Ubuntu Feisty Fawn Released

Lots of readers told us about the official release of Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn (screenshots here for Ubuntu and Kubuntu). Some readers report that the distribution servers are being hammered. Here is a review of Feisty Fawn. Reader LinuxScribe sends us to LinuxPlanet for the story on a pleasant Java surprise in the release.

Comments

Fast mirror at Indiana University

[cow ninja]

Here is a quick mirror: (ftp also works) http://ftp.ussg.indiana.edu/linux/ubuntu-releases/ 7.04/ maintained by http://www.ussg.iu.edu

Go ahead, take our bandwidth :)

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[didde]

Let's not forget The Pirate Bay, people. They've had this up since 03:00 UTC.

The .torrent is available here.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[Zonk (troll)]

Thanks for the info. The Swedish mirrors also appear to be working decently.

http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/7.04/

Also, here are the torrents:

http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.04/ubuntu-7.04-altern ate-amd64.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.04/ubuntu-7.04-altern ate-i386.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.04/ubuntu-7.04-deskto p-amd64.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.04/ubuntu-7.04-deskto p-i386.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.04/ubuntu-7.04-server -amd64.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.04/ubuntu-7.04-server -i386.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/7.04/ubuntu-7.04-server -sparc.iso.torrent

No PPC releases at the moment, though.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[Dogtanian]

Let's not forget The Pirate Bay, people. They've had this up since 03:00 UTC. I told The Pirate Bay that there was no piracy involved, it was perfectly legal to copy Ubuntu discs and pass them around.

They got all stroppy and took it down immediately.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[mattnuzum]

Try the homepage now. We've simplified things and will update the mirror list frequently until the excitement dies down.

Please note that if you use Ubuntu now, you can update very easily, but don't use dist-upgrade. Instead:

Before you start

        * You can only directly upgrade to Ubuntu 7.04 ("Feisty Fawn") from Ubuntu 6.10 ("Edgy Eft") (see UpgradeNotes)
        * Be sure that you have all updates applied to Ubuntu 6.10 before you upgrade
        * The latest version of Update Manager (0.45.2) must be installed before you upgrade. Otherwise, you will receive an Authentication failed error. See [WWW] here for instructions how to check if you have the required version.

Note: If you have a version of Ubuntu which was released before Ubuntu 6.10, please see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/Installation/UpgradeFromOld Version for information on how to upgrade.

Network upgrade for Ubuntu desktops (recommended)

You can easily upgrade over the network with the following procedure.

      1. Open System -> Administration -> Update Manager
      2. A button on the top of the window will appear, informing you of the availability of the new release
      3. Click Upgrade
      4. Follow the on-screen instructions

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[teh loon]

Torrents are the way to go. A few hours ago I couldn't find the ISOs on most mirrors except for the ones that I downloaded slowly from, so I opted for the torrent option. Managed to download the ISO in an hour through DHT - the ubuntu tracker wasn't accepting the torrent then.

Now I'm installing it as I speak, and it's nearly done.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[dfay]

Ah, but is it a PROPER-FINAL release? Or is it just another tired beta leak from a group trying to get a reputation?

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[Lunar_Lamp]

How exactly do you 'leak' a public beta?

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[Syzar]

Links for Kubuntu torrents:

http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/feisty/kubuntu- 7.04-alternate-amd64.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/feisty/kubuntu- 7.04-alternate-i386.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/feisty/kubuntu- 7.04-desktop-amd64.iso.torrent
http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/feisty/kubuntu- 7.04-desktop-i386.iso.torrent

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[Spudds]

You can easily upgrade over the network with the following procedure.

            1. Open System -> Administration -> Update Manager

There's a gui to upgrade the distro version???

It seems that ubuntu is the first distro to really "just get it" when it comes to the desktop!
All hail the New Hope for Linux on the Desktop!

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[niteice]

Technically speaking, it's just the package updater (like Windows Update but less evil), which also is capable of updating the entire distro.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[bill_kress]

Yes, very close.

I've dipped into Linux many times (Since before CDs) but this is the first time I've installed it on all my computers.

Yesterday, in fact, I got windows XP running within Ubuntu (My current project requires it) and it was easy, free and very slick. This means I can convert my last remaining dual-boot computers (because of games, mostly) over to Linux.

I still run into things here and there that SHOULD just take 5 minutes but end up taking 2 hours of research, but much less often than with any other distro--and I haven't figured out how to get dual monitors working yet. Oh, and suspend/resume still doesn't work on any of the 3 laptops (I got my wife a MAC and the fact that suspend/resume always works, and does so quickly and smoothly makes me so jealous!)

Every install worked flawlessly in each laptop. CD's, floppies and USB drives are automatically mounted, all resolutions are available on the screens (even wide-screens), and even my wireless internal lan adapter just worked out of the box.

With the addition of Click And Go (I hope it's in this release) it'll be MUCH easier to acquire and install new software than it is in Windows.

If you are considering installing Linux for the first time, I advise you scan this page first--I use it all the time now. It gives you a great summary of what can be done and how to do it. Most "Tasks" are simply a few entries on the CLI now--and most installs can be done from a decent GUI as well (the guide uses CLI because it's easier to describe) http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu_Edgy

Oh, and hey--one complaint (more of an observation actually), for those of you who complain about how often you must enter the root password on a PC, take a look at that page and see how often "SUDO" (the Linux equivalent) is required. Holy cow, it's like every single time you want to call apt-get (in other words, any time you want to install ANYTHING), you have to give up the root password. I believe this means that all install scripts are running as root--I don't know if this is a security hole, but it sure sounds like one. This is the exact equivalent to every windows program install requiring administrator access--something they have at least recognized as a flaw and begun to combat.

But at any rate--seriously, it's now mainstream. Stick it on your grandma's computer. This from a Very Picky user.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[SuperQ]

Some do! The mirror at umn.edu has iso downloads disabled, and a torrent is up and seeding at 75mbit. :)

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[daveewart]

Oh, and hey--one complaint (more of an observation actually), for those of you who complain about how often you must enter the root password on a PC, take a look at that page and see how often "SUDO" (the Linux equivalent) is required. Holy cow, it's like every single time you want to call apt-get (in other words, any time you want to install ANYTHING), you have to give up the root password. I believe this means that all install scripts are running as root--I don't know if this is a security hole, but it sure sounds like one.

First, a correction: sudo requires you to enter your own password, not the root password.

Requiring administrative/root privileges to install software is the whole point. You are installing programs that are to be used system-wide. You need root privileges (granted to you via sudo) to do that. It's not a security hole when implemented properly. The point is that, unlike many Windows desktop, you're not running with 'root' privileges all the time. This is exactly what most Windows XP desktops are doing. You never need to be prompted for a 'root'/admin password when doing that, because you're always admin! That's insecure.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[emarkd]

Not the original poster here, but fwiw vmware player runs my xp partition very well from ubuntu on my laptop. I boot xp in vmware player and maximize it on one face of my beryl desktop cube and watch people do double-takes as I switch from one to the other. Fun. :)

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[Eivind]

Yes there is. And it's very very grandmother-friendly too. My procedure:

• Log in, as usual.
• There's a message for me, indicated by a slowly pulsing alert-icon. It reads: "There are updates available for Ubuntu, click here if you want to install them. So I do.
• I'm met with the familiar update-manager, only this time it has a new button: "There is a new version of Ubuntu available, 7.1 Feisty Fawn, click here to upgrade."
• I click, and am informed that this required administrative priviledge, and would I please enter my password to proceed.
• I do as told, wait half an hour, and that's it.

I've never seen anything even close to this smooth. It's not just a Linux-best. It's quite simply the best I've ever seen.

Oh, and did I mention I lied above ? You see, all the messages mentioned was nicely localized into my native written Language, nynorsk, the least used variant of Norwegian, which perhaps half a million people in the world write. I'm impressed.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[Jestrzcap]

Oh, and hey--one complaint (more of an observation actually), for those of you who complain about how often you must enter the root password on a PC, take a look at that page and see how often "SUDO" (the Linux equivalent) is required. Holy cow, it's like every single time you want to call apt-get (in other words, any time you want to install ANYTHING), you have to give up the root password. I believe this means that all install scripts are running as root--I don't know if this is a security hole, but it sure sounds like one. This is the exact equivalent to every windows program install requiring administrator access--something they have at least recognized as a flaw and begun to combat. This not entirely true. (in an otherwise positive post). It's true, when you need to install something you will likely need to provide *your* password (there is no root password, just accounts with sudo privilege). However, sudo will only ask for your password once every 5 minutes (and that can be changed) so you can accomplish a variety of tasks with only one password entry. Having to be root to write to certain directories is essential for the security of linux.

In the future if you think something is a hassle or annoying, do a little research on it, Linux is very flexible and odds are you can modify or change it.

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[EvilTwinSkippy]

Very carefully

Re:Fast mirror at Indiana University

[ottothecow]

This is sort of what blizzard does with WoW patches. The patch downloader is a simple torrent client so all users are able to use the torrent without dealing with people who dont know what torrents are.

Blizzard then has an http seed running. If the program determines that you are incapable of recieving a torrent (firewall or driver issues), then your entire download comes straight from blizzard's http seed. If the program is able to connect to the swarm, you then start recieving data down from the other people downloading the patch AS WELL as the blizzard seed. Likewise, if you connect a long time after the patch comes out and there is nobody left downloading the patch, you still get the data straight from blizzard without having to find the file in a different manner.

In this model you have basically a standard server/client relationship when only one person is downloading and it scales out to a p2p model as additional people connect.

Plesant Java Surprise?

[Anonymous Coward]

Does that mean they removed it?

Re:Plesant Java Surprise?

[Kirth]

They bundled it. Except on 64bit machines, where it still does not work correctly and still does not have a browser plugin; because the bug-report for this is only two years old.

torrents

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't bother with the official sites - I think they must be running Ubuntu Sluggish Slug Server Edition! Kidding aside, there are a myriad of torrent options.

Re:torrents

[0100010001010011]

And those torrent options are....

ubuntu-7.04-desktop-i386.iso.torrent
ubuntu-7.04-desktop-amd64.iso.torrent
ubuntu-7.04-server-i386.iso.torrent
ubuntu-7.04-server-amd64.iso.torrent

Why Can't Linux Developers Match OS X

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes Linux has come a long way in desktop features and the other things that make up a desktop environment, but I just don't understand how Linux desktop UIs still can't manage to get spacing, font/text placement and alignment, shading, and all the other details that make OS X so instantly appealing to so many people, regardless if they want to are able to pay for Macs of their own to use.

Just compare:

http://shots.linuxquestions.org/scaled/Ubuntu%207. 04/11.gif

vs

http://images.apple.com/macosx/leopard/images/inde xdesktop20060807.jpg

I just don't understand how there can remain such a huge gap in the attention to detail and refinement with Linux desktops and apps. Have Linux developers never used Interface builder and it's alignment spacing tools or ever really sat down with a Mac and gone over the various OS X UI parts to understand how and why the feel and work so well?

Re:Why Can't Linux Developers Match OS X

[Mattintosh]

First off, I don't think your post is flamebait. Screw the mods.

Second of all, I like the look of Ubuntu's default Gnome environment almost as much as the Mac OS X 10.4 UI. But here are the differences I notice:

First of all, the bad:
- Look at the buttons on the window title bars in Ubuntu. Especially that annoying catch-all menu on the left side. Notice how the space around the button is wider on the top and left than it is on the bottom. That just looks sloppy. Mac OS has never had this sort of problem in a final release.
- Where is my quick-access-but-not-a-desktop-icon method of launching an app? Mac OS has had one for over a decade. There were pop-up folders (tabs), tabbed launch apps, and now there's the Dock (though I prefer the old categorized tabs, myself). Even Windows, that paragon of UI anti-design, has Quick Launch bars. I guess you could call the hierarchic menu a "fast launch" menu, since it's still faster than manually navigating to the folder and running the app or typing the path/app into a CLI. But I never considered that a quick-access method on Mac OS even when you could stick stuff into the Apple menu. Hierarchic menus are just too finicky... OH WAIT. There it is. Sorry, but there's a reason that the Mac mouse was one-button for all those years, even in the face of heavy criticism. Relying on a right-click for what should be basic system functions is just poor practice. I've been running Ubuntu for a while now, and this screenshot was the first I'd seen of the aforementioned feature.
- A system-wide menubar is really a nice thing. You can't click another app's menus without switching to that app anyway, so why even give the option? Plus, it frees up screen real-estate for other things. You'd be amazed how much space is wasted by all those menubars, especially the ones that consist of just File, Edit, View. Move all that crap to one place. And yes, I do understand that it takes some getting-used-to and that people are resistant to change. Especially Linux geeks. Try it for a month and I'll guarantee you won't go back. It's the same challenge we all issue to Windows users, and what's good for the goose...
- And one final note: thank goodness the Apple folks have finally realized that brushed metal looks like ass. Now if we could just get back to a standardized look and feel...

And the good:
- As I mentioned before, a standard look and feel. Ubuntu has that. Given, it's baby-turd brown, but at least it's consistent. And I'm sure there are themes to change the colors (and given my first criticism above, hopefully the layout). Note that the "themes" issue is another failing of the Mac OS in its current incarnation. It's also quite a sore issue with Apple, I fear, so any official resolution is unlikely.
- The shut-down button is awesome. On a Mac, you can just bonk the power button and invoke the "sleep, restart, shut down, or cancel?" dialog, but on generic PC hardware, you can't always do that. Often, the case's faceplate is gone, exposing little sharp plastic nubs instead of a nice power button. Sometimes the damn thing is under your desk and just out of reach. Sometimes it's in a server locker 1000 miles away. Being able to shut down the OS using an always-accessible power button icon is just really damned nice.
- Multiple desktops. Windows doesn't have it. Mac OS doesn't have it. (Third-party add-ons don't count.) Nothing more needs to be said. And the UI to switch between them is pure gold.

And the Ugly? Just about everything Windows does. I would like to take this opportunity to beg the Linux/GNU/Gnome/KDE/whatever devs and contributors not to copy Windows. It's an ethical thing, really. Mistreatment of eyes is a horrible crime. Won't someone please think of MY EYES?!

Re:Why Can't Linux Developers Match OS X

[Paulrothrock]

Leopard (OS X 10.5) is going to have multiple desktops in October. And the real reasons I use OS X aren't so much the interface as it's Textmate and Quicksilver. There is no text editor on any platform that can compare to TextMate, and Quicksilver is one of the greatest interface innovations since the GUI.

Of course, they make me use Windows at work.

Upgrade from 6.10

[raffe]

I have just update my 6.10 vmware image running on my win xp to 7.04. Runs great. If you want to try to upgrade from 6.10 to 7.04 open a terminal and enter
gksu "update-manager -c -d" and follow instructions. As always, back up your computer fist. :-D

Re:Upgrade from 6.10

[Clover_Kicker]

probability of ruining /home : very low
consequence of ruining /home : very high

You do whatever you like, my /home lives on a server that's backed up every night, TYVM.

Re:Upgrade from 6.10

[bytor4232]

gksu "update-manager -c -d" and follow instructions. As always, back up your computer fist. :-D

I don't know if thats a good idea. I could be wrong, but what your asking for is to upgrade to the last beta. You may want to wait a few days before running update-manager.

Check it out:

arthur@persephone:~$ update-manager --help
usage: update-manager [options]

options:
    -h, --help show this help message and exit
    -c, --check-dist-upgrades
                                                Check if a new distribution release is available
    -d, --devel-release Check if upgrading to the latest devel release is
                                                possible
    --dist-upgrade, --dist-ugprade
                                                Try to run a dist-upgrade
arthur@persephone:~$

Re:Upgrade from 6.10

[bytor4232]

To properly upgrade 6.10 to 7.04 simply go to System - Administration - Update Manager. The button just appeared on my update-manager informing me of a new release.

Re:Upgrade from 6.10

[WheresMyDingo]

As always, back up your computer fist.

Agreed about the fist. When upgrading, I too curl my fingers into that well-known "computer fist" as I anticipate what I am about to do. But backing the fist up (usually up and to the right, near my ear) is important, so that it will have maximal effect when I pound it down on the desk in frustration, when something inevitably breaks. Or even if something doesn't, to celebrate. A good way to relieve tension, but it does interfere with typing.

Re:Upgrade from 6.10

[Knuckles]

-c is only needed if you upgrade from 6.06 LTS (Dapper) to 6.10 (Edgy), since by default, LTS releases will only upgrade to the next LTS release.
-d is wrong since it is there to force an upgrade to a development version, which 7.04 (Feisty) isn't anymore.

To do an upgrade correctly, follow the instructions here: http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/upgrading

Re:Upgrade from 6.10

[BruceCage]

The pure adrenaline pumping through my veins is the sole reason I don't do backups during system upgrades.

Use the torrents, people

[moranar]

Help alleviate the load: use the torrents.

Old news!

[Otter]

I already heard this from Michael Dell.

Re:Finally!

[StonedRat]

It's already been announced as Gutsy Gibbon.

Thanks Mark

[Anonymous Coward]

Whatever we think about this man, we should thank him to have launched the Ubuntu Project. This is the first Linux distro that have the potential to succeed on the Desktop and to get some decent market share beside Windows and MacOS.

Re:Gentoo has failed me too many times

[ericrost]

Hmm.. google impaired:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/EncryptedFilesys temHowto
http://packages.ubuntu.com/feisty/net/libnss-ldap
http://packages.ubuntu.com/feisty/admin/libpam-lda p
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SettingUpSamba

slashdotted... this time IRC, not HTTP

[Anonymous Coward]

On freenode,

#ubuntu = 1600 users
#ubuntu-release-party = 850 users

In the last hour, these have both gone up by around 100-200 each. 24hrs ago, #ubuntu-release-party had 20 people.

Apparently this is a new record for the freenode IRC network!

Forget whether or not ubuntulinux.org can remain online, everyone start praying for the poor folk at freenode :)

Re:System Requirements?

[SomeGuyTyping]

on SAMBA, just begin to set up a share and synaptic will download and install the SAMBA components.

Might skip this version

[Rik Sweeney]

and the next one...

Bring on Version 9: Hungry Hungry Hippo!

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[at_slashdot]

Ah, please can you take your self-righteousness and shove it up your ass?

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[jetxee]

Well said and sad. The cheat of Linux distros. Way too easy to get it working...

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[drinkypoo]

Ubuntu seems consistently (whether it be proprietary, closed, non-Free wireless or video card drivers or this) just to be attempting consistently to squeeze a few extra percent of the market share at the expense of the long-term robustness of Free software. Maybe the next release should be Sneaky Snake or Conniving Chimp ?

Whether you agree with what the Ubuntu project is doing or not, there is nothing sneaky about it. They have never tried to hide what they are doing.

Many of us, including me, have been asking for a long time for a distribution that fucking works. One that does things, out of the box, that every other operating system does. And we frankly don't care if that means that we have to run closed software today. Because as we have seen, the existence of closed software on Linux does not prevent people from working on open alternatives to it. The existence of free-as-in-beer Java hasn't stopped people from working on free-as-in-speech implementations (and as you point out, Java is on its way to Freedom.) The existence of the free-as-in-beer nVidia drivers isn't stopping work on an alternative.

Ubuntu is doing what a sizable slice of the community has asked them to do, and your complaining about it is ridiculous. Complain about the users if you like.

And stop complaining about the lack of Ubuntu-distributed new features. Even if no one "at" Ubuntu ever fixed a bug, which frankly is not required by the Open Source model, they do a shitload to coordinate it, and they have done more to package Linux for the end user than anyone else.

Finally, Ubuntu is going to be bringing out an entirely-Free distribution. So I'm not really sure what you're bitching about. If Free software can't compete on its own merits, then it deserves to lose.

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[Vexorian]

Yeah everybody knows linux should stay pushing philosophies instead of actually work. Who needs users anyways?

Re:Dual-boot

[staticsage]

If you download the Alternate Install CD, you can choose where to install grub. Install it to a floppy or usb drive and you can use that file with the windows boot loader. This way if you want to remove the Ubuntu partitions in the future you won't have to worry about fixing the boot loader. It's been a while since I've done this, but this looks about right: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=56723

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[nine-times]

I don't want to sound harsh because I believe you're genuinely concerned, but I think you're wrong. Ubuntu is providing non-free packages for some things because it's what people want. People want the ability to get easy 3D accelleration for their video cards, and the open source drivers don't do it, so Ubuntu provides the ability to install the non-free drivers easily.

And yes, "what people want" matters. Making it easy for people to get good performance from their computers will win converts to Linux. As Linux's share of the market grows, there's an increasing chance that various companies will support linux in various ways. The more people are using Linux on their desktop and the more people want 3D accelleration for their desktop, the more likely it is that someone (maybe even Nvidia and AMD) will actually produce Free drivers.

Re:System Requirements?

[bhsx]

I've not tried 7.04 yet, but I have Xubuntu (the XFCE version) running just dandy on a 200MHz, 96MB RAM Toshiba Satellite 4010CDS. It does take a bit(39-60 seconds) to launch some apps, OO.o and Firefox specifically; but once launched they work just fine. Installation could have been smoother, but again, this is some pretty old hardware. I use it as a second web terminal on the coffee table when someone (wife, step-daughter) is on the main PC. If I were you I'd wait for the Feisty version of Xubuntu.

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[crush]

I don't want to sound harsh because I believe you're genuinely concerned, but I think you're wrong.

Fair enough. Thanks for the rational post. I think you're completely wrong though. By providing what some people want Ubuntu is cannibalizing the market and making it easier for hardware vendors (and arguably in this case Sun) to continue to provide hardware that works inadequately with Linux. Just because a large number of people might be able to get a short-term gain (my nVidia card will now do 3D with this particular version of the driver that will break when the next kernel update is released and may be unsupported in the future because there's no source code). I don't see this as morality, I see it as a practically self-defeating strategy by one Linux distro which is undermining the whole basis on which Linux manages to exist: Free/Open source code.

I realise that what I'm going to say sounds harsh and isn't an option for people with a work requirement for CAD or whatever, but it's possible to buy hardware for wireless, video etc that is completely supported by Free/Open drivers. Other hardware should be sold to Windows users or else junked, it's not that expensive to buy replacements and the actual cost of maintaining it by undermining the pressure to release specs is ultimately going to see us in the same position years down the road

What's new?

[digitalderbs]

I always find it difficult to get a summary on the new features to help me decide if I should upgrade. These are the results from my searches :

1. 18 month support term
2. Better installation, includes migration tools for mail and such from Windows and linux partitions.
3. Improved wireless support with Avahi
4. Easier third party codec/firmware/driver installation, including Nvidia and ATi proprietary drivers and mp3 codecs.
5. Two new games : glches and soduko
6. Compiz/Beryl support for desktop 3D effects (not default)
7. Beagle (search indexed), Tomboy (note tacking program, sticky notes) and F-Spot (photo management.. alternatively called G-spot, depending on the type of photos).
8. java

sources : blog 1, blog 2
I already have all of these setup on Edgy, so I won't upgrade.

Re:What's new?

[ror]

You can just "upgrade" by changing a word in a config file somewhere, there's no reinstallation involved; You'll just be bumped with a few programs to download and you're done, there's little reason *not* to.

Re:What's new?

[Anonymous Coward]

The improved wireless support comes from network-manager not avahi, avahi is a service for automatically discovering network services on your local network.

Tomboy and f-spot at least, were included in Ubuntu 6.10.

There are *lots* of small incremental improvements in Ubuntu, that's the benefit of 6 month release plan. Some of them are detailed here: http://philbull.livejournal.com/34930.html There are also a list of improvements from Gnome 2.18 here: http://www.gnome.org/start/2.18/notes/en/

I imagine the new kernel release adds support for new hardware and things too.

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[Ginger Unicorn]

If there are more people aware of free software, then perhaps there would be more pressure to produce free alternatives to proprietary drives and codecs.

ubuntu is making vast progress in the arena of raising awareness and usage of free software in the general public. In what way is it parasitic? Ubuntu runs at a loss, held up by shuttleworth's own money. For the first time ever, because of the work ubuntu have put in, I now feel the slightest twinges of comfort in recommending the use of linux to a non technical person.

Fair enough if the FSF want to be purist about their approach, but no one else is obliged to, and no one who is obeying the licensing terms of the software they distribute can ever be accused of being underhanded or parasitic.

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[Bandman]

You're so far off your rocker that you don't even know where your porch is.

Every time I hear someone go off on how free-as-in-beer software is evil and corrupts the precious open-source movement, I just want to smack my forehead in disgust.

It's the usability, stupid.

It's about turning your computer into something productive, so it's not a paperweight with blinking lights. Ubuntu has made more headway in organizing a usable system than RedHat, Mandrake, and Debian combined. It is really the first distro that nearly everyone can use.

Now, about your comments that it is "parasitic", I think you're confused even further. If nothing else, Ubuntu is a way to increase the user base of the software which you say it doesn't contribute to. It gets Linux, Open Office, Xorg, and thousands of other softwares into the hands of people who would never have known there was another alternative to Microsoft otherwise. And you decry it because it encourages people to have choice. You insult the very software that could very well be the cause of manufacturers opening drivers, or if not providing open drivers, perhaps providing working binary drivers, ala NVidia. But then, you're against that, too. To fanatical egotistic closed minded people like yourself, having a binary driver in your kernel would sully it somehow, rendering it unfit to use, so instead you install semi-working drivers provided by people who have reverse engineered the hardware and bitch about how for-profit companies refuse to give away their trade secrets.

Get over yourself. It's not a paragon of virtue and selflessness. It's a fucking kernel. That's it.

MAGNET URI Torrent address

[Danathar]

Don't people understand that when you put the .torrent file on the same server as the iso's if one is being hammered the other get's killed too.

So....your mirrors are breaking. Yea! Bittorrent saves the day! Lets put the torrent file on the SAME SERVER that's currently melting down. That will fix it. :(

So your torrent servers don't get killed post the Magnet URI so that people can join the torrent independent of the accessibility of the .torrent file.

Here is the Ubuntu 7.04 i386 desktop

magnet:?xt=urn:btih:DMDDBZV4X4NWSEHVEBBZHSMFY4GHDK XV

Note Slashdot has a problem with Magnet URI's there is NO space between the last K and XV

Re:MAGNET URI Torrent address

[The_Wilschon]

Note Slashdot has a problem with Magnet URI's there is NO space between the last K and XV

That's part of the lameness filter. In an effort to prevent screen-widening hacks, long strings of characters with no whitespace get some whitespace inserted in them. You can get around this by enclosing the URI in a URL tag. The URI as displayed will still include the whitespace, but the HREF for the generated link will not. Observe:

<URL:magnet:?xt=urn:btih:DMDDBZV4X4NWSEHVEBBZHSMFY 4GHDKXV>
(without the extra space of course) becomes
magnet:xturnbtihDMDDBZV4X4NWSEHVEBBZHSMFY4GHDKXV

Re:Java is not YET Free software

[drinkypoo]

Ubuntu as a distribution fits into the software ecosystem as a parasite. It gives back very litte in terms of original new code or projects and weakens the push for Free software.

Ubuntu widens the market for Linux by providing a distribution that people can actually use.

As a result, it strengthens the push for Free software, because most Linux software is Free.

Ubuntu is the first Linux distribution to include an automated crash reporting tool, which feeds more useful bug reports into the system, which is a benefit to all. And the entire system, including aggregation of these crash reports, was built and is maintained and run by Ubuntu.

Finally, Ubuntu is using software in accordance with its licensing, so really no one has room to bitch. If you want to force people to contribute back changes, then put something about that in the license of the software you develop, and quit bitching. Let peace begin with me, and all that.

What software have you written and released under an OSI-approved license? What patches have you written and released (and had accepted) for Free software?

Xubuntu torrents:

[Anonymous Coward]

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/7.04/re lease/xubuntu-7.04-desktop-amd64.iso.torrent - Desktop CD for 64-bit PC (AMD64) computers
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/7.04/re lease/xubuntu-7.04-alternate-amd64.iso.torrent - Alternate install CD for 64-bit PC (AMD64) computers
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/7.04/re lease/xubuntu-7.04-desktop-i386.iso.torrent - Desktop CD for PC (Intel x86) computers
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/7.04/re lease/xubuntu-7.04-alternate-i386.iso.torrent - Alternate install CD for PC (Intel x86) computers

Livecd goodness

[elmartinos]

I am posting this from the same computer on which currently Ubuntu is installing. Beat that, windows!