Ubuntu 9.04 beta released

The Ubuntu 9.04 beta log in screen. The Ubuntu developers have released the first beta of Ubuntu 9.04, named "Jaunty Jackalope". The new beta includes the 2.6.28 Linux kernel, X.org server 1.6 and the GNOME 2.6 and KDE 4.2 desktop environments. Performance is improved over previous versions. The release also includes an updated style for the notification system and preferences. While Ext3 remains the installation default file system, support is included for the much debated Ext4.

The Ubuntu 9.04 Server Edition beta includes Eucalyptus, an open source software infrastructure for implementing "cloud computing" on clusters, such as Amazon's EC2 (Elastic Compute Cloud). Eucalyptus is provided as a technology preview to allow users "to experiment with cloud computing".

The Ubuntu 9.04 beta default desktop with Firefox. As usual with a beta release, use on mission critical production machines is not advised. The developers are asking users to test specific areas of the 9.04 release and provide feedback to improve the final release. The 9.04 beta is available to download now and more details about the release can be found in the release notes. Other versions in the family; Kubuntu, Edbuntu, Ubuntu MID, Ubunutu Notebook Remix, Xubuntu, Ubuntu Studio, Mythbuntu and Ubuntu Arm are also being released as betas.

The final (stable) version of Jaunty Jackalope is expected next month on the 23rd of April. It will be followed by version 9.10, named "Karmic Koala", in October of 2009. Ubuntu is sponsored by UK based Canonical Ltd.

See also:

• Ubuntu 7.10 approaches end-of-life, a report from The H.
• Possible data loss in Ext4, a report from The H.
• Ext4 data loss; explanations and workarounds, a report from The H.

(crve)