2.5 beta release blogpost (#354)

Add a 2.5-beta release blogpost

Co-authored-by: ronso0 <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Owen Williams <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Daniel Schürmann <[email protected]>
Co-authored-by: Antoine C <[email protected]>

content/news/XXXX-XX-XX-mixxx-2-5-beta-released.md

@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+title: Mixxx 2.5 beta released
+authors: Evelynne Veys
+tags: 2.5, beta, release announcement
+comments: yes
+status: draft
+
+
+It's springtime, and baby birds recently hatched from their eggs are looking out of their nests deciding if they are ready to fly. So too it is with Mixxx, and version 2.5 is almost ready to greet the world.
+A bit late for Easter but it is a magnificent giant gift filled with smaller gifts: Mixxx 2.5 beta!
+You can find the details about the new version below.
+
+#### Appeal
+
+Before releasing 2.5 as the next stable release, we need it to be tested thoroughly, something we can't do all on our own.
+After some time looking at the same release and searching for solutions, we might overlook minor bugs or problems.  
+That's why we need **YOU** to help us. The more people testing this beta and reporting eventual bugs to the [bug tracker](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/issues), the faster the beta can be promoted to stable.  
+In case you're scared of messing up your neatly configured PC and losing your holy data is your Halloween nightmare, read the new wiki article [Safeguard Your Mixxx Data](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/wiki/Safeguard-your-Digital-DJ-Data).
+It explains how to create a timestamped image, how to back up your data, and other tips and tricks.  
+A beta release contains the solutions for problems that occurred and were notified by users who tested the alpha release.
+The beta release is a general check before the new version can be released.  
+The Mixxx database and settings of Mixxx 2.4.x stable are equal to those in Mixxx 2.5 beta, which means you can install the 2.5 over the 2.4 and vice versa without a problem.  
+After you have successfully tested this 2.5 beta for yourself, you can continue using this version in your bedroom or even during live DJ-ing, and thus benefit from the new features.  
+Please [join Mixxx](https://mixxx.org/get-involved/).
+In Mixxx, we (can) trust.
+
+#### Highlights
+
+* In version 2.5, Mixxx moves from depending on Qt 5 to [Qt 6](https://www.qt.io/product/qt6). This will improve hardware support and will enable Mixxx to be compatible with latest operating systems and hardware. However, this upgrade necessitates the discontinuation of support for older operating systems, specifically macOS versions earlier than 11, Windows 7 and 8.1 and Ubuntu 20.04 "Focal Fossa" and older.
+* Controller mapping settings can now be adjusted directly in the preferences, compared to previously where they would have to be manually edited in script files.
+  Controller settings are only available for JavaScript mappings. We will remain open for mapping contributions to 2.5 which add setting definitions. An example on how to do so can be found on [this pull request for the S4 Mk3](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/12995).
+
+Here are some more highlights:
+
+* Display the number of beats and the time until next hot-cue or loop in the waveform [#12994](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/12994)
+* Visualization of Slip Mode when using the RGB GLSL waveform [#13002](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/13002)
+* An option to hide the main window menu bar [#11526](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/11526)
+* A command line option `--start-autodj` to start Auto DJ immediately after Mixxx starts. [#13017](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/13017)
+* A beatloop anchor to set and adjust loop from either start or end [#12745](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/12745)
+* New effects: A Compressor [#12523](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/12523) and Glitch [#11329](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/11329)
+* Support for Audio Unit (AU) plugins on macOS [#12112](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/12112)
+* Modify properties on multiple tracks at once [#12548](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/12548)
+* An experimental QML Skin that can be tested via the --qml command line option [#13152](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/pull/13152)
+
+
+#### What's else new / changed / corrected in 2.5 beta
+
+The full list of changes can be found in the [ChangeLog](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/blob/2.5/CHANGELOG.md)
+
+You can download the new release from the [Download](https://mixxx.org/download/) page.

content/pages/download.md

@@ -81,8 +81,60 @@ versions:
         - slug: source
           name: 2.4.1 release
           file_url: https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/archive/2.4.1.tar.gz
+  beta:
+    name: 2.5-beta
+    release_announcement: /news/2024-06-11-mixxx-2-5-beta-released
+    title: Beta Snapshots (2.5)
+    text: |
+      A great way to contribute to Mixxx is testing the upcoming version before it is being released.
+      The Mixxx team relies on a significant number of users switching to the beta version and using it at home.
+      This is the only way to find bugs in time before a release that may have slipped through the initial review process or affect rare use cases.
+
+      **Beta snapshots are not intended for live use!** Expect crashes and make sure to back up your Mixxx settings and library before upgrading as explained in the [Testing wiki page](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/wiki/Testing).
+    download_manifest: https://downloads.mixxx.org/snapshots/2.5/manifest.json
+    downloads:
+      - slug: windows
+        os: Windows 10 (1809 or later)
+        packages:
+          - slug: win64
+            name: 64-Bit
+      - slug: macos
+        os: macOS 11 or later
+        text: |
+          Download Mixxx 2.5-alpha for macOS 11 or later for Intel or ARM (Apple Silicon M1/M2/M3). You can check which version you need by clicking the Apple logo in the menu bar, then "About this Mac". If the window displays an "Apple M..." chip, download the ARM build, otherwise you need the Intel build.
+        packages:
+        - slug: macosintel
+          name: Intel
+        - slug: macosarm
+          name: ARM
+      - slug: ubuntu
+        os: Ubuntu 22.04 "Jammy Jellyfish" or later
+        text: |
+          We provide a [PPA on Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/~mixxx/+archive/ubuntu/mixxxbetas) to make installing the latest development snapshot of Mixxx as easy as possible.
+          Open a terminal, and enter:
+
+              $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:mixxx/mixxxbetas
+              $ sudo apt update
+              $ sudo apt install mixxx
+
+          Using the PPA ensures that new package versions will be installed automatically with `apt`. Otherwise, you can [download individual packages](https://launchpad.net/~mixxx/+archive/ubuntu/mixxxbetas/+packages) and install them manually.
+      - slug: source
+        name: Source Code
+        icon: terminal.svg
+        text: |
+          The Mixxx source code is published under the GNU General Public License (GPL) v2 or later. Please check the `LICENSE` file in our source tree for complete licensing information.
+
+          Download the beta code from Mixxx's `2.5` branch on [GitHub](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/tree/2.5) by opening a terminal and running:
+
+              git clone -b 2.5 https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx.git
+
+          Compilation instructions are available for [Windows](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/wiki/Compiling-On-Windows), [macOS](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/wiki/Compiling-On-macOS), and [Linux](https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/wiki/Compiling-On-Linux).
+        packages:
+        - slug: source
+          name: 2.5 branch
+          file_url: https://github.com/mixxxdj/mixxx/archive/2.5.zip
   testing:
-    name: 2.5-alpha
+    name: 2.6-alpha
     title: Development Snapshots
     text: |
       If you're bored of thoroughly testing the beta snapshots, you can also test the current development snapshot to get a glimpse at the even newer features.