The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 8 Helena RC1.

Quick steps:

• Download the ISO or the torrent.
• While it’s downloading take an overview of the new features and make sure to quickly go through the known issues.
• After the ISO is downloaded verify the MD5.
• Burn the ISO at low speed and enjoy testing this RC of Linux Mint 8.

Introduction to Linux Mint 8:

The 8th release of Linux Mint comes with numerous bug fixes and a lot of improvements. In particular Linux Mint 8 comes with support for OEM installs, a brand new Upload Manager, the menu now allows you to configure custom places, the update manager now lets you define packages for which you don’t want to receive updates,the software manager now features multiple installation/removal of software and many of the tools’ graphical interfaces were enhanced.

This is just a summary of the new features coming with Linux Mint 8. For a complete overview of the new features, please read: “What’s new in Linux Mint 8 Helena”.

System requirements:

A minimum of 512MB of RAM is recommended. Once installed the system works fine with as low as 256MB RAM. The installation process deals with 2.5GB of data compressed on a 700MB CD and it can hang or fail on systems with less than 512MB RAM. If you have between 256MB and 512MB RAM you may have to try to install several times.

Important information and known issues:

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. For a complete list of known issues read the Release Notes.

Upgrade instructions:

Upgrade instructions will be published with the stable release.

Feedback and bug reports:

Please report any bug you may find via the Linux Mint 8 RC1 Bug Thread and give us your feedback on this release by posting a comment right here on the blog.

Download Linux Mint 8 RC1:

You can download Linux Mint 8 RC1 via torrent or via HTTP:

Size: 688MB LiveCD
MD5Sum: 93614f823d9d07c9560dfdb17d4db8fb

Torrent download: http://www.linuxmint.com/torrent/LinuxMint-8-RC1.iso.torrent
HTTP download: http://www.linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=44

Asia:

• http://ftp.jaist.ac.jp/pub/Linux/LinuxMint-ISO/testing/ (Japan)
• http://ftp.riken.jp/pub/Linux/linuxmint/testing/ (Japan)

Europe:

• http://gd.tuwien.ac.at/linux/mint/isos/testing/ (Austria)
• http://mint.nano-box.net/iso/testing/ (Bulgaria)
• http://mirrors.cytanet.com.cy/linux/mint/testing/ (Cyprus)
• http://ftp.klid.dk/ftp/linuxmint/testing/ (Denmark)
• http://linuxmint.cybermirror.org/testing/ (Germany)
• ftp://ftp.linuxmint-fr.org/pub/linuxmint.com/testing/ (Germany)
• http://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/linuxmint/testing/ (Greece)
• http://ftp.heanet.ie/pub/linuxmint.com/testing/ (Ireland)
• http://cesium.di.uminho.pt/pub/linuxmint/testing/ (Portugal)
• http://ftp.df.lth.se/pub/linuxmint/testing/ (Sweden)
• http://mirror.sov.uk.goscomb.net/linuxmint.com/testing/ (UK)

Northern America:

• http://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/linuxmint/testing/ (Canada)
• http://mirror.amarillolinux.com/linuxmint/testing/ (USA)
• http://mint.ez.by/linuxmint.com/testing/ (USA)
• http://linuxmint.secsup.org/testing/ (USA)
• ftp://mirrors.secution.com/linuxmint.com/testing/ (USA)

Enjoy!

Have a lot of fun testing this release candidate and let’s all hope it will help us make a great stable release.

Donations & Sponsorships:

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

Donors:

• $600 (3rd donation), Philippe Lotz aka “alsaphil” (France)
• $150 (2nd donation), Alan D S. (USA)
• $100, Carl – Y. B. (Sweden)
• $100, Phillip N. (USA)
• $100, Marcos Scriven (United Kingdom) – http://www.aboxo.com
• $75, John Di Stefano (Canada)
• $50 (3rd donation), Gordon Hilliard aka “ghilly” (United Kingdom)
• $50, Serge-Etienne Parent (Canada)
• $50, Rev. Bernard Quinn aka “Chiff” (Australia)
• $50, Tim L. (USA)
• $50, Hawkeye_52 (USA)
• $50, Peter S. (Australia)
• $50, Wayne W. (Canada)
• $45, Jason A. (United Kingdom)
• $45, Pau Carre Cardona (Spain)
• $44, Oerpen T. (Germany)
• $41, Ronnie Rosenqvist aka “DrRP” (Sweden)
• $40, Mary M. (USA)
• $39, Jean-Paul Genette (Belgium)
• $37, Manuel F. (Portugal)
• $30, Marvin W. (USA)
• $30, Daniel W. (World) – http://www.downloadstube.net
• $28, Dewi P. (World)
• $28, Soulakellis K. (Greece)
• $28, Frantisek Sofka aka “peso00 ” (Czech Republic)
• $28, Francisco C. C. (Spain)
• $28, Christoph H. (Germany)
• $28, Joakim R. (Finland)
• $26, Haynes J. aka “Wi11i@m” (USA)
• $25, Norman Skiba aka “GrayWizardLinux” (USA) – http://www.k-9training.us
• $25, Douglas A. (USA)
• $25, Jan Z. (Sweden)
• $25, Mark B. (Australia)
• $25, Rich Hladky (USA)
• $25, M H R. (Australia)
• $25, Jay Stewart aka “jag1182” (USA)
• $25, Denys F. (Canada)
• $25, Ronald T. (USA)
• $22, Steven Rattray (United Kingdom)
• $20, Ricardo Calimanis aka “linux.nyx” (Brazil) – http://goetti.blogspot.com
• $20, Mark C. aka “geekman” (USA)
• $20, Jay Butcher (USA)
• $20, Chris Kemp-Jackson (Canada)
• $20, Andrew A. (USA)
• $20, William R. (USA)
• $20, Dalibor Saula (Australia)
• $20, Jens B. (USA)
• $20, Finn-Erik H. (Norway)
• $20, Tim C. (United Kingdom)
• $15, Nigel Dyer aka “NigelDyer56” (United Kingdom)
• $15, Jim H. (United Kingdom)
• $15, Russ W. (World)
• $14, Stephen M. (Ireland)
• $14, Lasse H. (Finland)
• $14, Marek Polasek (Czech Republic)
• $14, Mikkel M. (Denmark)
• $14, Lee Sturman aka “Hammerlee” (United Kingdom)
• $14, Holger F. (Germany)
• $14, Enrique O. (Spain)
• $14, MJH van der W. (Netherlands)
• $11, Nick Koumaris (Greece) – http://www.lightrap.net
• $10 (2nd donation), Douglas S. (USA)
• $10, Scott M. (USA)
• $10, 室津 恵三 (Japan)
• $10, William S. (World)
• $10, John C. (USA)
• $10, Troy C. (USA)
• $10, Michael N. (Sweden)
• $10, Zoran (USA)
• $10, Serguei S. (Russia)
• $10, Adnan C. (Germany)
• $10, James G. (USA)
• $10, Kevin C. (USA)
• $10, Grzegorz G. (Poland)
• $10, Leonardo S. (USA)
• $10, Garrett H. (USA)
• $10, Christopher B. (United Kingdom)
• $10, Ryan J. (USA)
• $10, Raphael C. (USA)
• $10, Matt E. (USA)
• $10, Karthikanand K. (United Kingdom)
• $7, Florian G. (Germany)
• $7, Evzen H. (United Kingdom)
• $7, Isabel F. (Portugal)
• $7, Motta L. (Italy)
• $7, Ralf S. (Germany)
• $6, Loonie Bazaar (Canada) – http://www.looniebazaar.com
• $5, Havary Camara aka “justflea” (Brazil)
• $5, Kris Occhipinti (USA) – http://www.bashscripts.info
• $5, Stephen B. (USA)
• $5, Daifallah A. (Saudi Arabia)
• $5, Khuong D. N. (United Kingdom)
• $5, Tobias H. aka “bisato” (Germany)
• $5, Mateus H. (Brazil)
• $5, Eaves L. (USA)
• $5, Enrico Galli (Italy) – http://www.egw.it
• $5, Lubos Rendek (World) – http://www.linuxconfig.org
• $5, Marcus H. (USA)
• $5, Michael K. (USA)
• $5, Slavoljub M. (Norway)
• $3, Nils K. (Germany)
• $3, Mohd Z. (Malaysia)
• $2, Lubomir J. (Czech Republic)
• $1, Jaime M. (World)
• $1, B F (Suriname)

Sponsors:

• $105, R1Soft – http://www.r1soft.com/tools/linux-hot-copy/?ls=linuxmint
• $75, John Ritchie (Aging Technogeek – USA)
• $45, Linux Compatible Poker (USA) – http://www.linuxcompatiblepoker.com
• $40, Az Van (newW2 – USA)
• $25, American Broadband Family of Companies (USA) – http://www.americanbroadbandservice.com
• $20, TOPIMMOBILIEN (Tim – Germany) – http://www.immobilien-es.com
• $20, Scott P. (USA)
• $15, Russ W.
• $11, cheap vps hosting – http://www.neosurge.com
• $10, Stitz Computers, LLC (USA) – http://stitzcomputers.com
• $10, Rechtsberatung, Steuerberatung, Internetrecht (Tim) – http://www.rechtsundsteuerberatung.de
• $10 Gustav Holm (Sweden) – http://gustavholm.com
• $10, Brandon P.
• $7, Unixmen – http://www.unixmen.com/
• $7, Panagiotis Papasaikas (Greece) – http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/ppapasai/
• $7, Jesse Burroughs (JpBя – USA)
• $5, linuxmint-fr.org (ludal – France) – http://www.linuxmint-fr.org
• $5, linuxmint-italia.org (Pietro Martino / prior123 – Italy) – http://www.linuxmint-italia.org
• $5, Sohier C.
  
• $5, Christopher D.
• $5, DLX Company (USA) – http://www.dlxcompany.com/
• $5, Stuart C.
• $5, Paul S.
• $3.5, Ian Egland (Echolynx – USA)
• $2, Joerg Dreckmann (Germany)
• $2, Funkelectric (Spain) – http://www.funkelectric.com/
• $2, NVISN TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS AND CONSULTING (USA) – http://www.nvisn.com/
• $2, Ryan Lewon (vt102) – http://vt102.com/
• $2, Scott M.
• $1.5, Farbyte (UK) – http://farbyte.com
• $1, very-clever.com – http://www.very-clever.com
• $1, Busybits – http://www.busybits.com
• $1, linboo.com – http://www.linboo.com
• $1, Expert Bookings – http://www.expert-bookings.com
• $1, Cyprus Property (Cyprus) – http://www.leptosestates.com/
• $1, Недвижимость на Кипре (Cyprus) – http://www.leptos-estates.ru/
• $1, Cyprus Resale (Cyprus) – http://www.cyprusresaleproperties.com/
• $1, Prasad S.R. (India) – http://saysprasad.wordpress.com/
• $1, Surf in Peace (UK) – http://www.surfinpeace.co.uk/
• $1 Jakub Jasiulewicz (Poland) – http://jasiulewicz.pl
• $1, Erin G.
• $1, Greg Flynn (South Africa)
• $1, Liquidvps.net – http://www.liquidvps.net
• $0.9, Michael K.
  
• $0.5, Martijn van Loon (aapiethaaap – Netherlands)
• $0.5, Nottingham web design (UK) – http://www.drawmyattention.co.uk/

Money raised in August:

* Donations: $2951 (105 donors)
* Sponsors: $481.9 (46 sponsors)

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

User Stats:

Repartition of Linux Mint users across releases:

• Linux Mint 7 Gloria: 78% (+3%)
  
• Linux Mint 6 Felicia: 14% (-1%)
  
• Linux Mint 5 Elyssa LTS: 6% (-1%)
  
• Linux Mint 4.0 Daryna: 3% (-0%)
  

Web Stats:

• Visits: 1,981,352 (+6%)
  
• Pageviews: 3,409,953 (+2%)
• Page impressions: 1,363,287
• Search queries: 4,423,092
• Forum users: 21,397
• Forum posts: 184,959

Rankings:

• Distrowatch (popularity ranking): 1304 (3rd)
• Distrowatch (traffic share): 4.1% (2nd)
• Alexa (website ranking): 27,745th

Events:

• Linux Mint 7 Gloria XFCE was released: http://www.linuxmint.com/blog/?p=1026
• mintCast released 2 episodes of their podcast: http://mintcast.org/

Summary:

• September 2009 was the (7th consecutive) best month ever since the creation of Linux Mint.
• The overall income is up 10%.
• Our user base is the second largest in the desktop Linux market.
• The community support is outstanding: 105 people donated last month for a total of $2951 and our sponsors raised $481.9.