Post by Tom on Sept 2, 2013 11:44:42 GMT
Linux Mint 15 - Feature List
Linux Mint 15 is the most ambitious release since the start of the project. MATE 1.6 is greatly improved and Cinnamon 1.8 offers a ton of new features, including a screensaver and a unified control center. The login screen can now be themed in HTML5 and two new tools, "Software Sources" and "Driver Manager", make their first appearance in Linux Mint.
Linux Mint 15 "Olivia" Cinnamon Edition
MDM
MDM now features 3 greeters (i.e. login screen applications):
- A GTK greeter
- A themeable GDM greeter, for which hundreds of themes are available
- A brand new HTML greeter, also themeable which supports a new generation of animated and interactive themes
Interactive and animated login screens, in HTML5
The new HTML greeter supports most Web technologies such as HTML5, CSS, Javascript, WebGL and can be used to produce beautiful animated and interactive login screens.
Linux Mint 15 features a collection of GDM and animated HTML themes for MDM, including a WebGL theme called "Clouds GL" which simulates flying in 3D through the clouds
The layout of the GTK greeter was improved, and the GDM greeter is now able to draw frames around text entries if the theme asks for it (this significantly enhances the quality of some of the GDM themes).
MDM received a lot of "under the hood" improvements and bug fixes in the last 6 months.
The MDM configuration tool, mdmsetup, looks better and is more intuitive than before.
Software Sources
A new tool called MintSources, aka "Software Sources", was developed from scratch with derivative distributions in mind (primarily Linux Mint, but also LMDE, Netrunner and Snow Linux). It replaces software-properties-gtk and is perfectly adapted to managing software sources in Linux Mint.
From the main screen you can easily enable or disable optional components and gain access to backports, unstable packages and source code:
The new Software Sources tool
You can also switch to a faster mirror with one click of the mouse. The tool performs a speed-test of all available mirrors for you:
A quick speed test to choose the fastest mirror...
MintSources also features PPA, 3rd party repositories and authentication keys management.
A "Maintenance" section provides solutions to common APT problems.
Driver Manager
Another tool was developed for Linux Mint 15: MintDrivers, the "Driver Manager".
The Driver Manager
MintDrivers relies on the same Ubuntu backend and works the same way as software-properties-gtk. It just looks a bit better:
The "Driver Manager" is an independent application, separate from "Software Sources" and which you can launch straight from the menu.
Drivers are listed by package name, and their version are clearly stated (in the case of the nVidia drivers you can therefore choose according to a particular version instead of wondering what "current" or "updates" really mean).
Devices from popular brands (nVidia, ATI, Broadcom, Samsung...) are illustrated with an icon.
Cinnamon 1.8
Cinnamon 1.8 represents 7 months of development and 1,075 commits. It features a lot of bug fixes but also brand new features and many improvements.
File Manager
Nemo received a lot of attention. Its user interface was heavily modified and its behavior was adapted to integrate better with Cinnamon.
Nemo, the Cinnamon file manager
You can now easily hide the sidebar and switch back and forth between places and treeview. Under each place, if applicable, a small bar indicates how much space is used.
Desklets
KDE calls them Plasmoids, Android calls them Widgets, in Cinnamon they’re called “Desklets”. The same way you can add applets to your panel, you can add desklets to your desktop.
Cinnamon 1.8 ships with 3 desklets installed by default (a launcher, a clock and a photoframe) and many more will come from the community (yes, before people ask, there is an xkcd desklet out there).
Screensaver
Cinnamon now features its own screensaver. One of its particularities is that you can define an away message before locking up your screen.
You can set an away message before locking your screen.
People who are looking for you can see that message while you’re away.
The Cinnamon screensaver
Control Center
All configuration modules are now present in Cinnamon Settings. You no longer need to use Gnome Control Center.
System settings in Cinnamon
Spices Management
In Cinnamon 1.8 you can install “spices” (i.e. applets, desklets, themes, extensions) straight from your desktop. You don’t need to browse cinnamon.linuxmint.com anymore.
Downloading new applets from the community is now much easier than before
You can apply updates as well and if the Spice supports it you can use multiple instances of it.
Linux Mint 15 is the most ambitious release since the start of the project. MATE 1.6 is greatly improved and Cinnamon 1.8 offers a ton of new features, including a screensaver and a unified control center. The login screen can now be themed in HTML5 and two new tools, "Software Sources" and "Driver Manager", make their first appearance in Linux Mint.
Linux Mint 15 "Olivia" Cinnamon Edition
MDM
MDM now features 3 greeters (i.e. login screen applications):
- A GTK greeter
- A themeable GDM greeter, for which hundreds of themes are available
- A brand new HTML greeter, also themeable which supports a new generation of animated and interactive themes
Interactive and animated login screens, in HTML5
The new HTML greeter supports most Web technologies such as HTML5, CSS, Javascript, WebGL and can be used to produce beautiful animated and interactive login screens.
Linux Mint 15 features a collection of GDM and animated HTML themes for MDM, including a WebGL theme called "Clouds GL" which simulates flying in 3D through the clouds
The layout of the GTK greeter was improved, and the GDM greeter is now able to draw frames around text entries if the theme asks for it (this significantly enhances the quality of some of the GDM themes).
MDM received a lot of "under the hood" improvements and bug fixes in the last 6 months.
The MDM configuration tool, mdmsetup, looks better and is more intuitive than before.
Software Sources
A new tool called MintSources, aka "Software Sources", was developed from scratch with derivative distributions in mind (primarily Linux Mint, but also LMDE, Netrunner and Snow Linux). It replaces software-properties-gtk and is perfectly adapted to managing software sources in Linux Mint.
From the main screen you can easily enable or disable optional components and gain access to backports, unstable packages and source code:
The new Software Sources tool
You can also switch to a faster mirror with one click of the mouse. The tool performs a speed-test of all available mirrors for you:
A quick speed test to choose the fastest mirror...
MintSources also features PPA, 3rd party repositories and authentication keys management.
A "Maintenance" section provides solutions to common APT problems.
Driver Manager
Another tool was developed for Linux Mint 15: MintDrivers, the "Driver Manager".
The Driver Manager
MintDrivers relies on the same Ubuntu backend and works the same way as software-properties-gtk. It just looks a bit better:
The "Driver Manager" is an independent application, separate from "Software Sources" and which you can launch straight from the menu.
Drivers are listed by package name, and their version are clearly stated (in the case of the nVidia drivers you can therefore choose according to a particular version instead of wondering what "current" or "updates" really mean).
Devices from popular brands (nVidia, ATI, Broadcom, Samsung...) are illustrated with an icon.
Cinnamon 1.8
Cinnamon 1.8 represents 7 months of development and 1,075 commits. It features a lot of bug fixes but also brand new features and many improvements.
File Manager
Nemo received a lot of attention. Its user interface was heavily modified and its behavior was adapted to integrate better with Cinnamon.
Nemo, the Cinnamon file manager
You can now easily hide the sidebar and switch back and forth between places and treeview. Under each place, if applicable, a small bar indicates how much space is used.
Desklets
KDE calls them Plasmoids, Android calls them Widgets, in Cinnamon they’re called “Desklets”. The same way you can add applets to your panel, you can add desklets to your desktop.
Cinnamon 1.8 ships with 3 desklets installed by default (a launcher, a clock and a photoframe) and many more will come from the community (yes, before people ask, there is an xkcd desklet out there).
Screensaver
Cinnamon now features its own screensaver. One of its particularities is that you can define an away message before locking up your screen.
You can set an away message before locking your screen.
People who are looking for you can see that message while you’re away.
The Cinnamon screensaver
Control Center
All configuration modules are now present in Cinnamon Settings. You no longer need to use Gnome Control Center.
System settings in Cinnamon
Spices Management
In Cinnamon 1.8 you can install “spices” (i.e. applets, desklets, themes, extensions) straight from your desktop. You don’t need to browse cinnamon.linuxmint.com anymore.
Downloading new applets from the community is now much easier than before
You can apply updates as well and if the Spice supports it you can use multiple instances of it.
