Issue102

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WORK IN PROGRESS

Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue #102 for the week July 27th - August 2nd, 2008. In this issue we cover ...

UWN Translations

  • Note to translators and our readers: We are trying a new way of linking to our translations pages. Please follow the link below for the information you need.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Translations

In This Issue

General Community News

Launchpad 2.0 Radically Improves Collaboration for Open Source Projects

The formal notification of the roll-out of Launchpad 2.0 has arrived. “Launchpad was conceived as a nexus of collaboration for Open Source projects to make them more efficient to build, easier to collaborate on and more open to innovation from community participation,” said Mark Shuttleworth, CEO, Canonical. What it means to the individual is the ability to branch and merge code, mailing lists to keep track of changes and bugs, integration with Bugzilla and Track to work together with other communities, and a simpler, more intuitive web interface. View the tour at https://launchpad.net/+about

http://www.ubuntu.com/news/launchpad2-improves-collaboration

Ubuntu Screencasts

Mixing A Podcast In Ardour - - The UK LoCo Team has released the next 4 installments of a 13 part series outlining how to mix a podcast in Ardour. It is their hope that it will benefit others with editing podcasts, or even just editing in general. The original was recorded at 2560 X 1024 resolution so those with smaller screens may want to select a lower resolution available at the links.

Previously released podcasts can be found at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue101, or see http://screencasts.ubuntu.com/

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

  • Open (#) +/- # over last week
  • Critical (#) +/- # over last week
  • Unconfirmed (#) +/- # over last week
  • Unassigned (#) +/- # over last week
  • All bugs ever reported (#) +/- # over last week

As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

Infamous Bugs

Translation Stats Hardy

  1. Language (#) +/- # over last week
  2. Language (#) +/- # over last week
  3. Language (#) +/- # over last week
  4. Language (#) +/- # over last week
  5. Language (#) +/- # over last week

Remaining strings to translate in Ubuntu 8.04 "Hardy Heron," see more at: https://translations.launchpad.net/ubuntu/hardy/

LoCo News

New in Hardy Heron

Launchpad News

Launchpad 2.0: new beta API, new UI and more!

Launchpad 2 has arrived, with a new logo and a new look. An example is the elimination of the "Actions" menu in favor of more descriptive menus. Along with that go page-wide application tabs and new sub-tabs, to enhance the prominence of selections, and add to narrower fields of interest.

Along with that will be a beta test of their new application programming interface (API), and would like your help in testing it. The API and library will provide access to the bug tracker, as well as the thousands of people and teams registered on Launchpad. So, if you would like to help make the API as comprehensive as the web interface, sign up with the Launchpad Beta Tester's Team (https://launchpad.net/~launchpad-beta-testers)

Also, Launchpad is about to beta test two new GPL plugins. These will make it possible to share bug comment histories with Bugzilla and Trac. With this capability, Launchpad will be able to follow the progress of a bug, even when it's attributed to one package but affects, or is actually the responsibility of, a different package. Since these plugins are in beta, Launchpad would appreciate help in evaluating them. If you can help, please email feedback@launchpad.net.

http://news.launchpad.net/releases/launchpad-20-new-beta-api-new-ui-and-more

  • (John - This is actually the combination of the three items below. By the way, that's exactly what they did was to combine the three blogs into one article.)

Simpler Launchpad web interface

Launchpad 2 has arrived, with a new logo and a new look. An example is the elimination of the "Actions" menu in favor of more descriptive menus. Along with that go page-wide application tabs and new sub-tabs, to enhance the prominence of selections, and add to narrower fields of interest. http://news.launchpad.net/cool-new-stuff/simpler-launchpad-web-interface

Help test Launchpad new API

Everybody needs a little help from time to time, and now it's Launchpad's turn. They will, shortly, be rolling out a beta test of their new application programming interface (API), and would like your help in testing it. The API and library will provide access to the bug tracker, as well as the thousands of people and teams registered on Launchpad. So, if you would like to help make the API as comprehensive as the web interface, sign up with the Launchpad Beta Tester's Team (https://launchpad.net/~launchpad-beta-testers) now. http://news.launchpad.net/cool-new-stuff/help-test-launchpads-new-api

Bugzilla and Trac plugins

Launchpad is about to beta test two new GPL plugins. These will make it possible to share bug comment histories with Bugzilla and Trac. With this capability, Launchpad will be able to follow the progress of a bug, even when it's attributed to one package but affects, or is actually the responsibility of, a different package. Since these plugins are in beta, Launchpad would appreciate help in evaluating them. If you can help, please email feedback@launchpad.net. http://news.launchpad.net/cool-new-stuff/bugzilla-and-trac-plugins

Ubuntu Forums News

In The Press

  • Mark Shuttleworth: Launchpad to be open source in 12 months - Ryan Paul reports that Mark Shuttleworth has said that Launchpad would likely be open sourced within the year. During his keynote address at OSCON, Shuttleworth put to rest the criticism of by open source community that the project hosting platform was proprietary software. However, now that it is, in Ryan Paul's words, "a much better service than competing closed-source project hosting services", opening it up to the community will allow it to accelerate it's development. http://arstechnica.com/journals/linux.ars/2008/07/23/mark-shuttleworth-launchpad-to-be-open-source-in-12-months

  • Launchpad Wants to Host Your Project - In a blog written by Mike Gunderloy, he shows that Launchpad is making GPL-licensed addons for bug-tracking status and history sharing with other projects that use Bugzilla or Trac. Also, there is the RESTful API, giving access to some of Launchpad's services. The intention is that more services will be added in the future. The combination of the new features in Launchpad, especially the API, make it a good choice for those looking to the future. http://ostatic.com/169995-blog/launchpad-wants-to-host-your-project

  • Will a $19.99 Ubuntu Succeed Where the Free Version Hasn’t? - Ubuntu is now on store shelves at BestBuy, and Adrian Kingsley-Hughes takes a look at some questions concerning this. One thing that he doesn't understand is why people who are capable of researching and downloading pirated copies of software don't just download or buy a copy of Linux, instead. Other questions include what happens when things go wrong with an installation. Read his opinions at: http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/3761616/Will+a+$19.99+Ubuntu+Succeed+Where+the+Free+Version+Hasn%E2%80%99t

In The Blogosphere

  • Economic clustering and Free Software release coordination - In a follow-up to a presentation he made at the Linux Symposium, Mark Shuttleworth elaborates on the benefits of coordination in distribution releases. In this blog article, he shows how car manufacturers all work off a common baseline of features, and this commonality doesn't deter the brand loyalty of the customers. Similar things take place in the fashion industry. It is Shuttleworth's contention that the coordination of freezes and releases will build a stronger impact on the global software market. http://www.markshuttleworth.com/archives/159

  • Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) Alpha 3, Screenshots and New Theme Proposals - The "Break It Down" blog takes a look at some of the proposed features of Intrepid Ibex, concentrating on the theme and icons that may be used. The blog noted that the theme appears to be a trendy, dark theme, such as what one might expect from XFCE, despite the fact that proposed themes for Hardy Heron were all lighter ones. In addition, new icons were proposed with a more asymmetric look to them. There are a number of other items listed in the article, with links to their features. http://www.breakitdownblog.com/ubuntu-810-intrepid-ibex-alpha-3-screenshots-and-new-theme-proposals/

  • LinuxWorld Expo Preview: Four Canonical and Ubuntu Linux Trends - The Var Guy takes a look at the upcoming LinuxWorld Expo, August 4 in San Francisco, and raises some possibilities concerning revelations by Ubuntu and Canonical. His suggestions include server-oriented application relationships, an appliance initiative tied to Ubuntu Server, Netbooks as being a higher priority than Mobile Internet Devices (MIDs), and for Ubuntu to be the defacto platform used on thousands of PCs that are donated to area schools. http://www.thevarguy.com/2008/07/28/linuxworld-expo-preview-four-canonical-and-ubuntu-linux-trends/

  • XP vs Ubuntu, the beginning - The author of "I Will Hack Something" built a computer. He first installed XP, then Ubuntu on it, and immediately noticed a difference in the installation. Partitioning was easy, and everything like wireless, sound and etc. just worked. http://borisg.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/xp-vs-ubuntu-the-beginning/

  • 10 + 2 things you’ll get with Ubuntu 8.10 “Intrepid Ibex” - Fabrizio Balliano outlines some things proposed for the Intrepid Ibex release. These include faster login, better Flash experience, 3G networking, guest account, cleaning up no longer used packages, automatic download of printer drivers, font selector, faster installation from desktop DVD, installation from USB stick, and new graphic for the installer. Additional possibilities are identity management and network authentication, and PackageKit cross-distro package manager. http://fabrizioballiano.net/2008/07/19/10-2-things-youll-get-with-ubuntu-810-intrepid-ibex/ (be sure to qualify this a tentative in Intrepid)

  • No! Wha…oooh…wow. Yes! - Posted in "Ubuntu Productivity", the author has the perspective of an entrepreneur rather than that of the average user. He puts that perspective to use in realizing how people react to Linux and Ubuntu, and why normal advertising methods are unnecessary. As he uses Ubuntu in his business, his customers ask about it, and it sells itself. http://www.ubuntuproductivity.com/journal/ubuntu/07/2008/marketing_linux_to_small_business/

In Other News

http://podcast.ubuntu-uk.org/2008/07/31/s01e11-blowin-in-the-wind/

Installfest at LinuxWorld could seed national program

IDG World Expo, open source security gateway provider Untangle and electronics recycler Alameda County Computer Resource Center (ACCRC) are holding an installfest at LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in San Francisco. The purpose is to get donated older computers into schools in need, and to keep those computers out of the landfills. Untangle and ACCRC eventually want to make this a distributed national event that occurs on a regular basis. http://www.linux.com/feature/142780

Meeting Summaries

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Community Spotlight

Updates and Security for 6.06, 7.04, 7.10, and 8.04

Security Updates

Ubuntu 6.06 Updates

Ubuntu 7.04 Updates

Ubuntu 7.10 Updates

Ubuntu 8.04 Updates

UWN #: A sneak peek

Archives and RSS Feed

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Additional Ubuntu News

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Conclusion

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See you next week!

Credits

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Glossary of Terms

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