Linspire Releases Freespire 2.0 Linux Operating System

August 8, 2007; 02:39 AM
Linspire, Inc., developer of the Linspire commercial and Freespire community desktop Linux operating systems and CNR.com, a free Linux software delivery service, today announced the immediate availability of Freespire 2.0, the latest version of the free desktop Linux operating system. Building on the best of open source software using Ubuntu as its baseline, Freespire 2.0 adds legally licensed proprietary drivers, codecs, and applications in its core distribution, to provide a better user experience. Freespire 2.0 (http://www.freespire.org/) also continues to offer users the ability to choose what software they want installed on their computer, without limitations or restrictions, as a result, making available proprietary software where there are no viable open source alternatives.

Freespire is able to provide improved out-of-the-box hardware, file type, and multimedia support, such as MP3, Windows Media, Real Networks, Java, Flash, ATI, nVidia, WiFi, and many more. Freespire is also the first desktop Linux operating system that will include a CNR plugin for the soon to be released new CNR Service (http://www.cnr.com/), providing free one-click access to thousands of open source applications, as well as options for legally licensed DVD playback software, Sun's StarOffice, Parallels Workstation, Win4Lin, CodeWeaver's Crossover Office, TransGaming's Cedega, commercial games and many more. "Version 2.0 is the first Freespire based off of the popular Ubuntu distribution," explained President and CEO of Linspire, Inc. Larry Kettler. "Freespire 2.0 picks up where Ubuntu leaves off by adding proprietary software, drivers and codecs, to make for a more complete turn-key solution for mainstream desktop computing."

Immediately available for free download through the Freespire.org web site (http://www.freespire.org/), Freespire is a community-influenced, Ubuntu-based Linux distribution that is designed to be powerful enough for sophisticated Linux users and developers, yet easy enough for someone new to Linux. Freespire was created specifically for use on desktop and notebook computers and designed to offer a new level of polish, attention to detail, and ease-of-use in a free Linux distribution.

Freespire 2.0 begins with Ubuntu (Version 7.04) as its baseline and then adds software from six broad categories, further expanding Freespire's capabilities:

CNR plugin provides free one-click access to thousands of open source applications, as well as options for legally licensed DVD playback software, Sun's StarOffice, Parallels Workstation, Win4Lin, CodeWeaver's Crossover Office, TransGaming's Cedega, commercial games, and many more.

KDE is added for an easier-to-use and more comfortable interface, with a more familiar look and feel for Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows users.

Enhanced applications and features are added for superior usability and ease of use, modifying software applications such as Firefox and Thunderbird, and along with the inclusion of Linspire-sponsored open source software like Nvu, Lsongs, and Lphoto.

Proprietary software is added when necessary, such as Java, Flash, and Adobe Acrobat, in order to provide overall increased interoperability.

Proprietary codecs are added to expand multimedia compatibility and provide a superior overall experience so users can listen to MP3 files, play Windows Media files, and much more.

Proprietary drivers are added to expand hardware compatibility and provide optimum 3D graphic card support, better WiFi support, and more.

"This is by far our most advanced desktop Linux system we have released to date," said Kettler. "Everything is cutting edge, utilizing the latest core technologies, from the Kernel to KDE, with the infrastructure in place to keep Freespire updated and current, moving forward."

Freespire 2.0 also provides users with enhanced Microsoft Word document interoperability by including Open XML translators that allow OpenOffice to open and edit Microsoft Word .docx formatted documents.

As a company, Linspire will continue to develop and release new commercial versions of its industry leading desktop Linux operating system, the Linspire OS. While Freespire is more accessible to developers, enthusiasts, hobbyists and those in or curious about the Linux community, Linspire will continue to be more geared toward general computer user, OEM and the retail channel by offering more ease of use and premium support.

About Linspire

Linspire, Inc. (http://www.linspire.com/) was founded in 2001 to bring choice into the operating system market. The company's flagship product, the Linspire operating system, is an affordable, easy-to-use Linux-based operating system distributed primarily pre-installed on PCs for home, school, and business users. Freespire (http://www.freespire.org/) is a community-involved, Linux-based operating system that combines the best that free, open source software has to offer (community driven, freely distributed, open source code, etc.), but also provides users the choice of including proprietary codecs, drivers and applications as they see fit. With Freespire, the choice is yours as to what software is installed on your computer, with no limitations or restrictions placed on that choice. How you choose to maximize the performance of your computer is entirely up to you. Linspire also pioneered CNR Technology, which provides free access to all Linux software through CNR.com, allowing one-click installation from over 20,000 software programs, packages and libraries. Free to use, both free & commercial software is available at CNR.com (http://www.cnr.com/).