Jolicloud 1.0, a free cloud computing-based operating system for netbooks is now available for download.

Jolicloud is Internet and social networking-centric and is based on Linux OS, combined with an HTML user interface. It comes with pre-installed applications, such as Gmail, Skype, Twitter, Firefox, and more. The OS has access to App Center with more than 700 free apps.

It can be installed on a computer alongside Windows in a dual-boot configuration, or as a standalone OS.

Downloads are available via Jolicloud.com.

Canonical’s Ubuntu Linux 10.10 OS, codenamed “Maverick Meerkat”, will support multitouch gestures.

“Our multi-touch work began in Ubuntu 10.04 LTS, when we worked to get additional touch hardware supported in the Linux kernel, particularly the Dell XT2, HP tx2 tablets and the Lenovo T410s laptops. With that in place, and active development in X well under way, we reviewed our options for gesture recognition in Linux. The Maverick cycle has seen us produce several prototypes for gesture recognition software and the Ubuntu archives now include the results of that effort,” says Canonical.

The new feature is enabled by Ubuntu’s uTouch multi-touch and gesture framework.

Maverick Meerkat is currently in Alpha 3 stage. The final Ubuntu 10.10 release is expected in October.

Intel has showcased “the world’s thinnest netbook” at the ongoing Computex Show in Taipei.

Based on the new “Canoe Lake” platform, the 14mm thin netbook concept utilizes a dual-core mobile Atom CPU and runs cooler than current netbooks, according to Intel.

Intel has also revealed “Oak Trail” SoC (system-on-chip) Intel Atom processor–based platform “optimized for sleek tablet and netbook designs, delivering up to a 50 percent reduction in average power consumption with full HD-video playback and targeting software choice including MeeGo, Windows 7 and Google operating systems”.

The company says the first mobile dual-core Intel Atom processors are in production now and will hit the market before the winter holiday season, while the DDR3 supporting single-core Atom N455 and N475 chips are available today.

Clearwire has announced the latest suite of devices, the CLEAR Spot 4G, CLEAR Spot 4G+, and the CLEAR 4G+ Mobile USB, supporting new 4G mobile broadband connectivity.

“The CLEAR Spot 4G offers the speed and flexibility of a personal Wi-Fi hotspot, simultaneously connecting multiple Wi-Fi devices at 4G speeds, while the CLEAR Spot 4G+ adds the option of allowing users to easily and securely use nationwide 3G coverage when outside the 4G coverage area. In addition, the CLEAR 4G+ Mobile USB modem is the first dual-mode mobile USB from CLEAR to deliver 4G and nationwide 3G Internet coverage to the MacBook and MacBook Pro along with other non-Mac devices,” Clearwire’s press release says.

The company says it offers unlimited 4G plans and that users can experience “average mobile download speeds of 3 to 6 mbps with bursts over 10 mbps”.

In most markets, unlimited 4G coverage from CLEAR starts at $30 for the home, while unlimited mobile plans start at $40.

Apple has released recently the updated MacBook Pro laptops with the new 2010 Intel Core processors, including the 17-inch MacBook Pro MC024LL/A.

The MacBook Pro MC024LL/A with the aluminum unibody enclosure features the Intel Core i5 CPU at 2.53GHz or Core i7 at 2.66GHz, a switchable graphics solution combining the NVIDIA GeForce GT330M 512MB video card and Intel’s HD graphics, 4 or 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to 500GB of hard disk space or up to 512GB solid state drive, the SuperDrive DVD burner, and a battery life of “8 to 9 hours”.

Its 1920×1200-pixel LED-backlit display has a glossy or anti-glare coating, depending on customers’ choice.

The notebook also includes a multi-touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard, iSight video camera, stereo speakers, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB ports, a Mini DisplayPort output, SD card and ExpressCard slots, and a FireWire 800 port.

Apple’s MacBook Pro MC024LL/A runs Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard.

Customers can buy the notebook online direct from Apple for a base price of $2,299 or through MacMall which offers mail-in rebates and instant off for a total of around $130 savings.

MSI has unveiled the 15.6-inch CX620MX and 14-inch CX420MX Classic series multimedia notebooks with the 2010 Intel Core processors and new ATI Radeon HD545V 512MB discrete graphics card.

The CX620MX and CX420MX feature two DDR3 memory slots, up to 500GB of hard disk space, and 1366×768-pixel displays. There’s no info on optical drive.

MSI’s new notebooks also include a 1.3MP web camera, microphone, two speakers, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, Ethernet LAN, a 4-in-1 card reader, HDMI and VGA outputs, and three USB ports. One of the USBs in the CX620MX is an eSATA/USB combo connector.

The 4.85-pound CX420MX and 5.47-pound CX620MX both come with a 6-cell battery.

We have no info on pricing and availability at the time of this writing.

Hewlett-Packard has released the 15.6-inch HP Pavilion dv6t Select Edition entertainment laptop.

The main differences between the dv6t Select Edition and new standard dv6t is that the SE has a touchscreen display option, quad-core processor choice, and a different case finish.

The Pavilion dv6t Select Edition features the Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 CPU, up to the quad-core i7-820QM, a switchable graphics solution combining the Intel HD integrated and ATI Radeon HD5470 512MB or HD5650 1GB dedicated GPU, up to 8GB of DDR3 memory, up to 640GB of hard disk space or a 160GB solid state drive, and a DVD burner or Blu-ray optical drive. Configurations with quad-core CPUs come with the ATI Radeon HD5650 1GB GPU only.

The notebook’s HD LED-backlit Brightview display has a resolution of 1366×768-pixles. The touch-screen option supports multi-touch gestures and is accompanied by HP TouchSmart applications.

HP’s dv6t SE also includes a web camera with microphone, an island-style keyboard, Altec Lansing stereo speakers, 802.11n WiFi, optional Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet, four USB ports (fourth shared with eSATA), a 5-in-1 media card reader, VGA and HDMI outputs and optional fingerprint reader.

The 5.5-pound notebook has a brushed aluminum chassis with “stream argento” texture and comes with a standard 6-cell battery for up to 5 hours of run time or optional 9-cell battery which provides up to 7.75 hours.

The Pavilion dv6t Select Edition runs Windows 7 OS is available via HP’s online store for a starting price of $749.99.

The Dell Latitude Z Series 16-inch ultra-thin business laptop, also known as the Latitude Z600, is now available for purchase in the US.

Starting at 4.5 pounds and measuring at “just over a half an inch thin”, the Latitude Z features the Intel Core 2 Duo SU9600 or SU9400 ultra-low voltage processor, the GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics, 2GB or 4GB of DDR3 memory, one or two solid state drives with up to 256GB of storage per SSD, a 1600×900 LED backlight display, and a 4-cell or 8-cell battery. The notebook does not include a built-in optical drive.

Dell’s Latitude Z (Z600), advertised as “the world’s thinnest and lightest 16-inch laptop”, also sports a 2MP web camera with face recognition and business card reading functionality, 802.11n WiFi, optional WiMAX, optional mobile broadband connectivity, Bluetooth, an Ethernet LAN port, a Display Port, two USB ports (one is shared with eSATA port), optional wireless USB for a clutter-free connection to peripherals, a fingerprint reader, the TPM 1.2, and a contactless Smart Card reader.

Along with a backlit keyboard and a gesture-enabled touchpad, the notebook includes the Dell EdgeTouch LCD Sensor, enabling innovative controls at lower right corner of LCD for “quick, easy and customizable” laptop interaction.

Optionally, customers can purchase the Latitude Z with a wireless inductive charging stand. An internal charging module must be installed in the laptop in order to use inductive charging.

Gateway is going to release the EC18T Tablet PC with an 11.6-inch touch-screen display, according to leaked images and specifications.

The EC18T convertible laptop features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, Intel’s GS45 chipset with integrated GMA 4500 series graphics, and Windows 7 OS.

There’s no info on pricing and availability.

MSI’s new Intel CULV-based ultra-slim laptop – the 14-inch X-Slim X400 – is now available for purchase in the United States.

Mwave sells the black/gold MSI X400-060US and black/silver X400-061US, while Excaliber PC additionally offers the white/blue X400-029US model. Weighing at 3.3 pounds, the 1-inch thin notebooks come with the Intel Core 2 Solo SU2700 1.3GHz processor, the GMA 4500MHD integrated graphics, 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 320GB hard drive with Windows Vista Home Premium pre-installed, and a 4-cell battery. The X400 doesn’t include a built-in optical drive.

Its 14-inch glossy display has a resolution of 1366×768 pixels and uses LED backlight.

The MSI X-Slim X400 sports a built-in 1.3MP web camera, stereo speakers, HDMI and VGA ports, support for dual headphone output, two USB connectors, an SD/SDHC/MMC media card reader, 802.11a/g/n wireless, Bluetooth, and a Gigabit LAN port.

The X400-060US, X400-061US, and X400-029US are priced at $800.