'Jaunty Jackalope' Ubuntu goes into beta
Summary: Version 9.04 of Canonical's popular Linux distribution is now into the final testing phase before its April launch.
Ubuntu 9.04, as it is more properly known, includes a range of enhancements over its predecessor, Intrepid Ibex, or Ubuntu 8.10. These include a new notifications system, improvements to the start-up process, and the distribution's first foray into cloud computing.
See also: Has Ubuntu hit a plateau with Jaunty Jackalope?"
The new version of the operating system also includes updates to the Gnome interface (now version 2.26, which comes with the Brasero all-in-one CD-burning application and offers improved handling of multiple monitors), the Linux kernel (now version 2.6.28) and the X.Org server (now version 1.6). The ext4 file system is now also supported.
Ubuntu is set to make a major move into cloud computing with its next version but one, Karmic Koala, but the server version of Jackalope takes a step towards this with its technology preview of the Elastic Utility Computing Architecture for Linking Your Programs To Useful Systems (Eucalyptus).
Eucalyptus is an open-source software infrastructure for the deployment of applications into the cloud. Its interface is compatible with the application programming interface (API) for Amazon's EC2 cloud-computing service, and its inclusion in Jackalope means users of the distribution can deploy and test their own private clouds that match the EC2 API.
According to the feature webpage for Jackalope's beta, users will be able to "dynamically create virtual machines, configure multiple clusters into a single cloud and even provide an EBS (elastic block storage) equivalent and an [Amazon] S3 compatible storage manager".
There are several known issues with the beta — these are listed on the Jackalope page — and Canonical, the company behind the distribution, is inviting users to test the release ahead of April 23, when the final incarnation of Jaunty Jackalope is due.
This article was originally posted on ZDNet.co.uk.
Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.
Talkback
'Jaunty Jackalope' Ubuntu goes into beta
for it instead of Jaunty Jackalope but will
still keep the jacking name in there. It still
has linux as the core which is why people will
yawn at this release. It adds no value or
functionality, its just the same old stuff they
have been releasing every time with a few
package updates. Basically all they did was
save you the time of having to recompile all the
packages, but don't worry linux fanboys by the
time its released you will have to recompile all
new packages because it updates daily. Yes it
has that many issues! This release like previous
releases is going to be a bore.
Your Point?
IMHO, the only things linux lacks are good documentation and a development environment that can compete with Visual Studio. If Open Office could incorporate the latest VBA, they'd be well on their way.
Eclipse competes with visual studio
And beats it...
That linux sucks?
distro offers nothing new or enticing for
consumers.
[i]Ubuntu's goal is to approach an ease of use
and feature set equivalent or surpassing to
Windows/Mac OS.[/i]
And linux has been around since 1991, ubuntu
much shorter but had plenty to build off of, so
why haven't they met this goal yet? Because
people don't want linux because its a big hassle
to install and operate. And if your one of the
lucky few who made it past installation once its
installed you sit there saying "ok its
installed, now what?" What a waste of time.
Nothing to see here but stale air
I have to disagree with you.
But in general, I have not had any hassels getting linux up. Laptop wireless cards are about it, but there are plenty of front ends, and support forums out there to assist in doing that, and is almost becoming a non issue.
And I have given linux distros to people of the older generation, and they prefer it over windows in its ease of use. They are impressed by how well it recognizes hardware, and most come with open office installed ready to roll, and they can download Gimp and a host of other free opensource software, and no longer have to worry about expensive windows upgrades to get new features with their linux client.
You may feel that linux is a waste of time, but I would rather spend time on linux than waste money on Windows upgrades, although I do and will anyway. An OS is a tool to get things done. Sometimes linux is the right tool, somtimes Apple, and sometimes Windows.
You shouldn't
Every interation its still more of a hassle than
what its worth. Those updates you speak of can
not be trusted. The repositories are always
getting hacked and are down for months at a
time. Consider yourself lucky if you are able
to connect to them.
I find it really hard to believe that you had no
hassles with linux. Linux is known for being a
hassle prone product which explains its small
market share. I'm not the only one who feels
this way, there are millions of others as well.
Anyone you gave linux to had their tech friend
come over and wipe it. All the software you
mentioned is crossplatform so you could have
saved yourself those those people a lot of time
just by installing the applications on their
chosen OS. They don't need some linux fanboy
telling them what they should and shouldn't run.
You seem very hung up on mentioning Microsoft
Windows even though I had never mentioned it.
Got a bit of envy there? That is part of the
reason why linux fails, its user base just
assumes way too much about people.
Oh boy the hypocrisy.
telling them what they should and shouldn't run"</i>
So they need someone with single vision to point them to a paid product. A product that due to its huge market share is the target of 99.99% of all malware.
And besides I don't tell them to "leave" windows. They were already looking for alternatives. I simply gave them a few more. And I flat out tell them, and even show them, here is the disk, you can try it, use it, and if you decide you like it, install it.
And besides I am fan boy of all the OS's I've used. Windows, OSX, OpenSolaris, BSD, OpenSuse, Ubuntu, Madriva, Fedora, Debian, Linspire, and more. I have had no issue with any of these, through installation, management, and use. At a campus I worked at, I even set up a linux lab. People that when in to use it, didn't even notice the difference, other than the color scheme.
I simply give someone a tool. I tell them to try it. If they like it use it. If not, spend the $200 on the Bloated Windows OS, or buy that spendy Apple. I all I do is give people options. If they have questions, I help them. No big deal.
Biggest complaint I hear about Windows is all the crap that gets onto their machine. Especially these scarewares out there. And for them it works fine, and they are happy, as many people I know that use linux are.
What are you talking about?
point them to a paid product. [/i]
I never suggested any product, I suggested which
product not to use based on real world
experience. You mention Windows yet again, you
seem to really be hung up on it. Maybe you
should just drop your linux box and run it
instead.
Re: The hypocracy...
@AmraLeo -
So, are you saying....
Loverock Davidson picked a pack of pecking penguins? Did a pack of pecking penguins did Loverock Davidson pick? :p
Linux is a cancer (Steve Ballmer)
red/blue
Really??
Every interation its still more of a hassle than
what its worth. Those updates you speak of can
not be trusted. The repositories are always
getting hacked and are down for months at a
time. Consider yourself lucky if you are able
to connect to them."
Ok, so I have read a number of your posts over the years, and most of the time you fail the turing test.
You obviously use computers at least somewhat, because you are dead set on defending M$ and blasting Linux - or are you? I might be pointing out the obvious, but your arguments are so blindingly foolish to anyone who has actually *used* linux, that you can't possibly be for real, and yet I have actually worked with some really dumb people, so, I guess it is possible, but I just have to see that man behind the curtain!
You seriously can't figure out how to use Ubuntu?? Dude, my 12 year old son has it running on his computer with no problems - it's good enough for his homework, music and learning python programming on the side...
Just keep repeating it, eventually it may be accepted as if it were true.
Maybe....
Life isn't so bad after all...
Microsoft?
Why bother?
If you don't like it, don't use it.
Meanwhile the rest of us are quite happy with our Linux addiction, and Shuttleworth who feeds it, having suffered for years with horrible Gatesware.
You aren't by any chance Mr Ballmer in disguise, are you?