| Tomahawk releases new multimedia-centric Linux |
Mar. 16, 2006
Tomahawk Desktop, a new distribution, this week released v1.1 of its first Linux desktop. The Tomahawk Desktop Standard "advanced multimedia-centric distribution" sets itself apart by touting compatibility with wide-screen monitors and flat panels with aspect ratios of 16:10 and 16:9, in addition to the popular 5:4 and 4:3 formats.
The distro is based on a 2.6.11.9 Linux kernel and includes KDE 3.5.1, Firefox 1.5, Openoffice 2.0, and other open-source applications. In addition, Tomahawk Desktop features Intel Centrino wireless technology, Zeroconf, high-definition audio and video playback, VoIP, Bluetooth, Firewire, and iPod access.
Other key features, according to the Tomahawk team, are:- 2.6.11.9 kernel
- Thunderbird 1.5
- Mozilla 1.7.12
- KOffice 1.4.2
- amaroK 1.3.8
- VLC media player 0.8.4a
- GIMP 2.2.10
- Inkscape 0.43
- Scribus 1.3.2
- Blender 2.41
- Digikam 0.8.1
- K3b 0.12.10
The project also said that Tomahawk Desktop has a "phishing"-resistant component, has fast Internet access, offers remote serviceability, and has no mounting/unmounting hassles for accessing thumb drives, digital cameras, and MP3 players. Included in the package is a simple, yet effective, package management system, the project said.
Three other versions in development
The project team said that three other versions, Tomahawk Desktop Lite (for corporate use), Tomahawk Desktop Professional (aimed at professional audio/video creation), and a third edition for servers, are currently under development.
"We started the project about two years ago," chief software architect Sagara Wijetunga told DesktopLinux.com via email from Tomahawk Computers Pte Ltd headquarters in Singapore. "We did our own R&D, compiled and installed all packages necessary from source, and came up with a beta version for modern desktops and laptops. We first demonstrated in Suntec Convention Centre in Singapore on 17 Jun 2005. We released version 1.0 on 25 Dec 2005. The version 1.1 with considerable upgrades (but still mostly based on Tomahawk Core 1.0) released on 01 Mar 2006."
Wijetunga said that Tomahawk Desktop is not based on any other distro.
"In fact, it's based on Tomahawk Core 1.0, that we develop (compile and install all open source packages necessary from source). The Tomahawk Core is a minimalistic OS, just gives life to a bare machine. This we extend to become a GUI based desktop OS," Wijetunga said.
"This is a modular operating system; most of the components are open source packages used as is or modified to suit our requirement, we also incorporate software developed by us and third-party proprietary software from other companies under license," Wijetunga added. "The core operating system is also developed by us, thereby maintaining our ability to continually research and value-add the operating system. We strictly adhere to open standards."
Wijetunga said there are "a couple of things we highlight to the world" with Tomahawk DS: - "Using Unix or any of its variants alone will not protect users from viruses, worms and other attacks. You need to properly deploy the defenses, it should not be left to the end user, who has no clue or competency in how to configure. The responsibility is in the domain of the OS developer."
- "Users are simply helpless against Pharming. It's the OS that can protect him or her."
- "You don't need fancy package management systems. Unix native tools alone (eg. find, chgrp, etc.) are sufficient to get a package management system that you can really depend on. And the protection provided by our Package User-based package management system is so venerable, its built-in features of Unix itself can save you."
Finally, Wijetunga said, "It's amazing to note how many packages cannot uninstall cleanly, how many packages try to recreate the /usr directory or try to change permission; some packages actually are redundant, mostly do the same, when you install under root, they overwrite each other without your knowledge, etc. [The] end result is [weird] problems, extremely difficult to debug and finally deliver unstable systems to end users."
You can view some screenshots here.
A fully functional evaluation version (1.7 GB) is available to download free via BitTorrent here. The source code is available here.
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