk and a neat IKEA chair in our Zurich office. We want to help you work out what you need to do, what the implications of all this stuff really is, and what benefits have just been placed on the table for everyone.

Let’s chat.

Send me a message

Belgium: +32 2 747 03 57 ext 408
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ftf@roundup.fsfeurope.org

Free Software Foundation Europe
Freedom Task Force
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