Linux Mint 13 release candidate arrives

Summary: The team developing version 13 of Linux Mint has put out a release candidate of the desktop operating system for testing.Linux Mint 13 release candidate comes with new features, such as a new display manager.

By Karen Friar for From both sides | May 17, 2012 -- 15:27 GMT (08:27 PDT)

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The team developing version 13 of Linux Mint has put out a release candidate of the desktop operating system for testing.

Linux Mint 13 release candidate comes with new features, such as a new display manager. Image credit: Linux Mint

The distribution, which is based on Ubuntu, is now available for download, the Linux Mint team said in a blog post on Wednesday. Like Ubuntu Precise Pangolin 12.04, which arrived at the end of April, Linux Mint 13 is a Long Term Support (LTS) version, and it will get updates until April 2017.

Also known as 'Maya', the update comes in two varieties, with different desktop environments, including the Mate offshoot of GNOME 2.

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Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin)

"Linux Mint 13 features the choice between a productive, stable and mature Mate 1.2 desktop and the brand new modern-looking and exciting Cinnamon 1.4. These two desktops are among the best available, they're perfectly integrated within Linux Mint and represent great alternatives to Gnome 2 users," the team said.

In addition to the desktops, new features in Maya include new artwork themes and backgrounds, and the Gnome Display Manager 2.20-based MDM, which "comes with more features than any other Display Manager currently available", according to the team.

One key change is the switch to Yahoo as the default search engine in certain localities: the UK, the US, Ireland, Canada, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

"Underneath the interface, Yahoo comes with a strong network of advertisers and its addition represents a huge opportunity and an additional source of income for Linux Mint," the team said on its website.

Topic: Tech Industry

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2 comments

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All perfectly good information, but nothing new.

Surely you have been in contact with M. Lefebvre, researched the matter, and can tell us when the Mint13-LXDE and -KDE versions will be available?

Warmest regards...

bakerdriver

18 May, 2012 14:21

Reply Vote

Thanks for your comment. We mainly wanted to mark the fact that the RC is available for those who do not follow the project closely. We will know more once the full release arrives.