14 DAY TRIAL // Welcome to the 152nd issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly!
The following Linux-based operating systems have been announced last week: AV Linux 5.0, Parted Magic 6.2, Salix OS Fluxbox 13.37 and Tiny Core Linux 3.7. In other news: The Fedora Project announced June 24th as the EOL date for the Fedora 13 operating system; OpenOffice has been accepted by the Apache Foundation; new Nvidia Linux video driver brings improved support for GNOME 3 and KDE SC 4.x; Canonical introduced Ubuntu Core and Ubuntu IVI Remix; Canonical announced that Ubuntu 11.10 will be distributed as hybrid CD/USB images. For this week we've also prepared an interesting review for the Nexuiz 2.5.2 game. The weekly ends with the video clip of the week, the new and updated Linux distributions, and the development releases.
Summary:
On June 13th, Glen MacArthur announced the release of AV Linux 5.0, a Linux distro based on Debian aimed at audio and video production. AV Linux 5.0 is based on the latest Debian Squeeze, but has some packages from other Debian flavours, to create a complete, out-of-the box experience enabling users to get to work as soon as they're done installing AV Linux.
Highlights of AV Linux 5.0:
· Linux kernel 2.6.39.1 - with IRQ Threading/rtirq-init activated; · LibreOffice 3.4 and other regular desktop software; · RTC (Real Time Clock) permissions set by default; · FFADO SVN Firewire drivers; · Jack Session ready Ardour, Qtractor, Bristol, Specimen; · Openshot 1.31, Kdenlive 0.8, LiVES 1.43 and Cinelerra 2.1.5CV - all included in the LiveDVD.
Download AV Linux 5.0 now from Softpedia.
On June 14th, Patrick Verner proudly announced the release of Parted Magic 6.2, which comes with the brand new Parted 3.0 and a few changes to the desktop environment. However, even though the command-line Parted 3.0 is now included, the GUI version, Gparted is built on top of the older LibParted 2.4 library.
Highlights of Parted Magic 6.2:
· Linux kernel 2.6.38.8; · TestDisk 6.12; · Parted 3.0; · chntpw 110511; · GParted 0.8.1; · UNetbootin Linux 549; · Module-init-tools 3.16; · Lilo 22.8; · Boot_info_script 0.60; · File 5.07; · Flashrom 0.9.3+r1323; · lsscsi 0.25; · Lzip 1.12; · Rsync 3.0.8; · sdparm 1.06; · vxfsdump 3.0.5; · xfsprogs 3.1.5; · XZ 5.0.2.
Download Parted Magic 6.2 now from Softpedia.
On June 15th, George Vlahavas announced the Fluxbox version of the recently launched Salix OS 13.37 operating system. Along with the updates from the Xfce version, Salix OS Fluxbox 13.37 comes with the Fluxbox 1.3.1 windows manager and several other changes. Everything from Salix OS Xfce 13.37, which was released about a month ago, shortly after Slackware 13.37 on which it's based, is largely left intact.
Highlights of Salix OS Fluxbox 13.37:
· Linux kernel 2.6.37.6; · Fluxbox 1.3.1; · Firefox 4.0.1 - web browser; · Claws-mail 3.7.8 - email client; · LibreOffice 3.3.2 - office suite; · Exaile 0.3.2 - music player; · Whaaw Media Player 0.2.14 - movie player; · Brasero 2.32.1 - CD/DVD burner; · GIMP 2.6.11 - graphics editor.
Download Salix OS Fluxbox 13.37 now from Softpedia.
Also on June 15th, Robert Shingledecker announced the immediate availability of the Tiny Core Linux 3.7 operating system. The latest update to the minuscule Linux distro continues to tweak and improve the base system and comes with several changes and new capabilities. One of the big new features is a new all-in-one ISO which contains both Tiny Core and Micro Core, the sister distro. There is now better support for NTFS partitions as well. There has been a lot of work on Tiny Core's custom configuration and expansion tools, as well as a few to the boot process.
Highlights of Tiny Core Linux 3.7:
· New GUI loadpack to load, when required, Starter Pack after boot; · Updated cpanel to reflect changes in the base; · Updated tc-functions to better handle tcvd virtual disk; · Updated network GUI to record udhcpc pid for services support when dhcp is requested; · Updated /etc/skel/.xsession added -2button clause as 3 button/wheel remains functional while also supporting 2 button devices; · Updated appbrowser added color to indicate when tce directory is on /tmp (cloud mode); · Updated appsaudit update function to remove temporary .info files and cosmetic menu change; · Updated tce-load, rc.shutdown, and tce-removed to support named (alternate) onboot.lst; · Updated flrun improved file name completion; · Updated wbarconf desktop item had bad icon path; · Updated freetype fonts to libfreetype 6.6.2; · Updated iso images to add shortcut label tc and adjusted F2,F3,F4 screens; · Added getKeyEventDevice to tc-functions (future use in the works); · Improved system integrity with pause when certain unsupported file types are specified during boot, home/opt/tce; · Added icons for editor and run; · Moved fluff to extension; · Removed libXaw as not needed in base and already handled by extension.
Download Tiny Core Linux 3.7 now from Softpedia.
· On June 13th, the Fedora Project announced that the Fedora 13 (Goddard) Linux distribution will reach end of life (EOL) next Friday, on June 24th, 2011. Dubbed Goddard, the Fedora 13 operating system was released on May 25th, 2010. It was powered by Linux kernel 2.6.32 and it introduced features such as enhanced init system, topology awareness, color management, SystemTap static probes, Mozilla Firefox 3.6, Nvidia 3D support, and KDE SC 4.4. Read more about it here.
· On June 14th, the results were in on the voting to make OpenOffice.org an Apache Incubator project and the idea got approved, by a majority of voters. There has been some criticism over the idea of turning over OpenOffice source code, now owned by Oracle, to the Apache foundation, while the Document Foundation was carrying on with LibreOffice, a fork of the original OpenOffice.org. Read more about it here.
· On June 14th, Nvidia launched version 275.09.07 of its graphics driver for Linux, Solaris and FreeBSD operating systems, which brings improved support for the GNOME 3 desktop environment and KDE SC 4.6. The new Nvidia Display Driver 275.09.07 introduces support for new GPUs, such as GeForce GTX 560, GeForce GT 545, GeForce GTX 560M, GeForce 410M, GeForce 320M, GeForce 315M, Quadro 5010M, Quadro 3000M, Quadro 4000M. Read more about it here.
· On June 15th, Canonical announced that is joining the GENIVI Alliance and that it will create a GENIVI-compliant Ubuntu IVI (In-Vehicle Infotainment) Remix operating system based on the Ubuntu Core sub-set. Announced by Canonical a couple of days ago, Ubuntu IVI Remix will be an In-Vehicle Infotainment operating system, supporting Intel and ARM processors. Read more about it here.
· On June 15th, Canonical announced that starting with June 16th, 2011, all daily builds and final releases of the Ubuntu operating system will be distributed as hybrid CD and USB ISO images. The "hybrid ISO" feature was present in all major Linux distributions, except Debian and, of course, Ubuntu. The hybrid ISO functionality allows users to copy the content of the ISO image directly on a formatted USB stick, without the use of external USB creator tools such as UNetbootin or Ubuntu's Startup Disk Creator. Read more about it here.
Review of the Week: Nexuiz 2.5.2
· Nexuiz is a first person shooter built in the spirit of old multiplayer games, like Quake and Unreal Tournament franchises. It retains the same feeling and great atmosphere that made these type of games really successful about 6 to 10 years ago, and, while Nexuiz may not fare too well these days, it's still great fun.
Graphically speaking, Nexuiz is not all that great looking, if we compare it with modern multiplayer games and even with older ones, like Unreal Tournament 2004. It still has a certain look that makes it stand up from the crowd and the engine is capable of offering some perks like particle effects and bloom.
Read the complete review here.
Video Clip of the Week: Official Nexuiz 2.5 video
· For this week we've posted an 720p HD video clip showing the menu, gameplay, movement, many different mods and various fun stuff of the Nexuiz 2.5 game. The video has 5 minutes and 30 seconds, and it was posted by FruitieX. Enjoy!
· SlaXBMC 13.37 · quantOS 2011-01
Distributions Updated Last Week:
· Macpup 525 · Imagineos 20110605 · Redo Backup and Recovery 0.9.9 · IPFire 2.9 Core 49 · Tin Hat 20110613 · Astaro Security Gateway 8.103 · R.I.P. 13.4 · PelicanHPC 2.5 · DoudouLinux 1.0
· Calculate Linux Desktop 11.6 Beta 2 · openSUSE Medical 11.4 Beta 1 · Porteus 1.0 RC3 · ALT Linux 6.0.0-20110616 · LliureX 11.09 Beta · Vine Linux 6.0 Beta 1
See you again at the end of next week for another issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly.