Ubuntu Linux 'Natty Narwhal' debuts in PHL

Linux and open-source software fans can now keep up with Windows and Mac users with the release of the latest flavor of popular Linux distribution Ubuntu. Aside from being free, the open-source Ubuntu release 11.04 —codenamed “Natty Narwhal"— touts the improved graphical user interface (GUI) dubbed "Unity." "Over other Linux desktop [distributions], Ubuntu has the advantage of being easy-to-use, as well as having a solid infrastructure underneath. Ubuntu also has a broader coverage of language support, with the widely used Unicode as the default character encoding," Zak Elep, head of Ubuntu Philippine Team Local Community (LoCoTeam) said in a statement. Elep added users can choose from Ubuntu variants that cater to specific needs, such as Ubuntu Server, Edubuntu for schools, Mythbuntu for home theater PCs, and Ubuntu Studio for professional multimedia editing. Proponents of the newest Ubuntu distro expect the new GUI to attract other software developers to Ubuntu, which in turn would improve the availability of additional software for business and everyday use. User interface and apps Ubuntu 11.04 features the desktop environments GNOME and KDE, which offer the "traditional" or classic look familiar to longtime users of Ubuntu. But its new "Unity" GUI targets notebook and netbook users whose screen space is somewhat limited, or even cramped. Applications in “Natty Narwhal" include office productivity suite LibreOffice (which replaced OpenOffice), music player Banshee, Firefox 4.0, photo management software Shotwell, video player Totem, torrent client Transmission, and optical media editor Brasero. Philippine LoCoTeam In the Philippines, the Philippine LoCoTeam welcomed “Natty Narwhal" last July 1 at the office of software development firm Orange & Bronze Software Labs (O&B). Elep, who heads the IT Services Division at O&B, said the new Ubuntu release should be easily used by first-time users of a Linux operating system. He added said many private companies are now using Ubuntu for their computers. He said this is due to Ubuntu's being free, as well as the availability of desktop applications that are just as good as traditional applications. Gov't using Linux Also, he said that there are already a number of government offices that are using Linux due to the budget constraints of public offices that have multiple computers. This could be a potential market for Ubuntu in the Philippines, he noted. “Ubuntu's Unity is an improved desktop interface that can be easily used even by first time PC users. It is also a secure operating system due to the fact that there are only few viruses and trojans that target Linux," Elep said. He added the local community team for Ubuntu will be conducting additional events in some locations in the Philippines. The group will be participating in the Ubuntu Global Jam in September, as well as the upcoming Software Freedom Day. Ubuntu 11.04 “Natty Narwhal" is available for download at www.ubuntu.com. The local community team will also distribute pressed CDs to specific areas in the country. — TJD, GMA News