12.08.13
Posted in GNOME, GNU/Linux at 12:18 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: The power of deviation as demonstrated by Linux Mint and Linux Deepin, two of the more widely used derivatives of Ubuntu
Linux Mint 16 OEM is finally out [1,2] and it also takes Cinnamon further [3]. Following this celebrated release [4,5] it has been dissected [6] and reviewed [7], sometimes in conjunction with other distributions [8].
“Linux Deepin has something called the Depth Desktop Environment, yet another alteration of GNOME.”Little is being said about Linux Deepin, which is a Chinese derivative of Ubuntu with a lot of potential. Now that China is moving towards independence from Microsoft and other US companies complicit in NSA surveillance we should really pay a lot more attention to Linux Deepin, which is also being dissected [9] and its community expanded on the face of it [10]. Linux Deepin has something called the Depth Desktop Environment (or Deepin Desktop Environment), yet another alteration of GNOME.
Of course there are other independent derivatives of Ubuntu — ones that use Enlightenment, KDE, etc. Those too are needed to ensure diversity and suitability to more potential audiences. █
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In recent years, the Linux Mint open-source operating system has emerged to become one of the most popular Linux distributions. Linux Mint was founded by developer Clement Lefebvre in 2006, with the goal of being a user-friendly desktop version of Linux. Lefebvre officially released Linux Mint 16, code-named Petra, Nov. 30 with the goal of improving the Linux desktop experience. Linux Mint 16 is based on the Ubuntu 13.10 Linux distribution at its core, with a number of key additions and improvements. While Ubuntu has focused on the development of its own Unity desktop Linux environment, Linux Mint has its own desktop creation, known as Cinnamon. Among the highlights of the Linux Mint 16 release is the latest generation of the Cinnamon desktop. Linux Mint is also available with other desktop environments, including MATE, which is a fork of the GNOME 2.x desktop. The new desktop environments included in Linux Mint 16 aim to offer improved performance and usability to Linux users. Among the new features that Linux Mint 16 provides are new USB formatting and imaging tools that enable users to easily create bootable USB sticks. In this slide show, eWEEK takes a look at some of the new features in Linux Mint 16.
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Clement Lefebvre proudly announced a few minutes ago that the final bits of the highly anticipated Linux Mint 16 operating system were available for download.
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Linux Mint 16 “Petra”, based on Ubuntu 13.10, was released recently and is available as usual in two editions: MATE and Cinnamon. Let’s take a look at what’s new.
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This past week the final release candidate (RC) for Linux Min 16 debuted, with both Cinnamon and MATE desktop editions.
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Linux Deepin 2013 has been released with various improvements and enhancements as well as two new applications: Deepin Terminal and Deepin Game Center.
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It is a Chinese distribution and one of the very few Linux distributions that’s actually bringing something new to the table: From custom apps to a new desktop environment built atop GNOME 3 technologies called the Depth Desktop Environment.
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Posted in GNU/Linux at 11:56 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: How distributions which were largely forgotten some years ago are making a comeback and spawning new derivatives
FOR A LONG period of time it seemed like GNU/Linux was a one-horse race led by Ubuntu and its derivatives; but Ubuntu is rapidly losing momentum [1] and the need for diversity is realised.
The Gentoo Monthly Newsletter is now back [2] and Pentoo resurfaces also [2], promising that Gentoo isn’t going away [3] as some haters of ‘l33t’ users once hoped (as well as Miguel de Icaza, who publicly bashed Gentoo).
We also have Slackware derivatives making a comeback, with Zenwalk back on course [4], not to mention new Slackware derivatives like MLED [5,6].
OpenMandriva is anything but vapourware now [7] and PCLinuxOS has a new magazine issue [8] (whereas Mandriva hardly has presence [9]). Continuity through derivatives and forks is essential.
The way to support lesser-known distribution is merely to use them and to spread the message about them. The more, the merrier. █
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Pentoo Linux is a Linux distribution based upon Gentoo Linux. Pentoo can be used as Live CD or Live USB image and the distribution aims at penetration testing. It is nothing but Gentoo with Pentoo Overlay. The newly released distribution is available for both 32 bit as well as 64 bit architecture.
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Hyperion made the official announcement of Zenwalk 7.4 beta 1…
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The Microlinux Enterprise Desktop is a full-blown production desktop based on the latest stable Slackware Linux release, starting with 14.0. It is currently used by various small town halls, public libraries, schools and local radio stations in South France.
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Curiously, I did not experience the live session that installs itself, reported here. I could navigate the live session before deciding to install without any problem.
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The PCLinuxOS Magazine is a product of the PCLinuxOS community, published by volunteers from the community. The magazine is lead by Paul Arnote, Chief Editor, and Assistant Editor Meemaw. The PCLinuxOS Magazine is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share-Alike 3.0 Unported license, and some rights are reserved.
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Posted in GNU/Linux, Hardware at 11:38 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
Summary: GNU/Linux as the operating system of gaming consoles no longer a far-fetched dream; companies other than Valve explore these possibilities
TECHRIGHTS is happy to write about the rise of GNU/Linux as a gaming platform, even though much of the gaming layer is proprietary. It is probably better that proprietary games are running on GNU/Linux; if they run on Windows or Mac OS, then they only help Microsoft’s and Apple’s position.
The latest news is very encouraging, still. The site Gaming on Linux wrote quite a lot about games that were coming to GNU/Linux [1-7], Humble Jumbo Bundle was covered by Steam for Linux [8], there were big names like Broken Sword in the headlines [9,10], and even news from Ioquake3 [11].
What stood out, however, were hardware efforts. First, there was GCW-ZERO, the open source gaming console [12]. Then there was Piixl Jetpack [13-19] and the $499 Steam Machine we alluded to before [20].
As the official announcement about Valve’s own hardware project was brewing (running GNU/Linux of course) there was also news about Valve joining the Linux Foundation. This was massive in the news. Headlines said that “Valve Furthers Linux Commitment, Officially Joins Linux Foundation” [21], “Valve renews Linux commitment, Microsoft and Sony should worry” [22], “Valve solidifies platform preference, joins The Linux Foundation” [23], and “As Valve Joins The Linux Foundation, Start Taking Linux Gaming Seriously” [24]. These were just four headlines among many more [25-42] — a lot more than we can list exhaustively.
Good times for GNU/Linux. It’s only getting better. █
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Portable gaming consoles remain within the domain of Nintendo and Sony, with their Nintendo 3DS as well as PS Vita, respectively, but their territory have been encroached upon by other forms of mobile gaming, no thanks to the huge popularity of tablets as well as smartphones. Well, here is another player that intends to bite off a chunk of this lucrative market – the $149.99 GCW-ZERO, which happens to be an open source gaming console. With the GCW-ZERO, you know for sure that you have something good going on here, especially when it has been built by gamers for gamers.
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Powered by Linux, it already comes with a slew of open source software that is ready to rock and roll.
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In a rather unconventional approach to PC design, British manufacturer Piixl has created a SteamOS computer that attaches to the back of your television set. According to Pocket-lint, the Piixl Jetpack is an open hardware platform that is fully customizable to fit a user’s gaming hardware needs.
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Valve has joined the Linux Foundation, making Steam Machine prototypes looking more and more like serious competition for Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PlayStation 4.
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Posted in News Roundup at 11:15 am by Dr. Roy Schestowitz
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