Debian Linux releases version 4.0 'Etch'
Debian, a longstanding and steadfastly noncommercial Linux project, released version 4.0, called Etch, on Sunday.
The new version, under development for 21 months, includes a graphical installation process, an encrypted file system and authentication to verify integrity of downloaded updates, the project said in a Sunday announcement. And it includes the Iceweasel browser and Icedove e-mail software--versions of Firefox and Thunderbird that have been renamed because of a branding issue involving the Mozilla project.
Debian serves as a base for the Ubuntu version of Linux. Debian project leaders also released an update to version 3.1, called Sarge. (Debian releases are named after Toy Story characters; the unstable version under development is called Sid.
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
