New Chief Editor for the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter

By boredandblogging | Published: 2010-04-09

Changes are taking place at the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter and I wanted to give everyone the heads up.

After over 2 1/2 years, and 140 issues of the UWN, I am stepping down as chief editor of the publication. I am not running off, but moving into more of a supervisory role.

Our new chief editor will need no introduction to a lot of you in the Ubuntu Community. She’s Amber Graner, and I know she’ll expand and improve our publication just as all the previous editors of the UWN have tried to do. Since joining the Ubuntu Community Amber has tirelessly worked and volunteered on many teams and projects. She has a great feel for the community, and I know she’ll do a great job with the UWN.

As our Ubuntu Community has grown, so has the UWN. The available news items, blog articles, and community team news has increase dramatically since I started working on the publication. This of course is a great thing.

This growth has it’s drawbacks too. Within our own community, as teams grow, as teams change leaders, and as teams branch off from each other, it’s makes it harder for our team to gather the community news. So, I want to take a moment to remind everyone that the best way to report your team news is to send an email to the Ubuntu News Team Mailing List.

It has been my great pleasure to work on the UWN, and with our wonderful team of volunteers. Each week they tirelessly endeavour to bring you the Ubuntu news. Very few Ubuntu teams put out a finished product each and every week. It’s one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever done.

Coming up in July of this year is our 200th issue of the UWN. Amber, myself, and the rest of the UWN team are already in the planning stages for this milestone issue. We will be in contact with many of our community leaders and teams for interviews, comments, and input for the issue. We hope to make it an “Issue To Remember” just like the 100th issue was.

I know the Ubuntu Community will stand behind, and assist Amber in her new adventure as chief editor of the UWN. I know I will be!!!

Regional Membership Boards: Restaffing

By boredandblogging | Published: 2010-04-09

On 2010-05-05 the following members of the Regional Membership Boards
will expire:

  • Americas: Cody A.W. Somerville, Elizabeth Krumbach, Mike Basinger, Pedro Villavivencio, Richard Johnson
  • Asia/Oceania: Andi Darmawan, Emmet Hikory, Luke Yelavich, Melissa Draper, Robert Collins, Zak B. Elep, ??????? (amachu)
  • EMEA: Alan Pope, Dennis Kaarsemaker, Mark Van den Borre, Matthew Helmke, Stéphane Graber, Szilvester Farkas

We are looking for nominations for the boards. You can either nominate yourself or somebody else. Please add some information about yourself to the mail. (Expiring members can be re-nominated too.)

We have the following requirements for nominees:

  • be an Ubuntu member
  • be confident that you can judge contributions to various parts of our community
  • be available during typical meeting times of the board in question
  • insight into the culture(s) and typical activities within a geographic region covered by the board is a plus

Here a slightly longer version that explains a bit better what kind of community members we are looking for: Those sitting on membership boards are people who are insightful. They are current Ubuntu Members with a proven track record of activity in the community. They have shown themselves over time to be able to work well with others and display the positive aspects of the Ubuntu Code of Conduct. They should be people who can discern character and judge contribution quality without emotion while engaging in an interview/discussion that communicates interest, a welcoming atmosphere, and which is marked by humanity, gentleness, and kindness. Even when they must deny applications, they should do so in such a way that applicants walk away with a sense of hopefulness and a desire to return with a more complete application rather than feeling discouraged or hurt.

To nominate yourself or somebody else, please send a mail to the board you are nominating yourself for (ubuntu-membership-board-emea, ubuntu-membership-board-asia-oceania or ubuntu-membership-board-americas at lists.ubuntu.com). Try to explain your nomination. There is still time for nominations until Fri 23rd April 2010 12 UTC. All nominations will be forwarded to the Community Council who will make the final decision.

Thanks in advance to you and thanks a lot also to the dedication everybody put into their jobs as board members.

[Discuss the Regional Membership Boards Restaffing on the Forum]

Originally sent to the ubuntu-news-team mailing list by Daniel Holbach on Thu Apr 8 16:28:03 BST 2010

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2 released

By boredandblogging | Published: 2010-04-08

The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the second beta release of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Long-Term Support) Desktop and Server Editions and Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Server for Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) and Amazon’s EC2, as well as Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook Edition. Codenamed "Lucid Lynx", 10.04 LTS continues Ubuntu’s proud tradition of integrating the latest and greatest open source technologies into a high-quality, easy-to-use Linux distribution.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Desktop Edition and Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook Edition continue the trend of ever-faster boot speeds, with improved startup times and a streamlined, smoother boot experience.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Server Edition provides even better integration of the Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud, with its install-time cloud setup.

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Server for UEC and EC2 brings the power and stability of the Ubuntu Server Edition to cloud computing, whether you’re using Amazon EC2 or your own Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud.

The Ubuntu 10.04 family of variants, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, Edubuntu, Ubuntu Studio, and Mythbuntu, also reach beta status today.

Desktop features
————————
Social from the start: We now feature built-in integration with Twitter, identi.ca, Facebook, and other social networks with the MeMenu in the panel.

New Design: Cleaner and faster boot, new notification area, new themes, new icons, and new wallpaper bring a dramatically updated look and feel to Ubuntu.

Ubuntu One: Choose any folder in your home directory to sync, choose from millions of songs for purchase in the Ubuntu One Music store.

Please see http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/lucid/beta2 for details.

Server features
———————-

Cloud computing: The Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud installer has been vastly improved in order to support alternative installation topologies. UEC components are now automatically discovered and registered, even when the storage controller, cluster controller and walrus are installed on different servers. Finally, UEC is now powered by the latest Eucalyptus version 1.6.2.

UEC and EC2: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS continues the tradition of official Ubuntu Server image releases for UEC and for Amazon’s EC2, giving you everything you need for rapid deployment of Ubuntu instances in a cloud computing environment. UEC images, and information on running Ubuntu 10.04 on EC2, are available at:

http://uec-images.ubuntu.com/releases/10.04/beta2

Stability and security: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS brings many improvements over Ubuntu 8.04 LTS to keep your servers safe and secure for the next five years, including AppArmor profiles for many key services, kernel hardening, and an easy-to-configure firewall.

Ubuntu Netbook features
———————————-
Ubuntu Netbook Edition is optimised to run on Intel atom based netbooks. It includes a new consumer-friendly interface that allows users to quickly and easily get on-line and use their favourite applications. This interface is optimised for a retail sales environment.

It includes the same faster boot times and improved boot experience as Ubuntu desktop.

Kubuntu features
————————

Kubuntu 10.04 LTS will be the first LTS to feature KDE 4 Platform and Applications. KDE 4 has come a long way since its early releases and is now suitable for the high demands of LTS users. Being an LTS we have focused on bug fixing and stability for this release, but we did find time to add features such as touchpad configuration, Firefox KDE integration, Kubuntu notification improvements, and cross-desktop systray menu standardisation. Kubuntu features the Plasma Desktop while Kubuntu Netbook Remix comes out of preview status with the Plasma Netbook workspace.

See https://wiki.kubuntu.org/LucidLynx/Beta2/Kubuntu for more details.

Edubuntu features
————————-

Edubuntu in Lucid features a more complete live environment containing more software from universe and all existing language packs as well as our usual educational software in their current version. For Lucid the text installer has been removed and so is LTSP for the time being. We expect to have LTSP back on the DVD for the next beta. The DVD is then much smaller than it used to be but will still provide a complete education environment based on Ubuntu Lucid.

Also included on the Edubuntu DVD is a small repository containing the required packages to transform the regular Edubuntu desktop into a LTSP server or install the Netbook edition interface.

Mythbuntu features
—————————

Mythbuntu 10.04 introduces MythTV 0.23. This new version is significantly faster and should feel more responsive and stable than older versions. It also integrates better into the OS with better support for things like ConsoleKit and Upstart.

Please see http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/Release_Notes_-_0.23 for more details about changes introduced in 0.23.

See http://mythbuntu.org/10.04/beta2 for information about the Mythbuntu beta release.

Other
——-

* On the Desktop: GNOME 2.30, KDE SC 4.4.2, XFCE 4.6.1, OpenOffice.org
* 3.2.0,
X.Org server 1.7.5

* On the Server: Apache 2.2, PostgreSQL 8.4, PHP 5.3.1, LTSP 5.2

* "Under the hood": GCC 4.4.3, eglibc 2.11, Linux 2.6.32.9, Python 2.6.5

The full release notes can be found at http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/lucid/beta2

About Ubuntu
——————

Ubuntu is a full-featured Linux distribution for desktops, laptops, and servers, with a fast and easy installation and regular releases. A tightly-integrated selection of excellent applications is included, and an incredible variety of add-on software is just a few clicks away.

Professional technical support is available from Canonical Limited and hundreds of other companies around the world. For more information about support, visit http://www.ubuntu.com/support

To Get Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2
———————————————

To upgrade to Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2 from Ubuntu 9.10 or Ubuntu 8.04 LTS, follow these instructions:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/LucidUpgrades

Or, download Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2 here (choose the mirror closest to you):

Africa:

* http://ubuntu.saix.net/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (South Africa)

Asia:

* http://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/Linux/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Japan)
* http://ubuntu.qualitynet.net/releases/10.04 (Kuwait)
* http://releases.ubuntu.mnosi.org/10.04 (Mongolia)
* http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Russian Federation)
* http://tw.releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Taiwan)

Europe:

* http://ubuntu.ipacct.com/releases/10.04 (Bulgaria)
* http://ftp.sh.cvut.cz/MIRRORS/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Czech Republic)
* http://ubuntu.trumpetti.atm.tut.fi/releases/10.04 (Finland)
* http://ubuntu.univ-nantes.fr/ubuntu-cd/10.04 (France)
* http://ubuntu.mirror.tudos.de/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Germany)
* http://www.mirrorservice.org/sites/releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Great Britain)
* http://speglar.simnet.is/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Iceland)
* http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Ireland)
* http://nl.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/10.04 (Netherlands)
* http://no.releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Norway)
* http://ftp.wcss.pl/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Poland)
* http://cesium.di.uminho.pt/pub/ubuntu/10.04 (Portugal)
* http://ubuntu.cica.es/releases/10.04 (Spain)
* http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Sweden)
* http://mirror.switch.ch/ftp/mirror/ubuntu-cdimage/10.04 (Switzerland)

North America:

* http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (Canada)
* http://mirrors.ipinfodb.com/ubuntu/releases/10.04 (Canada)
* http://ubuntu-cd.mirror.iweb.ca/10.04 (Canada)
* http://mirrors.gigenet.com/ubuntu/10.04 (United States)
* http://mirrors.login.com/ubuntu-iso/10.04 (United States)
* http://ubuntu.media.mit.edu/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (United States)
* http://ubuntu.mirrors.tds.net/pub/releases/10.04 (United States)
* http://www.gtlib.gatech.edu/pub/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (United States)

Oceania/Australia:

* http://ftp.citylink.co.nz/ubuntu-releases/10.04 (New Zealand)

South America:

* http://ubuntu-cd.innova-red.net/10.04 (Argentina)
* http://ubuntu.c3sl.ufpr.br/releases/10.04 (Brazil)

Rest of the world:

http://releases.ubuntu.com/10.04 (Great Britain)

Please download using Bittorrent if possible.

The final version of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS is expected to be released in April 2010.

Feedback and Participation
—————————————

If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, take a look at the list of ways you can participate at

http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/

Your comments, bug reports, patches and suggestions will help turn this Beta into the best release of Ubuntu ever. Please note that, where possible, we prefer that bugs be reported using the tools provided, rather than by visiting Launchpad directly. Instructions can be found at

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs

If you have a question, or if you think you may have found a bug but are not sure, first try asking on the #ubuntu IRC channel on freenode, on the Ubuntu Users mailing list, or on the Ubuntu forums:

http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/

More Information
————————

You can find out more about Ubuntu and about this preview release on our website, IRC channel and wiki. If you are new to Ubuntu, please visit:

http://www.ubuntu.com/

To sign up for future Ubuntu announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu’s very low volume announcement list at:

http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-announce

[Discuss Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2 on the Forum]

Originally sent to the ubuntu-announce mailing list by Steve Langasek on Thu Apr 8 20:51:17 BST 2010

Lucid Lynx Countdown Banners

By boredandblogging | Published: 2010-04-07

The countdown banner is alive and counting down the days until 10.04 LTS is released.

Lets help build some excitement by spreading the word! We’ll need your help to tell others about the banner. Start by adding one of the three options to your website, the instructions are at http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/countdown

We’d like to thank the artists who created this years chosen entries:

* John Baer for the “change” artwork
* Immanuel Peratoner for the “orange” artwork
* Amanda Warzecha for the “lynx” artwork

Congratulations for the great work!

[Discuss Lucid Lynx Countdown Banners on the Forum]

Originally sent to the ubuntu-news-team mailing list by Matthew Nuzum on Wed Apr 7 17:33:49 BST 2010

Patch Day, May 5th 2010

By boredandblogging | Published: 2010-04-07

The Ubuntu Reviewers Team would like to announce the first Patch Day, which will take place on May 5, 2010. For those of you not familiar with the problem we are trying to solve, I have blogged about it.

Patch Day is a concept similar to Hug Days, where we will test patches and forward working patches upstream. If the bug is critical enough, we will try to get the patch applied in Ubuntu immediately. We'd like your help to get these submissions reviewed and if necessary sent upstream so that they don't bitrot and to encourage people to continue helping us improve open source software.

We will be following the Review Guide for reviewing patches. Reviewer Leaders can sign up to be contacts on an hourly basis. Contact responsibilties include helping to answer questions from new contributors, unsubscribing the ~ubuntu-reviewers team when required, and answering development-related questions.

If you're a newbie looking for a way to start getting involved with Ubuntu development? Patch review is where we need your help.

With that we leave you with an anecdote from Bryce Harrington on why we should try to get a handle on these patches:

“Yesterday, I looked through the 'audacious' bugs (a music player I use which has been quite buggy). I saw half a dozen patches posted, and thought, “Wow, someone's been active, I should sponsor these!” Then, I looked and saw they were all patches I had made and posted 1.5 yrs ago hoping someone would sponsor them :-/”

[Discuss the May 5th Patch Day on the Forum]

Originally sent to the ubuntu-devel mailing list by Nigel Babu on Tue Apr 6 19:40:19 BST 2010