Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[CompuLab to serve fanless AMD PC-3's stuffed with minted penguin]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/compulab-fanless-amd-pc-3-linux-mint/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/compulab-fanless-amd-pc-3-linux-mint/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/31/compulab-fanless-amd-pc-3-linux-mint/#comments compulab-fanless-amd-pc-3-linux-mint

With the Ubuntu variant Mint roaming free as one of the more attractive Linux breeds, why not lock it up in its own mini-case? That'll happen soon thanks to mintBox, a joint venture with CompuLab, which will put the OS in two of its fanless PC-3's -- the T40N and T56N -- priced at $476 and $518, respectively. That might seem steep for the tiny 6 x 6 x 1-inch AMD G-series boxes, but with a Radeon HD 6290 APU and USB 3.0 / eSata ports, power is above par for its class. CompuLab will give some of the proceeds to Mint's team, so if you maybe want to throw some cash at the so fresh, so clean Linux distro, hit the source for more details.

CompuLab to serve fanless AMD PC-3's stuffed with minted penguin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 22:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AMDAMD G-seriesAMD G-Series APUAmdG-seriesAmdG-seriesApuapubarebonesCompuLabCompuLab PC-3CompuLab PC3CompulabPc-3CompulabPc3fanlessfanless mini pcFanlessMiniPcLinux Mintlinux mint 13Linux Ubuntu MintLinuxMintLinuxMint13LinuxUbuntuMintmini-PCMintmintBoxopensourceoperating systemOperatingSystemosPC3Radeonradeon hd 6290RadeonHd6290small form factorSmallFormFactorubuntuUbuntu MintUbuntuMintThu, 31 May 2012 22:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Linux Mint 13 'Maya' released, just in time for the next piktun]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/linux-mint-13-maya-released/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/linux-mint-13-maya-released/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/linux-mint-13-maya-released/#comments Linux Mint 13 'Maya' released

Linux comes in all sorts of flavors -- it's part of what makes the OS so confusing to new comers. To make matters worse, some of the most popular variants are actually based on other distros, such as Linux Mint, the refreshing desktop that's based largely on Ubuntu. So, if you're wondering what's new in the Mint 13, a good place to start is probably our review of the aubergine OS. Of course, Maya has a few wrinkles of its own -- including a pair of desktop options dubbed MATE and Cinnamon. MATE, as you may recall, was introduced in the last version, but Cinnamon is all new (read: a tad unstable) and built on a modern framework using Gnome 3 and Clutter. There have been a few other new additions, including a new display manager in MDM and a switch to Yahoo! as the default search engine. As usual with these things, you can download it and try it out for free at the source.

[Thanks, Mohamad]

Linux Mint 13 'Maya' released, just in time for the next piktun originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 20:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cinnamondesktoplinuxlinux mintlinux mint 13linux mint 13 mayalinux mint mayaLinuxMintLinuxMint13LinuxMint13MayaLinuxMintMayamatemayaopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemosubuntuWed, 23 May 2012 20:09:00 EST<![CDATA[FXI Cotton Candy ICS-on-a-stick gets May release date, sweetened design]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/fxi-cotton-candy-may/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/fxi-cotton-candy-may/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/fxi-cotton-candy-may/#comments FXI Cotton Candy ICS-on-a-stick gets May release date, sweetened design

Is that an Ice Cream Sandwich riding shotgun atop your Cotton Candy stick? It may sound like a delicious carnival delight, but munching on this bad boy will send you to the hospital faster than a family pack of deep-fried Oreos. Keeping up the confection theme, FXI has coined the treat in question as Cotton Candy, and we got our first taste of the refresh back in February at Mobile World Congress, where we went hands-on with the bite-size computer-on-a-stick. FXI reps promised a March ship date at that point, but the refreshed model appears to have been worth the wait, with a 1.2GHz ARM Cortex A9 processor, quad-core ARM Mali-400MP graphics and support for Android 4.0 and Ubuntu, along with embedded virtualization clients for Windows, Linux and Mac.

There's a gig of DRAM on board -- up to 64GB of storage will come in the form of a bring-your-own microSD card. There's a 1080p-ready HDMI port at one end of the 3-inch stick and a USB 2.0 connector on the other side, along with a female micro-USB port for peripheral connectivity. Customers with pre-orders in Scandinavia (FXI is based in Norway) should expect their $199 Cotton Candy devices by the end of the month, while those in the rest of the world (including the US of A) will need to hang tight until the end of the summer. There's a MWC-era hands-on awaiting you just past the break.

Continue reading FXI Cotton Candy ICS-on-a-stick gets May release date, sweetened design

FXI Cotton Candy ICS-on-a-stick gets May release date, sweetened design originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 22:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Androidandroid 4.0Android2.3Android4.0ARMARM Cortex A9ARM Cortex-A9ArmCortex-a9ArmCortexA9computercomputerscotton candyCottonCandyFXIfxi cotton candyFxiCottonCandygoogleice cream sandwichIceCreamSandwichicspcsocubuntuUSB computerUsbComputervideoMon, 14 May 2012 22:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/ubuntu-12-04-precise-pangolin-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/ubuntu-12-04-precise-pangolin-review/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/ubuntu-12-04-precise-pangolin-review/#comments Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin review

With roughly 98 percent of the desktop and laptop market spoken for, you'd be forgiven for thinking your only choices for powering your computer were Windows or Mac OS X. There is another way, though. Linux may only run on a tiny sliver of consumer PCs, but the number is growing and one of the biggest players propelling its popularity is Ubuntu. Since bursting on the scene eight years ago, the distro has grown to dominate the desktop Linux market and made plenty of fans (and a few detractors) along the way. Truth is, Ubuntu is completely unique and, at least compared to other distros out there, very user-friendly. It also happens to have a very active community of developers and users willing to lend help to those in need, which makes it appealing to Linux vets, enterprise users and *nix n00bs alike.

Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin is part of the company's LTS or Long Term Support series, and is guaranteed for five years of support through Canonical. That means the company is focusing less on cramming new features into this release and more on making it as stable as possible. So, if you're familiar with Ubuntu, you won't find much here that will blow your mind. Of course, the real question is whether or not the aubergine-loving open-source OS is for you, not whether there's enough new tweaks to fill a book. So, without further ado, we present Ubuntu 12.04: the review. Join us after the break, won't you?

Gallery: Ubuntu 12.04 review

Continue reading Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin review

Ubuntu 12.04 Precise Pangolin review originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicalHUDlinuxltslts seriesLtsSeriesopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemOSprecise pangolinPrecisePangolinreviewsoftwareUbuntuubuntu 12.04ubuntu 12.04 ltsubuntu 12.04 lts precise pangolinubuntu precise pangolinUbuntu12.04Ubuntu12.04LtsUbuntu12.04LtsPrecisePangolinUbuntuPrecisePangolinUnityTue, 01 May 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam for Linux captured on video, one step closer to reality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/steam-for-linux-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/steam-for-linux-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/steam-for-linux-on-video/#comments Image

Yesterday, Phoronix had encouraging news about the prospect of Steam for Linux: photo evidence of Left 4 Dead running on Ubuntu 11.10 with AMD Catalysts drivers. Today, the site followed up with video footage of that same scenario, posting a hastily shot clip to show that Valve is indeed making progress -- slow as it may be -- on porting the game engine to Linux. Got 14 seconds? Check out the video demo below the break.

Continue reading Steam for Linux captured on video, one step closer to reality

Steam for Linux captured on video, one step closer to reality originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>game enginegame enginesGameEngineGameEnginesLinuxminipoststeamsteam enginesteam for linuxSteamEngineSteamForLinuxubuntuvalveThu, 26 Apr 2012 21:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin hits the web, with HUD in tow]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/ubuntu-12-04-lts-precise-pangolin-hits-the-web-with-hud-in-tow/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/ubuntu-12-04-lts-precise-pangolin-hits-the-web-with-hud-in-tow/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/26/ubuntu-12-04-lts-precise-pangolin-hits-the-web-with-hud-in-tow/#comments Image

It's here! Precise Pangolin or, as it's officially known, Ubuntu 12.04 LTS. Canonical's latest is now available in its final(ish) form and ready for you to download, burn and install. While LTS (Long Term Support) releases are generally more conservative in their application of new features, Pangolin does include some rather notable tweaks. The most immediately noticeable will be the new log in screen which, while largely the same, does have the slick new trick of changing wall papers to match the selected user. A more subtle change is revealed once you've logged on and press alt -- HUD. The new search-based menu system is quite a departure from traditional interaction models, and one that will come as a relief to those who constantly forget where a particular option is buried. Perhaps the most welcome change, though, is the vastly improved performance and power management. Ubuntu, for all of its finer points, has never been particularly battery friendly. But Canonical is promising that is going to change. We'll have to wait to find out once we get this bad boy installed on some machines of our own. You know the drill, hit up the source link to download it for yourself, for free.

Update: Well, looks like all you Ubuntu fanatics have taken out the site temporarily. We're sure it'll be back soon but, in the meantime, you can still download the latest version of the OS here (magnet link).

Update 2: And they're back! Also, we've now got PR after the break.

Continue reading Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin hits the web, with HUD in tow

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Precise Pangolin hits the web, with HUD in tow originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Apr 2012 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicalHUDlinuxopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemOSpreciseprecise pangolinPrecisePangolinubuntuubuntu 12.04ubuntu 12.04 ltsubuntu 12.04 lts precise pangolinUbuntu12.04Ubuntu12.04LtsUbuntu12.04LtsPrecisePangolinThu, 26 Apr 2012 08:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Google Drive is coming to Linux, tells users to 'hang tight']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/google-drive-is-coming-to-linux-tells-users-to-hang-tight/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/google-drive-is-coming-to-linux-tells-users-to-hang-tight/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/google-drive-is-coming-to-linux-tells-users-to-hang-tight/#comments Google Drive is coming to Linux, tells users to 'hang tight'

As you may know, there is at least one out and proud Ubuntu devotee on staff. So, when Google Drive was announced, there were a few grumbles from those who noticed Linux was absent from the list of supported platforms. Especially in the wake of Picasa for Linux, many were afraid that Big G was slowly killing off it's (comparably) robust support of the open-source OS. But, rest easy, in addition to Dropbox and Ubuntu One, soon enough you'll be able to use Google's offering as well. Google Docs community manager Teresa Wu (we assume, soon enough, that will be Google Drive community manager) swung by a potential customer's Google+ profile to assuage his ire over the lack of Linux support. The message, while not very detailed, was quite clear: "we're working on Linux support -- hang tight!"

Google Drive is coming to Linux, tells users to 'hang tight' originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cloud storageCloudStoragedrivegdrivegooglegoogle docsgoogle drivegoogle plusGoogleDocsGoogleDriveGooglePluslinuxopen sourceOpenSourceteresa wuTeresaWuubuntuWed, 25 Apr 2012 15:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Steam for Linux is coming, and after waiting epochs what's a few more months?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/steam-for-linux/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/steam-for-linux/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/25/steam-for-linux/#comments Steam for Linux is coming, and after waiting epochs what's a few more months?

It's been a long-running saga as to when Linux users will finally see some native gaming action on Steam, but according to Phoronix that happy day will likely arrive within "months." Valve has been busily hiring Linux OpenGL boffins, including people recommended by Phoronix's founder, Michael Larabel, who certainly seems to be on the inside track. His photo above offers some proof of progress: it shows Left 4 Dead 2 running natively on Ubuntu 11.10 with AMD Catalysts drivers. Why has it taken so long since news of a Linux client was first floated (and officially denied) back in 2010? Larabel attributes it to Valve's "flat management structure" that allows its developers to work on what they want. (And you still question the importance of hierarchy?)

Steam for Linux is coming, and after waiting epochs what's a few more months? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>linuxopenglphoronixsteamsteam for linuxSteamForLinuxubuntuvalveWed, 25 Apr 2012 06:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu 12.10 gets christened Quantal Quetzal ahead of Pangolin launch]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/ubuntu-12-10-gets-christened-quantal-quetzal-ahead-of-pangolin-l/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/ubuntu-12-10-gets-christened-quantal-quetzal-ahead-of-pangolin-l/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/23/ubuntu-12-10-gets-christened-quantal-quetzal-ahead-of-pangolin-l/#comments Ubuntu 12.10 gets christened Quantal Quetzal ahead of Pangolin launchWhile you impatiently await the release of Precise Pangolin this Thursday, we've got some news to hold your little aubergine-loving heart over. Canonical's own Mark Shuttleworth took to the web to announce Ubuntu 12.10, codenamed Quantal Quetzal. If you were hoping the Linux distro would take the tongue-twisting titles down a notch with the next release, well, you're out of luck. We don't have too many details to share release, but Shuttleworth does say that Unity will continue to be tweaked and improved. A visual overhaul is expected to get underway starting with Quetzal, to work out all the bugs in time for the next LTS release, 14.04. Now all you have to do is wait till October 18th for its proper release. (For the more impatient and daring, the first alpha is scheduled to land on June 7th and the first beta on September 6th.) Thankfully, there should be enough new stuff to play with in 12.04 to distract you for at least a little while.

[Image via Fabio Bretto]

Ubuntu 12.10 gets christened Quantal Quetzal ahead of Pangolin launch originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicallinuxMark ShuttleworthMarkShuttleworthopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemOSquantal quetzalQuantalQuetzalubuntuubuntu 12.10ubuntu 12.10 quantal quetzalUbuntu12.10Ubuntu12.10QuantalQuetzalunityMon, 23 Apr 2012 16:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Canonical's AWSOME API bridges OpenStack and Amazon clouds, Ubuntu has its head in both]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/15/canonicals-awsome-api-bridges-openstack-and-amazon-clouds/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/15/canonicals-awsome-api-bridges-openstack-and-amazon-clouds/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/15/canonicals-awsome-api-bridges-openstack-and-amazon-clouds/#comments Canonical's AWESOME API bridges OpenStack and Amazon clouds, Ubuntu has its head in bothNew features and services that improve Canonical's latest version of Ubuntu seem to keep rolling in. The latest addition being the announcement of its AWSOME proxy service. No, that's not us getting over excited about it, that stands for Any Web Service Over Me, and it includes APIs that smooth the transition to OpenStack for those currently using Amazon's cloud services. Although not open source, Amazon's Web Service has such a large market share, that Canonical clearly wants to make integrating with it as smooth as possible. The AWSOME proxy will only provide basic functionality for the AWS side of things, with users still encouraged to adopt the OpenStack infrastructure for deeper capabilities. Still, if you're currently working with Bezos' platform, and this was the last barrier to hopping aboard the Precise Pangolin ship, you're in luck.

Canonical's AWSOME API bridges OpenStack and Amazon clouds, Ubuntu has its head in both originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 03:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazon Web ServicesAmazonWebServicesAPIAWESOMEAWScanonicallong term supportLongTermSupportminipostopenstackprecise pangolinPrecisePangolinubuntuubuntu 12.04ubuntu 12.04 ltsubuntu 12.04 lts precise pangolinubuntu oneUbuntu12.04Ubuntu12.04LtsUbuntu12.04LtsPrecisePangolinUbuntuOneSun, 15 Apr 2012 03:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Canonical prepping to launch Ubuntu as smartphone OS?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/canonical-prepping-to-launch-ubuntu-as-smartphone-os/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/canonical-prepping-to-launch-ubuntu-as-smartphone-os/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/canonical-prepping-to-launch-ubuntu-as-smartphone-os/#comments Canonical prepping to launch Ubuntu as smartphone OS?Crawling the job posting boards over at Canonical turns up a pretty interesting position, one for a Business Development Manager (Ubuntu Phone OS). Now, we're not quite ready to jump to any conclusions here, but the wording of the listing is quite intriguing. The group is looking for a "business development lead to engage and develop strong relationships with industry partners in the run up to the launch of Ubuntu as a smartphone operating system," with the goal of "establish[ing] a commercial ecosystem around Ubuntu as a smartphone OS." Does this mean that Ubuntu is preparing to take on Android and iOS in the battle for smartphone supremacy (or, more likely, take on Windows Phone in a competition of also rans)? Honestly, we're not sure. The wording is quite vague, and it could simply be the company is referring to Ubuntu for Android. We've contacted Canonical for comment and we'll update if we get any clarification.

[Thanks, Mo]

Canonical prepping to launch Ubuntu as smartphone OS? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicaljob listingJobListinglinuxmobile OSMobileOsmobilepostcrossoperating systemOperatingSystemOSUbuntuUbuntu for AndroidUbuntu Phone OSUbuntuForAndroidUbuntuPhoneOsThu, 12 Apr 2012 15:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Kubuntu 12.10 gains Blue Systems as sponsor, Canonical waves farewell]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/kubuntu-gains-blue-systems-as-sponsor/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/kubuntu-gains-blue-systems-as-sponsor/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/10/kubuntu-gains-blue-systems-as-sponsor/#comments ImageEveryone loves a happy ending, and it's with this in mind that we share the latest round of good news from the Kubuntu team. Starting with version 12.10, the popular KDE variant of Ubuntu will have sponsorship from Blue Systems. Previously, Canonical announced its intention to drop its sponsorship of Kubuntu after the 12.04 LTS, Precise Pangolin release, but later revealed a willingness to let the Kubuntu team seek other sponsors. Fortunately, it's found a good one. Blue Systems has a solid track record in the KDE community and similarly sponsors distributions such as Netrunner and the KDE variant of Linux Mint. Likewise, it's encouraged Kubuntu developers to stay close to their roots and follow the same successful formula as before. The future looks bright for Kubuntu, and it's full of Plasma.

Kubuntu 12.10 gains Blue Systems as sponsor, Canonical waves farewell originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue systemsBlueSystemscanonicalgnugplkdekubuntulinuxminipostopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemoperating systemsOperatingSystemOperatingSystemssponsorsponsorshipubuntuTue, 10 Apr 2012 19:27:00 EST<![CDATA[World's slowest Linux computer, says 'Hello Wor...' (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/01/worlds-slowest-linux-computer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/01/worlds-slowest-linux-computer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/01/worlds-slowest-linux-computer/#commentsImageEvidently tired of smooth running graphics, lightning fast processing and bags and bags of available memory, programmer Dmitry Grinberg decided to go back to computing basics. And then some. As Linux was developed on a 32-bit machine with 1MB of RAM, this has always been considered the minimum system requirements to run the open source OS. Dmitry, however, put this theory to test, building a barebones set-up with just an 8-bit RISC microcontroller at its heart. Running at a somewhat sedentary 6.5KHz, with only 16KB of SRAM and 128KB of flash storage, these are specs that make most phones look like supercomputers. To get things working, Dmitry had to write an ARM emulator so that the system appeared as having a 32-bit processor with an MMU, and it looks like a 30-pin 16MB SIMM was added, plus as SD card to house the Ubuntu image. Despite all this, he was able to load Ubuntu successfully. Sure, it took four hours, and that's after two hours waiting for the bash command prompt, but hey. Grinberg claims that the system is still useable, with the command line typically responding "within a minute." So Dmitri, if you're reading this on the machine, happy new year! Check the time-lapse video after the break to see it in full, patience testing, action.

Continue reading World's slowest Linux computer, says 'Hello Wor...' (video)

World's slowest Linux computer, says 'Hello Wor...' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 01:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-bitbareboneshackhackinglinuxslowslowestubuntuvideoworlds slowest computerWorldsSlowestComputerSun, 01 Apr 2012 01:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu's 'Precise Pangolin' emerges into Beta, enjoys the fresh air (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/ubuntu-precise-pangolin-beta-released/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/ubuntu-precise-pangolin-beta-released/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/02/ubuntu-precise-pangolin-beta-released/#comments So, it looks like Precise Pangolin has just crawled out of its Alpha hiding hole, and into the open plains of Beta testing. The Beta 1 version of Ubuntu 12.04 is available to download today, and Beta 2 is already in the crosshairs, one month from now. Being an LTS (Long Term Support) release, we knew changes weren't going to be drastic, but there are some noteworthy ones. We heard RhythmBox would be back as the default media player, and it is, and it looks like Ubuntu One synching also showed up as expected. Under the hood, the kernel goes from 3.2.0-12.21 to 3.2.0-17.27 and RC6 for Sandy Bridge systems has been enabled. The final freeze is only eight weeks away, so if you want to steer the Pangolin in the right direction, curl up on that source link for the goods.

[Thanks, Robert]

Continue reading Ubuntu's 'Precise Pangolin' emerges into Beta, enjoys the fresh air (video)

Ubuntu's 'Precise Pangolin' emerges into Beta, enjoys the fresh air (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Mar 2012 06:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12.04 lts12.04Ltsbetacanonicallinuxlong term supportLongTermSupportltsprecise pangolinPrecisePangolinUbuntuubuntu 12.04ubuntu 12.04 ltsubuntu 12.04 lts precise pangolinUbuntu12.04Ubuntu12.04LtsUbuntu12.04LtsPreUbuntu12.04LtsPrecisePangolinvideoFri, 02 Mar 2012 06:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with FXI's Cotton Candy, now available for pre-order (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-fxi-cotton-candy-at-mwc-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-fxi-cotton-candy-at-mwc-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/hands-on-with-fxi-cotton-candy-at-mwc-video/#comments Hands-on with FXI's Cotton Candy, now available for pre-order (video)By now, we hope you're mighty familiar with FXI's Cotton Candy -- the much anticipated pocketable computer that just became available for pre-order. We've previously shown photos of the device running both Ice Cream Sandwich and Ubuntu, but now we're able to bring you a video demonstration that may help you better understand what this tiny beast is all about. At the core of the Cotton Candy system is the Exynos 4210 SoC, which capably pushes 1080p video without batting an eye. As such, FXI hopes the miniature computer will gain traction with consumers who want an unobtrusive (and silent) media center or gaming setup in their home. To this end, the company will include the Polkast app for easy access to content and will also bundle games with the system -- though it's not yet able to share specific titles. Those with a sweet tooth may taste the delights of Cotton Candy in March, which will sell for $199.

Continue reading Hands-on with FXI's Cotton Candy, now available for pre-order (video)

Hands-on with FXI's Cotton Candy, now available for pre-order (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.3android 4.0Android2.3Android4.0computercomputerscotton candyCottonCandyexynosexynos 4210Exynos4210fxifxi cotton candyFxiCottonCandygingerbreadhands-onice cream sandwichIceCreamSandwichlinuxmwcmwc 2012Mwc2012pcubuntuvideoWed, 29 Feb 2012 11:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu for Android: more details and prototype hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/ubuntu-for-android-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/ubuntu-for-android-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/24/ubuntu-for-android-hands-on/#comments Ubuntu for Android hands-onCanonical's announcement of Ubuntu for Android kicked up quite a stir, but it also left us with a few unknowns. The idea is that your phone becomes a mobile PC, switching from Android into full desktop Ubuntu mode when you dock it to a bigger display, keyboard and mouse. But just how well does it perform? When is it coming? How is it coming? And will tinkerers be able to install it for themselves? Canonical let us into its London office today to try out the software and pepper one of its engineers with questions. First, the good news: Ubuntu for Android is everything it's been claimed to be. It's a functional desktop OS that sits alongside Android, shares the same kernel and has full read / write access to everything on your phone (the connectivity hardware itself plus contacts, emails, videos, apps and pretty much everything else.). It's also ready for ARM-compatible Ubuntu apps, potentially expanding the range of things your phone can do.

The bad news? It needs to be faster -- a lot faster. The prototype we saw was running on a TI OMAP 4430-powered Motorola Atrix 2 that had primarily been chosen for its ready-made docking accessory. The software hadn't been customized for that handset and neither Motorola nor TI have so far been involved in the project. Despite this, some tasks ran surprisingly well, like watching a video or adjusting a photo. However, surfing on the Chromium desktop browser suffered too much hanging and it was also clear that multi-tasking would be a serious burden. According to Canonical, better performance will come when manufacturers tailor the software to their newest handsets and offer it pre-installed. The company is doing everything it can to make that happen -- meeting with big players at MWC next week and trying to persuade them that it's not too late to offer Ubuntu on models scheduled for launch this year. We asked if Canonical would make the OS available to us ordinary folk sooner than that, so we can play with it and give our feedback, but that just isn't part of the company's game plan right now -- everything hinges on manufacturers seeing the 'differentiation' value and climbing aboard. To tide you over in the meantime, click past the break for a hands-on video.

Continue reading Ubuntu for Android: more details and prototype hands-on (video)

Ubuntu for Android: more details and prototype hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 15:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 2.3Android2.3canonicaldesktopdesktop OSDesktopOsdockingdocking stationDockingStationgingerbreadgooglehands-onkernellinuxlinux kernelLinuxKernelmobile OSMobileOsoperating systemOperatingSystemOSshared kernel architectureSharedKernelArchitectureubuntuubuntu for androidUbuntuForAndroidvideoFri, 24 Feb 2012 15:03:00 EST<![CDATA[ASUS gives Transformer Prime a bootloader unlock tool, Ubuntu promptly ported]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/asus-gives-transformer-prime-a-bootloader-unlock-tool-ubuntu-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/asus-gives-transformer-prime-a-bootloader-unlock-tool-ubuntu-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/22/asus-gives-transformer-prime-a-bootloader-unlock-tool-ubuntu-pr/#comments Ah, it was indeed only a matter of time. Much like the way HTC caved into fan pressure, ASUS has finally released a bootloader unlock tool for its Transformer Prime TF201. Understandably, the tablet will no longer be covered under warranty once you set it free, but the other catch is that it needs to be running Ice Cream Sandwich in the first place as well. Not that it concerned modder littlesteve who promptly ported a partially-working Ubuntu over to his unlocked slate, pictured above. Steve says there's much work to be done yet, especially with enabling touchscreen support, so keep an eye on his tweets if you're itching to get a taste of his Linux pie. Now, about that mysterious TF300T...

ASUS gives Transformer Prime a bootloader unlock tool, Ubuntu promptly ported originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidandroid 4.0Android4.0ASUSbootloaderhackice cream sandwichIceCreamSandwichicslinuxlittlesteveporttf201transformer primeTransformerPrimeubuntuunlockWed, 22 Feb 2012 10:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu's full desktop OS coming to multi-core Android devices (update: video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/ubuntus-full-desktop-os-coming-to-multi-core-android-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/ubuntus-full-desktop-os-coming-to-multi-core-android-devices/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/21/ubuntus-full-desktop-os-coming-to-multi-core-android-devices/#comments What the Atrix 4G first promised, it looks like the folks at Canonical may deliver. Think back to CES 2011, when Motorola showed us a future where our phone was the only computing device we would need -- only to leave us wanting when its webtop app didn't deliver the requisite functionality for such a future. Well, it turns out Ubuntu now runs on multi-core Android devices and your handset can grant a full desktop experience when docked with a display and a keyboard. It's a customized version of Ubuntu that plays nice with Android, the two OS's sharing data and services while running simultaneously. So, you can still access telephony and texts from the Ubuntu environment while enjoying all the computing capabilities it has to offer, including: Ubuntu TV, virtualization tools for running Windows applications, desktop web browsers, and Ubuntu apps built for ARM. It isn't clear exactly what hardware you'll need to run Ubuntu on a handset, but Canonical has said it works on multi-core devices with HDMI and USB connections. We'll get more info next week when it's shown off at MWC, but until then you'll have to settle for the source below and PR after the break.

Update: Have a look at the slick integration in a video we've embedded after the break.

[Thanks, Bekira]

Continue reading Ubuntu's full desktop OS coming to multi-core Android devices (update: video)

Ubuntu's full desktop OS coming to multi-core Android devices (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Feb 2012 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidcanonicallinuxossoftwareubuntuubuntu on androidUbuntuOnAndroidTue, 21 Feb 2012 13:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Canonical to end official Kubuntu support with 12.04, crushes your Plasma-powered dreams]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/canonical-to-end-official-kubuntu-support/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/canonical-to-end-official-kubuntu-support/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/09/canonical-to-end-official-kubuntu-support/#comments KubuntuStandard Ubuntu, with its Gnome roots and Unity interface may get most of the attention, but there are many different varieties of the world's most popular Linux distro. Most, like Xubuntu and Edubuntu, are community efforts entirely maintained by volunteers. Now Kubuntu, the KDE-sporting edition will be joining the ranks of the unofficial. After seven years, Canonical has decided to focus all of its efforts on Ubuntu proper, and will be ending paid support for Kubuntu with version 12.04. That doesn't mean that the variant is dead, only that it might not be a great choice for enterprise customers. Check out the source for the full letter from (former) lead developer Jonathan Riddell announcing the change.

Canonical to end official Kubuntu support with 12.04, crushes your Plasma-powered dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicalJonathan RiddellJonathanRiddellkdekubuntuminipostsupportubuntuThu, 09 Feb 2012 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Boxee desktop app being removed from servers tonight, get it while you can]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/boxee-desktop-app-being-removed-from-servers-tonight/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/boxee-desktop-app-being-removed-from-servers-tonight/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/31/boxee-desktop-app-being-removed-from-servers-tonight/#comments Boxee 1.5We knew that the Boxee desktop app's days were numbered, we just didn't realize how numbered. It was only the day after Christmas that we learned version 1.5 would be the last to ship for Linux, Windows and OS X. Now, with January coming to a close, its life is officially being snuffed out. Tonight, as you flip the calendar to February, Boxee will be busy purging its servers of the installable media center software. What that means, in case you hadn't figured it out, is that this is your last chance to download the official app for your desktop OS of choice as the company shifts focus to the Boxee Box and other streaming appliances. Of course, we're sure someone will pick up the torch and update the program, but as far as Boxee is concerned it has no desktop son.

Boxee desktop app being removed from servers tonight, get it while you can originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appappsboxeeboxee 1.5boxee boxBoxee1.5BoxeeBoxhdpostcrosshtpclinuxmacos xOsXretirestreaming mediaStreamingMediaubuntuupdateupdateswindowsTue, 31 Jan 2012 17:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Canonical bringing HUD to Ubuntu 12.04, company's assault on menus continues]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/canonical-bringing-hud-to-ubuntu-12-04-companys-assault-on-men/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/canonical-bringing-hud-to-ubuntu-12-04-companys-assault-on-men/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/canonical-bringing-hud-to-ubuntu-12-04-companys-assault-on-men/#comments Canonical bringing HUD interface to Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, company's assault on contextual menus continuesCanonical -- shepherd of the popular Linux distribution Ubuntu -- generally doesn't rock the boat with its LTS releases, but things are going to be different this time around. With 12.04LTS the company is taking its assault on contextual menus to the next level by launching HUD. Mark Shuttleworth's obsession with simplifying user interactions began with the controversial Unity UI in Ubuntu 10.10, and will continue with the Head-Up Display. "Menus require you to read a lot when you probably already know what you want," the distro's founder wrote, "HUD solves many of these issues." Those that have used the search feature in Apple's "Help" menus, or launcher apps like Quicksilver and Alfred, will immediately recognize the goal -- to keep a user's fingers on the keyboard, remove clutter and facilitate quick access to available actions. Listening to music and in the mood for The King? Invoke HUD, type the artist's name and you're presented with your Elvis catalog. It also uses "fuzzy matching" and will remember the actions you most commonly perform to further refine your experience. If you're having a hard time envisioning how HUD works, fear not; there is a three minute video demo awaiting your inspection after the break. Death to menus!

Continue reading Canonical bringing HUD to Ubuntu 12.04, company's assault on menus continues

Canonical bringing HUD to Ubuntu 12.04, company's assault on menus continues originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12.04contextualhead-up displayHead-upDisplayHUDintent-driven interfaceIntent-drivenInterfaceintenterfaceinterfaceLTSMark ShuttleworthMarkShuttleworthmenumenusnested menusNestedMenusUbuntuUbuntu 12.04Ubuntu 12.04 LTSUbuntu12.04Ubuntu12.04LtsUnityvideoTue, 24 Jan 2012 23:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu TV eyes-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ubuntu-tv-eyes-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ubuntu-tv-eyes-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/11/ubuntu-tv-eyes-on/#comments Ubuntu TV It's still just a proof of concept, which is a bit of a disappointment, but Ubuntu TV was here at CES making its public debut. For the moment it's running on an external PC and being controlled by a Boxee remote, but Canonical hopes one day to have its media-focused Linux distro embedded in TVs. Even in its relatively young incarnation, the 10-foot tweak of Unity seams relatively smooth. A rep showed off the media browser and guide, including the interface for tying in movie rentals and purchases (we guess we know where the Ubuntu One store will be going next). It's all pretty slick and, to be honest, if we could hack this in to the dumb set currently gracing our TV bench we certainly would. Check out the gallery below and the video walkthrough after the break.

Gallery: Ubuntu TV hands-on


Sean Buckley contributed to this report.

Continue reading Ubuntu TV eyes-on

Ubuntu TV eyes-on originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2012Ces2012connected tvConnectedTvhands-onhdpostcrosslinuxsmart tvSmartTvubuntuubuntu tvUbuntuTvWed, 11 Jan 2012 01:40:00 EST<![CDATA[FXI's Cotton Candy gets a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich and Ubuntu, we go hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/fxis-cotton-candy-gets-a-taste-of-ubuntu-we-go-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/fxis-cotton-candy-gets-a-taste-of-ubuntu-we-go-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/fxis-cotton-candy-gets-a-taste-of-ubuntu-we-go-hands-on/#comments This petite stick of USB-HDMI actually houses a ARM Cortex A9 dual-core processor and is capable of running its own OS. But then, you knew that already, right? So what's new? Well, it's now capable of running both Android Ice Cream Sandwich and we've got Ubuntu running on the show floor. The dongle can connect to these operating systems through the USB connection and while Cotton Candy itself has no internal memory, it can all be stored on micro-SD. There's still the Ubuntu hiccups that are to be expected, but the prototype device still deals out a Firefox browser and the usual Ubuntu niceties. Marvel at Gingerbread-powered Angry Birds on a MacBook, or widescreen Ubuntu and ICS. They're all in our gallery after the break.

Gallery: FXI's Cotton Candy runs Ubuntu hands-on

FXI's Cotton Candy gets a taste of Ice Cream Sandwich and Ubuntu, we go hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidARMARM Cortex A9ARM Cortex-A9ARM MaliArmCortex-a9ArmCortexA9ArmMaliCESCES 2012Ces2012Cortex A9CortexA9Cotton CandyCottonCandyFalanxFXIhands-onMaliUbuntuTue, 10 Jan 2012 21:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu TV making its debut at CES, gets short demo clip]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/ubuntu-tv-making-its-debut-at-ces/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/ubuntu-tv-making-its-debut-at-ces/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/ubuntu-tv-making-its-debut-at-ces/#comments Ubuntu TVCanonical's Mark Shuttleworth promised that Ubuntu would come to TVs eventually, but we never expected it would arrive so quickly. A concept preview is here at CES for convention goers to get their eyeballs on and we'll be swinging through the company's booth to get some hands-on. For now it's largely a technical demo and concept, but there are already some neat features on display like a 3D dash, searchable guide and streaming video apps. The goal, the company says, is to "uncomplicate television" by removing as much of the paraphernalia that accompanies it -- primarily the boxes and cables. If you can't be here to check it out in person (or can't wait for our own preview), check out the gallery below and the video after the break.

Gallery: Ubuntu TV

Continue reading Ubuntu TV making its debut at CES, gets short demo clip

Ubuntu TV making its debut at CES, gets short demo clip originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2012Ces2012connected tvConnectedTvhdpostcrosslinuxsmart tvSmartTvubuntuubuntu tvUbuntuTvvideoMon, 09 Jan 2012 09:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Boxee 1.5 nears release, will be final desktop version]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/boxee-1-5-nears-release-will-be-final-desktop-version/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/boxee-1-5-nears-release-will-be-final-desktop-version/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/26/boxee-1-5-nears-release-will-be-final-desktop-version/#comments Boxee 1.5 We have some good news and bad news. The good news is: Boxee 1.5 will be entering public beta soon, with a proper release scheduled for January alongside Live TV. The update will finally bring the desktop software up-to-date and deliver the more streamlined UI found on the Boxee Box to your Windows, Mac or Linux computer. The bad news is: this will be the final version of the HTPCsoftware. Going forward Boxee plans to focus all of its efforts on streaming appliances, like its namesake Box and connected Blu-ray players and TVs. The software will also lack access to premium apps like Netflix, thanks to the tangled web of DRM woven by content providers. When CEO Avner Ronen said that the downloadable app would, "most likely lag behind the versions of Boxee for devices," we didn't realize just how far behind he meant. On the plus side, you will be getting that open source release.

Boxee 1.5 nears release, will be final desktop version originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avner ronenAvnerRonenboxeeboxee 1.5boxee boxBoxee1.5BoxeeBoxhdpostcrosshtpclinuxmacos xOsXretirestreaming mediaStreamingMediaubuntuupdateupdateswindowsMon, 26 Dec 2011 12:16:00 EST<![CDATA['Lite version' of Ubuntu takes Nook Tablet for a spin, ROM can't come soon enough (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/lite-version-of-ubuntu-takes-nook-tablet-for-a-spin-rom-cant/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/lite-version-of-ubuntu-takes-nook-tablet-for-a-spin-rom-cant/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/lite-version-of-ubuntu-takes-nook-tablet-for-a-spin-rom-cant/#comments We've heard the promises of bringing Ubuntu past its comfort zone and into the mobile space, but who wants to wait until 2014 when a home remedy can deliver precisely that right now. XDA-Developers AdamOutler and Loglud have been grooming a way to bring the OS to your Barnes & Noble tablet, because -- you know -- we're all longing for slates with desktop-scale operating systems on them. At the moment, you can get a quick glimpse of Ubuntu running on the Nook, but porting can only be done via a VNC Server, which opens up plenty of potential avenues for lag to mar the experience. Notably, the delays should all but vanish once a ROM solution becomes available. Now, if we could only get Jane Lynch to sing her way through letting us know the Nook Tablet can also run Ubuntu, we'd be set. Have a peek at the Glee-less demo vid just after the break.

[Thanks, orangejuice]

Continue reading 'Lite version' of Ubuntu takes Nook Tablet for a spin, ROM can't come soon enough (video)

'Lite version' of Ubuntu takes Nook Tablet for a spin, ROM can't come soon enough (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>nook tabletnook tablet romnook tablet rom ubuntunook tablet ubuntu romNookTabletNookTabletRomNookTabletRomUbuntuNookTabletUbuntuRomubuntuubuntu nookubuntu nook tabletubuntu tabletUbuntuNookUbuntuNookTabletUbuntuTabletvideoxdaxda-developersxda-developers ubuntu nook tabletXda-developersUbuntuNookTabletMon, 19 Dec 2011 22:12:00 EST<![CDATA[VMware View delivers virtual Windows machines on Linux, OS X and Kindle Fire]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/vmware-view-delivers-virtual-windows-machines-on-linux-os-x-and/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/vmware-view-delivers-virtual-windows-machines-on-linux-os-x-and/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/vmware-view-delivers-virtual-windows-machines-on-linux-os-x-and/#commentsKindle FireThere are very few places left in this world where you can't access a virtualized Windows PC. VMware has its, well, wares available on almost every platform imaginable. Its View client, for connecting to remotely-hosted enterprise servers has become a particularly integral part of the company's plan to put powerful virtualization tools at the tips of your fingers. After debuting on the iPad back in March, followed shortly afterwards by an Android edition, VMware View is now coming to Mac and Linux machines as well as the Kindle Fire. The feature set doesn't contain many surprises, but full screen support in Lion makes a welcome appearance in the list. The app should already be appearing in the Amazon App Store and the Ubuntu Software Center, though you wont find it in the Mac App Store... at least not yet. Check out the complete PR after the break.

Continue reading VMware View delivers virtual Windows machines on Linux, OS X and Kindle Fire

VMware View delivers virtual Windows machines on Linux, OS X and Kindle Fire originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Amazon App StoreAmazonAppStoreandroidKindleKindle FireKindleFireLionMac OS XMac OS X LionMacOsXMacOsXLionOS XOS X 10.7OsXOsX10.7UbuntuUbuntu Software CenterUbuntuSoftwareCenterVMwareVMware ViewVmwareViewMon, 19 Dec 2011 16:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu's Precise Pangolin to pull less power than predecessors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/ubuntus-precise-pangolin-to-pull-less-power-than-predecessors/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/ubuntus-precise-pangolin-to-pull-less-power-than-predecessors/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/ubuntus-precise-pangolin-to-pull-less-power-than-predecessors/#commentsWe won't be seeing the finished version of Ubuntu's next release for a few months, but the folks at Canonical are hard at work making Precise Pangolin the very best it can be. Version 12.04 is an LTS release, meaning only refinements are in store for the OS, but apparently one of the areas targeted for improvement is power consumption.

In a post on his blog, Ubuntu kernel engineer Colin King explained that the plan is to provide power savings in a variety of ways, including PCI Express Active State Power Management (ASPM). Furthermore, testing of Aggressive Link Power Management (ALPM) that puts the SATA link to your disk drive into a low power mode during periods of inactivity is in the works, as is placing USB and PCI controllers of peripherals and wireless connections into lower power states. The folks at Canonical are putting Precise Pangolin through its power-saving paces, but are also calling upon members of the Ubuntu community to help out with the QA to see which methods will work best. So, if you're into doing a good deed for the next Ubuntu distro, head on down to the source to learn how to lend a hand.

Ubuntu's Precise Pangolin to pull less power than predecessors originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicallinuxprecise pangolinPrecisePangolinubuntuubuntu 12.04ubuntu 12.04 ltsubuntu 12.04 lts precise pangolinUbuntu12.04Ubuntu12.04LtsUbuntu12.04LtsPrecisePangolinMon, 19 Dec 2011 14:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Linux Mint 12 debuts 'Lisa' as belle of the ball]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/linux-mint-12-debuts-lisa-as-belle-of-the-ball/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/linux-mint-12-debuts-lisa-as-belle-of-the-ball/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/29/linux-mint-12-debuts-lisa-as-belle-of-the-ball/#comments The Ubuntu variant famed for delivering a minty fresh taste to Linux has officially arrived at version 12. Code-named "Lisa," the distribution introduces a new desktop that's based on GNOME 3.2, yet offers extensive user customization courtesy of Mint Gnome Shell Extensions (MGSE). Open source fans will find the default search engine is now DuckDuckGo, which touts crowd-sourcing and a no-tracking privacy policy. Those concerned with aesthetics will certainly appreciate two new themes, Mint-Z and Mint-Z-Dark, and the distro also delivers upgrades to Firefox, Thunderbird and LibreOffice. Linux Mint currently rides in the pole position at DistroWatch, having supplanted Ubuntu as the alternative of choice for many Tux enthusiasts. Perhaps it's time to sample the freshness for yourself.

Linux Mint 12 debuts 'Lisa' as belle of the ball originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>duckduckgofreegnomegnome 3.2Gnome3.2linuxlinux 3.0linux mintlinux mint 12Linux3.0LinuxMintLinuxMint12lisamgseminipostmintopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemubuntuTue, 29 Nov 2011 08:38:00 EST<![CDATA[FXI's Cotton Candy could turn every screen you own into a cloud client]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/fxis-cotton-candy-could-turn-every-screen-you-own-into-a-cloud/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/fxis-cotton-candy-could-turn-every-screen-you-own-into-a-cloud/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/17/fxis-cotton-candy-could-turn-every-screen-you-own-into-a-cloud/#comments
It's a truth universally acknowledged, that a user in possession of a good number of devices must be in want of a unified way to use them all. As it stands, that mythical interface doesn't exist; but hopefully that's set to change soon. Norway's FXI is heralding a device codenamed Cotton Candy; a USB/ HDMI stick that can connect to nearly anything that's packing a display. Inside the stick is a dual-core ARM Cortex A9 and quad-core ARM Mali-400MP GPU that can handle 1080p video, 802.11 b/g/n WIFi, Bluetooth v2.1 and microSD card storage, expandable up to 64GB. Plug it into a laptop or desktop and you'll be able to use a thin-layer client to access your personal cloud, or via HDMI into a HDTV to be controlled using Bluetooth peripherals, smartphones and tablets. Being able to open "your" desktop on any device means you can conduct presentations, access media content and surf the web without ties. FXI is a new player in the market, but the founder was previously the brains behind Falanx, which created the technology that powers ARM's Mali GPUs. It's working with various manufacturers with the aim of partnering up to get the devices into stores in the second half of next year, the expected cost being under $200 -- although we'd pay more if they threw in a bag of the real, teeth-destroying stuff.

Continue reading FXI's Cotton Candy could turn every screen you own into a cloud client

FXI's Cotton Candy could turn every screen you own into a cloud client originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AndroidARMARM Cortex A9ARM Cortex-A9ARM MaliArmCortex-a9ArmCortexA9ArmMaliCortex A9CortexA9Cotton CandyCottonCandyFalanxFXIMaliUbuntuThu, 17 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Canonical gets a little more precise about what's in store for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/canonical-gets-a-little-more-precise-about-whats-in-store-for-u/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/canonical-gets-a-little-more-precise-about-whats-in-store-for-u/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/canonical-gets-a-little-more-precise-about-whats-in-store-for-u/#comments Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Look, codenames are all fine and dandy, but we want the meat -- we want to know exactly what Precise Pangolin has in store. Specifics are still a little hard to come by, but there were some tidbits out of the Ubuntu Developer Summit. For one, Canonical has decided to bump the size of the ISO from 700MB to 750MB. That might not seem like a huge deal, but it means CDs are out and thumb drives or DVDs are in for installs. The company is also considering using Ubuntu One accounts for logging into the desktop, allowing you to quickly sync your settings and files on any Ubuntu machine -- not unlike Google's Chrome OS. Lastly there are a few software changes coming. The Software Center will be getting some serious optimization for quicker launches and better performance, while Rhythmbox will be returning to the fold after being banished for Banshee in 11.04. You'll find a few more details about Ubuntu 12.04 at the source link.

Canonical gets a little more precise about what's in store for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 06:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicallong term supportLongTermSupportprecise pangolinPrecisePangolinubuntuubuntu 12.04ubuntu 12.04 ltsubuntu 12.04 lts precise pangolinubuntu oneUbuntu12.04Ubuntu12.04LtsUbuntu12.04LtsPrecisePangolinUbuntuOneTue, 08 Nov 2011 06:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu coming to tablets, phones, cars and smart TVs by 2014]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/ubuntu-coming-to-tablets-phones-cars-and-smart-tvs-by-2014/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/ubuntu-coming-to-tablets-phones-cars-and-smart-tvs-by-2014/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/ubuntu-coming-to-tablets-phones-cars-and-smart-tvs-by-2014/#comments Ubuntu Tablet We've already seen Ubuntu running on tablets and smartphones, but not in any official capacity. Rumors had it that Canonical would be making a serious push into the tablet space in early 2011, but that effort never materialized, or at least was never acknowledged. Still, Unity has some finger-friendly streaks and Oneiric added ARM support -- so it's not much of a stretch to see the popular Linux distro on your mobile devices. Well, at the Ubuntu Developer Summit, Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth made that move official by issuing a challenge to the Ubuntu community to start pushing beyond the traditional PC form factor. Few details were given, but Shuttleworth did say that he believes the time is right for the OS to start making moves into the tablet, phone, in-dash infotainment and smart TV spaces. There were no products to announce, but Shuttleworth was confident the OS would be ready and in shipping consumer electronics by the time version 14.04 arrived in April of 2014. Though, we're sure some prototypes will start showing up sooner rather than later.

Ubuntu coming to tablets, phones, cars and smart TVs by 2014 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armcanonicalconnected tvsConnectedTvshdpostcrosslinuxMark ShuttleworthMarkShuttleworthmobilepostcrosssmart tvsmart tvssmartphonesSmartTvSmartTvstablettabletsubuntuubuntu 14.04Ubuntu14.04unityMon, 31 Oct 2011 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu and Dell rekindle their love, in China]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/ubuntu-and-dell-rekindle-their-love-in-china/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/ubuntu-and-dell-rekindle-their-love-in-china/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/ubuntu-and-dell-rekindle-their-love-in-china/#comments Ubuntu on Dell in China In 2007 Dell started a highly publicized experiment with loading Ubuntu on some of its machines. Suffice to say, it wasn't a resounding success -- despite Michael Dell's ringing endorsement. Though their relationship seems to have petered out (US customers won't find a single machine running Canonical's open-source OS on Dell's site), the two companies aren't quite ready file for separation just yet. The two are looking to rekindle their love by heading across the Pacific, to China. Initially the Linux-loaded lappies will be available in 220 retail locations across the country with accompanying branding to promote Ubuntu. Clearly only time will tell if this attempt to save their marriage will be successful, but we're pretty confident Chinese consumers will be more receptive to an alternative OS than Americans were. One more pic after the break.

Update: Turns out there are still a couple of Ubuntu-equipped machines available in the US, but only to business customers and the landing page that once championed their partnership has disappeared.

Continue reading Ubuntu and Dell rekindle their love, in China

Ubuntu and Dell rekindle their love, in China originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicalChinaDellLinuxopen sourceopen-sourceOpenSourceOSUbuntuFri, 28 Oct 2011 11:33:00 EST<![CDATA[IRL: Kingston Wi-Drive, Dyson DC35 and being an Ubuntu fanboy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/irl-kingston-wi-drive-dyson-dc35-and-being-an-ubuntu-fanboy/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/irl-kingston-wi-drive-dyson-dc35-and-being-an-ubuntu-fanboy/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/irl-kingston-wi-drive-dyson-dc35-and-being-an-ubuntu-fanboy/#commentsWelcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

The lively comments in yesterday's Nest thermostat post got us thinking: for all our talk of smartphones and Ultrabooks, it's the mundane, not-glamorous stuff that we're spending most of our money on. Take Brad, for instance, who had to make room in his iTunes library for the Aladdin soundtrack and had to get creative after maxing out his iPhone's (non-expandable) storage. Or Zach, who felt not one, but two vacuum cleaners were necessary in his bachelor pad. And at least one of us avoids paying anything by choosing to tinker around in Ubuntu. How'd Brad make do with his 16GB of fixed storage? Why is Zach such a compulsive cleaner? And who's the Linux fanboy on staff? Meet us after the break to find out.

Continue reading IRL: Kingston Wi-Drive, Dyson DC35 and being an Ubuntu fanboy

IRL: Kingston Wi-Drive, Dyson DC35 and being an Ubuntu fanboy originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple iphone 4sAppleIphone4sBrad MolenBradMolendysonDyson DC35DysonDc35engadgetIRLIOSiPhone 4sIphone4sIRLkingstonkingston wi-drivekingston widriveKingstonWi-driveKingstonWidriveLinuxOneiric OcelotOneiricOcelotoperating systemoperating systemsOperatingSystemOperatingSystemsOSTerrence OBrienTerrenceObrienubuntuUbuntu 5.04Ubuntu5.04vacuumvacuum cleanervacuum cleanersVacuumCleanerVacuumCleanersvacuumsZach HonigZachHonigWed, 26 Oct 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu turns 7, Canonical gets to work on Precise Pangolin]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/ubuntu-turns-7-canonical-gets-to-work-on-precise-pangolin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/ubuntu-turns-7-canonical-gets-to-work-on-precise-pangolin/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/20/ubuntu-turns-7-canonical-gets-to-work-on-precise-pangolin/#comments Ubuntu LTS It was exactly seven years ago today that Warty Warthog, the very first release of Ubuntu (despite its 4.10 version number), hit the internet and became an almost instant success. In the course of those years Canonical has built the world's most popular desktop Linux distribution and a powerful presence in the server industry thanks to its LTS (Long Term Support) releases. With Oneiric Ocelot in the books, it's time for the team to set its sights on yet another enterprise-friendly and super stable release, 12.04 LTS -- Precise Pangolin. Don't expect any big new features or drastic UI changes, the LTS releases are all about fine tuning what's already there. Hit up the source for a few more details on Pangolin and the more coverage link for the original Ubuntu announcement.

Ubuntu turns 7, Canonical gets to work on Precise Pangolin originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12.04 lts12.04Ltsbirthdaycanonicallinuxlong term supportLongTermSupportltsminipostprecise pangolinPrecisePangolinUbuntuubuntu 12.04ubuntu 12.04 ltsubuntu 12.04 lts precise pangolinUbuntu12.04Ubuntu12.04LtsUbuntu12.04LtsPrecisePangolinThu, 20 Oct 2011 20:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Vodafone brings ARM and Ubuntu together for South African Webbook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/vodafone-brings-arm-and-ubuntu-together-for-south-african-webboo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/vodafone-brings-arm-and-ubuntu-together-for-south-african-webboo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/vodafone-brings-arm-and-ubuntu-together-for-south-african-webboo/#comments Vodafone Webbook If you don't know what Ubuntu is by now, we're not sure what tech blog you're reading -- 'cause it sure isn't this one. Ok, so finding a computer with the world's most popular Linux distro preloaded on it isn't exactly easy (there aren't any lurking in your local Best Buy, that's for sure). But, tracking down a machine running the Ocelot in South Africa will be getting a bit simpler. The country's Vodafone affiliate, Vodacom, launched the Webbook -- a 10-inch laptop running Ubuntu 11.10 on a Cortex A8-based Freescale i.MX51 processor (likely 800MHz). Inside is also 512MB of RAM and 4GB of flash storage, enough for basic browsing. The Webbook is available now, starting at R1,499 (about $190) for just the device, and climbing up to R1,899 (about $245) for the Webbook, modem and 100MB of monthly data for 12 months. There's also an on-contract option, which nets you the pile of hardware, plus 500MB of data for R189 a month and a two year commitment. Check out the pair of press releases after the break, as well as one more photo of the device

Continue reading Vodafone brings ARM and Ubuntu together for South African Webbook

Vodafone brings ARM and Ubuntu together for South African Webbook originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 19 Oct 2011 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canonicallinuxOneiric OcelotOneiricOcelotsouth africaSouthAfricaubuntuubuntu 11.10Ubuntu11.10vodacomvodacom webbookVodacomWebbookvodafonevodafone webbookVodafoneWebbookwebbookWed, 19 Oct 2011 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot' now available to download]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/ubuntu-11-10-oneiric-ocelot-now-available-to-download/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/ubuntu-11-10-oneiric-ocelot-now-available-to-download/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/13/ubuntu-11-10-oneiric-ocelot-now-available-to-download/#comments In case you haven't been keeping an eye on the countdown, we thought we'd remind you that Ubuntu 11.10 -- otherwise known as Oneiric Ocelot -- is now available to download (completely free of charge, of course). That brings with it an updated version of the Unity interface that includes features like a new alt + tab switcher and "Lenses" with some expanded functionality instead of the previous "Places" feature -- not to mention full support for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and other script languages. Did we mention it also now has its own soundtrack? Head on past the break for a taste, and hit the source link below for a nifty web-based preview of the OS before you download.

Continue reading Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot' now available to download

Ubuntu 11.10 'Oneiric Ocelot' now available to download originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Oct 2011 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>linuxOneiric OcelotOneiricOcelotoperating systemOperatingSystemosreleaseubuntuubuntu 11.10Ubuntu11.10videoThu, 13 Oct 2011 15:37:00 EST<![CDATA[The countdown to Oneiric Ocelot begins, Ubuntu 11.10 arrives October 13th]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/the-countdown-to-oneiric-ocelot-begins-ubuntu-11-10-arrives-oct/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/the-countdown-to-oneiric-ocelot-begins-ubuntu-11-10-arrives-oct/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/the-countdown-to-oneiric-ocelot-begins-ubuntu-11-10-arrives-oct/#comments This is the countdown A whole new world? A whole new computer? Those are some pretty epic promises coming from the folks at Canonical, especially since we've seen the most recent beta and Ubuntu 11.10 and, while its packed with welcome improvements over Natty, it's not exactly revolutionary. Still, we're excited that on October 13th the final release of Oneiric Ocelot will be hitting the web with an improved Dash that integrates search Lenses, new default apps, a spiffed-up app switcher and application syncing across multiple devices. There are plenty of other little tweaks and improvements that add polish to the popular Linux distribution -- more than we could possibly cover without inspiring a string of TLDR comments. If you're the adventurous type you can download the second beta now, but we suggest you wait till the timer at the source link reaches zero. If you want to spread the Gospel of Ubuntu you'll also find a printable flyer at the source with a QR code and tear-off URL strips that lead to ThisIsTheCountdown.com.

The countdown to Oneiric Ocelot begins, Ubuntu 11.10 arrives October 13th originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11.10canonicalcountdownlinuxoctober 13thOctober13thOneiric OcelotOneiricOcelotopen sourceOpenSourceoperating systemOperatingSystemOSreleasethis is the countdownThisIsTheCountdownubuntuubuntu 11.10Ubuntu11.10unityupdateMon, 03 Oct 2011 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA['Humanity toward others' extended to Windows with Ubuntu One cloud storage]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/humanity-toward-others-extended-to-windows-with-ubuntu-one-clo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/humanity-toward-others-extended-to-windows-with-ubuntu-one-clo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/03/humanity-toward-others-extended-to-windows-with-ubuntu-one-clo/#comments
Are you a Windows user in need of yet another cloud storage option? Lucky for you, after a long-running beta, Canonical's Ubuntu One client has officially debuted on Microsoft's platform. First introduced with Ubuntu 10.10, the service offers 5GB of free storage, with file syncing across multiple machines, ala Dropbox. Android and iOS clients are already available. If you need more space, how about 20GB for $29.99 a year or $2.99 a month? And if portable tunes is your game, you can have that same 20GB along with music streaming apps (similar to Google Music Beta) for $39.99 a year or $3.99 a month. Click the source link to engage in some cross-platform storage.

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'Humanity toward others' extended to Windows with Ubuntu One cloud storage originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidCanonicalcloudcloud storageCloudStoragefree cloud storageFreeCloudStorageLinuxMicrosoftminipostmobilemusic streamingMusicStreamingstorageUbuntuUbuntu OneUbuntuOneWindowsMon, 03 Oct 2011 04:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Canonical launches Ubuntu App Developer platform for curious coders]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/canonical-launches-ubuntu-app-developer-platform-for-curious-cod/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/canonical-launches-ubuntu-app-developer-platform-for-curious-cod/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/canonical-launches-ubuntu-app-developer-platform-for-curious-cod/#comments
Creating apps for Ubuntu is about to get a lot easier, now that the folks over at Canonical have launched the Ubuntu App Developer platform. On the new site, developers will find guides, tutorials and other resources to help them create apps specifically for the Linux OS, or to port other apps to the platform. Once finalized, these apps can then be published on the Ubuntu Software Centre, where developers can choose to either offer them for free, or at a price. In announcing the new platform, community member David Planella predicted that it will offer a "unified and consistent journey for both open-source, non-commercial and commercial app authors." He went on to acknowledge, however, that there's still plenty of work to be done: "For all its current awesomeness, we are aware that the site needs to pass the test of a wider audience, adapt to their needs, and grow." Find out more at the source link, below.

Canonical launches Ubuntu App Developer platform for curious coders originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapplicationcanonicaldeveloperdistributionlaunchlinuxminipostoperating systemOperatingSystemOSplatformsitesoftwareubuntuubuntu app developerubuntu linuxUbuntu Software Centerubuntu software centreUbuntuAppDeveloperUbuntuLinuxUbuntuSoftwareCenterUbuntuSoftwareCentreWed, 28 Sep 2011 05:37:00 EST