Merely 2 months after Ubuntu’s recent Karmic release, developers have already started focusing their efforts on the next release of the this popular Linux distribution. The next version of Ubuntu is planned to be LTE (long term release), meaning that support for it is 5 years as apposed to the standard 3 year support cycle. Having that in mind the release will probably focus more on stability than the introduction of bleeding edge features.

Design
Lucid Lynx, is set to have a modified GTK version pre installed that will allow vista like transparency for gnome applications. Although this is nothing new as user Janhouse, over at Deviant Art, has posted a laborious tutorial on how to achieve this effect on the Gnome desktop.

Applications
Out with Xsane and in with Simple Scanner. Xsane is to be replaced with the user friendly, gnome integrated Simple Scan application which will allow better integration into the gnome based desktop. Xsane, although a very powerful scanning utility does lack proper gnome integration, especially with other gnome applications. It was therefore decided by the Ubuntu developers recently to replace it with a friendly alternative

PiTiVi: a video editing tool will be included into this release, it seems logical to include a video editor, as Mac OS and Windows both include one

GIMP will no longer be included by default, which is a move that has caused some controversy as GIMP is an exceptionally mature application. The argument however for excluding it in the 10.04 release was that it’s a specialist application, not an everyday user application which is a perfectly valid point. It will also save space for other useful default applications. I however foresee many downloading the GIMP packages off the repositories once Lucid is installed.

Rhythm Box will probably be the default music player, however banshee will be considered again. Either which, a music store is planned for the chosen music application, which will provide DRM free music.

Ubuntu One will also see slight improvements, such as the ability to share folder from within your home folder without having to actually sync/move the folder across

Ubuntu Software store, a major bragging point of 9.10 will also receive attention. The software centre in 10.04 is set to include packages also, for example, A designers package which will include design relate apps, such as GIMP and Inkscape.

The notifications system will have a new ‘do not disturb’ mode, which essentially means that when applications are running (typically full screen applications) that inhibit the screensaver, the notification system will go into ‘do not disturb’ mode.

Technical

Booting: There is a goal of a 10 second boot for Ubuntu, which has almost been reached. One thing for certain is that there is a remarkable difference in boot time with the last two releases of Ubuntu. Usplash is to be replaced by Plymouth which will probably help speed the boot time up even more. App Armour updates and the newer Linux kernel 2.6.32 is also on the cards for the next release of Ubuntu

Tags: Desktop, Gnome, GNU, GPL, Interface, Linux, Open Source, Operating System, Software, Technology, Ubuntu

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 at 08:57 and is filed under Software. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.