Sun Buys MySQL for $1 Billion

MySQL

This blog runs on MySQL, and I like Jonathan Schwartz’s vision of the Participation Age, so I’m very happy to hear Sun Microsystems has acquired MySQL for a billion dollars.

…in addition to acquiring MySQL, Sun will be unveiling new global support offerings into the MySQL marketplace. We’ll be investing in both the community, and the marketplace - to accelerate the industry’s phase change away from proprietary technology to the new world of open web platforms.

The good news is Sun is already committed to the business model at the heart of MySQL’s success - first investing to grow communities of users and developers, and only then creating commercial services that attract (rather than lock in) paying customers. Over the past few years, we’ve distributed hundreds of millions of licenses and invested to build some of the free software world’s largest communities.

I love how his announcement takes not-so-subtle potshots at Microsoft’s outdated business model. MS SQL Server still clings to enterprise markets, but that will change with Sun providing enterprise support for MySQL. FLOSS FTW.

Tags: , , , ,

January 17, 2008 | Filed Under Software | Post a Comment 

iPhone NES Emulator

Even retro gaming pushes the limits of technology. The iPhone isn’t supposed to support third-party client apps, much less third-party games. That’s why this open-source iPhone NES emulator is just so damn cool. It even takes advantage of the iPhone’s large multitouchscreen to include a classic NES joypad. It still has control issues and lacks audio, but it’s a promising little work in progress.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

August 8, 2007 | Filed Under Gaming, Mobile | Post a Comment 

Movable Type 4.0 to Go Open Source

Realizing that one of the keys to the success of WordPress is the fact that it’s open source, blogging platform Movable Type is about to follow suit.

Moveable Type 4.0 is the first major release of Movable Type since MT 3.0 in 2004 and comes complete with a market disrupting announcement: SixApart will open source Movable Type before the end of the third quarter.

There’s a lot of history between MT users and SixApart. Although Movable Type was never an open source platform, prior to the release of MT 3.0 many treated MT as if it was open source. The decision to enforce licensing with the release of MT 3.0 caused widespread outrage in 2004 and in many ways was a tipping point that delivered WordPress from relative obscurity to being the popular blogging CMS it is today.

The stupid LiveJournal scandal aside, SixApart will have a lot of catching up to do. WordPress has superior features, a bigger user base, and a strong developer community. Personally, I wouldn’t be caught dead running software from the company that runs such n00b pits as LiveJournal and Vox.

Tags: , , , ,

June 5, 2007 | Filed Under Blogging, Software | 11 Comments 

Next Page →