Ubuntu Server 11.10 is more compelling than as ever as a Linux distribution for cloud deployments, says this eWEEK Labs review. A lack of updated documentation and some other rough edges give pause, but the new Juju cloud deployment framework and tighter OpenStack integration should make “Oneiric Ocelot” a winner when it arrives in its LTS version in April.

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The Sabayon community released version 7.0 of its Linux distribution, equipped with both an “ultra-optimized” version of the Linux 3.0 kernel and an experimental “Fusion Kernel.” The Gentoo-based Sabayon 7 distro offers a choice of GNOME 3.2, KDE 4.7, and Xfce 4.8 desktop environments, as well as LibreOffice 3.4.3.2 and native support for the Btrfs filesystem.

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Variscite announced the industry's first computer on module (COM) based on the Texas Instruments (TI) OMAP4460 processor, which offers dual Cortex-A9 cores clocked at up to 1.5GHz. The VAR-SOM-OM44 features 512MB of DDR2 SDRAM and a microSD socket, I/O including gigabit Ethernet, USB 2.0, 3D camera, and HDMI, and an available VAR-OM44CustomBoard development board and touchscreen-enabled dev kit.

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Ibase announced a 3.5-inch single board computer (SBC) that supports Intel “Sandy Bridge” Core processors clocked up to 2.6GHz. The IB905 has two gigabit Ethernet ports, two USB 3.0 ports, four USB 2.0 ports, plus support for both DVI-I and LVDS displays, the company says.

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Ubuntu 11.10 (“Oneiric Ocelot”) was released, featuring makeovers for its Unity desktop and Ubuntu Software Center, plus a switch to the Thunderbird email client and a new backup tool called Deja Dup. On the server side, Ubuntu 11.10 adds ARM support, as well as a new “Juju” cloud management framework, and the integration of OpenStack within Ubuntu Cloud Infrastructure.

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Anders Electronics announced a bevy of panel PCs that run Android, Linux 2.6, or Windows CE 6.0 on a 600MHz Texas Instruments Sitara AM3517 processor. The “Anders-DXE” devices measure from 6.5 to 15 inches diagonally, offer resolutions from VGA up to 1024 x 768 pixels, are available with wireless networking, and have 256MB of RAM and 512MB of flash storage.

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Arbor Technology announced a full-size PICMG 1.3 single board computer (SBC) designed to support Intel “2nd Generation” (“Sandy Bridge”) Core i3/i5/i7 processors. The HiCore-i67Q1 is equipped with an Intel Q67 chipset, dual DDR3 sockets for up to 8GB SDRAM, six RAID-enabled SATA ports, 14 USB 2.0 ports, and extensive PCI and PCIe expansion, according to the company.

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Cadillac announced a Linux-based in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and navigation system that will debut in the 2012 Cadillac XTS. The Cadillac User Experience (CUE) system's triple-core ARM11 processor controls both an eight-inch capacitive multitouch main touchscreen and an optional 12.3-inch cluster display, and features proximity sensing, haptic feedback, natural language voice recognition, and an open app development platform.

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Roku announced its lowest-cost streaming media player yet, also adding a new HBO GO service to its service line-up. The $50 Roku LT offers the same Linux-based operating system, Netflix support, 720p video playback quality, and support for 300 channels as the $60 Roku 2 HD, but jettisons the microSD port and Bluetooth connections, according to the company.

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Mentor Graphics announced it is bringing its Genivi-compliant Mentor Embedded Linux In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) Base Platform platform to Freescale Semiconductor's ARM Cortex A9-based i.MX6 system on chips (SoCs). Meanwhile, the Linux Foundation announced the first Automotive Linux Summit (ALS), to be held Nov. 28 in Yokohama, Japan.

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BlueStacks announced that a free alpha version of its software allowing Windows 7 users to run Android apps is now downloadable — so naturally, we had to give it a try. The initial BlueStacks App Player comes with ten apps and allows an additional 26 to be installed, while a related Cloud Connect service allows pushing apps from a user's phone to his or her desktop PC, the company says.

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AT&T announced five new Android phones, led by the 4.3-inch, dual-core Motorola Atrix 2 and four-inch Samsung Captivate Glide QWERTY slider phone, both running Android 2.3 on dual-core processors. The other new AT&T Android phones include the 3.2-inch, QWERTY-enabled Samsung DoubleTime, the four-inch Pantech Pocket, and the ZTE-built AT&T Avail, which is available under the carrier's GoPhone prepaid brand.

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Motorola Solutions announced a ruggedized, seven-inch Android 2.3.4 tablet for enterprise users. The ET1 tablet offers a dual-core, 1GHz Texas Instruments OMAP4 processor, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of flash memory, a 1024 x 600 pixel display with extra thick Gorilla Glass, and an eight-megapixel camera with barcode reading capabilities, the company says.

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Samsung might have postponed this week's Nexus Prime announcement, but Verizon Wireless announced it will start selling another Samsung smartphone with 4G LTE support on Oct. 13 for $150. The enterprise-focused Samsung Stratosphere runs Android 2.3 on a 1GHz Samsung Hummingbird, and is equipped with a four-inch Super AMOLED display, a QWERTY sliding keyboard, and dual cameras, says the carrier.

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Motorola Mobility's enterprise device management (EDM) subsidiary 3LM shipped an enterprise server console for Android devices, announcing a distribution deal with BoxTone for the software. The 3LM device management platform for Android offers lifecycle mobile management features including device activation, provisioning, configuration, and change tasks, says the company.

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