Android Home Screen (image from WikiCommons)

Anrdoid is a free mobile phone operating system. It is based on the Linux operating system and was created by Android Inc, which was later purchased by Google.

The code for the Android operating systems is now open source and overseen by the Open Handset Alliance. Google is still seen as the main driving force behind the project.

Like Apple’s iPhone, Android mobiles support multi-touch interfaces  installation of new applications on the phone, many of which are free of charge.

Most Android devices are made by HTC who were the first mobile manufacturer to adopt the operating system.

Ubuntu is a free operating system for laptop, desktop and server computers. It is free and part of the Linux family of operating systems. An operating system is the software that runs your computer. Other popular operating systems include Windows XP, Windows Vista other Apple Mac OS X.

This is a screen shot of Ubuntu when it is first installed.

New releases are made approximately every 6 months. It costs nothing to upgrade. At the time of writing the latest release was 7.10 nicknamed, Gutsy Gibbon. The first number indicates the year of the realease, the second number is for the month.

The name Ubuntu is pronounced  "ooboontoo" and is a Zulu word that means humanity towards others. The Ubuntu project was set up by Canonical Ltd, a company owned by the South African billionaire entrepreneur Mark Shuttleworth.

Although Linux only accounts for about 1.5% of personal computers in use, it's popularity is set to rise and Dell and some high street stores now offer computers with Ubuntu pre-installed rather than Windows.

PC World placed Ubuntu 100 number 16 on their Greatest Products of 2007 list. It was the highest ranked free product.