The Android OS from Google is optimized for ARM processors and smaller displays, but, with some adjustment, can also run on netbooks.

A team of developers at the German university of Konstanz has released version 5.0 of the XML database. The open source application employs many standard XML features and comes with a graphic user-interface.

The Compiz project, which makes a free compositing window manager, suffers from a lack of participants, direction and leadership, at least according to developer Kristian Lyngstol.

Close to year's end, U.S. chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) has released the Linux code for its ATI R600 and R700 microprocessors.

Just in time for the launch of openSUSE 11.1, Novell developers have completed the new Contrib-Repository. The Contrib will act as a bridge between factory (packages officially supported by Novell) and third party packages.

Maker of embedded software Sierra Wireless has released a Linux software development kit (SDK) for its 3G wireless modules.

Developer Sam Leffler has released the HAL code of the WiFi drivers for Atheros chipsets as open source.

MySQL founder Michael "Monty" Widenius warns in his blog against putting the current version 5.1 of the popular database package into production. He's critical of the release policy and fears that the product's quality may suffer.