14 DAY TRIAL // Linux Lite, a distribution created with the purpose of showing users just how easy it is for non-technical folks to use a Linux distribution, has advanced to version 2.8 and is now ready for download and testing.
Linux Lite is a distribution that uses only the Ubuntu LTS versions for the base. As this point, it’s based on Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS, which surprisingly is not actually the latest release available. In any case, the Linux Lite versions don’t land all that often and its developers usually land only the important stuff.
The reason for basing their distro on Ubuntu LST is a simple one. They want to provide the same kind of support, for five years, until 2016. Since we’re expecting the new Ubuntu 16.04 LTS in a few months, it’s likely that the 2.8 branch will be the last one and that 3.0 will use another base.
Linux Lite 2.8 Beta is full of updates
Like the previous updates, the 2.8 Beta is mostly about updated packages and various other upgrades. The developers are also dedicating this release in the memory of Ian Murdock, founder of Debian.
"The star of this release is the Hardware Enablement Stack, 3.19 based Kernel offering greater hardware support. This release marks the end of the Series 2 release cycle. It's been quite a journey. Linux Lite 2.8 Beta is a continuation of that symbiosis between developers and community. Linux Lite dedicates this release in honor, and to the memory of Ian Murdock, founder of Debian," developers wrote.
According to the changelog, Firefox has been upgraded to version 43.0.4, Thunderbird 38.4.0 is now available by default, Btrfs support has been added, the Hardware Enablement Stack 3.19 Kernel is now being used, and a few other fixes have been implemented.
For more information about the distribution, check out the official announcement. You can download Linux Lite 2.8 Beta right now from Softpedia. This is a Live CD and it works great, either from a USB stick or in VirtualBox.