Raspberry Pi OS (32-bit) - May 2020 (2020-05-27)

Yes - look into booting and running from a RAMDisk. I don’t see where anyone has done this because Linux takes a bit more memory than WinCE and doesn’t leave much for your application, but it can be done.

For example - “Ubuntu Boot To RAM

There are some Raspbian efforts, but it does still require some manual effort.

Raspbian Stretch with Desktop / Raspbian Stretch Lite - October 2018 (2018-10-09)

  • In startup wizard, assign keyboard to country as per Debian installer recommendations
  • In startup wizard, add option to use US keyboard in preference to country-specific option
  • In startup wizard, show IP address on first page
  • In startup wizard, check for existing wifi network connection and show it if there is one
  • In startup wizard, install language support packages for LibreOffice and other applications
  • In startup wizard, improve operation with keyboard only and no mouse
  • Password change in Raspberry Pi Configuration and startup wizard now works properly if passwords contain shell characters
  • Battery indicator plugin modified to cope with Pi-top hardware monitor crashing
  • Networking plugin hides wifi password characters by default
  • In Scratch 2 GPIO plugin, set pin from dropdown list rather than free text
  • In Scratch 2 SenseHAT plugin, swap x and y axis values for LED array
  • Include latest Adobe Flash player (31.0.0.108)
  • Include latest RealVNC Server (6.3.1)
  • Include libav-tools
  • Include ssh-import-id
  • Removed Mathematica
  • Merge in latest third-party code for Bluetooth ALSA interface
  • Add ability to prevent software update changing configuration files, by creating ~/.config/.lock file
  • Various other small bug fixes, tweaks and changes to text
  • Make dhcpcd work with 3G devices
  • Add hw acceleration to ffmpeg
  • Improved WiFi-BT coexistence parameters
  • Run fake-hwclock before systemd-fsck-root
  • Raspberry Pi PoE HAT support
  • Linux kernel 4.14.71
  • Raspberry Pi firmware 5b49caa17e91d0e64024380119ad739bb201c674

https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

Raspbian Stretch - November 2018 (2018-11-13)

  • Two versions of image created - “base” image has no optional software packages included; “full” image has all optional packages
    • Removed from “base” image - LibreOffice, Thonny, Scratch, Scratch 2, Sonic Pi, Minecraft, Python Games, SmartSim, SenseHAT Emulator
    • Added to “full” image - Mathematica, BlueJ, Greenfoot, Node-RED, Claws Mail, VNC Viewer
  • Python Games and SmartSim added to Recommended Software
  • VLC media player with VideoCore hardware acceleration included in image
  • Version 3.0.5 of Thonny included
  • Modifications to LXDE components to enable local configuration to override global configuration correctly
  • Modifications to Appearance Settings to support above configuration changes
  • Modifications to various initial config defaults and relevant package to support above configuration changes
  • Selecting default option in Appearance Settings now deletes relevant local configuration files
  • PiX theme modified so that all changes made in Appearance Settings are in override files rather than in theme files
  • Design of scrollbar buttons changed
  • Image Viewer moved into Graphics category on main menu
  • Recommended Software now installs LibreOffice language support files if needed, and suggests reboot if needed
  • Latest version of Pepper Flash plugin included
  • Chromium h264ify plugin permissions set correctly by default
  • Corrections to various MIME types so that files open in sensible default applications
  • Set default timezone to ‘Europe/London’
  • Linux kernel 4.14.79
  • Raspberry Pi firmware 12e0bf86e08d6067372bc0a45d7e8a10d3113210

https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

A NEW RASPBIAN UPDATE: MULTIMEDIA, PYTHON AND MORE
https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/raspbian-update-november-2018/

This sounds REALLY interesting :slight_smile: My guess is that the base system with only the minimal installation packages might boot up the Raspberry Pi significantly faster? This would be great!

Only if any of those applications are involved in the start up process. Otherwise the O/S does it’s own thing, none the wiser about any applications that have been installed.

Faster would be nice but Robin is correct. The full image has more apps bundled but none of them impact the speed of the boot process.

Raspbian Stretch - April 2019 (2019-04-08)

  • Chromium browser updated to version 72
  • VLC media player updated to version 3.0.6
  • RealVNC Server updated to version 6.4.0
  • Flash player updated to version 32.0.0.156
  • Performance improvements to SDL library
  • Performance improvements to pixman library
  • Option to set display underscan added to startup wizard
  • Mounted external drives now displayed on desktop by default
  • Network plugin modified for improved compatibility with wpa_passphrase
  • SD Card Copier tweaks to reduce copy failures
  • Various minor bug fixes and appearance tweaks
  • Added ethtool
  • Added rng-tools
  • Add PINN restore support
  • Linux kernel 4.14.98
  • Raspberry Pi firmware f8939644f7bd3065068787f1f92b3f3c79cf3de9

https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

Raspbian Buster - June 2019 (2019-06-20)

[code] * Based on Debian Buster

  • Support for Raspberry Pi 4 hardware
  • FKMS OpenGL desktop graphics driver and xcompmgr compositing window manager used when running on Raspberry Pi 4
  • Screen Configuration application added for use with FKMS driver
  • Raspberry Pi 4 video output options added to Raspberry Pi Configuration
  • Uses new PiXflat UI theme for GTK and Openbox
  • CPU activity gauge plugin no longer shown on taskbar by default
  • CPU temperature gauge plugin added (not shown by default)
  • USB ejecter and Bluetooth taskbar icons hidden when not appropriate
  • Version 74.0.3729.157 of Chromium web browser included
  • Version 32.0.0.207 of Flash player included
  • IDLE Python IDE removed
  • Wolfram Mathematica removed temporarily due to incompatibility with Buster
  • Display of package sizes removed from Recommended Software
  • Appearance Settings modified to support independent settings for two monitors
  • Oracle Java 7 and 8 replaced with OpenJDK 11
  • Miscellaneous small bug fixes
  • On-board 5GHz WiFi blocked by rfkill by default
    The block is removed when taking one of the following actions:
    • Selecting a locale in the first run wizard
    • Setting the WiFi country in the Raspberry Pi Configuration tool or the Network Settings applet
    • Setting the WiFi country in raspi-config
    • Providing a wpa_supplicant.conf file through the boot partition
    • Running ‘rfkill unblock wifi’
  • Boot partition size set to 256M
  • Linux kernel 4.19.50
  • Raspberry Pi firmware 88ca9081f5e51cdedd16d5dbc85ed12a25123201[/code]

https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

It should be noted that the guys at rpi don’t suggest upgrading an existing OS to this version without making a backup first. Their suggestion is actually that you do a clean install.

That’s good advice for all new operating system (Windows, macOS and Linux) versions.

Buster – the new version of Raspbian
https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/buster-the-new-version-of-raspbian/

Was just notified that my 2GB Pi 4 unit is on the way, but the 4GB unit is backordered until AUGUST!!!??? They didn’t think that people would want the 4GB unit?

It sold out within hours. I’m sure they got several hundred thousands orders for it before it was gone. There’s only so much manufacturing capacity.

BTW - Buster on a Pi 3 B+ is a pig while Jessie was acceptable. Here’s hoping that this is a better experience on the 4 :slight_smile:

They did say on their blog that most of the units they manufactured were the 2GB version because they expected that to be the one in most demand.

Raspbian Buster - July 2019 (2019-07-10)

  • Clearer options for switching of Pi 4 video output in Raspberry Pi Configuration
  • Option added to Appearance Settings to move taskbar to second monitor
  • Option added to Recommended Software to restrict package installs by architecture
  • New version of Adobe Flash player (32.0.0.223)
  • Selection of screen refresh rates added to Screen Configuration
  • Fix for missing text insertion cursor in LibreOffice on Pi 4
  • Fix for Wi-fi interruption when Wi-fi icon on taskbar is clicked
  • FIx for incorrect desktop background behind desktop login prompt
  • Fix for segmentation faults when launching obconf and lxapperarance
  • Fix for unclosed file pointer in Screen Configuration
  • Fix for Bluetooth plugin freeze when large numbers of devices detected
  • Fix for opening URLs not working in lxterminal
  • Fix for start menu opening on incorrect monitor when launched from keyboard
  • Fix for taskbar item not having [] removed when un-minimising on second monitor
  • Linux kernel 4.19.57
  • Raspberry Pi firmware cb3a32adf39f45a49be454e30c7464920ad7c605
    https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

Raspbian Buster - September 2019 (2019-09-26)

  * rpi-eeprom included
    - This will automatically update the SPI EEPROM on the Raspberry Pi 4 to the latest stable version.
       See https://rpf.io/eeprom for more information.
  * New icon theme for file manager icons
  * Appearance Settings - option for identical desktop on both monitors
  * Appearance Settings - option to show different desktop icons on both monitors
  * Taskbar automatically moved to monitor 0 if monitor 1 not found at boot
  * Switching of audio output between two HDMI devices added to volume plugin
  * Switching of audio input devices added to volume plugin
  * .asoundrc (ALSA config file) now uses 'plug' values to support more devices
  * Audio Settings tool modified to integrate more closely with volume plugin to reduce duplicated code
  * Screen Configuration tool now shows separate menus for resolution and refresh rate
  * Primary and active monitor settings removed from Screen Configuration tool
  * Overscan support added for FKMS driver
  * New keyboard shortcuts added - Ctrl-Alt-End brings up shutdown menu; Ctrl-Alt-M moves taskbar between monitors
  * Latest changes to Bluez ALSA interface integrated to improve connection to Bluetooth audio devices
  * Mousepad used as simple text editor instead of leafpad
  * Version 3.2 of Thonny added
  * Version 74 of Chromium added
  * Version 3.0.8 of VLC added
  * Version 32.0.0.255 of Flash player added
  * Version 6.5.0 of RealVNC Server added
  * Version 6.19.715 of RealVNC Viewer added (full image only)
  * Version 12.0.1 of Mathematica added (full image only)
  * Version 0.20.8 of NodeRED added (full image only)
  * Version 3.1.0 of Sonic Pi added (full image only)
  * Scratch 3 added (full image only)
  * Bug fix - URL handling in Terminal
  * Bug fix - octal values in SSIDs in network plugin
  * Bug fix - remaining value in progress bar when transferring files
  * Bug fix - integration of xarchiver tool with file manager
  * Bug fix - start menu opening on incorrect monitor
  * Bug fix - minimised applications wrongly displayed on taskbar on second monitor
  * Bug fix - Bluetooth icon disappearing on x86 platforms when Bluetooth turned off
  * Bug fix - Screen Configuration tool not shown on x86 platforms and settings not being saved
  * Various translation updates
  * Various minor bug fixes
  * Epiphany/Web removed
  * ntfs-3g included
  * pciutils added
  * Linux kernel 4.19.75
  * Raspberry Pi firmware 01508e81ec1e918448227ca864616d56c430b46d

https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

Raspbian Buster - February 2020 (2020-02-05)

  • Version 3.2.6 of Thonny included - significant improvements in speed, particularly when debugging
  • Version 1.0.4 of Scratch 3 included - adds new “display stage” and “display sprite” blocks to SenseHAT extension, and loading of files from command line
  • Version 32.0.0.314 of Flash player included
  • Version 1.0.3 of NodeRED included
  • Version 6.6.0 of RealVNC Server and version 6.19.923 of RealVNC Viewer included - adds support for audio
  • Version 78.0.3904.108 of Chromium included
  • Mesa updated to 19.3.2 for OpenGL ES 3.1 conformance
  • Pixel doubling option added in Raspberry Pi Configuration on platforms using FKMS display driver
  • Orca screen reader added to Recommended Software
  • Code The Classics Python games added to Recommended Software
  • File manager - new “places” pane added at top of sidebar to show mounted drives in simplified view; “new folder” icon added to taskbar; expanders in directory browser now correctly show state of subfolders
  • Multiple monitor support improved - alignment of icons on second desktop corrected, Appearance Settings opens on correct tab when launched from context menu
  • Raspberry Pi Touchscreen correctly aligned with display
  • System clock synchronised before installing new packages in startup wizard and Recommended Software
  • Mixer dialogs added to taskbar volume plugin; separate Audio Preferences application removed
  • Raspberry Pi Configuration - separate tab added for display options; screen blanking control added
  • Volume taskbar plugin and raspi-config modified to support separate ALSA devices for internal audio outputs (analogue and HDMI 1 and 2)
  • Robustness improvements in volume, ejecter and battery taskbar plugins
  • Movement of mouse pointer to menu button on startup now controlled by point_at_menu parameter in Global section of lxpanel configuration file
  • Ctrl-Alt-Del and Ctrl-Alt-End shortcuts added to open shutdown options box
  • Ctrl-Shift-Esc shortcut added to open task manager
  • Enabled NEON routines in OpenSSL
  • Linux kernel 4.19.93
  • Raspberry Pi firmware 67392a7a32bddad7f571047fccafca9eeb65d29c
    https://www.raspberrypi.org/downloads/raspbian/

https://www.raspberrypi.org/blog/a-new-raspbian-update/