Ubuntu team has released the 3rd alpha of next version of Ubuntu, Ubuntu 9.10, code named Karmic Koala. Kubunt 9.10 alpha 3 is also out. I found few interesting features in both Ubuntu and Kubuntu that might appeal to end users.
The first one is Empathy replacing Pigdin. This enables users to do text, voice and video chats with Google Talk users, MSN, Facebook and Yahoo users.
The second one is making Ubuntu One ships by default in all systems. I have Ubuntu One account and it’s does it job, but it’s still buggy.
Third is, webcam moving to udev. I thought it happened already since webcam worked fine until Ubuntu 8.10 came out. Ubuntu recognized the webcams fine in Ubuntu 8.04 and the picture qualities were good, but starting Ubuntu 8.10, Ubuntu shows the webcam with general device name than the actual webcam name and the video qualities are extremely bad.
Kubuntu is getting KDE 4.3, which includes more bug fixes and new features. I think it would be better than Kubuntu 9.04.
Kubuntu has released a new netbook version. There are still few bugs to sort out, but it’s a good start.
Kubuntu is removing Konqueror as default browser and Arora as the default. The reason being, Konqueror is not compatible with many websites. I agree with that though many KDE fans won’t like that. Konqueror is quite powerful, but it’s not simple enough for normal users. Users should have an easy to use browser like Firefox. Though they can install Firefox in Kubuntu, I believe the default browser should be user friendly. I hope Arora is user friendly and can run all plugins and websites.
Kubuntu is bringing more social network features using KDE widgets and Kopete, which is good.
Now, lets move on to the changelog. Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 3 includes:
- Ubuntu Karmic Alpha 3 includes the latest GNOME 2.27.4 development release.
- Empathy has replaced Pidgin as the default instant messaging client, introducing the Telepathy framework.
- The gdm 2.27.4 login manager is a complete rewrite compared to the version in earlier Ubuntu releases.
- Ubuntu Karmic Alpha 3 ships the https://ubuntuone.com/ file sharing service by default, providing tightly integrated file synchronization of your computer with other computers and the Ubuntu One network storage service.
- Alpha 3 includes the 2.6.31-3.19 kernel based on 2.6.31-rc3. The kernel ships with Kernel Mode Setting enabled for Intel graphics (see below). linux-restricted-modules is deprecated in favour of DKMS packages.
- Karmic Alpha 3’s underlying technology for power management, laptop Hotkeys, and handling storage devices and cameras maps was moved from “hal” (which is going to be deprecated soon) to “DeviceKit-power”, “DeviceKit-disks” and “udev”.
- Karmic uses GCC-4.4 as the default compiler.
- The new “ext4″ filesystem is used by default for new installations of Karmic; of course, other filesystems are still available via the manual partitioner. Existing filesystems will not be upgraded.
- GRUB 2 is the default boot loader for new installations of Karmic, replacing the previous GRUB “Legacy” boot loader. Existing systems will not be upgraded to GRUB 2 at this time.
Here are the known issues in Ubuntu 9.10 alpha 3:
- The GNOME login manager (gdm) does not yet have a graphical configuration tool.
- If you install Karmic Alpha 3 alongside Windows, the grub boot menu may not offer to start Windows.
- If you have internal hard disk partitions aside from Ubuntu itself, GNOME will attempt to automatically mount them at startup and ask for your password. Just cancel the dialog, unless you actually want to work with them.
- The GNOME desktop displays two mixer applets on the amd64 desktop CD and alternate installs.
- Building LTSP client chroots currently fails.
- The Ubuntu Netbook Launcher crashes on shutdown.
You can download Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 from here.
Kubuntu team has also released the 3rd alpha of Kubuntu 9.10. Here are the features in Kubuntu 9.10 alpha 3:
- KDE 4.3 RC
- Kubuntu 9.10 includes a netbook version of Kubuntu 9.10, suitable to install on light weight hardware like Netbooks.
- Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 will include Arora, a lightweight and fast webkit-based web browser. Konqueror is not compatible with many popular websites, so Kubuntu team is considering arora as our default browser in order to try to provide one that more of our users will find satisfactory. Konqueror is still installed, but in Alpha 3, arora is set as the default.
- Amarok 2.1.1
- Kubuntu 9.10 will include the latest release of KPackageKit. New in 0.4.1.1 are new notifications, sweet animations, a history feature, usability fixes and a more robust overall experience with less bugs.
- K3b 1.66.0
- New social features that include Plasma widget as part of the default desktop experience for all of your identi.ca and Twitter needs, The openDesktop Plasma widget as part of the default desktop experience and Facebook Kopete plugin so that you can chat with your Facebook contacts from the comfort of the default chat client.
- QtCurve 0.65.1.
- Kubuntu 9.10 offers further control over the look of your GNOME apps in KDE using kcm-gtk 0.5.
Here are the known issues in Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3:
- If you install Karmic Alpha 3 alongside Windows, the grub boot menu may not offer to start Windows.
- The Kubuntu Netbook Edition is missing the “install” icon on the desktop. You can start the installation from the menu.
- The Kubuntu Netbook Edition image does not install under Windows (with wubi).
You can download Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 3 here.
Technorati Tags: Ubuntu 9.10, Kubuntu 9.10, Karmic Koala, Arora, Konqueror, KDE 4.3, GNOME, Empathy, Pigdin, Webcam, Netbook, Ubuntu One, Ext4, GRUB 2
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