Linux Takes on a Bigger Role at This Year’s CES - harrispresucest

The yearly Consumer Electronics Show (CES) event is ever a fun place to acquire about the latest new gadgets coming dispirited the throughway, but–digression from Google's ubiquitous Android platform–Linux has not typically played a starring role.

This year, that seems to be changing. Even above and beyond all the countless Android-founded tablets and other wares, Linux is a visual part of numerous announcements coming out of the show.

For a Linux fan, that's thrilling. Here's a sampling of approximately of the Linux-steam-powered debuts we've seen coming exterior of CES 2012 so farthermost.

1. Ubuntu Boob tube

Information technology's a impressive sign of Linux's ontogeny mainstream use that Canonical has naturalized a prominent presence at CES this year, and its tempting hint last week certainly added fuel to the fires of anticipation. The mysterious announcement, of course, turned out to cost Ubuntu TV, as we reported on Monday. In essence, Canonical has created a variation of its popular Ubuntu Linux OS for use on wise TVs, and IT's demonstrating a prototype unit at the show this week. Featuring the Unity interface, Ubuntu TV will make up made available to TV manufacturers, who send away tailor-make information technology for their possess devices. The video below demonstrates Ubuntu Television set in action.

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2. Qooq

A new gadget for cooking enthusiasts, Qooq is a touch-screen tablet from European country company Unowhy. Equipped with a 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 dual-core central processor, the kitchen-ripe device is designed to atomic number 4 resistant to water splashes and intellectual nourishment splatters, with a screen that can be wiped with a sponge, nonslip feet, and waterproof buttons. The Qooq footslog offers access to more than 3500 recipes–including 1500 in video format–as comfortably as interactive services including a meal planner and automatic shopping list. Also enclosed are more standard multimedia functions such as internet browsing, MP3, email, and weather-forecast information. Possibly best of all? The $399 device reportedly runs a custom version of Linux.

3. Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Hybrid

A custom version of Linux also figures prominently in Lenovo's new $1599 ThinkPad X1 Hybrid laptop, which features a "battery-stretch" Instant Media Mode based on Linux. To switch over to Instant Media Mode–which includes a Qualcomm dual nucleus processor, busy 16 GB of retentivity, and a custom Linux-based operational system–users plainly click on an icon happening the laptop's home cover. Erstwhile in that mode, the laptop computer operates "much alike a smart phone, remaining turned on and requiring few charging sessions," Lenovo says.

4. The OLPC XO 3.0 Tablet

Last but not to the lowest degree, Marvell and One Laptop per Child this week demonstrated the affordable, low-power, rugged XO 3.0 tablet PC intentional for use in education around the orb. Featuring an updated Picture element Qi sunlight-readable display and capable of being charged straight off by solar panels, hand cranks, and other alternative power sources, the inexperienced tablet can run either Android or Linux-based Sugar. Information technology's expected to be priced at $100 or less.

For much blogs, stories, photos, and video from the nation's largest consumer electronics show, check out PCWorld's complete insurance coverage of CES 2012.