Month: January 2019

DebEX (Debian “Buster”) with Budgie Desktop 10.4, Refracta Snapshot, Calamares and kernel 5.0.0-rc3-exton – Build 190128

28
Jan
2019

NEWS 190128 about DebEX Budgie – a Refracta Build
A new version of DebEX Barebone with Budgie Desktop 10.4 and kernel 5.0.0-rc3-exton (equivalent to Kernel.org’s second latest kernel 5.0-rc3) is ready. All packages have been updated to the latest version as of January 28, 2019. DebEX Barebone is now based on Debian Buster (upcoming Debian 10). Most important: The ISO has decreased from 1330 MB to 925 MB, which makes it easier to run the system live from RAM. That ability allows DebEX Budgie to be very fast, since reading and writing data from/to RAM is much faster than on a hard disk drive. You can use the Calamares 3.2.3-2 Installer Framework to install DebEX Budgie to your computer in any language. You can even use Calamares in VirtualBox and VMware – i.e. non-efi computers. Watch this animated GIF.

 

What’s new in kernel 5.0?

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta Snaphot (pre-installed in all three versions of DebEX) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian system while running DebEX from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find your ISO in /home/snapshot.

The real McCoy
DebEX is a pure Debian system. I.e. no traces of Ubuntu, Kubuntu etc. New releases of Ubuntu are always based on Debian unstable. So is DebEX.

Spotify
You can easily install Spotify in DebEX (even while running the system live). Just run the command sudo apt update followed by sudo apt install spotify-client. Watch a screenshot when Spotify is running in DebEX Budgie.

Rolling distribution
Debian/DebEX are rolling distributions, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world). This means, for example, that you can go on and install Gnome or/and KDE in DebEX Budgie.

SCREENSHOTS
1. The Budgie Desktop for the ordinary user user
2. The Budgie Desktop for root 
3. DebEX installing and running Spotify
4. DebEX running Calamares

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RaspEX Kodi Rpi3 with LXDE and Kodi 18 RC4 Media Center “Leia” with Netflix, Plex and Amazon Video addons – Build 190124

24
Jan
2019

ABOUT RaspEX Kodi
RaspEX Kodi Build 190124 with LXDE/Kodi Desktops 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. RaspEX Kodi is based on Debian, Raspbian and Kodi Media Center. In RaspEX Kodi I’ve added the LXDE Desktop with many useful applications such as VLC Media Player and NetworkManager. Makes it easy to configure your wireless network. I’ve also upgraded Kodi to a BETA version (Kodi 18 RC4 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 Kodi.

Replacement
RaspEX Kodi is a replacement for RaspEX Kodi with OSMC, which was released 190117. Sam Nazarko (founder of OSMC) contacted me 190118 claiming that I was “violating” his rights to the trademark OSMC and the rules in GPLv2. I don’t think I did, but I’m also very tired. Therefore I made a new version of RaspEX Kodi without any traces of OSMC. I would say that my new version is as good as the old one. I.e. excellent video and sound performance both in Kodi and LXDE.

About RaspEX Kodi
Running RaspEX Kodi you will immediately end up in X and LXDE as the ordinary user raspex. After the first boot you shall use NetworkManager for configuring your network connection. Just click on the network icon in the upper right panel and chose your wireless network. Watch this screenshot. The big difference between Raspbian and RaspEX Kodi is that Kodi 18 RC4 Leia is pre-installed in RaspEX Kodi 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 RaspEX Kodi is based on Raspbian/Debian you’ll have about 30000 packages to chose between. When logged in as raspex you can use Sudo to become root. Example: sudo su and sudo pcmanfm. While logged in to the LXDE Desktop you can (of course) go on to Kodi directly. Just open Kodi like any other program. NOTE: You cannot run Kodi as root.

RaspEX Kodi performance
RaspEX Kodi is a very fast and responsive Rpi system. Much due to very low memory (RAM) usage. About 150 MB as this screenshot shows. I’ve said that RaspEX LXDE Build 181015 is very fast. RaspEX Kodi 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 Kodi on big TV screens. I.e. you can really enjoy Netflix and YouTube running on your Rpi mini computer!

SCREENSHOTS
1. Running Kodi
2. The LXDE Desktop logged in as the ordinary user osmc
3. The LXDE Desktop logged in as root (super admin)
4. Netflix running showing very good video quality – 1
5. Netflix running showing very good video quality – 2
6. YouTube running showing very good video quality
7. Choosing program addons in Kodi
8. RaspEX Kodi showing system INFO

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Read about my Android-x86 Systems – Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow, Lollipop and KitKat at
andex.exton.net – latest is AndEX Oreo 8.1!

and

about my Oreo, Nougat, Marshmallow and Lollipop versions for Raspberry Pi 3/2 at
raspex.exton.se – latest is RaspAnd Oreo 8.1!

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Exton|Defender Linux Super Rescue System Live DVD based on Fedora 29 with Cinnamon 4.0.8 and kernel 4.19.15 – Build 190121

21
Jan
2019

About Exton|Defender SRS
Exton|Defender SRS is a Linux system available as a Live DVD (based on Fedora 29, 64bit – version 190121) for administrating or repairing your system and data after a crash. Exton|Defender aims to provide an easy way to carry out admin tasks on your computer, such as creating and editing the hard disk partitions. It comes with a lot of Linux software such as system tools and basic tools (editors, Midnight Commander, network tools). Exton|Defender can, however, also be used as a normal Linux Desktop System. It requires no hard drive installation, but can easily be installed to hard drive if you want. Desktop environment: Cinnamon 4.0.8.

System Tools included

NTFS-3g, GParted, PartImage, Shred, Sfdisk (util-linux-ng), Rsync, Ddrescue, FSArchiver, TestDisk and Midnight Commander. Other programs (among many others): NetworkManager, Firefox, Thunderbird, Samba, Java (JDK 1.8.0) and Java Runtime Environment (JRE), Emacs, Safecopy, kernel headers and many compilation tools. See a complete LIST of all installed packages 190121.

SCREENSHOTS
1. Exton|Defender running Parole Media Player
2. Exton|Defender running Anaconda Installer
3. Exton|Defender liveuser Desktop

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RaspEX Kodi Rpi3 with LXDE/OSMC Desktops and Kodi 18 RC5 Media Center “Leia” with Netflix, Plex and Amazon Video addons – Build 190117

17
Jan
2019

ABOUT RaspEX Kodi
RaspEX Kodi Build 190117 with LXDE/OSMC Desktops 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 Kodi 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 RC5 Leia), which makes it possible to include useful addons such as Netflix, Plex and Amazon Video. Which I’ve done. Kodi 18 RC5 was released 190114. Study all included packages in RaspEX Kodi.

Kernel
Kernel 4.20.1-exton is used.

RaspEX Kodi performance
RaspEX Kodi 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 Kodi with OSMC Desktop 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 Kodi on big TV screens. I.e. you can really enjoy Netflix and YouTube running on your Rpi mini computer!

SCREENSHOTS
1. Running Kodi
2. The LXDE Desktop logged in as the ordinary user osmc
3. The LXDE Desktop logged in as root (superadmin)
4. Netflix running showing very good video quality – 1
5. Netflix running showing very good video quality – 2
6. YouTube running showing very good video quality
7. Choosing program addons in Kodi
8. RaspEX Kodi OSMC running INFO

DOWNLOAD
This RaspEX build can’t be downloaded anymore. I have, however, made a replacement for Build 190117.
RaspEX Kodi Build 190124 is a replacement for RaspEX Kodi with OSMC, which was released 190117. Sam Nazarko (founder of OSMC) contacted me 190118 claiming that I was “violating” his rights to the trademark OSMC and the rules in GPLv2. I don’t think I did, but I’m also very tired. Therefore I made a new version of RaspEX Kodi without any traces of OSMC. I would say that my new version is as good as the old one. I.e. excellent video and sound performance both in Kodi and LXDE.

READ MORE…

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ExTiX 19.1.2, Build 190102, with LXQt 0.12, Kodi 18 “Leia”, Refracta Snapshot, Nvidia and kernel 4.20.0-exton

02
Jan
2019

NEWS 190104 ABOUT ExTiX LXQt Mini 19.1.3, Build 190104
I’ve made a new “mini” version of ExTiX. The ISO file is now only of 837 MB, which is good if you want to run the system superfast from RAM. This build has everything Build 19.1.2 has except for Kodi 18. You can, however, install Kodi 18 “Leia” if you want. Use Synaptic for that. Watch this screenshot. You can (of course) install thousands of other packages if you want. Study all pre-installed packages in ExTiX 19.1.3.

ExTiX 19.1.2 – Build 190102
I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 19.1.2 LXQt/Kodi Live DVD. (The previous LXQt version was 18.7 from 180723). The best thing with ExTiX 19.1.2 is that while running the system live (from DVD/USB) or from hard drive you can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. So easy that a ten year child can do it! As an alternative to LXQt you can run Kodi 18 Leia. Just start Kodi like any other program while logged in to the LXQt Desktop as the ordinary user live. I have enabled a few addons in Kodi. Most important the Netflix addon. One other very good thing with this version of ExTiX is that it is very light. The ISO file is of only 1040 MB, which means that you can run the system superfast from RAM. When the boot process is ready you can eject the DVD or USB stick. Use Boot alternative 3 or Advanced options… >> load to RAM.

ABOUT
ExTiX 19.1.2 LXQt/Kodi DVD 64 bit is based on Debian and Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Gnome. After removing Gnome I have installed LXQt 0.12.0. LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the Razor-qt projects: A lightweight, modular, blazing-fast and user-friendly desktop environment. I have also installed Kodi 18 Leia with some addons already enabled. Most important Netflix, Plex and Amazon Video addons. NOTE: This ExTiX LXQt Build is for installation to UEFI-enabled computers. You shall use Refracta Installer for that.

The system language is ENGLISH.

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL about ExTiX and especially the new version from 190102?
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 3 (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 a DVD or a USB stick. Everything will be superfast I would say! Especially since the ISO file is of only 1040 MB!
3. ExTiX LXQt is now more stable than ever. All packages have been upgraded to the latest version by 190102.
4. I’ve replaced kernel 4.18.0-rc5-extix with kernel 4.20.0-exton. Kernel 4.20 is the latest kernel by 190102.
5. I have replaced Ubuntu’s installation program Ubiquity (live installer) with Refracta Installer. It works 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 the installer from the menu under System.
6. The best thing with ExTiX 19.1.2 is that while running the system live (from DVD/USB) or from hard drive you can use Refracta Snapshot (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system.
7. As an alternative to LXQt you can run Kodi 18 Leia. Just start Kodi like any other program while logged in to the LXQt Desktop as the ordinary user live. I have enabled a few addons in Kodi. Most important the Netflix addon. NOTE: You can’t run Kodi as root. (You won’t have sound).
8. Nvidia proprietary Graphics driver 410.78 (patched for kernel 4.20) is pre-installed in ExTiX 19.1.2. It will be used automatically if your computer has support for it.

SCREENSHOTS
1. Kodi 18 running
2. ExTiX LXQt/Kodi – live’s Desktop
3. ExTiX LXQt/Kodi – root’s Desktop
4. Kodi 18 running – choosing Video addons

Kodi 18 in action – watch an animated GIF…

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