“With great excitiment, Lycoris releases a new and incredible update to its flagship desktop operating system, Desktop/LX. Desktop/LX now includes a powerful new
Control Center, Desktop Sharing, Iris (Internet Rapid Installer for Software) and much more.” Read more for the rest of the press release.——————
Maintatining a focus on ease of use, Lycoris added a new Software Installer to Desktop/LX. Users can now use the powerful new Internet installer, Iris, to browse and install Desktop/LX programs from the Software Gallery. The Software Gallery can be found online at http://www.lycoris.com/webservices/iris/ and serves as a convenient repository for quality programs to enhance
Desktop/LX. It contains categories identical to the Desktop/LX Flower Menu to give users a consistent interface, and also offers keyword searching. Once the user find a program they desire, one click installs
it onto their Desktop/LX system.
“Iris is another way we simplify the Desktop/LX experience for users switching over from Windows. Being able to install software is now just as easy with Desktop/LX as any other platform. We’ve gotten quite a few
compliments on the simplicity of Iris and how the programs drop in and work without a hassle,” states Mike Weltz, Lycoris Sales Director.
The new Desktop/LX Contror Center brings simple icon access to all Desktop/LX configuration tasks. Adding new hardware or printers, modifying desktop appearance or fonts, and changing the Internet and network settings are all done
through this clean user interface.
Desktop/LX Update 2 gives users the ability to recover from system configuration errors and get assistance with two new features: Video Recovery Mode and Desktop Sharing. If the user has changed hardware or software settings which make it difficult to use Desktop/LX, the user simply holds down the CTRL key at boot time and Desktop/LX enters Video Recovery Mode. From there the user can graphically configure video settings or boot into Desktop/LX with a minimal configuration. Video
Recovery Mode also automatically starts if Desktop/LX detects a problem and the X server fails to start during login. Desktop Sharing enables Desktop/LX users to get help over the Internet or local network from other Desktop/LX users by allowing another user to see and control the desktop. Desktop Sharing represents an incredible step forward for corporate help desks and anyone who benefits from visually assisting
users.
Another exciting feature of Desktop/LX comes to users on local area networks: right click file sharing. Desktop/LX now has the ability to share any user directory with a simple click of the right mouse button
enabling users to collaborate on docutments and share data directly from their Desktop/LX system. Other Desktop/LX users on the network will see shared files in the Desktop/LX Network Broswer which shows Windows®
and Dekstop/LX shares in a simple point and click interface.
The latest release of Desktop/LX also contains better hardware recognition plus expanded wireless networking support. Updated Gphoto and CUPS packages increase the number of supported printers and digital cameras, with additional USB devices, like the Sony Clie, being
supported directly in My Linux System for drag and drop access.
New features in Desktop/LX Update 2 include:
- Desktop/LX Installer enhancements
- New Control Center
- New Software Wizard which includes Iris – The Internet
Rapid Installer for Software - Video Recovery Mode
- Desktop Sharing
- Right click file sharing
- Speed improvements
- Better Winmodem support
- Simple firewall GUI control
- Better support for wireless networking
- Support for parallel Zip drives in My Linux System
- More digital cameras supported
- Better TV card support
- Updated CUPS with more printer drivers
- Mozilla 1.0 Final
- Xfree86 4.2.0
- Linux kernel version 2.4.18
This exciting new release of Desktop/LX is immediately available for purchase at the Lycoris Store, Fry’s Electronics Stores or by contacting the Lycoris sales department at
[email protected].
International Resellers include:
- Australia – Lanyon Computers http://www.lanyoncomputers.com.au
- Ireland – The Little Linux Factory http://www.linuxfactory.ie/
- France – Hermitage http://www.hermitagetechnologies.fr
In fact it sounds very user-friendly.. something Linux isnt famous for 🙂
Is Iris based on the lindows Click’n’Run ( Click’n’Ruin? ) technology? If so – is it free?
aargh… please… we talked about IRIS on the two previous Lycoris stories.
Here is how it goes:
IRIS comes with every Lycoris. You are free to install lycoris on all your home computers, but you can only use IRIS on one of them, because you have license for one computer to use it. If you need additional licenses for it, you need to purchase it for $20, which is a very reasonable price, if you consider that the Lycoris guys are paying for bandwidth.
IRIS is not based on Click-n-Run, neither it is as expensive as CnR. On the other hand, Lindows has populated their database with over 1000 applications, while IRIS only have a handful available atm.
In the last Lycoris post comments, Eugenia said it was based on RPM. Lindows is derived from Debian, so it’s probable that Click ‘N Run is based on Apt-Get. I had Lindows installed for about 25 minutes on a new machine, it has no understanding of RPM. Oh, there’s little talk of the Windows executable compatibility these days on Lindows, the installer program for WordPerfect Suite 2002 ran long enough to display the splash screen, same for Novell Groupwise 5.5.
Has anyone had a chance to look at this yet? I’d be interested in hearing about people’s experience with it. It looks like Linux is finally getting into the ballpark of what Joe User might consider usable. I’ve been playing with Mandrake Cooker, and I have to say, in terms of usability, it already stands head and shoulders over the rather slopily put together 8.2, even in it’s current state. Between Mandrake, Lycoris, and the much maligned Lindows, Linux (or rather, KDE) is finally getting hammered into a reasonable excuse of a consumer desktop.
If you are interested in seeing what Lycoris is doing, I think you would find it worth it. Build 46 is another step in the right direction. It’s another step closer for Mom & Pop. There are some things that need to be done yet. Short of having an email setup wizard like Windows, they should include a section in their manual about setting up KMail, which is easy, but not so easy for total novices. The problem is, you can set up email in the Control Center partially, but you still have to go into KMail to put in the pop/smtp settings, etc.
One thing they seem to be doing is something I really hope they contine and expand upon. And that is go with KDE and K apps all the way (with the exception of including Mozilla, which they do). I say that because the novice can easily catch onto the “K” attribute and make the connection between KDE and the K apps. And when they go to download more apps in IRIS, when the see a program has the “K” attribute, they’ll feel more confident.
Lycoris does sell really low end, slow systems with Desktop/LX pre-installed. They really need a Walmart type deal like Lindows and Mandrake have. To me, if they had that and continue to progress as they have been, they will be the best at providing Joe User with desktop Linux, hands down.
Anyone know what version of KDE and Gnome this comes with?
I have been anxiously waiting for a desktop to ship with KDE3 and Gnome2
There is no Gnome, only KDE. It’s a highly modified version of KDE 2.X (I can’t remember exactly now). I bet they won’t use KDE 3 until their next really big update.
Lycoris indeed, only uses KDE. Lycoris is a family distro, not a window manager wh*re. Many-many window managers do not fit in their kind of operating system they want to sell. They only need one desktop environment. One that works well, and the way they need it to work. They only support KDE and in fact they do not just include KDE, they have made more than 1000 modifications to it. Before these modifications make it to their KDE 3, they will still keep using KDE 2.2.2.
Read our recent interview with Joseph of Lycoris for more.
Lycoris has done a tremendous job of putting this package together. I’ve tried earlier version and now this current build, many improvements and very easy to use.
I think finally, this can go head to head with Micro$oft, at least in the low end desktop.
I’ve been running Mandrake Distro. and Red Hat, but will probably move to Desktop/LX, provided they include the new KDE3.
Regardless, if you haven’t try Linux or tried earlier and got turned off by its unfriendliness, give this a try.
“”I have been anxiously waiting for a desktop to ship with KDE3 and Gnome2
“”
threw iso:
from what i’ve seen at distrowatch.com redhat and mandrake’s beta isos have been containing gnome2 and kde3. ersonally i’ve been using the mandrake 9.0beta-1 and haven’t run into much problems (but that’s me).
threw source?:
i wouldn’t recomend these distros to newbies that are just looking for an operating system to install and use.
from what i’ve seen source mage and sorceror have gnome2 and kde3. but this is download stuff threw ‘cast’ which downloads the source package of the program, including dependencies and installs them by compiling the source into usable binaries. (correct me if neccessary. only read little of sourcemage and sorceror.)
😀
hope that helped.
“Between Mandrake, Lycoris, and the much maligned Lindows, Linux (or rather, KDE) is finally getting hammered into a reasonable excuse of a consumer desktop.”
Also, don’t forget ELX – first place I heard about it was here on OSNEWS.
Also I’m looking forward to seeing what Xandros has to offer – they’ve updated their website recently with some new hype and screens. Looks/sounds all good.
These new user focused distros have got it licked. Compared to the desktoo defaults for some of the established distros (ie RedHat7.3) – they’re much more user friendly and provide tools which anyone can use to configure and use the environment.
Got it installed, went to news.com, click on video link in Mozilla, select Realplayer…..No plugin installed. Huh?
Open it with Konqueror, it gives me a black screen and nothing shows up. When open it in Konqueror as user, Konqueror will crash!
I visisted a local news site and tried to open up a video link, it gives me those buttons (play,stop,forward) but nothing is on the screen beside those buttons
Sorry. I know Lycoris developers working hard on this update but….I can do do this by installing Real on other distro. Of course, Lycoris is for Pop & Mom, sisters and girlfriends or Windows users but if they can’t even watch a video clip on a web site, I would strongly suggest them stick to Windows for now
Maybe I’m asking too much?
linux needs native support for All streaming multimedia. no crossover, no wine, no BS. it’s just expected that a home user can enjoy what the web can offer him/her.
i’d try lycoris, but i’m spoiled by kde3 and i have free alternatives to IRIS.
[rant]
i hate to say it AGAIN… but why copy XP styles of icons and whatever? they say it’s to help users familarize with the distro. but can’t they do that without cloning another OS’s graphics?
[/rant]
Redhat seemed to manager to sort out the font situation in limbo (under gnome 2) but Lycoris fonts still look like crap, the anti-aliasing is very poor and I don’t know if there is a way to configure this (there is in limbo, font hinting settings and all sorts!). Fuzzy or jagged fonts are miy biggets problem with using linux, I just want it to look like it does on OS X, not too much to ask is it 🙂
I’ve been playing with Lycoris for a few months, and Update 2 is very impressive. I don’t understand why some people are slagging it for looking like Win XP; it’s a very attractive look IMO.
I’m a frustrated WinXP user. It never ran stable on my home machine. Lycoris, OTOH, is a rock. It made a bunch of decisions for me (i.e. KDE), so I didn’t have to. It loaded easily, and is well integrated. If linux is to ever take off on the desktop, distros like Lycoris are going to be behind it.
I do hope that IRIS gains more apps, and in a hurry. For newbies attracted to linux, installing apps is a major pain in the butt. Installers such as IRIS would go a long way towards making linux more accessible…
I agree with the font comment. I use Build 45 and they are really bad. On the other hand I also use Peanut 9.2 and the screen fonts look great all around, but print nasty. Some day they will get it I’m sure.