After many months of behind-the-scenes development and a series of new features and changes, AV Linux MX Edition (aka AVL-MXe) 23.1 'Enlightened' has been released. This release moves platforms from MX-21/Debian 11 'Bullseye' to MX-23/Debian 12 'Bookworm'. With the new platform comes a major move to the Enlightenment desktop environment (0.25.4) and a completely new audio system (PipeWire 1.0.0). Because of the sheer amount and depth of the changes, there is no repository upgrade path from AV Linux 21.3 and this new version will require a fresh install. The ISO image has grown to 5.2 GB since the last release. System highlights: MX-23/Debian 12 'Bookworm' base; Liquorix 6.6.9 Linux kernel; Enlightenment 0.25.4 desktop environment; PipeWire 1.0.0; choice of systemd or SysVInit (once installed); MX Tools and AV Linux utilities.
LibreELEC 11.0.5, the definitive stable release, has been unveiled, featuring Kodi (Nexus) v20.3. Notable in this release is the introduction of experimental RPi5 support with a focus on Kodi 21, scheduled for early 2024. However, updating the EEPROM is not yet supported in the LE setting for RPi5. Key updates include Kodi version 20.3 and Linux version 6.1.71. Specific to Raspberry Pi, users may encounter AV-sync issues with 50/60fps H264 HW decoding, and Kodi on RPi4 may run in 4096x2160 on 4K TVs by default. The Generic image now supports HDR with recent AMD and Intel GPUs, while a Generic-Legacy image is introduced for specific scenarios. Notably, support for Amlogic S905, S905X/D, and S912 devices has resumed with some limitations, and DVB Add-Ons are temporarily deactivated. Users are advised to create backups before upgrading, and support is available in the forum for any technical inquiries or issues.
bluestar-linux-6.6.10-2024.01.11-x86_64 has been released and is available for download
Cinnamon. "Cinnamon add-ons are called 'spices'. Until now Cinnamon supported 4 types of spices: Applets: Little programs which can be placed in your panel(s); Desklets: Same thing, but on your desktop; Extensions: Scripts which can alter the way Cinnamon works; Themes: Look and feel for your Cinnamon desktop. Cinnamon 6.0 features a new type of spices: Actions. Actions, formerly known as 'Nemo actions', are add-ons for your file manager's context menu. Right-click an .iso file and look at the context menu. The 'Make bootable USB stick' and 'Verify' menu items are Nemo actions, provided by the mintstick package. In Cinnamon 6.0, actions are now a type of spice. You can download, enable and rate them like any other spices: applets, desklets, extensions and Cinnamon themes.
ExTiX Deepin 24.1, released on January 24, 2024, is based on Deepin 23 BETA2 and utilizes kernel 6.6.10-amd64-extix. The release incorporates updates to all packages as of the release date, featuring Google Chrome 120.0.6099.199-1 as a replacement for Deepin's Browser. Notably, the build introduces a new kernel, implements various cosmetic changes including new wallpapers, and maintains stability with no reported bugs. Users can install it to their hard drive while running the system live, employing the Refracta Installer. The release notes emphasize trying Deepin BETA2 in a non-production environment. Additionally, instructions are provided for creating a live installable Deepin 23 system using Refracta Snapshot. The update includes details on login procedures, wireless connections, Samba client usage, and instructions for upgrading Deepin 23 to the stable version. Overall, ExTiX Deepin 24.1 enhances user experience through a stable release with updated components and improved functionality.
In this release, several significant changes have been implemented. The command-line interface (CLI) tool setup-dist has resolved issues related to Whonix-Gateway CLI first start setup-wizard and starting systemcheck from setup-dist. The setup-wizard-dist now ensures it only touches the done file if it does not already exist and has improved window size calculation. The Tor Browser has been updated, and progress has been made towards an ISO release. The anon-connection-wizard has been enhanced by updating snowflake config lines to match those used by the Tor Browser Bundle. Additionally, Kicksecure 1 has been updated, and improvements and fixes have been applied to sdwdate-gui for Qubes, addressing issues with restart, stop, open log actions, and guarding against slow or broken qubesdb-read and qrexec interactions.
The Solus team is proud to announce the release of Solus 4.5 Resilience. This release brings updated applications and kernels, refreshed software stacks, a new installer, and a new ISO edition featuring the Xfce desktop environment. With Solus 4.5 comes a new installation experience using the Calamares installer. This enables easier installation using filesystems like BTRFS, specifying your own partition layout right in the installer, and it’s a major step in migrating away from Python 2, which the old os-installer was written in. A ton of work has gone into the new installation experience, and we are glad to finally release it to everyone!
This release contains a sensible restructuring of the application menu as well as a comprehensive solution to the problem of spaces in file names.
The January 2024 release of Archcraft, developed by Aditya Shakya, brings a routine ISO update with several enhancements. The update includes an updated ISO profile, incorporating the latest base with new packages. Additionally, all Archcraft and AUR packages have been updated, and there is a migration of alacritty to its new configuration format (from yml to toml). Script updates related to alacritty, the addition of a tray module in polybar, font issue fixes, and various small improvements and bug fixes contribute to the overall refinement of the release.
LiveRaizo v15.24.01.07i introduces several key enhancements, including an upgrade to Debian Bookworm for improved performance and compatibility. The release features an added capability to upload archives to an FTP server through the "net:ftp" destination in the fast-save-project command. Additionally, the update includes the introduction of the "mans" command and the inclusion of the "gnutls-bin" package. In the context of VM Debian, the "ucarp" now replaces "vrrpd," and pre-downloaded packages now include "suricata" instead of "snort," enhancing the virtual machine's functionality and security measures.