In today's open source roundup: Download Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS. Plus: MakuluLinux 2.0 Cinnamon review, and the best Linux distros for 2015 Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS The second point release of Ubuntu 14.04 LTS Trusty Tahr is available for download. OMG Ubuntu has all the details of what’s in Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS. Sam Tran reports for OMG Ubuntu: As a Long Term Support release, Ubuntu 14.04.2 includes an updated hardware enablement stack that includes the 3.16 Linux kernel and an updated version of the Xorg display server. The 3.16 kernel, released back in August and included in Ubuntu 14.10, comes with a raft of features including new Kepler GPU support, many fixes to Btrfs, and – for the gamers with PS4s – support for DualShock 4 controllers. The new hardware enablement stack will be installed by default if you install from 14.04.2 installation media, but if you’re humming along nicely with the current versions of Xorg and the Linux kernel on 14.04 and 14.04.1, fear not – the new stack is not installed by default and is completely opt-in. More at OMG Ubuntu You can use these links to download Ubuntu 14.04.2 LTS: Ubuntu Desktop and Server Ubuntu Netboot Ubuntu Core Edubuntu DVD Kubuntu Lubuntu Ubuntu Studio Ubuntu GNOME UbuntuKylin Xubuntu Mythbuntu The Ubuntu Wiki has details of all the changes between Ubuntu 14.04.1 and 14.04.2: This is a brief summary of bugs fixed between Ubuntu 14.04.1 and 14.04.2. This summary covers only changes to packages in main and restricted, which account for all packages in the officially-supported CD images; there are further changes to various packages in universe and multiverse. Some of these fixes were by Ubuntu developers directly, while others were by upstream developers and backported to Ubuntu. For full details, see the individual package changelogs. In addition to the bugs listed below, this update includes all security updates from the Ubuntu Security Notice list affecting Ubuntu 14.04 LTS that were released up to and including February 17, 2015. The last update included was USN-2502-1 (unzip vulnerabilities). More at Ubuntu Wiki MakuluLinux 2.0 Cinnamon review MakuluLinux 2.0 Cinnamon is a Debian-based distro that focuses on providing a user-friendly desktop system. DistroWatch did a full review of MakuluLinux 2.0 Cinnamon and liked what it found. Jesse Smith reports for DistroWatch: I think it is easy to get excited about Makulu as the distribution offers a lot. Users are given a modern, feature rich desktop (Cinnamon), a lot of useful software, including VLC, the WPS suite, a rich settings panel and easy to use backup utility. Multimedia is well supported and the operating system (when run on a physical machine) performed well. Plus users have access to a huge supply of software in the Debian repositories. I was a little surprised at some of the choices offered. For example, offering us WPS over LibreOffice is an unusual choice for an open source operating system. It’s not a bad choice necessarily, just uncommon. Likewise, the focus on gaming (providing Steam and PlayOnLinux) is an interesting choice. The theme, with its focus on rich, 3-D icons, is also strange, but a welcome breath of fresh air when compared against the stark utility of GNOME or the flat, washed out look of recent KDE releases. I suppose what really stands out about Makulu is it is an open source operating system that does not shy away from including proprietary applications when the developers feel those are the right tools for the job. It is a philosophy that may disappoint proponents of free software, but I have to admit it seems a practical path, one which is likely to attract people transitioning from Windows to Linux. Makulu is, in my opinion, an unusual creation. It is a distribution which bucks current trends in visual themes, in default applications and in focus. It is a platform that is both fairly stable (thanks to its Debian base) and experimental. I am a little surprised a 64-bit build is not available, but for now a 32-bit build with PAE will probably suit the needs of most people. Makulu is, in my opinion, worth trying just because it is marching to the beat of its own drum and doing a pretty good job of being a general purpose desktop operating system too. More at DistroWatch You can get more information from the MakuluLinux site: MakuluLinux Cinnamon 2.0 (MCDE) is a continuation of the first release, 2.0 focus on updating, polishing, refining and fixing issues reported in the previous release. There are many little changes throughout the system to just give it a smoother and more refined feel. There is also some major changes in this release, some changes will be back ported to 1.1, some won’t. if your existing systems runs to your satisfaction then continue to use it and wait for the 1.2 patch that will back port some of these changes. If however you want all the changes you will need to download 2.0 and reinstall Cinnamon. Based on Debian Testing ( Rolling release ) Based on PAE I686 Kernel ( Runs equally well on 32bit or 64bit systems ) Updated Cinnamon Core Desktop Updated Core System Updates Updated to Kernel 3.16.7 New shell theme + Bonus shell themes New special Effects New Wallpapers New Extensions, Applets and Desklets New Updated WPS office suite 2 new Games and Software Optimizations lead to smaller ISO ( reduced by 170MB ) More at MakuluLinux The best Linux distros for 2015 There are lots and lots of Linux distributions out there, but sometimes it can be tough to figure out which ones work best for certain purposes. Linux.com has an overview of the eleven best Linux distros for 2015. Swapnil Bhartiya reports for Linux.com: Linux is omnipresent, even if you don’t realize it. I have been using Linux as my only OS since 2005 and with every passing year I come to realize that it has much more to offer than I initially, back in 2005, understood. There is something for everyone. In this article, I have picked some of the best Linux distros to help you get the job done. The most beautiful distro: elementary OS Best desktop distro: openSUSE Best distro for personal server: Debian Best laptop distro: Ubuntu MATE The most customizable distro: Arch Linux The best distro for Raspberry Pi: Snappy Ubuntu Core The best distro for kids: Sugar The best distro for gaming: Steam OS The best distro for privacy: Tails The best distros for audio and video production: KXStudio and AVLinux The best distro for enterprise: SUSE Linux & Red Hat More at Linux.com Did you miss a roundup? Check the Eye On Open home page to get caught up with the latest news about open source and Linux. Software DevelopmentOpen Source