Ubuntu 8.04 released

The latest version of the popular Ubuntu Linux distribution was officially released to the public Thursday after the customary beta-test period. This version is designated "LTS," for "long-term support," which should make it attractive to business customers who prefer a longer upgrade cycle for their operating systems.

Red Hat skips consumer Linux desktop
Red Hat has no plans to create a traditional desktop product for the consumer market, but will continue to place its bets on a desktop for commercial markets.

Linux replacements for your favorite Windows apps
For many users, getting started with Linux is surprisingly easy. New, friendlier versions of the free operating system, such as Fedora and Ubuntu, feature straightforward menus and automated installations that make switching from Windows to Linux a relatively simple process.

Linux faithful see ray of light shining on client OS
Linux, long the laggard to the Windows desktop, is pushing into emerging markets, onto mobile devices and other client form factors, and is poised to give Microsoft something to really compete against, according to attendees at the annual Linux Foundation Summit.

Open source key to Al Jazeera's Web 2.0 success
It has been maligned by the U.S. administration because it has given a voice to its public enemy number one, Osama bin Laden, but Al Jazeera's motto of giving voice to all sides of a story is also reflected in its IT deployment. The news organization is turning out to be a big fan open source software.

Adobe joins Linux Foundation, develops Air for Linux
Adobe Systems released an early alpha version of its rich Internet application platform Air for Linux on Monday, and announced that it has joined the Linux Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes and standardizes Linux.

Wine 1.0 nearly ready for pouring
Developers of Wine, the most widely used software for running Windows applications on Linux, have announced the upcoming release of Wine 1.0 -- scheduled for June 6, the 15th anniversary of the commencement of the project.

HP adding Novell's Linux to its desktop lineup
Novell Tuesday plans to announce that HP will begin loading Suse Linux 10 on its desktops, joining Dell and Lenovo as partners who pre-install the open source operating system.

Linux start-up launches server provisioning software
Open Country technology repurposed at LinMin with its Linux Bare Metal Provisioning software that performs system provisioning and imaging capabilities.

Novell execs talk Microsoft interop announcement
A pair of Novell executives Wednesday touted the company's recent financial performance, but questions during the press conference at Cebit in Hanover, Germany, focused more on Microsoft's recent, high-profile pledge to improve interoperability and shore up its relationship with the open-source community.

Security vendors rally around NAP
Security vendors are clamoring to announce their products' compatibility with Microsoft's network access protection, a key security feature of Windows Server 2008.

Open source software and recycled gear equals PCs for needy schools
Alameda County Computer Resource Center joins forces with open source vendor Untangle and the local Linux community to load Ubuntu, Firefox, OpenOffice and more on recycled PCs to be donated to needy schools

Razr, others designated LiMo Linux phones
The LiMo Foundation plans to announce 18 phones based on its platform, including some that are already on the market, on Monday at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

NTT DoCoMo in talks on Android-based cell phone
Japan's biggest mobile telecom carrier gave its strongest support yet to Google's Android platform on Thursday when it said it is considering a cell phone based on the technology.

The low-down on the Linux High-Availability Project
Simon Horman works as a software engineer for VA Linux Systems Japan. In his downtime he also busies himself working on open source projects such as kexec-tools, kexec for Xen IA64, the Linux Virtual Server Project, and the Linux High-Availability Project, which seeks to provide high availability clustering solutions for Linux.

All

• SCO CEO takes the witness stand
• Linux visionary convicted of murder
• Ubuntu releases Hardy Heron
• Computer experts protest Microsoft OOXML
• US software lock-ins harm local bidders

LugRadio Live USA San Francisco, April 12-13 2008.

Nerdapalooza Orlando, Florida, July 4-5 2008.

LinuxWorld Conference and Expo San Francisco, August 4-7, 2008.