[relnotes] [Fedora Project Wiki] Update of "Docs/Beats/OverView" by PaulFrields

Fri Sep 14 23:56:56 UTC 2007

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The following page has been changed by PaulFrields:
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Docs/Beats/OverView?action=diff&rev2=261&rev1=260

The comment on the change is:
Sync with test2 and remove old material

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  This release includes significant new versions of many key components and technologies. The following sections provide a brief overview of major changes from the last release of Fedora. 

- ==== Spins ====
+ === Spins ===

- For the first time, Fedora includes several different ''spins'', which are variations of Fedora built from a specific set of software packages.  Each spin has a combination of software to meet the requirements of a specific kind of end user. In addition to a very small `boot.iso` image for network installation, users have the following spin choices:
+ Fedora includes several different ''spins'', which are variations of Fedora built from a specific set of software packages.  Each spin has a combination of software to meet the requirements of a specific kind of end user. In addition to a very small `boot.iso` image for network installation, users have the following spin choices:

-  * GNOME and KDE desktop environment based bootable Live images that can be installed to a hard disk. These spins are meant for desktop users who prefer a single disk installation and for sharing Fedora with friends, family, and event attendees. 
+  * A regular Fedora image for desktops, workstations and server users. This spin provides a good upgrade path and similar environment for users of previous releases of Fedora. 

-  * A regular image for desktops, workstations and server users. This spin provides a good upgrade path and similar environment for users of previous releases of Fedora. 
+  * Fedora Live (i686, x86_64, ppc) - A good general use Desktop live image that uses GNOME.  Only the i686 version fits on a CD.

- ==== Desktop ====
+  * Fedora KDE Live (i686, x86_64) - A Desktop based on the KDE software suite.  Only the i686 version fits on a CD.

-  * This release features [http://www.gnome.org/start/2.18/notes/en/ GNOME] [[GetVal(DocsDict,GnomeVer)]] and KDE [[GetVal(DocsDict,KDEVer)]]. 
+  * [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FWN/Issue102#head-53444e1645ab6dc131718253c5300e6b55e60d92 Fedora Developer Live] (i686) - A Live image designed for software developers.

-  * Fast User Switching is well [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Desktop/FastUserSwitching integrated] within this release.  Developers have enabled this feature through extensive development work on `ConsoleKit` and full integration throughout the distribution.
+  * [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/FedoraElectronicLab Fedora Electronic Lab (FEL) Live] (i686) - A live image designed for engineers working on electronics.  This image fits on a CD.

-  * Display devices can be hot plugged and work automatically, thanks to the inclusion of '''Xorg Server''' 1.3.
+ Remember that these Live images can be used on USB media via the 'livecd-iso-to-disk' utility available in the livecd-tools package.

-  * This release provides a number of firmware packages for enhanced wireless networking.  '''NetworkManager''' presents a graphical interface that allows users to quickly switch between wireless and wired networks for increased mobility.  '''NetworkManager''' is installed by default in both GNOME and KDE Live CDs.
+ === Desktop ===

-  * Fedora [[GetVal(DocsDict,RelVer)]] includes a refreshing new "Flying High" theme, which is part of a continuous team effort from the community and the [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Artwork Fedora Artwork Project].  
+  * This test release features the GNOME 2.20 Release Candidate.
+  
+  * KDE 3.5.7 is included in this release.

-  * [http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/2.0/releasenotes/ Firefox 2] includes a host of new features including an inline speller checker, built-in phishing protection, and the ability to resume browsing sessions. 
+  * A brand new graphical firewall configuration tool, ''system-config-firewall'', replaces ''system-config-securitylevel''.

-  * I18N support is much improved by the presence the SCIM input methods, which now work after installation automatically without any configuration.  SCIM can handle nearly every alphabet/set of characters in use. Fedora is now more accessible to a wider audience by the default inclusion of a number of language packages and input methods in the GNOME based Live CD. 
+  * This release includes [http://icedtea.classpath.org/wiki/Main_Page Iced Tea], a free and open source Java environment derived from OpenJDK.  A browser plugin based on GCJ that takes advantage of Iced Tea is available and installed by default. 

-  * A new comprehensive graphical administration tool for SELinux, system-config-selinux is available by default in this release. SELinux boolean settings have been removed from the `system-config-securitylevel` tool and added to this new administration tool instead. 
+  * A preview of [http://www.opencompositing.org/ Compiz Fusion], the compositing window manager that re-merges Compiz and Beryl, is installed by default. To enable Compiz Fusion in GNOME, use the ''System'' > ''Preferences'' > ''Desktop Effects'' tool. Ongoing, long term [http://www.x.org/wiki/Events/XDS2007/Notes Xorg work] continues to enable [http://hoegsberg.blogspot.com/2007/08/compiz-and-fedora.html Compiz] by default. 

-  * The SELinux troubleshooting tool 'setroubleshoot' is enabled by default in this release.  This tool provides notifications and detailed information to desktop users about any access denials by SELinux policy, along with suggestions on handling them.
+  * This release of Fedora has a new look and feel, called [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Artwork/F8Themes/Infinity/Round3Final Infinity], from the Fedora Art team. 

-  * This release features integration of a new [http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.linux.kernel/472789 FireWire stack] in the kernel for more robust device handling. 
+  * [http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Artwork/NodokaTheme Nodoka], a fresh new GNOME theme created specially for Fedora, is available in this release. 

-  * Fedora now includes improved power management through implementation of [http://lwn.net/Articles/223185/ dynamic ticks] in the kernel. 
+ === System Level Changes ===

-  * This release partially consolidates dictionaries used by desktop applications, which provides a consistent desktop experience while saving resources. 
+  * Fedora 8 Test 2 features a 2.6.23 based kernel. 

-  * Fedora now integrates the experimental [http://nouveau.freedesktop.org/wiki/ nouveau] driver within '''Xorg''' and the kernel.  The `nouveau` driver, which is disabled by default in this release, aims to provide free and open source 3D drivers for nVidia cards.  End users are asked to provide feedback on this feature to the project developers, to further the goal of having fully functional 3D drivers by default. 
+  * [http://www.pulseaudio.org/ PulseAudio] is now installed and enabled by default. Pulse''''''Audio is an advanced sound server compatible with nearly all existing Linux sound systems.  Pulse''''''Audio allows for hot-switching audio outputs, individual volume controls for each audio stream, networked audio, and more.

  ==== Performance ====

   * In this release, the performance of `yum`, '''Pirut''', and '''Pup''' has been significantly improved.

- ==== System Level Changes ====
- 
-  * This is the first release to include support for Sony Playstation 3.
- 
-  * This release includes the [http://kernelnewbies.org/Linux_2_6_21 2.6.21 based kernel] which integrates [http://kvm.sourceforge.net/ Kernel-based Virtual Machine] (KVM) technology with Fedora's graphical `virt-manager` and command-line `virsh` tools.  KVM  provides a hardware accelerated virtualization solution, and users have a choice between KVM and Xen, along with Qemu, in this release.  The kernel included in this release also has support for VMWare's [http://lwn.net/Articles/175706/ VMI interface].
- 
-  * In this release, all hard disk partitions follow a /dev/sd* naming convention due to a new libata driver interface in the kernel. The '''Anaconda''' installer eases the transition for release upgrades. 
- 
-  * The `mac80211` (formerly called Devicescape) wireless stack has been integrated with the kernel. 
- 
-  * [https://hosted.fedoraproject.org/projects/smolt Smolt], an opt-in tool that sends anonymous hardware profile information to the Fedora Project, is integrated with `firstboot` in the installer.  All data is available on the [http://smolt.fedoraproject.org Smolt homepage]. This profile information is used to leverage cooperation from vendors in improving end user hardware experience, and to priortize development and quality assurance on commonly used hardware.
- 
-  * The [http://directory.fedoraproject.org/ Fedora Directory Server] base is now part of the Fedora software repository. The graphical console and administration servers are available on the website and are planned to be included in the repository after a review process.
- 
-  * [http://docs.python.org/whatsnew/whatsnew25.html Python 2.5] is included in this release, and all of the Python software available in the repository uses it. 
- 
  === Road Map ===

  The proposed plans for the next release of Fedora are available at http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/RoadMap.