Beta Ubuntu 8.10 released

Ubuntu 8.10 Beta has been released, as the popular Linux distribution enters its month of release as denoted by its version number, 2008/10. The beta release, like the Fedora 10 beta release, has the Intel e1000e network driver disabled while the problem with the e1000e which has affected beta Linux distributions that use release candidates of Linux Kernel 2.6.27.

The Ubuntu team highlight the desktop edition's new X.org 7.4 display system, 3G support and guest session support and the server editions encrypted private directories, virtual machine builder and complete Java stack.

heise online UK installed the desktop edition beta release and found some problems, like failing to boot on Dell 530S systems fixed, but others still persisting, such as failing to select an appropriate display driver at install time on the same system. As the e1000e driver was disabled, our system had no wired internet connection, but a USB Wifi adapter worked automatically. Testing continues.

The Firefox EULA replacement Mozilla Firefox now starts without the EULA which Mozilla's CEO apologised for including. The browser now shows an extra toolbar when started up showing "Mozilla Firefox is free and open source software from the non-profit Mozilla Foundation" and a "Know Your Rights" button which displays more details.

The Ubuntu 8.10 Beta is available to download, but as with all beta releases, is not recommended for production use.

(djwm)