Mandriva has announced the immediate release of two new LiveCDs based on the latest stable version of Mandriva Linux: a gaming DVD and a Metisse Live CD with a 3D desktop. Both LiveCDs are available for download as torrents here. It appears that Mandriva is the first to include the Metisse project in a Linux distribution.

Metisse project is an X-based window system created with two goals in mind: first, it should make it easy for HCI researchers to design and implement innovative window management techniques and second, it should conform to existing standards and be robust and efficient enough to be used on a daily basis, making it a suitable platform for the evaluation of the proposed techniques. Metisse is a tool for creating new types of desktop environments and it should not be seen as a new desktop proposal.

In other news, after Mandriva has analyzed the overall advantages and drawbacks of the longer development schedule, they decided to adjust the life cycle of the consumer oriented products to a 6 month release cycle. The corporate products will still be on the 18-24 month release cycle and with a standard 5-year support lifetime: "With this updated release schedule, we will keep on introducing the latest technologies from the community to provide a really fresh and up-to-date distribution to all the Linux and free software enthusiasts, and by preserving our yearly base system release cycle, we will continue to provide a solid and stable operating system for Linux newcomers and for partners such as ISVs or hardware vendors," says David Barth, CTO of Mandriva.

Also, in spring 2007, Mandriva will release a new product called Mandriva Spring. This version of Mandriva Linux will be available in the following editions:

• Free (the purely free Mandriva Linux)
• One (Live/Install CD)
• Discovery (Live/Install DVD for beginners)
• Powerpack (for power users)
• Powerpack+ (for SOHO)

You can download Mandriva One 2007 Metisse now from Softpedia.