-Public release of LyX version 2.1.0rc1
-========================================
-
-We are proud to announce the first release candidate of the new
-LyX 2.1 series.
-
-With this release, LyX celebrates 18 years of existence. The 2.1 series
-has a rich set of new features compared to the current stable series.
-
-LyX 2.1.0rc1 is the culmination of three years of hard work.
-This release is meant for testing before we actually release LyX 2.1.
-
-An overview of the new features can be found here:
- http://wiki.lyx.org/LyX/NewInLyX21
-
-You can download LyX 2.1.0rc1 from ftp://ftp.lyx.org/pub/lyx/devel/.
-
-We hope you will enjoy the result!
-
-The file RELEASE-NOTES lists some known issues and problems compared
-to the current stable releases (LyX 2.0.x). We strongly recommend that
+Public release of LyX version 2.4.0alpha1
+=========================================
+
+We are proud to announce the first preview release of the new LyX 2.4
+series. This preview release is meant for testing and should not be used for
+serious work. For curious users who would like to test in order to help catch
+bugs before the 2.4.0 release, please back up all of your documents and be
+prepared for the worst to happen. Most users (who desire a stable LyX version)
+should not use this pre-release.
+
+The 2.4 series has a rich set of new features compared to the current stable
+series. An overview of the new features can be found here:
+
+ https://wiki.lyx.org/LyX/NewInLyX24
+
+Especially we would like to receive feedback for the newly introduced Docbook
+export before we release it as a stable feature.
+
+You can download LyX 2.4.0alpha1 from ftp://ftp.lyx.org/pub/lyx/devel/ or
+from a mirror listed at https://www.lyx.org/Download#toc11.
+
+We appreciate your help in testing this pre-release!
+
+If a file from an earlier version of LyX is opened *and saved* with
+any version of 2.4.x, then the original file will automatically be
+backed up. The backup file will be found in the backup directory, if one
+is set under Tools> Preferences> Paths, or else in the same folder as
+the original file, if no backup directory is set. The filename of the
+backup file will be:
+ ORIGNAME-lyxformat-NUM.lyx~
+where NUM is the LyX format number of the original file. In the case of
+2.3.x file, this will be 544, but in the case of older files it will be
+different.
+
+The file lib/RELEASE-NOTES lists some known issues and problems compared
+to the current stable releases (LyX 2.3.x). We strongly recommend that