14 DAY TRIAL // Welcome to the 151st issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly!
The following Linux-based operating systems have been announced last week: SystemRescueCd 2.2.0, Zorin OS 5 and Peppermint OS Two. In other news: The Ubuntu Manual team finally announced the official release of the Ubuntu 10.10 Manual; the Google developers released the Google Chrome 12 web browser for Linux; Canonical announced that Ubuntu 11.10 will have a new login manager; the KDE developers announced the release of KDE Software Compilation 4.6.4. For this week we've also prepared an helpful tutorial with tips and tricks for the Unity interface of the Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) operating system. The weekly ends with the video clip of the week, the new and updated Linux distributions, and the development releases.
Summary:
On June 5th, François Dupoux announced the immediate availability of the SystemRescueCd 2.2.0 operating system. The updated version brings new kernels, both for the standard option or the alternative, newer one. It also comes with an updated Gparted and updates for the Python and Perl libraries. SystemRescueCd 2.2.0 follows the somewhat regular release schedule of one new build every month that the distro has been keeping, with the odd exception once every few months.
Highlights of SystemRescueCd 2.2.0:
· Linux kernel 2.6.38.8 - 32-bit and 64-bit versions; · Linux kernel 2.6.39.1 - alternative option, 32-bit and 64-bit versions; · Offline NT Password & Registry Editor updated - "ntpasswd" boot entry; · NTFS3G 2011.4.12 - driver for read/write access to NTFS partitions; · Python 2.7 replaces Python 2.6; · Perl 5.12.3; · Gentoo Portage 2.1.9; · GParted 0.8.1; · Samba 3.4.12.
Download SystemRescueCd 2.2.0 now from Softpedia.
Also on June 5th, Artyom Zorin proudly announced the release of the Zorin OS 5 operating system, based on Ubuntu 11.04. Zorin OS 5 comes with plenty of changes and customizations to make it suitable to its intended audience, users new to Linux which may be turned off by an operating system that looks and feels very different from what they've been used to.
Zorin OS 5 Core and Zorin OS 5 Ultimate are now available, bringing updated packages as well as several new features and improvements, such as new themes and artwork. Zorin OS 5 is based on the latest Ubuntu 11.04, but chose to use the classic GNOME 2.x-based desktop environment rather than the newly introduced Unity, or perhaps GNOME 3.
Download Zorin OS 5 now from Softpedia.
On June 10th, Kendall Weaver announced the immediate availability for download of the Peppermint OS Two operating system. Among the biggest feature in Peppermint OS Two is the switch to Chromium as the default browser and the underlying app for stand-alone web applications running via ICE, the distro's own Site Specific Browser (SSB).
Peppermint's main touting point is the integration of web applications. In a sense, the distro is similar to things like Jolicloud or Chrome OS, but it takes a different approach to the cloud. It tries to work web applications into a familiar desktop environment and have them look and feel like a native app, through the use of the Ice application and the Chromium engine.
Download Peppermint OS Two now from Softpedia.
· On June 5th, the Ubuntu Manual team announced a new edition of the comprehensive Ubuntu manual, this time for the Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) operating system. The Ubuntu 10.10 Manual is free of charge and it's designed for beginners and advanced users and it contains essential how-tos, guides, basic information about Linux and its components, and everything one needs to know after installing Ubuntu. Dubbed Getting Started with Ubuntu 10.10, the 156 pages long PDF document will help new Ubuntu 10.10 users to understand how the operating system works and familiarize them with everyday tasks. Read more about it here.
· On June 7th, the Google Chrome developers at Google proudly announced the stable release and immediate availability for download of the Google Chrome 12 web browser for Linux, Windows, Macintosh and Chrome Frame platforms. The new Google Chrome 12 web browser includes various interesting new features, such as the highly anticipated hardware accelerated 3D CSS support and a brand-new Safe Browsing mode. Read more about it here.
· On June 9th, Softpedia tested and presented the new default display manager for the upcoming Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) operating system. LightDM is an operating system's display manager, also known as login manager. Few people know that a display manager is also in charge with the remote logins via XDMCP protocol and manages the X servers. Why LightDM for Ubuntu 11.10? The answer is simple: because we need a new and themeable login screen that matches the Unity interface. Read more about it here.
· On June 10th, the KDE team announced the fourth maintenance release for KDE Software Compilation 4.6. This is a minor update, focusing on bug fixing and translation updates. KDE Software Compilation 4.6.4 is the 4th in a series of monthly bug fixing releases to the KDE Software Compilation 4.6 series, which brings various translation updates and improvements. Everyone should update their existing KDE SC machines running version 4.6.3 or earlier. Read more about it here.
Tutorial of the Week: Ubuntu 11.04 Unity Tips and Tricks
· The new Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) operating system introduced a different user interface, designed by Canonical, called Unity. But the development team did not offered some easy to understand and learn tricks, to make Unity usable by human beings.
The following tutorial will teach Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal) users how to customize the new interface developed by Canonical for the Ubuntu operating system, Unity.
Read the entire tutorial here.
Video Clip of the Week: Oneiric Ocelot Pre-Alpha Ubuntu 11.10 Unity on Gnome 3 First Look
· For this week we've posted an 1080p HD video clip that offers an in-depth look at the Ubuntu 11.10 Alpha 1 operating system. The video has 9 minutes and 27 seconds, and it was posted by quidsup. Enjoy!
· P@xtreme Lightweight Linux 0.9 RC5
Distributions Updated Last Week:
· Pinguy OS 11.04.1 · Sn0wL1nuX 11 · 4MLinux Server Edition 2.2 · SlimPup 2.7 · R.I.P. 13.2 · Toorox 06.2011 GNOME
Development Releases:
· ClearOS 6.1 Alpha 1
· Salix OS Fluxbox 13.37 RC1
· Clonezilla LiveCD 1.2.9-3
See you again at the end of next week for another issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly.