donderdag 18 december 2014

High traffic on the package repositories

Our main repository packages.linuxmint.com isn’t currently able to serve connections to everybody. This can result in errors, timeouts and delays in apt-get, and in your update manager.
Please switch to a mirror while we fix this situation:
  • From the menu, open “Software Sources” (or type “mintsources” in a terminal)
  • Type your password
  • Click on the combo box beside “Main”
  • Select a server from the top of the list
  • Click on “Apply”
  • Click on “Update the Cache”

Please accept our apologies for the inconvenience. Our traffic doubled since November and we’re now trying to set up a cluster of servers.

Linux Mint 17.1 “Rebecca” Xfce RC released!

The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 17.1 “Rebecca” Xfce RC.
Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca Xfce Edition
Linux Mint 17.1 is a long term support release which will be supported until 2019. It comes with updated software and brings refinements and many new features to make your desktop even more comfortable to use.
New features at a glance:
For a complete overview and to see screenshots of the new features, visit: “What’s new in Linux Mint 17.1 Xfce“.
Important info:
  • Issues with Skype
  • DVD Playback with VLC
  • Bluetooth
  • Compiz in Virtualbox
  • EFI Support
  • Misconfigured Swap when using home directory encryption
  • Solving freezes with some NVIDIA GeForce GPUs
  • Issues with KDE apps
  • Booting with non-PAE CPUs
  • Other issues
Make sure to read the “Release Notes” to be aware of important info or known issues related to this release.
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).
  • 10 GB of disk space
  • DVD drive or USB port
Bug reports:
  • Please report bugs below in the comment section of this blog.
  • Please visit https://github.com/linuxmint/Roadmap to follow the progress of the development team between the RC and the stable release.
Download:
Md5 sum:
  • 32-bit: 4b5c0c3ef5e0a609545e1f222fd3c754
  • 64-bit: a2d76f8b7e56e05852607758ed537ce3
Torrents:
HTTP Mirrors for the 32-bit DVD ISO:
HTTP Mirrors for the 64-bit DVD ISO:
Enjoy!

Linux Mint 17.1 “Rebecca” KDE RC released!

The team is proud to announce the release of Linux Mint 17.1 “Rebecca” KDE RC.
Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca KDE Edition
Linux Mint 17.1 is a long term support release which will be supported until 2019. It comes with updated software and brings refinements and many new features to make your desktop even more comfortable to use.
New features at a glance:
For a complete overview and to see screenshots of the new features, visit: “What’s new in Linux Mint 17.1 KDE“.
Important info:
There is some important info in the Release Notes:
  • Issues with Skype
  • DVD Playback with VLC
  • EFI Support
  • Misconfigured Swap when using home directory encryption
  • Solving freezes with some NVIDIA GeForce GPUs
  • Booting with non-PAE CPUs
  • Other issues
Make sure to read them to be aware of known issues and known solutions related to this release.
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).
  • 2GB RAM
  • 10 GB of disk space (20GB recommended).
  • Graphics card capable of 1024×768
  • DVD drive or USB port
Bug reports:
  • Please report bugs below in the comment section of this blog.
  • Please visit https://github.com/linuxmint/Roadmap to follow the progress of the development team between the RC and the stable release.
Download:
Md5 sum:
  • 32-bit: d0a41fe5db74b9043f0752f058b1bf2d
  • 64-bit: 04354ace0b3989de65328c7c590cbb57
Torrents:
HTTP Mirrors for the 32-bit DVD ISO:
HTTP Mirrors for the 64-bit DVD ISO:
Enjoy!

vrijdag 5 december 2014

How to upgrade from Linux Mint 17 to 17.1

It is now possible to upgrade the Cinnamon and MATE editions of Linux Mint 17 to version 17.1.
If you’ve been waiting for this I’d like to thank you for your patience.
Upgrade for a reason

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.
You might want to upgrade to 17.1 because some bug that annoys you is fixed or because you want to get some of the new features. In any case, you should know why you’re upgrading.
As excited as we are about 17.1, upgrading blindly for the sake of running the latest version does not make much sense, especially if you’re already happy with 17 and everything is working perfectly.
Make sure to read the release notes and to known the new features so you have all the information you need before deciding whether you want to upgrade.
Be selective with updates
Upgrading from 17 to 17.1 will upgrade from Qiana to Rebecca of course, but also apply all level 1 updates for you.
You do not need to apply level 2, 3, 4 or 5 updates to upgrade to the new version of Linux Mint, and doing so won’t apply these for you.
Level 4 and 5 updates are not recommended unless they bring solutions to issues you’re facing. Level 3 updates should be applied selectively and with precautions.
Enjoy
Upgrading to 17.1 is relatively easy:
In the Update Manager, click on the Refresh button to check for any new version of mintupdate. If there is one, apply it and wait for the Update Manager to restart itself.

Launch the System Upgrade by clicking on “Edit->Upgrade to Linux Mint 17.1 Rebecca”.

Follow the instructions on the screen.

Once the upgrade is finished, reboot your computer.
Additional info
  • The same upgrade path will be available for the Xfce and KDE editions, after they are released as stable 17.1 at the end of the month.
  • Although Linux Mint 17.1 features a newer kernel than the one used in the 17 release, this upgrade does not change the kernel on your behalf. This is a decision only you should take. Should you decide to upgrade to 17.1′s recommended kernel you can do so by applying the “linux-kernel-generic” update, post-upgrade.
  • Although they are featured in the 17.1 release, this upgrade doesn’t automatically include “retro” backgrounds and backgrounds for Maya, Nadia, Olivia and Petra. They represent a significant amount to download so the choice to do so was left to you. These backgrounds are provided via packages which name start with “mint-backgrounds”.

woensdag 3 december 2014

First impressions

Easy Compiz effects in MATE, finally!

MATE is a fork of the GNOME 2 desktop environment once used on Ubuntu and other Linux distributions by default. It’s still popular among many people who don't see why we need new desktops like Ubuntu's unity or Gnome 3.
linux mint 17.1 choose compiz
Selecting Compiz options in Linux Mint 17.1.
Back in the day, Compiz provided fancy graphical effects for GNOME 2 desktops. It can still do so for MATE, although many people had difficulties setting this up on Linux Mint. That’s why Linux Mint 17.1 includes easy Compiz setup.
The Windows pane in the Desktop Settings window provides a box allowing you to choose between the stable-but-potentially-boring “Marco” window manager and the fancy-but-potentially-unstable Compiz window manager. Desktop cubes, wobbly windows, and more—it’s all back.
linux mint 17.1 mate compiz desktop cube
Compiz cubes!

Cinnamon 2.4 brings polish and memory improvements

The Cinnamon desktop was bumped to version 2.4. Unlike MATE, which is based on GNOME 2, Cinnamon is based on a more modern Gnome 3 code, but it takes that modern code and forms it into a more traditional Linux desktop interface.
There’s a lot of polish in the latest version to provide “smoother experience.” Thirty memory leaks were fixed in various components, which will reduce memory usage. There are new animations and some icon load times should be reduced. Various bits of the interface have been polished—settings in Cinnamon Settings are now sorted alphabetically, for example.
linux mint 17.1 cinnamon desktop
Linux Mint 17.1's Cinnamon desktop.
The Theme settings were completely redesigned, and you can now use a slideshow as your desktop background. The Nemo file manager gains a button to quickly open a terminal window (hidden by default) and support for “emblems” that can be added to folders to make them more visually distinct.


Real improvements for everyone

Various other changes affect both desktops. Linux Mint now uses the Noto fonts by default, and the default theme comes in many other color choices. The Login Window preferences were redesigned, and the Language configuration window now allows much easier installation of “input methods”— welcome news for people who need to write Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and other languages where all the characters aren’t present on the keyboard for easy input.
But perhaps the biggest change is in the Update Manager application. It no longer shows individual package updates, but groups updates by “source package.” This means that—for example—when an update for LibreOffice is available, you won’t simply see a list of 22 packages. Instead, by default, you’ll see a single “LibreOffice” update in the list, although you’re free to drill down if you choose. According to Linux Mint’s developers, installing some individual package updates but not others —for packages like Mesa 3D graphics library, for example—can sometimes break people’s systems, however.
linux mint 17.1 update manager on cinnamon
The refined Update Manager in Linux Mint 17.1's Cinnamon desktop.
Going hand-in-hand with this change, there’s also a redesigned kernel selection screen that makes it easy to see available kernels along with information about security fixes and known regressions (problems in the new kernel, in other words).
For a more in-depth look at the changes, check out the official lists of new features in Linux Mint 17.1 MATE or new features in Linux Mint 17.1 Cinnamon.
Overall, this is exactly the kind of release I—and many other Linux users—like to see. While Ubuntu 14.10 just shipped with no visible changes besides version bumps in a number of packages, Linux Mint has made the choice to stick with Ubuntu 14.04 under-the-hood and modify the stuff on top. Linux Mint 17.1 provides a great Linux desktop system, especially if you long for the days of more traditional Linux desktop interfaces.