openSUSE 11.0 RC1

Joe 'Zonker' Brockmeier has announced the availability of the first release candidate for openSUSE 11.0: "The openSUSE Project is proud to announce the openSUSE 11.0 Release Candidate 1 (RC1). The good news is that we're closing in on the final release of 11.0, but it's not time to relax just yet. We’re getting really close, so we need all hands on deck to help test this release candidate. Since beta 3 we've fixed 578 bugs and resolved 1,118 bugs! Read on to see how you can help get 11.0 into top shape." See the rest of the release announcement for information on how to help with testing and to learn about known bugs. Download (MD5) one of the installable live CDs from here: openSUSE-11.0-RC1-KDE4-LiveCD-i386.iso (646MB, torrent), openSUSE-11.0-RC1-GNOME-LiveCD-i386.iso (662MB, torrent), openSUSE-11.0-RC1-KDE4-LiveCD-x86_64.iso (685MB, torrent), openSUSE-11.0-RC1-GNOME-LiveCD-x86_64.iso (680MB, torrent).

Foresight Linux 2.0.2

Ken VanDine has announced the release of Foresight Linux 2.0.2, an rPath-based desktop distribution featuring the latest GNOME technologies: "Announcing the release of Foresight Linux 2.0.2 GNOME edition. Some highlights: GNOME 2.22.2; GNOME Display Manager 2.22; 2.6.25.4 kernel; NetworkManager, more stable than ever; Mono 2.0 beta (now uses less memory); Banshee 1.0 beta. Foresight GNOME edition is a Linux distribution for your desktop that features a rolling release schedule that always keeps your desktop up to date; a revolutionary package manager, Conary; the latest GNOME desktop environment and an innovative set of excellent, up-to-date packages." Read the release announcement and release notes for further details. Download (SHA1): foresight-2.0.2-x86-dvd1.iso (1,166MB, torrent), foresight-2.0.2-x86_64-dvd1.iso (1,236MB, torrent).

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.7 Beta

Red Hat has announced the availability of the beta release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 4.7: "Red Hat is pleased to announce the availability of the beta release of 4.7 (kernel 2.6.9-70.EL) for the Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 family of products. This beta release includes the following improvements: virtualization enhancements; laptop and desktop enhancements; encryption and security enhancements; tuning and debugging - systemtap; tools enhancement (added JRockit 1.6.0); networking and IPv6 enablement; storage improvements; platform enhancements; kernel improvements; new driver support and driver updates; technology previews for the Frysk system monitor and GCC 4." Read the complete release announcement for a detailed list of all changes and improvements. Existing subscribers who are interested in beta testing this release can download the installation ISO images from Red Hat Networks.

Vispa 0.2.2.1

vispa is a small software, securing your Windows Vista installation and protecting your privacy. In addition to so-called Antispy features, it disables common security threats and increases your Windows performance.

There are many reasons why you wouldn't want your operating system connect to Microsoft's server, be it for practical reasons or pure idealism. Based on the source-code of the award-winning xpy (version 0.9.8), Vispa allows you to easily tweak your Windows Vista for better privacy and security, even system performance. Do a few clicks rather than finding the writeprogram settings. registry keys or

The only recommendation I can give is not applying settings without vague knowledge of what you're doing. Not every setting is desired in every environment. Vispa is no tool for beginners, just a more convenient way of tweaking your operating system.

Important: Some antivirus software might report Vispa as Spyware or a Trojan. Vispa is an executable written and compiled using NSIS, false-positives are unfortunately quite common among NSIS compiled programs. The NSIS development team is aware of this situation and constantly works with software companies to solve such issues.

Changes in v0.2.2.1 (2008-05-30):
* fixed bug in bitmap-graphics

Homepage - http://vispa.whyeye.org

Size: 69 KB

Download

nVIDIA Gelato for Windows 2.2

Release 1 NVIDIA® Gelato® rendering software allows anyone with an NVIDIA GPU to create stunning images fast. A hardware-accelerated, non-real-time renderer, Gelato was originally designed for the creation of 3D visual effects and animation in feature films. But Gelato is a powerful tool for any number of industries, including film & broadcast, CAD, architecture, and print.

Gelato is a software program that leverages the NVIDIA GPU as a floating point math processor. This allows Gelato to render images faster than comparable renderers, but without the quality limitations traditionally associated with real-time graphics processing on the GPU.

If you require extra power in your 3D rendering pipeline, you can upgrade to Gelato Pro. With Gelato Pro you get the features required for production rendering:
* NVIDIA® Sorbetto™ interactive relighting technology
* DSO shadeops
* Network parallel rendering
* Multithreading
* Native 64-bit support
* Maintenance and support from NVIDIA's High-Quality-Rendering Team

New In Gelato/Gelato Pro 2.2:
* Speed and memory improvements – scenes with huge displacement amounts now have can be rendered 5 times faster than before.
* Refined ray-traced reflection - the ability to handle multiple reflection rays with improved anti-aliasing.
* More accurate subsurface scattering techniques – by defining “albedo” and “Meanfreepath” coefficients.
* Enhanced texture converter – which lets you select, replicate and re-order individual color channels when creating textures.
* Mango now supports Maya Hair. - And includes a new shader for “Shave and a Haircut”, as well as, a new velvet shader.
* Windows XP Professional x64 support.

In addition to these changes, the Mango plug-in for Maya makes Gelato 2.2 easier to use and allows multiple versions of Maya to run simultaneously on your workstation. Other modifications include an updated User Interface, data exporting improvements, new pull-down menus and right-click functionality, standard placement of generated files in Mayaproject folders, better Maya batch rendering and other options via a custom Gelato XML file make workflow effortless and a more flexible SDB file system.

Homepage - http://www.nvidia.com/page/gz_home.html

Size: 81.3 MB

Download

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2

Red Hat has announced the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5.2, the second update to its RHEL 5.x product series: "Today we released the second update to Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5. As with earlier minor releases, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 comes with a broad set of bug fixes, updated hardware support capabilities, quality improvements, and a set of new software features that have been backported from upstream open source projects to the Enterprise Linux 5 code base. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 enhancements are primarily focused in six areas: virtualization, laptop and desktop improvements, encryption and security, cluster and storage enhancements, networking and IPv6 enablement, serviceability." Read the press release and release notes for more details. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.2 is available to existing subscribers Red Hat Networks - either as a set of new installation media or via the usual upgrade mechanisms.

SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 SP2

Novell has announced the release of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10, Service Pack 2: "Novell today announced the availability of SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 Service Pack 2 (SP2), containing enhancements in virtualization, management, hardware enablement and interoperability. SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP2 is the only Xen-based virtualization solution with full support from Microsoft for Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 guests and live migration of those guests across physical machines." This release provides security fixes and feature enhancements to SUSE Linux Enterprise 10, originally released in July 2006, but also includes package updates for popular software, such as Firefox (2.0.0.14) and OpenOffice.org (2.4.0). Please read the complete press release for further information. A full set of 60-day evaluation media for all supported architectures are available for download (see desktop, server), after registration.

Parsix GNU/Linux 1.5r0 Test 2

Alan Baghumian has announced the second test release of Parsix GNU/Linux 1.5r0, a desktop distribution and live CD based on Debian's testing branch: "The second testing version of Parsix GNU/Linux 1.5 (code name 'Viola') is available now. Viola test 2 brings several new features, contains a new kernel, updated software packages and several fixes for the reported defects. This version is synchronized with Parsix and Debian testing repositories as of May 17, 2008. Several bugs have been solved. Viola test 2 officially supports Compiz-Fusion, VirtualBox OSE and GNU Flash Player. Highlights: GNOME 2.22.1, X.Org 7.3, Linux kernel 2.6.24.4 with CK, TuxOnIce 3.0-RC7, iwlwifi 1.2.23 with LED support and PowerTOP patch, updated several kernel drivers, OpenOffice.org 2.4.0 and GNU Iceweasel 3.0 Beta 5." The release announcement, release notes. Download: parsix_1.5r0-test-2-i386.iso (681MB, MD5), parsix_1.5r0-test-2-amd64.iso (693MB, MD5).

rPath Linux 2.0

Michael K. Johnson has announced the release of rPath Linux 2.0, an highly customisable appliance operating system featuring the Conary package management utility: "rPath is pleased to announce that rPath Linux 2 is now available and recommended for general use as an appliance platform. What's new? rPath Linux 2 is the next step in the evolution of the rPath Linux platform. In addition to a technology refresh (new versions of included packages), rPath Linux 2 is better tuned as a platform to show off your work. Just enough OS - rPath Linux 2 is smaller than rPath Linux 1. Boot splash branding - rPath Linux 2 implements a graphical boot process which is easy to customize to look the way you want. Additional security mechanisms: - several additional runtime security measures have been added to most packages. More robust system boot - the syslinux bootloader is now the default bootloader....." Read the complete release announcement for more information. Download (MD5): rpath-2.0-x86-dvd1.iso (837MB), rpath-2.0-x86_64-dvd1.iso (896MB).

MEPIS antiX 7.2

MEPIS has announced the release of MEPIS antiX 7.2, a lightweight, community variant of MEPIS Linux designed for older computers: "MEPIS has announced the release of antiX 7.2, 'Vetëvendosje.' Built using the MEPIS Linux 7.0 core including the MEPIS 2.6.22 kernel and utilities, along with selected additions from Debian Lenny, this lightweight operating system is especially appropriate for older hardware and users who like a very fast functional system. Pre-configured window managers Fluxbox and IceWM, as well as Conky and ROX Desktop, come ready to use. The search tool Catfish and the video player gxine have been added. New features based on community contributions include revised customized menus for better usability, a detailed set of FAQs for the new user, original wallpapers, and scripts for easy configuration of user and system files." Read the release announcement and check out the list of installed application for further details. Download: antiX-M7.2.iso (359MB, MD5).

Sabayon Linux 3.5 Beta 3

Fabio Erculiani has announced the third beta release of Sabayon Linux 3.5: "Sabayon Linux x86/x86-64 3.5 Loop 3 (beta release). Distribution features and changes since beta 2: boot time takes from 15 to 25 seconds less, thanks to Gentoo OpenRC and Baselayout-2, combined with our boot optimizations; improved VirtualBox support; Entropy binary package management infrastructure 0.14.16.1; online repository browser at 7,000 packages per architecture; installer updates - added the long discussed custom packages selector; Eee PC install mode with many bug fixes; Linux kernel 2.6.25.2 featuring improved wireless and laptop support, ext4, Unionfs 2.3.3 and Aufs file system support; X.Org 7.3 featuring NVIDIA 173.08 and AMD/ATI 8.476; enhanced desktop featuring Compiz 0.7.4 and Fusion icon to enable and disable 3D effects on the fly...." Read the rest of the release announcement for more details. Download: Sabayon-Linux-x86-3.5_Loop3-r1.iso (3,984MB, MD5, torrent), Sabayon-Linux-x86_64-3.5_Loop3-r1.iso (4,239MB, MD5, torrent).

Fedora 9

Fedora 9 has been released: "The Fedora Project, a Red Hat sponsored and community-supported open source collaboration, today announced the availability of Fedora 9, the latest version of its open source operating system distribution. Highlights: PackageKit, a cross-distribution package management solution; GNOME 2.22; KDE desktop 4.0.3 featuring upgrades to core components such as the port to Qt 4; NetworkManager improvements; Firefox 3 Beta 5; SELinux confined web browser; OpenJDK6, the release of Sun Java SDK under a free and open source license; X.Org updates; consolidated dictionary support; Bluetooth enhancements; persistent live USB support; Upstart init daemon; ext4 file system support...." See the formal press release and read the comprehensive release notes for more information. Download the installable live CD images from here: Fedora-9-i686-Live.iso (691MB, SHA1, torrent), Fedora-9-i686-Live-KDE.iso (691MB, SHA1, torrent), Fedora-9-x86_64-Live.iso (693MB, SHA1, torrent), Fedora-9-x86_64-Live-KDE.iso (695MB, SHA1, torrent).