Korora 22

 Chris Smart has announced the release of Korora 22, a set of user-friendly, Fedora-based desktop Linux distributions with a choice of Cinnamon, GNOME, KDE 5, MATE and Xfce desktops: "It has been a long road to the Korora 22 (code name 'Selina') release and we're sorry that it has taken so long. However, it is now finally available for download. KDE 4 is no longer supported in Korora 22. If you do not wish to upgrade to KDE 5 then please stick with Korora 21. With this release we've decided to no-longer include Adobe Flash out of the box, due to the continued high number of security flaws. The repository is still enabled, however, and if you wish to use Flash you can install it using the package manager, or command line 'sudo dnf install flash-plugin' - or install and use Google Chrome which has the current up-to-date version of Flash." Continue to the release announcement for a full list of new features. Download (MD5, pkglist): korora-22-x86_64-cinnamon-live.iso (1,865MB, torrent), korora-22-x86_64-gnome-live.iso (2,027MB, torrent), korora-22-x86_64-kde-live.iso (2,589MB, torrent), korora-22-x86_64-mate-live.iso (1,948MB, torrent), korora-22-x86_64-xfce-live.iso (1,842MB, torrent).

Zorin OS 10

The developers of Zorin OS, a desktop distribution based on Ubuntu which strives to present a friendly interface for people transition from Windows, have announced the release of Zorin OS 10. The new release is based on Ubuntu 15.04 and features a new visual style with new fonts and icon themes. "With Zorin OS 10, we have refreshed the selection of default applications with the addition of a streamlined new Media Player, the gorgeous Geary Mail client, Calendar app and the new Activity Journal, which lets you see the files and documents you have worked with based on duration and the time throughout the day. Our existing app selection has also been treated with updates, bug fixes and design enhancements throughout. Zorin OS 10 is based on Ubuntu 15.04 and comes pre-installed with the updated Linux Kernel 3.19 & systemd for performance boosts, stronger security and improved hardware support. As always, Zorin OS 10 uses the Zorin Desktop environment with Zorin Menu for unparalleled customization and the Zorin Look Changer for ultimate ease of use. We also include our Zorin Web Browser Manager to ease the installation of web browsers." The release announcement supplies additional details along with screen shots." Downloads (MD5): zorin-os-10-core-64.iso (1,480MB, pkglist).

Ubuntu 15.10 Alpha 2

The Ubuntu Release Team has announced the availability of a new test release of Ubuntu's community distributions. These community distributions are independently maintained while sharing infrastructure and resources with Ubuntu. The new release, version 15.10 Alpha 2, is still under heavy development and is intended for testing purposes only. From the release announcement: "The second alpha of the Wily Werewolf (to become 15.10) has now been released! This alpha features images for Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Kylin and the Ubuntu Cloud images. Pre-releases of the Wily Werewolf are not encouraged for anyone needing a stable system or anyone who is not comfortable running into occasional, even frequent breakage. They are, however, recommended for Ubuntu flavor developers and those who want to help in testing, reporting and fixing bugs as we work towards getting this release ready. Alpha 2 includes a number of software updates that are ready for wider testing." Downloads: kubuntu/wily-desktop-amd64.iso (1,275MB, SHA256, torrent, pkglist, release notes), lubuntu/wily-desktop-amd64.iso (728MB, SHA256, torrent, pkglist, release notes), ubuntumate/wily-desktop-amd64.iso (1,038MB, SHA256, torrent, pkglist, release notes), ubuntukylin/wily-desktop-amd64.iso (1,310MB, SA256, torrent, pkglist, release notes).

blackPanther OS 14.1

The developers of blackPanther OS, a Hungarian distribution that originally forked from Mandriva, have announced the launch of blackPanther OS 14.1. The blackPanther distribution ships with the KDE 4 desktop and offers users a unified settings panel that combines KDE's System Settings and Mandriva's Control Centre. "We are sure you’ll enjoy the many improvements. We’ve done our best to bring the latest technology to blackPanther while still maintaining the stability and security that you have come to expect. blackPanther OS is well known for its simplicity and the fact that we try to bring software to you in the condition that the authors intended. blackPanther OS v14.1 (Walking Dead) brings many updates and enhancements, KDE 4.14, a recent stable release of the 4.1x.x series of the award-winning KDE desktop environment." Further information is available in the project's release announcement (English, Hungarian). Download: blackPantherOS-v14.1-WalkingDead-i586-CD.iso

KaOS 2014.08

 Anke Boersma has announced the release of KaOS 2014.08, a desktop Linux distribution featuring the just-released KDE 4.14 desktop: "With KDE releasing the new major version, KDE 4.14.0, offering primarily improvements and bug fixes, KaOS is happy to be able to present you a new ISO image with KDE 4.14.0 the same day it is released. KDE Applications 4.14 is not about lots of 'new and improved stuff'. As with KaOS, many KDE developers are focused on the Next Experience (Plasma 5) or porting to KDE Frameworks (based on Qt 5). Mostly, the 4.14 release is needed by aspects of the workflow. This release offers more software stability, with little emphasis on new and less-proven stuff. For KaOS, a new major KDE is not the biggest news on this ISO, that part goes to the all new installer." Read the rest of the release announcement for more information and screenshots. Download the live DVD image from SourceForge: KaOS-2014.08-x86_64.iso (1,696MB, MD5).

Tanglu 2.0 Alpha 1

Matthias Klumpp announced the availability of the first alpha build of Tanglu 2.0, a Debian-based desktop Linux distribution with a choice of GNOME 3.12 or KDE 4.13 desktops: "We are proud to announce the release of alpha 1 of Tanglu 2 today. The release mainly brings updated software and loads of fixes regarding systemd services. There also has been a lot of work on the Debian installer to make it work for Tanglu and initial work exploring a port of Ubiquity (the Ubuntu installer) to Tanglu has started - although this project is only an experiment so far. There have also been improvements to KDM (systemd integration), but we expect the final release of Tanglu to ship with SDDM instead of KDM. The whole Tanglu distribution is now built on debile and there have been several other infrastructure improvements alongside that large change." The release announcement. Download links (SHA256, pkglist): tanglu-1.80-Alpha1-gnome-live-amd64.hybrid.iso (960MB), tanglu-1.80-Alpha1-kde-live-amd64.hybrid.iso (1,058MB).