OpenSUSE 11.2

From openSUSE

Revision as of 20:55, 20 September 2009

openSUSE 11.2 is the next evolution of openSUSE, coming November 2009! We invite you to get involved with the testing, design and development of openSUSE 11.2. If you're interested in simply using openSUSE, the world's most usable Linux, please see our latest version, openSUSE 11.1.

Planned Improvements

Under the Hood

openSUSE 11.2 will come with the latest version of the Linux kernel, the beating heart of every openSUSE system, (specifically Linux 2.6.31 . See here for more information). The file system of openSUSE will be switched to the new Ext4. For detailed information as to what this means for you, read this article on Ext4.

openSUSE 11.2 will also include new and updated drivers for your hardware, meaning more and newer devices will work with openSUSE. In addition, special attention has been paid to the netbook market, and new drivers will enable openSUSE to run better on a wider range of netbooks.

On the Desktop

openSUSE 11.2 KDE with Air theme

openSUSE 11.2's desktop environments will continue to evolve. In addition to the work of the openSUSE Project in the desktop, openSUSE 11.2 will include the latest versions of the two desktop environments, KDE 4.3 and GNOME 2.28. GNOME users will notice a fresh new look to openSUSE 11.2 in the windows and user interface, called Sonar.

openSUSE 11.2 GNOME with Sonar theme

No matter what desktop you choose, openSUSE's web browser and office suite will gain great new features. Mozilla Firefox 3.5 gives users more control over their browsing experience, including a Ctrl-Tab switch between tabs and a private browsing mode. OpenOffice.org 3.1 delivers even more new improvements to the office suite, such as the ability to carry out a structured conversation through the word processor's commenting functions, and major improvements to the graphics drawing application.

Social Network Support

Support for social networks like Facebook and Twitter has been added to a number of applications and new applications have been added to the desktop. These applications allow a better user experience than the default webbased interfaces.

• choqok: New KDE twitter and identi.ca client
• gwibber: New GNOME client with support for Twitter, identi.ca, Facebook etc.
• kopete: The KDE client now has additional support for Facebook IM protocol
• social plasmoids: KDE 4.3 comes with plasmoids for Twitter/identi.ca and openDesktop

Filesystems and Partitioning

• The ext4 filesystem is the new default filesystem for new installations.
• Btrfs, the next generation Linux filesystem, has now a stable disk layout and can be configured in the YaST partitioner.
• The YaST partitioner has seen many user interface improvements (Add: screenshot of storage graph)
• It is now possible to encrypt the complete hard disk.

YaST Improvements

New Qt4-based YaST Control Center

openSUSE 11.2 will include a YaST Web interface for easier remote administration of your openSUSE computer as technology preview. We will also, for the first time, officially support live updates to encourage more people to use openSUSE's Factory and report issues.

But the most important change is of course the introduction of Yastie as YaST mascot!

Updates and Downloads

• Improved download experience with zypper due to:
  • Better mirror handling and fallback to mirrors with aria2c
  • Possibility to first download all packages and then install them
  • Improvements to the user interface of zypper
• It's now easier to follow the factory (development) version of openSUSE since only packages with changes get synced out, this reduces the size of updates between builds.

Media

Latest Gimp included on Live-CDs

openSUSE 11.2 includes two major updates to how we distribute openSUSE - first, Hybrid ISOs will allow to boot the ISO images from USB. We're also retooling the Live-CDs to include more languages, complete local printing (no more having to download software to print!) and the imaging editor The GIMP.

As always, openSUSE 11.2 is set to be quicker, easier, stronger, and more colorful (as long as that color is green).

Stay tuned! We're still months away from the release of openSUSE, but we encourage you to keep checking this website, as well as openSUSE News for the latest information about everything openSUSE 11.2. Don't forget to follow openSUSE on Twitter for the latest updates as they happen!

Help out!

Now is the best time to jump in and help make sure openSUSE 11.2 is the best product it can be! You can test openSUSE 11.2 milestones and file bugs, or find another way to participate in openSUSE!

You may also check out the list of most annoying known bugs and their workarounds.

Spread the word!

Like openSUSE? Share your excitement by putting a button on your website, blog, profile, or other Internet website!

Learn More

• Media layout of openSUSE 11.2
• openSUSE 11.2 development updates
• Screenshots of openSUSE 11.2 Milestones
• Features under discussion for openSUSE 11.2

More information

For info regarding releases, refer to the roadmap. Stay up to date with the latest news regarding openSUSE 11.2 and everything else in the openSUSE project with openSUSE News, on Twitter at @openSUSE, and chat with other openSUSE users through IRC chat, the openSUSE Forums and the openSUSE mailing lists.