nUbuntu? What the hell is this?

[lotusleaf]

Have the people behind 'nUbuntu' been given the blessing to use the Ubuntu name?

I was checking out the latest news articles submitted to the news site digg, and I found this:

"Ubuntu - Formula One Released" (http://digg.com/mods/nUbuntu_-_Formula_One_Released) "nUbuntu the new security distro based on Ubuntu has been release on the first day of 2006. Head on over to they're website to test out the latest copy. Weighing in at 302MB it's quite a light distro.." posted to digg by user: ownthebox (http://digg.com/users/ownthebox)

Now, I've never heard of this before, and when I searched the UbuntuForums I found the only references to 'nUbuntu' were people using it as a sort of slang for being new to Ubuntu. Searching Google didn't bring up anything to convince me that the people behind nUbuntu were given permission to use the name, nor did it convince me that it was widely heard about or in use.

I mentioned this in #ubuntu on irc.freenode.net and tried to get some answers, and no one had heard about it there either. Now, I understand popular/useful distros can have spinoffs, but Ubuntu is a registered trademark of Canonical Ltd., and I don't think it's kosher if people go and start naming distributions with the Ubuntu name without permission.

Perhaps I haven't kept up with all the Ubuntu news, perhaps I'm out of the loop, but before this makes the front news page on digg (EDIT: too late, it just did) and people start flocking to their website, I'd like to get some more information on this.

EDIT: Looks like my initial comment (and all of my comments) on that digg article (regarding trademark) was modded down so it wouldn't appear, and I'm getting trolled there for bringing this up there, lovely.

[Deaf_Head]

DIgg user, woo!! I love digg.

I don't know though, i'm completely clueless as well.

[anil_robo]

Apparently they've registered a domain at www.nubuntu.org (http://www.nubuntu.org). If it's in good faith, it should be worth it, but after experiencing micro$oft and $ony, it's hard to trust software these days! :(

[totalshredder]

It's on the front page now, so whatever it is, it's getting plenty of popularity!

[somuchfortheafter]

i tried it later this afternoon and I must say the distro has a ways to go to match the greatness that was knoppix-std however they have a really nice polished version of fluxbox and of course standard ubuntu hardware support but apparently it boots into promiscious mode on eth interfaces so it can start packet catching right away.

[weems]

If you want to talk with the people running / developing nubuntu point your irc client to: irc.kaffienenet.com and /join #nubuntu.

[atoponce]

I'm downloading it now as it has just reached stable. However, it is still a bit heavy weighing in a 300MB. I would like to see it at under 150MB so I could fit it on a mini CDR and stuff it in my wallet.

[DigitalDuality]

Looks damned cool. I'd love to play with a full install.

[Linux BASHer]

lotusleaf, I agree with you. Ubuntu is Open-Source, but not the Ubuntu trademarks. It's important that Canonical defend it's trademarks, otherwise they will ultimately mean nothing.

[Bandit]

Seems interesting, but I think I will stick with the Ubuntu..

[ice60]

i noticed it yesterday after reading the forums of sploitcast (www.sploitcast.com/) it's a good podcast BTW.

[fuscia]

what does it use for mail? i couldn't tell from the list of installed packages.

[TomB]

We apologise for the late reply.
We are happy to give you permission, as long as you adhere to our
trademark policy, found here:
http://www.ubuntulinux.org/ubuntu/TrademarkPolicy

Let us know if you require any further information, and good luck with
your venture!

Kind regards
Marilize

This is the email that I got from Canonical after emailing them about using their name for nUbuntu.

As for the email client, I chose not to include one as it isn't vital to testing security, if you really want an email client, you can use apt to install one.

If you want to install nUbuntu to your hdd there is sort of "hacky" way of doing it which is located here: http://thedemonnetwork.co.uk/nUbuntu.php

Thanks for all the feedback and support

[fuscia]

As for the email client, I chose not to include one as it isn't vital to testing security, if you really want an email client, you can use apt to install one.

maybe i'm still suffering from inflammation of the windows, but it seems to me that e-mail would be a security concern, an especially major concern as everyone uses e-mail. so, i'm surprised by this.