 It's Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013. I'm David Pierce, reminding you to please stop writing 2012 on everything. This is 90 Seconds on the Verge. Popular Linux OS Ubuntu is going mobile. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, today announced a new smartphone OS. The user interface emphasizes swipe gestures over buttons and actually reminds us a little bit of MeeGo, which ran on Nokia's N9. The first real Ubuntu phones won't ship until early 2014. But in the meantime, a download for Galaxy Nexus users should arrive soon. Rent by the hour car service Zipcar is soon to be owned in perpetuity by Avis. The decades-old rental company is paying $500 million for the acquisition. CEO Ronald Nelson said Zipcar's car share service is quote, highly complementary to traditional car rental. He's not indicated any intention to rebrand the company under the Avis banner. The deal is expected to be finalized by spring of 2013 and comes with two eight-hour rentals of the Avis executive suite. Insurance provided. And finally, Chapter 17 of the ongoing Eric Schmidt Chronicles. The one where he goes to North Korea. Google's former CEO-turned-chairman is planning a private trip along with former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson. The journey could occur as early as this month, but as for what the pair will be doing, that remains unclear. North Korea notoriously enforces some of the harshest internet censorship in the world. Schmidt, meanwhile, believes in a hyper-connected society that radically changes our views on life, relationships, and the world. Kind of an odd couple. And that's it for today's top stories. Tune in tomorrow for our top nine favorites of the top ten predictions of the top eleven trends we'll see in the next twelve months.
 It's Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013.
 I'm David Pierce, reminding you to please stop writing 2012 on everything.
 This is 90 Seconds on the Verge.
 Popular Linux OS Ubuntu is going mobile.
 Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, today announced a new smartphone OS.
 The user interface emphasizes swipe gestures over buttons
 and actually reminds us a little bit of MeeGo, which ran on Nokia's N9.
 The first real Ubuntu phones won't ship until early 2014.
 But in the meantime, a download for Galaxy Nexus users should arrive soon.
 Rent by the hour car service Zipcar is soon to be owned in perpetuity by Avis.
 The decades-old rental company is paying $500 million for the acquisition.
 CEO Ronald Nelson said Zipcar's car share service is
 quote, highly complementary to traditional car rental.
 He's not indicated any intention to rebrand the company under the Avis banner.
 The deal is expected to be finalized by spring of 2013
 and comes with two eight-hour rentals of the Avis executive suite.
 Insurance provided.
 And finally, Chapter 17 of the ongoing Eric Schmidt Chronicles.
 The one where he goes to North Korea.
 Google's former CEO-turned-chairman is planning a private trip
 along with former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson.
 The journey could occur as early as this month,
 but as for what the pair will be doing, that remains unclear.
 North Korea notoriously enforces some of the harshest internet censorship in the world.
 Schmidt, meanwhile, believes in a hyper-connected society
 that radically changes our views on life, relationships, and the world.
 Kind of an odd couple.
 And that's it for today's top stories.
 Tune in tomorrow for our top nine favorites of the top ten predictions
 of the top eleven trends we'll see in the next twelve months.