Helal Linux

Helal Linux is an open source and free computer operating system derived from the world’s most popular distribution of Linux, Ubuntu, built around the modern Unity desktop environment and tailored for the Arabic and Islamic community, even though the default language is English.

Available as a dual-arch Live DVD

The distribution is available as a dual-arch Live DVD ISO image of approximately 1.3GB in size, downloadable from the project’s homepage or via Softoware. Supported architectures include 32-bit (i386) and 64-bit (x86_64).

The Live DVD comes with standard boot options

As expected from a Ubuntu remix, the Live DVD comes with standard boot options, such as the ability to start the live environment with default drivers or with basic ones, start the graphical installer directly, perform a system memory diagnostic test, as well as to boot an existing OS from the first disk drive detected by the BIOS.

Beautiful and modern graphical environment powered by Unity

The Helal Linux developer have not removed the modern Unity graphical environment from the Ubuntu base. In fact, they beautified it with a superb icon theme and a white desktop theme, comprised of the usual elements: the top panel and the dock (application launcher) on the left side of the screen.

Includes powerful and popular open source applications

Some powerful and popular open source applications are included in Helal Linux, such as the Chromium, LibreOffice, Synaptic Package Manager, Unity Tweak Tool, VirtualBox, Deja Dup, Wine, FileZilla, Boot Repair, Brasero, Grub Customizer, Geany, VLC Media Player, Rhythmbox, Mozilla Thunderbird, Transmission, Shotwell, Ubuntu Tweak, Skype and GIMP.

It also include various software for the Islamic and Arabic community, such as Othman Quran browser, Monajat applet, Almbacharon and Dawawin, as well as in-house built applications like Helal Software Center, Helal Recorder, Helal Control Center, Helal URL Shortener, Helal WYSIWYG Editor and Helal Welcome.

Bottom line

In conclusion, Helal Linux is a well-done operating system based on the rock-solid Ubuntu OS and tailored for Islamic and Arabic users who love the modern and productive Unity graphical desktop environment.

What is new in this release:

• Helal Linux 4 has many special programs like:
• Helal Control Center: a special application for Helal Linux to customize the system preferences easily.
• Helal Software Center: based on mintinstall, with porting some pages to webkit, fix some issues, and some other improvements.
• Helal URL Shortener: a small GUI program to shorten web URLs from the desktop easily.
• Helal Recorder: a desktop recorder for Helal Linux.
• Helal WYSIWYG Editor: a HTML editor using webkit and pygtk.
• Helal Welcome: a small script to welcome new users.
• Helal Linux Repository: now Helal Linux users can get Helal programs updates among other free software automatically from the repository.
• Among other features:
• Linux kernel 3.8.
• Gnome Shell 3.6 , Gnome Classic, Unity 7.
• Support for Nvidia Optimus technology from Helal Control Center.
• Wine , VirtualBox , Pidgin, Gimp, Boot-Repair , OS-Uninstaller is already installed.
• Chromium is now the default browser instead of Firefox.
• Unity-Online Search is now off by default, no automatic bug reports are being sent to Canonical now.
• Some Islamic apps, like Monajat, Othman is already installed.
• Small fixes for crash reports, better performance, more customize ability.

What is new in version 3.0:

• Gnome 3.4 , gnome shell 3.4 gnome classic 3.4
• Helal control center with many features like some fixes here and there, it is now available in both English and Arabic, new Options like Customizing 'Cinnamon',cleaning some things that were not working before.
• Helal Software Center which is based on LSC,it has splash image, and it is Translated to Arabic (there is many languages).
• gnome shell is fully Customized with a brand new great look.
• flash,codecs java,arabic fonts,gnome-tweak tool, ubuntu tweak, boot repair, grub Customizer and many tools to Customize the system easily.
• Chmviewkit to view Chm files.
• the start page for the distro have been fully redesigned ,adding support for both Arabic and English (it will change automatically as your system language)
• many ubuntu apps have been removed;ubuntu software center,totem,docs,rhythmbox,and others.
• the system is configured to use tor ,all what you have to do is to change system proxy from Network settings to manual then enter in: 'Socks5: 127.0.0.1 , port: 9050' and apps like firefox,chrome will use tor.
• many fixes for many bugs in ubuntu, Nvidia-Optimus is now supported in Helal using Bumblebee( it is not installed by default,but it is available in the repos in just one click.
• many wifi drivers have been added, you can install Nvidia-ATi Vga drivers offline using Helal Control Center.
• Compiz is Enabled on gnome-classic by default, and CCSM is installed.
• many apps have been added in this release; like Gdebi,Synaptic package manager,ubuntu tweak,gnome tweak tool, os-uninstaller,boot repair , and much more.
• Everything in the system is available in Arabic and English.
• my English is bad, so there is a lot of things that i didn't mention..np, you just need to try it :)
• there is a lot of apps in Helal linux 3.0 , you can see them all from here.
• Here is the most important apps:
• Linux kernel 3.2
• Gnome 3.4
• Libre Office 3.5.3.2
• filezilla 3.5.3
• Firefox 12.0
• Thunderbird 12.0
• Gimp 2.8
• Helal Control Center
• Helal Software Center
• About Helal
• aptoncd
• aptitude
• compiz
• eog
• Subtitle Editor
• Recordmydesktop
• wallch
• Chmviewkit
• goldendict
• Gdebi
• Gparted
• Bleachbit
• Wine 1.4
• Monajat applet
• Hijra applet
• Thwab
• Othman-quran
• arabeyes-fonts
• remastersys
• boot up manager
• system jobs
• virtualbox
• gnome-shell extensions
• gnome-tweak-tool
• Grub Customizer
• nautilus-open-terminal
• nautilus-dropbox
• nautilus-sendto
• os-uninstaller
• p7zip
• pidgin
• flash,java,codecs
• pinta 1.1-1
• boot-repair
• Skype
• qemu
• Synaptic
• teeworlds
• Ubuntu Tweak
• Uget
• docky
• UNetbootin
• bluefish
• Curlow
• tor
• VirtualGL
• Vidalia
• Virtaal
• Wicd
• WiFi Radar
• Zukini theme pack
• zukitwo-dark-gtk-theme
• zukitwo-gtk-theme

What is new in version 3.0 Beta:

• Helal Control Center based on eveinstaller[in arabic only]
• extra support for English and Arabic languages
• many fixes for bugs that in ubuntu 11.10
• gnome-shell 3.2 and unity 3D and gnome-classic with many improvements
• new theme/wallpapers/plymouth theme/grub theme/lightDM for the distro.
• the startpage for firefox have been redesigned
• a new drivers for Wifi and other hardware Components were added.
• more performance speed and stability in the system
• more than 150 applications
• a new repos were added to the distro,and new firefox plugins and some tweaks to Unity3D and gnome-shell for more speed.
• many other features..
• Applications:
• Unity 4.24
• gnome-shell 3.2
• linux 3.0.3
• gnome-tweak-tool
• aptoncd
• BleachBIT
• cheese
• Chromium b.s.u
• ccsm
• dconf-editor
• desktop-recorder
• dockbarx
• Epiphany browser
• filezilla
• Firefox 7.0.1
• Gajim
• gimp 2.6.11
• google chrome
• Gparted
• Gpaste
• grub customizer
• Helal Control Center 1.0
• Hijra applet
• python idle 2.7
• iso master
• language translator
• libreoffice 3.4.3
• minitube
• monajat-applet
• openshot
• Othman
• tint2
• Pidgin
• pinta
• plymouth manger
• remastersys
• lightDm manger
• Skype
• start up manger
• Synaptic package manger
• teeworlds
• Tucan manger
• ubuntu tweak
• VLC
• Wallch
• Wifi radar
• Xchat
• Y ppa-manger
• ubuntu 11.10 programs..