Linux Mint 9 Isadora Final Coming In A Week

Article by George Norman (Cybersecurity Editor)

on 11 May 2010

Soon you will be able to put Linux Mint 8 Helena behind and upgrade to Linux Mint 9 Isadora. Last week the Release Candidate of Linux Mint 9 was rolled out, indicating that the final, stable version is just around the corner. According to Lead Linux Mint Developer Clem Lefebvre, the final, stable version of Linux Mint 9 will be released very soon.

How soon? In Clem Lefebvre’s own words: “Looking at the remaining bugs and considering the amount of testing needed I would say we’re about 1 week away from releasing Linux Mint 9. I know most operating systems and distributions stick to release dates and announce them well in advance but I see no reason not to release something once it’s ready and many reasons not to do so until it is. The release could be out a little earlier or a little bit later than expected.”

Since Linux Mint 9 RC was rolled out the development team has managed to fix a total of 21 bugs. There are still 11 bugs that need to be addressed before the final version of Isadora is rolled out.

As a little reminder, here is what you can expect to get from Linux Mint 9 codename Isadora:

- Based on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx, Linux 2.6.32, Gnome 2.30 and Xorg 7.4
- Completely rewritten Software Manager and mintInstall
- More than 30,000 applications that you can view in Software Manager and online
- Software Manager Uses and monitors the APT daemon, so clicking “Install” means the action is queued and processed in the background. You can cancel actions, see on-going actions, view action progress.
- Software Manager is completely asynchronous and independent from APT. The actions you selected will run in the background even if you close the Software Manager.
- The Software Manager updates itself with all the reviews contributed by other users.
- Completely rewritten Backup Tool as mintBackup is known. The new tool can perform the following tasks: backup and restore files and directories, backup and restore your software selection, check differences in files and perform incremental backups/restorations, check the integrity of the files after it copies them, backup straight to an archive and compress it on the fly.
- Menu improvements: editable items, transparent menu, always start with favorites, “Add to” shortcuts.
- Completely rewritten Desktop Settings tool. It features a new look and feel, new options, usability improvements. Changes made with the Desktop Settings tool take effect immediately (you no longer have to close the tool for the changes to take effect).
- The Update Manager uses new icons that look like white shields.
- Update Manage will display an error icon only when something actually goes wrong, like when software sources are malformed, not when your internet connection is down.
- mint4win, the Windows installer is back.
- In memory of Mats Geier a.k.a Husse, when you open a terminal, the random messages that shows up features one of Husse’s best quotes.
- Three new commands for apt: “apt hold <package>”, “apt unhold <package>” and “apt held”.
- USB-creator added to the default software selection.
- Linux Mint 9 comes with P7zip, Gwibber, apturl and Startup Manager installed by default.
- Linux Mint now includes a local repository activated by default
- New backgrounds and artwork
- Welcome screen is now rendered in HTML
- Community website

If you can’t wait for the final version of Linux Mint 9, you can grab the RC right now. Linux Mint 9 RC is available for download as a liveCD in both 32-bit and 65-bit flavors.

To download Linux Mint 9 RC i386 click here.
To download Linux Mint 9 RC amd64 click here.


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