The market of applications managing various Internet-related tasks is divided generally into three parts: Windows-based, Mac OS X-compatible, and Linux-friendly. Some function across all platforms, or perhaps the most mainstream and consumer-centric of the two. But it is unquestionably the case that the Linux world holds the least currency where desktop-to-Web and Web-to-desktop communication is concerned.
Well, if you’re a Linux user, or perhaps just curious to know what’s now possible on Linux installations in order to better decide whether to “take the leap,” we’re going to do Tux a solid today and see what’s up in the land of “Net apps” to save you from having to search the open source galaxy yourself.
Now, you’re probably aware of this. It is likely the most popular download for Linux. But what the hey, it’s good to hear once in a while. Mozilla’s well-renowned Firefox 3 browser, an open source fan-fave, is ready for Linux users to download. In every localized language version of the newest build, too. According to the official website, that leaves Firefox for Linux one better than the Mac OS X option. Do you speak Gujarati? Well, then you’ve got just two options: Windows and Linux. Enjoy.
Also, if you’d like to go full-on with your allegiance to Mozilla, its email client, Thunderbird, now in its second major iteration, is Linux-enabled as well. As with Firefox, you’re given complete language support. Gujarati, however, is only listed as available for version Thunderbird version 1.5. Sorry, folks. Can’t have everything, evidently.
Another email option for the Linux world comes in the form of Zimbra Desktop, a Yahoo-property, circa 2007. And if we may say so ourselves, it’s quite good. Plus, it’s free. And it’s open source. 
And it can be matched with Zimbra’s Collaboration Suite of applications. That calls for a booyah.
There are some relatively small trinkets for Linux users that will have greater or less relevance to your day-to-day interests. One that will pique the eyebrows of music fans: the Amazon MP3 Downloader. It is available for Ubuntu 7.10, as well as Debian 4, Fedora 8, and OpenSUSE 10.3. Visit the main page for specific installation instructions. I’m no scientist, but I venture to guess that DRM-free downloads sound better on open-source software. What do you think?
Want a piece of musical software a bit more robust and full-featured? Take a trip down Songbird lane. The first few releases of this software weren’t stellar, but having just tried it once more this week, it’s safe to say the thing has evolved quite a bit since its days as a youngling. Worth a peek!
Let’s not forget that there are plugins and lightweight software systems to make your Web browsing and PC-based interaction with the cloud more enjoyable, too. Adobe Flash version 9.0 is out as a 3MB-large .tar.gz download. Something to consider adding to your Firefox and/or SeaMonkey browser(s), for sure.
And though Microsoft doesn’t officially support Linux with its Silverlight development, 
you might be interested to know of an independent project from Mono called Moonlight. Packages are dubbed experimental, with the latest update said to have been issued on August 7, 2008. If you consider yourself the adventurous type, why not give it a try.
Adobe also has stored in its Labs division a Linux version of its AIR platform. But it is unfortunately only an “alpha-quality” release at this point. In short, things that function on the latest AIR builds for Windows and Mac may not perform on the Linux equivalent.
The final plugin to consider: Gears. Google Gears was its original moniker. Evidently the company thinks its the coolest kid in school and figures that Gears alone will suffice. Like “iPod.” Leaving aside the back story about the move, Gears is certainly useful, especially now that more of the Google Apps portfolio plays 
well with it. Google Reader, Google Docs, and so forth. Not Gmail, yet, but soon enough, yes? We hope. Oh, and Zoho tips its hat to Gears, too.
Want to chat some? A number of chat applications can be enjoyed on Linux. We won’t go through the whole lot of ‘em. Some are more popular than others, naturally. And there’s nothing quite like hearing that an uber-familiar name like Skype is strutting its stuff in the open-source world - albeit in less-than-cutting-edge form. The Skype development team tend to follow the Windows-then-Mac-then-Linux formula when releasing updates. The basic’s are there in Skype 2.0 for Linux, though. VoIP and IM and video. Sound good? Good. Download away, then.
There is also Pidgin, for enthusiasts of a multi-protocol lifestyle. Formerly known as Gaim, Pidgin is said to work with AIM, Bonjour, Gadu-Gadu, Google Talk, Groupwise, ICQ, IRC, MSN, MySpaceIM, QQ, SILC, SIMPLE, Sametime, XMPP, Yahoo, and Zephyr. That good enough for you? Never enough, right? So it goes, fellow Mashables, so it goes.
Back in media land, an item by the name of Miro moves steadily along, aggregating video per users’ convenience. Like watching podcasts, do you? Miro makes it happen all in one place. And its latest release is available for Linux. Ubuntu Linux, to be specific. The Miro download page lists ‘Other Systems’ and ‘Source Code’ as well.
How about sharing your music? That has clearly turned out to be the next wave of music consumption. Well, hear this. Simplify Media, an outfit responsible for allowing friends to stream libraries over the Web in relatively private seclusion, is offered for PC, Mac, and Linux users alike. And if you happen to count yourself among the few in the Linux class who keep an iPhone or iPod touch in hand, a stroll through Apple’s App Store will show a free Simplify Media download.
We first covered a Java-based website analytics application called Woopra back in March and again in early June, and it may just be your cup of tea. That is if you’re one to watch numbers with a smile on your face. You get graphs, timelines, real-time chat with fellow stat geeks, and all of it in a pretty candy coating. Take it for a spin if nothing else. The least it’ll do is offer you some visual excitement. If you’re into that sort of thing, anyway.
Speaking of Java, something by the name of Wuala recently passed our news desk, and as with many other developments built on Sun’s ubiquitous coding platform, it works with Linux. Share files of all sizes with your buddies or the broader world. Use up 1 GB of cloud space free of charge, or spring for extra space on a per-annum payment plan.
Of course, file-sharing is no new concept. The peer-to-peer world has a storied history for sure. And if you want to take a bit more ordinary approach to the give and take of the BitTorrent realm whilst keeping an honest eye toward legal bounds - and maybe even some paid downloads - two names come to mind most quickly: BitTorrent.com and Vuze. The latter is the most recent evolutionary step to come from development of a program once called Azureus. It’s a treat. BitTorrent.com, meanwhile, is where you will find both a client that is Linux-compatible and a selection of media for download from the likes of FOX, Lionsgate, Paramount, Comedy Central, WB, ThinkFilm, and MTV. That’s a treat, too.
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