Freespire 10 Released

Today the PC/OS development team is pleased to release Freespire 10. We have worked on many aspects of the distribution both internal and on its user-facing front-end, making the distribution seem very familiar to new users and configurable for advanced ones. Freespire 10 continues its tradition of being the leading free desktop distribution available today. 

PC/OS has focused on improving speed, responsiveness and hardware compatibility; virtual machine compatibility has also been improved. We try to make Freespire adhere as closely as possible to the definition of “free software” - meaning the amount of proprietary code used is limited to the bare minimum. Some vendor-specific drivers are included for hardware compatibility, but Freespire does not include proprietary multimedia codecs or any other proprietary software. If that kind of compatibility is required, we recommend Linspire. 

Freespire 10 includes the following features: 

• Customized GNOME 4.2.9 Interface 
• Linux kernel 6.2.0-36 
• Rhythmbox Music Player 
• Video player 
• OnlyOffice 7.4 
• Geary mail client 
• Brave Web Browser 1.60 
• OpenSSH Client and Server Samba 

You can download Freespire 10 here:

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/10/Freespire-10-desktop-amd64.iso

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/10/Freespire-10-desktop-amd64.sha256

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/10/Freespire-10-desktop-amd64.md5

Freespire 10 Beta 1 and Linspire 14 Beta 1 Released

 Today we are happy to release the newest Beta's of our flagship systems, Linspire 14 Beta 1 and Freespire 10 Beta 1.  These are Beta builds which means they are provided for testing only we do NOT recommend these to be deployed in any kind of production environment.  These builds are for users to provide us with feedback.  Both of these builds use the Ubuntu 22.04 LTS base.   Both are free downloads but as they are undergoing constant and consistent changes they are not representative of the final builds.

Linspire 14 Beta 1

Linspire 14 Beta 1 is our premium distribution it contains everything you need for a home user.  Whether you are a student, home office worker, gamer or contemporary home user Linspire contains all the tools, codecs and applications to get you started.

• Linspire 14 Beta 1 changes are as follows:
• GNOME 42.9
• Linux Kernel 5.15.0-46
• Google Chrome 114
• Geary Mail Client
• Steam Client
• Discover Software Store
• Flatpak 1.14.4
• OnlyOffice 7.4
• Rhythmbox
• Totem
• Full multimedia and codec support
• All security updates up 7/15/2023

Other changes we have made is that we have removed the Ubuntu Advantage Tools as well as Canonical specific tools.  

You can download this release here:

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/Beta/Linspire-14-2023.07.29-desktop-amd64.iso

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/Beta/Linspire-14-2023.07.29-desktop-amd64.md5

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/Beta/Linspire-14-2023.07.29-desktop-amd64.sha256

Beta 2 will be released mid-August

Freespire 10 Beta 1

Freespire 10 Beta 1 is our free distribution. Freespire can be redistributed freely and installed on multiple machines and modified as the user see's fit.  This distribution can be used by the power user and Linux enthusiast.  In this release we limit the number of proprietary non-free drivers and codecs that we include.  Whether you are a developer, Linux power user or contemporary home user Freespire contains all the tools, utilities and applications that you need.  Whether you want to experiment with different desktop environments you can download multiple software packages from the Ubuntu repositories or Flatpak. 

Freespire 10 Beta 1 changes are as follows:

• GNOME 42.9
• Linux Kernel 5.15.0-46
• Brave Browser 1.52.130
• Geary Mail Client
• Steam Client
• Discover Software Store
• Flatpak 1.14.4
• OnlyOffice 7.4
• Rhythmbox
• Totem
• Free format multimedia and codec support
• All security updates up 7/15/2023

In this release we have removed the Ubuntu Advantage Tools as well as Canonical specific tools.  

You can download these ISO's here:

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/Beta/Freespire-10-desktop-amd64.iso

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/Beta/Freespire-10-desktop-amd64.sha256

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/Beta/Freespire-10-desktop-amd64.md5

We will be releasing Beta 2 in September 2023

Freespire 9.5 Released

Today the Freespire development team is pleased to announce the release of Freespire 9.5.  Freespire is our free and open source release of our commercial product Linspire.  Freespire is free to use, redistribute and bundle with recycled or new hardware.  Freespire 9.5 is our latest improvements to the Freespire 9 release.  As always we aim to create the best desktop Linux distribution on the market and we strive to continue that excellence.  While there have been many improvements under the hood one of the major changes you will notice is in the user interface.  While yes, the desktop environment tjhat we use is GNOME many of our users and customers have told us that they want the more traditional user interface that is not so different from Windows 10 or Windows 11 and in this release we have delivered that.  You have your classic "dock" as well as "start" menu.  If you prefer the traditional GNOME 4 layout its easy to switch back.

We have also worked on security and reliability,  We have worked out many of the bugs and other issues that had arisen with the 9.0 release.  Some of the fixes we have made:

• Python 3 applications crash or refuse to start
• Graphics not displaying proper resolutions over HDMI connections
  
  
• Bluetooth headset microphones not working
• When using Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge web apps not showing up in the menu
• Zoom call crashes when using Bluetooth audio devices

So as with any other release there have been changes.  Here is a list of some of the important changes:

• Kernel 5.19.0-41
• OnlyOffice 7.3
• Etcher 1.8
• Firefox ESR 102
• Thunderbird  102
• Discover Software Store
• Muon Package Manager
• Flatpak

All security updates up to May 5, 2023.  For a full list of packages included you can read that here

You can download the new ISO from here.

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/freespire-9-desktop-amd64.iso

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/freespire-9-desktop-amd64.md5

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/freespire-9-desktop-amd64.sha256

If you wish to support our work you can donate here

Freespire 8.0.1 Released

Today, the PC/OpenSystems LLC FOSS development team is pleased to release Freespire 8.0.1, This update delivers needed security fixes and adds some functionality that some users have requested. This update ships with most of the requested Google services. But we have also listened to users who said they wanted a local Office suite so that they could continue their work uninterrupted in case of travel or internet outage and we have included the full LibreOffice suite. Freespire core again has not changed at all. Even though we do include LibreOffice as the default office suite it’s still a full featured desktop OS and an excellent platform to deploy any and all of your cloud applications. The way we deliver cloud applications has also changed. Zswap is also enabled to help with performance with Chromebooks and other hardware systems that have less that 4 gb of physical memory.  Dark mode is now enabled by default.  Freespire does not incorporate any proprietary media codecs; aside from the use of Google Chrome there are no other vendor-specific software applications pre-installed at all. 

Freespire 8.0.1 features a new stable kernel which fixes bugs / broadens hardware support. Google Chrome version 97 includes security patches and other general browser improvements. 

The distribution includes : 

• XFCE Desktop 4.16 - A very lightweight and easy to use Linux desktop environment 
• Kernel 5.4.0-94 LTS - A long term supported kernel that has been enhanced for functionality and security 
• Synaptic - Linux package manager and alternative to the Software application. We also put Synaptic back in the whisker menu per user request. 
• Google Chrome 97 - A web browser from Google uniquely engineered for privacy, security and performance. 
• Ice SSB - An application that takes any web property and makes it a desktop application 
• Kpatience - Suite of solitaire games 
• Dreamchess - A fun and entertaining game for the chess enthusiasts out there 
• Gmail - E-mail client from Google 
• Google Drive - Access your online Google drive with this application. You can download and upload files and more. Google Drive integration is not present in Thunar 
• Google Calendar - Online calendar application. 
• Google Translate - A utility to translate text to any language you wish 
• Google News - Online world wide news 
• Video Player - Video and multimedia player 
• Rhythmbox - Music player 
• LibreOffice - Dedicated office suite for word processing, spreadsheet, presentations and vector drawing 

All security and application updates until January 10, 2022. 

You can download the ISO from here.

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8.iso

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8.iso.md5

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8.iso.sha256

Freespire 8.0 GNOME Released

 Today we have a very special release for you guys, Freespire 8.0 with the GNOME desktop.  A freespire build with the GNOME desktop has been the most requested build that we have ever received.  We do not like to release anything unless we think its functional, beautiful and ready.  We released Freespire 8.0 last week to much fan fare.  It was our most successful release to date.  We have been working on the GNOME release for months and a testing issue kept us from releasing it with the XFCE build.  This GNOME release is identical to the GNOME desktop release of Linspire.

The GNOME release does not mean we will stop making an XFCE build.  We will be doing both parallel with one another.  Our GNOME release is based on GNOME 3.36.8.  With Freespire 10 we will be moving to GNOME 4.  Our GNOME desktop features a single panel with app launchers and "show applications" button which brings you to the App drawers.

For flexibility, users can switch back to the traditional GNOME desktop through the tweaks application.  Aside from the desktop and a more recent kernel build the Freespire GNOME release is identical to the XFCE build. and focuses on web centric applications though traditional desktop applications are available through the software center.

Freespire GNOME features

Linux kernel 5.11

GNOME 3.36.8

Dash 2 Panel GNOME extension

Rhythmbox

Totem

Google Chrome 96

Ice SSB

Gmail

Google Docs

Google News

Google Keep

Google Calendar

Google Meet

Google Translate

Solitaire

Dreamchess

as with our traditional Freespire releases aside from Google Chrome there are no proprietary codecs or drivers included although they are available through the software center.

To install Freespire GNOME is very simple click on the "Show Applications" button on the taskbar and when the drawers open click on the Install icon and setup is very simple and straightforward.

You can download the GNOME release from here

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8G.iso

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8G.iso.md5

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8G.iso.sha256

If you wish to donate to the freespire project you can do that here as well

If you have bandwidth caps or would like to recieve a copy of Freespire 8 GNOME or XFCE on a USB key you can purchase that here as well

Freespire OSS Edition

1 Copy $15.99 USD 2 Copies $40.99 USD 3 Copies $98.00 USD 4 - 25 copies $599.99 USD

Install Media

LiveUSB LiveSD Card LiveMicroSD

Order Notes

Freespire 8.0 Released

Today, the PC/OpenSystems LLC FOSS development team has released Freespire 8.0, an update which delivers much needed system enhancements and security fixes. Once again we have let users decide; they have spoken, and we have included all the most requested Google services; Calendar, Docs, and Gmail. For more traditional use cases, Freespire core has not changed at all : it’s still a full featured desktop OS, with all of the applications and resources of the Ubuntu repositories available as always. To repeat : Freespire does not incorporate any proprietary media codecs; aside from the use of Google Chrome there are no other vendor-specific software applications pre-installed at all. 

Freespire 8.0 features a new stable kernel which fixes bugs / broadens hardware support. Google Chrome version 96 includes security patches and other general browser improvements. We have upgraded Xfce 4.16, X11, Samba and other system fundamentals including non-UEFI and secure boot systems.. 

The distribution includes : 

XFCE Desktop 4.16 

Kernel 5.4.0-91 LTS 

Google Chrome 96 

Ice SSB 

Kpatience 

Dreamchess 

Gmail

Google Docs 

Google Drive 

Google Calendar 

Google Translate 

Google News 

Kolourpaint 

Video Player 

Rhythmbox 

Plus several other security and feature updates. In step with keeping the distribution as close as possible that we can get to the definition of free software no proprietary multimedia codecs or drivers are enabled but are available via the repositories.  We provide an ISO that you can "burn" to a USB key or DVD media.  To create a USB key you can use the following programs:

Ubuntu Startup Disk Creator (Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Freespire, ElementaryOS)

Unetbootin (Linux, Windows)

Balena Etcher (Linux, Mac, Windows)

Rufus (Windows)

You can download the ISO from here:

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8.iso

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8.iso.md5

https://distro.ibiblio.org/blacklab/freespire/8/freespire-8.iso.sha256

If you have bandwidth caps or would like to support Freespire you can purchase a copy here

Freespire OSS Edition

1 Copy $15.99 USD 2 Copies $40.99 USD 3 Copies $98.00 USD 4 - 25 copies $599.99 USD

Install Media

LiveUSB LiveSD Card LiveMicroSD

Order Notes