Category Archives: Exton Linux distributions

Android, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

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

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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

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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 $


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Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

ExTiX 15.2 – two live DVD’s – with KDE 4.14.6 together with KDE Frameworks 5.9.0 respectively with LXQt 0.9.0

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extix-logo-black-white-bgI have made two new versions of ExTiX 15.2. I call them ExTiX 15.2 LXQt Live DVD respectively ExTiX 15.2 KDE Live DVD

ABOUT BOTH VERSIONS
ExTiX Linux Live DVD’s 64 bit are based on Debian Jessie/Ubuntu 15.04. The original system includes the Desktop Environment Unity (Ubuntu). After removing Unity I have installed LXQt 0.9.0 (in ExTiX 15.2, build 150417) and KDE 4.14.6 together with KDE Frameworks 5.9.0 in an extra version also of 150417. 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. And KDE Frameworks are 60 addon libraries to Qt which provide a wide variety of commonly needed functionality in mature, peer reviewed and well tested libraries with friendly licensing terms.

STABLE?
Ubuntu 15.04 will be released in a stable version 150423. Regardless of this fact you can consider both my ExTiX versions of 150417 as stable. The “Final Freeze” of Ubuntu 15.04 was yesterday (150416).

The system language is ENGLISH.

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 3.19.0-14-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 3.19.3.

Feature OVERVIEW for the Linux 3.19 kernel

NEWS ABOUT ExTiX 15.2 build 150417 – two versions – LXQt or KDE Desktop environments
1. ExTiX (both versions) are now based on Ubuntu 15.04 Vivid Vervet. LXQt 0.9.0 (not in Ubuntu’s repositories) or KDE 4.14.6 with KDE Frameworks 5.9.0 are used as Desktop environments. All packages have been updated to the latest version by 150417 (LXQt version) and 150417 (KDE version). Kernel 3.19.0-14-exton is used. (Kernel.org‘s kernel 3.19.3). Ubuntu 15.04 to be relased 150423 will use kernel 3.19.0-14-generic.
2. Google Chrome is used as Web Browser, which makes it possible to watch Netflix movies. It is not possible in Firefox (in Linux). Both Firefox and Chrome are installed in the KDE version.
3. I have also installed BlueGriffon 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 Graphic driver 346.59 in the LXQt version. It has support for the following GPUs: 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. Note: One reason for me to abandon Gnome 3.14 (which was used in the previous version of ExTiX) is that Gnome 3.14 won’t run together with Nvidia’s proprietary drivers.

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL about ExTiX and especially the two new versions from 150417?
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 then even run ExTiX 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. My tests show that they work flawlessly on USB installations of all normal Ubuntu systems.
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. ExTiX is now more stable than ever. All packages have been upgraded to the latest version by 150417.
4. I’ve replaced kernel 3.18.0-10-exton with kernel 3.19.0-14-exton (Kernel.org‘s stable kernel 3.19.3) in both versions of ExTiX.
7. 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.

LOG IN to LXQt repectively KDE
You can only run ExTiX live as root. Log in from Slim‘s Login Manager as root with password root in the LXQt version. Or as regards the KDE version; from console mode. Run startx to enter X/KDE. Press Ctrl Alt F1 if you don’t end up in console mode after the boot process. During a hard drive installation you will get the opportunity to create a normal user.

Install ExTiX to hard drive
In the KDE version just start the install program Ubiquity from the menu (Install ExTiX 15.2). In the LXQt version you’ll have to start up a terminal and run the command ubiquity for the installation to start. Then just follow the instructions.

USB installation
Read my instruction.

Compatibility 
A general truth: If an original system can run on a particular computer an Exton remaster of the same original system can run on the same computer. I never change a Linux system for the worse in terms of auto configuration and hardware detection, etc. It happens that I replace the original kernel, but always to a “better” one with even more native support for various hardware etc. (Which I have done in this case).

Screenshot of ExTiX 15.2 Desktop – KDE 4.14.6

Screenshot of ExTiX 15.2 Desktop – LXQt 0.9.0

NOTE THIS PLEASE
Please note again that you can only log in to both Desktop Environments (LXQt and KDE) as root with password root. ALSO: If you don’t end up in console mode in the KDE edition you must press Ctrl Alt F1 simultaneously to get a login prompt. When you have it log in as root and run the command startx to enter X/KDE.

DOWNLOAD ExTiX 15.2 (both versions) from SourceForge.net – Fast, secure and free downloads from the largest Open Source applications and software directory.

ExTiX 15.2 LXQt version can also be downloaded from the Swedish Linux Society’s server

Android, Exton Linux distributions, LINUX

Run Android-x86 from a USB stick with persistence!

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android-logoYesterday I discovered that “my” Android-x86 systems can be installed to a USB stick with persistence. I.e. all system changes are saved directly on the stick. This is how it is done.

1. Format a “good” USB stick with the ext3 (not ext4) filesystem. This has to be done in a installed Linux system or while running a live Linux system from CD or a USB stick.

2. Insert your formatted USB stick and start up one of “my” Android-x86 systems (KitKat or Lollipop) from CD. In the slideshow below I’m installing AndEX (Lollipop 5.0.2) to my USB stick SanDisk Contour.

Watch this slideshow (showing the install process).

What is it good for?
Well, you don’t have to touch your hard drive. Installing Android-x86 this way won’t effect your “ordinary” boot loader. And as I say above: All system changes are persistent!

Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

Exton Linux distributions

ArchEX dual 64/32 bit with LXDE and kernel 3.19.3-1-ARCH

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ArchWHAT IS ArchEX dual build 150409?
ArchEX 64bit/32bit dual is a new (150409) Linux live DVD based on Arch Linux. Arch motto is KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). ArchEX uses kernel 3.19.3-1-ARCH (latest stable kernel) and the LXDE Desktop environment.

INSTALLED SOFTWARE
Among many other programs, Firefox 37.0.1, Gimp 2.8.14, GCC 4.9.2, Wicd and GParted – see this package LIST.

INSTALLATION to hard drive
ArchEX can easily be installed to hard drive of those who so desire. Use ArchEX Installer. I.e. while running ArchEX live from the DVD.

Rolling distribution
Arch Linux/ArchEX are rolling distributions, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world).

Screenshot – ArchEX LXDE Desktop (running Spotify)

BENEFITS of ArchEX/Arch Linux
“Cutting Edge”-software and speed.

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Exton Linux distributions

DebEX Barebone 64 bit Live DVD with Xfce 4.12, released 150228 after three years of work

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DebianNEWS about DebEX Barebone 150329
A new version of DebEX Barebone with Xfce 4.12 and kernel 3.18.0-8-exton (equivalent to Kernel.org’s stable kernel 3.18.1) is ready. I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphic driver 340.65. All packages have been updated to the latest version as of Mars 29, 2015.

Announcement about Xfce 4.12, released 150228
Today, after 2 years and 10 months of work, we are pleased to announce the release of the Xfce desktop 4.12, a new stable version that supersedes Xfce 4.10. This long period can only be explained by how awesome Xfce 4.10 was. But as all things, it needed some refreshing – and for that we saw lots of new contributors providing valuable feedback, features and bugfixes. As always, Xfce follows its steady pace of evolution without revolution that seems to match our users’ needs.

Unique?
As far as I know there is not other Linux live cd/dvd with Xfce 4.12.

Three versions of DebEX: DebEX Barebone, DebEX Gnome and DebEX KDE Linux 64 bit
All three systems/distributions are based on Debian Jessie (upcoming Debian 8). There are also certain elements of Debian Sid (unstable). Xfce 4.12 (released 150228 after about three years work!) is used as Desktop environment in DebEX Barebone. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly. Gnome 3.14 is used in DebEX Gnome. KDE 4.14.3 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:84 is used in DebEX KDE. DebEX Barebone uses “my” special kernel 3.18.0-8-exton (equivalent to Kernel.org’s stable kernel 3.18.1). So does DebEX Gnome version 150122. DebEX KDE uses “my” special kernel 3.19.0-5-exton equivalent to Kernel.org’s stable kernel 3.19.0. The system language is English (in all three versions of DebEX).

Screenshot of the Xfce 4.12 Desktop

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Exton Linux distributions

PuppEX Tahr (Tahrpup 6.0) with kernel 3.19.1-PAE-puppex

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CruxNEWS 150309
A new version of PuppEX Tahr 32bit is ready. Kernel 3.19.1 is the latest available stable kernel from Kernel.org as of 150309. PuppEX uses the original Puppy Tahr Desktop. I have added PCManFM and LXTerminal. They are more useful than ROX-Filer respectively RXVT, I think. The ISO file is on the whole 475 MB, which is due to me including also NVIDIA Graphics driver 346.47, Gimp, Google Chrome (for Netflix), Adobe Flash and compiling tools. Tahrpup original is of only 199 MB. PuppEX is despite this still running as fast as the original, which means it runs very, very fast compared to most other Linux systems. (Puppy/PuppEX runs from RAM). I’ve also added Tahrpup’s Service Pack 6.0.2. With PAE compiled into the kernel PuppEX now can address up to 64GB of RAM.

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).

See a screenshot of the Desktop

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Exton Linux distributions

Who needs KDE or Gnome?

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LFALFA (Linux for all) version 150225, 64 bit, with Fluxbox as Window Manager and Cairo-Dock as Desktop Interface

About
The system is based on upcoming Ubuntu 15.04, codenamed Vivid Vervet and Debian Jessie (upcoming 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 150225
Previous version of LFA (build 141120) had four (4) Desktop environments installed. Namely Unity (Ubuntu), LXDE, Razor-qt and XBMC. LFA build 150225 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 February 25, 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. An alternative to Pixlr.com is Toolpic.com.

Screenshot – Pixlr.com’s Photo Editor in use

Screenshot – Onlyoffice.com’s writer in use

Used KERNEL
My special kernel 3.19.0-5-exton corresponding Kernel.org’s kernel 3.19.0.

Feature OVERVIEW for the Linux 3.19 kernel

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Exton Linux distributions

ExTiX 15.1.1 KDE with KDE Frameworks 5.7.0 and kernel 3.19.0-5-exton

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extix-logo-black-white-bgNEWS ABOUT ExTiX 15.1.1 KDE build 150221
In this new extra version/build I have replaced Unity/Ubuntu with KDE 4.14.4 (latest) and KDE Frameworks 5.7.0. KDE Frameworks are 60 addon libraries to Qt which provide a wide variety of commonly needed functionality in mature, peer reviewed and well tested libraries with friendly licensing terms. All common KDE packages are installed- packages LIST. I have added LibreOffice (the whole suite), Google Chrome (to make it possible to watch Netflix movies), Samba (so you can reach your Windows shares) and GCC and other compilation tools (so that you can install packages from source). Kernel 3.19.0-5-exton is used.

WHAT’S SO SPECIAL about ExTiX and especially version 150221 and 150205?
1. The ExTiX ISO is a ISO-hybrid, which means that it can very easily be transferred (copied) to a USB pen drive. You can then even run ExTiX 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. My tests show that they work flawlessly on USB installations of all normal Ubuntu systems. Read my INSTRUCTION how to use the scripts.
2. Another big improvement is that ExTiX 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. ExTiX is now more stable than ever. All packages have been upgraded to the latest versions by 150221 and 150205.
4. I’ve replaced kernel 3.16.0-21-exton with kernel 3.19.0-5-exton and 3.18.0-10-exton (Kernel.org’s stable kernel 3.19.0/3.18.3).
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.

See this screenshot of ExTiX KDE’s Desktop

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Exton Linux distributions

DebEX KDE with KDE 4.14.3/KDE Plasma Desktop 5:84 and kernel 3.19.0-5-exton

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DebianNEWS ABOUT DebEX KDE build 150219
I have made a new version of DebEX KDE Live DVD. It replaces version 150116. It’s a pure Debian 8 system. I.e.: There are no Ubuntu or Kubuntu elements involved. (One could also say it’s The real McCoy!). DebEX KDE uses KDE 4.14.3 and KDE Plasma Desktop 5:84 as Desktop environment. (The latest stable version of KDE) and kernel 3.19.0-5-exton. I have installed Nvidia’s proprietary graphic driver 346.35. Furthermore Google Chrome to make it possible to watch Netflix movies. I’ve 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 150219. Study the full package list.

Rolling distribution
Debian Jessie/DebEX are rolling distributions, which implies that once you have installed the system on the hard drive there is no need for re-installations (which otherwise is common in the Linux world). This means, for example, that you can go on and install Gnome 3.14 or/and KDE 4.14.3 in DebEX Barebone/KDE. I.e. the latest versions (as of 150219) of Gnome and KDE.

Screenshot of the KDE Plasma Desktop in version 150219 of DebEX KDE

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