Linux Mint 9 codename Isadora has reached a very important milestone in its development process. The operating system has been made available for download as a Release Candidate (RC). Yes, Linus Mint 9 RC is now avaialbel for download. This means that pretty soon the final, stable version will be rolled out an you’ll be able to leave Linux Mint 8 Helena behind.

As always, Lead Linux Mint Developer Clem Lefebvre announced the release: “The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 9 “Isadora” RC. As an RC (Release Candidate) this release is targeted at developers and beta-testers who want to help Linux Mint find and correct bugs before the stable release. Please do not use this release as your main desktop.”

Linux Mint follows the Ubuntu release cycle. Ubuntu recently rolled out Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Desktop Edition and Ubuntu 10.04 Server Edition. The LTS there stands for Long Term Support. Just like Ubuntu 10.04, Linux Mint 9 is an LTS – this means Linux Mint wil provide support for the OS for 3 years.

Here is what you can expect to get from Linux Mint 9 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

Linux Mint 9 RC is available for download as a liveCD in both 32-bit and 65-bit.
To download Linux Mint 9 RC i386 click here.
To download Linux Mint 9 RC amd64 click here.

Here is one other Linux Mint change you should know about: the KDE, Xfce, LXDE and Fluxbox editions are now considered official and no longer use the "Community" label.