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!

Posted in: rosa