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Linux Mint 12

Many bugs were fixed in preparation for the final release:

  • apturl is now fully functional
  • adding PPA repositories was fixed
  • MATE received a critical update to mate-session-manager (this bug prevented MATE to be started from the login screen for i386 users)
  • mintMenu was ported to MATE
  • packages now open with gdebi
  • mgse-menu received keyboard navigation and multiple bug fixes
  • mgse-windowlist was given a brand new look and now looks extremely similar to the Gnome 2 window list
  • mgse-bottompanel now makes it possible to switch between workspaces using the keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys
  • Mint-Z now features silver-looking bottom panels, menu and window list which look similar to Mint 11, as well as a new theme called Mint-Z-Dark which features black components and looks like an improvement of the MGSE desktop from the RC release.
  • The ability to open directories as root was added to Gnome 3

The feedback we got from the RC wasn’t as straight forward as it usually is. As expected, the introduction of Gnome 3 is dividing the Mint community. We were delighted to see that MGSE was well received and that it helped people migrating to Gnome 3. MGSE received a lot of noticeable improvements since and the final release of Linux Mint 12 will come with a Gnome 3 experience that is significantly better than in the RC release.

I personally understand the fact that some Gnome 2 users are extremely concerned. Whether it’s Gnome 3 or MATE, these technologies are recent and they’re not as mature as Gnome 2. It’s important to understand that they represent our future though, and that sticking to Gnome 2 would make the situation in terms of packages and runtime conflicts with both Gnome 3 and Ubuntu completely unmanageable. In other words, if we were to stick to Gnome 2.32, Linux Mint would no longer be compatible with Ubuntu and you would not be able to run Gnome 3 in Linux Mint. We were one of the last distributions to support Gnome 2, we’re amongst the very few to support MATE and we’re innovating on Gnome 3 to ease this transition and make people feel at home on this new desktop. With Linux Mint 12 we’re giving Mint users the option to try MATE and to migrate to Gnome 3/MGSE. Though it might be considered a step backwards, these two desktops will improve rapidly and this is a process which needs to be done at some stage. Previous releases of Linux Mint are still available to users who prefer Gnome 2 of course, and by the time they become obsolete, both MATE and Gnome 3/MGSE will have matured, MATE into an ever-closer incarnation of Gnome 2, and Gnome3/MGSE into a brand new implementation of the vision we have for the Linux Mint desktop.

The Debian Administrator’s Handbook

You probably know Raphaël Hertzog and Roland Mas already, but did you know they wrote this book?

Until now the book was only available in French, but the two developers recently gathered enough financial support from the Linux community to translate their book into English. The story isn’t over though. They’re trying to gather enough funds for the liberation of the book and to release it under a free license.

You can read a chapter of this book at:

http://ouaza.com/~rhertzog/chapter-apt-mint.pdf

If you’re interested in helping out please visit the following URL:

http://debian-handbook.info/go/ulule-linuxmint/

Note: The affiliate tags for Linux Mint in the above links are not commercial. All the money you send to help the book, with the exception of applicable margins from Paypal and Ulule, goes to the book.

Anecdotes

Early this week, we received this interesting picture… a chipset with some kind of Linux Mint logo on it.

And in Romania, the University 1 Decembrie 1918 recently installed Linux Mint on the 21 computers of its PC Lab.

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The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 12 “Lisa” RC.


Linux Mint 12 “Lisa” RC

New features at a glance:

For a complete overview and to see screenshots of the new features, visit: “What’s new in Linux Mint 12“.

Known problems:

  • MATE
  • Nautilus actions
  • Adding PPA repositories
  • Apturl and apt://
  • Moonlight
  • Upstream issues

To get more information about these problems and their solution, read the “Known problems” section of the release notes.

System requirements:

  • x86 processor (Linux Mint 64-bit requires a 64-bit processor. Linux Mint 32-bit works on both 32-bit and 64-bit processors).
  • 512 MB RAM (1GB recommended for a comfortable usage).
  • 5 GB of disk space
  • Graphics card capable of 800×600 resolution
  • CD/DVD drive or USB port

Bug reports:

Please report any bug you may find in Launchpad.

Download:

Md5 sum:

  • CD no codecs 32-bit: 3dd08ce9e7efcedbce236293ef44cdb6
  • CD no codecs 64-bit: 8c24c67f93d9aff9c50fdbd2924602c2
  • DVD 32-bit: 30654eac57bcf8210c8360d3b149b204
  • DVD 64-bit: 3f5667e38f3090b1cd226c47fcbc934a

Torrents:

HTTP Mirrors for the 32-bit CD No codecs ISO:

HTTP Mirrors for the 64-bit CD No codecs ISO:

HTTP Mirrors for the 32-bit DVD ISO:

HTTP Mirrors for the 64-bit DVD ISO:

Enjoy!

We look forward to receiving your feedback. Thank you for using Linux Mint and have a lot of fun testing the release candidate!

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Donations & Sponsorships:

Many thanks to the following donors and sponsors for financially supporting Linux Mint:

Donors:

  • $700 (5th donation), Ian M. aka “bcc4foss“
  • $314.15, Andrew Coristine
  • $205 (2nd donation), Internet Beacon
  • $160 (2nd donation), Jim D. aka “jajodo”
  • $100 (6th donation), Jordan S.
  • $100 (6th donation), Gregor M.
  • $100 (3rd donation), Drazen P.
  • $100 (2nd donation), Steve Hoffman aka “SteveHoffmanUK”
  • $100, Gregory P.
  • $100, Robert C.
  • $67.64, Dirk K.
  • $67.64, Douglas L.
  • $67.63, Joachim M.
  • $67.56, Quim aka “slackjp”
  • $64.75 (2nd donation), Jean-Paul Genette
  • $64.75, Uwe U.
  • $60 (4th donation), Darrel Norstrom aka “Darrel”
  • $54.39, Nikolaj P.
  • $54.11 (7th donation), Pasi K.
  • $54.11, Durand F.
  • $50 (25th donation), Slavoljub aka “slw”
  • $50 (10th donation), JBHoren
  • $50 (8th donation), Tsuguo S.
  • $50 (7th donation), Andreas S. aka “Unforgiving67“
  • $50 (7th donation), Tsuguo S.
  • $50 (6th donation), Tsuguo S.
  • $50 (4th donation), Richard H.
  • $50 (3rd donation), V. Mark Lehky aka “SiKing“
  • $50 (2nd donation), Alan H.
  • $50 (2nd donation), Mark S.
  • $50, DJ Conde
  • $50, Robert M.
  • $50, James D.
  • $50, David P.
  • $50, Edie M.
  • $50, Einnar aka “einnar”
  • $50, Chris R.
  • $50, Ken de Montigny
  • $50, Joel T.
  • $50, Frederick M.
  • $40.58 (3rd donation), Lorenz F.
  • $40.58, Jorge D.
  • $40.53, Inigo X. C.
  • $38.85 (6th donation), Wolfgang P.
  • $33.82, Gregor K.
  • $33.78, Matthias H.
  • $32.38 (3rd donation), MartinF aka “badwolf9“
  • $30, Jason G.
  • $30, jmro3006
  • $27.06 (25th donation), Manuel F.
  • $27.06 (2nd donation), Jens-uwe R.
  • $27.06, Thomas H.
  • $27.06, Darth
  • $27.06, Eric C.
  • $25.9 (20th donation), Olli K.
  • $25.9 (2nd donation), Ron D.
  • $25.9, Michel B.
  • $25.9, Victor J. J. J.
  • $25.9, Rita M.
  • $25.9, Stephen C.
  • $25 (3rd donation), Kent K.
  • $25 (3rd donation), Adam D.
  • $25 (2nd donation), Marcus K. aka “TH3B4R0N“
  • $25, Jude N.
  • $25, Darin S.
  • $25, Len J.
  • $25, Internet Beacon
  • $25, Christian T.
  • $25, David L. aka “lebel“
  • $25, Tim B.
  • $25, Ricky B.
  • $20 (5th donation), Phillip H.
  • $20 (4th donation), Richard G. aka “Trollboy”
  • $20 (3rd donation), Eduardo O.
  • $20 (2nd donation), Paul C
  • $20 (2nd donation), Simon N.
  • $20 (2nd donation), Denis L.
  • $20 (2nd donation), Earl Dukerschein aka “Bitflogger“
  • $20, Wayne A.
  • $20, Michael E.
  • $20, Kazuyoshi K.
  • $20, Larry H. J.
  • $20, Erin Z.
  • $20, David S
  • $20, David R.
  • $20, Timofey T.
  • $20, Erin Z.
  • $20, Larry B.
  • $20, Oddgeir K.
  • $20, Jonathan H.
  • $20, Ernie H.
  • $20, Mostafa
  • $20, Ryan M.
  • $20, Patrick H.
  • $20, Juan M.
  • $20, Sergey S.
  • $20, Tatsuya H.
  • $19.43 (4th donation), Jarkko K.
  • $17.59 (2nd donation), Rufus
  • $15 (8th donation), P. S. B. aka “fixpcpaul“
  • $15 (7th donation), William S. aka “Supergoo”
  • $15 (2nd donation), Špiro T.
  • $15 (2nd donation), David K.
  • $15, Wen H. L.
  • $15, Barry T.
  • $15, Andy N.
  • $15, Mark B.
  • $13.53 (3rd donation), Ivan Bulychev aka “vanyok“
  • $13.53, Nikos C.
  • $13.53, Emanuele B.
  • $13.53, Steffen S. aka “TSS”
  • $13.53, John T.
  • $13.53, Adrian P aka “anticupidon”
  • $13.53, Hans S.
  • $13.53, Paolo B.
  • $13.52 (4th donation), Andras Porga aka “GodmaNZ”
  • $13.52, Gerard V.
  • $13.51, Rosen T.
  • $13.51, Peter L.
  • $12.95 (3rd donation), Helmut T.
  • $12.95 (2nd donation), Lauri T.
  • $12.95, Marten J. K.
  • $11, Kazuyoshi Y.
  • $10 (9th donation), Kiril Sotirov
  • $10 (8th donation), Tony C. aka “S. LaRocca”
  • $10 (7th donation), Ronald Trip
  • $10 (6th donation), Geschenkideen
  • $10 (5th donation), SamVimes
  • $10 (3rd donation), Andrew Simpson
  • $10 (2nd donation), zetay
  • $10 (2nd donation), Tom Cordina aka “4Foot”
  • $10 (2nd donation), Philip E.
  • $10 (2nd donation), Adam aka “DJ Black Tea”
  • $10 (2nd donation), Thomas M. aka “Zeppo”
  • $10 (2nd donation), Mark B.
  • $10 (2nd donation), Masashi A.
  • $10 (2nd donation), Marcin W.
  • $10, Mariusz P.
  • $10, Christopher R.
  • $10, Steven W.
  • $10, Charles R.
  • $10, Ernest B.
  • $10, Wilson de Carvalho Jr. aka “24horasonline“
  • $10, Charles O.
  • $10, Jonathan K.
  • $10, Luke R aka “RayZor PC’s”
  • $10, Frank Martin aka “”kitanis””
  • $10, Alessandro L. aka “Armido”
  • $10, Atusushi S.
  • $10, Felipe H.
  • $10, Julio A. P. M.
  • $10, Winston H.
  • $10, Dean P.
  • $10, mockturtl
  • $10, Andrew D.
  • $10, M7MED ALOTAIBI aka “Snix“
  • $10, Kiernan H.
  • $10, Lukáš K.
  • $10, Steven H.
  • $10, Thomas W.
  • $10, Nick K.
  • $10, Sergey Y.
  • $10, Morten J.
  • $10, Jack H.
  • $10, Julio S. P.
  • $10, Michael Franzwa
  • $10, Michael D.
  • $10, Christopher S.
  • $10, Birendra M.
  • $8, Ubawuchi E.
  • $7 (3rd donation), Antonina K. aka “Tonya”
  • $6.76 (2nd donation), Sampsa P.
  • $6.76, Felix B.
  • $6.76, Matthieu S.
  • $6.76, David J.
  • $6.76, Andrew M. aka “droidz”
  • $6.48 (16th donation), Paco C.C. aka “kannabix”
  • $6.48 (2nd donation), Jan V. P.
  • $6.48 (2nd donation), Arnold Bechtoldt aka “arnoldB“
  • $6.48, Yannick G. aka “Uggy”
  • $6.48, Dafni K.
  • $6.48, Mike S.
  • $6.48, Mickael P.
  • $6.48, Riccardo V.
  • $5.41, Petr K.
  • $5 (8th donation), Michael K.
  • $5 (7th donation), Miljenko D. aka “ljacmi”
  • $5 (5th donation), tommy_b
  • $5 (4th donation), lupinehorror
  • $5 (4th donation), Johnny Reel aka “Jraz“
  • $5 (3rd donation), Neb Radojkovic
  • $5 (3rd donation), Simon Cygielski
  • $5 (2nd donation), Hrvoje R.
  • $5 (2nd donation), Performance by Design aka “Autocrosser @ Mint Debian Forums”
  • $5, Michał P.
  • $5, Bradley W.
  • $5, Omar A. D. L. T. A.
  • $5, Quang L.
  • $5, Todd J.
  • $5, Alberto S. N.
  • $5, David R.
  • $5, Teri D.
  • $5, NenadT aka “Joomla Modules“
  • $5, Bogdan
  • $5, Robert S.
  • $5, Gipponi A.
  • $3.58 (3rd donation), Ron Panduwana
  • $3.14, Pradini P.
  • $3, Jose P. C. A. aka “uvas_1”
  • $3, Reinhold N.
  • $3, Nikolay A.
  • $2.98 (3rd donation), Jurek W.
  • $2.7, Resat A.
  • $2.59, Alessandro P.
  • $2 (7th donation), black mold test kits
  • $2, Azlan A Raof aka “lankapo“
  • $2, Ryan Cragun aka “rcragun“
  • $2, Travis H.
  • $2, jomar (john b.) aka “beta_tester“
  • $1.35, Tim P.
  • $1.01, Laurentiu Lozan aka “coroner“
  • $1 (4th donation), Snoring Solutions
  • $1 (2nd donation), Chile Holidays
  • $1 (2nd donation), cleaning granite countertops
  • $1, Trung B. Pham
  • $1, Fady R.
  • $1, Bojan U.
  • $1, dyxhenry
  • $1, Srinivasan A. R.
  • $1, Miguel A. D. G.
  • $1, Ferdinand Development
  • $1, cleaning granite countertops
  • $1, Tayfun ilme aka “PanxeR“
  • $1, Santiago G. T. aka “melenas1414“
  • $1, Julie E.
  • $1, Renato P.
  • $0.8 (3rd donation), Philip Patrick Butkiewicz aka “bagnz0r“

Sponsors:

Money raised in October:

* Donations: $6100.32 (237 donors)
* Sponsors: $1423.98 (135 sponsors)

http://www.linuxmint.com/donors.php
http://www.linuxmint.com/sponsors.php

Rankings:

  • Distrowatch (popularity ranking): 2237 (1st)
  • Alexa (website ranking): 10,664th

Events:

News and summary:

  • The death of Robin was the most tragic and important event for many in our community this month. He was very active within Linux Mint and appreciated by a lot of people. I would like to add my personal condolences to all who miss him, his friends and family and the people within my team who were shaken by this tragedy.  
  • Linux Mint 12 was approved for an RC release and should come out in about 2 days. In terms of quality, there are concerns about mint4win and MATE. MGSE and the Gnome 3 desktop passed QA with success.
  • I would like to thank all the people who answered our call with donations and sponsorships. The support we got this month has been fantastic! The donations are at an all-time high. Some of them were extremely generous, and just to imagine 237 people gathered to help us is something truly unique. Many thanks to all people involved in helping us financially.
  • Thanks to all the people who help us by other means as well. Their help isn’t always as tangible and not as quantifiable but it’s an important part of our project. We work hard on making a good desktop, but we don’t engage in marketing or promotion. When people spread the word, show Linux Mint to their friends, neighbours and colleagues, when from 1 happy user we get 2, 3, or 4… when this buzz and excitement contributes to make our work known to others, our user base grows and the attention the media is giving us gets bigger. Today, we’re number #1 at Distrowatch. We can congratulate ourselves for getting there, not only our distribution but the project and the community as a whole.
  • Finally, just a quick note to KDE users. We will switch our focus to giving KDE another release and this process will start this December after Linux Mint 12 is out.