The second and final beta release of Ubuntu 12.10, code name "Quantal Quetzal", is ready for testing: "The
Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the final beta release of Ubuntu
12.10 Desktop, Server, Cloud, and Core products. Some of the new
features available since beta 1 are: Quantal beta 2 includes the
3.5.0-15.23 Ubuntu Linux kernel which is based on the 3.5.4 upstream
Linux kernel; Unity has been updated to version 6.6 which contains the
new default web application in the launcher, a new shopping lens,
improvements to the dash and multiple bug fixes; GNOME has been updated
to 3.5.92 for most components (some to 3.6.0); accessibility is turned
on by default."
Ubuntu is a complete desktop Linux operating system, freely available
with both community and professional support. The Ubuntu community is
built on the ideas enshrined in the Ubuntu Manifesto: that software
should be available free of charge, that software tools should be usable
by people in their local language and despite any disabilities, and
that people should have the freedom to customise and alter their
software in whatever way they see fit. "Ubuntu" is an ancient African
word, meaning "humanity to others". The Ubuntu distribution brings the
spirit of Ubuntu to the software world.
For Ubuntu 13.04, the developers decided to return
to a normal development cycle and modified the release schedule to two
Alpha versions, one Beta release and one Release Candidate. Without
further ado, here's the official release schedule for Ubuntu 13.04.
| Alpha 1 |
December 6th, 2012 |
| Alpha 2 |
February 7th, 2013 |
| Beta |
March 7th, 2013 |
| Release Candidate |
April 18th, 2013 |
| Final Release |
April 25th, 2013 |
The delayed alpha build of Fedora 18 has been released: "The
Fedora 18 'Spherical Cow' alpha release is plumping up! This release
offers a preview of some of the best free and open-source technology
currently under development. Features: NetworkManager hotspots improve
the ability to use a computer's WiFi adapter to create a network hot
spot; the redesigned installation system adds flexibility to the
installation process while simplifying the user interface; desktop
updates galore - GNOME 3.6, KDE Plasma Workspace 4.9, Xfce 4.10, Sugar
0.98, and the introduction of the MATE Desktop in Fedora."
The Fedora Project 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
about 2-3 times a year, with a public release schedule. The Red Hat
engineering team will continue to participate in building Fedora 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.
Per Øyvind Karlsen has announced the availability of the first alpha release of Mandriva Linux 2012: "As
many of you might already be aware of, our first Mandriva Linux 2012
alpha has been ready for release for almost a week now, yet it only made
its way to the public mirrors today, so with that I declare it as
officially released! Some of the highlights since 2012 Tech Preview
include: faster, smaller and much improved installer; installer
text-mode is now working again; a slimmer, much-improved and fixed
rescue mode; dual architecture CD image has been improved with a more
complete set of packages filling it and also LXDE now shipped with it
and installed by default; switch to Linaro's GCC 4.7 branch has been
completed; HAL has finally been put to rest for good...."
Mandriva Linux was launched in 1998 under the name of Mandrake Linux,
with the goal of making Linux easier to use for everyone. At that time,
Linux was already well-known as a powerful and stable operating system
that demanded strong technical knowledge and extensive use of the
command line; MandrakeSoft saw this as an opportunity to integrate the
best graphical desktop environments and contribute its own graphical
configuration utilities to quickly become famous for setting the
standard in Linux ease of use. In February 2005, MandrakeSoft merged
with Brazil's Conectiva to form Mandriva S.A., with headquarters in
Paris, France. The company's flagship product, Mandriva Linux, offers
all the power and stability of Linux to both individuals and
professional users in an easy-to-use and pleasant environment.
