News Briefs

• Tesla has released some of the source code for its in-car tech. Engadget reports that the company "has posted the source code for both the material that builds the Autopilot system image as well as the kernels for the Autopilot boards and the NVIDIA Tegra-based infotainment system used in the Model S and Model X."
• Historic Eudora email code has been open-sourced by the Computer History Museum, The Register reports: "it fell into neglect after Qualcomm stopped selling it in 2006, and a follow-up version was poorly received in 2007. Under this latest deal, Qualcomm is to donate all IP—copyright code, trademarks and domain names—over to the museum."
• Parrot 4.0 is now available for download. Parrot is a "GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian Testing and designed with Security, Development and Privacy in mind. It includes a full portable laboratory for security and digital forensics experts, but it also includes all you need to develop your own software or protect your privacy while surfing the net." New features of this "milestone" version include netinstall images, Docker templates, Linux kernel 4.16 and several other bugfixes and changes. See the release notes for more information.
• Facebook and Google are already facing GDPR complaints due to "forced consent". TechCrunch reports that Max Schrems has filed complaints against Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Android. Regarding Facebook, Schrems commented "In the end users only had the choice to delete the account or hit the 'agree'-button—that's not a free choice, it more reminds of a North Korean election process."
• The GNOME Foundation recently received a pledge for $1,000,000 over the next two years from an anonymous donor. The Foundation plans to use the funds "to increase staff to streamline operations and to grow its support of the GNOME Project and the surrounding ecosystem."
• SEGA Mega Drive and Genesis Classics are now available for Linux. According to GamingOnLinux, they've also added new features, including two-player online multiplayer, leaderboards, challenge modes, VR support and more. In addition, they have also lowered the price to $29.99 for the whole collection, which is available on Steam.
• The Minifree Libreboot X200 tablet has been FSF-certified, which means "the product meets the FSF's standards in regard to users' freedom, control over the product, and privacy". The X200 tablet is a "fully free laptop/tablet hybrid that comes with Trisquel and Libreboot pre-installed. The device is similar to the previously certified Libreboot X200 laptop, but with a built-in tablet that enables users to draw, sign documents, or make handwritten notes."
• Mozilla's Firefox is launching two new projects, Firefox Color and Side View, through its Test Pilot program. According to the TechCrunch article, Firefox Color is basically a theme editor that lets you do things like choose colors in your browser and set textures for the background. Side View lets you "use your widescreen monitor and display two tabs side-by-side inside the browser without having to open a second Firefox window." Both are available here, if you'd like to try them.
• Engadget reports that scientists have created a psychopathic AI called Norman using images from Reddit. Scientists from MIT exposed Norman (named after the Psycho movie character) "to a constant stream of violent and gruesome images from the darkest corners of Reddit, and then presented it with Rorschach ink blot tests. The results were downright chilling."
• GitLab announced its GitLab Ultimate and Gold are now free for education and open source. Go here for more info on how open-source projects can apply.
• There's a new open-source Raspberry Pi synthesizer called Zynthian, which is a "swiss army knife of synthesis, equipped with multiple engines, filters and effects", Geeky Gadgets reports. The synthesizer is completely hackable and "offers an open platform for Sound Synthesis based on the awesome Raspberry Pi mini PC and Linux". See the main website for a video demo and to order.