Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Who needs KDE or Gnome? – part 2

Leave a comment

linux-logo-exton-lfaLFA (Linux for all) build 150513, 64 bit, with Fluxbox as Window Manager and Cairo-Dock as Desktop Interface

About
The system is based on Ubuntu 15.04, codenamed Vivid Vervet and Debian Jessie (Debian 8). It’s a total rebuild. I.e. nothing is left of the old LFA system.

The system language is ENGLISH.

News about LFA build 150513
Previous version of LFA (build 141120) had four (4) Desktop environments installed. Namely Unity (Ubuntu), LXDE, Razor-qt and XBMC. LFA build 150513 uses only Fluxbox as Window Manager and Cairo-Dock as Desktop Interface. Cairo-Dock is designed to be light, fast and customizable, and is desktop-agnostic. It has a powerful DBus interface, to be controlled from a terminal or another application. Features can be added by plug-ins or applets, and applets can be written in C or in any language. About Fluxbox: Fluxbox is a window manager for X that was based on the Blackbox 0.61.1 code. It is very light on resources and easy to handle but yet full of features to make an easy, and extremely fast, desktop experience. So who needs KDE or Gnome?

Screenshot of LFA’s new Desktop.

Program content etc
Among many other programs Google Chrome (so you can watch Netflix movies), GParted (a free partition editor for graphically managing your disk partitions), BlueGriffon Web Editor (works almost like Dreamweaver), Synaptic Package Manager, SMPlayer (a free media player with built-in codecs that can play virtually all video and audio formats) and PCManFM (a very fast file manager). In addition flash and all necessary additions in order to install programs from source. All programs have been updated to the latest available version as of May 13, 2015. See a complete list of all installed packages.

Web based applications
In order to keep down the LFA system size (so you can run LFA superfast from RAM) I have refrained from installing LibreOffice and Gimp. Instead I offer links in Google Chrome to Onlyoffice.com (A Free alternative to Microsoft Office) and Pixlr.com (Photo Editor – works almost like Adobe Photoshop). Both apps are very easy to use.

Screenshot – Pixlr.com’s Photo Editor in use

Screenshot – Onlyoffice.com’s writer in use

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 3.19.0-14-exton

Feature OVERVIEW for the Linux 3.19 kernel

READ MORE…

Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

CruxEX (CRUX 3.1) with LXDE and kernel 4.0.2-x86_64-cruxex

Leave a comment

CruxCruxEX 3.1 64 bit Linux Live CD/USB is based on CRUX 3.1 (latest version, released 140716), which is all Linux enthusiasts/nerds favorite OS. (CRUX 3.1 is a lightweight Linux distribution for the x86-64 architecture targeted at experienced Linux users). CruxEX 3.1 2015 uses the LXDE Desktop environment. In build 150511 I have replaced the original CRUX kernel with “my” special kernel 4.0.2-x86_64-cruxex, with support for “extra everything”.

About CruxEX 3.1 version 150511
All packages have been upgraded to the latest available version (with prt-get sysup). Furthermore: This version uses kernel 4.0.2 released 150506!

What’s new in kernel 4.0

Packages
Among all installed and updated applications are Firefox 40.0a1 (Nightly), Gimp 2.8.14 and Wicd. Furthermore compilation tools so that you can install programs from source.

READ MORE…

Exton Linux distributions, LINUX, Raspberry systems

RaspEX (Edition 150508) for Raspberry Pi 2 based on Debian 8, Ubuntu 15.04 and Linaro :: Free download

1 Comment

raspberry-logoNEWS 150508 ABOUT RaspEX
My first version of RaspEX is from 150318. I have now upgraded the whole system. RaspEX is a Linux ARM system for Raspberry Pi 2. It is based on Debian Jessie (Debian 8), Ubuntu Vivid Vervet (Ubuntu 15.04) and Linaro (Open Source software for ARM SoCs).

Softpedia review
RaspEX version 150318 was reviewed by Softpedia 150404.

What is Raspberry Pi?
The Raspberry Pi is a low cost, credit-card sized computer that plugs into a computer monitor or TV, and uses a standard keyboard and mouse. It is a capable little device that enables people of all ages to explore computing, and to learn how to program in languages like Scratch and Python. It’s capable of doing everything you’d expect a desktop computer to do, from browsing the internet and playing high-definition video, to making spreadsheets, word-processing, and playing games.
Read more about Raspberry Pi…

model-b-plus-300x225
Raspberry Pi model B made in February 2015. It has a 900MHz quad-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU and 1GB RAM. Read more…

Why shall I use RaspEX?
Eight Operating Systems are recommended by Raspberry.org. Among them Noobs, Raspbian (Debian Wheezy) and Snappy Ubuntu Core. RaspEX is faster (“fast as lightning”), more useful and more fun to use. (In my opinion).

View all installed packages in RaspEX

When logged in as root your Desktop will look like this.
raspex-desktop-screenshot-linaro
Click to view a larger picture

READ MORE…

Android, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 build 5 with kernel 4.0.0-exton-android-x86 and GAPPS

1 Comment

android-x86-kitkat-exton-150504-desktop-smallAndroid-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Exton build version 5 is a total rebuild. The system can run live (from CD or a USB stick) on almost all laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Ausus laptops. The Android system is distributed in the form of an ISO file as the rest of my Linux distributions. I.e. you must (as usual) burn the ISO file to a CD if you want to run the system live on your computer or install it to hard drive. Read about how to burn ISO files. Or skip that. Just use ImgBurn. Nothing can go wrong. You can easily install the system to your hard drive and install new apps. You can also install new apps while running the system live. Google Play Store and is pre-installed so you can just make your choices…

Used kernel
4.0.0-exton-android-x86. Kernel 4.0.0 is the second latest kernel as of 150504.

Replacement
This version (version 5) replaces all my previous (4) Android-x86 4.4.4 KitKat builds. In version 5 I’ve added GAPPS. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store, Google+, Maps, YouTube and more apps. Everything just works. It can happen that you get some error messages, but don’t worry. Just close the “error windows”. The installed apps will work.

USB installation
Read my instruction. It is for AndEX (Android) Lollipop, but the same instruction works for my KitKat version. You can run Android-x86 from a USB stick with persistence. I.e. all system changes will be saved on the stick.

What’s the point?
Well, if you like your Android phone and all the apps you have installed on it I’m sure you will also like to run apps from your laptop. Bigger screen and better sound etc. Read my article About how useful an Android-x86 system can be for the average computer user.

Screenshots
The “live” fish Desktop pic 1
The “live” white tiger Desktop pic 2

READ MORE or download the ISO instantly…

Android, LINUX

AndEX (Android-x86) Lollipop 5.0.2 with Google Play Store and other GAPPS – now (almost) error-free

1 Comment

andex-lollipop-5.0.2-20150426-360NEWS 150505 about AndEX – The Ultimate Edition
My new build of Android-x86 Lollipop 5.0.2 has GAPPS pre-installed. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store, Google+, Maps, YouTube and more apps. The ISO is called android-x86-5.0.2-lollipop-GAPPS-exton-782mb-150505.iso. I call it The Ultimate Edition because AndEX 150505 is (almost) error-free. I finally managed to install Google Play Services, which is needed for Google Play Store to run. You shall always use Google Play Store in AndEX version 150505. Only use Aptoide App Manager (which is also pre-installed) if you can’t find the app you are searching for in Google Play Store.

Unique?
As far as I know there is no other Android-x86 Lollipop 5.0.2 version out there with GAPPS pre-installed.

View the boot process >> SLIDESHOW

About AndEX
My compiled Android–x86 system (Lollipop 5.0.2) can run live (from CD or a USB stick) or be installed on almost all laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Ausus laptops. The Android system is distributed in the form of an ISO file as the rest of my Linux distributions. I.e. you must (as usual) burn the ISO file to a CD (DVD) if you want to run the system live on your computer or install it to hard drive. Read about how to burn ISO files. Or skip that. Just use ImgBurn. Nothing can go wrong.

Replacement
This Ultimate Edition of AndEX replaces version 150426, which also had GAPPS pre-installed.

READ MORE…

Exton Linux distributions

PuppEX Tahr (Puppy Linux) with kernel 4.0.1-PAE-puppex

Leave a comment

puppy-linux-logo-smallNEWS 150501
PuppEX Tahr build 150501 uses a PAE enabled kernel – 4.0.1-PAE-puppex. (Kernel 4.0.1 was released 150429). With PAE compiled into the kernel PuppEX can address up to 64GB of RAM. Google Chrome is included. Just to make it possible to watch Netflix movies. I’ve also added Tahrpup’s Service Pack 6.0.2. NVIDIA Graphics driver 346.59 is installed.

Compatible with Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
The beauty of Puppy Tahr 6.0 is that programs that are available for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS also can be easily installed and run in Puppy Tahr (and thus also in PuppEX).

READ MORE…

Uncategorized

Exton|OS 64 bit with Mate and kernel 3.19.0-14-exton :: build 150428

1 Comment

NEWS ABOUT Exton|OS build 150428
A new and much better version of Exton|OS is ready. I have replaced kernel 3.19.0-5-exton with kernel 3.19.0-14-exton. With kernel 3.19.0 there is no real need to use Nvidia proprietary graphic drivers since this kernel has better support for the open-source Nvidia driver Nouveau than any other older kernel. The Mate Desktop is upgraded to version 1.8.1. I have also replaced Ubuntu’s installation program Ubiquity with Exton|OS Installer, which is a clone of Debian Live Installer. The installation to hard drive is now so simple that a 10 year old child can do it. Watch a SLIDESHOW of the hard drive installation process.

MORE ABOUT VERSION 150428
Exton|OS build 150428 is based on Ubuntu 15.04 64 bit (released April 23, 2015) and Debian Jessie (Debian 8). Exton|OS’s ISO file is a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run Exton|OS from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence! I’ve found two scripts which make the installation to USB very simple. The scripts are quite ingenious. My tests show that they work flawlessly on USB installations of all normal Ubuntu systems. Read my INSTRUCTION how to use the scripts.

READ MORE…

 

Android, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

AndEX (Android-x86) Lollipop 5.0.2 with Google Play Store and other GAPPS

Leave a comment

andex-lollipop-5.0.2-20150426-360NEWS 150426 ABOUT AndEX Lollipop 5.0.2
My new build of Android-x86 Lollipop 5.0.2 has GAPPS pre-installed. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store, Google+, Maps, YouTube and more apps. The ISO is called android-x86-5.0.2-lollipop-exton-kernel-GAPPS-721mb-150426.iso. I finally managed to install Google Play Services, which is needed for Google Play Store to run. You shall always use Google Play Store in AndEX version 150426. Only use Aptoide App Manager (which is also pre-installed) if you can’t find the app you are searching for in Google Play Store.

Unique?
As far as I know there is no other Android-x86 Lollipop 5.0.2 version out there with GAPPS pre-installed.

View the boot process >> SLIDESHOW

About AndEX
My compiled Android–x86 system (Lollipop 5.0.2) can run live (from CD or a USB stick) or be installed on almost all laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Ausus laptops. The Android system is distributed in the form of an ISO file as the rest of my Linux distributions. I.e. you must (as usual) burn the ISO file to a CD (DVD) if you want to run the system live on your computer or install it to hard drive. Read about how to burn ISO files. Or skip that. Just use ImgBurn. Nothing can go wrong.

More about AndEX
Lollipop 5.0.2 is the second latest version of the Android mobile operating system developed by Google. I call my remaster of it AndEX Lollipop Live DVD. It uses “my” special kernel 3.10.58-exton-android-x86 with some extra features. I.e. extra drivers and NTFS read/write support. My Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 builds from 2015-03-21 will cost you 8 $ and my Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 build from 2015-03-30 7 $. They have two advantages over the Lollipop version: A newer kernel (3.18.8 respectively 3.18.2) is used and you can run the systems in VirtualBox. Read more about the KitKat 4.4.4 version 150321 or DOWNLOAD it instantly. Read more about the KitKat 4.4.4 version 150330 or DOWNLOAD it instantly.

Installing new apps in AndEX Lollipop
Use Google Play Store or Aptoide App Manager, which are pre-installed. Just make your choices. Normally you should use Google Play Store, but if you can’t find the app you are looking for you can try Aptoide.

Install the system to hard drive
Say for example that you have a laptop with Windows 8.1 installed as the only operating system. If you just create one extra partition of about 5 GB you can install Android Lollipop on this extra partition and then “dual-boot”. I.e. you can turn on your computer (called “booting it up”) and decide whether you want to start Windows or Android Lollipop. Grub will be installed as boot handler/loader during the installation of Android Lollipop. Note: The installation will take only about one minute. And the installation to hard drive is so simple that a 10 year old child can do it.

What’s the point?
Well, if you like your Android phone and all the apps you have installed on it I’m sure you will also like to run apps from your laptop. Bigger screen and better sound etc. Also: In AndEX version 150426 almost all apps and games can be installed via Google Play Store.

Screenshots
Screenshot 1 – AndEX Desktop without modifications
Screenshot 2 – AndEX Desktop with modifications
Screenshot 3 – AndEX installed apps
Screenshot 4 – AndEX preventing rotation
Screenshot 5 – AndEX using Google Maps

READ MORE or download the ISO file instantly…

Android, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

About how useful an Android-x86 system can be for the average computer user

Leave a comment

kitkat-desktop-small-waterfall-wpA great discovery
This morning I discovered (once again) how useful an Android-x86 system can be. As a matter of fact it can do everything the average computer user needs to do! I.e. you can browse the Internet with different browsers (for example Google Chrome), easily check your mail with the app Gmail or other apps, watch YouTube movies with the YouTube app, handle Facebook with the Facebook app, edit your photos with PicsArt Photo Studio and manage all kinds of documents with QuickOffice or WPS Office. You’ll have to have Google Play Store installed though. And as an extra “App Finder” Aptoide App Manager (when you can’t find the app you want on Google Play Store).

Replacement for Windows, Mac or even Linux Desktop systems?
Some belive what I just said. The Android-x86 Project (Run Android on your PC) is about porting the Android Open Source Project to x86 platform. My Android-x86 version 4 of March 30, 2015 has just about everything the average computer user can wish for pre-installed.

Pre-installed apps and prerequisites
Android-x86 KitKat 4.4.4 Exton build version 4 can run live (from CD) on almost all laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Ausus laptops. The Android system is distributed in the form of an ISO file as the rest of my Linux distributions. I.e. you must (as usual) burn the ISO file to a CD if you want to run the system live on your computer or install it to hard drive. Read about how to burn ISO files. Or skip that. Just use ImgBurn. Nothing can go wrong. You can also very easy install the system to your hard drive and install new apps. You can also install new apps while running the system live. Google Play Store and Aptoide App Manager are pre-installed so you can just make your choice. My Android-x86 version 4 replaces version 1 and version 2 of my Android-x86 KitKat builds. In version 4 I’ve added the following apps: Google Play Store (quite difficult to install) Aptoide App Manager, YouTube, Nature Live Wallpapers, Rotation Control Lite, Facebook, WPS Office, QuickOffice, QuickPic and PicsArt Photo Studio.

Running Android-x86 Exton build version 4
When you run the system for the first time from CD, a USB stick or hard drive you can install Google Maps and Google+. You’ll also get the chance to update Google Play Services to the latest version. Watch this slideshow.

Install Android-x86 Exton build version 4 to hard drive
That can be done virtually in VirtualBox if you don’t want to touch your hard drive.. I.e. run it directly from the ISO file and install it to a hard drive created in VirtualBox. You can of course also make a “real” hard drive installation – see my instructions. Be sure to create a install partition of about 5 GB in advance with the filesystem ext4 if you already use Grub as boot manager or the filesystem ext3 if you want to install Grub during the installation of Android-x86.

USB installation
Also a very smart way ro run an Android-x86 system if you don’t want to touch your hard drive. Installing Android-x86 to a “good” USB pen drive is almost as useful as having the system on a hard drive. I.e. if you install my Android-x86 version 4 on (for example) a SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 stick the system will run very fast. And you can enjoy persistence of you follow my instructions. It is for AndEX (Android) Lollipop, but the same instruction works for all of my KitKat versions.

Screenshots
The Desktop pic 1
The Desktop pic 2
The Desktop pic 3
All pre-installed apps except Sled Mayhem and Bike Mayhem. (They can be installed after a hard drive installation of Android-x86 KitKat version 4)

DOWNLOAD android-x86-4.4.4-kitkat-exton-build-626mb-150330.iso for 7 $


md5sum

About all Exton Linux distributions