Microsoft: GPL Linux Code Release Not Due to Violation – CIO.com via @VMDigest

Microsoft released set of Linux drivers for its Hyper-V software under the General Public License version 2 (GPLv2) not because of “perceived obligations” to that license but because it is the preferred license of the Linux community and would benefit both Microsoft customers and users of Linux, according to a company executive.

IBM Equates Water to Electricity, Wants Better Measures and Management TreeHugger via @KyNamDoan

Water and electricity are very tightly intertwined, states Clark. “Twenty percent of all electricity in California is used to move water. So one fifth of the state’s electricity is used in dealing with water- moving, or purifying, or manage water supply.” That means there’s a big opportunity for products and services that can improve upon what systems we have in place for water, and what systems we need to create to effectively use and manage it.

The Stormy Debate on Cloud Computing Security – FierceBiotechIT via @cloudnomics

While certain applications do rely on the storage of such data as customer records, emails and documents within the cloud, there is an entire class of applications that reap the benefits of cloud computing without any risk to confidential data.

Windows 7 Released to Manufacturing – Software Enabled Earth via @Microsoft_Green

…we designed Windows 7 with a strong focus on reducing the overall power consumption of the operating system by investing in key areas of the platform including performance optimizations, idle resource utilization, device power management, and key end-user scenarios. Microsoft collaborated with partners in the IT industry and the Windows ecosystem, including PC manufacturers, other device manufacturers, and software vendors, to help ensure that their products are optimized for Windows 7 and can take advantage of the energy efficiency improvements in Windows 7.

Using Radar to Protect Bats from Wind Turbines – EcoGeek via @ecogeek

In tests, deploying a small radar unit in an area full of insects (tasty feeding ground for bats) showed a 30-40% decrease in bats in the area, although the insects were still there. The radar did not make the insects leave, but the bats stayed away.