The How Software is Built blog secured an interview with Helio Chissini de Castro, one of the KDE developers employed by Linux distributor Mandriva.

The Free Software Foundation (FSF) announced today that it has published an initial set of criteria for endorsing computers and other devices. The FSF seeks both to obtain feedback on the criteria, and raise interest in the program among hardware manufacturers. Ultimately, the FSF plans to promote an endorsement mark to be carried on products that meet the criteria: respects your freedom.

"...On February 4 will be presented, the iFreeTablet, capping more than 20 years of research of EATCO Group at the University of Cordoba in the field of usability, ergonomics and adaptive devices as an alternative to the new Apple tablet..."

"Once again Free and Open Source software demonstrated its power by allowing people to change software to meet their needs, instead of hoping that one day a proprietary vendor might care enough to meet their needs."

Free software can be viewed as sort of a public good — everyone can benefit from it. Instead of paying for complete applications, buyers may wish to only pay for specific program elements they want, which the software lacks. Therein lies an opportunity to make money on free software, instead of around it.

"Free software is a good thing, its empowering, I might even go as far as to say its the way things should be done. One of the biggest threats to free software at the moment is “web services”, or if you’re an airy fairy Web 2.0 person “The Cloud” (airy could, geddit?).

The free software community is a worldwide movement dedicated to the goal of freedom in the use of technology. This diverse community is made up of programmers, designers, writers and everyday advocates who contribute to make and promote software that respects our freedoms.

Lately, the trend of "Anyone can contribute" is taking a turn for the better as established developers and teams are looking at ways to help make it easier for kids to not only program, but contribute to the Free Software community at large.

Meet the pieces of free software working together to build a complete free software system. It is new FSF's informational page, collecting most widely known free software projects together.