[4725] in linux-announce channel archive
Linux-Announce Digest #18
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Digestifier)
Fri Jan 21 06:13:08 2005
From: Digestifier <Linux-Announce-Request@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu>
To: Linux-Announce@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu
Reply-To: Linux-Announce@senator-bedfellow.mit.edu
Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 06:13:06 EST
Linux-Announce Digest #18, Volume #5 Fri, 21 Jan 2005 06:13:06 EST
Contents:
New magazine to boost FLOSS ("Frederick Noronha (FN)")
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Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2005 12:34:09 CST
From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org>
Subject: New magazine to boost FLOSS
Thanks for this posting to soenke.zehle at web.de
[via Debate]
http://www.ukzn.ac.za/ccs
http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleId=195785&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__business/
Ellen Hollemans | Johannesburg, South Africa
20 January 2005 10:49
A few years ago, when you mentioned open-source software, most people
in South Africa, aside from Slashdot readers -- probably the world's
most savviest technology community -- would have had no idea of what you
were talking about.
Open source refers to any software whose code is freely available for
users to look at and modify. Linux is the best-known example; others
include Apache, the dominant software for servers that dish out
corporate web pages.
Due in part to the high-profile launch of Mark Shuttleworth's new
Ubuntu operating system, more and more ordinary computer users are
realising that there is life after Windows. To help them on their way, a
new magazine, Tectonic, will be launched in March.
The new magazine is the brainchild of Alastair Otter, who also runs the
Tectonic website.
Why a magazine?
"I have always dreamed about starting a print magazine and we thought,
now is the time. We hope it will make our business profitable," Otter
told the Mail & Guardian Online on Wednesday.
"There is a revolution going on. I think open source is the most
important development in the IT [information technology] sector since
the internet," said Otter.
"Open source is changing the way companies in propriety software
[paid-for software] are doing business. It allows us to develop software
within Africa and programs that cater for our needs. Now we don't have
to go overseas and spend a lot of money on propriety software."
The magazine will not just preach to the converted. It is also aimed at
students, the government and bright-eyed new users.
"The open-source community will have the internet as their main
platform for their forums, but with our magazine we want to bring the
communities together and cater for all of them.
"We want to stick to the open-source philosophy, which means that we
want to enable people to learn new skills and techniques. We want people
to learn about open source," said Otter.
"I picture a magazine that has information for new users of open-source
software on the first few pages, and interesting features for experts
and professionals towards the end. We will not be too intimidating,
though.
"The developer market in South Africa is quite big and a lot of local
creators of software are looking into open source. We want to provide
these experts with an informative magazine."
Can it make money?
"Our website has been online for four years and we have grown
substantially since the start. We now have about 20 000 readers a
month.
"Over the past few months, we have seen more and more traffic on the
website. We think there is a market for a magazine on open-source
software.
"My partner and I have jobs on the side. As soon as the magazine
becomes successful, I will drop everything else," said Otter.
"I do not think the magazine will take away readers from our website. I
think it will rather draw more online readers. The magazine will
strengthen our brand.
"It is very hard to be sustainable as a website. Local advertisers are
still reluctant and it is hard to generate enough revenue in order to
keep the business going. I still don't get paid for the work I do,"
Otter said.
First issue
The first issue's cover story is about Shuttleworth's Ubuntu project.
"What is amazing about Ubuntu is that Shuttleworth is paying the best
open-source developers in the world, who have designed an operating
system that is very capable and distributed freely around the globe. "He
is putting so much money and knowledge back into the community.
"It is very impressive to see what the Shuttleworth Foundation is doing
with open-source software in the Eastern Cape. He is stimulating
education in science and mathematics through the use of open-source
software.
"Projects like these are what open source is all about, and we want to
write about that. But it is not just Shuttleworth. There are a lot of
smaller projects that are very meaningful for [the] education and
development of South Africa and Africa and we also pay attention to
them.
"For example, take Translate.org.za. These developers have translated
operating systems and programs into local languages. They have also
developed a translation tool that can be applied to other open-source
software.
"This allows South Africans to use software they need without buying
expensive translations. And the big overseas companies would probably
never develop these translations because it is too expensive and there
is not enough profit gained from them.
Tectonic magazine will cost R15 and will initially only be available
through subscription.
"The first edition will consist of around 2 000 copies, but we expect
this to rise in the future.
To subscribe to Tectonic magazine visit www.Tectonics.co.za/mag/
============================================================================
Frederick Noronha (FN) Nr Convent Saligao 403511 GoaIndia
Freelance Journalist P: 832-2409490 M: 9822122436
http://fn.swiki.net http://fn-floss.notlong.com
============================================================================
http://goabooks.swiki.net * Reviews of books on Goa... and more
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