14 DAY TRIAL // The following Linux-based operating systems have been announced last week: Fedora 17 Alpha and Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1. In other news: MyUnity configurator tool for Ubuntu's Unity interface gets revamped; Debian announced DebConf12 event; Kubuntu developers announced that Kubuntu 12.04 LTS will be supported for 5 years. Softpedia Linux Blog news includes articles about Linux Mint LXDE 12 RC, Linux kernel 3.3 RC5, Skolelinux 6.0.4 RC2, FreeNAS 8.0.4 RC1, Choqok User Survey, Ubuntu Stock Quotes Lens for Unity, wattOS R5, Linux kernel 3.2.8, Parted Magic 2012_2_27, Android-x86 4.0 RC1, Network Security Toolkit 2.16.0, Fedora 17 Alpha, SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 SP2, KDE SC 4.9, MINIX 3.2.0, ClearOS Community 6.2.0 Beta 3, Linux Kernel 3.2.9, GCC 4.6.3, PHP 5.4.0, BackTrack 5 R2, Zorin OS Lite 6 RC, Plop Linux 4.2.0, Tiny Core Linux 4.4 RC2, Tiny Core Linux 4.3.1, TurnKey Core 12.0 RC, Zenwalk Live 7.2 Beta, Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.8, and much more. For this week we've also prepared an interesting review for the VLC 2.0.0 application. The weekly ends with the video clip of the week, the new and updated Linux distributions, and the development releases.
Summary:
On February 28th, the Fedora Project proudly announced a few minutes ago, February 28th, the immediate availability for download and testing of the Alpha version of the upcoming Fedora 17 operating system, due for release in May 2012. Dubbed Beefy Miracle and powered by Linux kernel 3.3, Fedora 17 Alpha brings lots of new features, improvements and bug fixes.
Highlights of Fedora 17 Alpha:
· Linux kernel 3.3.0 RC3; · Move all to /usr; · GNOME 3.4 Beta 1; · KDE SC 4.8; · Multitouch support; · PackageKit integration; · Automatic KDE Plasma dependency generation; · SSSD AutoFS integration; · SSSD-Sudo integration; · The GIMP 2.8; · Added Wallaby, a programmable semantic configuration service for Condor; · Added "deny ptrace" for SELinux; · systemd started services now run in private /tmp; · Added Non-Uniform Memory Alignment Daemon (numad); · OpenJDK is now the default Java Runtime Environment; · Updated IPA to version 3, adding support for SELinux management, Active Directory domains, and SSH public keys management; · Added new Font Configuration tool; · ICC profile support for printing; · Added English Typing Booster input method for iBus; · Inscript 2 keymaps for Indic languages; · Haskell Platform was updated to version 2011.4, with support for GHC 7.0.4; · Boost was updated to version 1.48; · DRI2 3D drivers only; · Integration of libpinyin for better Chinese pinyin input; · OpenStack now uses libguestfs and Qpid.
Download Fedora 17 Alpha DVD now from Softpedia.
Download Fedora 17 Alpha GNOME LiveCD now from Softpedia.
Download Fedora 17 Alpha KDE LiveCD now from Softpedia.
Download Fedora 17 Alpha Xfce LiveCD now from Softpedia.
Download Fedora 17 Alpha LXDE LiveCD 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 March 1st, Canonical unleashed the first Beta release of the upcoming Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) operating system. What's new in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1? Well, there's a new kernel, based on the stable Linux kernel 3.2.6, which enables RC6 by default for Sandy Bridge systems, allowing GPUs to enter into a very low power consumption state.
Mozilla Firefox 11.0 is on board, bringing you a complete web browsing experience, alongside the Mozilla Thunderbird 11.0 email client, Transmission 2.50 torrent/magnet downloader, and the final version of LibreOffice 3.5.0 office suite. The Unity interface gets improved once again in this release, bringing a kameleonic Ubuntu button that changes its color depending on your wallpaper.
Download Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1 now from Softpedia. Remember that this is a beta release and it should NOT be installed on production machines. It is intended to be used for testing purposes only.
· On February 27th, Softpedia has been informed by Fabio Colinelli that the fabulous MyUnity Unity configuration utility for the Ubuntu platform reached version 3.0, supporting desktop themes and Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin). Looks like the Italian developer worked very hard on the new version of MyUnity, completely redesigned its interface and brining built-in support for the upcoming Precise Pangolin release. Read more about it here.
· On February 29th, the Debian Project proudly announced the dates, the schedule and venue for the annual meeting of all Debian developers, DebConf12. The Debian Conference 2012 event will take place between July 8th and July 14th 2012, in Managua, Nicaragua, making it the first DebConf to be held in Central America. The yearly event allows existing and new Debian developers and collaborators to share knowledge, build tighter community bonds, assemble and make collaborative contributions to the Debian operating system. Read more about it here.
· On March 1st, the Kubuntu Council announced a few hours ago, March 1st, that the upcoming Kubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) operating system will be supported for 5 years. We already knew from January 2012 that the Ubuntu Technical Board approved both Kubuntu and Edubuntu as LTS (Long Term Support) releases, keeping the distributions alive, with security updates and bugfixes, for 5 years. Read more about it here.
· Linux Mint LXDE 12 RC Available for Download · Three Must-Have Plugins for Calibre · Download Linux Kernel 3.3 RC5 Now · Skolelinux 6.0.4 RC2 Available for Download · FreeNAS 8.0.4 RC1 Officialy Announced · Canonical Demonstrates Ubuntu for Android at MWC · Choqok User Survey Available · Introducing Ubuntu Stock Quotes Lens for Unity · wattOS R5 Has Linux Kernel 3.0.0-16 · Linux Kernel 3.2.8 Is Available for Download · Parted Magic 2012_2_27 Officially Released · Android-x86 4.0 RC1 Is Based on Android 4.0.3 · Network Security Toolkit 2.16.0 Is Based on Fedora 16 · Canonical Demonstrates Ubuntu TV at MWC 2012 · LibreOffice Conference Will Be Held In Berlin · Fedora 17 Alpha GNOME LiveCD Screenshot Tour · $25 Raspberry Pi Mini PC Registers Amazing Sales · SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 SP2 Has Linux Kernel 3.0 · Fedora 17 Alpha KDE LiveCD Screenshot Tour · KDE Software Compilation 4.9 Release Schedule · New Kernel Vulnerabilities Affect Ubuntu 11.04 and 10.10 · MINIX 3.2.0 Available for Download · ClearOS Community 6.2.0 Beta 3 Available for Download · FreeNAS 8.0.4 Officialy Announced · Linux Kernel 3.2.9 Is Available for Download · OpenJDK 6 ARM Vulnerabilities Fixed for Ubuntu OSes · GCC 4.6.3 Brings Lots of Fixes · Kubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1 Screenshot Tour · Ubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1 Screenshot Tour · Lubuntu 12.04 Beta 1 Screenshot Tour · PHP 5.4.0 Available for Download · BackTrack 5 R2 Linux Officially Released · Zorin OS Lite 6 RC is Based on Lubuntu 11.10 · Xubuntu 12.04 Beta 1 Screenshot Tour · Plop Linux 4.2.0 Has Linux Kernel 3.2.7 · Tiny Core Linux 4.4 RC2 and Tiny Core Linux 4.3.1 Available for Download · TurnKey Core 12.0 RC Is Based on Debian Squeeze 6.0.4 · Zenwalk Live Edition 7.2 Beta Available for Download · Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.8 Officially Released
· VideoLAN Media Player, or just simply VLC, is a software designed to run all kinds of media files, ranging from simple DVDs, to video and audio files, and even online streams. It is a very popular choice for Linux users, and the new version just raised the bar.
VLC 2.0 also supports subtitles and offers all the possible features that you could think off, like On Screen Display, various encodings, and effects (outline, thickness, etc). The media player also has numerous options for MKV files such as GPU decoding, various x264 presets, effects, and video quality post-processing level.
Read the complete review here.
Video Clip of the Week: Ubuntu on Android Demonstration at MWC 2012
· Since we've been at MWC 2012, this week we decided to post a video clip that showcases the new Ubuntu for Android product from Canonical. The video has 2 minutes and 42 seconds, and it was posted by SoftpediaLinux. Submit to our channel now!
· Terrible Linux 0.0.1 · Ubuntu Studio 12.04 Beta 1 · Nosonja 2012.02.29
Distributions Updated Last Week:
· wattOS R5 · Parted Magic 2012_2_27 · Network Security Toolkit 2.16.0 · SUSE Linux Enterprise 11 SP2 · CacheGuard OS 5.7.6 · 4MLinux 3.2 · BackTrack 5 R2 · PLoP Linux 4.2.0 · Zentyal 2.2-2 · Tiny Core Linux 4.3.1 · Oracle Enterprise Linux 5.8
· Linux Mint LXDE 12 RC · Skolelinux 6.0.4 RC2 · Clonezilla LiveCD 1.2.12-24 · Android-x86 4.0 RC1 · SolusOS RC1 · ClearOS 6.2 Beta 3 · Ubuntu Server 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Lubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Edubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Xubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Kubuntu 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Ubuntu Core 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Ubuntu DVD 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Ubuntu ARM 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Ubuntu Cloud Server 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Ubuntu Netboot 12.04 LTS Beta 1 · Zorin OS Lite 6 RC · TurnKey Core Live CD 12.0 RC · Tiny Core Linux 4.4 RC2 · Zenwalk Live 7.2 Beta
See you again at the end of next week for another issue of Softpedia Linux Weekly.