Columnists’ Corner: With the first draft of the GNU GPL 3.0 has come some indisputable improvements, but “when it comes to the terms of the new license, the benefits aren’t as clear-cut,” writes Neil McAllister in Stallman vs. DRM. “Whether you’re likely to agree with all of the terms of the new license probably depends on the extent to which you subscribe to Stallman’s personal philosophy — a philosophy that seems to have grown beyond the use and distribution of software to encompass a much larger mandate.” Best of the blogs: Matt Asay questions an effort by Microsoft’s Bill Hilf to put to rest the myth that Linux can run on anything, in Open Resource. Victor Garza, meanwhile, looks at the freely available, 256-bit AES encrypted Notepad replacement from Steganos called LockNote. Wireless: The first mobile WiMax chips are ready to ship, and Beceem Communications claims 30Mbps peak performance. The news beat: Google and Apple top a list of the world’s most influential brands in 2005; more surprisingly, however, is that Skype knocked Starbucks aside to take the third spot. Eclipse issues version 2 of its BIRT (Business Intelligence and Reporting Tool) with a focus on improving reporting and PHP. The Tokyo stock exchange adds trading capacity. And Centeris announces Likewise, a tool to help IT shops manage mixed Linux and Windows environments. Technology Industry