Softpedia has been informed by the Q4OS team about the availability of the Debian-based Q4OS 2.1 Linux distribution to the testing channels, based on Debian GNU/Linux 9 "Stretch."
The Scorpion series of the Q4OS Linux distribution has now been updated from version 2.0.2 to 2.1.1, bringing the latest security fixes and software updates from upstream, based on the Debian GNU/Linux 9 "Stretch" operating system, which is currently in heavy development. The stable branch of the distro remains Q4OS 1.4.9 "Orion," based on Debian GNU/Linux 8.4 "Jessie."
"New significant update of Q4OS 'Scorpion' desktop is available, version 2.1. This is testing version of the Q4OS desktop based on Debian 9 Stretch with the upgraded Linux kernel 4.5 and the Trinity 14.0.4 desktop environment. Q4OS 'Scorpion' will become stable, as soon as Debian Stretch will do so," reads the announcement published on the project's homepage.
Powered by Linux kernel 4.5
Probably the most important change in Q4OS 2.1 is the addition if the Linux 4.5 kernel and the Trinity 14.0.4 desktop environment, but we can also see the "Bourbon" start menu, a two-panel menu that appears to be highly efficient and customizable, featuring history, favorites, and a search line. The "Bourbon" menu was initially implemented in the Q4OS 1.4.9 stable update earlier this month.
Q4OS 2.1 also contains various bug fixes ported from the stable branch of the GNU/Linux distribution. If you want to help the Q4OS team find and fix bugs and annoyances in the upcoming OS, you can download the Q4OS 2.1.1 ISO images for 64-bit or 32-bit architectures right now via our website, just please try to keep in mind that it's a pre-release version, not suitable for production use.
