ZDNet Australia

Dell ponders possible Streak stuff up

Erica Ogg, CNET.com on August 27th, 2010 (August 27th, 2010)

in brief Dell is responding to concerns in the open-source community that it didn't comply with the rules governing Android software used in its Streak tablet.

The Streak was released in the UK in June, and in the US in July. Recently, a group of developers started a mini-protest online after they found, they said, that Dell failed to release some source code components for the Streak as required by anyone using software governed by the GNU General Public Licence.

The GPL requires those who use software governed by the licence to make available any changes they made to the software. It's not unknown for companies using GPL code in embedded computing devices — the Linux kernel being a prime example — to be called out by open-source and free-software fans for their shortcomings.

Dell responded to the criticism via a post on Twitter on Wednesday, saying, "We're reviewing concerns re: the #dellstreak source code. We intend to comply with all applicable requirements. More details soon."

Via CNET

URL:http://www.zdnet.com.au/dell-ponders-possible-streak-stuff-up-339305561.htm