Category — Ubuntu

Ubuntu CTO, Matt Zimmerman (mdz) recently announced on the Ubuntu Developers Mailing List a new version of Ubuntu to work on handheld devices. This only seems logical since the mobile platform is the fastest growing PC market.

This open source project will be in some way tied to Intel who “…is making significant contributions of technology, people and expertise to the project.” A prototype has already been developed.

The first release is planned for Ubuntu Gutsy Gibbon (7.10) in October 2007 (hence 7.10).

In an interesting Channel Web Network article, writers Paula Rooney and Edward F. Moltzen discuss Dell’s announcement to offer Ubuntu loaded PC’s “within weeks”.

While it is still uncertain whether they will be server level PCs that run around $4k or desktop level PCs available for the average consumer, it is a step in the right direction.

With Linux gaining more popularity in the consumer market, it makes me wonder if MythTV development will take off. Hopefully yes.

April’s WIRED magazine has a short article about how to avoid DRM. (Wired Magazine, April 2007. “How to Ditch DRM” Page 36)

DRM (Digital Rights Management) is corporate America’s attempt to control your digital media by placing extra code in the software and media restricting how, when and where it is played back.

The article mentions using MythTV and Ubuntu over TiVo and Windows. It highlights the free operating system and MythTV’s ability to make DRM-free MPEG-2 recordings and its DVD-ripper. On the downside it discusses the lack of complete hardware support in Linux, the steeper learning curve, and MythTV’s difficult setup.

With all the legal issues associated with DVD ripping and CSS encryption, it makes me wonder how much knowledge Christopher Null (the author) has on the topic. Additionally, MPEG-2 recording is a result of the hardware, not the software. But since MythTV makes the hardware worth so much more — I guess it deserves the press.

Other suggestions made were to use the Wolverine ESP over the IPOD, eMusic instaed of iTunes, and Gamepark Holdings’ GP2X-F100 over the PSP.