Ubuntu 11.10 Alpha 3

Kate Stewart has announced the availability of the third alpha release of Ubuntu 11.10, code name "Oneiric Ocelot". This release comes with the new Linux kernel 3.0, while Lubuntu (an Ubuntu variant featuring the LXDE desktop) becomes an official member of the Ubuntu family. From the release notes: "Alpha 3 includes the 3.0.0-7.9 Ubuntu kernel which is based on the mainline 3.0 kernel. Some of the most notable changes between the alpha 2 and alpha 3 release with respect to the kernel include: adopted a 3 digit kernel version, e.g. 3.0.0-x.y; re-base to upstream 3.0 final kernel; enable Overlayfs; enable Realtek RTL8192CU and RTL8188CU WiFi driver; enable support for rt53xx wireless chipset family...." See also the release announcement. Download (SHA256): oneiric-desktop-i386.iso (712MB, torrent), oneiric-desktop-amd64.iso (709MB, torrent). Also made available today were 11.10 alpha 3 releases for Kubuntu (download, release notes), Edubuntu (download), Lubuntu (download) and Mythbuntu (download).

TurnKey Linux 11.2

Liraz Siri has announced the release of Turnkey Linux 11.2, an Ubuntu-based set of highly specialised virtual appliances which integrate some of the best open-source software into ready-to-use solutions: "We just updated the website and the TurnKey Hub with the new TurnKey 11.2 maintenance release, which includes: TurnKey Hub support for micro instances, Amazon's free tier and cloud servers backed by persistent network-attached storage volumes (AKA EBS-backed instances); built-in support for TurnKey's new dynamic DNS service; the latest security updates. We've added support for micro instances (613 MB RAM), Amazon EC2's smallest cloud server type which costs less than US$15/month if you run a server 24x7." Read the release announcement and see the virtual appliances page for further information. All of the 40+ appliances are available for download from SourceForge; here is a quick link to the "core" CD image: turnkey-core-11.2-lucid-x86.iso (168MB).

Frugalware Linux 1.5 RC2

The second and final release candidate for Frugalware Linux 1.5, a general-purpose distribution for intermediate and advanced users, has been released for final testing: "The Frugalware developer team is pleased to announce the immediate availability of Frugalware 1.5rc2, the second candidate of the upcoming 1.5 stable release. Here are some of the improvements, fixes and updates since 1.5rc1: Package updates - Linux Kernel 2.6.39.3, X.Org Server 1.10.3, LXDE updated, 1.0.1 release of the core EFL libraries, Mozilla Firefox 5.0.1, 245 packages updated, 20 new packages. New features: our Vim package gained Python support." Read the brief release announcement and check out the comprehensive changelog for further details. Download the installation DVD image from here: frugalware-1.5rc2-i686-dvd1.iso (4,262MB, SHA1).

Underworld: Awakening

Status: Post-production

PCLinuxOS 2011.07 "KDE MiniMe"

Bill Reynolds has announced the release of PCLinuxOS 2011.07 "KDE MiniMe" edition. This product is designed for more advanced users who prefer to install a minimal KDE-based (version 4.6.5) system and extend it later via the distribution's online repositories. From the release announcement: "PCLinuxOS KDE MiniMe 2011.07 for 32-bit computers (works on 64-bit computers too) is now available for download. What's new? The kernel was updated to version 2.6.38.8. Additional kernels, such as a PAE kernel for computers with more than 4 GB of memory, are available from our repositories. A BFS kernel for maximum desktop performance and a standard kernel with group scheduling enabled. X.Org Server was updated to version 1.10.3. Mesa updated to 7.10.3 and libdrm to version 2.4.26." Download: pclinuxos-kde-minime-2011.07.iso (460MB, MD5).

Linvo GNU/Linux 2010.12.6

Ivo Georgiev has announced the release of Linvo GNU/Linux 2010.12.6, a Slackware-based (installable) live DVD with GNOME 2.32, custom package manager, multimedia codecs support and other user-friendly features: "Linvo 2010.12.6. This is probably the last maintenance release of the GNOME-powered 2010.12 series. It features a couple of bug fixes (e.g. dependency handling) and improvements (e.g. smooth download progress bar) to LinvoApp, the distinctive applications management system. Unfortunately, some applications (mostly obsolete) have been removed from the website because they were not built right by the LinvoApp automatic builder, so now we're down to only 125 applications. Of course, LinvoApp is still beta and you can always use the traditional Gslapt to install software if you miss something which is not in the Applications category." Here is the brief release announcement. Download (MD5): linvo-2010.12.6-x86.iso (737MB).