Try Peppermint OS - a fast and efficient Linux distro

Peppermint is a Linux-based operating system with a strong focus on web apps. It is based on Ubuntu, and was designed for enhanced mobility, efficiency, and ease-of-use.

System Requirements

• i386 or derivative processor
• 192 MB of RAM
• 4 GB hard drive space

There are two flavors of Peppermint -  Peppermint One and Peppermint Ice. The main difference is that Peppermint One uses Mozilla's Prism technology, while Peppermint Ice uses Peppermint Ice SSB [Site Specific Browser]. Also, One uses Firefox, and Ice uses Chromium.

I installed Peppermint Ice on my netbook, and I like it a lot. I did choose Ice over One mainly because I prefer Chromium over Firefox. Also, I was curious about the Peppermint Ice SSB installed on Ice.

If you encounter the 'Your battery might be old or broken' message, there's a solution for that.

1. You'll need to install gconf-editor, using Software Manager [Menu > Software Manager].
2. After successfully installing gconf-editor, open a terminal window [Menu > Accessories > LXTerminal].
3. Type gconf-editor in the terminal
4. Navigate to the Apps folder
5. Navigate to the gnome-power-manager sub folder
6. Navigate to the notify sub folder
7. Find the setting called "low_capacity"
8. Remove the tick next to it

So far, I'm impressed with Peppermint Ice, and I'll be using it on my handy-dandy netbook.

More about Peppermint OS >>

Firefox 3.5.6 – Customizable Open Source Web Browser

Firefox 3.5.6 (Windows, Open Source, 7.7MB) [alt DL] is a web browser that sets the pace with dozens of new features to deliver a faster, more secure and customizable Web browsing experience for all.

Also available for Linux.

Changes:

• Fixed several security issues.
• Fixed several stability issues.

IceRocket Tags: mozilla, firefox, windows open source, linux

Google Chrome (BETA) Now Available for Linux

Google Chrome (BETA) for Linux (Linux, Open Source) is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.

This is for Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora, and openSUSE, and other related flavors of these distros.

Technorati Tags: google chrome, linux, open source

Chromium OS USB Drive Version Now Available

Hexxeh has recently released a build for the Chromium OS USB Drive Version. This will let you install the OS to a thumb drive.

Instructions for Windows, Linux, and Mac are available.

More info at the Hexxeh site >>

(Thanks to Joel for the heads up!)

IceRocket Tags: chromium, os, usb

FileZilla 3.2.6 – Fast and Reliable FTP Client

FileZilla 3.2.6 (Windows, Open Source, 3.8MB) [alt DL] is a fast and reliable cross-platform FTP, FTPS and SFTP client with lots of useful features and an intuitive graphical user interface.

Also available for Linux.

Changes:

• Don't display error messages multiple times if modification times of edited file cannot be obtained
• Fix problems with certificate dialog introduced in 3.2.6-rc1

IceRocket Tags: filezilla, ftp, windows open source

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 – Faster, More Secure, and Customizable Web Browser

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 (Windows, Open Source, 7.7MB) [alt DL] sets the pace with dozens of new features to deliver a faster, more secure and customizable Web browsing experience for all.

Also available for Linux.

Changes:

• Use the new Private Browsing Mode and the updated Clear Recent History function (in the Tools menu) to keep your browsing habits a secret.
• Tear tabs off the tab bar to create new windows, and drag and drop them from one Firefox window to another.
• Watch a video in your browser without needing any plugins or external media players.
• Control the Smart Location Bar results with special characters.

IceRocket Tags: mozilla, firefox, browser, windows open source

Wine 1.1.18 – Run Windows Apps in Linux

Wine 1.1.18 (Linux, Open Source, 14.5MB) [alt DL] is a project to allow a PC running a Unix-like operating system and the X Window System to run x86 programs for Microsoft Windows.

Changes:

• RPC over HTTP support
• Improved support for upgrades in MSI
• Debug symbols in WineDbg on Mac OS X
• Many Direct3D code cleanups
• Various bug fixes

IceRocket: wine linux system utility, linux open source

Wine 1.1.12 – Run MS Windows Apps in Linux

Wine 1.1.12 (Linux, Open Source, 14.1MB) [alt DL] is a project to allow a PC running a Unix-like operating system and the X Window System to run x86 programs for Microsoft Windows.

Changes:

• Some simple 64-bit apps should now run
• Support for subpixel font rendering
• 64-bit code generation in the IDL compiler
• New version of the Gecko engine
• Various bug fixes

IceRocket: wine, run windows apps in linux, linux open source

Wine 1.1.10 – Run Windows Apps in Linux

Wine 1.1.10 (Linux, Open Source, 14MB) [alt DL] is a project to allow a PC running a Unix-like operating system and the X Window System to run x86 programs for Microsoft Windows.

Changes:

• Support for virtual memory write watches
• Workarounds for the WINAPI compiler bug on Mac OS
• Several fixes for the 64-bit build
• Some more GdiPlus functions
• Various bug fixes

IceRocket: wine, run windows apps in linux, open source

Fedora Linux 10 Final

Fedora Linux 10 Final (Linux, Freeware, 3GB) [alt DL] is an openly-developed project designed by Red Hat, open for general participation, led by a meritocracy, following a set of project objectives.

The goal of The Fedora Project is to work with the Linux community to build a complete, general purpose operating system exclusively from open source software. Development will be done in a public forum. The project will produce time-based releases of Fedora (Core) about 2-3 times a year, with a public release schedule. The Red Hat engineering team will continue to participate in building Fedora (Core) and will invite and encourage more outside participation than in past releases. By using this more open process, we hope to provide an operating system more in line with the ideals of free software and more appealing to the open source community.

If you are itching to try a new Linux distro, Fedora Linux 10 is ready for your evaluation.

IceRocket: fedora linux, operating system

Wine 1.1.8 | Run Windows Apps in Linux

Wine 1.1.8 (Linux, Open Source, 13.9MB) [alt DL] is a project to allow a PC running a Unix-like operating system and the X Window System to run x86 programs for Microsoft Windows. Alternately, those wishing to port a Windows application to a Unix-like system can compile it against the Wine libraries.

Changes:

• Substantial parts of inetcomm implemented (for Outlook)
• Still better crypt32 support
• Memory management improvements
• Theming support for buttons
• Various bug fixes

IceRocket: wine, run windows apps in linux

Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) – Debian-based Linux Distro

Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) (Linux, Open Source, 699MB) [alt DL] is a Linux distribution that starts with the breadth of Debian and adds regular releases (every six months), a clear focus on the user and usability (it should "Just Work", TM) and a commitment to security updates with 18 months of support for every release.

Ubuntu ships with the latest Gnome release as well as a selection of server and desktop software that makes for a comfortable desktop experience off a single installation CD.

At first, I did an upgrade of my Ubuntu 8.04 installation using the 8.10 alternate CD. The upgrade process went through without any problems.

I also wanted to see how Ubuntu 8.10 was like out of the box, so I did a clean re-install. Here are my first impressions:

1. My wireless card (a USB device based on the Realtek rtl8187 chipset) worked “out of the box”, but only had a signal strength of around 16%. While the wireless connection was usable, I opted to use Windows drivers via ndiswrapper. Using ndiswrapper, I get about 76% signal.

2. Launchy for Linux wasn’t working properly under Ubuntu 8.10. Trying to launch Firefox or Flock resulted in the opening of a file using gedit.

3. Graphics seem to be quite buggy: the topbar of windows become blank from time to time. I’m not sure if it’s due to the Nvidia drivers included in Ubuntu 8.10.

If you use Ubuntu in your main PC and as your main OS, my suggestion would be to hold on to Ubuntu 8.04 LTS for a while. If you are itching for an upgrade, maybe it’s a good idea to wait for a possible 8.10.1, or just wait for Ubuntu 9.04.

IceRocket: ubuntu, 8.10, intrepid, ibex

UNetbootin 2.82 – Create a USB Drive with Bootable Linux OS

UNetbootin 2.82 (Windows, Open Source, 4MB) allows for the installation of various Linux/BSD distributions to a partition or USB drive, so it's no different from a standard install, only it doesn't need a CD. It can create a dual-boot install, or replace the existing OS entirely.

Also available for Linux.

This lets you create a portable Linux or BSD desktop that you can run on any PC that can boot from a USB port.

IceRocket: unetbootin, usb, boot, windows, linux, open source

Wine 1.1.6 – Run Windows Apps in Linux

Wine 1.1.6 (Linux, Open Source, 13.9MB) [alt DL] is a project to allow a PC running a Unix-like operating system and the X Window System to run x86 programs for Microsoft Windows.

Changes:

• Beginnings of schannel implementation using GnuTLS
• Many fixes from various code analysis tools
• Support for X11 desktop work area
• Fixes for Richedit tables
• More complete JavaScript support
• Various bug fixes

IceRocket: wine, run, windows, application, open source

Realtek RTL8187L Wireless LAN Driver v1.313

Realtek RTL8187L Wireless LAN Driver v1.313 (Windows, Freeware, 10MB) is a utility and driver package for the USB (and probably for PCI) wireless LAN devices based on the Realtek RTL8187L chip.

Also available for Linux and Mac OS.

Changes (from v1.304):

• [Vista] Fix the bug of reconnection from S3/S4 resume.
• [Vista] Revise reconnection request.
• WEP Authentication timeout revision.
• Release latest driver.
• Speed up Sw AES encrypt in USB-bus.
• Fix Supplicant WPA2 index error.
• Fix XP nVidia chipset USB throughput issue.
• Revise connect request for customization.
• Connect request revision.
• For WLK1.2

Technorati: realtek, rtl, 8187, 8187l, wireless, lan, driver, utility, windows, linux, mac, freeware

Wine 1.1.5 - Run Windows Apps in Linux

Wine 1.1.5 (Linux, Open Source, 13.8MB) [alt DL] is a project to allow a PC running a Unix-like operating system and the X Window System to run x86 programs for Microsoft Windows.

Changes:

• Substantial JavaScript implementation
• Partial support for layered windows
• Support for Unicode file export in Regedit
• Proper exception handling in widl-generated code
• Asynchronous requests and cookies support in WinHTTP
• Various bug fixes

Technorati: wine, run, windows, app, linux, open source

Adobe AIR for Linux public beta

Adobe AIR for Linux public beta (Linux, Freeware, 10.6MB) is a runtime software that lets developers use proven web technologies to build rich Internet applications that deploy to the desktop and run across operating systems.

Also available for Windows.

Technorati: adobe, air, linux, runtime, freeware

Flock 1.2.3 - Social Web Browser

Flock 1.2.3 (Windows, Freeware, 10.7MB) [download via FileHippo] is a free web browser that makes it easier than ever to share photos, stay up-to-date with news from your favorite sites, and search the Web.

Also available for Linux.

Changes:

• Incorporated Mozilla's 2.0.0.15 patch for Firefox.
• Several fixes for a better Digg experience
• Several fixes for sharing media with Yahoo! Mail.
• A fix for the Media Magic bar and YouTube videos.
• A character encoding fix for importing Favorites.
• A fix for displaying the YouTube avatar.

Technorati: flock, web, internet, browser, social, windows, freeware

Opera 9.51 - Full Featured Internet Browser

Opera 9.51 (Windows, Freeware, 8.7MB) [download via FileHippo] is a full-featured Internet browser, Opera includes pop-up blocking, tabbed browsing, integrated searches, and advanced functions like Opera's groundbreaking E-mail program, RSS Newsfeeds and IRC chat.

Also available for Linux.

Change: recommended security and stability upgrade.

Technorati: opera, web, browser, internet, windows, linux, freeware

Pidgin 2.4.3 - Multi-Protocol IM Client

Pidgin 2.4.3 (Windows, Open Source, 12.3MB) [download via FileHippo] is a multi-protocol instant messaging (IM) client that is compatible with AIM and ICQ (Oscar protocol), MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, IRC, Jabber, Gadu-Gadu, SILC, GroupWise Messenger, and Zephyr networks.

Also available for Linux.

Changes:

• Yahoo! Japan now uses UTF-8, matching the behavior of official clients
  and restoring compatibility with the web messenger
• Setting your buddy icon once again works for Yahoo! accounts.
• Fixes in the Yahoo! protocol to prevent a double free, crashes on
  aliases, and alias functionality
• Always use UTF-8 for Yahoo!
• Fix a crash when the given jabber id is invalid.
• Make the IRC "unknown message" debugging messages UTF-8 safe.
• Fix connecting to ICQ
• Fix a memleak when handling jabber xforms.
• Include the send button plugin in the win32 build
• Various memory leak fixes

Technorati: pigdin, im, instant, messaging, client, windows, linux, open source