X Server 1.6 Lives On With Another Release

X.Org 7.5 that will bear X Server 1.7 has already been delayed multiple times. The latest release schedule promised it a week ago, but there hasn't even been a single pre-release or development snapshot to date. Originally X.Org 7.5 was supposed to be out in April, but it looks like we are still at least a few months from seeing this important update that introduces Multi-Pointer X and other new features and changes.

With these delays and lack of communication regarding a definitive timetable for the next X.Org / X Server release, distributions like Ubuntu and OpenSuSE are having to revert their plans to release their next round of distribution updates with these new X.Org components. With the X.Org 7.4 with X Server 1.6 user-base remaining large -- and will likely remain that way until H1'10 when X.Org 7.5 may finally start appearing in new distribution releases -- Keith Packard has gone ahead and is now preparing a new X Server 1.6 point release.

There have already been three point releases in the X Server 1.6 series, which is more than any other server series in recent times, but X Server 1.6.4 will now soon see the light of day. The first release candidate for X Server 1.6.4 is now available and it contains 11 fixes atop X Server 1.6.3.

The changes and source download links for X Server 1.6.4 RC1 can be found on the X.Org mailing list.