Fedora is a linux distribution sponsored by Red Hat and supported volunteers. The latest release is Fedora 9 (code named Sulphur) and was released on 13 May 2008. Fedora 9 contains a lot of feature improvements and is now more user friendly than ever!  Fedora features the latest Linux kernel (2.6.25) and hence can run on latest hardware.

So what is new in Fedora 9 (Sulphur) ?

1. GNOME 2.22 - New version of GNOME brings a number of features which includes performance improvements. UI improvements include an enhanced world clock with multiple time zone displays. This version also includes an updated display manager with features such as power management on login screen.

2. Linux Kernel 2.6.25 - Latest Kernel support means a number of core enhancements such as improved virtualization support, CPU "group scheduling", USB authorization and new wireless configuration interface.

3. Persistent Live USB Support - Live USB support is not something new. Knoppix was one of the early distributions which could run from a Live CD. As USB capacity increased, live distributions started appearing on it. But what makes Fedora 9 unique is that now Live USB can store user preferences! This means that Live USB can be used a sort of portable Fedora 9 machine! Wherever you go, you can plugin in the USB, work on the Fedora 9 and then save data on it!

4. Seamless Upgrade - Fedora 9 features automated and seamless upgrade similar to Windows update. The latest preupgrade software can even be used to upgrade from Fedora 7 to Fedora 8!

5. Latest Software (Firefox 3 beta 5, Pidgin, Gimp etc.) - Fedora 9 Sulphur features all the latest software including Firefox 3. It also includes Pidgin, gEDIT, GIMP, Perl 5.10.0 etc.

Other new stuff in Fedora 9 include ext4 support, improved virtual machine support, bluetooth enhancements, PackageIt front-end to yum, Font improvements and built in support for encrypted file system.

Fedora  9 screenshot,

Further Resources

• Download Fedora 9 Sulphur
• Summary of Fedora 9 features