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Shuttleworth talks up app launcher for 'netbooks'

Tom Espiner ZDNet.co.uk

Published: 10 Jun 2008 16:39 BST

The founder of the Ubuntu project has given details of a new application launcher for a version of the operating system designed to run on the new generation of small laptops, such as the Asus Eee PC.

The launcher is for Ubuntu Netbook Remix, a pared-down version of the operating system, designed for "netbooks", or low-cost laptops. Ubuntu Netbook Remix was released last week.

Mark Shuttleworth, who runs Ubuntu's commercial sponsor, Canonical, said the organisation's OEM team developed the launcher after being approached by a number of OEMs who want to sell netbooks based on Ubuntu.

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"Almost universally, they've asked for standard Ubuntu packages and updates, with an app launcher that's more suited to new users and has the feeling of a 'device' more than a PC," wrote Shuttleworth in a blog post.

"There are some very cool launchers out there — AWN is a current favourite of mine — but people seem to prefer the more 2-dimensional, tabbed approach, so the OEM team implemented a lightweight, but still very classy, launcher for this use case," said Shuttleworth.

The launcher gives more screen space for web browsing, while a package for the launcher, available from a public PPA (personal package archive), includes Gnome panel applets, window-manager tweaks and themes.

"These bits and pieces improve the experience of Ubuntu run with the netbook launcher on screens with lower vertical resolution," said Shuttleworth.