Ubuntu/Linspire Merger?

[moonlit]

Canonical, the sponsor of Ubuntu, and Linspire, the developer of Linspire and Freespire, on Feb. 8 announced a technology partnership to integrate with each other's Linux distributions. Linspire/Freespire will be based on Ubuntu, rather than Debian, and Ubuntu will integrate with Linspire's CNR package installer/updater.

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For Linspire, that will mean moving from Debian to Ubuntu as the base for its Linspire and Freespire desktop operating systems.

For Ubuntu, starting with the 7.04 release in April, this means that Ubuntu users will gain access to the newly opened Linspire CNR (Click and Run) software delivery system, which will give them one-click access to commercial programs and proprietary multimedia CODECs and drivers.

"Ubuntu is the most successful community-based Linux project to date," said Kevin Carmony, CEO of Linspire in a statement. "They have done a fantastic job with the development community and creating tools for utilizing their technology. It made a tremendous amount of sense to partner with Canonical and begin basing our desktop Linux offerings on Ubuntu."

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[SomeoneE1se]

Will Ubuntu be including the codecs? Because that would make Ubuntu non-free(as in speech), and it would loose it's appeal.

Edit... No it won't http://wiki.freespire.org/index.php/Linspi...Partnership_FAQ

FAQs About Ubuntu Using CNR Technology

When will CNR be available for Ubuntu?

Beginning with Ubuntu 7.04 in April, CNR will be available to Ubuntu users from within Ubuntu. (An Ubuntu CNR plugin will also be available from www.CNR.com soon after the final release of Ubuntu 7.04 this April.)

How will CNR be supported in Ubuntu

Beginning with Ubuntu 7.04, Ubuntu users will be able to use CNR to access commercial programs and proprietary drivers with one click of the mouse. In subsequent releases CNR technology will be integrated to provide an even better desktop user experience for getting commercial software.

Will the CNR plugin ever be shipped by default in Ubuntu?

Canonical plans to integrate aspects of the open source CNR technology into Ubuntu's software management system starting with Ubuntu's Feisty +1 release expected in October 2007.

Will Ubuntu users have to use CNR when running Ubuntu?

No, they will still have access to all the same systems for downloading and installing software they enjoy now, including: apt-get, Synaptic, etc.

Is the CNR Service free?

Yes, the basic CNR Service is available to all, free of charge. In addition to the free service and products, users may also use CNR to access commercial products and services as well as proprietary drivers, but it's entirely up to them. There are commercial programs in many popular categories including: personal and business productivity, communication, media players, games, drivers, etc.

Is the CNR Plugin open source and are the web services it uses published publicly?

Yes and yes.

I am happy again.

[nickisgod1]

I smell this being bad for ubuntu, who is already riding on the edge of free software, I I've heard there already considering shipping with proprietary wireless and video drivers, not an ubuntu user personally, but i hope for the sake of FOSS this doesnt happen

[DLSS]

yeah i find it a good move for getting stronger together vs m$+novell ....

here's some more info : http://www.linspire.com/linspire_letter_archives.php?id=40

[SomeoneE1se]

I'm still waiting for Microsoft to release linux with window's apps native.

[VaKo]

If Microsoft actually did that, it might work out pretty good. Whilst the underling system has problems, they have the user interface & user friendly bits sorted. Ubuntu is driving at full speed into Turd City though and personally I cannot wait for Canonical to run out of cash and have to start charging for it.

[SomeoneE1se]

If Microsoft actually did that, it might work out pretty good. Whilst the underling system has problems, they have the user interface & user friendly bits sorted. Ubuntu is driving at full speed into Turd City though and personally I cannot wait for Canonical to run out of cash and have to start charging for it.

Something I read makes me think that will never happen. But you may be right, on another note you MIGHT like ubuntu now with all the cool working wireless and everything.

[VaKo]

Nah, something fundamental about it pisses me off, kinda like OSX. Fedora and Suse are good windows replacements.

[SomeoneE1se]

Nah, something fundamental about it pisses me off, kinda like OSX. Fedora and Suse are good windows replacements.

I'm too much of a wuss to try either I could never get wpa working in any distro other then Ubuntu 7.04. and I'm attached to aptitude.