August 2012 - Free-software-melb - lists.softwarefreedom.com.au

Supporting Restricted Boot statement
by Ben Sturmfels 14 Aug '12

14 Aug '12

Hi Folks, At last night's discussion group, I mentioned that I'd like to see us support the FSF's statement on Restricted Boot vs Secure Boot: http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/secure-boot-vs-restricted-boot/statement If anyone has any thoughts, please let me know. Otherwise I'll email the FSF this weekend. There was some concern about the strong phrase "We commit that we will neither purchase nor recommend computers that strip users of this critical freedom", since it is foreseeable that someone could one day buy one of these devices either unknowingly or because there was no other alternative. I certainly understand these concerns in wanting to maintain your personal integrity. In both these scenarios though, you wouldn't have purchased a Restricted Boot device by your own free choice, so I don't think anyone would hold your original statement against you. Cheers, Ben

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Next meeting: Thursday the 16th of August
by Alex Fraser 14 Aug '12

14 Aug '12

Hi everyone, The next Free Software Melbourne meeting will be held this Thursday the 16th of August at 6:00pm. The excellent discussion topics will include: - Eaterprises and the Open Food Web [1] - Free software business models, including the use of trademarks (e.g. restriction of the use of the word "Firefox") - Software Freedom Day [2]. Have a think about how you might like to be involved. As usual, we will meet for two hours in the training room at VPAC from 6pm. Building 91 [-1] 110 Victoria Street Carlton South We'll head out for dinner after the meeting. Where should we go? Also, would anyone like to volunteer to bring snacks? Please reply to the list :) See you then, Alex [1] http://www.eaterprises.com.au/ [2] http://softwarefreedomday.org/ [-1] http://www.freesoftware.asn.au/melb/

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software freedom discussion on Byte Into It, 2012-08-01
by Ben Finney 08 Aug '12

08 Aug '12

Howdy all, On last week's Byte Into It on 3RRR, a good chunk of the time was devoted to a software freedom discussion: * Valve Software are working on a Steam client for Ubuntu; Ben won't be using it because DRM and non-free games are both to be avoided even for games. * Gabe Newell, Valve's founder, acknowledges their success is very much due to free and open platforms, and it is evident that Valve and Intel programmers collaborating understand the need for software freedom. We discuss the benefits and barriers around these issues. Download the audio at <URL:http://rrrfm.libsyn.com/webpage/byte-into-it-1-august-2012>. -- \ “The power of accurate observation is frequently called | `\ cynicism by those who don't have it.” —George Bernard Shaw | _o__) | Ben Finney

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