Linux Mint 9 offers new software manager, backup tool

The Linux Mint team has released the final version of Linux Mint 9 ("Isadora"), based on Ubuntu 10.04. Linux Mint 9 features a new software manager with 30,000 packages, a new backup tool, and menu and interface improvements, says the team.

The Isadora release follows up on Linux Mint 8 ("Helena"), which released an RC1 GNOME version in November, and a final KDE release in early February. (Based on Ubuntu 9.10 ("Karmic Koala"), Linux Mint 8 added improvements such as new OEM installation features, an option to ignore updates, and "menu places" that can be configured by users.)

Linux Mint 9 offers interface improvements like user-definable menu transparency

Linux Mint 9 made its debut in a May release candidate (RC), which was based on the Ubuntu 10.04 ("Lucid Lynx") that had been released just the week before. Like the RC, this week's final version incorporates Linux kernel 2.6.32.11, the GNOME 2.30 desktop environment, and the Xorg 7.4 X Windows System.

Mint 9 desktop and web browser
(Click to enlarge)

As with Lucid Lynx, Isadora is claimed to boot much faster than earlier versions. Linux Mint 9 also borrows Ubuntu 10.04's long term support (LTS), offering three years of security updates, says the Mint team.

Linux Mint 9 main screen with new default background (left) and new Software Manager (right)
(Click on either to enlarge)

Mint 9 offers a new Software Manager that now features over 30,000 software packages, compared to 300 packages in the earlier version. Combining the original Software Manager with the GNOME App-Install and the new Ubuntu Software Centre, the new version supplies numerous visual improvements, as well as an APT daemon that lets users install software in the background, says the Mint team. Among other enhancements, users can now review applications directly from the Software Manager, and view user-written reviews from the Linux Mint Community Website.

Mint 9's new Backup Tool
(Click to enlarge)

The other key improvement is a new Backup Tool, which offers features like incremental backups, compression, and integrity checks, says the Mint team. Users can now identify installed software, save the selection as a list, and then restore the selection on a different computer or on a new version of Linux Mint, says the team.

In addition to the new Software Manager and Backup Tool, other major new Linux Mint 9 features are said to include:

• Menu improvements, including editable items, transparent menus, "start with favorites," and "add to" shortcuts
  
• Desktop settings enhancements, including the immediate application of changes
  
• Better look and feel, with new backgrounds, welcome screen, and update manager
  
• System improvements, including a Wubi-based Windows installer, "Husse" quotes, a USB creator, default software selection, local repository and Gnome-PPP, and apt hold/unhold/held commands
  
• Project changes, including the Community Website, CD and DVD versions, Community Editions, OEM installation disks, USA/Japan distributors disks, and 32 and 64-bit support

Availability

Linux Mint 9 RC is available here, and more information may be found here.

Droid 2 Teardown: 4 Findings

Unlike R2-D2, Motorola's Droid 2 is not a sentient being, so there's nothing cruel about iFixit's teardown of the latest Android phone.
As with most of these teardowns, looking at the Droid 2's insides doesn't reveal much more than the basic technical specs, but they're always good for a few nuggets of information. Here are the highlights of what iFixit found in its Droid 2 teardown:

Same Battery, More Juice

Like the original Droid, the Droid 2 uses a 1400 mAh lithium ion battery, but Motorola advertises 575 minutes of call time in the Droid 2, compared to 385 minutes in the first model. Obviously, Motorola made adjustments elsewhere in the phone to sip less power. The battery is removable, as it was in the first Droid.

New Keyboard May be Interchangeable

The Droid 2's keyboard is one of its biggest new features, with raised keys and a wider stance in lieu of the previous generation's directional pad. If you've upgraded, but actually like the old keyboard, you might be able to switch them, but iFixit hasn't tested that yet. For original Droid owners, the hunt is on for Droid 2 parts suppliers.

Where's the Death Grip?

The Droid 2's antenna is a gold strip appended to the speaker housing, which itself is placed at the bottom of the phone's top panel, under the screen. Given that you usually hold a phone by its back and sides, I'm guessing (unscientifically) that signal interference won't be a problem when holding the phone normally.

More of the Same

I don't know how the original Droid performed on speakerphone and external audio (at least one review gave high marks), but iFixit says the Droid 2's speaker is the same.
Speakers are unsung heroes in smartphones, so hopefully Motorola's sticking with a good thing. The Droid 2's screen is also the same as the original -- 3.7 inches, full WVGA with 854×480 resolution -- and although the camera looks similar, it records video at 30 frames per second, compared to the original's 24.