Ubuntu 10.04 : Wetting Your Appetite

Ubuntu is getting ready to bring up the next major version of their most famous Linux distribution next month! Recently, they have released a beta version of Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx) just to wet our appetite! So, you want to know what it got for you? Lets find out…

Day by day Ubuntu is catching up on the market! People who want to throw away Windows, settles with Ubuntu really well! It is very user friendly than other Linux versions. But not only that, it also have a bunch of great features under the hood! Ok, enough talking… If you have followed this blog, you might know very well about Ubuntu! now its time to see whats going to be there on the latest version of this masterpiece :

Latest GNOME

Ubuntu 10.04 Beta 1 includes the latest GNOME desktop environment with a number of great new features.

About Gnome Desktop

Gnome Desktop

Mozilla Firefox

Default search engine has been changed to Yahoo! The default Home Page will use either Google or Yahoo! depending on user setting.

In the current version of Ubuntu, we have a slight difficulty in updating to the latest version of Firefox, but Ubuntu 10 will have Firefox 3.6 already installed! Theres another big change! As far as I can remember, Ubuntu always made Google as the default search and default home page in Firefox. But in Ubuntu 10, they have switched to Yahoo! Looks like they had a small fight with uncle Google!

Firefox and Yahoo

Linux kernel 2.6.32

Ubuntu 10.04 Beta 1 includes the 2.6.32-16.25 kernel based on 2.6.32.9.

KDE SC 4.4

Kubuntu 10.04 Beta 1 features the new KDE SC 4.4. For more information about new features in Kubuntu, see the Kubuntu technical overview.

HAL removal

This beta sports full removal of HAL from the boot process, making Ubuntu faster to boot and faster to resume from suspend.

Ubuntu is usually fast! And this will make it even more faster!

Major new version of likewise-open

The likewise-open package, which provides Active Directory authentication and server support for Linux, has been updated to version 5.4. The package supports upgrades from both the officially supported versions 4.0 (Ubuntu 8.04 LTS) and 4.1 (Ubuntu 9.10), as well as the likewise-open5 packages from universe.

New default open source driver for nVidia hardware

The Nouveau video driver is now the default for nVidia hardware. This driver provides kernel mode setting, which will give improved resolution detection. This driver provides hardware accelerated 2D functionality, like the -nv driver it replaces. The nouveau driver is being actively developed upstream and we anticipate this will enable faster bug fixes for problems encountered.

Improved support for nVidia proprietary graphics drivers

Three different NVIDIA proprietary drivers are currently available: nvidia-current (190.53), nvidia-173, and nvidia-96. Thanks to a new alternatives system, it is now possible to install all three of these packages at the same time (although it is only possible to have one configured for use at a time).

Earlier Ubuntu used to have some problems with Nvidia drivers. Earlier, we had to use Envy to correctly install Nvidia drivers on our system. Next, we were able to do it from Ubuntu without using Envy, but that won’t give us the latest drivers and we need to do a little hack to get them! So, hope this new change will solve all the problems! But remember this, in Fedora Linux, they already use the Nouveau driver! But this used to mess up my VGA drivers and I had to spend a lot of time to fix it! So… who knows.. in Ubuntu it might work perfectly!

Social from the Start

We now feature built-in integration with Twitter, identi.ca, Facebook, and other social networks with the MeMenu in the panel, which is built upon the Gwibber project, which has a completely new, more reliable backend built on top of desktopcouch. Gwibber now also supports a multi-column view for monitoring multiple feeds simultaneously.

Ubuntu Social Accounts

New boot experience

Multiple changes to look, feel and speed of the boot experience have been included in the Ubuntu 10.04 LTS beta.

Ubuntu started to make major changes to their boot splash from Ubuntu 9.10, and this is the second time their doing a major redesign of their boot splash!

Ubuntu Boot

New Indicators

The notification area now features more consistent user experience and design for communication, session management, and many other tasks.

New Themes

The desktop has been beautified with the addition of two brand new themes, Ambiance and Radiance. New wallpaper and icons are also included.

Ubuntu One File Syncing

Select any folder in your home directory for sync, pick from your existing contacts when sharing folders. An updated preferences application has been added, with more features.

Seems to be this new version of Ubuntu  will be another great hit! So-many great new changes and improvements! I found only two problems which might effect me. One is the replacement of my favourite search engine Google, and the use of Nouveau Nvidia drivers. Who knows… they might serve me better! What do you think? Are you waiting for it or not?

Download the latest beta (Only for developers! Do not use it for your day to day work!) : http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/lucid/beta1