AV Linux 3.0R1 Released!

[GMaq]

Hello,

On the heels of AV Linux 3.0, version 3.0R1 (R1=Revision 1) has been released. I, better than anyone perhaps realize the inconvenience of a new version so quickly, it is my hope that this is the best move in the long run to provide a stable base that has a broader possible range of installation and can be better maintained with updated packages over the course of a longer "shelf life". This fixes many of the installation issues created by 3.0 as well as streamlining and drastically reducing the ISO size down to just over a Gigabyte. My sincere thanks to the AV Linux users who were guinea pigs and helped to test and provide feedback on 3.0R1 before it's release. Due to the large volume of updates and improvements a 3.0R1 final ISO has been created to replace the 3.0R1 "testing" ISO. Thanks as always to the Debian pkg-multimedia team for their continuing stellar work. Here are the changes, sometimes we have to take a step back to move ahead!

AV Linux 3.0R1 Changes:

- Removed all locales except CA, US and GB to conserve ISO space, AV Linux and Remastersys are English only anyway. Users can still change the keyboard layout for different countries in /etc/X11/xorg.conf
- Removed many peripheral apps any of which are a Synaptic click away to install, AV Linux now focuses on a multimedia-centred mature core of applications.
- Fixed and improved nVidia and Synaptics Touchpad detection issues by rolling back to Xorg 7.3, this also simplifies changing keyboard layouts. Updating to Xorg 7.4 can be done after installing by unpinning the Xorg and related packages in Synaptic and updating if you feel the need to run Xorg 7.4 (not really necessary in most cases).
- Fixed UUID issues with fstab by rolling back hal and consolekit, Hey Debian...does hal REALLY need to be updated 7 times a day?! I think not.
- Fixed slow booting by rolling back to udev 141, AV Boots like lightning now! Again, Debian...can't things that work in Linux just be left alone for a while?!
- Fixed issues with Unetbootin, AV Linux runs from USB keys again. Persistent storage is not an easy option with Debian, it doesn't use casper-rw like Ubuntu.
- Fixed Openbox and obconf issues, obconf now runs and saves it's config properly.
- Updated to LXDE 0.5.0, lxpanel now handles GTK themes much better and there are many more right-click options throughout LXDE
- Added Rui Nuno Capela's rtirq script at boot time (works with -rt Kernel only)
- Updated FFADO to the 2.0 Stable release
- Updated Ardour to Debian GIT 2.8.4-3 source with LV2 support
- Updated Rosegarden to 10.02 Beta - report bugs to the Rosegarden developers mailing list
- Updated Bristol to 0.40.7
- Updated Fluidsynth to 1.1.1 it now works with Qsynth 0.3.4
- Latest musE is available as an add-on here: http://www.bandshed.net/checkinstall/
- Updated Openshot Video Editor to 1.0
- Updated LiVES to 1.1.8
- Updated DeVeDe to 3.15
- Added mhwaveedit - nice light soundfile editor!
- Added XCDRoast
- Replaced Brasero with Gnomebaker...latest Brasero wouldn't burn Audio CD's??
- Tidy up menus, launchers and icons
- New Logo and Artwork
- many more subtle improvements




PLEASE NOTE:
There are changes to the AV Linux Website as well, a new "Packages" page clarifies where to get AV Linux Debs and Kernels, access it by clicking the "Packages" button from the home page. PLEASE READ THE WEBSITE INFO CAREFULLY BEFORE INSTALLING!

I plan to support AV Linux 3.0R1 with Rosegarden's stable Thorn release, Ardour 3 as soon as source becomes available in Debian GIT and keep pace with the major developments in Linux Multimedia. Please remember AV Linux has and always will come pre-loaded with the necessary development libraries to build most of the included apps from source so if you are handy with a compiler you can enjoy new apps as soon as they are available.

HELP NEEDED!
Help is needed from experienced Linux users on the AV Linux forum, My Linux knowledge is specific to Multimedia Distro and Kernel creation but is very general in other areas, Help is needed for other important areas like networking and other core Linux problems like hard drive issues etc etc. Other than donations technical support assistance is the most needed attribute at the present time. If you are a new user please join the AV Linux forum here: http://geekconnection.org/remastersys/forums/index.php#7

DONATIONS NEEDED!
The AV Linux 3.0 ISO was accessed in excess of 18000 times which resulted in 3 donations, My heartfelt thanks to those who stepped up and contributed however AV Linux takes about 20+ hours a week to maintain, develop, test and improve. The current level of funding is not carrying the project's expenses let alone providing any compensation for my work, this unfortunately cannot continue much longer, like anyone I have to prioritize my responsibilities and those 20+ hours are too precious to give away for nothing. Thanks are appreciated...but donations are needed. To clarify you are not paying for the software, it is free... however the hosting, packaging, preparation and convenience services are not.

Enough Talk! Let's get to the good stuff.

Download from the AV Linux Website:
http://www.bandshed.net/AVLinux.html

[MJ Peg]

Well done, it seems like a very worthwhile project. Please don't get disheartened by a lack of feedback or donations, that's just the way it is, online. We're all (mostly) guilty of taking, using, enjoying content without showing any appreciation. But it is appreciated nonetheless and you still get some 'glory' out of it. The main thing is to do as much as you want to, for your own satisfaction, without 'burning out'. And if you end up doing less than some people have taken for granted, then they'll have to get in touch, crawl out of the woodwork, to inspire you to continue

I haven't tried AVL yet, but aim to at some point.

Keep up the good work!