[yellowdog-announce] Fixstars Releases YDL v6.2 with Xfce, USB install, and EPEL: Press Release 29 June 2009

Announce List for all Fixstars Solutions products (moderated) yellowdog-announce at lists.fixstars.com
Mon Jun 29 07:31:52 MDT 2009


YELLOW DOG LINUX v6.2 OFFERS XFCE, USB INSTALL, EPEL, MORE THAN 600 UPDATES

LOVELAND, COLORADO, 29 June 2009 - Fixstars today announced the immediate 
availability of Yellow Dog Linux version 6.2, delivering several updates and 
improvements making it simpler to install, faster, and easier to use.

This release offers an updated kernel v2.6.29 for 64-bit systems, OpenOffice 
3.0, Firefox 3.0.6 and IBM Cell SDK v3.1.0.1, as well as the next generation 
of ps3vram for fast, temporary file storage or swap using PS3 video RAM. With 
this release, ps3vram is up to 50% faster than in YDL 6.1 and is 
automatically enabled as swap.

YDL 6.2 now offers libfreevec, a (LGPL) library with replacement routines for 
GLIBC, such as memcpy(), strlen(), etc. These routines, which have been 
rewritten and optimized to use the AltiVec vector engine found in the G4/G4+ 
PowerPC CPUs, can provide for up to 25% increase in application performance.

With YDL v6.2, Fixstars has added a fourth alternative for the desktop 
environment: Xfce 4. A fast and lightweight desktop environment, Xfce runs 
applications quickly while reserving system resources, making it ideal for 
memory limited systems such as the PS3. Although E17 still runs as the 
default, users can select to install and enable Xfce at any time.

For wireless users, the graphical interface Wicd for Apple PowerBooks and PS3s 
now offers more reliable WEP and WPA security protocols.

"In Yellow Dog Linux v6.2, we focused on refining the existing features from 
previous releases," states Owen Stampflee, Fixstars Linux Product 
Manager. "We have fine tuned everything from Shockwave Flash support to 
wireless operation. This release is another example of how Fixstars continues 
to produce the sashimi of the Linux world; anything else is just a fried fish 
sandwich."

YDL v6.2 supports:
- Apple PowerPC G4/G5 products
- Sony PLAYSTATION3
- YDL PowerStation

YDL v6.2 offers the following updates and improvements over v6.1:
- Ability to install and boot using USB thumb drive
- Kernel v2.6.29 for ppc64, v2.6.27 for ppc32
- IBM Cell SDK v3.1.0.1
- Xfce 4 Desktop Environment
- OpenOffice 3.0
- Mozilla Firefox v3.0.6
- Improved Wicd
- Improved PS3VRAM support
- Libfreevec
- Gnash v0.8.4
- Over 600 updated packages in all!
- Over 2500 new packages in EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux), 
available via yum.

YDL v6.2 is available today via YDL.net Enhanced accounts which may be 
purchased at the Fixstars Store.

    us.fixstars.com/store/ 

The physical DVD sets and bootable USB drives will ship from Fixstars in 2 
weeks. The public mirrors will offer v6.2 downloads in one month. For a 
calendar of release dates, visit us.fixstars.com/products/ydl/delivery.shtml


About Fixstars
Fixstars, a pioneer in the Multi-core industry, is a leading provider for 
services and solutions for such processors as the Cell Broadband Engine and 
GPU. Since 2008 Fixstars, in conjunction with Broadcast International, has 
been focused on optimization, product development, and marketing for the 
innovative CodecSys software for Multi-Core platforms. In addition, Fixstars 
offers complete Multi-core ecosystem including turn-key products ideal for 
the Financial, Medical, Manufacturing, and Digital Media markets. Founded in 
2002, Fixstars is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with subsidiary Fixstars 
Solutions in San Jose, CA and Loveland, CO.

For more information, visit us.fixstars.com


GigaAccel, Yellow Dog Linux, YDL, Y-HPC, and Y-Film are registered trademarks 
of Fixstars Corporation. IBM, PXCAB, and POWER are trademarks of IBM 
Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Linux is a 
registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Additional product and company names 
mentioned may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective 
holders.


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