Welcome to the 179th issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly!

Dec 25, 2011 04:50 GMT  ·  By

I would like to start this weekly by wishing Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of our readers. Thank you for your continued support guys!

The following Linux-based operating systems have been announced last week: Chakra GNU/Linux 2011.12, Sabily 11.10 and CentOS 6.2. Softpedia Linux Blog news includes articles about Wine 1.3.35, XOrg Server 1.11.3, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.8 Beta, Frugalware 1.6 Pre2, Firefox 9.0, Webconverger 10.2, Linpus Lite 1.6, Oracle Enterprise Linux 6.2, PUIAS Linux 6.2, VLC 1.1.13, Synaptic 0.75.4, LibreOffice 3.5.0 Beta 1, PfSense 2.0.1, phpMyAdmin 3.4.9, Ubuntu IVI Remix Beta 2, Zorin OS Educational 5.2, Linux kernel 3.1.6, Siduction 11.1 RC, KDE SC 4.8 Release Candidate, Scientific Linux 6.2 Beta 1, Tiny Core Linux 4.2 RC3, ClearOS Enterprise 6.2 Beta 2, Firefox 10.0 Beta 1, Calibre 0.8.32, Ubuntu Tweak 0.6.0, GNOME 3.3.3, and much more. For this week we've also prepared a very nice tutorial about how to customize your Ubuntu 11.10 desktop. The weekly ends with the video clip of the week, the new and updated Linux distributions, and the development releases.

dots Summary:

dots ChakraOn December 18th, Phil Miller proudly announced the immediate availability for download of the Chakra GNU/Linux 2011.12 operating system. Dubbed Edn, Chakra GNU/Linux 2011.12 is now powered by Linux kernel 3.1.4 and KDE Software Compilation 4.7.4, as well as the latest LibreOffice 3.4.4 office suite, updated mesa-stack, sound-stack and initscripts.

Highlights of Chakra GNU/Linux 2011.12:

· Linux kernel 3.1.4; · Alternative Linux kernel 2.6.35.14; · KDE Software Compilation 4.7.4; · Updated sound-stack; · DVD ISO image that includes a nice selection of apps and all locales; · Minimal CD ISO image that allows you to easily build your desktop on; · Updated tomoyo-tools to version 2.5; · wqy-microhei is now the new default font for Chinese/Japanese/Korean languages; · QtWebkit 2.2; · LibreOffice 3.4.4; · initscripts was updated with an option to test systemd; · Updated mesa-stack.

Review image
Chakra GNU/Linux 2011.12

Download Chakra GNU/Linux 2011.12 now from Softpedia.

dots SabilyOn December 19th, The Sabily developers proudly announced the immediate availability for download of the Sabily 11.10 operating system. Dubbed Uhud, Sabily 11.10 is based on the recently released Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating system and features the Unity desktop interface. The release includes lots of new features and artwork, as well as various system improvements.

Highlights of Sabily 11.10:

· Based on Ubuntu 11.10; · Linux Kernel 3.0; · GNOME 3; · Mozilla Thunderbird as the default email client; · Déjà Dup system backup utility; · LightDM login manager; · Improved Gwibber; · New artwork and wallpapers; · New login manager theme; · New boot screen theme; · Added GNOME Shell; · Improved support for GNOME 3; · Added support for configurable themes; · Added Prayer times reminder and azan player; · Added Arabic Naskh-style typographically oriented font; · Alfanous, an Quranic search engine; · gnome-shell-extension-islamic-datetime: a GNOME Shell extension that provides Islamic time/date functions; · GNOME Tweak Tool: an utility to customize GNOME 3 options.

Review image
Sabily 11.10

Download Sabily 11.10 now from Softpedia.

dots CentOSOn December 20th, Karanbir Singh announced the immediate availability of the CentOS 6.2 operating system for download for both 32-bit and 64-bit architectures. The highly-anticipated CentOS 6.2 operating system is, of course, based on the acclaimed Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 distribution, bringing all its features, with which is 100% binary compatible.

The CentOS 6.2 Linux operating system also includes packages from all variants, even if it is based on the upstream Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2 release. Moreover, the developers combined all of the upstream repositories into a single one, making things easier for all end users. Users of older CentOS releases, like CentOS 4 or CentOS 5, have no way of upgrading directly to the new CentOS 6 release. Therefore, the development team recommends a fresh install. This is not a CentOS limitation, it's a Red Hat EL one!

Review image
CentOS 6.2

Download CentOS 6.2 Install DVD now from Softpedia.

Download CentOS 6.2 Live CD/DVD now from Softpedia.

dots Softpedia Linux BlogSoftpedia Linux Blog:

· Wine 1.3.35 Available for Download · Xorg Server 1.11.3 Officially Announced · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.8 Beta Available for Partners · Oracle Solaris 11 Kernel Source Leaked · Frugalware 1.6 Pre2 Has Linux Kernel 3.1 · Ubuntu 12.04 Developer Week 2012 Announced · Introducing Ubuntu Calculator Scope for Unity · New Kernel Vulnerabilities Affect Ubuntu 11.04 and 10.04 LTS · Download Firefox 9.0 Final for Linux · Webconverger 10.2 Brings Flash Update · VirtualBox 4.1.8 Brings Fixes for Linux Kernel 3.2 · Linpus Lite Desktop Edition 1.6 Has New Dock · Oracle Enterprise Linux 6.2 Has Two Kernels · Sabily 11.10 Screenshot Tour · PUIAS Linux 6.2 Based on RHEL 6.2 · VLC 1.1.13 Fixes Security Issue · Synaptic 0.75.4 Fixes Potential Crash · Download and Test LibreOffice 3.5.0 Beta 1 · PfSense 2.0.1 Officially Announced · Download Official Firefox 9 and Thunderbird 9 for Linux · Introducing Ubuntu Google Books Lens for Unity · phpMyAdmin 3.4.9 Has Better Compatibility with MySQL · Ubuntu IVI Remix Beta 2 Officially Released · Zorin OS Educational 5.2 Drops Unity · Linux kernel 3.1.6 Is Available for Download · Siduction 11.1 RC Has KDE SC, XFCE and LXDE · VMware View Client Available on Ubuntu · KDE SC 4.8 Release Candidate Is Ready for Testing · Scientific Linux 6.2 Beta 1 is Available for Download · Tiny Core Linux 4.2 RC3 Officially Announced · ClearOS Enterprise 6.2 Beta 2 is Based on RHEL 6.2 · Download Firefox 10.0 Beta 1 and Firefox 9.0.1 for Linux · Calibre 0.8.32 Has Droid Razr Driver · Ubuntu Tweak 0.6.0 Supports Ubuntu 11.10 · GNOME 3.3.3 Released Just in Time for Christmas · Linux Kernel 3.2 RC7 Is Available for Testing · Android Is Finally Coming Back to Linux Kernel

dots Tutorial of the WeekTutorial of the Week: Ubuntu 11.10 Desktop Customization Guide

· We know that many of you don't like how Unity looks and acts, therefore this step-by-step tutorial was created for the Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating system to teach you how to change the looks of your Linux desktop into an eye-candy, more practical, simple and modern workstation.

Review image
Customized Ubuntu 11.10 desktop

At the request of our readers we have decided to revive our usual desktop customization tutorial for the Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating system, because of Unity (again).

Read the complete tutorial here.

dots Video Clip of the WeekVideo Clip of the Week: Ubuntu 11.10 Review

· For this week we've posted a 720p high-definition video clip that presents a fairly comprehensive review the Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating system. The video has 13 minute and 12 seconds, and it was posted by InfinitelyGalactic. Enjoy!

Download from SoftpediaNew Distributions:

· Viperr 0.1 · Revamp Linux 12 · Red Ribbon GNU/Linux RC5 · Ubuntu IVI Remix Beta 2 · siduction 11.1 RC

Download from SoftpediaDistributions Updated Last Week:

· Fedora for IBM System z 64bit 16 · Wolfer Linux 2 · Turtle Kevux 0.9.4 · Webconverger 10.2 · Linpus Linux Lite 1.6 · GParted LiveCD 0.11.0-7 · Oracle Enterprise Linux 6.2 · PUIAS Linux 6.2 · Zorin OS Educational 5.2 · Burhani Linux 1.1 · 4MLinux Allinone Edition 3.1 · Bodhi 1.3.0 · grml 2011.12

Download from SoftpediaDevelopment Releases:

· Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.8 Beta · Frugalware Linux 1.6 Pre2 · Devil-Linux 1.6.0 RC1 · Clonezilla LiveCD 1.2.11-33 · ClearOS 6.2 Beta 2 · Tiny Core Linux 4.2 RC3 · Scientific Linux 6.2 Beta 1

See you again at the end of next week for another issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly.