Ubuntu 9.10 launch - 29 October
Today Canonical announces the upcoming release of Ubuntu 9.10 Desktop and Server Edition, the latest version of the popular Linux desktop distribution. Ubuntu 9.10 will be available for free download on Thursday 29 October.
Ubuntu 9.10 brings changes small and large that all have a common purpose - to make Ubuntu the most user-friendly operating system available. Ubuntu 9.10 features a redesigned, faster boot and login experience, a revamped audio framework, and improved 3G broadband connectivity, all of which contribute to a first-class user experience.
Canonical also seem interested in solving Ubuntu-related annoyances:
Furthermore, the innovative '100 Paper Cuts' initiative organised with the Ubuntu Community allowed users to nominate minor annoyances that impacted their enjoyment of the platform. So far over 50 fixes have been committed, removing minor irritants such as inconsistent naming or poorly organised application choices. Larger scale user experience improvements include a refreshed Ubuntu Software Center, giving users better and more easily understood information about the software they have available - bringing the world of open source applications closer to the user. These improvements, in combination, have a transformative effect on the user experience.
Some new Ubuntu features for the deasktop include:
- Ubuntu One - An umbrella name for an exciting suite of online services
- Quickly toolset - Helps developers automate mundane functions and package code
- Ubuntu 9.10 Netbook Remix (UNR) - Improving netbook and small machine experience
Also in Ubunto 9.10:
- Faster, simplified, better-looking boot experience for most users
- Audio revamp allowing improved sound control across multiple applications
- Firefox 3.5: latest, fastest, most secure web browser yet from Mozilla
"Ubuntu 9.10 gives users more reasons than ever to seriously consider Linux at a time when many are thinking again about their operating system options. We are delivering a platform for users interested in an easy-to-use, great-looking, web-friendly operating system," says Jane Silber, COO at Canonical. "A faster, more beautiful boot and login sequence, file and contact synchronisation through online services and great experiences on the most popular notebook, desktop and netbook models continue to drive Ubuntu into the mainstream of computing choices."
There are also changes on the server front. Ubuntu 9.10 Server Edition introduces Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud (UEC) as a fully supported technology. This is an open source cloud computing environment, based on the same Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) as Amazon EC2, that will allow businesses to start taking advantage of the possibilities of private clouds. Private clouds allow businesses to reap the benefits of flexible compute environments while avoiding the security, regulatory or policy restrictions inherent in pushing data onto a public cloud.
"Ubuntu 9.10 Server Edition puts Ubuntu users at a unique advantage of being able to quickly and simply deploy and manage cloud environments," says Matt Zimmerman, CTO of Canonical. "We strongly believe that businesses which are already embracing virtualized environments will take the next logical step to these self-service, super-efficient architectures and that Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud will be at the heart of that effort."