At the end of last month I got a message from the Ubuntu Mass. LoCo mailing list about the new Ubuntu Pocket Guide, a killer reference book by Keir Thomas, the award winning author of Ubuntu Kung Fu (a book I want for more reasons than the adorable feline on the cover). Not only can you get the 170 page guide at a very low price from Amazon.com, you can also get it in a dead tree free PDF version at absolutely no charge beyond your ‘net connection costs. I haven’t had a chance to read much of it yet, but if anyone knows of a way to put a PDF file on a PDA running Palm OS 4 (not version 5) from within Linux please let me know. Adobe has a way to do it but it looks like it’s either limited to Palm OS 5 or requires access to my PDA, something I can’t do under WINE.

The other publication your hard drive wants is the newest issue of Full Circle Magazine. Issue 21 has the results of the survey they ran at the end of last year, how to put Ubuntu on a USB stick (great for checking out other distros and versions but can do damage to any bandwidth limits your ISP may impose) and how to change the aspect ratio of a video. If that’s not enough there’s also reviews of the Creative Zen V Plus media player and the beta of the Tribal Trouble 2 game an interview with packaging guru and Ubuntu Master of the Universe (MOTU) Nicolas Valcarcel, and the top 5 torrent tools.Of course they also continue their series on using the command line, programming in C, and doing web development in GNU/Linux.

Make a point to download both of these PDF resources this weekend. Your hard drive will thank you and your Ubuntu installation will run even better. If you don’t run Ubuntu yet they’re also great for finding out some of what all the hubbub over GNU/Linux is.

On Monday Full Circle, the independent Ubuntu Linux magazine, published their 20th issue. They’re marking their milestone by starting a brand new series on web development software for Linux users.

Of course that’s not all they have in their newest issue, and you’ll also find part four of their Programming in C series and a tutorial on backing up and syncing your music; a Command and Conquer article on using the Terminal; a book review of Ubuntu Kung Fu and a contest to win a copy of it; the top five backup solutions; a MOTU interview with Andrea Colangelo from Italy; as well as articles about making money with FOSS, Italians using open source software, Ubuntu Women, games, letters and more.

They also have a survey they’re asking everyone to take so they can get some feedback on how they can make Full Circle even better.

The newest issue of the independent Ubuntu magazine Full Circle is now available! Of note (IMO) in this issue is another installment in the series on Package Management, Programming in C, using a secure network drive, and GIMP, as well as an opinion piece on How Many Distros Is Too Many?

Of course there’s also a nice HowTo on installing Ubuntu 8.10, an interview with MOTU Harald Sitter, a review of first-person shooter Urban terror, and a whole lot more.

Remember, Full Circle isn’t just for people who use Ubuntu and its derivative distros, it’s also for people who are considering trying them. A lot of people are intimidated by the mere thought of running Linux because they think everything is done via the Command Line Interface (CLI) but that’s not the truth anymore.

They’re also working on compiling some of their tutorial series into single PDF files that include each installment of the particular series. I don’t see that they’ve made them available yet, but you can keep a look out on the Full Circle website.

Full Circle, the independent Ubuntu magazine that Nanci or I talk about every month has put out yet another issue that has things that even showed me some thing I wasn’t aware of. What all is in this issue? How about

• Command and Conquer: Create and move files
• HowTo’s: Create your own Ubuntu (make your own customized LiveCD), the final part of the series on creating your own server, part 5 on their tutorial on using the GiMP Image Editor, and using GNOME-Look.org to change everything from wallpapers to themes to splash screens and screensavers and more.
• My Story: Out with the old, in with the new
• My Opinion: Ubuntu and Kubuntu Themes
• MOTU Interview: Jamie Strandboge
• Ubuntu Women by Elizabeth Bevilacqua, someone I post links to from time to time
• Top 5 Twitter Clients
• and even more

Even if you don’t usually read Full Circle you’ll miss out on some good stuff if you don’t get this month’s issue.

The good people at Full Circle Magazine, the independent Ubuntu magazine, have released issue number 15 with several new things, including something I wish I’d had last year.

Among the new content this month is

• Command and Conquer: The Ins and Outs of Directories
• HowTos: How to create a separate /home partition (I wished I had this when I did it myself last year); part 7 of their series on creating your own server; part 4 of their series on using GIMP; and working with GRUB, the bootloader that lets you select which operating system or kernel version you want to use.
• My Story: Ubuntu Saves the Day and From Mickey’s ABCs to Kubuntu
• A review of the HP Photosmart C3180 printer
• much more

My article about Mac4Lin 0.4 still isn’t included, but Full Circle editor Ronnie Tucker tells me “It very nearly was! ” It’s actually a good thing, because Mac4Lin 1.0 is getting so close to getting released that I asked him to hold my article back until I can get him a new version that reflects the version currently in development.

Even without my article this issue is packed with some great information, so go get your own copy today.

Full Circle, the independent Ubuntu Linux magazine, is celebrating their first birthday with the release of Issue 12.

Much of this issue looks back at Full Circle’s first year but it’s not all a walk down Memory Lane. The Flavor of the Month is a look at how Ubuntu and Kubuntu have matured in the last year and there’s a history of Full Circle, but there are some awesome How-Tos on creating and distributing DEB files (those wonderful packages that make installing software easy and pain free), using Ubuntu’s Disk Usage tool, and using PartImage to backup your system (a very timely article with the release of Ubuntu Hardy.

They also continue their series on creating your own server with part five in the series. They’re also launching a brand new series on using GIMP, that wonderful open source graphic arts tool.

Go download the new issue and be prepared to be the smart one when your friends have questions.

Full Circle, the independent Ubuntu community magazine, has reached double digits in the issue number with the release of their tenth issue this week.

The new issue’s Flavor of the Month looks at Linux Mint, one of many distros based on Ubuntu code, and there’s How-Tos on compiling programs from source, installing and using TuxPaint (think MS Paint, but much better), and ripping a DVD with AcidRip. Of course they continue with part two iof their Creating Your Own Server series. An issue of Full Circle isn’t complete without an in depth review of something, and this issue is complete with a review of the new and very popular EEE PC from Asus, complete with Xubuntu as the operating system.

The guys at Full Circle keep finding new things to bring to us, and this month they add a monthly interview with a MotU, a Master of the Universe, but of the Ubuntu universe, not the universe of the 80’s cartoons.Plus there’s their now usual columns, including the Top 5 which looks at chess games this month.

Get the latest issue and check out all the info they’ve put together this month.

The guys at Full Circle, the independent Ubuntu community magazine, have released their ninth issue, full of great info.

The new issue looks at OpenGEU (formerly known as Geubuntu) and KDE 4.0, as well as tutorials on setting up a Directory Server, installing Ubuntu onto an iBook and OpenTTD (Transport Tycoon Deluxe). Since the last issue saw the end of their series on using Scribus they start their new tutorial on Creating Your Own Server with this issue. In addition to their regular Ubuntu Women and Ubuntu Youth columns, as well as the Sound Bite, letters and Q&A columns, the Top 5 looks at download managers.

Get the latest issue and read all the excellent information they put together for us.

Just in time for Chrismukkuh goodness, the good folks over at Full Circle magazine have released their 8th issue.

There’s a proverbial ton of content in this issue. There are How-Tos for installing Wubi and setting up a multi-boot system, a step-by-step tutorial on installing Mythbuntu, the 8th and final installment in their Scribus tutorials, and a review of the Tomboy notepad program. There’s also a brand new column for Ubuntu Women and some great instructions on how to Christmasfy your desktop. There’s an opinion piece on the state of gaming on Ubuntu, plus this month’s Top 5 lists the top Christmas Applications you can install.

You’ll definitely want to download your copy so do it now before it’s too late to enjoy the holiday fun on your desktop.

I’ve mentioned them before, but the best independent publication for things Ubuntu is the Full Circle magazine. Issue 7 was released yesterday, and it’s chock full of great information, including some things I didn’t know before.

Among the articles in the latest issue are

• Step-by-Step instructions for installing Ubuntu Studio, this month’s Ubuntu flavor of the moth
• How-Tos for putting a Terminal on your desktop, and a simple SSH Install
• Easily converting from Windows to Ubuntu Linux
• Part 7 of their excellent Learning Scribus series
• A review of the Windows-based Wubi Installer
• The Top 5 – Audio/Video creation apps

There’s also an interview with the Howard County Library about their move from Windows to Ubuntu for their public access computers. They talk about their reasoning for switching, the problems they’ve encountered and their plans for the future. Even if you aren’t involved with maintaining a business network it’s still a great read if for no other reason than to see what they went through.

They also talk about the podcasts that they’ll be starting soon. I’m not that bog on podcasts as a whole, but I’m looking forward to getting them once they’re available.

Whether you’re an Ubuntu user or not, or even if you’re a Linux user but use a distro other than one from the Ubuntu family, you should definitely go download it and give it a read.