14 DAY TRIAL // Welcome to the 55th issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly!
The following Linux distributions have been announced last week: Scientific Linux 4.8, Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3, AntiX MEPIS 8.2 and Clonezilla 1.2.2-26. In other news: Canonical open-sources Launchpad; the KDE community announces the third release candidate for the upcoming KDE 4.3 and the new ATI Linux video driver 9.7 offers support for RedFlag DT 7.0. The weekly ends with the video clip of the week, the latest Linux distributions released/updated last week and the development releases.
Summary:
On July 21st, the Scientific Linux team announced the immediate availability of the Scientific Linux 4.8 Linux distribution. Available on mirrors worldwide since a week ago, Scientific Linux 4.8 is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Update 8 and comes with major improvements and package updates. The following packages were updated, compared to Red Hat Enterprise 4u8 release:
· Anaconda 10.1.1.103 · Comps 48-0 · Glade2 2.6.0 · Apache 2.0.52
Download Scientific Linux 4.8 right now from Softpedia.
On July 23rd, Canonical unleashed the third alpha version of the upcoming Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) operating system, which is scheduled for release in late October this year.
Highlights of Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3:
· Empathy instant messenger; · GNOME 2.27.4; · Revamped login manager; · Ubuntu One; · Redesigned notification system; · Multisearch plugin for Firefox; · Linux kernel 2.6.31; · GCC 4.4; · ...and many more!
Download Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 right now from Softpedia. Remember that this is an alpha release and it should NOT be installed on production machines. It is intended to be used for testing purposes only.
On July 24th, the team behind the AntiX project announced the final release of AntiX MEPIS 8.2, a fast and lightweight Linux distribution based on SimplyMEPIS and Debian Testing.
Highlights of AntiX MEPIS 8.2:
· Faster boot times; · X.Org 7.4; · Improved antiX-Control Centre; · IceWeasel 3.0.11; · Pidgin 2.5.8; · Abiword 2.6.8; · Gnumeric 1.9.9; · Rox-Filer 2.9; · Claws Mail 3.5; · Added meta-installer; · Wicd 1.6.1; · Added UMTSmon, for 3G USB modem users; · Dillo 2.1-1; · ...and many more!
Download AntiX MEPIS 8.2 right now from Softpedia.
On July 25th, Steven Shiau announced the immediate availability of a new stable release of his system-cloning Linux distribution, Clonezilla 1.2.2-26. The new version is now powered by Linux kernel 2.6.30-3 from backports.undebian.org and it introduces a couple of important bugfixes, as well as software updates and new additions.
Highlights of Clonezilla 1.2.2-26:
· Linux kernel 2.6.30-3 (from backports.undebian.org); · Syslinux 3.82; · Partclone 0.1.1-15; · mkisofs replaced with genisoimage; · Workaround for saving FAT filesystems without using Partclone; · Added the Smartmontools application, designed to monitor and control hard drives; · Improved makeboot.sh in order to allow USB devices /dev/ub[a-z]; · ocs-onthefly received the --rescue option, for Partclone; · Various other bugs were fixed.
Download Clonezilla 1.2.2-26 right now from Softpedia.
· Canonical announced on July 21st that Launchpad, the popular collaboration and software development platform, had been open-sourced. Released a few years ago, the Launchpad project is currently the home of thousands of projects and it is also used to build the Ubuntu operating system. As of today, anyone can join the Launchpad community in order to help improve it! Read more about it here.
· On July 22nd, the KDE community announced the immediate availability of the third release candidate of KDE 4.3, the next-generation KDE desktop environment for Linux, Windows and Mac OS X platforms. KDE 4.3 RC3 is here to fix an important performance bug in Plasma. The final release is next, in one week or so, and when it will be launched it will definitely be the most modern, beautiful and attractive desktop environment! Read more about it here.
· Advanced Micro Devices announced on July 23rd a new version of their popular ATI Catalyst proprietary Linux display driver, for both x86 and x86_64 architectures. With version 9.7, the ATI Catalyst suite updates the software to version 8.632 and brings support for the RedFlag DT 7.0, a Chinese Linux distribution. Read more about it here.
Video Clip of the Week: Scientific Linux
· For this week we've posted an old video clip that showcases the Scientific Linux distribution, from installation to various applications. The video has 5 minutes and 19 seconds, and it was posted by osvids. Enjoy!
Distributions Updated Last Week:
· Privatix Live-System 9.07.19 · CDlinux 0.9.3 · AV Linux 2.0r2 · GParted LiveCD 0.4.5-5 · Momonga Linux 6
· KDE 4 Live CD 1.2.98 · Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 · Xubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 · Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 Alpha 3 · Ubuntu Server 9.10 Alpha 3 · Kubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 Alpha 3 · Ubuntu Studio 9.10 Alpha 3 · Zenwalk 6.2 Beta · openSUSE Linux 11.2 Milestone 4
See you again next Monday, August 3rd, for another issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly.