Month: December 2018

ExTiX 19.1, Build 181228, with KDE 4.17, Kodi 18 “Leia”, Calamares, Refracta Tools, Nvidia and kernel 4.20.0-exton

Dec

2018

ExTiX 19.1 – Build 181228
I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 19.1 KDE/Kodi Live DVD. (The previous KDE version was 18.6 from 180602). The best thing with ExTiX 19.1 is that while running the system live (from DVD/USB) or from hard drive you can use Refracta Tools (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. So easy that a ten year child can do it! As an alternative to KDE you can run Kodi 18 Leia. Just start Kodi like any other program while logged in to the KDE Desktop as the ordinary user extix. I have enabled a few addons in Kodi. Most important the Netflix addon.

ABOUT
ExTiX 19.1 KDE DVD 64 bit is based on Debian 9 and Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Gnome. After removing Gnome I have installed KDE Frameworks 5.44.0 with KDE 4.17. KDE Frameworks are 60 addon libraries to Qt which provide a wide variety of commonly needed functionality in mature, peer reviewed and well tested libraries with friendly licensing terms.

The system language is ENGLISH.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.20.0-exton.

What’s new in Linux kernel 4.20?

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL about ExTiX and especially the new version from 181228?
1. The ExTiX ISO’s are ISO-hybrids, which means that they can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can even run ExTiX from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence!
2. Another big improvement is that both ExTiX versions can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 4 (load to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need at least 2 GB RAM to run ExTiX that way. Running from RAM means that the system will run faster than from DVD or USB stick. Everything will be superfast I would say!
3. ExTiX KDE is now more stable than ever. All packages have been upgraded to the latest version by 181228.
4. I’ve replaced kernel 4.15.0-23-exton with kernel 4.20.0-exton. Latest by 181228.
5. I have replaced Ubuntu’s installation program Ubiquity (live installer) with Calamares. You can also (still) use Refracta Installer. They work very well. I.e. a new user (your user) will be created during the installation process and you’ll get a chance to change root’s password. Just start any of the installers from the menu under System.
6. The best thing with ExTiX 19.1 is that while running the system live (from DVD/USB) or from hard drive you can use Refracta Tools (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system.
7. As an alternative to KDE you can run Kodi 18 Leia. Just start Kodi like any other program while logged in to the KDE Desktop as the ordinary user extix. I have enabled a few addons in Kodi. Most important the Netflix addon.
8. Nvidia proprietary Graphics driver 410.78 (patched for kernel 4.20) is pre-installed in ExTiX 19.1.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 of ExTiX 19.1 Desktop – logged in as the ordinary user extix
Screenshot 2 of ExTiX 19.1 Desktop – logged in as root (superuser)
Screenshot 3 of ExTiX 19.1 – showing enabled addons in Kodi 18
Screenshot 4 of ExTiX 19.1 – Netflix running in Kodi 18

RaspEX OSMC Rpi3 with LXDE Desktop and Kodi 18 Media Center “Leia” with Netflix, Plex and Amazon Video addons – Build 181223

Dec

2018

ABOUT RaspEX OSMC
RaspEX OSMC Build 181223 is made especially for the new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+, but can of course also be used on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and a Raspberry Pi 2 Model B. OSMC is based on Debian and Kodi Media Center. In RaspEX OSMC I’ve added the LXDE Desktop with many useful applications such as Wicd and NetworkManager. Makes it easy to configure your wireless network. I’ve also upgraded OSMC to a BETA version (Kodi 18 Leia), which makes it possible to include useful addons such as Netflix, Plex and Amazon Video. Which I’ve done. Study all included packages in RaspEX OSMC.

About OSMC (short for Open Source Media Center) and the difference between RaspEX OSMC and OSMC original
OSMC is based on Debian and Kodi Media Center. It is an embedded, minimal, self updating Linux distributing which ships a Kodi front-end for a variety of devices. The project was founded by Sam Nazarko in 2014 and is maintained by a group of volunteers in their spare time. OSMC can be downloaded for free for all supported platforms on their official Download page. So OSMC has no real Linux Desktop. After the boot process and some configurations are ready you will end up directly in Kodi. Running RaspEX OSMC you will immediately end up at LightDM‘s login page – see below how it will look. From there you can log in to the LXDE Desktop as the ordinary user osmc or as root. Passwords: osmc/root. As user osmc you can alternatively log in directly to Kodi 18. After the first boot you should, however, chose to log in to the LXDE Desktop and use Wicd and/or NetworkManager for configuring your network connection. The big difference between OSMC and RaspEX OSMC is that Kodi 18 Leia is pre-installed in RaspEX OSMC together with some really useful addons (Netflix, Plex and Amazon Video). Those addons need Widevine to run. While you are logged in to the LXDE Desktop you can use Synaptic Package Manager to install all extra packages you may need. Since OSMC/RaspEX OSMC is based on Debian you’ll have about 30000 packages to chose between.

RaspEX OSMC performance
RaspEX OSMC is a very fast and responsive Rpi system. Much due to very low memory (RAM) usage. About 100 MB as this screenshot shows. I’ve said that RaspEX LXDE Build 181015 is very fast. RaspEX OSMC is even faster especially if you use the new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ to run it. The video and sound quality is also very very good. Even while running RaspEX OSMC on big TV screens. I.e. you can really enjoy Netflix and YouTube running on your Rpi mini computer!

SCREENSHOTS
1. Running Kodi – animated gif
2. The LXDE Desktop logged in as osmc
3. The LXDE Desktop logged in as root
4. Wicd running before entering Kodi
5. Netflix running showing very good video quality – 1
6. Netflix running showing very good video quality – 2
7. YouTube running showing very good video quality
8. Choosing video addons in Kodi

ChromX (Chromium OS) – Exton Build 181218 – with YouTube working fast and responsive

Dec

2018

About ChromX
I have compiled Chromium OS from source for the third time. Chromium OS is an open-source project that aims to build an operating system that provides a fast, simple, and more secure computing experience for people who spend most of their time on the web. My Chromium OS Build 181218 is for all 64 bit “normal” Desktop computers and laptops. If you have unusual hardware you could check out ArnoldTheBat’s special Chromium OS builds.

How do I run Chromium OS?
Normally you run Chromium OS from a USB stick, but the system can also be installed to hard drive. Could be useful if you want to bring new life to an old computer. Be aware of the fact that Chromium OS can’t be installed together with other Linux systems (or any other OS). It will “take” the whole disk.

The difference between Chromium OS and Google Chrome OS
Chromium OS is the open source project, used primarily by developers, with code that is available for anyone to checkout, modify, and build. Google Chrome OS is the Google product that OEMs ship on Chromebooks for general consumer use.

SCREENSHOTS
The new Desktop – first screen
ChromX running YouTube
Adding new languages
Accessibility possibilities

READ MORE…

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ExTiX 19.0 with Deepin 15.5 Desktop, Refracta snapshot, Calamares 3.2.2 Installer, Kodi 18.0 and kernel 4.20.0-rc4-exton – Build 181208

Dec

2018

NEWS 181208 ABOUT ExTiX Deepin 19.0
I’ve released a new version of ExTiX Deepin today with Calamares 3.2.2 and kernel 4.20.0-rc4-exton. Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as of today. Study all installed packages in ExTiX Deepin Build 181208. ExTiX is based on Debian and Ubuntu 18.10.

About ExTiX 19.0 with the Deepin 15.5 Desktop
I’ve made a new extra version of ExTiX with Deepin 15.5 Desktop (made in China!). Deepin is devoted to providing a beautiful, easy to use, safe and reliable system for global users. Only a minimum of packages are installed in ExTiX Deepin. You can of course install all packages you want. Even while running ExTiX Deepin live. I.e. from a DVD or USB stick. Study all installed packages in ExTiX Deepin. Note that also Kodi 18 RC2 Leia is pre-installed with some video add-ons. Kodi (formerly XBMC) is a free and open-source media player software application developed by the XBMC Foundation. It allows users to play and view most streaming media, such as videos, music, podcasts, and videos from the Internet, as well as all common digital media files from local and network storage media – cite from Wikipedia.

ABOUT ExTiX
All five ExTiX systems are based on Ubuntu and Debian.

The Ultimate Linux System
I’ve called my different versions of ExTiX The Ultimate Linux System for many years by now. As regards ExTiX 19.0 Deepin I feel it’s especially justified. Everything just works.

Refracta Tools
While running ExTiX Deepin 19.0 live or from hard drive you can use Refracta Tools (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. A ten year child can do it!

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.20.0-rc4-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 4.20-rc4.

What’s new in Linux kernel 4.20?

Why two versions of ExTiX Deepin?
The thing is that the packages grub-pc and grub-efi-amd64 can’t be installed at the same time. To be able to use Calamares Installer on non-efi computers grub-pc has to be installed. ExTiX Deepin 18.8 Build 180815 is for non UEFI-enabled computers.

SCREENSHOTS
1. ExTiX Deepin 15.5 Desktop
2. ExTiX Deepin being installed in VirtualBox using Refracta Installer
3. ExTiX Deepin (NON-UEFI) Build 180815 being installed in VirtualBox using Calamares Installer
4. ExTiX Deepin running Refracta snapshot
5. ExTiX Deepin running in VMware
6. ExTiX Deepin running the Refracta Installer
6. ExTiX Deepin login screen (LightDM)
8. Movie showing how to enable Window effects
9. A small movie made with Deepin Screen Recorder
10. Kodi 18.0 running in ExTiX 19.0
11. ExTiX boot screen when running live
12. ExTiX boot screen when running from hard drive

Deepin Screen Recorder
In ExTiX Deepin you can record everything you do. Watch this small video. Or a video when I’ve started Calamares Installer.

FedEX Rpi3 (Fedora 29) for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and Model B+ :: Build 181206

Dec

2018

NEWS 181206: FedEX Rpi3 for Raspberry Pi 3 Model B and Model B+ is a “remaster” of the Fedora Project’s Fedora 29 build for ARM

The Raspberry Pi is a credit card-sized ARM based single board computer (SBC). Fedora supports the the Raspberry Pi Model B versions 2 and 3 in all current Fedora releases, the 3+ is supported in Fedora 29 without any requirement of third party kernels or scripts to adjust official images.

FAQ
The documentation on Fedora Project ARM includes a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about what is supported and what isn’t.

Why a remaster of the original Fedora 29 image?
The original Fedora 29 system uses the Gnome desktop. Since the Raspberry Pi 3 computer only has 1GB RAM Gnome is way to “heavy” to run smoothly. I have therefore in my remaster FedEX removed most of the Gnome applications and replaced the Gnome desktop environment with LXDE. LXDE, which stands for Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, is a desktop environment which is lightweight and fast. It is designed to be user friendly and slim, while keeping the resource usage low. LXDE uses less RAM and less CPU while being a feature rich desktop environment. Furthermore I have “blacklisted” newer kernels than the one installed now, which is 4.18.16-300-fc29. Using newer Fedora kernels you won’t have a Wifi connection no matter what you do.

Study all installed packages in FedEX…

FedEX PERFORMANCE
Despite using LXDE the FedEX system is not very fast. When running YouTube in Firefox you’ll even have to be a bit patient. For some unknown reason the system performs slightly better when logged in as root. The original Fedora 29 Rpi 3 system has the same problem. If you want to run a real fast system on your Rpi 3 Model B+ computer you should go for RaspEX with BunsenLabs Build 181010 or RaspEX with LXDE Build 181022. A member on raspex.exton.se wrote this “review” the other day: In three days I´ve tried out different Linux distros on a laptop and on my rpi3b, “pure Ubuntu”, Kali, RaspArch, Arch and yours. Finally it feels right on my Rpi with RaspEX, easy to install and with only “2 problems” you get 9/10 (rootfs.sh and no_pubkey). After spending like 14 hours yesterday trying to install Arch on a HP-laptop, with both manual tutorial and some git-hub-pro-script, failing Big Time, this was a relief. Took me like 15min. Kali + HP = nice. RPI + RaspEX = love!

WHO SHOULD RUN FedEX Rpi3/Fedora 29 for Raspberry Pi 3?
My answer: The system fits the “advanced” Linux user/enthusiast, who would be willing to run an occasional command from time to time.

Compatibility :: December 2018
Unfortunately not all systems made for Raspberry Pi 3 and 2 will run on the new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+ computer. They need to be upgraded with a new kernel. I therefore have to upgrade the systems I distribute. I.e. RaspEX, RaspEX with OpenCPN, RaspEX BunsenLabs, RaspAnd Marshmallow, RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2, RaspAnd Oreo 8.1, EXTON OpSuS Rpi, FedEX Rpi3 and RaspArch. I have until now (181126) upgraded RaspEX, RaspEX with OpenCPN, RaspArch, EXTON OpSuS Rpi, FedEX Rpi3 and RaspAnd Oreo 8.1. Read about the new Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+…

SCREENSHOTS
FedEX’s LXDE Desktop
DNF running
Firefox and Conky running

READ MORE…

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