Open source brings Intel, Sun together

Intel says open source was behind the company's decision to add Solaris to its list of supported operating systems, reports ZDNet.

The report quotes Intel VP and server product general manager Kirk Skaugen as saying it was the open sourcing of Solaris that changed Intel's mind about the operating system. Until now, Intel has supported only Windows and Linux on its x86 architecture.

Skaugen was commenting on the recently announced partnership between the two companies in which Intel is to support Solaris and Java. Sun will start using Intel's Xeon chips in its x86 servers.

Oracle's WebCenter Framework, at the heart of its new Web 2.0 interface, is based on Java Server Faces, reports ComputerWorld.

The tool, to be released later this month, is designed to enable developers to embed Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) components, portlets and other content into a user interface.

The suite also includes WebCenter Services, for embedding services such as Oracle Enterprise Search, VOIP calling and wiki-building tools into the interface.

Motorola claims its Motorizr Z6, built on the company's new software platform, is the world's first Linux-Java music phone, reports ITP.

The Z6 is Motorola's first handset to include Microsoft Windows Media technologies such as Windows Media digital rights management (DRM), Windows Media audio (WMA) and media transfer protocol (MTP), as standard.

The slider-style handset offers simple connectivity to Windows-based PCs via the USB 2.0 high-speed protocol. This means Windows Media Player automatically recognises the Motorizr Z6.

Microsoft has released its ASP.Net Ajax 1.0 development tool, which provides a graphical user interface for developers to create Web applications based on the Ajax programming technique.

According to IT News, Microsoft is touting the tool as a solution for enterprise developers who want to build online applications while using tools that integrate with the familiar Visual Studio.Net development kit.

Microsoft says the tool means developers will not have to learn new programming techniques to tap into the benefits of Ajax for creating new generation Web applications.