| gOS 3.0 goes Gadget crazy |
Aug. 06, 2008
 gOS today announced release 3 of its Google-oriented consumer Linux distro, adding support for Google Gadgets. gOS 3 Gadgets offers access to more than 100,000 iGoogle and Google Gadgets, says the company, and also preloads WINE 1.0 and the LXDE (Lightweight X Desktop Environment) desktop.
(Click for larger view of gOS 3 Gadgets )
In January, gOS released version 2.0 of its Ubuntu-based distro. Dubbed "Rocket," the release came only two months after release 1.0. The first release surprised the industry with its sudden popularity, due in part due to its use on the Everex Green gPC, which sold at Wal-Mart (for awhile, anyway) for only $200.
gOS 3 Gadgets with newly added Picasa photo app
(Click to enlarge)
The third release continues the gOS love affair with Google by embracing the search giant's Gadgets -- small, graphically rich, widget-like applications that can be quickly downloaded and added to the desktop. gOS 3.0 also comes with Google Desktop as an alternative to Tracker, Google Picasa as an alternative to F-Spot, and Google Earth, which "complements the existing link to Google Maps," says the company. In addition, Google Documents, Calendar, and Mail now launch in Mozilla Prism windows.
The preloaded WINE 1.0, which was finally completed a month ago, offers access to thousands of Windows applications, says gOS. The lightweight, fast-booting LXDE desktop environment is based on GTK+ and uses minimal resources, says the company. It replaces the Enlightenment E17 desktop.
 
OpenOffice and Google Docs in 3D and 2D views, respectively
(Click on either to enlarge)
Stated Fred Chien, a lead developer for LXDE, “We are pleased that gOS is working with the LXDE community to achieve faster boot time and response. We think gOS will be even better for consumer NetBooks and NetTops with some of LXDE’s enhancements.”
Stated Paul Kim, marketing director at Everex, “gOS 3 Gadgets could just be the next great Linux OS for consumers.”
Stated Frank Hsieh, sales manager at AMtek for the Intel Atom Elego NetBook, “We are excited to ship our NetBooks with gOS 3 Gadgets, a Linux OS we believe everyone can use and enjoy.”
  gOS 3 Gadgets showing YouTube (left) and communications interfaces
(Click on either to enlarge)
Availability
gOS 3 Gadgets Beta is available now, here. A Google Group about gOS where users can provide feedback on the release should be available here.
-- Eric Brown
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gOS 3 Gadgets showing YouTube (left) and communications interfaces