Red Hat wants interoperability

Even though patent talks between Microsoft and Red Hat broke down last year, before Microsoft went on to sign a technical collaboration and patent indemnity deal with Novell, Red Hat is still willing to work with the software maker on the interoperability front, reports eWeek.

But the Linux vendor wants to limit those talks to pure interoperability between Windows and Red Hat Linux, with the goal of solving real customer problems, says Paul Cormier, Red Hat's executive VP of engineering.

"I want to talk to the folks at Microsoft about our two operating systems and how we can work together to solve real customer problems without attaching any unrelated strings, such as intellectual property," he says.

Universal Music Group has seen the future of digital music, and it's one where Apple's domination is diminished, reports Business Week.

The music label is balking at renewing a deal that gives Apple unfettered access to Universal's massive music catalogue and limits Universal's ability to strike exclusive distribution deals with competing download services.

Apple hopes the companies can still hash out a new agreement. "It's just not true that they have refused to re-sign," says Apple spokesperson Katie Cotton. "We're still in negotiations, and their music is still on iTunes."

Nielsen, which tracks viewers as they click through television channels, now wants to measure the games people play, reports LA Times.

The marketing and research firm has signed a deal with Sony to collect data from hundreds of thousands of PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable owners, capturing such information as which video games were being played and for how long.

For the Japanese electronics and media giant, the agreement is likely to help it eventually sell a wide variety of ads on its online game platform, PlayStation Network, as well as within each game it publishes.

Recent statistics indicate the number of computer science majors in colleges may be shrinking. According to the Computer Research Association, total enrolment in computer science bachelor programmes in the US was down 14% from 2005 to 2006, and more than 40% since 2002.

On the upside, there were some hopeful numbers: a 10% rise in pre-major enrolment in computer sciences, reports News.com.

When wading into that talent pool, securing a talented workforce makes companies like Google and Microsoft work hard to pave the way for interns, beyond offering an attractive salary.