cross platform support

In the face of heated competition from Amazon and Apple, Walmart looks to be working hard to make its new MP3 downloads store more compelling.

The Register reflects on the history of Linux.

"Linux is what Windows had once promised to be - at least in terms of cross-platform support. In the wake of the PowerPC alliance from IBM, Apple, and Motorola in 1991, Microsoft made a commitment to support Windows NT 3.51 on PowerPC chips.

Windows eventually added support for Digital's Alpha NEC's and SGI's MIPS chips. Workstation maker Intergraph ported Windows NT 3.51 to its Clipper chips and said it was creating a port to Sparc chips from Sun.

MacDesign Studio has released Web Help Desk 9.0 , the latest update to its cross-platform support tool.

The free software Linux desktop KDE 4.1 advances the KDE Project's goals of cross-platform support and helps make the user interface more attractive.

The KDE Project looked to Apple as an example of the importance of an attractive UI.

Finland-based handset manufacturer Nokia announced that it has completed its acquisition of Trolltech. The Norwegian software firm's development talent -- together with its Linux-compatible "Qt" application development framework -- is likely to help Nokia improve its cross-platform support, and expand its presence in the Linux mobile device market.