Twitter susul Samsung dan Nvidia gabung Linux Foundation

Mengikuti nama besar IT lain, Twitter, berdasarkan informasi Engadget (24/08), memutuskan masuk Linux Foundation. Situs jejaring sosial terbesar kedua tersebut diketahui mengikuti jejak Nvdia dan Samsung yang terlebih dulu menjadi anggota Linux Foundation.

Twitter dikenal memang berusaha merangkul dan mendekati komunitas pengembang open source. Mereka dikenal juga menggunakan beberapa software open source dalam kegiatannya. Keputusan Twitter bergabung dengan Linux menjadi wajar mengingat berbagai faktor tersebut.

"Dengan bergabung kami dapat mendukung organisasi yang penting bagi kami dan bekerja-sama dengan komunitas yang memajukan Linux secepat kami membangun Twitter," kata Chris Aniszczyk, Manager of Open Source Twitter.
Twitter merasa memerlukan Linux. Banyak dari server Twitter menggunakan sistem operasi Linux. Dengan bergabung maka Twitter akan mendapat banyak keuntungan dalam operasinya.

Keputusan ini dirasa juga merupakan bentuk usaha Twitter untuk menarik simpati developer.


#merdeka.com

Microsoft diprediksi luncurkan Office untuk Linux di 2014

Microsoft Office 2013 kabarnya juga akan tersedia untuk sistem operasi Linux. Hal ini terkait rencana jangka panjang Microsoft dalam melakukan ekspansi Office 2013.
Seperti dikutip dari Softpedia (13/04), berdasarkan informasi yang diperoleh pihak Softpedia, Office 2013 versi Linux diperkirakan akan segera meluncur pada tahun 2014.
Pihak Linux sendiri dikabarkan tengah membuat Linux port of Office dan direncanakan selesai juga pada tahun 2014.
Kabar ini sendiri bukanlah hal mengherankan, sebab sebelum isu ini beredar, Microsoft juga sudah dikabarkan akan meluncurkan Office 2013 untuk perangkat Android.
Patut diketahui bahwa Android merupakan sistem operasi yang berbasis pada Linux. Jadi diperkirakan tidak sulit bagi pihak Microsoft untuk menyediakan Office 2013 untuk OS Linux.
Akankah Microsoft benar-benar meluncurkan Office 2013 ke OS berbasis open source ini? Kita tunggu saja tahun depan.


#merdeka.com

LibreOffice 4.1 Released With Improved Microsoft Office Document Support

LibreOffice 4.1, which brings with it an experimental new sidebar, has been officially released.
The update also features ‘a large number of improvements in the area of document compatibility’.
These improvements aim to make the sharing of documents with those using other office suites, most notably Microsoft Office, better by ‘retaining the original layout and contents’.
Other new features and changes include:

• Font embedding in Writer, Calc and Impress documents
• ‘Photo Album’ import (Impress)
• Image rotation in 90 degree steps (Writer)
• Stepped Lines type to Scatter graphs added
• Improved Footnote and footer comment handling (Writer)
• Experimental sidebar feature
• 3000 bug fixes

This release comes exactly one week after the final release of the 3.6.x series was issued.
LibreOffice 4.1 is a free download available for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X.


 http://www.libreoffice.org/download/

Don’t fancy installing LibreOffice 4.1 manually? If you’re running Ubuntu 12.04, 13.04 or 13.10 you can add the LibreOffice ‘ test builds and backports’ PPA to upgrade to this release using Ubuntu’s Update Manager.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:libreoffice/ppa

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

#http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/ 

Everything you want to know about Ubuntu Edge answered by Canonical founder

Reddit's Ask Me Anything (AMA) events have been pretty amazing ways to find out information on topics that you care about; and right now, Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth is holding an AMA about the Ubuntu Edge. So, if you have a question for him, just head over to Reddit and ask.

The AMA started just over an hour ago, and already Shuttleworth has said that the Ubuntu Edge will be "an annual process by which the previous generation backers get to vote on the spec for the next generation of Edge." Ultimately, Shuttleworth says that "the real idea we're trying to express is that a community can make better decisions than a single person." Additionally, Canonical will be looking into using "all-open hardware" in future generations of Edge, and is hoping to be able to crowd-source the design of the Ubuntu Edge in 2015.

Canonical will be releasing the physical dimensions as soon as they are final so users can 3D print accessories. And, there has been work put into dealing with heat issues in such a powerful device that would double as a desktop computer. The key, according to Shuttleworth, is to provide "all-out for performance to get over the convergence hump - i.e. deliver a device that gives a good enough desktop experience when you hook it up via HDMI and a bluetooth keyboard", but not have the device be too hot when in your hand or pocket. 

On the subject of battery life, Shuttleworth dropped the extremely interesting idea that Canonical wants to "blaze a trail with silicon anode batteries." Silicon anode batteries use silicon nanowires to build a battery that has been said can last about 40% longer than current batteries, and survive as many as 4x as many recharge cycles.

On carrier customizations, Shuttleworth says Canonical has proposed that carriers/manufacturers are responsible for hardware drivers, Canonical is responsible for software updates, and there is a customization layer (which Pat McGowan explained for us) which would allow for customization of content on the device and themes, but not customization of the core OS. 

Shuttleworth has confirmed that the first generation Ubuntu Edge will not include wireless charging because the team decided it would make the device too thick. However, future generations of the Edge will likely include wireless charging options.

On the question of why an iOS user might want to purchase an Ubuntu device, Shuttleworth answered:

If you're interested in convergence between phone and PC, we'll do that first and imo best. If you're interested in accelerating the movement of new tech into the mainstream, the Edge is a very interesting new way to signal to Appe what you consider cool in hardware (and software).

Shuttleworth has confirmed that Ubuntu Edge will feature unlocked LTE that will support LTE in both US and Europe, but because "the spectrum is just too fragmented at the moment", so it won't be able to have worldwide LTE support.

Canonical is working with game developers to bring top notch games to mobile and desktop (which of course will be the same with the Edge), and Shuttleworth is excited for the potential of gaming. Of course, many people have been excited for the "potential" of gaming on Linux for a long time. More and more games are coming to Ubuntu, but the ecosystem is still nowhere near as impressive as Windows, or even Mac. 

There was even a bit of a tease that Canonical may be working on its own wearable devices, when Shuttleworth said, "What better way to prototype wearables than with a mobile PC to power them?" We won't say this is an admission that there is an Ubuntu wearable in the works, but knowing the team at Canonical, we're sure that the idea has been bounced around, at the very least.

Conclusion

There is a lot more information in the AMA, but we're pretty sure we caught all of the highlights. As usual, the aims of Shuttleworth and Canonical are sky high. We had known that the team was working on converging mobile and traditional desktop devices, but the ideas behind completely crowd-sourcing the process of designing and building devices is incredibly interesting. 

There is still a fairly long way to go in the Ubuntu Edge funding, but it has managed to raise over $6 million so far. That is less than 20% of the final goal of $32 million, but it has only been 3 days, and there is another 28 days to go in the campaign. The Canonical team obviously are looking for ways to keep interest in the project high including this AMA and in adding more funding tiers, so we wouldn't be surprised if the goal is reached. And, if it is, that will go a long way to keeping alive Shuttleworth's idea to make this an annual project with the Ubuntu Edge handsets.

#http://www.phonearena.com

Android may soon support 4K displays (and crazy PPI displays)

You may have thought that smartphone displays would be stopping at 1080p, and tablets may take a while to move past the 2560x1600, but some new code inside Android 4.3 indicates that Google is getting ready to offer support for crazy high pixel density as well as 4K displays. Apparently, Android 4.3 has added support for XXXHDPI, which is for screens with an approximate DPI of 640.

Let's roll back a bit to give some context there. Android smartphones started out in the Medium DPI (MDPI) range of ~160ppi, which is what you'd find on the T-Mobile G1. Eventually, we moved up to HDPI (~240ppi), which was the Nexus S type display. We then blew right through the XHDPI range (~320ppi) which were essentially the 720p displays on devices like the Nexus 4, and we are now in the world of the XXHDPI range (~480ppi) which you'll find on 1080p displays like the HTC One. 

So, the idea of an XXXHDPI display is pretty crazy. Of course, in all likelihood the reason this resolution support has been added isn't for high-res smartphones or tablets, but for 4K TVs, and for Android's move past mobile and into traditional laptops and desktops. We've already heard Sundar Pichai talking about big things coming to Google TV this year, and 4K support would be a big addition for the platform. 

#http://www.phonearena.com/

Nokia Lumia 1020 Review

Finally! Some would vouch that it was a long time coming, especially when the Nokia 808 PureView has been making the rounds since last year, but we finally have that combination of a Windows Phone and PureView camera from Nokia’s camp. Looking back to last fall, we all believed with enough certainty that the Nokia Lumia 920 was going to be it, but alas, that wasn’t the case. Instead, we had to wait until now to finally see the device that hardcore shutterbugs have been itching to behold.

Everyone talks about how bigger is better, right? In the world of cameras, people are sometimes led to believe that higher megapixels would instantly mean that it would produce better results, but as we all know too well, it’s not necessarily the megapixel count that matters when it comes to delivering sharp shots. At first glance, the 41-megapixel PureView camera that the Nokia Lumia 1020 is packing along its rear will garner plenty of raised eyebrows – especially when that figure just sounds insanely high. However, there’s always this invisible fence that in turn makes us cautious, and to an extent, even skeptical about its effectiveness. Well folks, it’s here in the flesh, and it’s gunning to be the class leader in the camera phone category.

The package contains:

• microUSB cable
• Wall Charger
• Lanyard attachment
• Quick Start Guide
• Product Safety and Warranty Guide

 If this looks familiar to you, then you shouldn’t be surprised in the very least, since the Lumia 1020 employs all the characteristic design elements of its predecessor(s). By now, the unibody polycarbonate design of the handset is pretty much expected, but instead of sporting a glossy chassis, it has this strange matte finish to it – making it less prone to smudges and fingerprints. Unfortunately, seeing that it’s packing one hell of a beefy camera in its rear, it’s profile is nowhere as bulimic thin as some of the other flagship devices out there.

 Honestly, the hump in its rear makes it a bit awkward holding and using the device at first, but after some adjustment, it doesn’t become too much of a nuisance – albeit, it still feels a bit alien. Sure, it’s top heavy due to all the hardware stuffed into its camera housing, but when we think about a 41-megapixel camera, we’re surprised how light it really is, especially over the 808 PureView. Overall, the handset still has an appealing design seeing that it very much looks like a smartphone first with an impressive camera attached to it – as opposed to being designed as camera first, with the smartphone part being secondary.


#http://www.phonearena.com