Canonical has just released some more details and pictures of Ubuntu Mobile, a version of the popular Linux OS designed for mobile devices using Intel’s Silverthorn processor. News that Ubuntu Mobile was in progress has been known for some time, but it looks as though the operating system is coming closer to an official release. Source code is available now to developers, note that we do not recommend installing it on a device unless you’re willing to risk erasing all of your data.

Details we know so far: Ubuntu Mobile will include touch-screen support and large icons. The OS is designed for 4.8-inch through 7-inch screens with resolutions from 800 x 480 pixels to 1024 x 768 pixels. The default web browser is based on Firefox and supports Flash 9 and Java.

Some of the applications will include:

Skype with Video support
Audio and video players
An email client with support for POP and IMAP
An RSS Reader
PIM software

Via Canonical

Ubuntu 8.04 final is almost ready for its scheduled April launch. Canonical, the commercial sponsor of Ubuntu, has released the Alpha 5 of the popular Linux distribution. A great addition that Alpha 5 offers is a new installation option: Users can either run and install Ubuntu 8.04 Alpha 5 using a LiveCD, or they can use Wubi to install Ubuntu to a partition from within Windows.

Updates in the latest Alpha release:

Firefox 3 beta 3 is the default web browser
Xorg 7.3 now included
PulseAudio is used by default
Now uses Linux kernel 2.6.24
Brasero CD/DVD burning application, replaces the Serpentine CD burning utility
Transmission BitTorrent client replaces Gnome BitTorrent
Vinagre VNC client replaces xvnc4viewer

Ubuntu 8.04 Alpha 5 is available for download. Go get it. We recommend you back-up your files before upgrading.

Via Ubuntu

Mozilla has released a new version of Firefox to fix security problems. The most common problem that Version 2.0.0.12 hopes to fix are program crashes and corruption of stored passwords.

Other fixes include security holes, including browser history and navigation, holes related to multiple file inputs, and URL token stealing. Be sure to update for best security.

Most of us have some personal files on our computers. Hopefully no one has passwords or credit card numbers in a text file. For those who have only a few personal files we recommend that you download Lockbox. It is easy to use, and meets most users needs. If you want a program that offers more features check out TrueCrypt. It is free but packs many great features.

TrueCrypt 5 was released today, and has some great new additions:

Support for Mac OS X
New Graphical user interface for Linux version
Ability to encrypt system partitions

Via Slashdot

Pioneer SyncTV was introduced in private beta today. The service is not one of the first of its kind but there are a some features that make SyncTV better than competitors like Amazon, Apple, and NBC.

One excellent feature is it is compatible with Mac, Linux, and PCs. Users can specify up to 5 computers for playing back videos. And once compatible portable media players are released, users will be able to watch videos on up to 10 different devices.

The service uses subscription, users will pay $2-$4 per channel. A few channels will make their content available on a pay per download. Most of the time users will only have to pay the monthly fee to get unlimited downloads of TV programs.

Like with every new online TV service there is a lack of content. The known channel is Showtime. SyncTV does look promising.

It seems like Skype has almost completed the Linux version. Today Skype released 2.0 beta Linux version adding video support.

Skype 2.0 beta for Linux is available for many Linux distributions including Debian, Mepis, Xandros, Mandriva, and OpenSuse. Support for Ubuntu and Fedora is to come.

Skype 2.0 beta requires a video card driver with Xv support, and a PC with a 1GHz processor.

Some Features Include:
The ability to set up video call with anyone in your contact list.
Group chat with up to 100 people or conference call with up to nine others.

Ubuntu comes in all kinds. There is a Ubuntu that is made for slower systems, Edubuntu for kids and teachers, and Kubuntu with those who prefer Windows-like interface.

At its core, Mythbuntu is Ubuntu without many add-ons like OpenOffice.org, Evolution, or desktop effects. Mythbuntu is all about media. The application ships with the XFCE4 lightweight desktop, because you’ll never see the desktop.

Mythbuntu includes everything you need to set up a MythTV frontend or backend. That means you can watch and record live TV, with a TV tuner, watch videos, listen to music, or browse pictures, all by using a 10-foot user interface. You could just add the MythTV packages to your current Ubuntu system, but Mythbuntu works right out of the box.

Because Mythbuntu comes works as a LiveCD, you can test out hardware compatibility before installing any software. The LiveCD works as a MythTV frontend, letting you mount shared network drives to play audio or video.

Mozilla’s calendar programs Sunbird and Lightning have some how become even better. Sunbird is a standalone application for Windows, Linux, and Mac, and Lightning is a calendar plugin for the Thunderbird e-mail client.

Sunbird and Lightning 0.7 were both released today, and they feature a new event/task dialog, a new event summary dialog, and many other new features and bug fixes.

There is also a new version of the Google Calendar plugin for Sunbird and Lightning. The add-on allows you to write data to a Google Calender using your desktop calendar client.

Via Download Squad

As you may have already started to notice Mozilla keeps building more applications. We have Firefox web browser, Thunderbird e-mail client, Songbird music player/browser, and now we’ve got a Mozilla-based instant messaging client.

Instantbird is still in very early beta. But version 0.1 already shows us assurance. The program is much like popular instant messaging services by AOL, MSN, and Yahoo.

Like most program by Mozilla, Instantbird comes in Linux, Windows, and Mac versions. We don’t recommend your downloading it until the next beta release unless you are prepared for many annoying bugs.

Kubuntu 7.10 was released today. Many improvements have been made over the last release. Some that we noticed were, improved hardware and driver support, 3D Desktop graphics, and integrated desktop search.

Kubuntu is really just Ubuntu with the KDE interface instead of Gnome. It is not hard to turn Ubuntu into Kubuntu all that is needed is KDE packages from Kubuntu.org.

New Features in Kubuntu 7.10:

• KDE 3.5.8 - new default desktop manager
• Dolphin is the now the default file manager.
• The enterprise version of personal information manager Kontact is available.

The greatest part of this update is Kubuntu now looks and feels more like Windows than Ubuntu. We also like the default blue background better than Ubuntu’s orange and brown scheme.