IBM develops smart open source

IBM is developing an open source machine learning compiler, which intelligently optimises applications, resulting in shorter development times and bigger performance gains, states Info World.

Called Milepost GCC, the compiler is the result of a collaboration between IBM and partners in the European Union-funded Milepost consortium.

"Our technology automatically learns how to get the best performance from the hardware. Whether mobile phones, desktops, or entire systems, the software will run faster and use less energy," says Bilha Mendelson, manager of code optimisation technologies at IBM Research.

The Moblin.org Project has released Linux's latest open source OS for the netbook called Moblin 2.0, according to Geek.com.

Moblin is a Fedora-based (Red Hat) Linux branch, and represents a fundamentally new approach to the user interface.

Largely driven by Intel developers including Intel's Imad Sousou, it can be downloaded immediately for any Atom-powered netbook.

Mozilla has released Firefox 3.5, the latest version of its free open source Web browser, says CNET news.

Firefox 3.5 has a range of new features, including a JavaScript engine for faster Web applications such as Google Docs, the ability to show video built into Web pages without plugins, a private browsing mode, and geolocation technology that can let Web sites know where you are.

John Lilly, CEO of Firefox backer Mozilla, says: "Firefox 3.5 brings together the most innovative Web technologies and delivers them in the most complete and powerful modern browser."