Daily News Brief: Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Goes Live

New Ubuntu Release

A new version of Ubuntu became available today, 8.04 LTS (Hardy Heron). The new version also introduces a new kernel, along with a laundry list of changes found here. If you already have a previous version of Ubuntu installed, follow the step-by-step instructions on how to upgrade to the latest release. Be sure to prep yourself with the UpgradeNotes.

Blind Technology

Curing blindness may still be a ways off, but researchers are getting ever closer to that goal. Just ask two British citizens, both in their 50s and both completely blind, who earlier this week received bionic implants. If successful, as it has been in previous trials in America, the renal implant recipients can expect limited vision that will allow them to navigate around obstacles and see objects. Get the full scoop here.

Intel's Atom Bombs, Fails to Woo Apple

If Intel had their druthers, every new iPhone would sport a low-power Atom chip inside, but Apple appears to have different plans. According to Forbes.com, Apple has agreed to buy PA Semi, a boutique microprocessor design company known for churning out sophisticated, low-power chips. Apple remains tight lipped about their plans for their newest acquisition, saying only "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not comment on our purposes and plans".

Is That a Keyboard in Your Pocket...?

Typing on a laptop can be uncomfortable if you're used to full sized keyboards, and lugging around the latter can prove unwieldy. What's a power user to do? He could adapt, for one. Or pick up a pair of " Beauty and the Geek" jeans by designer Erik De Nijs and creep out onlookers as you peck away at your crotch. Spanning across both legs sits an integrated keyboard, and speakers adorn both knees. But wait, there's more! A back pocket hides your mouse, and behind the front zipper sits a joystick. You're welcome!

Help! My Skype's Infected!

Not so fast, says Microsoft. Turns out that a buggy antivirus definition update released Friday mislabled Skype as a pop-up adware program called Win32/Vundo.gen!D. The buggy update, which affected Forefront Client Security, Windows Live OneCare, and Windows Live OneCare Safety Scanner blocked Skype from running. Microsoft has since fixed the false positive with a signature update, version 1.31.9121.0.

Early Peak at HD 4580 and 4870

Are you a Radeon fan who also enjoys reading tech news in German? If so, have we got a treat for you! Hardware-Infos.com details AMD's upcoming HD 4850 and 4870 videocards, claiming a May release date for both. If your German's not up to snuff, check out a rough translation here. As always with unconfirmed reports, take this one with a grain of salt.

Oh Hai

I can has remote pleze?