New Products

Our poor monthly book selections were bumped last month by the LinuxWorld announcement binge, so let's get back to it. Apress has a fun new book out: Beginning Game Development with Python and Pygame: From Novice to Professional by Will McGugan. The idea is to train the budding game developer (but not Python expert) as both a game creator and proficient user of Python and the Pygame games development library. In creating your own tank warfare game, you learn how to deal with gaming preferences, sound, visual effects, keyboard/joystick interactions, multiple platform issues and so on.

www.apress.com

Making RSS a snap is the idea behind the new Feed Server Virtual Appliance from Attensa. Essentially, Attensa has merged its existing Feed Server—an application for complete management of enterprise-wide RSS coordination—with the rPath Linux-based virtual appliance platform. The virtual appliance format, says Attensa, simplifies the hassles of installation, integration, maintenance and administration. A free trial version of the Feed Server is available at Attensa's Web site.

www.attensa.com

The company 2X is touting its new ThinClientServer 5 as not just a secure and cost-efficient solution but an environmentally friendly one as well. 2X claims that the thin-client model utilizes up to 50% less electricity than its fatter counterpart. ThinClientServer 5 deploys a small-footprint, always-up-to-date, Linux-based OS to popular thin-client devices. Some of Version 5's new features include full redundancy of configuration and settings, load balancing and high availability for PXE booting, ThinClientOS USB disk boot and installer, and Jetdirect print-server support. A free trial version is available on 2X's Web site.

www.2x.com/thinclientserver

The nifty Zimbra messaging and collaboration suite now has the honor of its own book, namely Packt Publishing's Zimbra: Implement, Administer and Manage by Marty Resnick. The book shows how to install and configure the multiplatform and open-source Zimbra server for use with Zimbra's Ajax Web client, Outlook and mobile devices. Some of the topics covered include application architecture, administration, security and Zimlets—the mashups that make Zimbra so unique and cool.

www.packtpub.com

MontaVista has high hopes for its new Mobilinux 5.0, a mobile operating system used in a large number of Linux-based smartphones. The company says that Version 5.0, with its sophisticated development environment, will allow manufacturers to create new mobile devices (such as, phone handsets, GPS devices and wireless POS terminals) to consumers more quickly. Key highlights of this upgrade include NSA-level mobile security using MicroSELinux, dynamic power management, built-in connectivity (SDIO, Wi-Fi and so on), integrated real-time response, quick startup (less than seconds), smaller footprint, and support for multicore processors and the Linux 2.6.21 kernel. The first platforms supported will be Texas Instruments' OMAP 2430 and 3430, followed by six additional platforms in early 2008.

www.mvista.com

It always has been tough for small games publishers from outside the US to make their mark on our shores. Shipping boxes of air for mafia-controlled shelf space at CompUSA is no way to make a living. Thanks to the Internet, you can download cool (and Linux-based) games from publishers like Poland's Anawiki Games. Anawiki's new adventure is Path of Magic, sequel to its previous Runes of Magic. Playable without its predecessor, Path of Magic is a puzzle-driven game with more than 51 challenging levels, six image puzzles and two bonus games. The main character Evelyne continues her quest through Avalon and must find her way home on the “Path of Magic”. 3-D-accelerated OpenGL is required.

www.anawiki.com