Lead Linux Mint Developer Clem Lefebvre announced today that come October, Linux Mint 7 codename 'Gloria' will reach end of life. To be more precise, Linux Mint 7 Gloria will reach end of life on the 23rd of October, 2010. As you may already know, Linux Mint 7 is based on Ubuntu 9.04 codename Jaunty Jackalope. The Jackalope will also reach end of life on the 23rd of October.
As Lead Linux Mint Developer Clem Lefebvre explained, repositories will remain open for a little more time. No more security fixes or updates will be made available for Linux Mint 7 though. If you are still on Linux Mint 7, Clem Lefebvre advises you to migrate to Linux Mint 9 codename Isadora.
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Linux Mint 9 Isadora (word of Greco-Latin origin, Isadora means “Gift of Isis) is a Long Term Release (LTS). This means the Linux Mint team will provide support for Isadora until April 2013.
“Linux Mint follows the Ubuntu release cycle with a new release every 6 months, a lifespan of about 1.5 years per release and 3 years per LTS release. LTS stands for Long Term Support. Linux Mint 9 is both an LTS and our latest release,” explained Clem Lefebvre.
Linux Mint 9 Isadora is available for download here. Here is what you can expect to get from Isadora:
- Based on Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx, Linux 2.6.32, Gnome 2.30 and Xorg 7.4 - Completely rewritten Software Manager and mintInstall - More than 30,000 applications that you can view in Software Manager and online - Software Manager Uses and monitors the APT daemon, so clicking “Install” means the action is queued and processed in the background. You can cancel actions, see on-going actions, view action progress. - Software Manager is completely asynchronous and independent from APT. The actions you selected will run in the background even if you close the Software Manager. - The Software Manager updates itself with all the reviews contributed by other users. - Completely rewritten Backup Tool as mintBackup is known. The new tool can perform the following tasks: backup and restore files and directories, backup and restore your software selection, check differences in files and perform incremental backups/restorations, check the integrity of the files after it copies them, backup straight to an archive and compress it on the fly. - Menu improvements: editable items, transparent menu, always start with favorites, “Add to” shortcuts. - Completely rewritten Desktop Settings tool. It features a new look and feel, new options, usability improvements. Changes made with the Desktop Settings tool take effect immediately (you no longer have to close the tool for the changes to take effect). - The Update Manager uses new icons that look like white shields. - Update Manage will display an error icon only when something actually goes wrong, like when software sources are malformed, not when your internet connection is down. - mint4win, the Windows installer is back. - In memory of Mats Geier a.k.a Husse, when you open a terminal, the random messages that shows up features one of Husse’s best quotes. - Three new commands for apt: “apt hold <package>”, “apt unhold <package>” and “apt held”. - USB-creator added to the default software selection. - Linux Mint 9 comes with P7zip, Gwibber, apturl and Startup Manager installed by default. - Linux Mint now includes a local repository activated by default - New backgrounds and artwork - Welcome screen is now rendered in HTML - Community website.
If you don’t know how to upgrade to a newer version of Linux Mint, check out this tutorial.
In related news, it must be said that the upcoming Linux Mint 10 will carry the codename Julia – as in Gens Julia, one of Ancient Rome’s most ancient Patrician families and the gens of the famous Gaius Julius Caesar. Linux Mint 10 Julia will be based on the upcoming Ubuntu 10.10. Ubuntu 10.10 Release Candidate is scheduled to be released on the 30th of September. The final version is scheduled to be released on the 10th of October. Linux Mint 10 Julia will be released this November.
“Many of our users started to use Linux Mint with Gloria. Number 7 was among our most popular releases and is currently run by 15% of our user base. It introduced Mint to a black and green Shiki theme which was kept in Linux Mint 8 and 9, and to numerous improvements to the desktop. Mint 10 Julia, which is to be released in November 2010, will bring a new theme to Linux Mint, and improvements in the same areas as Mint 7, in particular in the menu, and in the update, software and upload managers,” commented Lefebvre.
Lead Linux Mint Developer Clem Lefebvre 