Cassini, Mandriva 2008 Beta 1 is now available!

Aug 9, 2007 09:51 GMT  ·  By

Cassini is the name of the first beta release of the upcoming Mandriva Linux 2008, announced yesterday by the Mandriva team: "The first beta of Mandriva Linux 2008, codenamed Cassini, is now available. This beta is available only as a three CD Free edition (containing no non-free software or drivers) for the x86-32 architecture, with a traditional installer. Future betas will be available in One live / install CD hybrid editions with proprietary drivers, and in x86-64 versions."

Highlights of Mandriva Linux 2008 include:

■ GNOME 2.20 ■ Ekiga 3.0 with a plugin framework for audio and video codecs, a revised interface, and SIP presence support ■ Evolution 2.12, with better spam filtering and Microsoft Exchange support ■ KDE 3.5.7 ■ KDE 4 preview ■ XFCE 4.4.1 ■ Kernel 2.6.22 that features the 'tickless' technology which will save battery power on laptops ■ Compiz Fusion ■ X.org 7.3 with the new XrandR 1.2 framework which vastly improves support for multiple displays, also displaying hotplugging on supported drivers ■ OpenOffice.org 2.2 comes with improved text rendering, improved PDF exporting and enhanced compatibility with Excel spreadsheets ■ GCC 4.2 ■ Complete XDG menu migration ■ Windows documents and settings migration tool ■ WPA-EAP support ■ Hybrid suspend mode ■ RandR 1.2 applet for KDE ■ AppArmor ■ Modular IDE drivers

You can read a more detailed overview about the features that Mandriva Linux 2008 will bring, here. Mandriva Linux 2008 will also improve and add support for many hardware devices, such as:

■ NVIDIA Geforce 8400, 8500 and 8600 series graphics cards ■ Intel 4965AGN wireless chipsets ■ Intel Santa Rosa drive controllers ■ ATI SB700 chipset motherboards ■ Many newer onboard sound devices using the High Definition Audio codec, particularly on motherboards using Intel chipsets ■ Wacom Graphire and Intuos tablet input devices ■ Realtek 8187 USB and ZyDAS ZD1211/ZD1211B USB wireless controllers

Mandriva Linux 2008 release schedule:

Beta 1 - From August 6th to August 16th 2007 ■ Beta 2 - From August 17th to August 31st 2007 ■ RC 1 - From September 1st to September 17th 2007 ■ RC 2 - From September 18th to September 25th 2007 ■ Official Release - Thursday September 27th 2007

You can download Mandriva Linux 2008 Beta 1 now from Softpedia.