Build 170221 is powered by the Linux 4.4 kernel

Feb 24, 2017 01:07 GMT  ·  By
RaspEX’s Desktop while Wicd is running (for configuration of a wireless connection)
8 photos
   RaspEX’s Desktop while Wicd is running (for configuration of a wireless connection)

GNU/Linux developer Arne Exton is back with a new release, and this time he managed to publish a new build of his RaspEX Linux project for Raspberry Pi 2 and Raspberry Pi 3 single-board computers.

RaspEX Build 170221 is based on the software repositories of the Ubuntu 16.10 (Yakkety Yak) and Debian GNU/Linux 8.7 "Jessie" operating systems, as well as Linaro open source software for ARM SoCs. It uses the lightweight and fast LXDE desktop environment by default, along with the long-term supported Linux 4.4 kernel.

The Linux kernel version included in RaspEX Build 170221 is kernel 4.4.49-exton-v7+, which Arne Exton injected with various extra patches for better hardware support. The new release also adds the Wicd network manager and replaces Chromium with the Mozilla Firefox web browser because it offers users better YouTube support.

RaspEX lets you control Raspberry Pi from your Windows PC

Just like in the previous versions of the project, the new RaspEX build is shipping with Samba and VNC4Server pre-installed, which will allow you to connect to your Windows computer in your home network, as well as to control your Raspberry Pi device from a Windows PC if either the Putty or VNC Viewer apps are installed.

Moreover, the developer managed to add a bunch of other popular tools that have been requested by users lately, such as SMTube to browse YouTube videos, the Midori web browser, PulseAudio sound server, and various network tools. You should study the full list of installed packages to see what's included in RaspEX Build 170221.

If you're wondering right now why you should use RaspEX on your Raspberry Pi, the developer says in the release notes that "RaspEX is faster ('fast as lightning'), more useful and more fun to use. (In my opinion). One member of this site thought that running RaspEX (for Raspberry Pi 2) was like running Raspberry Pi on 'steroids'."

If you're still not convinced, below we've attached a bunch of screenshots so you can see RaspEX in action on a Raspberry Pi device. RaspEX Build 170221 is available for download right now from our website and it is free of charge. The OpenCPN edition of RaspEX is also there, and it's even faster!

RaspEX running the Bluetooth Manager
RaspEX running the Bluetooth Manager
RaspEX running Midori Private Browser
RaspEX running Midori Private Browser
RaspEX connected to Windows via Samba
RaspEX connected to Windows via Samba

RaspEX Build 170221 (8 Images)

RaspEX’s Desktop while Wicd is running (for configuration of a wireless connection)
RaspEX running the Bluetooth ManagerRaspEX running Midori Private Browser
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