Novell has demonstrated the next version of Novell Linux
Desktop 10, with a host of new consumer and business
features.
Novell used the Solutions Linux conference in Paris to
demonstrate the forthcoming platform easily supporting integration
with an Apple iPod and a digital camera for playing multimedia
applications.
In addition, the new Linux distribution also includes business
features, such as allowing users to translate Visual Basic macros
in Microsoft Excel spreadsheet documents into StarBasic.
StarBasic is the macro language used by the open source Open
Office.org collaboration suite, which Novell supports.
Most home users find Linux hard to use when trying to carry out
common tasks like playing music and viewing pictures and
videos.
This is partly down to the fact that the MP3 encoding system is
patented, and its licensing is not compatible with the GPL open
source licence used for Linux distributions.
Novell has therefore developed its own MP3 player software
called Banshee, which is licensed to use the MP3 encoding software.
Banshee will be open source, but will not be distributed under the
GPL.
Novell has also developed F-Spot, which can be used to easily
connect a digital camera to a PC running Novell Linux Desktop
10.
Novell Linux Desktop 10 is expected to be available in the next
few months.