If a totalitarian regime uses Linux, does that mean Linux is an enemy of the state? That's the mind-bending question of the day following some politically charged Linuxy news that emerged over the past few weeks. North Korea, it appears, has developed its own Linux-based operating system. With a strong similarity to the Windows user interface, Red Star even comes with a Readme file including quotes from North Korean leader Kim Jong-il about how important it is for the republic "to have its own Linux-based operating system compatible with Korean traditions."

Users of Android smartphones now have a new option for browsing the Web: A beta version of Opera Mini 5 was released Thursday for the Linux-based Android platform. New features in the software, which is an upgrade to the current version 4.2, include tabbed browsing, which lets users browse several Web pages at once; Speed Dial, which offers one-click access to a user's favorite pages; Opera Link, a way to synchronize bookmarks and Speed Dial between the user's mobile phone and desktop computer; and Download Manager, which manages downloads from the browser.

Color is not typically a topic of much discussion on the Linux blogs, but in recent weeks, it's been drawing a lot of attention. Why, you ask? Simple: Ubuntu recently announced a major change to its longstanding "Human" earthtone-palette theme and branding. "I don't know whether to call it 'poo brown' or 'dirt brown,' but either way it is seriously awful," said Slashdot blogger hairyfeet. The new theme is meant to focus on the concept of "Light," and it uses primarily hues in the dark purple and orange ranges.

Some system utilities do a variety of things well. They come with tools to give users lots of solutions in one package. Other system apps like the Atol File Manager perform a dedicated function flawlessly without adding other specialties. Atol took a while to grow on me, but now this app is one of my most-used Linux tools. When it comes to file manager applications, that comparison spells out the philosophical design differences of the Atol Twin Panel file manager and the Krusader file manager, also a twin panel app, which I recently reviewed.

A new industry group hopes to improve the design and construction of data centers through the application of open source principles. Dubbed the "Open Source Data Center Initiative," the group was formed last week by GreenM3 along with the University of Missouri and ARG Investments. The University is providing administrative support, while ARG hopes to implement some of the resulting ideas at its Ewing Industry Park location. Nokia's Michael Manos, vice president of service operations, is serving as an adviser.

With its $99 price, the new Android-based Motorola Backflip clearly stands apart from Apple's iPhone on more than just appearance. Both are smartphones, to be sure, and both are offered through AT&T. They also provide many of the same features and functionality. However, in addition to their different form factors and operating systems, the divergent pricing on the devices suggests that they occupy very different positions in AT&T's strategy.

Users of apps from BIRT, the open source Business Intelligence and Reporting Tools project, will be able to access them on the iPhone starting Monday. Actuate, which founded the BIRT project and coleads it with the Eclipse Foundation, is putting its BIRT Mobile Viewer on the App Store. This viewer, which will be a free app, is a native iPhone application that will let users access and control BIRT content through Actuate's servers at no charge.

It's not often that Linux Girl is struck speechless by some tidbit of news in the tech world, but every once in a while it happens. Last week, it happened. Amid all the high-level discussion of Internet security at the RSA Conference 2010 in San Francisco, Microsoft's Scott Charney -- who holds the ironic title of "corporate vice president for trustworthy computing" -- actually suggested a government tax to help the company improve Windows security.

Canonical founder and CEO Mark Shuttleworth, developer of the Ubuntu open source operating system, announced in December that he was stepping aside to develop cloud product design and curry new partners. He named Chief Operating Officer Jane Silber to take his place as CEO. Several weeks ago, Silber announced the hiring of open source industry veteran Matt Asay to fill her old job as COO. Canonical set high performance standards with its commitment for new distro releases for its popular desktop and server editions every six months.

Sometimes there's nothing like a good lawsuit to force people to acknowledge just how much something is worth. Take FOSS, for example. Sure, there are estimates made of its value from time to time -- the latest, in fact, just recently put the kernel alone at $1.4 billion -- but for many people out there, "free" in price tends to be viewed as free of value. So thank goodness for Matthew Katzer! It's all because of him that the Model Train case went to court -- and that there's now an official outcome confirming that free software has real monetary value.

The lawsuit Apple filed this week may target smartphone maker HTC, but Cupertino is likely shooting for much bigger prey. Specifically, Google is the real focus of Apple's wrath, said Chris Hazelton, research director for mobile and wireless with the 451 Group. Based on the details of the lawsuit, "an argument could be made that it's targeting HTC," he noted. However, the numerous issues listed on Apple's simultaneously filed complaint with the ITC are "all based on what the operating system does and how it interacts."

I am an avid user of open source software and a firm believer in the benefits of FOSS. I have a choice of operating systems at my disposal, but I now cringe whenever I have to work in the Microsoft world. I much prefer the vast array of Linux apps. Why? They are bloat-free problem solvers. Take, for example, the gFTP File Client. I stumbled upon the gFTP app quite by accident. I was having difficulty uploading audio and graphic files as attachments to a corporate email account in the cloud. The task was worsened by uncooperative technologies.

Apple has filed a lawsuit against smartphone manufacturer HTC, alleging that the company has infringed on 20 patents related to the iPhone. The complaint cites Google's Nexus One, the T-Mobile G1, the Droid Eris, the Touch Diamond, the Touch Pro2, and the Imagio as examples of infringing devices. Apple also filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission seeking to block imports of these products. Apple decided not to sit by and watch competitors steal its patented inventions instead of creating their own original technology, said CEO Steve Jobs.

As a result of recent updates to the BBC's Flash-based iPlayer, open source media players can no longer play its content. The updates implement SWF Verification, a copyright protection mechanism that excludes free alternatives to Flash player, such as that offered by the XBMC community, among others. The result is that such open source plugins can no longer stream iPlayer content. BBC Trust, which oversees the BBC, reportedly has no plans to investigate the decision despite widespread complaints.

It's hard not to have an overwhelming sense of deja vu every time word of a new Microsoft patent deal reaches the news. Such was the case last week, when Redmond's legal eagles gleefully proclaimed their success in making a patent cross-license offer that Amazon apparently couldn't refuse. The is particularly notable for its relevance to open source. The Linux Foundation's Jim Zemlin played down the agreement -- "nothing to see here," he wrote -- but bloggers had a hard time keeping their speculation to themselves.

At the end of business last Friday, Google announced it had completed the transaction to acquire On2 Technologies, the maker of Web video encoding software and codecs, for a deal that was finally valued at $124.6 million. On2 was a small company that was, in recent quarters, losing small amounts of money. It was attempting to become lucrative at some point through the licensing of a new generation of its VPx codec platform -- called "VP8" -- announced way back in the fall of 2008. Customers were supposed to have included Move Networks and Skype.

Web-based applications and cloud computing have presented new challenges for software developers. Most software makers are by no means tone-deaf to user concerns about security and usability issues, but even those software writers who are receptive to these worries must contend with hard-to-plug holes that can open up in cross-platform programs such as Web browsers. For Web app developers, the problems occur on two fronts. Not only do they have to harden the application itself, but they also have to keep up with the occasional new browser release.

Fans of FOSS have no shortage of ways to enjoy openness in the technological world, but when it comes to the other aspects of life, such opportunities can be few and far between. It wasn't until just recently that we saw the open philosophy applied to fine dining. Yes, you heard that right! There really are "no secret recipes" at Amsterdam's Instructables Restaurant, because everything there is open -- not just the recipes, but even the fixtures and furniture.

As communication becomes more Web-centric, text editors become more essential writing tools. Blocks of text get tweaked with HTML codes to provide a more graphical appearance. So good text editors are those with many of the same features found in word processors, only without the added formatting and graphic components. One of the best text editors for anyone who handles a heavy flow of words is the Kate Text Editor. This is one my two favorite text-writing apps. Unless I need a final copy in a polished printout, Kate is a more convenient choice than a full-fledged word processor.

Microsoft and Amazon have entered into a patent cross-licensing deal that covers, among other things, Amazon's Kindle and its use of Linux-based servers. The agreement calls for Amazon to pay Microsoft an undisclosed amount of money. Microsoft has forged similar deals with other companies that market Linux or use it in their own operations, raising hackles in the FOSS community. The latest deal renews questions about Microsoft's intentions.