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Press Kit (English version)

Some introductory concepts

Free Software is the original way to understand technological development that brings freedom to its users, and allows the creation of co-operative communities between companies, institutions and individuals. It brings also economic, technical and social advantages compared to traditional proprietary software.

GNU/Linux is the most popular operating system among the free software alternatives. In GNU/Linux, the "desktop software" comprises the visible components that make the computer system easy to use. This is achieved mainly by presenting a friendly workspace, and a set of software applications for personal information management, e-mail, spreadsheets, text editing, web browsing and instant messaging, among others; and allowing integration and collaboration between those applications.

GNOME is a Free Software project whose goal is to develop a complete and easy to use desktop for Linux and Unix-based operating systems. GNOME also includes a complete development environment to create new applications. It is released twice a year on a regular schedule.

The GNOME desktop is used by millions of people around the world. GNOME is a standard part of all leading Linux and Unix distributions worldwide, including popular community distributions like Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora Core, and SuSE. It is also the default desktop on major enterprise Linux distributions like Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Novell's SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop, and Sun Microsystems' Java Desktop System.

The most important multinational technology companies are committed in one way or another to GNOME as a Free desktop alternative. The best example of this commitment is the sponsorship that companies such as Nokia, Sun Microsystems, HP, Google, Red Hat, Intel and Novell are giving to GUADEC VII.

Presentation

More information: http://guadec.org

Introduction

Between June 24th and 30th, the Campus Universitari de la Meditarrania in Vilanova i la Geltrú will host GUADEC VII, the international congress that gathers GNOME users and developers from all over the world. The first GUADEC took place in Paris in 2000.

During the one week conference, around 500 delegates from the five continents are expected to take part in diverse talks and tutorials targeted at users, companies and developers.

The conference is organised by the GNOME Foundation, the Asociación GNOME Hispano, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Campus Universitari de la Meditarrania. The conference is co-ordinated by Quim Gil, a well known participant in the GNOME community.

GUADEC VII enjoys the sponsorship of multinationals like Nokia, Sun Microsystems, HP, Google, Red Hat, Intel, and Novell; non-profit organizations like the OSDL; medium and small size companies from all over Europe like Imendio, Igalia, Fluendo, and OpenedHand, and public administrations like the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Junta de Extremadura.

More information: http://guadec.org

GUADEC goals

More information: http://guadec.org/about

Social function

The GNOME Project, started in 1997 by Mexicans Miguel de Icaza and Federico Mena Quintero, is the choice of hundreds of developers and millions of users around the world. GNOME provides desktop software to simplify technology, bringing users a set of tools for file management, spreadsheet creation, word processing, web browsing, e-mail reading, personal information management and more. GNOME is also distinguished by its devotion to standards and respecting the needs of accessibility to all users, including those with disabilities, so they can use the computer tools without problems.

The project is characterised by constant innovation, and nowadays represents a solid alternative to proprietary solutions (i.e., those not based on Free Software) such as Windows XP or Mac OS. This alternative is increasingly important to companies and public institutions all over the world.

Based completely on the philosophy of Free Software, which gives highest priority to the freedom of users, and to collaboration as the way forward, GNOME presents an interesting path for developing countries or regions, which have often been the first to adopt this new approach to technology. GNOME, as with every Free Software project, brings strong tools and innovation to society, and also allows that society to take part in the development; to take part and give back what they've received. In this way a spiral of collaboration is created, which consolidates the project's technical and economic viability, together with the ethical and social contributions that entails.

Program

The GUADEC 2006 conference is the most important meeting for GNOME developers from all over the world, as they strive to create an easy-to-use and accessible desktop for everyday users.

The official programme will be split into three phases: The Approach Weekend (June 24th and 25th), GUADEC Core (26th to 28th) and After Hours (29th and 30th). Talks, tutorials and "Birds of a Feather" sessions (BOFs) are planned for the whole week.

Warm Up Weekend

During the weekend prior to the GUADEC Core days, talks and meetings from local user groups, in Spanish, Catalan, and English, will take place.

Moreover, during the Sunday afternoon, coincidentally at the same time as the FIFA World Cup, we will celebrate the first "FreeFA" World Cup, a competition where developers from all over the world will play in a unique Free Software football championship.

More Information: http://guadec.org/GUADEC2006/schedule/WUW

GUADEC Core

The opening keynote will be presented by Jeff Waugh, a leading figure in the GNOME project who works on Ubuntu business and community development for Canonical.

On Tuesday, from Andalucía and Extremadura we will learn about the massive GNOME and GNU/Linux deployments by Guadalinex and Linex, respectively.

On Wednesday, Simon Phipps will discuss the role of Free Software at Sun Microsystems, past, present and future.

Also during the GUADEC Core conference, Jim Gettys will present updates from the “One Laptop Per Child (OLPC)" project.

More information: http://guadec.org/GUADEC2006/schedule/Core

After Hours

The last two days of the conference will be be devoted to talks and informal meetings between the members of the Free Software community. These BOFs will be co-ordinated by well known contributors to the GNOME Project.

Miguel de Icaza, co-founder of the GNOME Project and current leader of the Mono project at Novell, will guide a session about Mono.

The same Thursday, Waldo Sebastian, responsible for the Portland Project and currently working for Intel, will lead a meeting about the importance of the standards for the improvement of the desktop in GNU/Linux.

On Friday, Carlos Guerreiro, responsible for the Maemo platform, a Nokia project developing the usage of GNU/Linux on mobile devices, will discuss the emerging mobile devices ecosystem using GNU/Linux and GNOME, already a reality in the Nokia 770.

More information: http://guadec.org/GUADEC2006/schedule/AHW

Leisure

During the first few days of GUADEC, several events are planned for the enjoyment of all the conference participants.

FreeFA World Cup

Just like the current FIFA World Cup 2006 taking place in Germany, GUADEC will have its own Free Football Association World Cup (FreeFA World Cup). Four teams and more than 40 players from all over the world will compete to show all the accumulated magic in the boots of the GNOME world.

The matches (concurrent semi-finals, and final) of the FreeFA World Cup will take place in the stadium at the GNOME Village, on Sunday 25th June, starting at 18:50.

Party on the beach (Fluendo)

Every GUADEC registered attendee can take part in the party on the beach organized by Fluendo. A top DJ from the popular Barcelona nightclub Pasha will be playing ambient Cafe del Mar style music, in the true Mediterranean style.

Come and hang out, chat and mingle with old and new friends in the beach-bar El Tres in Vilanova i la Geltrú, close to the university, on Monday 26th June, starting at 22:00.

Maemo First Birthday Party (Nokia)

Nokia invites every GUADEC participant to celebrate the first year of the Maemo platform and the Nokia 770 device. During the dinner, the future plans of Maemo will be presented, and the winner of the Maemo programming contest will be announced.

Join the dinner in the Carpa, Tuesday 27th June, starting at 19:30.

Organizers and sponsors

Organizers

Cornerstone Sponsor

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

More Information: http://guadec.org/sponsors

Summary of important facts about GUADEC 2006 http://guadec.org

DATES: June 23th until June 30th, 2006

PLACE: Campus Universitari de la Mediterrania, Vilanova i la Geltrú (Catalunya)

SCHEDULE: http://guadec.org/schedule

HOW TO GET THERE: http://guadec.org/

PRESS ACCREDITATION: Media accreditation is not necessary, although communication with the press contact is recommended.

CONTACT (for any press related issue, including arrangement of interviews with speakers or assistants):

CategoryGuadec

2024-10-23 11:08