Jan Wildeboer, a Red Hat employee and big advocate of open source software, has posted today that Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 Marketplace blocks open source software from being distributed.

Says Wildeboer: "One thing is extremely obvious. Microsoft wants to keep its platform clear of Free Software. Period."

Article 5 of the Application Requirements section in the Marketplace Application Provider Agreement specifically states (via Thinq):

The Application must not include software, documentation, or other materials that, in whole or in part, are governed by or subject to an Excluded License, or that would otherwise cause the Application to be subject to the terms of an Excluded License.

In the "Excluded License" section earlier, the GNU General Public License is named, along with any "equivalents."

Furthermore, it appears that even closed-source apps will be banned if they use open source libraries, which many developers do.

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Apple has allegedly cornered the glass capacitive touch panel market, prepaying for 60 percent of the world's entire capacity in 2011.

The move will leave many other companies fighting for the remaining 40 percent, which is expected to cause component shortages throughout the year and delays.

Apple has reportedly prepaid suppliers Wintek and TPK $3.9 billion for long-term contracts, enough money to cover 136 million iPhone displays or 60 million iPad 2 displays.

Gigaom explains that Apple has done this before:

Prepaying for a bulk, long-term contract allows Apple to control pricing, causing scarcity in the market, which raises the prices of remaining component stock. Apple's pre-bought parts then give it a price advantage when it comes to production costs, and one that could grow as the contract progresses. It's something Apple's been known to do in the past, specifically with NAND flash memory in 2005.

Apple can successfully make moves like this because their devices (as history shows) are almost guaranteed to sell, and sell well. iSuppli is expecting 44 million iPad/iPad 2 tablet sales in 2011, after the company sold 14.8 million in 2010. Even the most radical analyst expectations in 2010 had sales at 9 million.

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The SFG is reporting that social networking giant Facebook has added 'domestic partnerships' and 'civil unions' as relationship status options.

The move has been applauded by gay/lesbian advocacy groups, who see it as strong support for same-sex couples.

For now, the new options are available to Facebook users in the US, UK, Canada, France and Australia.

Facebook has 550 million users around the world and continues to see exponential growth. The company was recently valued at $50 billion, making it one of the largest Internet-based companies in the world.

Says Jarrett Barrios, president the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD):

Facebook sent a clear message in support of gay and lesbian couples to users across the globe.

When millions of Facebook users see these relationship status options, they gain a greater understanding of the legal inequalities faced by loving and committed same-sex couples in so many states today.

Being able to see same-sex couples in civil unions and domestic partnerships who celebrate their relationships no differently than married couples will serve as another reminder that these couples still lack the same legal recognition and protections associated with marriage. Facebook's noteworthy move also highlights the vast majority of same-sex couples living in states where there are no legal protections whatsoever.

Facebook said the upgrade was one of the most requested by its userbase.

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According to AllThingsD, Spotify has signed a distribution deal with EMI, bringing the streaming service one step closer to a launch in the U.S.

Last month, Spotify signed a similar deal with Sony.

While the deals are a great start, the company will need to sign at least Warner or Universal before the service can launch. Universal is the largest label on the planet.

Warner's CEO Edgar Bronfman has made multiple positive comments about the service, but there is still no word on whether a deal is anywhere near close.

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Apple's shares have fallen five points today after the National Enquirer posted pictures of the ailing CEO Steve Jobs, claiming he may only have six weeks to live due to pancreatic cancer.

The pictures show Jobs leaving the Stanford Cancer Center looking very weak and frail, with his clothes hanging loosely from his body.

Jobs, at 6'2, is said to have fallen to 130 pounds.

Furthermore, the CEO has thinning hair which is "a sign of the effects of the advanced chemotherapy usually used to treat the disease."

One critical care physician, Dr. Samuel Jacobson said of the pictures (via Econ):

Judging from the photos, he is close to terminal. I would say he has six weeks. He is emaciated and looks to have lost a lot of muscle mass, which spells a poor prognosis.

Despite the tabloid report, more credible agencies like the AP have reported today that Jobs will meet with President Barack Obama today to discuss technology and the U.S.

Whether the rumor is true or not, we at AfterDawn wish Jobs a speedy recovery.

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Microsoft has reported today that its recently launched Internet Explorer 9 RC has been downloaded over 2 million times.

The RC was made available on February 10th.

Microsoft says it is "humbled by the enthusiasm and uptake of IE9" and will soon begin notifying beta testers to upgrade. That move should lead to millions more downloads, anticipates the software giant.

Internet Explorer 9 was also confirmed for Windows Phone 7 devices, although the time frame is still unknown.

As of the RC, Microsoft claims their IE9 JavaScript engine is the fastest of all current browsers (based on SunSpider benchmarks). The browser also adds improved JavaScript and tons of added security features.

After the release of IE9 RC, rival Mozilla took a shot at the browser calling it "not modern" and "two years late."

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Warner Bros. has announced this week that launch of "App Editions" of popular movies, which are available now via the iOS App Store for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch owners.

The free apps (before purchasing the actual movie) have built-in social networking features, and include bonus content like trivia, small games and soundtracks.

Furthermore, Inception comes with "The PASIV Device Instruction Manual" and "The Cobol Job" comic, as well as unreleased tracks from composer Hans Zimmer. The Dark Knight comes with a full gallery of pictures.

Starting with 'The Dark Knight' at $9.99 and 'Inception' at $11.99, users from around the world can purchase the movies in-app, and customize the menus to one of sixteen languages, or add one of thirty-four subtitle tracks.

While watching the films, the apps have real-time Facebook and Twitter integration, allowing watchers to share quotes or talk.

"For many, watching a movie is a social activity and App Editions are the first mobile product to deliver this capability on a global scale," added Thomas Gewecke, President of Warner Bros. Digital Distribution (via PCM).

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Redbox, the popular $1-a-night DVD rental company, will start a subscription-based Internet streaming service, one that will directly rival Netflix.

President Mitch Lowe told analysts that the new subscription model will also give users a chance to still rent physical DVDs along with unlimited streaming.

Netflix reported last quarter that they moved to over 20 million subscribers, a huge jump since the start of 2010.

The LATimes speculates that Amazon will be Redbox's streaming partner:

Redbox has previously said it will launch a digital service with a partner but has not identified the partner. Several people familiar with the matter have confirmed that Amazon.com is in talks with studios to acquire content for a Netflix-like subscription movie streaming service set to launch soon, making it a likely candidate to be Redbox's partner.

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