One great-great-great feature in Ubuntu Mate is "Welcome"

 - Yeap in Linux, is all about getting the best software for your PC - and Welcome it does just that = it recommends the best apps for a variety of tasks

  - Best of all is easy to find, is always in your Menu < System < Welcome

 -  It looks great

  - Easy to browse

My personal thought =  Best app ever of its kind as far as i remember
( it resembles to the first page of Ubuntu Software Center, but is much better, because of it s simplicity... )

Snappy Ubuntu Linux Now Used in Networking, Refrigerators

With its number of uses growing, the Snappy Ubuntu Core Linux operating system is now coming to network switches and refrigerators.
Canonical, the lead commercial sponsor behind the open-source Ubuntu Linux operating system, today announced an expansion of its push to embed Linux in everything from phones to refrigerators—and now network switches. The Snappy Ubuntu Core Linux operating system, a minimal version of Ubuntu Linux that provides an improved updating and security model, is designed for embedded devices and the Internet of things (IoT). Snappy was first announced in December 2014 and became generally available with the Ubuntu 15.04 Vivid Vervet release on April 23. To date, Canonical has positioned Snappy as a platform for the cloud and mobile devices and is now bringing it to Open Compute Platform (OCP) network switches. The OCP networking effort kicked off in 2013 as a way to enable an organization to choose the operating system they want to run on an open networking switch. "Switches to us are important and very strategic," Dustin Kirkland, product manager at Canonical, told eWEEK. "There is switch at the top of every rack in every data center." With OCP, switching is now happening on commodity hardware, typically with some form of Linux as a base operating system, Kirkland said. There are multiple vendors in the Linux for networking space today, including Cumulus Networks and Big Switch Networks, that Ubuntu Linux will now compete against.







"We are positioning Snappy for switches, bringing the Ubuntu Linux experience that many developers are already familiar with," Kirkland said. "The same Ubuntu Linux skills from the server world apply in the Ubuntu-on-a-switch role."

Switching also plays well into what Canonical is doing with the open-source OpenStack cloud platform. Having control of the network at the switch level, for security or access, can all be driven from an integrated Ubuntu platform.

While Ubuntu is now coming to switches, Canonical is not going to become a switching vendor. Rather, Canonical will take care of the kernel and operating system layer with Snappy, and the network functions virtualization (NFV) feature can sit on top, Kirkland said.

"Virtual switching software vendors can concentrate on their expertise, be it hardware or the network application, and we at Canonical will take care of the operating system layer," Kirkland said.

More @

02.How to run Linux and Chrome OS on your Chromebook

When all is said and done you'll have the pleasure of running Linux, Ubuntu 14.04.1 with the Xfce desktop in this case, with Chrome OS simultaneously. Credit: ITworld/Steven. J. Vaughan-Nichols
Love your Chromebook, but want to run Linux programs too? Now you can

Chromebooks are pretty darn handy. Even some hardcoreWindows users now acknowledge that a Chromebook might be just what you need for work. But, as great as Chromebooks are, and as much progress as Google has made in getting "Web-only" apps such as Google Docs to work offline, there are still times that you want an application that's only available off-line such as the LibreOffice office suite or theGIMP photo editor. For those times, it's darn handy to be able to run a Linux desktop on a Chromebook.

It's been possible to do that, thanks to the Chromium OS Universal Chroot Environment (Crouton), for some time. But, what you couldn't do was have a Linux desktop, such as Ubuntu or Debian, on the same screen while you were running Chrome OS.
Now you can.
Thanks to Google's Chrome OS team, you can run a Linux desktop within a window on Chrome OS using a Chrome extension called Crouton Integration. This makes using Linux, and its thousands of applications, much easier. It also adds the ability to use Chrome's inherent Web browser instead of the Linux distribution's native browser and to synchronize the Chrome OS and Linux clipboards.
In short, Crouton is better than ever and the combination of Linux and Chrome OS is very powerful. Here's how you go about liberating that power.



Source:
http://www.itworld.com/article/2891142/how-to-run-linux-and-chrome-os-on-your-chromebook.html

06.Life at your fingertips - Ubuntu Phone

  Ubuntu reinvents the way you interact with your smartphone. Everything you need in your day is now at your fingertips.

A Scope for every moment

Ubuntu offers a revolutionary way of interacting with your smartphone thanks to the new concept of Scopes. Scopes are individual quick start screens that give you access to everything you need: music, videos, social networks, etc. without having to go from one application to another.

NearBy

When you´re out and about, NearBy will find you the best restaurant, a gig for tonight and even which bus you can catch.

News

The News Scope offers you the latest news feeds selected from a long list of providers. Create your own digital newspaper to your liking.

Music

Listen to music from your smartphone or stream it via SoundCloud and Grooveshark. Download it from 7digital or get your tickets on Songkick. You can do all this without even leaving your Music Scope!

Today

Go back to the Home screen at any time and see the most important interactions on one screen, personalise it and decide what matters most.

Source:

http://www.bq.com/gb/ubuntu.html#aquaris-e4-5

07.Ubuntu 14.04.2 arrives with updated hardware support and a new Linux kernel

Canonical just released Ubuntu 14.04.2, the second point-release of the Ubuntu 14.04 LTS series. As always, this point release brings hardware support updates so you can continue installing Ubuntu 14.04 on new PCs. You won’t get the hardware support updates on existing PCs, though—if your computer’s hardware doesn’t all work properly, you’ll want to update it yourself.

Let’s dig in.

Why point releases matter

Ubuntu 14.04 is a long-term service—or LTS—release. It’ll be supported until 2019. Ubuntu 16.04 will replace it as the new LTS release in April, 2016. New versions of Ubuntu come out every month, but they don’t have huge improvements over the LTS releases. Everyday users and businesses are better off sticking with an LTS release for the stability and long-term support.

Because each LTS release ends up being the recommended one for two years, the Ubuntu project releases regular updates to the LTS installation media. These roll together all the security updates and bug fixes made since Ubuntu 14.04 came out to save you some time. They also fix bugs in the installer. View a full list of changes made between Ubuntu 14.04.1 and Ubuntu 14.04.2 here.

Source:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2888959/ubuntu-14-04-2-arrives-with-updated-hardware-support-and-a-new-linux-kernel.html

Canonical partners with Amazon, Microsoft, and others on Internet of Things

Maybe Microsoft does love Linux! Canonical, the company behindUbuntu Linux, announced this week that both Microsoft and Amazon have agreed to publish their Internet of Things (IoT) application programming interfaces (APIs) on Ubuntu Core.
Canonical wants Ubuntu Core to become the operating system for the IoT. Ubuntu Core, like CoreOS and Red Hat's Project Atomic, uses a lightweight Linux server to support containers. Unlike the others, which are pointed exclusively for the data-center and the cloud, Canonical also sees Ubuntu Core as being ideal for devices as well. As Mark Shuttleworth, Canonical and Ubuntu's founder put it, "Snappy is much better than package dependencies for robust, distributed devices."

It's Canonical's position that Ubuntu Core provides the security needed for critical infrastructure with fast, automated, reliable updates for the machines that drive networking and industrial systems. This, the company states, is especially important since "Critical infrastructure systems are now an attack vector for espionage and disruption. Canonical and partners are working to deliver certified Ubuntu Core devices that are automatically updated to address systemic vulnerabilities fast. Ubuntu Core also provides best-in-class application isolation based on kernel containers, minimizing the impact of errors and vulnerabilities in third-party applications."

Of course, that's easy to say, but without support from other vendors it doesn't mean much. But, Canonical now has IoT partnerships not just with Amazon and Microsoft, but with major silicon providers whose processors and platforms power mission critical device and OEMs building the next generation of secure, software-defined network equipment.


Source:
http://www.zdnet.com/article/canonical-partners-with-amazon-microsoft-and-others-on-internet-of-things/

THE FIRST UBUNTU PHONE IS GOING ON SALE IN EUROPE NEXT WEEK

Canonical announced today that the first Ubuntu phone, made in partnership with BQ, called Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition, will go on sale in Europe starting next week on BQ.com, through a series of "flash sales", and it will cost 169.90 Euros (~ $193 / £127).

Aquaris E4.5 is a completely unlocked dual micro-SIM phone which comes with a 4.5 inch, 540x960 resolution display, a 1.3 GHz MediaTek Quad Core Cortex A7 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal memory, an 8 Mpx rear camera and a 5 Mpx front camera. For the complete Aquaris E4.5 specs, see THIS page.

It's important to mention that the phone targets early adopters and if you just want WhatsApp or Skype, Ubuntu phone isn't for you just yet, as these services won't be available at launch.

The exact date, time and URL of the flash sales will be announced on the Ubuntu and BQ Twitter accounts as well as the Ubuntu Facebook and Google+ pages next week, so keep an eye on them if you want to be among the first to get an Ubuntu phone.

Courtesy of Canonical, I was one of the lucky few "insiders" who received an Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition phone and I'll be reviewing it soon.


Source:
http://www.webupd8.org/2015/02/the-first-ubuntu-phone-is-going-on-sale.html

Survey says: KDE Plasma is the most popular desktop Linux environment

The KDE community has created some of the best of the breed open source software and they continue to win user’s hearts, according to a new LinuxQuestions survey.

The easiest way to start a flamewar within the Linux community is by asking what’s the best OS or application. You can then lean back in your chair and enjoy the fireworks.
We all know full well that there is no best, or right solution for everyone; what works for me may not work for someone else. The best tool is the one that works for you. Period.
But that political correctness doesn't stop us from trying to find which are the most popular open source projects; what other people use and love. It gives us an idea of what works for most people. LinuxQuestions is one of the most reputed user driven Q&A site and they run an annual survey (for over a decade now) to find the most popular open source applications and distributions.
They just concluded their latest survey and the results are not that surprising.

The top distro

The results didn't surprise me. What surprised me was that there was no clear winner. It was a tie with three players squeezed in - Ubuntu, Linux Mint and Slackware.
Ubuntu is the undisputed leader in the desktop Linux space thanks to the resources Canonical invested in marketing the desktop Linux. Ubuntu is also known for one of the most civilized online communities, which adheres to very strict code of conduct. The third factor that contributes to Ubuntu's popularity is its focus on ease of use.
Linux Mint is based on Ubuntu and benefits from some of the work done by Ubuntu developers. Linux Mint rose to popularity after the arrival of Gnome 3 Shell and Unity because the developer identified what a majority of users wanted and offered alternatives to Gnome and Unity.
I never used Slackware, I did try once but it did not last that long. But I have heard great things about it from hard core users.

The top desktop environment

The winner in the category didn't surprise me at all. And that's KDE's Plasma desktop. It received over 34% of the votes.


Source:
http://www.itworld.com/article/2881172/survey-says-kde-plasma-is-the-most-popular-desktop-linux-environment.html

Why Evolve OS could win you over to Linux and me away from Ubuntu

Jack Wallen has found the one take on Linux that could possibly move him away from his distribution of choice since 2006. 
There are so many Linux distributions, each one claiming that they are the one flavor best designed for the new user in mind. Ubuntu, Linux Mint, PCLinuxOS -- all outstanding distributions and very much ready for users who want a platform built on the premise that Linux isn't nearly as challenging as many people assume.

In 2014, a new distribution appeared out of nowhere, one that cut straight to the heart of the matter and promised to deliver a Linux distribution like no other. That distribution is Evolve OS. For the longest time, the distribution was in a state of limbo, and the best you could do was download an alpha and hoped it would run. I tried a number of times and finally opted to just install the Budgie desktop on a Ubuntu distribution. That attempt gave me an idea of how Evolve OS would look, but not much more.

Windows vs Linux: The 2015 Version

(Page 1 of 2)

Now that everyone has had time to examine Windows 10, it seems like a good time to finally do a proper Windows vs. Linux showdown. After all, I waited until Windows caught up in turns of features and user interface. For the sake of common sense, I've decided to use Ubuntu as our default Linux release.

In this article, I'll hammer out the features for both platforms and compare them accordingly. Each platform has its strengths and weaknesses, and this article will help to shed some light on each of them.

The installation of the operating system

Both Windows 10 and Ubuntu Linux have straight forward OS installers. Simply follow the prompts as they're presented to you.






Installing Ubuntu: Ubuntu's installer generally points you to either installing their OS along side of an existing OS or installing over an existing Ubuntu install. The steps are simple if you already have another operating system installed. But if you're looking to install Ubuntu over an existing Ubuntu installation, keeping your docs, settings and pictures require you to take one of the following approaches.


Option one, use Ubuntu's backup tool before you install Ubuntu again. Option two, during the installation process, select "something else" to manually select which partitions are to be formatted. Obviously if Ubuntu is being installed on a new hard drive, this is a moot issue and a clean "Erase and install Ubuntu" option is perfectly acceptable. Personally, I always go with the "Something else" installation type. I prefer a dedicated home directory, which this option makes possible during partition setup.

One of the nice things about the Ubuntu installation is that you're asked if you'd like to Encrypt your installation. In addition, a Logical Volume Manager (LVM) option is also presented. This makes resizing partitions in the future much easier, thanks to snapshots.

Source:
http://www.datamation.com/open-source/windows-vs-linux-the-2015-version-1.html

HW: UbuTab Technical Specifications

UbuTab Technical Specifications :

- Android 4.4 (with full Google Play Store functionality)or Ubuntu Touch
- 1.5GHz Quad-Core CPU – Intel Z3775D (burst to 2.4GHz)
- Intel HD Graphics
- 2GB DDR3 RAM
- 64GB Flash Storage (For Operating System and Apps)
- Wireless Connectivity
802.11 b/g/n






Bluetooth
- 3.5mm Headphone jack
- Mini-HDMI
- Micro-USB (OTG)
- Micro-SD Slot (128GB Max)
- 5MP Rear Camera
- Stereo Speakers
- Battery: 5-7 Hours (11,000mAh)
- Dimensions: 260x170x15mm
- Weight: ~ 900g
Hard Drive models powered by the Z5K1000 and the Z5K500 with Industry-best Ruggedness
FAQ


Source:
http://www.ubutabshop.com/

5 less-known Variants of Ubuntu

Ubuntu, the world's most popular free OS acts as a bridge to Linux for most of the Windows users. It has probably made tons of Windows lovers fall in love with Linux and change their perception about Linux. Almost all Linux users are aware of Ubuntu and have used it at one point or the other. We have heard about lots of Linux distributions but there are various others those claim to be the variants of Ubuntu.







Here is a collection of few of them:

Download Ubuntu Kylin here : http://www.ubuntukylin.com/downloads/

Download Ubuntu CE here : http://www.ubuntuce.com/download.htm

Download Ubuntu Studio here : http://ubuntustudio.org/download/

Download Ubuntu DesktopPack here : http://ualinux.com/en/download

Download Ubuntu GNOME here: http://ubuntugnome.org/download/

Source:
http://www.coolcoder.in/2014/02/5-less-known-variants-of-ubuntu.html

Special Distro : Ubuntu Christian Edition

About Ubuntu CE

Bible Ubuntu Christian Edition is a free, open source operating system geared towards Christians. It is based on the popular Ubuntu Linux. Ubuntu is a complete Linux-based operating system, freely available with both community and professional support. The goal of Ubuntu Christian Edition is to bring the power and security of Ubuntu to Christians. The current Ubuntu Christian Edition release supports both 32 bit and 64 bit PCs. Ubuntu Christian Edition covers every standard desktop application from word processing and spreadsheet applications to web server software and programming tools.






Along with the standard Ubuntu applications, Ubuntu Christian Edition includes the best available Christian software. The latest release contains Xiphos, OpenLP, Quelea, and much more.

Ubuntu Christian Edition also includes fully integrated web content parental controls powered by the award winning Dansguardian. These features are truly what sets Ubuntu Christian Edition apart.

This is Ubuntu Christian Edition like never before seen. Our most up to date and advanced release yet.

Featured in...

LinuxFormat

"One of the great features of UCE is the inclusion of a popular firewall, preconfigured for parental control of harmful web content."

Linux Format Issue 87 (Christmas 2006) Page 39

Source:
http://www.ubuntuce.com/

Ubuntu turns 10: A look back at the desktop Linux standard bearer

A brief history of Ubuntu, as alliterative as all-get-out.

It’s pronounced “Ooh-boon-too.”

The year of the Linux desktop is here! No, the Linux desktop is dead! Tech pundits differ, to say the least, on a lot of topics in the world of free and open-source software, but it’s inarguable that Ubuntu has been the most influential Linux desktop distribution of the past decade. On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, here’s a brief look back.

open the Source:

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2835771/opensource-subnet/article.html

Quick Look: Ubuntu 14.10

The latest release of Ubuntu focuses on application updates, maintenance and stability enhancements.

Ubuntu 14.10 Utopic Unicorn

Ubuntu 14.10 is the latest version of Canonical’s iconic desktop operating system. This time around the focus is on application updates, as well as maintenance and stability improvements. The Linux kernel has been updated to 3.16, and most applications have been updated as well.

Source:

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2837890/opensource-subnet/quick-look-ubuntu-14-10.html

What the heck are Ubuntu Unity's Scopes?

With Canonical prepared to launch Ubuntu-powered phones, I try to figure out the most frustrating feature of the Ubuntu Unity interface.

I've had a rather tumultuous history with Ubuntu. For a few years, it was my primary system – I shouted praises of its glory from my rooftop. But, somehow, between then and now… things changed.

And by "things changed," I mean "Canonical introduced the Unity user interface."

Unity isn't terrible, mind you. I simply don't like it very much. And part of that, I assume, is that I haven't been able to fully understand the intricacies of how Canonical wants me to use my computer (or my phone).
One of the elements of Ubuntu Unity that I have been able to handle the least isScopes. Part of that is due to the fact that Canonical has done a pretty terrible job of properly showing people what Scopes are and what they do. The other part is… no… actually, that's really the whole problem. Here is how Ubuntu defines this feature:

"Scopes are a complete reinvention of the content and services experience. Users have a new way to access content and apps without having to download individual apps – and developers have the opportunity to be discovered via the device's categorized home screens."

Source:

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2873192/opensource-subnet/what-the-heck-are-ubuntu-unitys-scopes.html

Canonical Launches IoT Version Of Ubuntu Core

Canonical, the company behind the Ubuntu Linux distribution, wants to bring its operating system to more connected devices and intelligent objects with the launch of its “snappy” Ubuntu Core for the Internet of Things today. Over the last few months, the company launched “snappy” versions of Core on a number of cloud computing services, but given that the whole idea behind Core is to offer stripped-down versions of Ubuntu that developers can then easily customize based on their needs, the Internet of Things and robotics applications are a logical next area of focus for Canonical.

Ubuntu Core lets developers install the basic OS and then add the applications and services they need. Those applications then run in their own sandboxed environments. Ubuntu Core also features transactional updates, which ensures that the update process either works perfectly or can be rolled back immediately if things go awry.

Source:
http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/20/ubuntu-of-things/

2015: If wishes were penguins, everyone would fly

Jack Wallen offers up his Linux wishes for 2015 and what he believes will help the open-source platform reach more users and businesses. 

It's the end of yet another year. I'm not going to go on record to say that 2015 will finally, finally, finally be the year of Linux! It may, but it may not. What I will go on the record for is to say what my personal Linux and open-source wishes for Linux are in the coming year. They aren't many, and they aren't tilting at any given windmill ... they just are.

I've already made my "predictions" for Linux in my post "2015 will be the year Linux takes over the enterprise (and other predictions)". This time, however, I want to take a look at what might be necessary for some of those predictions to actually come true.

Ubuntu Phone

Personally, I've grown quite disillusioned by Canonical and their drive to release a Linux-based phone. It's so long over due that it's become almost irrelevant. So, here's what I wish for the Ubuntu Phone:

Either the Ubuntu Phone is released in 2015, or the project is scrapped.

Source:
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/2015-if-wishes-were-penguins-everyone-would-fly/

Announcing Snappy Ubuntu Core

A new, transactionally updated Ubuntu for the cloud.

Ubuntu Core is a new rendition of Ubuntu for the cloud with transactional updates. Ubuntu Core is a minimal server image with the same libraries as today’s Ubuntu, but applications are provided through a simpler mechanism. The snappy approach is faster, more reliable, and lets us provide stronger security guarantees for apps and users — that’s why we call them “snappy” applications.

Source:

http://www.ubuntu.com/cloud/tools/snappy

More here:
https://insights.ubuntu.com/2014/12/19/snappy-ubuntu-core-now-on-aws/

Shuttleworth Explains Why Open Source is More Secure than Closed Source [VIDEO]

"The great thing about open source is that it's so dynamic and has so much innovation, that we have much more diversity in our ecosystem than there has ever been in the proprietary ecosystem," Shuttleworth said. "You'll never stop security issues from occurring in either open source or proprietary software but you deal with issues faster in open source."


Source:
http://www.linuxtoday.com/security/shuttleworth-explains-why-open-source-is-more-secure-than-closed-source-video.html