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| 2010-03-20 |
Development Release: Lubuntu 10.04 Beta 1 |
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Julien Lavergne has announced the availability of the first beta release of Lubuntu 10.04, an unofficial Ubuntu variant with the lightweight LXDE as the default desktop environment: "Lubuntu 'Lucid Lynx' beta 1 released. New stuff since alpha 3: new logo; addition to the seed - gnome-disk-utility and simple-scan. Specific Lubuntu changes: new PCMan File Manager 2 and libfm; Lubuntu artwork with new logo; LXSession 0.4.3; LXTerminal 0.1.7; auto-start GNOME authentication (for polkit support); fix for blurry shut-down icon from elementary icons; don't auto-start print applet. Known bug: if you test on a USB, the first screen will freeze for a moment when you click on 'Try Lubuntu' - just wait, it will continue as normal. If you want to create a bootable USB system, please use the USB Creator directly on Ubuntu." Read the complete release announcement for additional details. Download: lubuntu-lucid-beta1.iso (396MB, MD5, torrent). |
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| 2010-03-19 |
Development Release: Ubuntu 10.04 Beta 1 |
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Steve Langasek has announced the availability of the first beta release of Ubuntu 10.04, code name "Lucid Lynx", a long-term support (LTS) version: "The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the first beta release of Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Desktop, Server, and Netbook editions and of Ubuntu 10.04 Server for Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) and Amazon's EC2. Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Desktop and Netbook editions continue the trend of ever-faster boot speeds, with improved start-up times and a streamlined, smoother boot experience. Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Server edition provides even better integration of the Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud, with its install-time cloud setup." Read the release announcement and release notes for further details. Download (SHA256): ubuntu-10.04-beta1-desktop-i386.iso (675MB, torrent), ubuntu-10.04-beta1-desktop-amd64.iso (679MB, torrent). Also release today were 10.04 beta 1 builds of Kubuntu (download, release notes), Xubuntu (download), Xubuntu (download), Edubuntu (download), Mythbuntu (download, release announcement) and Ubuntu Studio (download). |
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| 2010-03-18 |
Distribution Release: SystemRescueCd 1.5.0 |
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SystemRescueCd 1.5.0, a Gentoo-based live CD with a collection of data rescue and disk partitioning utilities, has been released. From the changelog: "initramfs - udevd used to load kernel modules that corresponds to the hardware; initramfs - /init bootscript rewritten; initramfs - added firmware required for Ethernet and disk controller devices; initramfs - ability to boot systems with SELinux enabled using root=/dev/xxx; initramfs - kernel modules are gzipped to save memory used by the initramfs; initramfs - print error when chrooting to a 64-bit system from a 32-bit kernel; updated the standard kernels (rescuecd and rescue64) to Linux kernel 2.6.32.10; updated util-linux to 2.17.1 (adds support of hard drives with 4K blocks); updated parted to version 2.2 (standard text based partitioning tool); updated GParted to version 0.5.2 (graphical partitioning tool); updated NTFS-3G to 2010.3.6 (driver that provides read-write access to NTFS)...." Download: systemrescuecd-x86-1.5.0.iso (248MB, MD5). |
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| 2010-03-18 |
Development Release: MOPSLinux 7.0 RC1 |
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After four beta releases, the first release candidate for the upcoming MOPSLinux 7.0, a Russian distribution based on Slackware Linux, is now ready for testing. Compared to the last beta release, these are some of the most important changes in RC1: several packages have been rebuilt to add support for Pluggable Authentication Modules (PAM); the LXDE desktop has been added to base system; fixed error in mpkg related to handling dependencies; added NetworkManager; added Plymouth; upgraded the KDE desktop to version 4.4.1; miscellaneous bug fixes. The final release of MOPSLinux 7.0 is expected "soon", therefore the development team is asking all interested parties to test this release candidate extensively. Currently only the x86 edition is available for download; the x86_64 build will arrive shortly. For additional information please see the release announcement (in Russian). Download the installation DVD image from here: MOPSLinux-7.0-rc1.iso (1,852MB, MD5, torrent). |
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| 2010-03-18 |
Development Release: Parsix GNU/Linux 3.5 Test 1 |
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Alan Baghumian has released the first development build of Parsix GNU/Linux 3.5, a desktop distribution and live DVD based on Debian's testing branch: "The first set of Parsix 3.5 'Frankie' testing ISO images are out. Although this is the first testing ISO, the system stability is very good and there shouldn't be any strange errors or problems. This version is synchronized with Debian testing repositories as of March 7, 2010, bringing tons of updated packages. These ISO images are compiled using Squashfs 4.0 with LZMA compression and, for the first time, we are using GRUB 2 as the default bootloader. The kernel build system has been modified and improved vastly to produce better kernel packages. Our brand new 2.6.32.9 kernel with improved configuration is patched using the latest TuxOnIce and Con Kolivas's BFS performance patches." Read the rest of the release announcement for further details. Download: parsix_3.5-test-1-i386.iso (839MB, MD5), parsix_3.5-test-1-amd64.iso (844MB, MD5). |
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| 2010-03-17 |
Development Release: SimplyMEPIS 8.5 RC3 |
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Warren Woodford has announced that the third release candidate for SimplyMEPIS 8.5 is ready for testing: "MEPIS has released SimplyMEPIS 8.5.00, RC3 of MEPIS 8.5, now available from MEPIS and public mirrors. We've updated the kernel to 2.6.32.10. The release notes from the Linux kernel team indicated that they have been hard at work making improvements. We have changed the live media to use isolinux. This gave us the opportunity to add a hardware exploration tool to the boot options. Also we've expended the number of languages that can be selected at live boot. Soon we expect to take advantage of this to build a larger international Live media release, that will have appropriate KDE localizations built-in. There have been a number of improvements to the MEPIS Assistants." See the remainder of the release announcement for additional notes. Download: SimplyMEPIS-CD_8.5.00-rc3_32.iso (698MB, MD5), SimplyMEPIS-CD_8.5.00-rc3_64.iso (695MB, MD5). |
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| 2010-03-17 |
Development Release: PCLinuxOS 2010 Beta 2 |
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The second beta release of PCLinuxOS 2010 is now available for download and testing. What's new? "Linux kernel updated to 2.6.32.10 - updates, bug fixes and suggestions based on community feedback over the past week were implemented on the live CD. In addition to the KDE 4.4.1 version, we now have GNOME, Phoenix Xfce, PCLXDE and GNOME Zen Mini ISO images available which showcase the various desktops available on PCLinuxOS. An Enlightenment desktop ISO image is also in the works and should be available sometime this week. PCLinuxOS 2010 was built from the ground up using the packages in our repository. This weeks changelog: fixed menu translations; dropped most of PulseAudio out of system, KDE now gets ALSA analog and digital devices by default; temporarily removed admin functions from system settings menu until I can package it in to an RPM...." Read the full release announcement for a complete list of changes since the release of beta 1. Download: pclinuxos-2010-beta2.iso (683MB, MD5). |
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| 2010-03-17 |
Distribution Release: Berry Linux 1.01 |
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Yuichiro Nakada has announced the release of Berry Linux 1.01, a Fedora-based Japanese distribution and live CD (with support for English) for the desktop, featuring the KDE 4 desktop environment. This is the project's first release based on Fedora 12. From the changelog: "Berry Linux 1.01 released. Based on Fedora 12; Linux kernel 2.6.32.9 SMP + ndev/udev + bootsplash, glibc 2.11.1, GCC 4.4.3, BusyBox 1.15.3; KDE 4.4.0 (Fedora 12 stable); AIGLX/X.Org 1.7.5; SLiM login manager 1.3.1; SRWare Iron 4.0.275.2 (based on Google Chrome); Mozilla Firefox 3.6 (Japanese and English); Mozilla Thunderbird 3.0.3 (Japanese and English); Samba 3.4.7; WINE 1.1.38; LXTerminal 0.1.6; removed Sylpheed 2.5.0 (Japanese and English); removed rxvt-unicode 9.06." Read the complete changelog for additional information. Download (MD5): berry-1.01.iso (602MB). |
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| 2010-03-16 |
Distribution Release: Mandriva Enterprise Server 5.1 |
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Mandriva has announced the release of Mandriva Enterprise Server 5.1, a commercial Linux distribution with 5-year maintenance support: "The first update of Mandriva Enterprise Server (MES) 5, the simple and innovative Linux server, is available today. Coming with plenty of technology enhancements, hardware support scope and software list have been increased. Mandriva Enterprise Server 5 aims to be innovative in order to make infrastructure management even easier. The main focus of MES 5.1 is on virtualization. MES 5.1 improves integration of KVM technology (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) together with an administration tool for a simple management. MES 5.1 also includes an installation wizard and Mandriva Directory Server (MDS)." See the release announcement and visit the product page for further information. Mandriva Enterprise Server 5.1 is available for purchase from the company's online store (starting at €299 with one year of support); a trial edition is available for download from here (registration required). |
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| 2010-03-15 |
Development Release: openSUSE 11.3 Milestone 3 |
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Henne Vogelsang has announced the availability of the third milestone of openSUSE 11.3: "The third of seven scheduled milestone releases for 11.3 was completed and released on schedule. Milestone 3 focuses on using GCC 4.5 as the default compiler, leaving a great deal of the work in the hands of the openSUSE Build Service after a few issues (such as kernel panics) were resolved. Here's what you may find interesting in the new release: a bug in Milestone 2 prevented mounting of encrypted home folders - this has been resolved; zypper can now interrupt PackageKit, via D-Bus, eliminating a major annoyance during updates and additional installs; a Milestone 1 issue with starting X.Org on i915 hardware has finally been resolved...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download (mirrors): openSUSE-KDE-LiveCD-Build0476-i686.iso (676MB, MD5, torrent), openSUSE-GNOME-LiveCD-Build0476-i686.iso (659MB, MD5, torrent), openSUSE-KDE-LiveCD-Build0476-x86_64.iso (691MB, MD5, torrent), openSUSE-GNOME-LiveCD-Build0476-x86_64.iso (659MB, MD5, torrent). |
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| 2010-03-13 |
Development Release: GeeXboX 2.0 Alpha 2 |
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The second alpha build of GeeXboX 2.0, a Linux mini-distribution for Home Theatre PCs (HTPC) and media centres, is available for testing: "It has already been one month since 2.0-alpha1 release so here is alpha2. This release fixes many bugs that have been encountered by our users on this first 2.x series preview: normalize LIRC configuration by providing generic binding for each and every remote control; initial port to ARM architecture; restoration of UPnP/DLNA feature with a brand new stack; restoration of internationalization support; upgrade of NVIDIA drivers - proprietary, legacy one and addition of nouveau; add Kernel Mode Settings (KMS) for ATI, Intel and NVIDIA drivers; upgrade to Linux kernel 2.6.33 kernel; fix live CD and win32 installers; fix OGG files playback issue...." Read the rest of the release announcement for further information. Download (MD5): geexbox-2.0-alpha2-en.i386.eglibc.iso (43.0MB), geexbox-2.0-alpha2-en.x86_64.eglibc.iso (60.0MB). |
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| March 2010 |
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At one point or another gamers can hit the wall when using other OS systems such as Linux and Mac, as Windows has always been renowned as the OS of choice for the gaming community. In a lot of cases this has changed somewhat over the last few years with the use of virtualization software that helps to bridge that gap, and it can be quite successful to a point. Of course, when you virtualize another OS you can lose some of the performance, than say running a game natively, and with slowdowns and bugs comes frustration. We have listed a few resources that we think are worth a mention for different types of gamers, both online multiplayer and single player, see what you think:
- World of Goo. This is a great puzzle game that will keep you busy for hours, there's also a free playable demo version.
- If you're a online poker enthusiast we can recommend you check out the pokerlistings.com Linux poker page, it has a list of poker apps that are compatible with your OS.
- For the MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) crowds you could always take a look at Vendetta online, "thousands of people can play together, at the same time, in a single, persistent universe", sounds great!
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