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IBM turning 500 patents over for free implementation. Cory Doctorow: IBM has announced that it will turn 500 of its software patents over to a "patent commons" that can be freely implemented by anyone. This is big news for free software authors, since it's often impossible for all-volunteer projects to defend themselves from patent infringement claims when there is a bogus software patent (like the thousands that IBM has accumulated) that overlaps with their work. Groklaw's got an excellent piece on this: IBM has more patents than any of them. And if they have decided to carve out a protected zone for free and open source software, then it will happen. If the proprietary software world is enamored of patents and wishes to continue that system, at least for now, while making an exception for GNU/Linux software, I call that a positive move. I know some would naturally argue that all software patents are bad. NoSoftwarePatents.org has taken that position and are critical of IBM's pledge. I think software and patents need to get a divorce myself, but I also see that we are in a period of transition. Old business models are dying, and new ones are coming into being. And if there is a way to allow everyone to make money the way they want to, that may be, for now, as good as it gets. This is a creative response to the particular issue that GNU/Linux faces with patents, and I applaud it. Link (Thanks, Ken!) [Boing Boing] 3:33:11 PM

Keynote does Flash. Keynote does Flash: Cool... Apple's Keynote 2 software, introduced today, apparently offers SFW export for delivery. "Keynote 2 creates self-running, interactive slideshows. Perfect for special events, school projects and kiosks, they let you incorporate voiceovers, navigation arrows, hyperlinks and more.... [JD on MX] 1:18:31 PM

iPod Shuffle First Pic And the new flash memory-based iPod Shuffle, available in 512MB version for $100 and a 1GB model for $150. - lev (tips@gizmodo.com) [Gizmodo] 10:24:19 AM

iPSP: Sync Sony on Mac Ronin No Sakurakai Softronics has developed "iPSP," a bit of OSX software that allows you to automatically sync music, pictures, and more to your Sony PlayStation Portable. They have a free demo which you can download (and which I have not tried, since I could not be convinced to part with $600 when Sony will be subsidizing my purchase of its console in the States) which can be upgraded if you like the software. Besides music and photos, the iPSP also backs up your save games each time you sync, and includes tools to help you convert video into the native playback format of the PSP. Looks handy. (Thanks, Simon!) Product Page [Kaisakura] - lev (tips@gizmodo.com) [Gizmodo] 10:05:36 AM

Gizmondo Shows Off Isis Prototype MobileBurn reports on the progression of those pretenders to the throne, Gizmondo, who at CES showed off their new (doomed to burning, dripping failure) handheld gaming console. I'll admit, the device itself is fairly cool, with a nice screen, built-in GSM/GPRS connection, Bluetooth, and more, but I still can't imagine any sort of real success in a market where Nintendo and Sony are duking it out. The company also optimistically showed off a prototype of their next generation device, code-named 'Isis,' which is named for the Egyptian goddess of lost causes. The Gizmondo at CES 2005 [MobileBurn] - lev (tips@gizmodo.com) [Gizmodo] 10:00:53 AM