TheOpenDisc and OpenEducationDisc

Interest in the OpenCD since Software Freedom Day and our local press reports has been both gratifying and stimulating. Comments received have been very rewarding.

Well, times do change and I believe the following change will be for the better of the FLOSS (Free/Libre Open Source Software) community. The OpenCD project is no longer supported but a new project, TheOpenDisc, has been announced.

Chris Gray, project lead for the past eighteen months, is now in charge of TheOpenDisc - http://www.theopendisc.com/ -

Peter Kemp, formerly of OpenEducationCD, will be joining Chris on OpenEducationDisc - http://www.theopendisc.com/education/ - which is an extension geared to schools and students. Peter recently won the prestigious School Projects Award from the British educational charity, Teach First - http://www.teachfirst.org.uk/ - for his work with FLOSS.

The two main goals of the project are:

* To provide a free alternative to costly software, with equal or often better quality equivalents to proprietary, shareware or freeware software for Microsoft Windows.
* To educate users about Linux as an operating system for home, business and educational use.

The majority of programs featured on OpenDisc are also available on Linux. (Program list with versions is available at the wiki - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenDisc -)

Chris and Pete hope to release updated versions regularly so software will always be fresh.

Time To Switch?

If you use a computer, it's a pretty safe bet that you will have heard of Microsoft Windows. The best way to explain the job that Windows does for your computer is to imagine it as a kind of brain. It's the 'intelligence' that knows how to print a document or display a mouse pointer or connect to the Internet. If we were to refer to this 'brain' by its proper name, we'd call it an operating system.

What you might not know is that there are other operating systems out there for your computer, many of which work better than Windows, some of which are even free!

Let me introduce you to my favourite operating system. It's called Ubuntu, and it's my favourite for many reasons. If you stick with me, I'd love to explain why.

Click Here To Read Full Article

New Free Open Source Certification

The UK ICT Hub's FOSS in the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) project is developing a new certification for Free (Libre) Open Source Software in the non-profit sector. This is being done in partnership with the Linux Professional Institute (LPI). Read more about it at:

https://group.lpi.org/publicwiki/bin/view/Examdev/FOSK

FLOSS In Church Today!

Churches are ideal places for FLOSS (Free/Libre Open Source Software).

Some reasons for using FLOSS and the Linux operating system are affordability (either no-cost or low-cost), scalability (one computer or many), security (crackers prefer Microsoft©), stability (immune to most viruses), upgradability (you have the source code), versatility (runs on just about anything), and more.

Even Romans 12:2 commands the Christian church to use FLOSS!

A new resource is now available to promote FLOSS in the Christian community. Help spread the word!

FLOSS In Church!!!

(FLOSS In Church is sponsored by FLOSSToday.com and GBZ Technology)

New Issue of Full Circle Magazine

New issue (number 3) of Full Circle Magazine, the independent ubuntu magazine is available online new. This month's issue includes:

* Xubuntu install step-by-step - Alternative Disc!
* How-To: Get a Stunning Ubuntu Desktop, Learning Scribus part 3 and Ubuntu in Photography.
* Review of Ubuntu on a Macbook.
* Preview of several new Compiz Fusion effects.
* Letters, Q&A, MyDesktop, MyPC, Top5 and more!


Click here now

New Software Freedom Day 2007 Press Release

A new press release about Software Freedom Day 2007 (SFD2007) is available at:

http://softwarefreedomday.org/PressReleases/18072007

If anyone can help get this out by posting on slashdot, or any other
news forums, that would be great!

Full Circle Magazine Issue #2 Available

ssue 2 of Full Circle the official ubuntu magazine is now available. This month issue includes:

* Ubuntu Flavour of the Month - Kubuntu
* How-To - Ubuntu on the Intel Mac Mini, Virtual Private Networking, Learning Scribus Part 2 and Ubuntu for your Grandma!
* Review - System 76 Darter
* Top 5 - Widgets-MyDesktop, MyPC and more!

Click here now