Monthly Archives: December 2017

exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

SlackEX Build 171223 (Slackware 14.2) live dvd/usb with KDE 4.14.38, kernel 4.14.8-x86_64-efi-exton, Nvidia 384.98 and VirtualBox 5.2.4

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Slackware is the first widely-used Linux system, which is still developing. Slackware has existed since 1993. In comparison with for example Ubuntu and Linux Mint, many people believe that Slackware is “difficult”. Any novice can quickly learn to use Ubuntu they say. My remaster of Slackware Current (14.2), which I call SlackEX 14.2/Current 64 bit Linux Live DVD/USB, is however just as easy to use as Ubuntu and/or Linux Mint. Some tend to complain that the Program Management in Slackware is awkward. That was perhaps earlier the case, but not anymore. Now we have the Application Managers Slackpkg and GSlapt – a GTK version of slapt-get. They are a piece of cake to use! Users of Synaptic will feel at ease with GSlapt.

New features in version 171223 of SlackEX
I have replaced kernel 4.12.9-x86_64-exton with kernel 4.14.8-x86_64-efi-exton with support for “everything”. Kernel 4.14.8 was released 171220. KDE is upgraded to version 4.14.38 (latest KDE version). All other component software is also upgraded to the latest Slackware Current version by now. I may also mention in particular GParted 0.29.0, VirtualBox 5.2.4 (latest, not in Slackware’s repositories), Google Chrome 63.0.3239.108 (not in Slackware’s repositories – you can download my build at SourceForge.net), Gimp 2.8.10 (installed from source), GSlapt 0.5.4b, Slackpkg 2.82.1, Firefox 57.0.2, Thunderbird 52.5.0, Samba 4.7.3 and GCC 7.2.0. Furthermore I have installed Grub2, which can be used as boot loader (if you want) after a hard drive install. Study the full package LIST. Note: I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better in SlackEX.

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – KDE 4.14.38 Desktop with Netflix running
Screenshot 2 – KDE 4.14.38 Desktop with VirtualBox running
Screenshot 3 – Samba running
Screenshot 4 – Nvidia settings and GSlapt running
Screenshot 5 – Hard drive installation of SlackEX in VirtualBox
Screenshot 6 – SMPlayer running

The end of the road…
I will end my SlackEX project now. It’s not needed anymore (if it ever was). Alienbob’s Slackware systems are built with liveslak scripts. Anyone can use the scripts. No special knowledge of Slackware (or Linux) is needed. A lot of different Slackware systems (built with liveslak) can be downloaded. They can all be installed to hard drive using a script called setup2hd. They can also be transferred to a USB stick using a script called iso2usb.sh.

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Android, exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX, Raspberry systems

RaspAnd 7.1.2 Build 171220, which can be used with the official Raspberry Pi 7 inch touchscreen and Big TV Screens

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NEWS about RaspAnd 7.1.2 Build 171220/171215
Thanks to a member on this site who asked for support for the Raspberry Pi official 7 inch touchscreen I started to experiment with different configurations. Success! The changes are so good that I’ve decided to uploaded a new version of RaspAnd today. Note: The display size have changed from 1280×720 to 1920×1080, which means that RaspAnd will look better also when using Big TV screens. Screenshot when a Samsung 55 inch TV is used as monitor. In Build 171220 I’ve also included the app Quick Reboot Pro (so you don’t have to use the power switch).

Build 171220 of RaspAnd can be downloaded by those who have purchased Build 171215 (and previous versions of RaspAnd 7.1.2).

SCREENSHOTS
Screenshot 1 – The Desktop when the Raspberry Pi official 7 inch touchscreen is used (RaspAnd Build 171220)
Screenshot 2 – Running YouTube in the Jelly Browser when the touchscreen is used (RaspAnd Build 171220)
Screenshot 3 – The Desktop when a Samsung 55″ TV is used as monitor (RaspAnd Build 171220)

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Android, exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX, Raspberry systems

RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2 for Raspberry Pi 3 – Build 171215 – with Google Play Store, Kodi 17.6, Aptoide TV, Bluetooth and TeamViewer working very well

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NEWS 171215 ABOUT RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2 with Google Play Store (and everything else!) working
RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2 Build 171215 has GAPPS installed and Google Play Store working. Bluetooth works and you can use TeamViewer to control other computers from your Rpi3. RaspAnd can be installed in Windows using Win32 Disk Imager or Etcher. The video performance is generally much better than in previous versions. Your Wifi connection is stable and it will reconnect after every reboot of your Rpi3.

Slideshow – showing RaspAnd’s boot procedure…

MORE ABOUT RaspAnd
RaspAnd Nougat 7.1.2 Build 171215 is an Android 7.1.2 Nougat system which can run on Raspberry Pi 3. I have included the following apps:
1) GAPPS (Google Play Services with Google Play Store)
2) Kodi 17.6 (latest version which allows users to play and view most videos, music, podcasts, and other digital media files from local and network storage media and the Internet. YouTube is enabled and working very well!)
3) Spotify TV 1.6.3 (working very very well)
4) Google Play Games (needed for Clash of Clans to run)
5) Clash of Clans 9.256.19 – very popular!
6) TeamViewer 1.3.0.7991 – control other computers from your Rpi3!
7) Jelly Browser 7.1.2 – use it to watch YouTube etc.
8) Aptoide TV 3.2.5 (for installing new apps which can’t be found on Google Play Store – many many apps can be installed!)
9) ES File Explorer 4.1.6.7.5 working very well
10) Chess 2.3.6
11) AIDA64 1.47
12) Termux – a very special terminal. (Use the APT package manager!)

Bluetooth and TeamViewer
Bluetooth works in RaspAnd Build 171215. As an alternative you can use the TeamViewer app, which is pre-installed. Screenshot when the TeamViewer app is running on my Rpi3 and controlling my PC.

Clash of Clans and other popular games
Clash of Clans 9.256.19 (a very popular epic strategy game) works very very well. Perfect video quality and audio.

Spotify
Spotify works very well in RaspAnd Nougat. Just log in and play your favorite music!

SCREENSHOTS
Slideshow – showing RaspAnd’s boot procedure
Screenshot 2 – RaspAnd’s Desktop
Screenshot 3 – Google Play Store running
Screenshot 4 – Spotify running
Screenshot 5 – YouTube running in Jelly Browser with perfect video quality
Screenshot 6 – Aptoide TV running
Screenshot 7 – TeamViewer running and controlling my PC
Screenshot 8 – Kodi running
Screenshot 9 – Rpi3 connected to mobile phone by Bluetooth
Screenshot 10 – Developer options
Screenshot 11 – The Desktop when the Raspberry Pi official 7″ touchscreen is used (RaspAnd Build 171220)
Screenshot 12 – Running YouTube in the Jelly Browser when the touchscreen is used (RaspAnd Build 171220)
Screenshot 13 – The Desktop when a Samsung 55″ TV is used as monitor (RaspAnd Build 171220)

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

ExTiX 18.0 with Deepin 15.5 Desktop, Refracta snapshot and Calamares 3.1.9 Installer – Build 171208

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NEWS about ExTiX 18.0 Deepin 171208
I’ve released a new version of ExTIX 18.0 Deepin today with Calamares 3.1.9 installed from source. Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. All packages have been updated to the latest available version as of today. Study all installed packages in ExTiX Deepin Build 171208.

Refracta Tools
While running ExTiX Deepin 18.0 live or from hard drive you can use Refracta Tools (pre-installed) to create your own live installable Ubuntu system. A ten year child can do it!

About Calamares Installer
Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. Calamares aims to be easy, usable, beautiful, pragmatic, inclusive and distribution-agnostic. Calamares includes an advanced partitioning feature, with support for both manual and automated partitioning operations. It is the first installer with an automated “Replace Partition” option, which makes it easy to reuse a partition over and over for distribution testing. Watch a movie when I’ve started to install ExTiX Deepin using Calamares.

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exton, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

DebEX KDE (Debian Buster/Sid) Build 171203 with Plasma 5.37 and Calamares Installer (so you can install DebEX in any language!)

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NEWS 171203 about DebEX KDE Plasma – a Refracta Build
I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Plasma Live DVD. It replaces version 171023. It’s a pure Debian 10 system. (Buster/Sid). I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. DebEX KDE Plasma uses KDE 4.16 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:37 as Desktop environment. It uses kernel 4.13.0-16-exton – (4.13.4). I have replaced Wicd with NetworkManager. It works better. I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphic driver 384.90. I have replaced Google Chrome with Firefox 57.0 (for Netflix). I’ve also added SMPlayer – an alternative to Vlc. (SMPlayer is a free media player for Windows and Linux with built-in codecs that can play virtually all video and audio formats. It doesn’t need any external codecs. Just install SMPlayer and you’ll be able to play all formats without the hassle to find and install codec packs). All other installed packages have also been updated to the latest version of 171203. Study the full package list. MOST IMPORTANT CHANGE: I have replaced Refracta Installer with Calamares 3.1.9 Installer Framework. Now you can choose language when the installation starts. When it’s ready everything will be in your chosen language! Log in to KDE as the ordinary user user with password live or as root (superuser) with password root.

About Calamares
I’ve installed Calamares in ArchEX (Arch Linux) Build 171129. It works extremely well. So I thought why not install Calamares also in DebEX?  Watch a YouTube video about running Calamares in ArchEX. Calamares works in the same way in DebEX.  What is Calamares?  – Calamares is an installer framework. By design it is very customizable, in order to satisfy a wide variety of needs and use cases. Calamares aims to be easy, usable, beautiful, pragmatic, inclusive and distribution-agnostic. Calamares includes an advanced partitioning feature, with support for both manual and automated partitioning operations. It is the first installer with an automated “Replace Partition” option, which makes it easy to reuse a partition over and over for distribution testing.

Important about Refracta
You can use the Refracta snapshot (pre-installed in all three versions of DebEX) to create your own installable Debian Live DVD once you have installed DebEX to hard drive. I mean change everything and then create a whole new Debian live system. When you start Refracta it will look like this. You don’t even have to install DebEX to hard drive before you can use the Refracta tools. If you have plenty of RAM you can create a new (your own!) Debian 10 system while running DebEX from DVD or a USB stick. Please note that the whole Refracta process (creating your new ISO) will only take 10 – 50 min! You’ll find the ISO in /home/snapshots. Or change that by editing /etc/refractasnapshot.conf.

Screenshot of DebEX’s Desktop when Calamares is running
Screenshot of DebEX’s Desktop when Refracta snapshot is running

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