Category Archives: Reviews

Review : Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2

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Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2 released, before we begin this review check the release announcement and “release notes, Downloaad“.

we already reviewed ubuntu 10.04 LTS Alpha 3 and Beta 1 , check the release notes for both older versions to know the improvement accomplished on last release.

so here we go,

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Beta 2 review

Installed on virtual machine “sun virtualbox” application with this Hardware specifications:

  • single core processor 2.1 GHz
  • 512 MB of ram
  • 12 MB of video memory

# Installation Process

boot it first time as live session it was working good, after the installation it was working super fast really good.

after the installation it boot super fast, really impressed with booting time about 9 second booting time at first time booting, usually any operating system after the installation it boot really quick but after the installing any extra application you their will be some lagging time to boot up.

Their is not a big difference between Beta 1 and Beta 2 themes, both of them looks the same but at bug report their a lot of reported bugs on radiance theme fixed on ubuntu 10.04 beta2

same main installed packages for applications.

Yahoo still the default search engine on firefox instead of Google search engine. with firefox version 3.6.3, it’s up to you can change the search engine later firefox options.

using last version of Gnome so far ” Gnome 2.30″ , Linux kernel v 2.6.32

security issues fixed, improvement on ubuntu one, ubuntu enterprise cloud, new default open source driver for nvidia hardware

I really like the new version of nautilus comes with Gnome 2.30 if you are not familiar with nautilus and gnome 2.30 visit this link

really like the splitting view on windows, split view come really handy on to open to directory side by side with difference icon view really good.

To activate split mode on opened windows press F3 or go to view menu and select it.

also you can drag and drop folders and files split view.

same new features included with ubuntu 10.04 beta 2 with menus and right click menu for copying files to and moving to.

Pros :

Awesome booting time

Gnome 2.30 desktop really good with a lot of new features.

Ambiance and Radiance looks really good themes

Cons :

none, with me so far working really good I don’t have any problems, also thinking to install it as default distribution.

and we waiting for ubuntu 10.04 LTS final version April 29th 2010  :)

Give it a try, as usual please report any bugs you got,

here to know how to report any bugs you got to ubuntu community and Bugsquad

peace out  :)

Element 1.1 Review

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Element 1.1 just released today march 28, 2010

Element is an Ubuntu-based distribution for home theatre or media-centre personal computers featuring a ten-foot user interface and designed to be connected to a HDTV for a digital media and Internet experience within the comforts of a living room or entertainment area. Element comes pre-loaded with dozens of applications that will allow listening to, viewing, and managing music, videos, photos, and Internet media.

Check the release notes and announcement

Download

LinuxNov Review for Element 1.1

Used it on virtual machine “virtual box” as a live session with this hardware specifications

  • single core processor  2.1 Ghz
  • 1 GB of Ram
  • 12 MB of video memory
  • with extended hard driver space in case installed it

Booting time was really good, I didn’t expect a quick booting time for live session, I believe it will be much better if you installed on machine not on virtual machine.

A lot of people are really big fans with media centers applications, this one it awesome it’s using xbmc my favorite media center application, it’s really customizable with a lot of themes and extra plugin follow these links for plugins and scripts for xbmc 1 2 .

xbmc website Follow this link

xbmc skins Follow this link

Versions of most important packages:

linux 2.6.31, glibc 2.10.1, gcc 4.4.1, python 2.6.4, pidgin 2.6.5, gtk+ 2.18.3,  xfce 4.6.1, xbmc 9.11, firefox 3.5.8, transmission 1.83, decibel-audio-player 1.01, vlc 1.0.2, brasero 2.28.2, element-app-finder 1.0

Using Desktop environment Xfce 4.6.1  awesome modifications for the desktop. for easy access for main applications on the distribution itself such as ” firefox, Home directory, VLC, Xbmc, …”

Pros :

It’s Awesome distributions specially for multimedia files, watching many movies with different extensions using xbmc and vlc, and for sure it’s customizable to download extra packages or multimedia applications, “maybe you will need to install extra codecs”

Really liked the Xfce desktop environment with this customizations “ middle dock for main applications”

Awesome booting Time

Cons :

Many windows don’t fit on the screen, maybe cause I am using it on virtual machine with 800X600 resolution

Not all applications are up to date.

Screenshots time :

Please leave your feedback, and enjoy it.

Ubuntu 10.04 beta 1 Review

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Hello guys,

Already reviewed ubuntu 10.04 alpha 3 here, as you will see in this post a big difference between ubuntu 10.04 alpha 3 and beta 1 version, New default theme that mentioned on ubuntu fresh look post ….

Release notes & Download Release announcement

Hardware specification:

this is the hardware specification used to run this version of ubuntu 10.04

  • 1 core processor 2.1 Ghz
  • 1 GB of ram
  • 12 Mb of video memory

with this hardware spec it was working great guys, so i believe if you have a decent machine it will work better.

Installation process :

Installed on Virtual machine “sun virtualbox”

First Boot after completing the installation

“Close, minimize, maximize” button in the left side of the title bar

More option added to right click menu for sharing to ubuntu one, moving to and copy to even it’s  a file or folder

Pitivi default video editor

New look for Ubuntu software center

Yahoo is the default search engine for firefox 3.6, but it’s up to you can change it later to any other search engine

Terminal background color looks really good specially with this theme, also it’s up to you can change it later.

New menu to control your chat account what ever it’s ” pidgin or empathy” , controlling Gwibber, and ubuntu one

Gwibber works really good here , I faced many problem with using it on ubuntu 10.04 alpha 3 version. but it’s working great now even it’s a development version till now.

Sound preference with better control access menu.

Overall after the installation:

It was working really good, much better than the older version “alpha 3″

Ubuntu 10.04 beta 2 will release at 8th of April, and the final version will release 29th of  April.

with first installation on virtualbox with 16 mb of video memory it was working a little bit slower.


Please guys leave your feedback, try to install it in your machine and report any bugs you faced so the development community able to fix many bugs for next release.

Thanks guys,

Ubuntu 10.04 Alpha 3 “Lucid” Review

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Ubuntu 10.04 Alpha 3 “Lucid”

Hello guys,

Using this version on virtual machine “virtual box” in low specification “only one core 2.1 Ghz , 384 MB of Ram , and 12 MB of video memory ”

The default search engine has been changed to Yahoo! The default home page will use either Google or Yahoo! depending on user setting. Alpha 3 includes the 2.6.32 kernel based on 2.6.32.8. Alpha 3 of Kubuntu features the new KDE SC 4.4. The nouveau video driver is now the default for NVIDIA hardware, this driver provides kernel mode setting, which will give improved resolution detection. We now feature built-in integration with Twitter, identi.ca, Facebook, and other social networks with the MeMenu in the panel.

  • Booting time : really good
  • Become slower a little bit with live session
  • Had crashes when using “Gwibber”
  • Overall performance Slow, Not recommended to use it as default Operating system for this version.
  • Try to install it or use live session, leave you feedback, report crashes, so they be able to fix it in next release.

Screenshots: