The Moblin project steering committee has just release Moblin v2.1 geared specifically for netbooks and nettops running Intel Atom processors. Moblin v2.1 is a result of broadest feature additions, improvement requested by customers and overall polish of the OS to date.

Among the many features of Moblin 2.1, most noteworthy include enhanced browser functionality and plug-in support, enhancements on UI, 3G data connections, Bluetooth device management, input method support for localized languages, integrated application installer for Mobline Garage, stability of performance and additional help and documentation modules.

And here’s how Moblin explains what these new features are:

• Internet Browser. After much work, we are including a new internet browser application that far exceeds our previous browser performance and adds full support for features such as plug-in support and add-ons. Many thanks to Moblin users and the developer community for their feedback and contributions.
• 3G Data Support. Support for 3G data connections using the Ericsson* MBM 3G modems. Support for additional 3G modems is planned for future releases.
• Application Installer Integration. The Moblin Application Installer is integrated and provides a logically categorized list of applications that you can choose to install. The selection of applications that appears within the Moblin Application Installer comes from the Moblin Garage.
• Clutter 1.0. With this new version of Moblin, we are releasing Clutter 1.0, the Moblin animation framework.
• Bluetooth* Device Support. Bluetooth* device discovery and pairing now supported via a new panel in the toolbar, which supports Bluetooth* audio devices, input devices (keyboards, mice), OBEX file transfer, and using a Bluetooth* phone as a 3G modem.
• Connection Manager. Connection Manager (ConnMan) has significant modifications particularly in the areas of performance and reliability. The new version of ConnMan now supports Ethernet, WiFi, WiMAX, and 3G.
• Nettop Support. UI scaling is provided for a wide range of nettop resolutions, including the ability to show more information in the Myzone panel based on the available screen space.
• Improvements to Instant Messaging. Improvements have been included for Instant Messaging account setup, integration within the connection manager, and support for transparent connection to your friends on your local network.
• Input Method Support. Input method support is now included across the system.
• Localization. Moblin is currently localized in the following languages (English, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Swedish, Finnish, Korean, Japanese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional). We also have a community translation project where Moblin is translated to additional languages by the community.

At first glance, the CZC C9 by Zichuang Technology appears to be the thinnest netbook. On closer inspection of the specifications though, while it may feature a 8.9 inch display, the C9 is a SmartBook instead of a netbook, so not quite the world’s thinnest netbook. It does however give the Mac Air a run for it’s money size wise. It measures 0.5cm and weighs in at 0.75kg.

Under the hood it features an ARM processor, customized Linux operating system, 1GB of RAM and 8GB of SSD storage. It also includes 2 USB ports, 1 VGA port and web camera.

The battery on the C9 is said to last for 6-9 hours. No information on when the smartbook is to be released but, it’ll be on sale for around $220 in China in three colours, black, white or pink.

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If in the past, or even now, you’ve looked for ways to install Windows XP on your Linux based netbook, perhaps you’ve come across the article by Brad Linder of Liliputing. He wrote a guide a while ago on how you can install XP onto your netbook from a USB flash drive. While it does work it does require a bit of thought and time to do. I can verify this as I’ve also used the guide myself. Fortunately, he’s now found another way, which he claims is much easier to do.

Lee Mathews recommended an app called WinToFlash to Brad which makes the process much easier. A PC or laptop with a disk drive is required however, so if your netbook is your primary machine, you may need to borrow a friend’s PC. All that needs doing really, is for the Windows CD to be inserted and a 2GB flash drive or larger plugged into the PC then WinToFlash opened. The app will do the rest for you and then all you’ll need to do is plug the USB flash drive into the netbook to install Windows. You’ll also need to set the netbook to boot from USB.

You can download WinToFlash from Softpedia. It’s also noted, not only can XP be installed, but so can Windows Server 2003, 2008, Vista and Windows 7.

It wasn’t long ago, that we reported on MSI discontinuing the hybrid netbook, the MSI Wind U115. Using both an SSD and HDD, Microsoft requested that the company cease production of the netbook, most probably due to Microsoft Windows XP operating limitations. The Dell Inspiron Mini 12 is another example, mysteriously removed from the Dell website . When Windows 7 is released, only netbooks with a display of up to 10.2 inches, will be given the cheaper version of Windows 7, while anything above that, while still a netbook, notebook licensing will be charged.

There’s also other netbooks, which due to the licensing limitations from Microsoft are going down and not as successful as they could be. Archos 10 features a 500GB HDD and 2GB, which is above the maximum of 160GB HDD and 1GB of RAM, so the higher spec model is only available with Ubuntu. This is also the case with the Dell Mini 9 with 2GB of RAM, Windows XP can not be run on it, only the 1GB model.

The final netbook which broke Microsoft’s rule, is the Everun Note. From the outside, looks like a typical netbook, 7 inch display. But inside it packs a dual core processor, where as Microsoft view netbooks as having single core CPUs. The netbook is available for $599 but it doesn’t include any operating system, which is where the netbook gets even pricier.

As Liliputing point out, at one time, many apps were created with support for 800×600 resolutions. As technology has grown though, so has the standard resolution, which when using a netbook can be frustrating at times, if the app isn’t 1024×600 resolution friendly. Fortunately, a lot of developers are updating their programs to support netbook resolutions. Two apps have been updated and added into the netbook friendly list of apps. The apps aren’t for Windows netbooks though, sorry Windows fans, but instead for Linux run netbooks.

Anjal is an email application, which has includes a tabbed interface system, which works great on smaller screens. The other app, is Banshee Media Player which has been updated for support of smaller screens. This app however is also available for OS X. Banshee Media Player users a custom interface called “Cubano” which has been designed specifically for netbooks.

On Dell’s website, there are two Dell Mini 10Vs listed. One with an 8GB SSD and Ubuntu and the other with a 160GB hard drive and XP. But due to an error on the listing under the specifications, both were listed as having a “Microsoft Operating System”. Under the 160GB model, it was listed as XP, while the 8GB SSD model was listed as Ubuntu. This caused many message boards to jokingly claim that Ubuntu was now a Microsoft product. This isn’t the case though fortunately and word must have got to Dell as the specifications have now been modified to say just “Operating System”.

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Pystar currently produce computers, the Open Computer and OpenPro, which are built to order and are primarily Mac clones. They’ve faced a legal battle with Apple but are still producing a number of Mac clones as well as other built to order computers with various options and the choice of pretty much any operating system on the machine.

Undeterred by Apple they’ve revealed to a MacRumors reader that they are working on a “mobile Mac” computer in development. It isn’t clear if this is mobile in a laptop sense or a netbook sense as Pystar currently have no laptops in their range but are planning to introduce them. The question posed however, was asking if they were going to be working on a netbook in the future, so the chances seem good. Many consumers and netbook fans are keen for Apple to produce a netbook, so if Pystar do produce a Mac netbook, there’s no doubt it’ll be very popular.

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The guys over at Datamation have compiled a list of 25 open source applications that will work on an Asus Eee PC netbook. The list focuses mainly on Linux based applications, for the original Eee PC 701, but some are compatible with Windows and some apps solely Windows. Within the 25 open source applications, 19 of the apps will work on Linux based Eee PCs, with 10 of the apps made for Windows. Those who have a hackintosh aren’t left out either with 6 of the apps working on OS X. The applications are primarily for the Asus Eee PC, but with some also working on other netbooks.

The apps are listed in 12 different categories over 3 pages, ranging from documentation and drivers through to operating systems such as Eeebuntu and other utilities.

Version 1.1 of Easy Peasy has been released which fixes some bugs as well as coming with a new splash screen, login screen, wallpaper and a new icon theme. Easy Peasy is based on Ubuntu 8.10 but made for netbooks. This specific distro is designed to work on netbooks with an Intel Atom processor, which is the majority of the netbooks on the market.

Pre-installed on the Operating System is OpenOffice 3 and Firefox 3, as well as the Ubuntu Netbook Remix program launcher.

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Back in July of last year, Michael Arrington of TechCrunch proposed that a “dead simple Web tablet” be built for about $200 so he can surf the Web and do other lightweight tasks like send instant messages and make quick calls with Skype on the go. Fast forward to April 2009 and this concept for a cheap mobile Internet device looks like it’s closer to becoming a reality than most people are willing to think. While some might say that the TechCrunch Tablet (a.k.a. the “CrunchPad”) is nothing but vaporware that will never see the light of day, these photos (along with several others) prove otherwise.

Pictured above is a new prototype of the CrunchPad that touts a 12-inch capacitive screen, Intel Atom processor, a custom WebKit-based browser and pretty much all of the specs that were first considered at the product’s conception. Michael Arrington is careful to note that they are still not ready to launch this device and they can’t put the pin on a price point, but whenever they’re ready, I think we just might see another revolution in the computer industry. Or maybe not. Either way, this seems like an interesting product, and I can’t wait to try it out.

TechCrunch via CrunchGear