Ubuntu MID makes Linux upwardly mobile

By Stephen Withers
Thursday, 26 June 2008 04:47

Open Source

Ubuntu Linux owner Canonical has launched Ubuntu into the realm of mobile Internet devices with a release called Ubuntu MID. The new version of arguably the world's most popular desktop Linux distribution initially targeted the Samsung Q1U though the OS also runs on Intel's Atom-based Crown Beach development system.

Ubuntu MID 8.04 is a developer release, but the software is expected to start to ship on commercial devices by the end of the year. The software could be ported to any appropriate device based on Intel's McCaslin or Atom (Menlow) processors.

New releases will follow the same six-monthly cycle as Ubuntu for desktop systems, starting with version 8.10.

The idea behind Ubuntu MID is to deliver "no compromise" Internet access on lightweight devices. This has been achieved in part with a Gecko-based browser, Flash and Java, plus integration with popular web sites such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.

Other standard applications include email, calendaring, document reading, contacts and a media player.

Ubuntu was created by charismatic billionaire Mark Shuttleworth in 2004, whose company Canonical Ltd, now sponsors the project. The Linux dsitribution has since become the great white hope for many advocates of desktop Linux. Ubuntu has also had a measure of success as a server operating system, with Sun endorsing it for its UltraSPARC T2 chip in 2007.

Getting the user interface right is particularly important for mobile devices. Please read on.