| Ubuntu, Kubuntu 5.10 RCs available |
Oct. 11, 2005
With days to go before the final releases of Ubuntu 5.10 and Kubuntu "Breezy," the Ubuntu team announced the availability of both release candidates. This is the final milestone before the official release this week, and it includes installation CDs, live CDs, and combination DVDs for three architectures, Ubuntu said.
Ubuntu, just named best distro at the LinuxWorld Expo in London, is a Linux distribution for either desktop or server that the team claims features a fast and easy install. Ubuntu, which uses the Gnome 2.12.1 desktop, also issues regular releases and offers a selection of application packages installed by default. Numerous others package available from the network, the team said, in addition to a commitment to security updates for 18 months after each release and professional technical support from many companies around the world.
Kubuntu "Breezy" is the Ubuntu operating system based on KDE, the K Desktop Environment, instead of Gnome, and offering some KDE-related features.
"Ubuntu" is an ancient African word meaning "humanity to others," according to the Ubuntu website.
Breezy highlights
Highlights of the latest version Ubuntu for the desktop, as described by the Ubuntu team, are:- Linux kernel 2.6.12.5
- Gnome 2.12.1
- OpenOffice.org 2.0 beta 2
- X.org 6.8.2 with wider hardware support
- An enhanced tool for easily installing new applications
- A new tool which makes it easier to install support for multiple languages (Language Selector)
- Editable Gnome menus
- Applications are now linked into the Launchpad infrastructure (new entries on the Help menus for translation and support)
- Support for writing audio CDs (Serpentine)
- Graphical startup process with progress bar (USplash)
- New documentation (Ubuntu 5.10 Quick Tour and Ubuntu 5.10 FAQ Guide)
- Language packs with updates from the Rosetta translation platform, which makes contributing translations easier for everybody
Highlights of Kubuntu Breezy, as described by the team, include:- Linux kernel 2.6.12.5
- KDE 3.4.2
- X.org 6.8.2, with modular packaging
- Adept and Adept Updater, Package Manager
- KDE System Settings, Easier Control Centre
- KDE Language Packs, now on the CD
- KDE Bluetooth Framework
- OpenOffice.org 2
- GStreamer for Kaffine and AmaroK, media framework
- Krita, image editor
- KLaptopDaemon, now with hibernate support
- Locate File Search, find files in Konqueror
- Automounting, for CDs and memory sticks
- Katapult, alt+space for program launching
- Simplified Konqueror
- Graphical startup with usplash
Off the desktop, Breezy boasts Linux 2.6.12.6, PHP5, 64-bit PowerPC and many other improvements.
OSDir has a screenshot tour of Ubuntu here, and one of Kubuntu is here.
More details on these releases can be found here.
Getting Ubuntu and Kubuntu
The final version of Ubuntu 5.10 will be released on Oct. 13th. At that time, Ubuntu will mail pressed CDs free of charge. To receive a complimentary copy of the CD -- or a handful of them to give to friends, your school or LUG -- place your request here. The CDs won't ship until after the final release, the team said.
Details on downloading Ubuntu and Kubuntu are, respectively, here and here.
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