Monthly Archives: April 2017

Android, exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Android-x86_64 Nougat 7.1.1 – Build 170426/170423/170422 – with GAPPS and kernel 4.11-rc7/4.10.11/4.4.62-exton-android-x86_64

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NEWS 170426 about AndEX Nougat 7.1.1 – April 2017 builds
I’ve added a new ISO – android-x86_64-7.1.1-nougat-kernel-4.4.62-exton-vmware-1050mb-170426.iso – which can run very well live in VMware Workstation 12.5.5. You can of course also install the system in VMware. Kernel 4.4.62 is used. GAPPS and all other apps mentioned on the INFO site are installed. NOTE: You can run AndEX Nougat Build 170426 also on newer laptops and Desktop computers. Sound won’t work on all though. The video performance is generally very good.

Screenshot – AndEX Build 170426 running in VMware

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Run Raspberry Pi PIXEL Desktop on a PC or Mac – an Exton modified Build 170425 with Refracta Tools

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NEWS 170425 about Raspberry Pi Debian Pixel
I have updated my first Debian Pixel Build from 161223. Study all included packages – latest by 170425. I’ve also added NetworkManager, which makes it easier to configure wireless connections.

NEWS 161223
Yesterday I read that the Raspberry Pi Foundation has announced the release of a new PIXEL image that can be booted on a PC or Mac. Study this site. I saw immediately that there was no installer included, which I thought was a little disappointing. Come to think of Refracta tools, which work very well in Debian and Ubuntu. I quickly made a “remix” of the Raspberry Pi Foundation PIXEL image. My remix thus include Refracta tools. This means that you can easily install the system to hard drive and you can just as easily make your own remix of the Raspberry Pi Foundation PIXEL image. Study all included packages. I’ve added a few packages. Most important Synaptic, which I find essential.

Screenshots
Wifi connection using NetworkManager
Wifi connection established

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Android, exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Android-x86_64 Nougat 7.1.1 – Build 170426/170423/170422 – with GAPPS and kernel 4.11-rc7/4.10.11-exton-android-x86_64

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NEWS 170426 about AndEX Nougat 7.1.1
I’ve added a new ISO – android-x86_64-7.1.1-nougat-kernel-4.4.62-exton-vmware-1050mb-170426.iso – which can run very well live in VMware Workstation 12.5.5. You can of course also install the system in VMware. Kernel 4.4.62 is used. GAPPS and all other apps mentioned below are installed. NOTE: You can run AndEX Nougat Build 170426 also on newer laptops and Desktop computers. Sound won’t work on all though. The video performance is generally very good.

Screenshot – AndEX Build 170426 running in VMware

NEWS 170423: AndEX – Nougat 7.1.1 with kernel 4.11-rc7-exton-android-x86_64 respectively kernel 4.10-11-exton-android-x86_64 and GAPPS
My new builds of Android-x86_64 Nougat 7.1.1 have GAPPS pre-installed. I.e. Google Play Services, Google Play Store 7.6.08.N-all, Gmail and YouTube 12.09.58. Also many other apps. For example: Spotify 8.4.0.539, Clash of Clans 8.709.23, File Manager 2.0.0.355, Google Earth, Google Maps 9.48.2, SnapTube 4.3.0, Firefox 53.0 and Google Chrome 58.0. The two systems are called android_x86_64-7.1.1-nougat-gapps-kernel-4.11.rc7-exton-1160mb-170423 respectively android_x86_64-7.1.1-nougat-gapps-kernel-4.10.11-exton-1160mb-170422.

PREREQUISITE
Both systems have to be installed manually to hard drive. To be able to do that you must have at least one Linux system installed on your hard drive. You must also use Grub as bootloader.

ABOUT Andex Nougat 7.1.1
My compiled Android-x86_64 systems (Nougat 7.1.1) can run from hard drive on certain computers. They must be installed to hard drive and run from there. The systems can be installed on almost all newer laptops (and some Desktop computers). For example Acer (Aspire), HP, Samsung, Dell, Toshiba, Lenovo, Thinkpad, Fujitsu, Panasonic and Asus laptops. I can also mention that I could run my new Nougat versions without problems on a HP Pavilion 500-317no Desktop Computer. The Android-AndEX systems are distributed in the form of a Zip files. I.e. not as ISO files as the rest of my Linux distributions. You must do a manual installation to hard drive. That can even be done to a drive where you already have another Linux system (for example Ubuntu 17.04) installed. That’s sort of a Frugal Installation (normally used by Puppy Linux).

Android Nougat 7.1.1 was released 170106.

KERNELS
AndEX Nougat Build 170423 uses kernel 4.11-rc7. (Latest kernel by 170423). AndEX Nougat Build 170422 uses kernel 4.10.11. (The second latest stable kernel by 170423).

KNOWN ISSUES
1. You can’t run AndEX Nougat 7.1.1 Build 170423/170422 in VirtualBox and VMware. Note that my other two Android Nougat systems from 170201 respectively 161107 can run in VirtualBox and VMware.
2. Bluetooth won’t work.

And once again please note this
PREREQUISITE
Both systems have to be installed manually to hard drive. To be able to do that you must have at least one Linux system installed on your hard drive. You must also use Grub as bootloader.

Screenshots
Screenshot 1 – AndEX Nougat (ZIP) Desktop – kernel 4.11-rc7
Screenshot 2 – AndEX Nougat (ZIP) Desktop – kernel 4.10.11
Screenshot 3 – About

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

ExTiX 17.4 – “The Ultimate Linux System” – with LXQt 0.11.1, Nvidia 381.09 and kernel 4.10.0-19-exton – Build 170418

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I have made a new version of ExTiX – The Ultimate Linux System. I call it ExTiX 17.4 LXQt Live DVD. (The previous version was 17.2 from 170320).

ABOUT
ExTiX 17.4 LXQt DVD 64 bit is based on Debian 8.7 Jessie/Debian 9 Stretch and Ubuntu 17.04 Zesty Zapus, released 170412. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Unity (Ubuntu). After removing Unity I have installed LXQt 0.11.1. LXQt is the Qt port and the upcoming version of LXDE, the Lightweight Desktop Environment. It is the product of the merge between the LXDE-Qt and the Razor-qt projects: A lightweight, modular, blazing-fast and user-friendly desktop environment.

NEWS ABOUT ExTiX 17.4 build 170418 with LXQt Desktop environment
1. ExTiX LXQt is based on Ubuntu 17.04 Zesty Zapus. LXQt 0.11.1 is used as Desktop environment. All packages have been updated to the latest version by 170418. Kernel 4.10.0-19-exton is used. (Kernel.org‘s kernel 4.10.8).
2. Google Chrome is used as Web Browser, which makes it possible to watch Netflix movies. It is normally not possible in Firefox (in Linux).
3. I have also installed BlueGriffon 2.3.1 Web Editor. BlueGriffon is a new WYSIWYG content editor for the World Wide Web. Powered by Gecko, the rendering engine of Firefox, it’s a modern and robust solution to edit Web pages in conformance to the latest Web Standards. Only to be compared with Dreamweaver. (In my opinion).
4. Other included important/useful packages are: LibreOffice, Thunderbird, GParted, Brasero, SMPlayer, GCC and other compilation tools so that you can install packages from source. Furthermore “all” multimedia codecs. Everything the average Linux user could wish for I would say.
5. I have also installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphics driver 381.09 in this new version ExTiX LXQt. It has support for the following GPUs: Vulkan, GeForce GTX 1080 Ti,TITAN Xp, Quadro GP100, Quadro P4000, Quadro P2000, Quadro K1200, Quadro M6000, GeForce 920M, GeForce 930A, GeForce 930M, GeForce 940M, GeForce GTX 950M, GeForce GTX 960M and GeForce GTX TITAN X. This driver will be used automatically if your card is supported (if you start up ExTiX in compatibility mode).

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL about ExTiX and especially the new version from 170418?
1. The ExTiX ISO’s are ISO-hybrids, which means that they can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can even run ExTiX from the USB stick and save all your system changes on the stick. I.e. you will enjoy persistence!
2. Another big improvement is that both ExTiX versions can run from RAM. Use Boot alternative 3 (Copy to RAM). When the system has booted up you can remove the disc (DVD) or USB stick. You’ll need at least 2 GB RAM to run ExTiX that way. Running from RAM means that the system will run faster than from DVD or USB stick. Everything will be superfast I would say!
3. All packages have been upgraded to the latest version by 170418.
4. I’ve replaced kernel 4.10.0-14-exton with kernel 4.10.0-19-exton (Kernel.org‘s stable kernel 4.10.8).
5. The installation program Ubiquity (live installer) is now working as intended. I.e. a new user (your user) will be created during the installation process.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot of ExTiX 17.4 Desktop – LXQt 0.11.1
Google Chrome with Netflix running
Connections to Windows computers via PCManFM-qt using Samba

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

A new light version of exGENT (Gentoo) live is ready – Build 170412

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NEWS 20170412 about exGENT (Gentoo) 64 bit
I’ve made a light version of exGENT with only a few necessary packages pre-installed. It uses LXQt 0.11.0 as Desktop environment and kernel 4.10.4-aufs-gentoo-exton-s. The ISO file is of only 1090 MB compared to exGENT version 170407, which is of 2620 MB. Study all packages installed in Build 170412.

Screenshot
exGENT Build 170412 running Firefox and Netflix.

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Yet another version of exGENT Live (Gentoo Linux) – now with Xfce 4.12.1 and LXQt 0.11.0 – Build 170407

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NEWS 20170407 about exGENT
I’ve made yet a new version (20170407) of exGENT based on Gentoo Linux. It uses Xfce 4.12.1 and LXQt 0.11.0 Desktop environments and kernel 4.10.4. It is for the 64 bit architecture. I call it exGENT 2017 Xfce4/LXQt Live DVD. It replaces version 20170331. The ISO file is of 2620 MB due to the fact that this version has a lot of packages pre-installed. Despite this exGENT version 170407 runs surprisingly fast from DVD or USB. Even in VirtualBox and VMware. Faster than most other Linux live systems. All installed packages in exGENT have been updated to the latest available version by 170407.

What’s new in exGENT Build 170407?
The boot loader Grub Legacy has been replaced by Grub2. I started this build in the hope that I should be able to implement a new independent installer program called Calamares. I wasn’t able to do it now though. (Many dependencies to satisfy). My old installer script will have to do until I find a solution. Anyway, I think exGENT Build 170407 can be of interest because of the change to Grub2 and the fact that it has one of the newest kernels installed. MOST IMPORTANT: In versions before 170309 the file system wasn’t writable when running exGENT live (from DVD). Now you can emerge (install) new programs/packages even while running the system from a DVD or USB stick. If you do that and later decide to install exGENT to hard drive all your changes will follow! Furthermore you can install/transfer exGENT to a USB stick with the dd command in Linux or use Etcher and Rufus in Windows. Watch a screenshot when Etcher is running. Such installations were impossible before. Note: I have uninstalled Google Chrome. It’s not needed anymore, since Netflix runs very well in Firefox now. I’ve also added the LXQt Desktop environment. LXQt is a lightweight Qt desktop environment. It will not get in your way. It will not hang or slow down your system. It is focused on being a classic desktop with a modern look and feel. You can choose between Xfce4 and LXQt when logging in at Slim’s login screen. Just press F1.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 4.10.4-aufs-gentoo-exton-big corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 4.10.4.

Programs etc
The best thing with exGENT is the premier autodetection of hardware and the ability to easily install the system to hard drive during a live session. Installed programs: Among many others GParted, GNU Emacs, Firefox, Spotify, Thunderbird, Samba, Vlc, AbiWord, Nvidia Graphics driver 375.39 and NetworkManager. Furthermore compilation tools so that you can install programs from source the Gentoo way.

Who is exGENT/Gentoo for?
Experienced Linux users or those who really want to learn Linux. (Perhaps also for people who are bored with mainstream distributions like Ubuntu).

Screenshots
exGENT running Nvidia config
exGENT running Brasero
exGENT running Samba
exGENT running Spotify – in Xfce4
exGENT running Spotify – in LXQt
exGENT running in VirtualBox
exGENT running in VMware (installation to virtual hard drive)
exGENT running Firefox and Netflix

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