There is free as in beer and free as in free speech. I am talking about free
as in the second case. I have no problem with Ubuntu One charging for
storage, the Ubuntu Music store charging for music downloads and selling
merchandise, etc. I am concerned that an open source company which is what
they call themselves is keeping code to themselves. This cuts to the core of
what open source is all about.

If they do not want to release their code they do not have to, but let's cut
the pretenses and call it what it is. Ubuntu is only partially free to use
and modify. It is a hybrid of open source and proprietary at present, but
these changes have been quite recent. It used to be 100% open source and
people still associate Ubuntu with the old ethic and the new one is being
kept under wraps. It is underhanded and that is what bothers me.

In the end I would like to see Canonical do the right thing and release all
of its code. Right now you can colour me suspicious just because of the way
they are doing things. Things seem to be released only after people complain
about them developing their own code and not releasing it. Launchpad was
released this year, but it has been around for several years now. I don't
think that this is the way to run an "open source" operation.

Backdrop:
www.itworld.com/.../canonicals-disconnect-linux-developer-\
community
www.itworld.com/.../shuttleworth-answers-ubuntu-linuxs-cri\
tics

There is a side issue that has been going on for years now about how much
Canonical contributes downstream to GNOME for example. Fedora contributes
several times (16x) what Canonical contributes. Canonical admits that it can
never catch Fedora, but says that it is doing better in recent times. I will
take their word for it.

What troubles me about this is that Canonical is spending more time on
developing things that Ubuntu alone has. Like Launchpad there is a trickle
down where these things may or may not be released as open source and maybe
only then when Canonical is pressured by the community. It just leaves a bad
taste in my mouth. As someone who has been around Linux since well before
Ubuntu, I see a dangerous trend where Canonical in trying to differentiate
itself is creating barriers.

I am only expressing disappointment at this point. I am using Kubuntu mostly
and it is by and large let out of the discussion. It does not come with
Ubuntu One, the MeMenu and the issue of window controls.
My concern goes deeper as I wonder about Canonical and the direction that it
is heading. I think that they could do a better job in communicating their
plans. I really don't know what they are. I am just concerned about the
disconnect in the community. I used to be proud to say what I used, but now
I have to almost apologise for it.