ROSA Marathon 2012 final is out!

Today I'm glad to announce the new version of ROSA distro - ROSA Marathon 2012. Based on the considerably changed ROSA Desktop 2011 Extended Edition, it provide the best user experience than ever. Let's see what the new.


Package base
Technically, ROSA Marathon is based on the one's own package base that is originally based on the ROSA Desktop 2011. So, it is not completely new repository - it is considerably changed ROSA Desktop 2011.  We use the same repository structure: main, contrib, non-free, restricted. The repositories, that supported by ROSA are: main, non-free, restricted. A 'Contrib' repository - is repository for our community members. ROSA will not guarantee support of any package in Contrib, except that package will be built and will not break your system if you will install it.

Installer

Pic.1: You can choose many ways to use RM2012

In the RM2012 we fixed a lot of bugs in the installer.  It became more stable and beautiful. The most important bugs fixes and features:

• unnecessary localization packages are now removed automatically in the process of installation, thus is not necessary anymore to remove them manually;
• thanks to the new version of dracut, generation of initrd works properly on all systems; 
• fixed many usability bugs (like unnecessary 'Cancel' operations, e.t.c);
• improved appearance and localization;

Pic.2: Each name of language that is accessible in system, written with the use of letters of the same alphabet

Pic.3: Relax with the ROSA Marathon 2012

System

Pic.4: New Plymouth (boot screen) theme for RM2012

The list of software that included into RM2012 is the following:

• Kernel 3.0.28 LTS Desktop of different editions (including support for PAE, netbooks and modern Intel processors).
• KDE 4.8.2  with enhancements and patches from ROSA (SimpleWelcome, RocketBar, StackFolder v.2.0).
• ROSA Media Player 1.0 final.
• KLook.
• Dolphin 2.0 with patches from ROSA.
• Updated drivers for Intel, NVIDIA and AMD chipsets with support for i3/i5/i7, GF6xxx and latests AMD products. 
• Mesa 7.11.
• Basic support for NVIDIA Optimus technology using Bumblebee (not included in DVD, but may be installed later from the Main repository).
• NetworkManager 0.9.2.
• KnetworkManager 0.9.
• VPNPPTP 0.3.4.
• Updated and improved wizard for connecting Windows domains.
• LSB Support.
• Updated Perl/Python stack.
• Mozilla Firefox 10.0.2 LTS and Mozilla Thunderbird 10.0.2 LTS.
• LibreOffice 3.4.5 LTS.
• Amarok 2.5.0.

As you can see, we used the latest stable software, and some software with the LTS syntax. Why? Of course, because we propose our new distro for corporate users, first of all. But it does not stand for, that home users cannot use this distro - quite the contrary it will be a good choice for users, who want to use stable system and do not seek a 'blending edge' software. As the advantage, this distro will have 5 years technical support.

As the old russian proverb says, is better to see one time, than hear 100 times, so let's see on screens.

Pic.5: KDM is beatiful and easy to use in RM2012

Pic.6: Compositing effects now are enabled by default on all systems (thanks to XRender engine)

Pic.7: New graphic theme - more than 50 new beautiful icons and updated window decorations

Pic.8: RM2012 - everything you need for comfortable work

Pic.9: KLook and StackFolder v.2.0 

As you can see from the screens we made a lot of work with the design of the system. Since ROSA Desktop 2011 EE  is out we changed Syslinux and Plymouth themes (boot screens), windows decorations, and created more than 50 high quality  icons sets for rosa-icons theme. Don't forget to read about our new utilities, like ROSA Media Player 1.0, KLook and StackFolder v.2.0.

Bugs fixes
Since beta-version of RM2012 we fixed more than 500 bugs. All packages in the repositories that  are officially supported by ROSA (main, non-free, restricted) passed through mass-rebuild. It gives a good guarantee, that packages have a good quality and you will have no problems with installing them. Unfortunately we have no time to rebuild all packages in the Contrib repo, but this operation will be started up in the nearest future. So, if you can't find some package from the Contrib repo that you've used in ROSA Desktop 2011, please be patient, it can be that it will be accessible shortly.

Download
ROSA Marathon 2012 is available in two editions: Free (free software only) and Extended Edition (with freeware applications and components whose distribution can be restricted in some countries due to patent issues) in major European languages: English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese (include pt_BR), Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian.

You can download distro from ROSA or use mirror on the Yandex: RM2012 EE, RM2012 Free. Also you can use torrents:  

RM2012 EE (i586) Torrent;

RM2012 EE (x86_64) Torrent;

RM2012 Free (i586) Torrent;

RM2012 Free (x86_64) Torrent;

Enjoy!

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14.5.12 Denis Koryavov

4

StackFolder v2.0

As many people already know, ROSA Marathon 2012 is coming very soon. Thus, I decided to recount about new usability features in the RM2012. Today I will recount about new StackFolders. 

StackFolders was the first public UI utility from ROSA. You can see an old (but topical) video here:

Since the first release we practically completely rewrote StackFolders (SF) from the scratch. The new version of SF is written on QML and this makes it possible to significantly increase responsiveness -  now SF works incredible fast, even if you open folder with many pictures. 

Also we added one small, but important feature - if you will download a file to the your 'Downloads' (XDG_DOWNLOAD) folder, the StackFolder that is associated with the your folder will be animated. So, you never will overlook when a download operation will be finished. 

Also we integrated StackFolders with the KLook. You can use Klook to see any file directly from StackFolder.  Just press the 'Space' button on the your keyboard when a mouse cursor is pointed over necessary file in StackFolder. You can see this behavior on a next screenshot: 

Pic.1: StackFolders integrated with the KLook

And last, but not least, a plasma-applet StackFolder and KLook can be a parts of KDE. As minimum, we will bend every effort to do this. 

To get the sources just do:  

git clone https://abf.rosalinux.ru/uxteam/StackFolder.git

Enjoy!

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10.5.12 Denis Koryavov

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ROSA Marathon 2012 Beta is out!

Hello everyone!

I'm happy to announce the new beta-version of our operating system ROSA Marathon 2012. The main news is here. I will not touch this news and will concentrate one's attention on the some other news related to the main news.

As we promised before, we included KLook in this release. Thus, we opened source for this utility! You can download source code from here. A patch for KDE 4.8 that allows to use KLook directly from the Dolphin file manager is here. Or you can use git for fetching the sources:

  git clone https://abf.rosalinux.ru/uxteam/KLook.git

What's New in KLook

Since last record of KLook we released 2 new features:

• possibility to listen audio files;
• possibility to see information about folder;

You can see them on the screenshots:

Pic.1: You can easily get information about folder in KLook

Pic.2: You can easily look through a music file in KLook

Also we reorganized "gallery" mode to work better with a small number of items, now thumbnails fill free space on the screen more correctly. Currently we working on integration of KLook with the StackFolders. The final version of KLook will be finished before the final release of ROSA Marathon 2012. 

Enjoy!

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6.4.12 Denis Koryavov

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KLook: new utility for KDE and ROSA

It is time to disclose some interesting information. After 3 months of development I am glad to announce a new utility for KDE - KLook. KLook is an utility that allows you "quickly" look at your files (yes, it is a practically exact copy of MacOS X QuickLook utility). You can use it directly from the Dolphin file manager by pressing a 'Space' key on the your keyboard. KLook is designed to be fast and simple. 

Let's see on it on screenshots and video.

KLook in action

You can see all files in KLook as gallery

In gallery view you can see files in different formats

KLook can play video files

As you can see on the screens, you can use KLook to see photo, video and text files, supported formats:

• jpg, png;
• all video files (that Phonon supports);
• txt. 

Later we plan to add support of PDF files. 

Also, as you can see we use buttons on the window decorations. Really it is not KWin, it is independent panel. We created "our window" because KWin does not allows to add arbitrary buttons into window decorations area. Thus, KLook looks practically like QuickLook from MacOS X. :)

And last, but not least, we created a small video that allows you to see KLook in action. 

 

KLook will be included in the next update of ROSA Desktop. Follow the news!

P.S All your wishes please write as comment for this post or send me to email. 

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11.3.12 Denis Koryavov

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ROSA Media Player 1.0 RC1

Today we released a RC1 of the ROSA Media Player. Since beta version we fixed several bugs, and added 2 new features. 

• Possibility to get an audio track from video;
• Possibility to get a screencast; 

These features will be very useful for users, who want to do a basic video editing and do not want to use  video editors (or can't - because do not understand how they work). Now, it is simple than ever.

Let's see them. 

Extract Audio Track

For extracting an audio track, open the right side pane and find the menu "Cut audio".

ROSA Media Player: Cutting audio track

You can select output format for audio file: mp3 or Ogg Vorbis. The output file will be saved in the same folder as for your video file, or in the your "Video" folder if media with video is mounted in the read-only mode.

Capture Desktop


For creating a screen capture, open menu "Video" and select the "Capiture desktop" item.

ROSA Media Player: Capture Desktop

The player will be minimized to system tray at the time of video recording. Click on the red round icon in system tray to stop the recording.

ROSA Media Player: System tray icon while capturing video

The screen capture will be saved in the your "Video" folder.

After small period of testing we will release ROMP 1.0 final. Thus, if you know any bug in our player, please tell us about it. We'll try to fix it before the final release. 

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2.2.12 Denis Koryavov

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ROSA Desktop 2011 Extended Edition

Hello!

Today I'm glad to announce our new release ROSA Desktop 2011 Extended Edition (ROSA Desktop EE).  ROSA Desktop EE is based on ROSA/Mandriva 2011 repository including all updates and our new 'restricted' repository. This release is intended for people, who like a full distros (i.e Mandriva PowerPack), geeks, and professionals who use many applications. Also for people who have some problems with a internet access and want to have one .iso image for everything.  What's new in this release towards ROSA Desktop 2011?

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20.12.11 Denis Koryavov

0

Many new beautiful icons for the ROSA Theme

As you know, we use in ROSA/Mandriva distros our theme ROSA, which originally based on the Elementary theme, but currently our theme is practically different. We made from scratch windows decorations, cursors, wallpapers, KDE splash screen, theme for KDM, updated icons theme to work with KDE and GNOME, and made many new icons. But, icon theme is most complex, and first time we updated only basic set of icons. 

As we promised before, we'll work on our theme and later. Today, we updated some icons in the rosa-icons pack and made several icons in the ROSA's style for other packages, that uses their own icons and do not use system theme. 

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16.12.11 Denis Koryavov

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