About a year ago almost every netbook ran on Linux. Now the free platform has disappeared from almost all of them. In an Open Source Forum at CeBIT, Warren Coles of Taiwanese netbook vendor Linpus explained the reasons why.

Users and programmers can now call up three-dimensional landscape models, map data and comprehensive metadata via the OpenStreetMap (OSM) project. The first phase is constructing an open standard-based 3D Geodata Infrastructure (GDI-3D) for entire Germany.

US navigation specialist Garmin has shown off their nüvifone G60 at the 2009 CeBIT in Hanover.

The Linux.com website is now being officially hosted by the Linux Foundation, who will start using it as a portal for online community participation.

Intel's Christian Morales presented plans for production of their new 32-nanometer chip at the CeBIT 2009 in Hannover. The faster, smaller and more energy-efficient chip should secure U.S. jobs for some time to come.

Based on Debian's Lenny, version 3.5 of the Brazilian distro Dreamlinux has now been released.

In a keynote at the Open Source Forum of CeBIT 2009, Graham Smethurst, general manager of infotainment and communication systems at BMW, will present a new Open Source development platform for the auto industry. Under the name GENIVI, founding partners BMW, Delphi, General Motors, Intel, Magneti Marelli, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Visteon and Wind River will jointly develop Linux-based infotainment software

The new Celtx 2.0 is based on Mozilla technology, but the commercialization of its Celtx Studios might alienate some potential users.

The Green IT theme has its definite place at CeBIT 2009, with a true defender. The BITKOM German industry association is launching the Green IT World forum on Tuesday, March 3, in Hannover.

At the CeBIT in Hannover, Germany, the Fujitsu Siemens company announced a planned separation of its two entities as of April 2009.