Praji’s Weblog

The Ubuntu development team has released the first version of its Mobile Internet Device (MID) operating system as a developer’s release. Ubuntu 8.04 MID is based on the Ubuntu desktop edition but is built by the Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded community. The MID release is targeted at mobile handsets with limited screen real estate and, in most cases, touch-screen interfaces.Ubuntu MID has a number of reworked applications designed for better use on smaller screens. Among these is the specially-designed MID browser built on the Gecko engine that underpins the Firefox browser. The browser is designed to maximise the window space available on smaller devices as well as including zoom features to make it easier for users.

MID also has the standard essential applications for mobile workers including those for email, calendaring, document reading, contacts and a media player.

Ubuntu MID is available for both Intel’s McCaslin platform used by Samsung’s Q1U and Intel’s Atom processor, also known as Menlow. For users wanting to just try out the platform there is also a KVM (kernel-based virtual machine) edition available as well.

The development team used primarily the Samsung Q1U platform during development while it waited for the Atom platform to become more widely available.

Ubuntu MID will start to follow the normal Ubuntu 6 monthly release cycle with the next version at 8.10.

Ubuntu MID is open source software and can be downloaded from Ubuntu.

- tectonic

“We are delighted to be able to welcome Ubuntu Mobile Internet Device (MID) Edition 8.04 to the world as a full developers’ release. It is based on the Ubuntu Desktop Edition, and it is now available for download.  The Ubuntu MID Edition 8.04 has been built by the Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded community that is sponsored by Canonical and in co-operation with Intel Moblin.org community to take advantage of the Intel(R) Atom Processor, the chipset that is underpinning the Mobile Internet Device (MID) category.  Ubuntu MID Edition will always be an Open Source distribution and is freely available.”

Here is a list of applications appearing in the main menu:

• Pidgin 2.3.1 (client for several chat protocols)
• GPE File manager 0.2.5
• MidBrowser 0.3.0RC1 (similar to Firefox 3.0, web browser)
• Pimlico Tasks 0.1.3, Dates 0.4.6, Contacts 0.8 (personal organizer)
• Cheese (taking photos)
• Moblin Media 0.55-0ubuntu2 (music, photos, videos)
• Claws Mail 3.3.1
• Terminal Server Client 0.150 (frontend for rdesktop, vncviewer, wfica, xnest)
• Neverball
• Ekiga 2.0.12 (Voice over IP)
• FBReader (E-book reader)
• Foobillard
• Update Manager
• Neverputt
• Office Document Reader (converts MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint files to PDF files for Evince)
• Terminal (uxterm, bash)
• Frozen Bubble (game)
• Alarm Clock
• Galculator 1.3.1
• Mousepad 0.2.13 (simple text editor)
• Liferea 1.4.14 (RSS, … feed reader)

Probably the easiest way experience Ubuntu MID Edition is through the KVM image. This a great way to become familiar with the product in readiness for the hardware to be released in the near future by a range of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in most markets.

Google is launched a virtual world ‘Lively’. The new initiative will pose as Google’s answer to Second Life, where users can indulge in an alter ego life through a user-created avatar.

Google thinks Lively will encourage even more people to dive into alternate realities because it isn’t tethered to one website like Second Life, and it doesn’t cost anything to use. After installing a small packet of software, a user can enter Lively from other websites, like social networking sites and blogs.

http://www.lively.com/html/landing.html

So what are the implications for the future? Well one could argue that, as Google’s main mission is to provide information to web users, we may all, one day, access our information in virtual environments. Will we see the virtual Wikipedia Grand Library where we access user generated information (in a beautifully constructed virtual building) with our avatars and discuss our findings in the Wikipedia Café situated next door? Rather than inputting text into a search engine will we put our questions to a virtual character at the Google Information Centre?

How about the marketing sphere? While wandering around the virtual world could we see animated billboards contain adverts meant directly for you, based on information stored on your avatar?

P.R. businesses may see a shift in how campaigns are delivered. We all know the problems one can have with conference calling, we may one day see journalist interviews take place in a virtual meeting room with avatars representing each party. Product launches taking place in a virtual town hall where all can come and be privy to new information.

Already social networking and blogging are at the forefront of how people receive their daily information, putting a face and a 3d, interactive, world to that is surely just around the corner. Alternate realities? I think Google are being modest, this may soon be reality for us all