Changes implemented in Porteus Kiosk 3.5.0:
Upgraded all system components to latest version from Gentoo stable branch including Linux kernel 4.1.6, Mozilla Firefox 38.2.1 and Google Chrome 44.0.2403.157. Full list of packages used for creating this release can be find under this link.
Implemented support for nested configurations in remote management.
Added support for managed bookmarks which enables bookmarks bar in the browser with with predefined set of webpages.
SSL certificates can be imported automatically from provided URLs.
Slideshow of images can be used instead of default screensaver.
Video outputs can be disabled or set in certain position to create for example a 'video wall' for digital signage.
Touchscreen calibration can be performed directly through the wizard.
Implemented support for "static IP to address mappings" to resolve problems with non fully qualified domain names.
Mac address or hostname can be appended to the homepage url - useful for kiosk tracking purposes.
Homepage check function will check availiablity of the homepage prior to launching the browser. Predefined notification message is displayed when when the homepage is not available.
Added support for restarting the browser periodically when user activity is not detected.
Mouse cursor can be hidden after certain number of seconds.
Silent printing prevents the users from changing printing related settings.
Added support for proxy exceptions.
Wizard improvements: its possible to setup keyboard layout early as the very first step of kiosk configuration, MAC address of the wifi card is displayed in the wizard, its possible to setup hardware clock to current date/time, you can test can test additional functions (default sound card, sound volume level, shutdown menu, screen settings, screensaver ripples/slideshow) before creating final configuration, printers list is as split per manufacturers brand, its possible to generate short system report before installing the kiosk.
When private mode is disabled for Google Chrome then following functions are enabled by default: form autofilling, editing bookmarks (bookmark bar is always enabled), applications, spellcheck, sync, translate, signing into the profile.
Integrated Foomatic database with support for over 4k of new printer drivers and added extra drivers for thermal printers: Bematech, Bixolon, Sato, Star, Zebra.
Remote kiosk config is downloaded with PC ID string appended to the kiosk config URL. It allows to find out in the server logs which kiosk downloaded it.
Touchscreen input is rotated automatically to the position of the screen.
Automatically activate touch gestures in Chrome if touch capable device is found.
Save in real time to the kiosk config when doing manual edits in the wizard (*Save Edits* button is no longer needed).
Enabled native 'print preview' window for Chrome.
If support for removable media is enabled then whitelist 'file:///media' URL automatically.
Kernel config: added support for Virtio, namespaces (NET_NS, PID_NS, USER_NS) which are required for Google Chrome sandbox to work, enabled Tun/Tap driver, enabled userspace parallel port printer drivers.
EFI support: renamed bootx32.efi to bootia32.efi to make possible direct booting from isohybrid images (no need for EFI shell workaround).
Resolved PXE boot issues with gateway not being set by dhcpcd.
SSH keys are generated automatically with 'ssh-keygen -A' command
Blocked access to Firefox preferences through 'about:preferences#preferences' URL.
If kiosk is signed to the 'automatic updates' service then download components directly from such channel to avoid double reburn.
Fixed download progress bar not showing on slow networks (20 KB/s and below).
Do not download uefi.zip during installation if booting from UEFI ISO.
Apply proxy/proxypac settings immediately during installation so its possible to use browsers through proxy.
Blocked 'view-source:' protocol in Firefox which was giving an access to some system files (the ones readable by the user 'guest') despite of the 'file://' protocol being disabled. Blocked accessing the Firefox menu through the 'Alt' key when new browser window is opened with the tab dragging gesture.
Firefox tweaks: browser is started as maximized rather than fullscreen by default (this allows to launch HTML5 apps like pdf viewer, youtube video player and other in real fullscreen with no firefox navigation bar visible at the top), to restart the browser users must close its last tab - same as in Google Chrome, stop/refresh buttons are back in their original position (right side of the URL bar), disabled openh264 plugin which is needed only for video chats (Firefox Hello communication client) and would have to be downloaded during every browser restart due to license restrictions, disabled Enhanced Tiles by default, disabled HeartBeat rating system and Google SafeBrowsing service, when private mode is disabled then open new tab as 'about:newtab' rather than 'about:blank'.
Chrome tweaks: all preferences are managed now through the Group Policy Objects, master_preferences and chrome flags, locked down all browser settings (including chrome://*) so users can not change enything even when navigation bar is enabled, popup windows will open as maximized and decorated so its possible to close them, disabled developer tools, disabled following plugins by default: Chrome Remote Desktop Viewer, Native Client, Widevine Content Decryption Module, enabled controling of the 'file://' protocol through the 'enable_file_protocol=yes' kiosk setting, enabled blacklisting/whitelisting through the 'blacklist=' and 'whitelist=' kiosk settings.
Close 'shutdown menu' when going back from sleep.
Removed Chinese/Japanese/Korean layouts from the keyboard mapping list in the wizard as they need external input method application not supported in kiosk by default.
Other fixes and improvements.