Virtualization, Gaming, Drivers & Gernlinden

This week there were several interesting stories at Phoronix, if you happened to miss any of them. We started off by sharing that proper multi-seat support for Linux / X.Org is on the way with the new VGA arbitration code coming about. With this new implementation, multiple X Servers can be run side-by-side without needing to use Xephyr or any ugly hacks.

We also learned that Fedora 12 picked up many new features including virtualization enhancements, improved power management, more mobile broadband improvements to NetworkManager, and Fedora support for Moblin. Speaking of Moblin, its beautiful user interface is built using Clutter, a tool-kit which hides most of the challenges of developing for OpenGL / OpenGL ES from the developer, reached version 1.0. A few projects within GNOME use Clutter for their interface needs and this week there was also the release of GNOME 2.27.5. An important virtualization tool with Fedora is virt-manager and this week a new version was released that contains an overhauled UI, a new wizard, and some other improvements when it comes to managing virtual machines.

Outside of the free software realm, NVIDIA had issued a stable Linux driver update, which addresses some outstanding issues (and the usual ton of VDPAU fixes), but is not a stable driver in the 190.xx series that carries OpenGL 3.2 support.

We also continued giving out Heroes of Newerth beta keys (which we are still doing to some extent), with the total count now exceeding 1,300 posts. While we were giving out keys, David Airlie announced an updated ATI kernel mode-setting driver. This driver fixes some bugs within the ATI KMS staging driver found in the Linux 2.6.31 kernel and was pulled in by Linus into Linux 2.6.31-rc5. A few TTM memory issues were also fixed in this pull. So far this updated driver has been reported to be working out very well. David also announced new releases on nearly two dozen X.Org drivers. X Server 1.6.3 was also released.

On Wednesday we also announced PTS Desktop Live 2009.3 (codenamed "Gernlinden"), which is our new Linux LiveDVD/USB distribution designed for testing hardware. Click the link above for more information. PTS Desktop Live will be available for download on Tuesday along with version 2.0 of the Phoronix Test Suite.

After reading all of the exciting news this week, if you are hungry, be sure to stop by Phoronix Media's newest web property, Foodstruments.com for review on kitchen gadgets and other household items. This week the crew there reviewed the Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy (a $200 rice cooker!), a sushi rolling mat, and last but not least was a Norpro Mini Mixer, which is a small AA battery powered cordless mixer that packs a surprising punch.

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