Linux Mint 8 Helena fans will be glad to know that the first release candidate (RC1) of the KDE Community Edition has been released. As an RC1, the software is intended for developers and beta-testers, so keep that in mind before you start downloading the operating system.

But if you do decide to install Linux Mint 8 KDE RC1, here is what you can expect to get:

• Based on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic koala, Linux 2.6.31 kernel, KDE 4.3.4 and Xorg 7.4
• The graphical interface is now easier to use and it shows more content
• The Update Manager will automatically inform the user when a new version of mintInstall-data is available. This way the user does not have to manually refresh the Software Manager.
• Software Manager is aware of the APT status of each application.
• The user can mark several applications for installation/removal.
• The looks of the Update Manager have been improved.
• Update Manager now uses Synaptic to refresh the list of update. When Update Manager is visible, the user will see progress information on the screen.
• If a problem occurs, Update Manager displays an error message in the main window (previously the error message was displayed only in the logs).
• Software Sources tool can be accessed in the Edit menu (this is another Update Manager improvement).
• The user can define a list of packages for which updates will not be received. Wildcard characters can be used to define groups of package updates the user wants to ignore.
• Faster and more reliable update detection.
• The Windows compatibility layer installed by default.
• The software programs are installed by default as well: Minitube, Tucan, Google Widgets, Songbird, KDE partition manager, Guarddog.
• Network-manager-gnome replaces knetwork-manager
• Community editions use their own repositories
• Community editions can pin packages from the main edition.
• Mint tools are more modular they can now be installed without any configuration.

Moving on, Lead Linux Mint developer Clem Lefebvre announced back in December that the Fluxbox Community Edition would return. Fluxbox CE was discontinued because its maintainer, Shane Joe Lazar, had some other business to tend to. Kendal Weaver took over the development process of Fluxbox at the end of 2009 and the results of his work are now coming to surface.

“The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 8 “Helena” Fluxbox Community Edition RC1. This release has been built with the emphasis on a lightweight and yet fully functional desktop centered on the Fluxbox window manager. Even though we strive to provide out-of-the-box readiness for all your hardware and common computing tasks, Linux Mint Fluxbox CE is easily configurable to run on lower-spec hardware with the tools needed for doing so readily available,” announced Clem Lefebvre.

Here is what you can expect to get from Linux Mint 8 “Helena” Fluxbox Community Edition RC1 (they’re pretty much the same as the KDE Community Edition) :

• Based on Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic koala, Linux 2.6.31 kernel, Fluxbox 1.1.1 and Xorg 7.4
• The graphical interface is now easier to use and it shows more content
• The Update Manager will automatically inform the user when a new version of mintInstall-data is available. This way the user does not have to manually refresh the Software Manager.
• Software Manager is aware of the APT status of each application.
• The user can mark several applications for installation/removal.
• The looks of the Update Manager have been improved.
• You can resize the Update Manager and, in the view menu, you can define the visible columns in the list of updates.
• The user can define a list of packages for which updates will not be received.
• Update Manager now uses Synaptic to refresh the list of update. When Update Manager is visible, the user will see progress information on the screen.
• If a problem occurs, Update Manager displays an error message in the main window (previously the error message was displayed only in the logs).
• Software Sources tool can be accessed in the Edit menu (this is another Update Manager improvement).
• The user can define a list of packages for which updates will not be received. Wildcard characters can be used to define groups of package updates the user wants to ignore.
• Faster and more reliable update detection.
• This edition runs with no system settings daemon of any kind. This cuts down on resource usage.
• OpenOffice.org comes preinstalled.
• Play media with the Decibel audio player and Totem movie player
• LXTerminal replaces the XFCE4 Terminal
• Community editions use their own repositories
• Community editions can pin packages from the main edition.
• Mint tools are more modular they can now be installed without any configuration.
• Removed branding from Mint tools
• OEM installation can be launched from the LiveCD boot menu.

If you would like to get Linux Mint 8 KDE RC1, a download location is available here.
If you would like to get Linux Mint 8 Fluxbox RC1, a download location is available here .