EightyOne

Version 7.04 (AKA Feisty Fawn) of Ubuntu, the open-source operating system, comes out today. I recently installed Ubuntu 6.10 (Edgy Eft) on my home PC after three-or-so hours of updating and patching on a fresh reinstallation of Windows XP caused what looked like premature OS-decay. Is this a sneaky way of encouraging upgrades to Vista? ;)

Ubuntu is designed to bring open-source software and Linux, traditionally the preserve of those who enjoy getting their hands dirty with their PCs, to the masses. The OS comes as default with various Internet, media, office and utility packages for a set-up that does virtually everything the average user needs from the off. It runs well on modest hardware (such as my ‘elderly’ Celeron 900MHz), includes drivers for most common hardware, so there shouldn’t be any messing with those, either. It is still extremely versatile, though, and can be used for anything ranging from a home desktop machine to a web-, file- or print-server.

I was pleasantly surprised how easy and quick it was to install Ubuntu, which I have sharing a hard drive with XP. I was even up and running on my wireless network in no time at all. The interface is anything but foreign to users of Windows or Mac OS, and only those with advanced requirements need to open up the terminal for some command-line action, as the OS and its environment can be controlled from the GUI. If you need something that isn’t part of the default installation, installing new packages is often as simple as opening the included ‘Add/Remove Programs’ utility, which downloads and installs the desired software.

Ubuntu is an attractive proposition for anyone who would like to ‘dip their toes’ in to Linux, but is fearful of the command-line, or who doesn’t want to abandon Windows completely. It can be installed from a single CD (download or request from the website), and will sit quite happily alongside your existing Windows installation (although some changes to your hard-disk partitioning may be necessary during setup). I’m looking forward to what Feisty Fawn has to offer.

Apple boss, Steve Jobs, has publicly said he wants record labels to allow downloadable music without Digital Rights Management (DRM). Apple have been criticised (and even threatened with bans by several European countries) for the ‘Fairplay’ DRM on songs sold through the iTunes Music Store, which (deliberately or not) only allow the music to be played in the iTunes software or on an iPod music player.

However, I was always strongly under the impression that the inclusion of DRM was at the insistance of the record labels, which this request would seem to indicate. Without the DRM, they simply would not licence their music to Apple, so they have no choice but to include the ‘anti-piracy’ measures.

As well as limiting iTunes Music Store purchases to Apple software and hardware, the ‘Fairplay’ DRM restricts the number of computers a song can be played on, and also restricts things like how many times you can burn your legitimately-purchased music on to CD. Removing the DRM would mean that the files could be played on any software or hardware that supports the AAC format used by the iTunes Music Store, and copied, moved and, most importantly, played as the purchaser wishes.

Ideally, there would be no DRM in digitally distributed media, but if used it should be completely transparent to the user, and wouldn’t pose any restrictions to legitimate use. In reality, it does things like stop people watching high-definition versions of their legally-purchased Blu-ray discs on their legally-purchased players through their legally-purchased HD TVs, because one of the devices, even an AV cable, doesn’t support the required DRM.

I’ve personally had to register for licenses for content that I’ve created, heard pops in legally purchased, ‘copy-protected’ CDs that I’ve transferred to my iPod, and for some reason, my iTunes music library has four of the maximum five computers registered to it, even though we only have two. This hasn’t caused any problems yet, but could the next time I reinstall my OS or add a user to either computer.

Hopefully this is a significant step towards a DRM-free future.

Apple seeks online music shake-up [bbc.co.uk]

Update: A more detailed look at Jobs’ open letter, and further insight in to the Apple/DRM situation — Apple would “switch to selling only DRM-free music” if labels agree [arstechnica.com]

Apple have announced a beta version of Boot Camp, which allows Windows XP to run on Intel-based Macs. Yes – Windows on Macs. Without emulators. Officially.

Boot Camp is a beta of technology that is expected to feature in Apple’s forthcoming OS X ‘Leopard’.

There’s been a lot of talk about this already, some positive and some negative. I see this as nothing but a positive thing, since Apple are merely adding extra functionality to Macs. What’s wrong with that, eh? Apple are not ditching OS X, like some people seem to suggest.

On a personal level, this is great news. I can have my Apple and eat it. Or something like that. My situation is this:

• I like using Macs.
• I need to use Windows.

But now I can satisfy my own preferences and practical needs with one machine. Top notch!

My self-built WinBox has had two versions of Windows and at least three versions of Linux installed on it over its 5 years, and is well overdue for an upgrade. Realistically, that’s not going to happen too soon, certainly not before Windows Vista is released, but now I think a Mac Mini might be the logical upgrade if it can run both OS X and Vista in one tiny package.

While I wouldn’t normally condone the destruction of something as sacred as an NES, at least it’s being spliced with something worthy.

Mac Mini inside a NES

Some of Nintendo’s more recent designs (such as the upcoming ‘Revolution’ and DS lite) have been compared to Apple’s products. I’m not sure the NES is one of them, though.

It’s one month since I took delivery of my Powerbook, and I’m still chuffed to bits with it. It still runs smoothly, feels powerful, and getting used to the OS has been like falling off a log that’s been perfectly designed to fall off of. Both the hardware and software are graceful, unobtrusive and actually let you get on with doing something useful!

I’ve just seen the article Ten Things I Hate About Mac OS X on the Peachpit website. I read the article with interest, as I thought it might have a few frustrations that I could steer clear of. What I noticed, however, was that all ten points are really petty (e.g. “Pinwheel Pauses” – the equivalent of the Windows egg-timer)! That’s not to say that they aren’t valid annoyances, but it’s reassuring to see that someone who uses OS X all day can’t find any serious problems with it.