Linux Foundation executive director Jim Zemlin recently wrote on his blog that
"Apple's consistent user experience is far closer to magical than most things currently running Linux... The Linux ecosystem needs to do better competing on 'magic.'"

"It is a sobering but honest point that he makes regarding one of the iPad's indisputable advantages," writes Amin at NetbookBoards.com.

"Zemlin goes on to defend Linux projects and products that exemplify the platform at is most innovative, among them Android-based smartphones like the Droid and the Nexus One, Moblin-based netbooks and tablets currently in development, and Nokia's Maemo effort," writes FierceDeveloper's Jason Ankeny. "'The issue is that while all of these are incredible efforts, Steve Jobs is hardly standing still,' Zemlin writes. 'We have to do better.'"

"As mobile Linux continues to gain broad traction, competition from Apple will force open source software developers to think hard about usability and how to deliver a comparable user experience," writes Ars Technica's Ryan Paul.

More here from LWN.net.

Lenovo has introduced the Linux-based Skylight smartbook.

"Powered by a 1Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, the Skylight uses Lenovo's own 'web-optimised' interface," according to The H Open Source. "Users are presented with six 'web gadgets' in the simplified, gadget-based user interface displayed on the 1280 by 720 resolution display. Underneath the gadget based UI is a Lenovo customised version of Linux."

"Weighing in at under two pounds, the Skylight includes 20 GB of standard flash based storage — about 14 GB of which will be free — and Lenovo reckons that it will have over 10 hours of active battery life," writes The Inquirer's Ian Williams. "Owners will also get 2 GB of cloud storage thrown in as well."

"The Skylight will be available in the United States in April; it will go on sale in Europe and China later this year," writes Technorati's Jeremiah Bourque.

More here from Techtree ... and more here from Only Gizmos.

The Linux Foundation has announced the launch of the Linux.com Jobs Board.

"The LF's online jobs site aims to provide employers, recruiters, and job-seekers with a forum to find each other in one of the few IT job categories that is still something of a buyer's market: Linux," writes DesktopLinux.com's Eric Brown. "Employers can post their openings on Linux.com for $100 for 15 days and $200 for 30 days."

"Job seekers, meanwhile, can include LinkedIn details on their Linux.com profile, including resumes," writes PC World's Paul Krill. "They also can subscribe to the Linux.com Jobs Board RSS feed and receive e-mail alerts. Additionally, they can follow Linux-related job opportunities on Twitter."

"Linux is still a hot area for would-be software developers and system and network administrators," writes Computerworld's Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols. "The JobThread Network, an online jobs site, reports that the demand for Linux-related jobs has grown 80 percent since 2005. By the Linux Foundation's count, that makes Linux professionals the 'fastest growing job category in the IT industry.'"

More here from The H Open Source ... more here from eWeek ... and more here from InternetNews.

Freescale Semiconductor has announced plans to demo a reference design for a $199 Linux-based tablet computer at CES.

"Here's how Freescale describes the design: it will 'provide instant-on functionality, persistent connectivity and all-day battery life,'" writes CNET's Brooke Crothers.

"The new product, available with either Android or Linux operating systems, will be priced at $199," writes CIO Today's Barry Levine.

"Other specs include 512 MB of DDR2 RAM, 4 to 64GB of internal storage, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS, 3MP camera and microSD expansion," writes GadgetCrave's Chris Weiss.

More here from ZDNet ... more here from The Inquirer ... more here from HotHardware ... more here from Unthinkable ... and more here from I4U News.

Former Mac cloner Psystar, after being sued by Apple, is reinventing itself as a Linux computer manufacturer.

"Florida's Psystar was slapped with an injunction by the US District Court for the Northern District of California that forbade the company from selling copies of either Mac OS X or any software that would enable said OS to run on non-Apple computers," explains The Register's Rik Myslewski.

"Psystar... indefinitely suspended sales of its only product, a $50 utility that lets customers install Apple's Snow Leopard operating system on generic Intel-based computers," writes Computerworld's Gregg Keizer. "The company also said it would resume selling systems 'in the coming days.' Those machines will run Linux rather than Mac OS X."

"Whether or not this will help Psystar in the future has yet to be seen," notes Neowin's Sam Symons. "The whole appeal of their products was the presence of OS X, which is generally only available on a higher-priced Mac, whereas any regular Joe can put together a Linux based computer provided they have the know-how."

More here from The Inquirer ... more here from OSNews ... and more here from InternetNews.