The KDE Project has announced the release of KDE 4.4 packages for Windows, reports OStatic. The packages allow Windows users to install KDE applications such as digiKam, Amarok and Konversation natively on Windows. The developers of KDE say that introducing Windows users to KDE applications is a lot easier than getting them to switch to a Linux distro entirely. Obviously the long term objective is to get users used to open source alternatives before making the switch to an all-Linux desktop.

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The Ubuntu team last night announced the release of Ubuntu 9.10, aka Karmic Koala. Streamlined bootup and Gnome 2.28 on the desktop are just some of the main features of Karmic Koala. Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud setup is now included in the installer and AppArmor boosts system security.

Desktop features

GNOME 2.28 featuring Empathy: with this latest beta release, Ubuntu now uses the Empathy instant messaging service by default, introducing the Telepathy framework.

Ubuntu Software Center: the first step in a replacement for Add/Remove Software has landed for testing and feedback.

New boot experience: multiple changes to look, feel and speed of the boot experience have been included in the Ubuntu 9.10 beta.

Server features

Cloud computing: Ubuntu 9.10 builds on cloud support in Ubuntu 9.04, with support for Eucalyptus configuration at install time and publishing of standard VM images for UEC.

AppArmor: Ubuntu 9.10 continues to raise the bar for server security, with AppArmor profiles enabled by default for ntpd and libvirt providing another layer of protection from attacks on the network or via guest virtual machines.

Ubuntu Netbook Remix features

Ubuntu Netbook Remix is optimised to run on Intel atom based netbooks. It includes a new consumer-friendly interface that allows users to quickly and easily get on-line and use their favourite applications. This interface is optimised for a retail sales environment.

It includes the same faster boot times and improved boot experience as Ubuntu desktop.

Kubuntu features

Kubuntu 9.10, built on KDE 4.3, brings users a complete, full-featured KDE4 desktop with many new applications and innovations. This is also the first release for a new Kubuntu variant, Kubuntu Netbook Edition.

Xubuntu features

Xubuntu 9.10 comes with the light-weight Xfce 4.6 desktop environment
to provide a desktop designed for productivity while conserving system resources.

Xubuntu 9.10 includes an improved multimedia experience with the Exaile media player, a more integrated power management solution with the Xfce4 power manager, and more convenience built right in with improved multimedia volume key support and more consistent desktop notifications.

Edubuntu features

Edubuntu 9.10 transitions from an add-on educational CD that depended on an existing Ubuntu installation to a full Ubuntu derivative delivered on as a DVD image. This allows prospective users and decision makers to try the educational offerings prior to installation and the flexibility to make Edubuntu a first class educational operating system.

Mythbuntu features

Mythbuntu 9.10 introduces MythTV 0.22. The entire stack has been ported to QT4 and now allows for very neat UI effects. Also 0.22 adds support for VDPAU hardware acceleration, and HD-PVR hardware support.

The Fedora developers have been hard at work, and the result is the first alpha release of Fedora 12 which was announced earlier today.

Codenamed “Constantine”, the Fedora 12 Alpha includes a number of new features and improvements over Fedora 11. Among these are:

• Better webcam support which includes out-of-the box support for many new webcams;
• Empathy as the default IM client in place of Pidgin;
• Gnome 2.27.90 beta and KDE 4.3, the latest versions of those desktops;
• Network Manager Mobile Broadband which includes a database of known mobile broadband providers to simplify setting up a mobile broadband connection;
• A better free video codec in the latest version of the Ogg Theora video encoder, codenamed “Thusnelda”;
• PackageKit improvements that include plugins for browser-based or command line installs;
• PulseAudio improvements to include profiles, input switching and easier speaker setup; and
• Better power management.

Also included in Fedora 12 is better IPv6 network management, and automatic bug-reporting tool, Bluetooth on demand, as well as KVM virtualisation improvements that reduce memory consumption, NIC hotplug, better disk I/O, modern PXE booting, support for flexible network configurations, and much more.

A fuller list of features in Fedora 12 can be found on the Fedora Wiki.

For more information including common and known bugs, tips on how to
report bugs, and the official release schedule, please refer to the
release notes:

The beta release of Fedora 12 is planned for 13 October and the final release for 10 November.

Over the weekend the Mandriva developers announced the release of a beta version of their upcoming Mandriva Linux 2010 release. The release is available for both 32- and 64-bit systems and has some cool features including Plymouth, a rewrite of NetProfile and the latest versions of KDE and Gnome.

Plymouth is now the default method of managing boot splashes which means starting up Mandriva has the potential for a whole new range of bootup effects. Plymouth runs very early in the boot process, even before the root filesystem is mounted, to provide graphical boot animations while the boot process happens in the background. Plymouth works only on systems with DRM modesetting drivers and runs until the X starts when graphical display is handed over (see Freedesktop.org for more). Non-DRM systems will simply fall back to text mode.

Mandriva Linux 2010 beta also includes a completely rewritten version of NetProfile. The Mandriva-specific tool is an independent network profile management tool that stores information on various network settings (say between home and work) which can easily be switched between. NetProfile also makes it easy to move between machines.

Other major features include KDE4.3, Gnome 2.27.5 and kernel 2.6.31 rc6.

Full details on the release can be found in the release notes and Mandriva Linux 2010.0 Beta can be downloaded from Mandriva as a 32- or 64-bit DVD image file.

The final release of Mandriva Linux 2010 is expected on 3 November 2009.

AJ Venter has announced the release of Kongoni version 1.12.2. Codenamed Nietzsche, this is the first official and stable release of the Kongoni GNU/Linux distribution after several development releases. Kongoni is a fully free African GNU/Linux distribution based on Slackware with significant inspiration from the BSD-Unix architectures. The operating system is primarily designed for desktop power users and aims to provide a powerful, customizable system that puts the user in control of his own environment while nonetheless being easy to work with and not get in your way.