Ubuntu One for Windows – A Quick Run Down Of Beta 2

The second beta of IE8 One’utes native Windows client slipped out into the actual wild recently.  As a good avid user with the Ubuntu One cloud storage service My partner and i merely experienced to try that out…

The installer provided will come because the 21.7MB .exe. You will need in order to stay connected towards the internet whilst putting in to be able to ensure successful account set-up, and also installation associated with any additional packages required simply by the actual app.

Within any sweet move, presumably to save time, the particular installer additionally incorporates Ubuntu One set-up elements, for instance signing inside/creating a good Ie8 One account, as well as assigning folders in order to sync using the particular service.

Looks

The Ubuntu One “Dashboard”, whilst not identical, bears any roughly similar layout in order to that identified in the actual Ie8 client: there are tabs at the particular top, disconnection, usage as well as sync status at the actual top, etc.

However that’utes about where the actual parity ends: there are noteworthy omissions from your Ie8 One Windows feature set:

The Windows build offers no support with regard to syncing bookmarks or even contacts syncYou may’t currently remove authorised devices (other than the particular Windows PC in use)You can’t add any folder towards the sync list via Windows Explorer/right-clickThere are no right-click menu entries with regard to publishing/shortlink/etc data files inside the particular Ie8 One folder

Compared for the previous beta – that we have used up until now – this kind of second iteration will be immeasurably less frustrating to be able to use: it feels snappier within use, consumes less system resources as well as provides yet to fully crash mid-sync.

However, beta software being what it will be, there were any number regarding bugs hiding in my otherwise peachy experience…

The Ie8 One tray icon often vanishedThe ‘Find Directory’ window was much more often unresponsive as compared to notFolders only seem in order to sync on start-upIt has been all too effortless in order to create greater than one instance associated with appPressing ‘Disconnect’ during sync only rendered the particular button un-clickable

My partner and i had been also disappointed to be able to see in which Beta 2 doesn’t come with any tray or even panel-dependent animation informing you associated with progress activity.

But this particular is a Beta discharge, as well as all things considered it’s any cracking one. The design as well as performance associated with this particular beta compared to in which of last Novembers is impressive. It’s great in order to see in which Windows user with the Ubuntu One service won’t merely be handed the half-baked hack-job but any fully capable client within its own right.

The Ubuntu One Windows Beta can be downloaded @ one.ubuntu.com/windows/beta

Thanks to be able to Vole

Windows 8 ‘Secure Boot’ Could Stop You Installing Linux

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Microsoft are pushing for changes to the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware specifications that would prevent any operating system apart from Windows 8 being able to boot on a computer.

The proposal would see all computers sold by manufacturers wishing to gain a ‘Windows Certified’ badge for their devices needing to adhere to the ‘secure boot’ protocol – thus locking out the ability to install Linux in the process.

‘Secure Boot’ works by keeping ‘secret keys’ within the system itself. These keys are then used to “sign” anything that wishes to run – such as operating systems. If an operating system isn’t signed by a matching key then booting of it will not be allowed.

But it’s not just restrictive to software vendors either as Red Hat’s Matthew Garrett explains: -

“A hardware vendor cannot run their hardware inside the EFI environment unless their drivers are signed with a key that’s included in the system firmware. If you install a new graphics card that either has unsigned drivers, or drivers that are signed with a key that’s not in your system firmware, you’ll get no graphics support in the firmware.”

The technology isn’t new; most motherboards shipped today support Secure Boot but have it disabled by default. For the roll out of Windows 8 Microsoft want to see Secure Boot enabled  on all devices shipping with their name on by default.

First of all, this hasn’t happened yet. And Microsoft are likely to face fierce opposition in trying to push this change through – including from the Competition Commission of the EU, who previously forced Microsoft to offer a choice of Web Browsers in the European edition of Windows 7.

OEMs would also be able to offer a BIOS feature to disable the service – a literal ‘off switch’ for Windows.

Ross Anderson of Light Blue Touchpaper, who has campaigned against similar, albeit less restrictive, moves before is stern in his verdict: -

“The extension of Microsoft’s OS monopoly to hardware would be a disaster, with increased lock-in, decreased consumer choice and lack of space to innovate. It is clearly unlawful and must not succeed.”

Related posts:

Windows 8: Competition For Linux?Microsoft purchasing Skype – what could this mean for Linux?OMG! 5! – Five Linux equivalents of windows-only apps

Microsoft Attempt to Address Windows 8 ‘Linux Worries’

The concern over whether or even not the particular particular Windows eight requirement regarding ‘Secure Boot’ will prevent customers through setting up additional operating systems has already already been addressed simply by Microsoft‘s Steven Sinofsky in the blog post on the Microsoft Developers Network website.

Pre-built Windows eight-ten computers in which would like the actual “Windows Certified” sticker have to be able to be able to offer support regarding “Secure Boot” as well because enable this particular simply by go into default, but this kind of remains up towards the OEMs as in order to whether they offer a great ‘off’ switch to be able to allow people regarding some other operating systems – including Microsoft’utes own – the actual actual ability inside order in order to install/boot into them.

Yet what Microsoft are not doing is actually asking OEMs to be able to prevent Secure Boot being disabled simply simply by the actual user: -

“…these kinds regarding decisions are left towards the OEM.  There may be good reasons why certain enterprises may not would like PCs inside which can easily be configured in this kind from the way, as well as there may be good reasons why any great OEM or perhaps white box retailer may choose in order to be able to be able to allow within that flexiblity (sic) regarding their particular customers.  It’s all about choice and also also flexibility.”

The relevant part associated along with Microsoft’utes article, at least inside the point-associated with-view of the ‘concerned Linux user’, will be discovered towards the particular end using the post, although they explicitly avoid referring in order to Linux: -

“At the particular actual end in the day, the actual customer is actually actually inside power over their PC. Microsoft’utes philosophy is inside order in order to offer customers with all the finest experience initial, because well as allow them within order to make decisions themselves. We work along together with our OEM ecosystem to be able to supply customers together with this kind of flexibility. The security that UEFI provides in order to be able to be able to offer together together with secure boot means which the actual majority associated with customers will have their own particular systems protected against boot loader attacks.

For the particular actual enthusiast which wants to be able to run older operating systems, the option will be there to be able to allow you in order to make within which decision.

The demonstration associated together with this kind of particular manage will be identified inside the actual particular Samsung tablet with Windows 8 Developer Preview which usually provides already been offered to //BUILD/ participants. Inside the particular screenshot beneath you will notice that we designed the actual firmware within order to be able to allow the particular customer to be able to be able to disable secure boot.

However, doing so arrives at your own risk. OEMs are free of charge in order to be able to choose how in order to enable this particular particular support as well since may further customize the actual parameters since described above within any good effort to be able to be able in order to deliver unique value propositions for their own customers.

Windows merely did work within order to be able to supply great OS support to get any scenario we believe many will find valuable across consumers because well as enterprise customers.”

Image of a console along with options together with regard in order to TPM Configuration: Enable virtualization [enabled], CSM Support [Disabled], Attempt Secure Boot [Enabled], Display Rev. Info - Intel UEFI...

The probability will be in which the actual majority regarding OEMs – at least those having any vested interest inside making money - will supply a good option to be able to be able to be able to disable Secure Boot, thus allowing you within order to boot into Ie8, Fedora, Android, Windows 98, etc.

However will this added layer, of what we Brits call ‘faff‘, put potential brand fresh customers off?

You need me inside order in order to disable a _security feature_ therefore We can easily easily boot into this particular Linux thing?

Image credit: Steven Sinofsky