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Announcing the Ubuntu Web Presence Team

How would you like to help make the Ubuntu website a thing of great beauty? If so, here’s your chance. There is a newly created Ubuntu Web Presence team recruiting members. If you’re excited about web technologies now you can help out. Some of the tasks this team will tackle include:

• New countdown banners for the releases
• Contribute to the start page that users see when they first load Ubuntu (http://start.ubuntu.com/8.04)
• Allow localization of key portions of the Ubuntu website
• Use your javascript, python or PHP coding skills to create exciting new features
• Design a visually engaging website experience
• Enable more people in the community to help out
• And more… the possibilities are limitless!

Presently, the Ubuntu website is managed by a very small group of people, mostly Canonical employees. We’d like to open this up so that a team of talented and trustworthy community members can help define the website experience. This is your opportunity!
Sign up now by joining the Web Presence Team’s mailing list and introducing yourself: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-website

First Java Team meeting

In an effort to get the Ubuntu Java team up and running we’re going to
hold a meeting on Thursday 3rd, 16:00 UTC in #ubuntu-meeting.
Current agenda items are:

• Development targets for intrepid
• Setting regular meeting times
• OpenJDK in main
• Debian/Ubuntu Java packaging coop
• Packaging Maven2 fixes from Fedora
• Explanation about various meta packages related to java

If you plan to attend, feel free to add your item to the agenda
(https://wiki.ubuntu.com/JavaTeam/Meeting) and please add your name to it.
To find out more about the plans of the team, check out
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/JavaTeam/Meeting - bear in mind that the team is
just forming and it’d be great if you joined in to make Java rock even
harder in Ubuntu.
Also find the team in #ubuntu-java.

Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter #97

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 96 for the weeks June 22nd - June 28th, 2008 is now available. In this issue we cover: Ubuntu 8.04.1 freeze proposed, Intrepid Alpha 1 released, a new Universe contributor, Brainstorm updates, Ubuntu Women project status, new Ubuntu members, LoCo news, Launchpad news, Ubuntu Forums news, Full Circle Magazine #14, UK podcast #8, and much, much more!

• Ubuntu 8.04.1 Freeze Proposed
• Intrepid Alpha 1 Released
• New Ubuntu Universe Contributor
• New Ubuntu Members
• Ubuntu Brainstorm News
• Ubuntu Women Project Status
• Maryland LoCo Summer Plans
• Ubuntu Stats
• Launchpad Downtime
• Ubuntu Forums News
• In the Press & Blogosphere
• In Other News
• Team Meeting Summaries
• Upcoming Meeting & Events
• Updates & Security

If you have a story idea for the Weekly News, join the Ubuntu News Team mailing list and submit it. Ideas can also be added to the wiki!

Full Circle Magazine Issue #14 Released

Full Circle - the Independent Magazine for the Ubuntu Community is proud to announce the release of the fourteenth issue.
This month:

• Command and Conquer - Man pages, and what not to type.
• How-To : Create an Ubuntu Plug ‘n’ Play Zone, Create Your Own Server Part 6, Using GIMP Part 3 and Put Photos on your iPod.
• My Opinion - Excited About Ubuntu in SouthEast India
• MOTU Interview - Soren Hansen
• Letters, Q&A, MyDesktop, Top 5 and more!

Get it while it’s hot! http://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-14/

Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter #96

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 96 for the weeks June 15th - June 21st, 2008, 2008 is now available. In this issue we cover: how to run a Bug Jam, French Live CD derivative, new core developers, Jalapa (Nicaragua) government migrates to Ubuntu, Pennsylvania LoCo featured on local radio, Ubuntu in the Debian Packages Tracking System, Launchpod episode #4, new edition of the Official Ubuntu Book, and much, much more!

• How to Run a Bug Jam
• French Live CD Derivative
• New Core Developers
• Ubuntu Stats
• LoCo News
• Ubuntu in the Debian Packages Tracking System
• Launchpad News
• Forum News
• In the Press & Blogosphere
• In Other News
• Upcoming Meetings & Events
• Updates & Security

If you have a story idea for the Weekly News, join the Ubuntu News Team mailing list and submit it. Ideas can also be added to the wiki!

How to Run a Bug Jam?

Global Bug Jam, full steam ahead! Some bug jams are scheduled already, but there’s a lot more potential. What about YOU? Don’t you want to have the fun of your life at a Bug Jam nearby?
We have good news for you. We’ll have a bunch of “How to run a Bug Jam” IRC sessions in #ubuntu-meeting in the next few weeks. The main aim of these sessions is going to be to:

• get together
• find out what’s required to make your local Bug Jam kick arse
• coordinate the planning
• come up with great ideas on how to take the Global Bug Jam even further

Excited? Have your calendar ready?

• Friday, June 20th 16:00 UTC with Caspar Clemens Mierau and Daniel Holbach
• Saturday, June 21st 19:00 UTC with Greg Grossmeier and Jorge Castro
• Friday, July 4th 16:00 UTC with Caspar Clemens Mierau and Daniel Holbach
• Saturday, July 5th 19:00 UTC with Wolfger and Greg Grossmeier

We are totally excited and look forward to all the great ideas to make Bug Jams rock even harder. Start planning today and let us know about your plans in the IRC sessions! :-)
Digg It

Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter #95

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 95 for the weeks June 8th - June 14th, 2008 is now available. In this issue we cover: Intrepid Alpha 1 delayed, more info about Global Bug Jam, future Brainstorm plans, Server Team Intrepid blueprints, new Ubuntu Members, future of Gobuntu, Kubuntu Tutorial Days, Mark Suttleworth’s response to accusations of proprietary codecs in Ubuntu, open source in UK schools, and much, much more!

• Intrepid Alpha 1 Delayed
• Global Bug Jam: How you can help make it happen!
• Future Brainstorm Plans
• Intrepid blueprints from the Ubuntu Server Team
• New Ubuntu Members
• Gobuntu Future
• Ubuntu Stats
• Ubuntu Colombian Team OpenFest
• Technical Update
• Launchpad News
• Ubuntu Forums News
• In the Press & Blogosphere
• In Other News
• Upcoming Meetings & Events
• Updates & Security

If you have a story idea for the Weekly News, join the Ubuntu News Team mailing list and submit it. Ideas can also be added to the wiki!

Kubuntu Tutorials Day 15-June

Kubuntu Tutorials Day is back. Join the Kubuntu team on IRC, #kubuntu-devel, for some fascinating chats with Free Software’s finest developers.

There are five months of development ahead for Intrepid, so this is the perfect way to learn how to get involved.

• 19:00UTC
  Getting Involved
  What’s happening in Intrepid and how can you join? Artwork, documentation, packaging, programming and more.
  Richard Johnson (nixternal)
• 20:00UTC
  Usability. Is it just about removing options?
  Celeste Lyn Paul (seele)
• 21:00UTC
  Packaging and merging howto
  Turn your apps into .debs, fix the packages already in the archive.
  Jonathan Riddell (Riddell)
• 22:00UTC
  Plasma with Python
  Plasmoids that are easy to make.
  Michael Anderson (nosrednaekim)
• 23:00UTC
  Bug triage
  How to squish the beasties.
  Ralph Janke (txwikinger)
• From end of talks onwards…
  Kubuntu Q&A
  Got a question? We’re here to answer.
  Your Friendly Kubuntu Team

See Kubuntu Tutorials Day page for more information.

Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter #94

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 94 for the weeks June 1st - June 7th, 2008 is now available. In this issue we cover: Ubuntu Global Bug Jam, New Members, Newly Approved LoCos, Canonical Showcases Ubuntu Netbook Remix at Computex, Kubuntu Specs in Full, Ubuntu at OSCON, Ubuntu Server receives positive reviews, Mobile devices driving Ubuntu-Shuttleworth, Ubuntu UK podcast #7, Acer bets big on Linux, and much, much more!

• Ubuntu Global Bug Jam!
• New Members
• Newly Approved LoCos
• Canonical Showcases Ubuntu Netbook Remix at Computex
• Kubuntu Specs in Full
• Learn about Ubuntu at OSCON
• Ubuntu Stats
• LoCo News
• Technical Update
• Launchpad News
• Forums News
• In the Press & Blogosphere
• In Other News
• Meeting Summaries
• Upcoming Meetings & Events
• Updates & Security

If you have a story idea for the Weekly News please submit it via email or on the wiki !

Ubuntu Global Bug Jam

The first Ubuntu Global Bug Jam will take place from Friday 8th August to Sunday 10th August 2008.
So, what is the Ubuntu Global Bug Jam? Put simply, it is a world-wide online and face-to-face event to get people together to fix Ubuntu bugs - we want to get as many people online fixing bugs, having a great time doing so, and putting their brick in the wall for free software. This is not only a great opportunity to really help Ubuntu, but to also get together with other Ubuntu fans to make a difference together, either via your LoCo team, your LUG, other free software group, or just getting people together in your house/apartment to fix bugs and have a great time.
If you are in a LoCo Team, the Ubuntu Global Bug Jam is a great opportunity for LoCo Teams to get together and have a physical bug-jam. To get started there is a Running a Bug Jam guide, which offers some helpful advice for getting your jam organised. If you are in a Linux User Group why not try and organise a bug jam for your LUG too?
If you are planning on organising a jam for your group, just follow these steps:

1. Decide on a venue and dates, and start letting people know about where and when the jam is. You might want to post to other local groups to let them know so they can attend. Take a look at Running a Bug Jam page to help you get started.
2. Update the Ubuntu Global Bug Jam page and add your jam to it. Be sure to add any specific applications your local participants are interested in, in the *Interests* box - we will then try to get upstream specialists to the Jam who can help with debugging on IRC.
3. Blog about it, post to mailing lists, put flyers up in computer shops and other places and otherwise spread the word.
4. On the day we will post more information about getting involved in the jam.

We will be posting more information about how the global bug jam will work closer to the time.
Also, digg this over at http://digg.com/linux_unix/Ubuntu_Global_Bug_Jam_Announced.

Weekly Newsletter #93

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 93 for the weeks May 25th - May 31st, 2008 is now available. In this issue we cover: new Ubuntu Membership approval process, new Ubuntu Members, new LoCo approval process, LinuxTag 2008, Launchpad 1.2.5, Launchpod episode #3, Forum Tutorial of the week, Ubuntu UK Podcast #6, Full Circle Magazine #13, Team Reports, and much, much more!

• More efficient membership approval process
• New Ubuntu Members
• LoCo Council Open for Business
• LinuxTag 2008
• Ubuntu Bugs & Stats
• Launchpad News
• Ubuntu Forums News
• In the Press & Blogosphere
• Ubuntu UK Podcast #6
• Full Circle Magazine #13
• Team Meeting Summaries
• Upcoming News & Events
• Updates & Securities

If you have a story idea for the Weekly News please submit it via email or on the wiki !
UWN is brought to you by the Marketing Team.

LoCo Council is Open for Business

The Community Council has delegated LoCo-related governance to the LoCo Council, similar to the recent creation of regional boards for Ubuntu membership. The LoCo Council is responsible for approving new LoCos, re-approving LoCos (more on that below), conflict resolution, resource allocation, mentoring, growth, and highlighting best practices.
The approval process for LoCos has not changed. New teams should continue referring to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoGettingApproved as the reference guide for approval. In the near future, the LoCo Council will be documenting how to bring conflicts in front of the council and how to privately communicate on sensitive issues. The LoCo Council is also working on ways to make it easier for LoCos to request resources, like mailing lists and Canonical-provided hosting.
Approved LoCos will need to be re-approved every year. This is to make sure LoCos have the resources and help needed to continue supporting their area. Re-approval is similar to the initial approval application, simply documenting what the LoCo has done in the previous year and laying out plans for the future. LoCos needing to be re-approved will be contacted by the LoCo Council, and provided a timetable to submit their application. If a LoCo is not ready to be re-approved, the LoCo Council will work with the team to refocus and establish itself again.
Meetings will be held at least once a month. LoCos wanting to be approved or wishing to discuss any issues are welcome to add themselves to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/LoCoCouncilAgenda.
The next LoCo Council meeting will be held 04-June-2008, 16:00 UTC.

Full Circle Magazine Issue #13 Released

Full Circle - the Independent Magazine for the Ubuntu Community is proud to announce the release of the thirteenth issue.
This month:

• Flavor of the Month - Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron.
• How-To : Organize an Ubuntu Demo Day/Party, TV Feast for Ubuntu, Using GIMP Part 2, Create Your Own Server Part 5 and Automatic Backup via Email.
• My Opinion - What is Web 2.0?
• MOTU Interview - Luca Falavigna
• Letters, Q&A, MyDesktop, Top5 and more!

Download from: http://fullcirclemagazine.org/issue-13/

More efficient membership approval process

The Community Council has recently implemented some changes to community governance processes which it believes reflect a significant improvement in one area of community governance: applications for Ubuntu membership.
The Ubuntu project is rapidly expanding and the previous process for approval of new Ubuntu members has been struggling to keep up with the increased participation. The list of pending membership applications was so long that the Community Council cannot focus on other issues. Also, it is often difficult or impossible for potential new members to attend Community Council meetings which do not coincide with their availability in a particular timezone.
As a result three regional membership boards have been created to consider applications from contributors to the project for Ubuntu membership. The boards are:
Americas
Europe, Middle East and Africa
Asia / Oceania
These boards will meet each week at staggered times and days, to ensure that as many candidates as possible have a chance to attend a meeting which fits their schedules. If necessary, candidates from one region may attend a meeting of a board for a different region, if this suits their schedule better.
The Community Council will continue to oversee the process for the first few months of its operation. New members will be reported in the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter.
For more information, and if you are interested in applying for Ubuntu membership, please visit the membership wiki page.
The change will leave the Community Council free to take a more active role in its review of other aspects of the community. The Community Council now meets according to a fixed timetable every two weeks.