01/25, 4:35am
Ubuntu 12.04 redefines the desktop UI
Mark Shuttlework, the Ubuntu Project Founder, has given users a run through a new feature dubbed HUD (Head-Up Display) that will make its debut in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. The new UI element is designed to replace menus marking a significant change to the way users will interact with the latest release of the popular Linux-based distro. According to Shuttleworth, the goal is for HUD to ultimately replace menus altogether in Unity applications, as the video embedded below illustrates.
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11/08, 4:10pm
Ubuntu Linux 12.04 to be called Precise Pangolin
Some of the details of the upcoming Ubuntu Linux 12.04 features were detailed at the Ubuntu developer's summit that ended last week. They have been summarized by ExtremeTech thanks to an LTS (long term support) release. Also dubbed Precise Pangolin, the release by Canonical and the Ubuntu development team will work on fixing bugs of the open-source OS for the next five years.
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10/31, 12:35pm
Canonical vows Ubuntu becoming relevant in mobile
Canonical leader Mark Shuttleworth on Monday vowed that Ubuntu Linux would be getting a much stronger emphasis on mobile in the future. The company would be pushing developers and partners to go beyond the desktop and develop smartphones as well as tablets, TVs, and in-car systems by the time Ubuntu 14.04 arrives in or near April 2014. Speaking at the Ubuntu Developer Summit, he said there was a "underlying hunger" for an alternative to Android among free, open-source platforms.
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10/13, 5:45pm
Free Linux-based OS improves user interface
Ubuntu 11.10, the free Linux-based OS is available for download (free, ubuntu). The latest version, also known as Oneiric Ocelot, includes several enhancements, most notably a new launcher, new dashboard, and new app switcher. The new update provides access to the Ubuntu Software Center to get apps supporting the OS.
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08/11, 6:25pm
Microsoft at SEC says Linux now a non-factor
Microsoft in the SEC filing for its annual report has removed Linux as a competitor on the desktop. While discussing what it has to compete with in operating systems, the Windows developer has scratched out Linux altogether and has relegated it to a factor only in niches like embedded and servers. Only Apple and Google are left in the category, Wes Miller noted in finding the difference.
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07/15, 4:25pm
ASUS Eee PC 1215P with Ubuntu Linux for pre-order
ASUS will soon release a 12-inch Eee PC netbook that uses Ubuntu Linux, as revealed by a Monclick web store listing. The Eee PC 1215P will be the largest from the company with Linux preloaded. Other specs include a dual-core 1.5GHz Intel Atom N570 CPU, 2GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive.
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07/07, 8:35pm
Augen goes down as cheap Android tablets fail
One of the first attempts at seizing on the iPad's popularity has quietly fizzled out as Augen appears to have shut down. The company's US page has been down for a month, and both e-mail as well as warranty returns appear to have gone unanswered. Augen had triggered worry early on when it planned a set of e-readers that would have shipped in April but missed their release without a correction from the company.
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06/29, 12:25pm
Ubuntu OS is virtualized onto Galaxy Tab 10.1
GalaxyTabHacks has posted detailed instructions on how interested parties can install Ubuntu Linux onto the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The hack finds a way to use the distribution without completely overriding Android. Dubbed Tabuntu, the OS runs as it would on a virtual machine.
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06/19, 12:05pm
Commodore C64 initial production run ships
Commodore on Friday said it had nearly finished its first wave of production for the remadeC64. The now dual-core Atom PC is due to ship this coming week. Its launch coincides with the company opening an office in Fort Lauderdale that will handle custom orders beyond the pre-configured models on tap.
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04/14, 1:00pm
Kogan shows affordable TV hub, tablet, netbook
Australian hardware maker Kogan has introduced four new Agora-branded devices on Thursday. This includes the Agora Internet TV Portal that promises to bring the web and access to the Android Market to users' TVs, the Agora 7-inch Tablet PC, and Agora 12-inch Laptop along with a Pro version of the notebook. The netbooks run on Ubuntu Linux 11.04 while the other devices depend on Android 2.2.
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01/10, 4:30pm
Nexus S hacked to run on Ubuntu OS
The Samsung Nexus S, which ships with Android 2.3 and was shown to boot up on MeeGo in the past, has now been hacked to run on Ubuntu. Developer Steve Troughton-Smith accomplished the feat and posted full instructions on the XDA Developers forum. The device with this OS, however, isn't fully functional, with the touchscreen not yet working, among other major issues.
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01/02, 4:00am
Cr-48 hacking information posted online
The Google Chrome OS testbed netbook the Cr-48 has been hacked by users to run Mac OS X, Windows 7, and Ubuntu. Users of the Cr-48 have posted instructions on how install Windows 7 and Ubuntu on the Something Awful forum. Instructions on how to hackintosh a Cr-48 will be posted soon, although a video (included below) of the device running Mac OS X has already been posted by Damian W.
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12/28, 1:50pm
Tenq P07 may be first Ubuntu tablet
Ubuntu will get its first entry into the same tablet arena filled by Android and iOS with a newly uncovered model. Tenq's P07 is running Ubuntu Netbook 10.10 is more optimized for touch as a result. A 32GB SSD provides the main storage; Ubuntu's light requirements give it an "almost instant" boot time, Giz-China understood.
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12/06, 5:00pm
Ubuntu One outs AirPlay-compatible app
The Ubuntu One cloud service has now brought out an Ubuntu One app for the iPhone (free, App Store) that lets users stream multimedia using Apple's Airplay technology. AirPlay lets iOS 4.2 device users stream music, video or photos to AirPlay-compatible hardware such as the Apple TV, AirPort Express or others. AirPlay support is becoming more common in hardware devices from third-party makers.
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10/27, 11:55am
PandaBoard for developers now shipping for $174
The PandaBoard development tool for mobile app developers is now shipping. The mainboard sports a dual-core 1GHz TI OMAP4 processor and 1GB of RAM, along with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1. It will help devs create OMAP4-compatible apps for Android, Angstrom, Chrome, MeeGo and Ubuntu-based devices.
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10/10, 7:05am
Canonical distro of Ubuntu Light, 7 second boot
A new report pegs the new Canonical distro of Ubuntu Light for netbooks to begin appearing on shipping Dell netbooks within the next month. Dell is considered the most likely to be the first vendor to launch netbooks featuring the OS, as it currently sells more PCs with Ubuntu than any other manufacturer. The netbook optimized version of Canonical’s Ubuntu 10.10 is able to boot in 7 seconds.
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10/07, 3:30pm
Tablet paired with keyboard dock
Augen is readying six new tablets, including a device that features dual-boot capabilities for Android and Ubuntu. Although the company may be better known for its $190 Kmart tablets, the upcoming Latte and Espresso series offer a range of higher-end features and prices ranging from $200 to $600.
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09/14, 2:25pm
Nufront shows dual-core 2GHz ARM-based SoC
China's Nufront together with chipmaker ARM announced on Tuesday that they launched the former's first computer chip, the NuSmart 2816. Based on 40nm architecture, the system-on-chip includes a dual-core Cortex A9 and runs at 2GHz. Unlike most ARM chips, the NuSmart is intended for full-fledged computing and should reach netbooks, tablets, ultra-thin notebooks and all-in-one desktops.
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08/18, 5:00pm
Ubuntu Linux to get multi-touch this October
Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth on Monday said via his blog that the first Ubuntu Linux build with support for multi-touch inputs will be out on October 10. The software will be developed on the Dell XT2 tablet, but by the launch date, it will work with other computers and peripherals, including Apple's Magic Trackpad. The development team has written what Shuttleworth calls a touch language, which allows for basic gestures to be chained or composed into "sentences."
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05/13, 7:00am
Dell officially intros E4310, 2110 notebooks
Dell has quietly released a new notebook this week, the 13.3-inch Latitude E4310, which was spied early last week. The company also replaced its 10.1-inch Latitude 2000 with the Latitude 2110 netbook. The business-grade E4310 is offered with Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate in both 32- or 64-bit guises, and a Windows XP downgrade option. There are two processor choices, including 2.4GHz or 2.53GHz Core i5s.
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04/19, 5:15pm
Synaptics brings multi-touch to Linux-based PCs
Human interface solutions developer Synaptics Inc. on Monday announced it has made its Synaptics Gesture Suite available for Linux-based devices. This move brings multi-touch support to the open source operating system for the first time. Synaptics currently offers its multi-touch interface in Windows-based TouchPad devices.
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04/19, 4:25pm
Sharp outs Netwalker PC-T1 tablet with Ubuntu
Sharp has unveiled its latest Ubuntu-powered NetWalker portable computer in Japan on Monday, this one called the PC-T1 and taking on the tablet form factor. It replaces the PC-Z1, which had a netbook design with a hardware QWERTY keyboard. Text input in the new device is via handwriting recognition and a virtual QWERTY keyboard, though a Bluetooth keyboard can also be connected.
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03/02, 12:50pm
Dell's CULV Latitude starts at low price
As it promised last month, Dell today started taking orders for the Latitude 13. The 0.65-inch thick CULV system is now known to be an inexpensive buy and at $559 starts out with a 1.3GHz Celeron M, Ubuntu Linux, 1GB of RAM and 802.11g Wi-Fi. Every version comes with a six-cell battery, although Dell hasn't said how long the battery should last.
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01/13, 5:05pm
VIA outs first server with own Nano CPU
VIA this week introduced its M’SERV S2100 mini server meant for home and small business users. Powered by VIA's own 1.6GHz Nano CPU, the server has the capacity to hold two 3.5-inch SATA II hard drives with up to 4TB of space. There is an integrated CF card slot from which users can boot the S2100, two gigabit Ethernet ports, three USB 2.0 ports and a VGA output. VIA says the server can perform network video recording and virtual server applications thanks to its VT virtualization support, among others.
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12/31, 2:30pm
SmartQ V5 MID ships with Android, Linux, Win CE
SmartQ has launched its V5 mobile Internet device (MID) in China recently. The V5 has a 4.3-inch resistive touchscreen with 800x480 resolution and can play back 3D graphics and video thanks to its hardware acceleration, though exactly what type isn't being specified. The company does reveal, however, that the device is powered by a 600MHz ARM11 CPU which can be overclocked to 800MHz thanks to a firmware update. Most interestingly, the V5 ships with Android, Ubuntu Linux and Windows CE 6.0 preloaded.
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12/21, 10:35am
New Dell Mini gets up to 9.5 hour battery
Dell on Monday leapt fully into Intel's Pine Trail Atom-based platform by launching a new version of the Mini 10. The new version makes use of a 1.66GHz Atom N450 to extend its battery life past the original and, in a version with a 6-cell battery pack, can last for up to 9.5 hours on a charge. It also gets the new option of a Broadcom HD video decoder.
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12/08, 10:40am
Dell Vostro V13 uses CULV, Linux option
Dell has followed up on its tease from last evening by formally launching the Vostro V13. As hinted, the 13-inch aluminum system is as thick as an Adamo (0.65in) but lighter (3.5 pounds) and should cost much less through its use of Intel's CULV platform: it runs on a 10W Celeron, Core 2 Solo or Core 2 Duo that should give it long battery life, although Dell hasn't given an estimate for its useful uptime.
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11/20, 4:00pm
Pegatron demos 10-inch smartbook with Ubuntu
A 10-inch smartbook from Pegatron was spotted at the Connected Community Technical Symposium on Friday. It runs on Linux Ubuntu and is powered by an ARM processor, though other details are scarce. The sighting comes just one day after Pegatron GM Chou Biao Sheng said the company will bring out a smartbook in the first quarter of 2010, priced at less than $200.
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11/05, 1:40pm
Myka ION a home theater PC for the living room
Myka has moved on from producing media hubs by releasing its Myka ION nettop as a full-fledged home theater PC. As the name implies, the PC packs a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor and 2GB of RAM, along with an NVIDIA Ion graphics platform to supply HD (non-Flash) video. It runs on Ubuntu Linux and includes Boxee and XBMC media center software as well as support for standard-definition Adobe Flash and Hulu's online streaming service.
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10/05, 3:15pm
Dell ZinoHD will be labeled Inspiron, specs leak
Some specs and details of the upcoming Dell Zino HD series of nettops were revealed, thanks to a recent DellZinoHD search. Two models in the Zino HD series will be offered, including the Inspiron 300 and Inspiron 400. Both have potentially been readied for Windows XP, Windows Vista or the upcoming Windows 7, with the support page also including a manual for Ubuntu.
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09/23, 3:45pm
Dell Mini 10v gets Intel's Linux OS
Dell at IDF revealed that it's about to ship a version of the Inspiron Mini 10v with Moblin Linux. The system is initially aimed at developers but will give everyone a simpler-to-use alternative to Ubuntu for web browsing and media playback. It specifically uses Canonical's Moblin Netbook Remix, a variant tailored for the screens and interfaces common to the mini notebooks.
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09/07, 9:20am
Best Buy told to misrepresent Linux
Microsoft has been sending Best Buy retail staff "training" material that deliberately attacks and in some cases distorts Linux, according to a leak from an anonymous Best Buy employee. The materials present obvious and at times true assertions about the lack of software support and users preferring a "comfortable" experience but also makes controversial statements about security and other features. Among these are contradictory claims that Linux doesn't get regular updates and yet is a problem to maintain precisely because it gets "hundreds of updates" per month.
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08/27, 4:25pm
Sharp intros NetWalker
Sharp Japan today launched a new entry into ultra mobile PCs with the PC-Z1, otherwise known as the NetWalker. Unlike most UMPCs that are based on either Windows or custom Linux versions, the PC-Z1 uses Ubuntu Linux 9.04 as its platform. Processing is handled by Freescale's i.MX515 800MHz CPU, there is 512MB of RAM and just 4GB of internal memory, though a microSDHC memory card slot lets users expand it by another 16GB. Users interact through a 5-inch, 1024x600 resolution touchscreen and the device is also light at under 1lb. The very small form factor makes the device ultra-portable, while a built-in Wi-Fi connection lets them access the Internet from these remote locations.
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05/25, 1:30pm
Studio XPS 13 gets Ubuntu
PC, notebook, monitor and related hardware manufacturer Dell has recently began offering its Studio XPS 13 notebook PC preloaded with the Linux-based Ubuntu operating system. The 13.3-inch notebook otherwise has the same key specs as its Windows Vista-powered counterpart, including the same 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, though some of the available options between them differ. For example, users can upgrade to a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo on the Ubuntu XPS 13, while those who opt for the Vista system have a choice of a different 2.53GHz and a 2.66GHz CPU.
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05/22, 3:50pm
MS Dropping 3-App Win 7
Microsoft will drop the controversial three-app limit on Windows 7 Starter Edition by the time it reaches shelves, an apparent scoop by long-time Microsoft observer Paul Thurrott indicates. Although the restriction is often softened in practice, the approach would let owners use more than three full, active apps at a time. Microsoft previously instituted the limit both to accommodate the slower systems that would likely be used as well as to push customers towards the more lucrative Vista Home Basic.
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05/20, 9:30am
Dell Mini 10v Android Demo
Dell has quietly drawn attention to its netbook plans by demonstrating Google's Android 1.5 running on an Inspiron Mini 10v (video below). Company technology strategist Doug Anson describes the mobile OS as "small and snappy" on the Intel Atom-based portable but doesn't do more than show the operating system running on the 10v alongside another system using Ubuntu Netbook Remix. It continues to show the stock home screen and doesn't show signs of customization by Dell.
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05/19, 8:15am
Dell Latitude 2100
Dell on Tuesday kicked off the launch of its first netbook meant for schools or business-oriented users. Unlike the Inspiron Minis, the Latitude 2100 is toughened against the rougher use likely in a class and has a sturdier chassis as well as a rubberized surface, including a unique texture on the lid that's deemed easier to grip. In a first for Dell and most non-tablet netbooks, the 2100 has the option of a touchscreen that can be used for very visual educational apps or just as a simpler alternative to the trackpad.
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05/12, 10:45am
Dell Inspiron Mini 10v
Dell on Tuesday ended speculation and unveiled the Inspiron Mini 10v, a budget version of the regular model launched earlier in the year. The new version switches to the lower-priced 1.6GHz Atom N270 instead of the slower but more battery-friendly 1.33GHz Z520 and drops to a 120GB hard drive from the regular 160GB. As a result, the netbook also uses GMA 950 integrated video in place of the GMA 500 specific to the Z-series Atom chips.
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05/06, 12:05pm
Dell Mini 9 Android Claim
Mobile software developer Bsquare has potentially spoiled Dell's release plans by saying it was porting Adobe's Flash Lite animation plugin for Dell netbooks running Google's Android platform. The company specifically references the Inspiron Mini 9 and suggests that the 8.9-inch portable is the likely main target for the OS. Whether Flash Lite would appear in-browser, or when Bsquare expects the port to ship on a production netbook, isn't mentioned.
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04/06, 11:50am
Dell Inspiron Mini 11 Leak
A new Dell roadmap leaked this weekend has at least partly confirmed plans by Dell to introduce one of the first systems based on Intel's CULV platform. Slotting in between netbooks and regular notebooks, the Inspiron Mini 11 discovered by NetbookNews would have an 11.6-inch display as well as "laptop like" performance and input, but in a design that would remain thin and light. It would also use Windows Vista and could potentially replace the Mini 12 as a result.
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03/23, 2:05pm
ATT on New iPhone
AT&T has reportedly made statements supporting a new, faster iPhone in the June timeframe. Citing one or more unnamed executives at the provider as "100% confirmed" sources, BGR hears the new iPhone will be unveiled "around mid-June" and that speed should be a particular focus. It's suggested that this may include (but wouldn't be limited to) AT&T's planned 7.2Mbps 3G upgrades that should roughly double the theoretical peak download speed on AT&T's network.
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03/02, 12:25pm
Always Innov Touch Book
Tech startup Always Innovating is using the start of the DEMO expo today to unveil the Touch Book, a system which its creator considers one of the first truly hybrid netbooks. The system can work both as a traditional notebook or as a convertible tablet but can also detach the keyboard entirely from the system to use it as a stand-alone touchscreen device. A set of magnets built into the back even lets users mount the screen on a refrigerator or elsewhere.
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02/24, 4:25pm
Dell Mini 9 with Ubuntu
Dell has seen steady sales growth and low return rates with its Inspiron Mini 9 netbooks running Ubuntu, despite reports that MSI experienced substantially higher return rates with its Wind series running SuSE Linux compared to the XP platform, according to Laptop. A third of the Mini 9 devices are shipped with Linux. "We have done a very good job explaining to folks what Linux is,” says Jay Pinkert of Dell.
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02/18, 3:45pm
Dell Inspiron Mini 10 Spec
Dell this afternoon provided official details for the Inspiron Mini 10, including its final release details. The 10-inch netbook's trim levels mostly match those of earlier leaks and will carry a 1.3-megapixel webcam, 3-cell battery, a 160GB hard drive and HDMI output in all models. The system's 1GB of memory will be fixed in place, but users will have the pick of either Ubuntu Linux 8 or Windows XP Home as the operating system.
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01/22, 2:00pm
MS Win 7 App Store Survey
Microsoft has issued a survey to Windows 7 beta users that suggests the software developer may create a central repository for downloading and updating apps besides its own, Ars Technica notes. The questionnaire asks users to rank the importance of various features for a single location for "finding and managing updates" for programs, including the option of downloading, installing and updating non-Microsoft software.
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01/19, 8:45am
CrunchPad Tablet
News site TechCrunch today revealed that it's much closer to launching a promised low-cost, touchscreen Internet tablet. Referred to now as the CrunchPad, the device has a 12-inch, 1024x768 touch display but includes netbook-grade components to keep the price and size down: the nearly button-free device will use a VIA Nano processor, 1GB of memory and a 4GB flash drive that are just enough to hold an interface that boots directly to a custom WebKit-based browser in Ubuntu Linux.
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01/05, 9:40am
Freescale Netbook ARM CPU
Freescale began its year today by introducing a new i.MX chip it hopes will gain a foothold in netbooks. The i.MX515 is based on the same ARM architecture shared by many smartphones and set-top boxes but is tuned for the higher performance of the mini notebooks, with clock speeds ranging between 600MHz and 1GHz. It also touts rare support for DDR2 memory and an integrated OpenGL graphics core capable of both 3D as well as accelerated 2D, such as video in Adobe's Flash Lite.
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12/16, 4:10pm
Dell Mini 12 Linux
Dell on Tuesday quietly expanded its options for the Inspiron Mini 12 with Linux and XP options. The new trim levels let the PC maker provide both an open-source alternative as well as offer a significantly better-performing alternative to the original, which was previously forced to use Windows Vista. The Linux version also lasts longer and runs for up to six hours despite using the same three-cell battery as the XP system.
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12/11, 10:50am
HP Desktop with Linux
HP on Thursday broke new ground for itself by introducing its first-ever Linux desktop aimed at small offices and schools. The HP Compaq dc5850 now has the option of SUSE Linux preinstalled rather than having to choose FreeDOS and install the open-source software afterwards. It also comes preloaded with multiple similarly open-source apps such as OpenOffice as well as its web browser, e-mail and IM suites; schools also get access to about 40 educational games and learning tools.
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12/08, 10:25am
Dell Inspiron 1545 Leak
Dell has unwittingly revealed a major revision to its Inspiron notebooks courtesy of a company-hosted technology guide discovered late yesterday. The Inspiron 1545 will be one of Dell's first truly mainstream notebooks with a 16:9 aspect ratio display and should switch from today's 15.4-inch LCD to a more movie-friendly 15.6-inch, 1366x768 (WXGA) screen with the option of an LED backlight. It should also mark a jump to Centrino 2 that carries anything from a 2GHz Celeron to a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo and will bring GMA 4500MHD integrated video as a result.
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