New sponsor for Kubuntu

[Goeroeboeroe]

http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-...y-blue-systems

On a Dutch techsite I've read this means Jonathan Riddell can keep working paid on Kubuntu:
http://tweakers.net/nieuws/81248/kub...e-sponsor.html (Dutch)

[jezzivi]

Good news!

[ardvark71]

Hi all...

I can't read Dutch but I'm glad to hear that Kubuntu has a new source of funding.

Regards...

[rms]

Great news!!!

[woodsmoke]

handsclappingemoticonthingyhere

woodsmoke

[ardvark71]

handsclappingemoticonthingyhere

You mean like this:

[vw72]

They already support Linux Mint KDE, I'm curious as to why they would take on two distros. That said, I'm very glad they decided to sponsor Kubuntu!

[bsniadajewski]

@vw72

Should that not matter, since Mint can use the Ubuntu repos easily?

[woodsmoke]

Aardvark

The ol' woodsmoker is just soooo jealous! lol

woodsmoke

[ardvark71]

The ol' woodsmoker is just soooo jealous!

You're a funny guy there, Woodsmoke

Regards

[SteveRiley]

http://www.kubuntu.org/news/kubuntu-...y-blue-systems

The below is an interesting bit. Note the bolded part:

Our sponsor since it started has been Canonical who are now moving to focus on their Unity flavour. We would like to thank Canonical for this kind support and wish the best success for the Unity flavour (also called Ubuntu).

Ubuntu = Unity now?

On a Dutch techsite I've read this means Jonathan Riddell can keep working paid on Kubuntu:
http://tweakers.net/nieuws/81248/kub...e-sponsor.html (Dutch)

Google Translate converts that to:

The developers of Kubuntu with the startup company, Blue Systems found a new sponsor. The Kubuntu distribution will after the release of Ubuntu 12.04 LTS no longer receive money from Canonical.

The decision to provide financial support for Kubuntu by Canonical to tasks would be taken because the company behind the Ubuntu KDE version if a successful distribution saw. After Kubuntu 4.12, which will be released in late April, Canonical will therefore no longer support. The company claims to want to focus fully on Ubuntu.

The Kubuntu developers have a new sponsor, however, found : Blue Systems. This company will be the community behind the KDE version of Ubuntu will support financially. The startup has been sponsoring a number of KDE projects, including KDE Menu Editor, KDE Folder View and the KDE version of Linux Mint.

Kubuntu developer Jonathan Riddell head, who previously said the partnership with Canonical, after the 4.12 LTS release would end, will be in May after the Ubuntu Developer Summit goodbye to Canonical. With the sponsorship of Blue Systems can Riddell provisionally continue working on the KDE edition of Ubuntu, and there may also have money left for unknown future Kubuntu releases.

[jezzivi]

Blue Systems sponsored Kubuntu may need a new name as "Canonical holds the Kubuntu trademark and gives a generous license for community use but does not allow commercial use. It's unclear if that means sponsorship such as we are getting is allowed. So we might have to end up renaming, that would be effort but not entirely bad as the current name makes people think it is only a 'derivative' of Ubuntu rather than one of many flavours within Ubuntu," says Jonathan.

http://www.muktware.com/news/3516/ku...d-blue-systems

[bra|10n]

IMO we have the best implementation of any KDE based distro and because of this I assume the most talented and dedicated team of developers working on Kubuntu and getting things right as they are. But as I read the snippets of details in the article I can't help but feel Kubuntu has left money on the table in this sponsorship deal. The known benefit to Kubuntu seems contained in this one line;

"Blue Systems will sponsor my time to work on it and will have a budget for conference travel (e.g. to UDS and Akademy) as well as Kubuntu promotion such as CDs or posters."- Jonathon Riddell

Remember it's Kubuntu that has the honor of having the world's largest Linux desktop rollout in Brazil. It was Mark Shuttleworth that cut Kubuntu loose for business reasons. And I believe it's KDE that holds the key to generating a revenue from paid commercial support in the future. Let's be clear that I'm not so much negative towards a financial sponsor in Blue Systems, but I do think they are by far and away well in front in the deal with any association on the above terms with Kubuntu. Just my opinion on what we know.

[vw72]

@vw72

Should that not matter, since Mint can use the Ubuntu repos easily?

I guess what I was meaning is that by supporting multiple KDE distros (netrunner is one, also), they aren't singling out kubuntu as something special they are wanting to do. While netrunner, even though it is ubuntu based, is very different from kubuntu, Mint's KDE is pretty similar (unlike regular Mint vs Ubuntu). As I said, though, it is good news for kubuntu!

[oshunluvr]

The below is an interesting bit. Note the bolded part:

Our sponsor since it started has been Canonical who are now moving to focus on their Unity flavour. We would like to thank Canonical for this kind support and wish the best success for the Unity flavour (also called Ubuntu).


Ubuntu = Unity now?

I didn't take that statement that way. I just assumed they were referring to the Desktop environment rather than the whole OS.

I'm totally fascinated with the new Ubuntu-on-a-dual-core-phone idea. I've opined elsewhere that this is why they've focused on Unity. It's a PITA on a desktop, but with a touch screen it makes more sense. Unfortunately, in order to get full function from the concept your phone has to be powerful enough (mine is) and have an HDMI output (mine does not).