Steam For Linux Beta Is Now Open

Valve recently announced the company was close to finalizing a Steam clinet for Linux and put out a call to action for gamers interested in participating. Within its first week, Valve received over 60,000 responses to its request for participants in beta test. The first round of beta participants has been selected from this group of respondents, however Valve is looking to add more.

If you're interested in participating in the beta and are an "experienced" Linux user, there's still time to fill out Valve's application. Subsequent participants will be chosen among survey respondents, and once the team has seen a solid level of stability and performance across a variety of systems, the Steam for Linux client will become available to all users of Steam.

The Steam for Linux Beta client is currently available for installation on Ubuntu 12.04 only though several sites have mentioned users installing it on other Linux distros. The beta kicks off with 26 titles, including the free-to-play Team Fortress 2 game.

For more details on participating in the beta test visit http://steamcommunity.com/linux.

Source: Steam for Linux Beta Now Available

Valve Beta Testing Steam For Linux Next Month

Valve has some exciting news for Linux users, the company has been working hard on a Linux based Steam client which the feel is almost ready for public consumption.According to Valve's Linux Team blog development on the Steam client for Linux has been progressing well so well that they have announced a limited beta release will be available as soon as next month.

According to Valve's Linux Team blog posting the company is planning to start internal beta testing on the client next week and will launch a closed external beta test some time in October. The external beta test will include 1,000 users who will receive one Valve game and a test build of the client, which is supported for Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and later. Valve did not announce which game will be included but it is likely that the unnamed title will be Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2) as Valve has already spent considerable effort porting that game to Linux.

Valve hasn't post details about signups as of yet but says once they are ready for the external beta test details will be posted on its Linux Team blog. Testers who want to take part should be experienced Linux users; the company suggests that newcomers to the platform should wait for a subsequent version which will include more options and an easier installation.

External Beta News | Valve

Is Blizzard Banning Diablo 3 Players For Running Linux?

According to reports on the Diablo III Forums players running Linux and using Wine, the open source application that allows Windows programs to run under Linux, are being banned as "cheaters".

Several users on the Diablo III forums have received confirmation emails noting that their accounts have been removed and banned from service for using what Blizzard is called a cheat. According to the posts Blizzard has decided to ban anyone trying to run the game using Wine, even though it in no way gives Linux users an advantage.

Blizzard is classing the practice of running Linux and Wine as "gaining an unfair advantage by running unapproved third party software."

A third party program is any file or program that is used in addition to the game to gain an unfair advantage. These programs may increase movement speed or teleport heroes from one place to another beyond what is allowed by game design. It also includes any programs that obtain information from the game that is not normally available to the regular player or that transmit or modify any of the game files.

According to the post several tickets have been opened with the Blizzard support team with responses ranging from a generic description of what unapproved third party software is, to confirmation that Linux just isn’t supported and therefore cannot be used to run the game. Blizzard is adamant in it's decision and so far has not decided to reverse any of these bans after looking at the issue.

Blizzard has responded with the following:

We've extensively tested for false positive situations, including replicating system setups for those who have posted claiming they were banned unfairly. We've not found any situations that could produce a false positive, have found that the circumstances for which they were banned were clear and accurate, and we are extremely confident in our findings.

Playing the game on Linux, although not officially supported, will not get you banned – cheating will.

So, it would appear as though there are several discrepancies here. The forums are riddled with users complaining they are being banned, yet Blizzard claims otherwise. For more information on the banning and Blizzards response see the following threads

• Banning Linux Users For Using Linux Really?
• Banning Linux Users For Using Linux Part 2 
• People Being Banned For Using Linux

Run A Full Ubuntu Desktop From Your Android Smartphone

The guys over at Canonical, or as we know them the mad scientist behind Ubuntu our favorite Linux distro, have developed a new Ubuntu Android add-on that will allow you to turn your smartphone into a desktop style PC.

The line between smartphones, tablets and other hand held devices and a traditional PC are certainly being blurred these days. Our phones are gaining more and more power allowing them to function more like a traditional computer than a phone. The team as Canonical plan to use that power to gives users the option of leaving the desktop out all together. Powering a monitor and keyboard straight from your Android based phone.

"The processors at the heart of smartphones are approaching the power of low-end laptop processors, so we use the horsepower to power a desktop experience," said Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth. "If you link your phone to a computer monitor and keyboard, then the phone can drive a full desktop session."

The new software, which is being called Ubuntu for Android, works as an add-on to the traditional Android mobile operating system. When a user's Android phone is docked to a screen and keyboard, the software will launch a full desktop environment based on the Ubuntu Unity shell. Android and Ubuntu, both being based on the same Linux kernel, will run side-by-side sharing information across both uniformly. Users will see unified system with the same contact list, address book, calendar, settings, photos and social media passwords to make the entire experience seamless. You'll even be able to make calls and texts while using the Ubuntu desktop utilizing Ubuntu's message indicator.

For now the system won't run on just any Android phone. After all you do need a bit of raw power to run both shell's at the same time. Here are the current phone requirements:

• Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or higher
• Dual-core 1GHz CPU or higher (multi-cores required)
• Video acceleration: shared kernel driver with associated X driver; Open GL, ES/EGL
• 2GB storage for the OS disk image
• 512 MB RAM
• HDMI video out with secondary frame buffer device
• USB host mode

The OS is currently only available to OEMs at the moment, alas Canonical plans on showing the new system off at Mobile World Conference so I'm sure we'll see more details coming and if there is a lot of interest me might even see a consumer version.

Linux Foundation Hosting Android Builders Summit and Embedded Linux Conference

The Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, has announced the 2011 Android Builder Summit to take place from 13 to 14 April at the Hotel Kabuki, San Francisco. Following the Embedded Linux Conference, the ABS will run for one and a half days, starting at 1 pm on the 13 April. The ELC runs from the 11 to 13 April.

The Android Builders Summit is a technical summit for OEMs, their device manufacturers, integrators, custom builders, and the growing Android and Linux Kernel developer communities. Android is expanding to an increasing number of industry segments in addition to smart phones and tablets. There is a need for the ecosystem of builders to collaborate on a common solution for existing limitations and desired features across all of these device categories.


The Android Builders Summit provides an intimate forum for collaboration at the systems level and discussion of core issues and opportunities when designing Android devices.

The summit addresses topics ranging from custom builds, alternative middleware, network functionality extensions, Peer to Peer frameworks, USB device support, security, unification of power management, tools and hybrid Android devices among many other topics.

Co-Located with the 2011 Embedded Linux Conference, the Android Builders Summit is 1.5 days, beginning at 1:00pm on Wednesday, April 13th and continuing on April 14th with a full day of exclusive Android content including keynote presentations from Qualcomm Innovation Center and Motorola. This is an excellent opportunity for companies participating in Android-based product development to interact and exchange ideas with their industry colleagues and other participants from the Android community. Immediately following the summit, The Linux Foundation will be offering its recently announced Android Training classes.

Who Should Attend:

• Android OEMs and Device manufacturers and integrators
• Android Custom Builders, and those wanting to bring Android to new market segments
• Android and Linux Kernel developer communities

If you are interested in attending the Android Builders Summit it is encouraged that you to sign up early as there is limited space, and the event always reaches capacity. You can find registration information here.

Registration Fees

• General Registration Fee: $295
• Embedded Linux Conference Attendees: $100 - If you are attending the Embedded Linux Conference, you can register for this event as part of your ELC registration.  Do not use this registration form if you are attending ELC.
• Student Registration Fee: $100 (Be prepared to show your valid student id onsite)
• Group Registration Discounts: If your organization if planning to send three or more people to ABS, please contact usThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a 20% discount code.

Linux Foundation Announces Events for 2011

The Linux Foundation has recently announced their list of upcoming Events for 2011 include a new LinuxCon Europe in Prague, Czech Republic.

The goal of the Linux Foundation events is to bring together the best and brightest that the Linux community has to offer, including community developers, system administrators, business executives and operations experts. The newly announced LinuxCon Europe will deliver attendees top notch speaking talent (from across Europe and around the globe), innovative and abundant program content, and a wide variety of opportunities to connect with peers. LinuxCon Europe attendees the opportunity to also attend the Embedded Linux Conference Europe (ELCE) at no additional cost.

Further information, including event dates and locations, as well as registration details and the Call for Presentations for all of the 2011 events, can be found on the Linux Foundation's Events web page.

Review: Linksys E2100L Wireless-N Router

Linksys has a long standing as one of the best networking brands on the market. I know I've used their routers for years any absolutely love them. It wasn't until recently that I upgraded from my old WRT-54G with the hacked DD-WRT Firmware to something new. Of course when I was shopping around the first place I looked was at the new Linksys models.

As timing would have it they asked us if we'd like to review one of their new E-Series routers. So we jumped for the chance and made a tough call and went with the new Linksys E2100L. More on that decision later!

These days Linksys is owned by Cisco, which is of course one of the best know names in networking. Recently the company introduced several new products under the Cisco/Linksys name one of which is the new Valet line of wireless routers for home users. Along side the home based Valet line Cisco Systems also detailed a new line of routers for business and tech savvy users. These new routers have Cisco in their name but Linksys as their model number.

This new series is know as the Linksys E-series which includes four new Wireless-N routers: Linksys E1000, Linksys E2000, Linksys E2100L, and Linksys E3000.

The E1000 is the budget router for people with lighter networking needs. The E2000 is a midrange wireless router with support for Gigabit Ethernet and selectable dual-band, letting it to in either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands. The Linksys E2100L is a slightly more advanced model powered by Linux that allows for more customization and flexibility in network control and optimization. It doesn't support Gigabit Ethernet or dual-band wireless, but it has a USB port and a built-in UPnP AV Media Server that is capable of streaming digital content from attached USB drives to an Xbox 360, PS3, or other compatible devices.

The top of the line is the Linksys E3000, which supports all the features available in Cisco consumer-grade wireless routers, including simultaneous dual-band, Gigabit Ethernet, built-in UPnP AV media server, USB port to host network storage, and more.

Today we are focusing on the Linksys E2100L which after much deliberation we selected as providing the best band for your geek buck. Why you may ask? We'll we figured most of our readers would want the option of having the USB port for file sharing and the being the geeks we are we wanted the added customization of the Linux based OS. Now I know the Linksys E3000 offers dual band as well as Gigabit Ethernet but we figured most shoppers would want to save some of their hard earned cash and not splurge on the E3000.

Linksys E2100L Specifications

• Model: Linksys E2100L
• Technology: Wireless-N
• Standards: IEEE 802.3/3u, IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE802.11n Draft
• Bands: 2.4 GHz
• Security: WPA/WPA2 Personal SPI firewall protection
• Antennas: 2 Detachable
• Ethernet ports x speed: 4 x 10/100
• USB port: Yes for centralized file sharing with NAS devices
• OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac

Setup

Right out of the box Linksys routers are amongst the easiest you'll find to setup and the E2100L. You can either run the Cisco Connect software or do it the old fashioned way and log direct into the interface and adjust your settings as needed.

Considering we opted for the E2100L because of the Linux Based OS we opted to forgo using the Cisco Connect software and manual adjust all of our settings. For users of older Linksys models most of the UI will look familiar and is easy to navigate. We had most of our settings changed and our router secured and up and running in just a few mins. Setting up the built-in media server and adding an external drive was a bit different and took a few attempts with a few different devices but once it was running things went smoothly.

Wireless Coverage

With all wireless routers range is one of the biggest areas of concern. After all if you can't get a wireless signal its pretty pointless to have the router. Being that the E2100L is a Draft N router and has dual external antennas it should have decent range. During my testing I was only able to use Wireless-G devices (at the time we didn't have any draft n devices setup).

For the most part coverage was fine, when I say fine I mean I had a decent signal. The downside to that is that it was no better than my older router. To be honest that disappointed me a bit. I didn't expect much of a gain but I did figure it being a newer router it might offer a little better coverage.

Built-in Media Server

Cisco says the built-in USB port can be used for connecting to an external hard drive, USB flash drive, or other USB storage device, allowing you to share your files at home or over the Internet. We however had a few issues setting it up with our flash drives. I couldn't diagnose the issue any further than the devices simply not working. Testing with other devices, more specifically our external hard drive went rather smoothly and setup was quick and easy.

The E2100L also includes a built-in UPnP AV media server that streams music, video, and photos from your storage device to an Xbox 360, PS3, or other UPnP AV-compatible device. We only used the device on a local machine that was wired but we did test the media server functions and we can say streaming locally was very smooth. We found no playback issues and no file transfer issues what so ever.

Conclusion

Being a Linksys fan from the start I might sound a bit bias here but I'll say I honestly think the new E-Series routers are some of the best I've used. Price wise they are a bit expensive, I believe they are now down to $70-80 whcih would make it a great deal, the E2100L was priced at $120 when we first spotted them, but the features are pretty hard to beat.

Having the addition of the built-in USB port was one feature that really drew me to the E2100L. Is that something worth paying more for. Well for me at the original price it certainly wouldn't be. Its nice to have but I could setup a networked NAS or a share from my PC and be content. At the lower prices I've seen lately I would say yes it is definitely a feature that would draw me to this router.

For the average user going with something slightly cheaper like the Cisco Valet series will likely be a better option. For the geeks out there that want something packed with features and aren't really concerned with cost I'd say the E3000 is a better bet. You'd add dual band and Gigabyte Ethernet both of which would nice to have. For the Linux/DD-WRT users out there that are drawn to the E2100L for it's Linux use, honestly I'd say you are better off finding something with all the features you want (possibly the E3000) and flashing the device.

Valve Just Says No To Linux

In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Valve's VP of Marketing Doug Lombardi dished out some bad news for Linux gamers stating: "There's no Linux version that we're working on right now."

Following the interview and the denial of Steam for Linux many gaming sites have begun to question the vague wording of the "right now" statement. Does this mean they had been working on a Linux Steam client that is already complete? Does it mean they are holding off for now and we might see one down the road? No one really knows. Valve, earlier this year released its Mac port of Steam to bring cross-platform gaming compatibility between PC and Mac users so it would seem likely the company would want to port the application over to the Linux community.

Since. for now at least there is no official Linux Steam client Linux users will need to run a work around. One that has been posted via the Value Developer Wiki can be found here "Install and use Steam under a Linux environment."

You can read the whole interview @ GamesIndustry.biz (you'll need an account to read the entire interview but you can register for free).

Netbook OS Jolicloud v1.0 launches

The developers of Jolicloud, or what we think is one of the finer netbook operating systems around, have announced that version 1.0 of their operating system is now available as a general public release.

New features include improved performance of the launcher, several minor system updates as well as the major updates listed below. 

A Simpler, Customizable Launcher Entirely Built in HTML5

• Installing an app takes only one click, and removing it is just as easy.
• Jolicloud comes with some of the best apps already pre-installed, including Gmail, Skype, Twitter, Firefox, and more.
• It’s up to you to organize your apps the way you want - your launcher is customizable.
• We take care of any app updates so that updating is easy, and that you always have the latest version of everything.

An Exhaustive App Center

• Jolicloud has selected 700+ of the best free apps to install and share with your friends.
• You don’t have to keep up with Internet trends to discover the coolest new apps - our curated, Featured Apps directory is updated weekly with the best and the latest.
• Jolicloud makes it easy for you to share what apps you like with your friends and vice versa, so it’s always a dynamic and social app environment.

A Social Stream

• Through our new Stream feature, you can feel the pulse of the Jolicloud community and discover the apps that your friends recommend.
• You’re not only kept up to date with what apps other Joliclouders like, but you can also see whatever updates your favorite apps release.
• Any notifications from Jolicloud and other third-party apps are all centralized here.

A Universal File System

• Because everything is in one place, it’s easy to manage your files and data, whether they’re on your machine or in the Cloud.
• Jolicloud facilitates access to popular online storage services like box.net, Dropbox, and drop.io, with new services being added frequently.

Experience the Anywhere OS

• You can install Jolicloud on as many devices as you’d like, and they will always be automatically synchronized. Any app you download, delete, or move around will be the same on all your other machines with no extra work on your part.
• You can even manage your interface from the Cloud - if you don’t have your computer with you, log in on any HTML5 browser like Chrome to add, remove, or organize apps.
• Moving from machine to machine has never been so easy.

Jolicloud 1.0 is available to download from the project's site and via BitTorrent. Users can choose between installing Jolicloud via a standard ISO image or alongside Windows using Jolicloud Express and documentation is provided.

I'll be downloading and installing the new OS via VirtualBox this afternoon and will provide some updated details as well as an opinion of the new changes later today.

Tech Giants Back Linux Form Linaro

Six major tech companies have decided to join forces to boost Linux forming Linaro - a Software foundations for an open digital world.

Linaro, backed by mega hitters ARM, Freescale, IBM, Samsung, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments, is a none profit organizations whose goal is to bring together the open source community and the electronics industry to work on key projects. The main focus will be delivering great tools utilizing Linux-based distributions such as Android, LiMo, MeeGo, Ubuntu and webOS.

Linaro will work with the growing number of Linux distributions to create regular releases of optimized tools and foundation software that can be used widely by the industry, increasing compatibility across semiconductors from multiple suppliers. As a result, Linaro's resources and open source solutions will allow device manufacturers to speed up development time, improve performance and reduce engineering time spent on non-differentiating, low-level software. Linux distributions, open source and proprietary software projects will benefit from Linaro's investment, with more stable code becoming widely available as a common base for innovation.

To further its mission, Linaro aims to unite the open source engineering resources within its member firms with the broad open source community. Linaro engineers, leveraging their extensive embedded knowledge, will contribute to a wide range of open source projects covering areas such as tools, kernel, graphics and boot code. Linaro intends to work in partnership with the Linux Foundation to align on core operating principles.

The company's first release is planned for November 2010 and will provide performance optimizations for SoCs based on the ARM CortexTM-A processor family.

Read more in the full Linaro Press Release

Over 25 Companies Pledge Public Support for the MeeGo Project

The Linux Foundation today announced over 25 companies, including Acer, ASUS, BMW Group, Cisco, EA Mobile, Novell, and Wind River have pledged their support and interest in the MeeGo project. MeeGo, which merges Intel's Moblin and Nokia's Maemo Linux-based platform, is an open source software platform for the next generation of computing devices. This participation translates into millions of developer hours dedicated to cross-device compatibility, application portability and the user experience for MeeGo-based devices. 

 

“MeeGo is an exciting new software platform and gives customers mobile computing solutions based on Intel Atom processors which offer innovations for the user experience,” said S.Y. Shian, vice president and general manager of Notebook Business Unit, Asus Corp. “As the netbook market grows, Asus is continually exploring offerings that optimize this computing experience and address the specific needs of today’s netbook customers.” 

 

Contributors are attracted to MeeGo because it extends reach beyond just netbooks and smartphones to also include communications devices, in-vehicle infotainment devices, connected TVs, media phones and more.

Linux Geeks Get Their Very Own Store

Earlier this month The Linux Foundation, a non-profit organization well know for their supports in the efforts in accelerating the growth of Linux, announced the launch of Linux.com. The new site is a Linux themed merchandise store where people can purchase a newly launched line of original T-shirts, hats, mugs and other items that reflect “geek culture.”

The Linux Store has been open for a few weeks now and features tons of great geek items. You can check them all out at http://store.linux.com/.

In addition to the new Linux store The Linux Foundation has also launched a desing contest for your would be graphic artists and designers. The Linux.com T-shirt Design Contest is calling for your best designs themed around the Linux and or Geek culture. 

Design submissions are due by April 11, 2010. The top five designs will be available for community vote at Linux.com through June 6, 2010. The winning design will be included on T-shirts available for purchase in the Linux.com Store and the designer will be awarded with travel to Boston, Mass., to attend LinuxCon (http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/linuxcon) in August.

All revenue generated from the Linux.com Store will go directly towards Linux Foundation activities, events and strategic initiatives. The Linux Foundation uses funds from a variety of revenue streams to support the work of Linux creator Linus Torvalds and to sustain important services such as technical events; travel grants for open source community members; a vendor-neutral forum for projects such as MeeGo; and free training resources direct from the kernel community; among others.

Nokia And Intel Join Forces, Combine Moblin-Maemo Into MeeGo

During the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Nokia and Intel disclosed that the two companies with combine the forces of their Linux distributions Maemo (Nokia) and Moblin (Intel) into a joined Linux platform called MeeGo.

MeeGo blends the best of Maemo with the best of Moblin to create an open platform for multiple processor architectures. MeeGo builds on the capabilities of the Moblin core OS and its support for a wide range of device types and reference user experiences, combined with the momentum of Maemo in the mobile industry and the broadly adopted Qt application and UI framework for software developers.

In order to run the whole thing as an open-source project MeeGo will be under the control of Linux Foundation, the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux.

MeeGo run on a wide range of PC-like devices, including pocket portable mobile PCs, netbooks, tablets, smartphones, connected TVs and in-vehicle infotainment systems. Building upon a partnership the companies announced in June 2009, MeeGo is expected to be widely adopted by OEMs, device manufacturers and network operators. For more information, visit www.meego.com. 

"Our vision for seamlessly communicating between computing devices from the home, auto, office or your pocket is taking a big step forward today with the introduction of MeeGo," said Intel President and CEO Paul Otellini. "This is a foundational step in our evolving relationship with Nokia. The merging of these two important assets into an open source platform is critical toward providing a terrific experience across a variety of devices and gaining cross- industry support."

Watch the Intel-Nokia Press Conference Webcast Replay from Barcelona

Source: Intel Press Release

Linux Foundation 2010 Event Schedule

The Linux Foundation, a nonprofit consortium dedicated to fostering the growth of Linux, has announced their list of upcoming events for 2010. These events provide kernel developers, IT professionals, end users, senior executives, industry experts, students and the media with a vendor-neutral, nonprofit forum in which collaboration and education advance knowledge and accelerate the advancement of Linux. The events provide a platform for new Linux and open source developments to be revealed and discussed.

The Linux Foundation’s 2010 event schedule includes:

Linux Foundation Collaboration Summit
Held in conjunction with the CELF Embedded Linux Conference and hosted by platinum sponsors IBM and Intel. Additional sponsors include Google, Intel and Nokia.
April 14 – 16, 2010
San Francisco, Calif.
This event is an exclusive, invitation-only summit where key Linux stakeholders meet face-to-face to advance and create initiatives that address the most pressing opportunities for Linux today.
http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/collaboration-summit/

Linux Foundation End User Summit
October 25, 2010
Jersey City, NJ
Another invitation-only event, the Linux Foundation’s End User Summit brings together senior kernel leadership with the C-level executives who are managing Linux in the largest most dynamic companies in the world today. In its third year, this event helps to close a “communications loop” to advance Linux development to meet everyone’s goals. To request an invitation, please visit: http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/end-user-summit

LinuxCon
August 10-12, 2010
Boston, Mass.
LinuxCon is North America’s premiere conference for all matters Linux. The event will bring together community and business leadership as well as up and coming developers to attend sessions produced by the community for the community. LinuxCon will be preceded this year with a variety of “mini-summits” on August 8 and 9, 2010, including the Linux Storage & Filesystems Workshop, the Wireless Mini-Summit and the Bluetooth Summit.
http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/linuxcon

Japan Linux Symposium
September 27 – 29, 2010
Tokyo, Japan
The Japan Linux Symposium is the leading Linux conference in Asia Pacific and brings together developers, administrators, users, community managers and industry experts from across the globe.
http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/japan-linux-symposium

Linux Kernel Summit
November 1 – 2, 2010
Co-located with the Linux Plumbers Conference November 3 - 5, 2010
Cambridge, Mass.
The Linux Foundation will again host the annual gathering of the world’s leading kernel developers to discuss the state of the kernel and to plan the next development cycle.
http://events.linuxfoundation.org/events/linux-kernel-summit

To get more information about Linux Foundation events, and to register, please visit: http://events.linuxfoundation.org/.

Linux Foundation launches Job Board

Are you a Linux tech looking for a new job, then you might want to head over to the Linux Foundation. They just announced the launch of a new jobs portal on their community driven Linux.com website.

The foundation's Linux Jobs Board features options for not only job seekers but job posters as well. For those posting there are two options: Jobs can be posted on Linux.com only, with prices starting at $99 for 15 days, or jobs can be posted on both Linux.com and with JobThread Network, which reaches more than 50 additional publishing sites. The Linux.com and JobThread Network option costs 49 cents per matching view.

Job seekers, have several options at hand including the ability to add their LinkedIn details on their Linux.com profile, including resumes, the option to browse job categories or search by location. You also have the option to subscribe to the Linux.com Jobs Board RSS feed and receive e-mail alerts or follow Linux-related job opportunities on Twitter.

CyberLink PowerDVD Linux Supports Intel Moblin Version 2.1

CyberLink Corp. an innovative solutions provider for the connected media lifestyle, today announced that they have developed a Linux version of PowerDVD to support Intel’s Linux-based Moblin 2.1 operating system. Moblin 2.1 operating system is specifically designed to run on the Intel Atom processor delivering minimized boot times and efficient power consumption on netbooks, Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs) and embedded devices.

CyberLink developed PowerDVD Linux designed for mobility and smaller screen size on the netbook platform. PowerDVD utilizes the efficient microarchitecture of the Intel Atom processor to deliver a smoother playback experience while improving the overall performance.

"We are excited to expand the multimedia experience to all consumers adopting the Linux platform," said Alice H. Chang, CEO of CyberLink Corp. "With support for Moblin 2.1 operating systems, consumers can enjoy the best movie playback experience with a breakthrough in performance and energy efficiency on netbooks and MIDs."

Jolicloud Netbook OS Enters Beta

Google's Chromium OS might be stealing all the limelight these days but that is only one of the netbook optimized operating systems that is sitting on the horizon. In fact there are several new offerings that are currently in full beta testing including Intel's Moblin and the independently devolved Jolicloud.

Earlier this week Jolicloud's primary developer Tariq Kim presented the first public beta release of the new netbook optimized OS. As of the announcement, anyone can download and install Jolicloud Express on most Windows netbooks out there.

Jolicloud's Wubi-derived installer make the process fairly simple and pain free. Users have three options for installation. You can opt for the pain free way and download the 600Mb .exe [or the torrent] from their website, or you can opt to use an .ISO to build a bootable disk. For those with no optical drive there is the third option which is to build a USB version. For those that choose the executable its as simple as launching the program, making a few selections and within a few moments you're system can dual-boot into Jolicloud or Windows.

Jolicloud hopes to have it first full version out in early 2010. From the looks of my initial testing it looks as though they are really close to an official release.

Can I Use Jolicloud?

Jolicloud is only offering support for netbooks therefore the OS and the included driver packs are optimized around the hardware found most common in those devices. As such anyone running a netbook should be able to download and install the operating system and it should run fine, however you can check the list of the currently supported models beforehand to make sure. Sadly this also means there isn't much support for laptops and desktops although since the OS is built around the Linux 2.6.32-rc6 kernel it should work on most laptops and desktops but the company will not provide any end user support.

The Linux Foundation Launches "Get One, Give One" Membership Program For Students

Linux Foundation Announces “Get One, Give One” Holiday Membership Program

For every new individual member who joins the Linux Foundation this month, a student will receive a one-year free membership

The Linux Foundation (LF), the nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Linux, today announced that for every new individual member who joins the organization between today and January 31, 2010, the Linux Foundation will give a free membership to a student for one year.

New members can elect to sponsor a student on the Linux Foundation wait list or can request the membership be given to a friend or family member with a valid student ID. Students who are interested in obtaining a sponsored membership can sign up at the Linux Foundation website and will be sponsored on a first-come, first-served basis. Proof of student status must be provided. Details can be found at the website: www.linuxfoundation.org/about/join/individual/get-one-give-one-promotion

“Individual members are the heartbeat of the Linux Foundation, and students bring to the table new ideas and energy required to advance Linux into a new decade,” said Jim Zemlin, executive director at the Linux Foundation. “New members who join during our holiday program will get the additional benefit of contributing to the advancement of Linux by bringing the next-generation of architects, maintainers and experts into the community.”

Members have access to exclusive benefits, including a Linux.com email address (ex: joe@linux.com); a Linux Foundation t-shirt; employee purchase pricing at Dell, HP, and Lenovo with savings up to 40% on purchases of hardware and accessories; 35% off O’Reilly books and e-books; a variety of deep discounts to attend events or subscribe to industry publications; and the ability to run for a Linux Foundation board seat, among others.

Both corporate and individual members are helping the organization that employs Linus Torvalds and supporting programs that promote and protect Linux. The annual membership fee for individuals is U.S. $99. Students receive all the same benefits as individual members.

Source: Linux Foundation Press Releases

Ubuntu Announces Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Codenamed The Lucid Lynx

With Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 6 now out the door and momentum building towards a rocking Karmic Koala release, it is time to name and share the direction and focus for the next step in the Ubuntu evolution that follows Karmic.

Mark Shuttleworth, the founder of the Ubuntu project has announced the next version of Ubuntu:

Two years ago we announced the second LTS release, and what we hoped would become a standard practice of making LTS releases on a predictable two-year schedule, overlayed on our existing six-month schedule of desktop and server releases.

We are now giving a name to the next Ubuntu LTS: The Lucid Lynx.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS will ship in April 2010 and is the culmination of significant work in Ubuntu, in Debian and across the free software ecosystem. LTS releases are maintained for five years on the server and three years on the desktop, so they are designed for those who are making larger deployments or who otherwise prefer to have a common platform for an extended period.

Lucid will continue our tradition of focusing an LTS on a quality, stable and consistent experience and will require a number of adjustments to the usual plan. Those are documented at http://wiki.ubuntu.com/LucidLynxSchedule, the Lucid Lynx release schedule. In summary, we will be more conservative in the new code we bring into Ubuntu during the development cycle, and we will run a longer test period. Our focus will be stabilisation and bug-fixing across the platform with additional refinements in quality in key areas such as user interface improvements, boot experience, browsing and installing the incredible catalogue of software available for Ubuntu, and continuing our tradition of best-of-breed hardware support. We will maintain the health and security of our lynx with point releases.

The Lynx is a predator that depends on very considered tactical positioning for success. It’s a small cat, which fits nicely with the lean nature of Ubuntu on both the desktop and the server. It’s stylish and sleek, the bow-tie-adorned James Bond of the feline set, so you can bet we’ll make sure it’s dressed for the occasion. The lynx likes to keep things in perspective, sticking to high ground. So do we. And it’s the national animal of Macedonia, a country that has deployed tens of thousands of Ubuntu desktops in schools.

Speed is an essential ingredient in the attack of a lynx, and speed remains our goal. We have improved the boot time in each of the releases during this era of Ubuntu, and expect to complete some of the major improvements required for 10 second booting with Lucid. Fully harnessing Upstart, in collaboration with Debian, will get us even closer to the goal.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS will be a round dozen Ubuntu releases. 12 great cycles, from a great community that continues to devote itself to the goal of bringing the best stable free software to an audience of people who don’t think of themselves as computer specialists – and shouldn’t have to, either. It’s a wonderful privilege to be part of making it happen. That should put a tuft on your ears.

Source: Ubuntu Fridge

Nokia Unveils The Nokia N900 A Linux-based Maemo Phone

Maemo 5 injects speed and power into mobile computing

Nokia today marked the next phase in the evolution of Maemo software with the new Nokia N900. Taking its cues from the world of desktop computing, the open source, Linux-based Maemo software delivers a PC-like experience on a handset-sized device.

The Nokia N900 has evolved from Nokia's previous generation of Internet Tablets and broadens the choice for technology enthusiasts who appreciate the ability to multitask and browse the internet like they would on their desktop computer.

Running on the new Maemo 5 software, the Nokia N900 empowers users to have dozens of application windows open and running simultaneously while taking full advantage of the cellular features, touch screen and QWERTY keyboard.

"With Linux software, Mozilla-based browser technology and now also with cellular connectivity, the Nokia N900 delivers a powerful mobile experience," says Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President, Markets, Nokia. "The Nokia N900 shows where we are going with Maemo and we'll continue to work with the community to push the software forward. What we have with Maemo is something that is fusing the power of the computer, the internet and the mobile phone, and it is great to see that it is evolving in exciting ways."

Designed for computer-grade performance in a compact size, Maemo complements Nokia's other software platforms, such as Symbian, which powers Nokia's smartphones.

"Just as Nokia continues to expand and diversify its device portfolio, so it is deploying multiple platforms to allow it to serve different purposes and address different markets. While we have seen continued growth in Symbian as a smartphone platform, Maemo enables Nokia to deliver new mobile computing experiences based on open-source technology that has strong ties with desktop platforms," says Jonathan Arber, Senior Research Analyst in Consumer Mobile at IDC.

More multitasking with Maemo

The Nokia N900 packs a powerful ARM Cortex-A8 processor, up to 1GB of application memory and OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics acceleration. The result is PC-like multitasking, allowing many applications to run simultaneously. Switching between applications is simple, as all running content is constantly available through the dashboard. The panoramic homescreen can be fully personalized with favorite shortcuts, widgets and applications.

To make web browsing more enjoyable, the Nokia N900 features a high-resolution WVGA touch screen and fast internet connectivity with 10/2 HSPA and WLAN. Thanks to the browser powered by Mozilla technology, websites look the way they would on any computer. Online videos and interactive applications are vivid with full Adobe Flash(TM) 9.4 support. Maemo software updates happen automatically over the internet.

Messaging on the N900 is easy and convenient thanks to the full physical slide-out QWERTY keyboard. Setting up email happens with only a few touches and the Nokia Messaging service mobilizes up to 10 personal email accounts. Text message or IM exchanges with friends are shown in one view and all conversations are organized as separate windows.

The Nokia N900 has 32GB of storage, which is expandable up to 48GB via a microSD card. For photography, the Maemo software and the N900 come with a new tag cloud user interface that will help users get the most out of the 5MP camera and Carl Zeiss optics.

The Nokia N900 will be available in select markets from October 2009 with an estimated retail price of EUR 500 excluding sales taxes and subsidies. The Nokia N900 will be displayed at Nokia World, Stuttgart, on September 2. More information on Maemo is available at http://maemo.nokia.com.