Ubuntu Lucid in final stretch

Lucid Lynx, otherwise known as Ubuntu 10.04, is now in the final stretch.

Yesterday the Ubuntu Developers announced the Release Candidate, the penultimate release before its final April 29 release.

The desktop version of the release includes cloud computing updates, Music Store improvements and tighter social networking integration. Changes to the server version of the release are mostly focused on improving its cloud computing capabilities.

Desktop

This release includes small improvements in the “Social from the Start” tools on the desktop. With these, Ubuntu users can update their status or post messages on multiple social networks directly from the desktop.

Networks supported include Twitter, identi.ca, Facebook and a number of other popular instant messaging and social networking platforms.

The new desktop theme remains largely the same as in previous beta releases with the exception that the controversial window buttons have been rearranged again, some new wallpapers have been added, and the default icons have been given some polish.

The more significant changes in the Release Candidate are the ever-improving cloud computing capabilities. Chief among these is Ubuntu One, Ubuntu’s online storage service. Ubuntu One can now synchronise any folder in a user’s home directory with their online storage space. Previously only the designated Ubuntu One folder could be synchronised. Ubuntu One can now also synchronise Firefox bookmarks as well as contacts and the usual files.

Ubuntu One’s Music store now also works in South Africa. The Music Store is integrated by default into the Rhythmbox player but there is also support for the Banshee player.

Servers and netbooks

The big focus in the server version of Lucid Lynx is on cloud computing. The Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud installer has been vastly improved in this release and Lucid includes the latest version of the Eucalyptus software. Ubuntu Lucid can also be equally well deployed in an Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud environment as it can in an Amazon EC2 environment.

On the other end of the scale, netbooks, Lucid has versions available that have been optimised for Intel Atom and Arm processors. The interface changes for these versions are primarily to improve boot times and make it easier for users to establish network connections, no matter where they are.

Ubuntu Lucid Lynx is the latest long-term-support release from Canonical and will be released on April 29. 

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