Ubuntu Linux 18.10 arrives

[steven36]

By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols for Linux and Open Source

 

 

Like living dangerously? Keep running Windows. Like to take a little risk? Give the new version of Ubuntu Linux 18.10 a try.

 

Seriously, if you like living dangerously on the desktop, keep running WIndows. Recently, an analyst found a simple way to bust open any Windows systems with RID Hijacking. But, if you want to take a bit of a chance for a fun desktop, try Canonical's latest Ubuntu Linux 18.10, aka Cosmic Cuttlefish.

 

Now, the safe thing to do with your production Linux desktop is to keep them on the long-term support (LTS) Ubuntu 18.04. But, if you want to live a little, you should give this new model a test drive. Just keep in mind with a supported life-span of only nine months, you'll be running something else by this time next year.

 

Under the hood, the Cosmic Cuttlefish boasts the 4.18 Linux Kernel. This updates comes with better support for for AMD and Nvidia GPU, USB Type-C and Thunderbolt, a way for unprivileged users to mount Filesystem in Userspace (FUSE) can be mounted by, and CPUfreq performance improvements.

 

On top of this, you'll find the freshest version of GNOME 3.30. You can, of course, use other desktops, but GNOME, since Ubuntu 17.10, is Ubuntu's default desktop.

 

You'll be glad to know that GNOME is faster than it has been for a while. That's because some nasty memory leaks have been patched. Canonical has also added some performance tweaks that didn't make it into the GNOME 3.30 upstream. Ubuntu 18.10 also comes with a new desktop theme, the Yaru Community theme installed by default, for your visual enjoyment.

 

Me? My favorite desktop continues to be Cinnamon.

 

 

Thinking of difference desktops, with this release, Ubuntu is saying goodbye to some of its 32-bit versions. Moving forward, there will be no 32-bit version of Ubuntu Mate, Kubuntu, or Ubuntu Budgie.

 

If you're still running a 32-bit version of Ubuntu, you won't be able to update to 18.10. Canonical's logic is that since it is considering "dropping support for that architecture ... users of it should not be stranded on a release with a shorter support window than the release they are already running."

 

No matter what version of Ubuntu 18.10 you run, it will boot about a second or so faster. That's because it's now using LZ4 compression instead of the older gzip compression for your system's initial ramdisk (initramfs). Now, that may sound esoteric as all get out, but it does speed your startup by a second and that's nothing to sneeze at.

 

For developers, Ubuntu comes with an update set of programming tools. These include libc 2.28, OpenJDK 11, updated GCC 8.2, Python 3.6.7 as default, Python 3.7.1 as supported, Ruby 2.5.1, PHP 7.2.10, Perl 5.26.2, and Golang 1.10.4. There are improved cross-compilers front, which with the POWER toolchain enabled, will enable developers to cross-compile for ARM targets.

 

So, all-in-all, this looks like a release that will be especially cool for developers. I'm looking forward to it. You can start downloading the final version on October 18th. Enjoy!

 

9 New Features in Ubuntu 18.10 Cosmic Cuttlefish

1. GNOME 3.30

GNOME 3.30 was released in September’18. Ubuntu 18.10 will have this new GNOME version. Most of the visual and under the hood changes in GNOME 3.30 will be seen in Ubuntu 18.10 as well.

2. New default theme and icons

Ubuntu 18.04 was supposed to have a new look with the community developed Communitheme. This theme could not be completed in time for the 18.04 release. Ubuntu 18.10 has the Yaru Community theme installed by default, giving it a ravishing fresh look.

 

3. Better battery life for laptops

Taking cue from Fedora 28, Canonical (Ubuntu’s parent company) is also working to improve battery life for laptops. Linux kernel has options to switch HDD controllers, USB controllers and other such devices to a low power state when not in use. This lowers the overall power consumption and thus improves the battery life.

However, doing this automatically causes problem and this is why Ubuntu didn’t have this behavior enabled in the past. Ubuntu development team is further exploring these options to see what could be done to improve battery life without impacting the stability of the system.

4. Support for fingerprint scanner

Ubuntu 18.10 will have support for fingerprint scanner. This means if your computer has a fingerprint scanner, you would be able to unlock your Ubuntu system with fingerprint.

5. Startup time boost and XDG Portals support for Snap applications

Continuing its focus on Snap packages, Canonical is bringing some useful improvements to it. Snap applications will take less time to start. With XDG portal, you should be able to install Snap in a few clicks from the Snapcraft Store website.

6. Linux Kernel 4.18

Ubuntu 18.10 has Linux Kernel 4.18. This Kernel version has some improvements for AMD and Nvidia GPU, USB Type-C and Thunderbolt, and performance optimizations in CPUfreq among several other features.

7. 32-Bit support diminishing from flavors

The default Ubuntu GNOME has stopped providing 32-bit ISO since Ubuntu 17.10 release. Some other Ubuntu flavors like Ubuntu MATE, Kubuntu etc still provided 32-bit iso download till 18.04 release.

But it seems to be changing now. Ubuntu MATE has announced that there will be no 32-bit image for Ubuntu MATE 18.10. Ubuntu Budgie and Kubuntu have also announced that they are dropping 32-bit release.

Existing 32-bit users will still get support till 2023.

8. Faster installation and boot with new compression algorithms

Working with new compression algorithms like LZ4 and ztsd, Ubuntu 18.10 is supposed to have around 10% faster boot. The installation will be slightly faster as well. Which is definitely a good news for all Ubuntu users.

9. Miscellaneous other changes in Ubuntu 18.10

Some other changes in the upcoming Ubuntu 18.10 are as follows:

• UI and UX improvements to GNOME Software (possibility)
• DLNA support for connecting Ubuntu with DLNA supported Smart TVs, tablets and other devices
• A new and improved installer (less likely to be completed before 18.10 release)
• Ubuntu Software removes dependencies while uninstalling software
• Ubuntu Software will show a green verified tick for Snap applications developed by the owner of the brand. The same can be found on the recently redesigned Snap store website.

 

Upgrade to Ubuntu 18.10 from Ubuntu 18.04

I wouldn’t advise upgrading to Ubuntu 18.10 from 18.04. This is because 18.10 is supported for nine months only and you will need to upgrade again after nine months. 18.04 on the other hand is supported till the year 2023.

 

But if you like living on the edge, you can upgrade from existing Ubuntu 18.04 install to Ubuntu 18.10.

 

Here is what you need to do to upgrade Ubuntu version.

 

 

Download Links

64 bit ISOs

Ubuntu Kylin • 18.10
Ubuntu Budgie • 18.10
Ubuntu MATE • 18.10
Lubuntu • 18.10
Kubuntu • 18.10
Ubuntu • 18.10

Ubuntu Studio • 18.10

Xubuntu • 18.10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/ubuntu-linux-18-10-arrives/

https://itsfoss.com/ubuntu-18-10-release-features/

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/10/ubuntu-18-10-whats-new-video