What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is one of a number of Linux distributions. The source code that makes up the Ubuntu Linux distribution originates from another, much older Linux distribution known as Debian (so called because it was started by two people named Debra and Ian).
Debian is still a widely respected operating system but came under criticism for infrequent updates and less than user friendly installation and maintenance (though these areas have shown improvement recently).
A South African internet mogul, Mark Shuttleworth (who made his fortune selling his company to VeriSign for around $500 million) decided it was time for a more user friendly Linux. He took the Debian distribution and worked to make it a more human friendly distribution which he called Ubuntu. He subsequently formed a company called Canonical Ltd to promote and provide support for Ubuntu Linux. In addition Shuttleworth has formed and funded (to the tune of $10 million) a foundation to guarantee the future of Ubuntu.
The word "Ubuntu" is an ancient Zulu and Xhosa word which means "humanity to others". Ubuntu also means "I am what I am because of who we all are". It was chosen because these sentiments precisely describe the spirit of the Ubuntu Linux distribution.
Distribution Names and Dating Sequence
Ubuntu 4.10, Warty Warthog
Released in October 2004, this was the first ever release of Ubuntu. This was the first version to offer free Shipit services which allowed users to order free CDs. It shipped with early versions of GAIM, GIMP, GNOME, OpenOffice and Firefox.
Ubuntu 5.04, Hoary Hedgehog
Hedgehog was the second release of Ubuntu which surfaced in April 2005. It was the first ever Ubuntu release to allow installation from USB devices. It included new features such as the update manager, upgrade notifier and hibernate/standby support.
Ubuntu 5.10, Breezy Badger
Badger was released in October 2005 and marks the third installment of Ubuntu Linux. A lot of new and useful features were introduced in this release such as a graphical bootloader, Add/Remove app, language selector, HP printer support, OEM installer support and integration with Launchpad (for bug reporting).
Ubuntu 6.06, Dapper Drake
Released in June 2006, Drake was the first ever Ubuntu release to break the 6-month release convention and also the first Long Term Support (LTS) release. In this release, the Live CD and Install CD was merged onto one disc and a splash-screen for startup as well shutdown was introduced. It featured the Humanlooks theme for the first time based on Clearlooks with more orange than brown prevalent on the desktop.
Ubuntu 6.10, Edgy Elephant
Edgy was the fifth release of Ubuntu Linux, it came out in October 2006. It included a heavily modified version of the Human theme, a note-taking app calle Tomboy and F-spot photo manager. It also included EasyUbuntu as a meta-package.
Ubuntu 7.04, Feisty Fawn
Feisty Fawn, released in April 2007, marks the sixth release of Ubuntu Linux. It included a new migration assistant to help users switch from Windows to Ubuntu easily. Other noticeable features were Compiz 3D effects, support for WiFi protected access, It also dropped support for PowerPCs.
Ubuntu 7.10, Gutsy Gibbon
Gutsy Gibbon was released in October 2007. It is the seventh release of Ubuntu and started the Linux-for-Desktop trend because of its high stability and user-friendly functions. It included an even fast desktop search, a Firefox plugin manager, fast user-switching mode and Compiz Fusion (enabled by default). Also in this release GAIM was renamed and included as Pidgin.
Ubuntu 8.04, Hardy Heron
Released in April 2008, Heron boasts to be the second Long Term Support (LTS) release. It included Tracker desktop search integration, Brasero disk burner, Transmission BitTorrent client, Vinagre VNC client and a lot of usability and performance improvements to Compiz. It also included Wubi, that allowed Ubuntu to be installed as a single file on a Windows hard drive without the need to repartition the disk.
Ubuntu 8.10, Intrepid Ibex
Released 30th October 2008, support ended on 30 April 2010. Ubuntu 8.10 introduced several new features including improvements to mobile computing and desktop scalability, increased flexibility for Internet connectivity, an Ubuntu Live USB creator and a guest account, which allowed others to use a computer allowing very limited user rights (e.g. accessing the Internet, using software and checking e-mail).
The guest account had its own home folder and nothing done on it was stored permanently on the computer's hard disk. Intrepid Ibex also included an encrypted private directory for users, the inclusion of Dynamic Kernel Module Support, a tool that allows kernel drivers to be automatically rebuilt when new kernels are released and support for creating USB flash drive images
Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope)
Released on 23 April 2009, this was Canonical's tenth release of Ubuntu. Support ended on 23 October 2010. New features included faster boot time, integration of web services and applications into the desktop interface. It had a new usplash screen, a new login screen and also support for both Wacom (hotplugging) and netbooks. It also included a new notification system, Notify OSD, and themes.
It marked the first time that all of Ubuntu's core development moved to the Bazaar distributed revision control system.
Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala)
Released on 29 October 2009, this was Canonical's 11th release of Ubuntu. It was supported until April 2011.
In an announcement to the community on 20 February 2009, Mark Shuttleworth explained that 9.10 would focus on improvements in cloud computing on the server using Eucalyptus, further improvements in boot speed as well as development on the Netbook Remix.
The initial announcement of version 9.10 indicated that this release might include a new theme, however the project was moved forward to 10.04, and only minor revisions were made to the default theme. Other graphical improvements included a new set of boot up and shutdown splash screens, a new login screen that transitions seamlessly into the desktop and greatly improved performance on Intel graphics chipsets.
The desktop installation of Ubuntu 9.10 replaced Pidgin with Empathy Instant Messenger as its default instant messaging client. The default filesystem is ext4, and the Ubuntu One client, which interfaces with Canonical's new online storage system, is installed by default. It also debuted a new application called the Ubuntu Software Center that unifies package management.
Canonical stated their intention for this application to replace Add/Remove Programs (gnome-app-install) in 9.10 and possibly Synaptic, Software Sources, Gdebi and Update Manager in Ubuntu 10.04. Karmic Koala also includes a slideshow during the installation process (through ubiquity-slideshow) that highlights applications and features in Ubuntu.
Ubuntu 10.04 LTS (Lucid Lynx)
Shuttleworth first announced Ubuntu 10.04 (Lucid Lynx)[8] on 19 September 2009 at the Atlanta Linux Fest; Canonical released it on 29 April 2010.
It is Canonical's 12th release of Ubuntu and the third LTS release. Canonical intends to provide support for Ubuntu 10.04 until April 2013 for the desktop version, and until April 2015 for the server version. The same dates apply to Kubuntu 10.04, which is built on KDE.
The new release includes, among other things, improved support for Nvidia proprietary graphics drivers, while switching to the open source Nvidia graphics driver, Nouveau, by default. Plymouth was also introduced allowing boot animations.
GIMP was removed from the Lucid installation CD due to its professional-grade complexity and its file size. F-Spot provides normal user-level graphics-editing capabilities and GIMP remains available for download in the repositories.
The distribution emphasizes the new importance of web services and social networking with integrated interfaces for posting to sites like Facebook and Twitter, complementing the IM and email integration already in Ubuntu.
On 4 March 2010, it was announced that Lucid Lynx would feature a new theme, including new logos, taking Ubuntu's new visual style into account:
The new style in Ubuntu is inspired by the idea of "Light".
The first point release 10.04.1 was made available on 17 August 2010, the second update 10.04.2 was released on 17 February 2011 and the third update 10.04.3 was released on 21 July 2011. The 10.04.4 update is scheduled for 25 January 2012.
Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat)
The naming of Ubuntu 10.10 (Maverick Meerkat) was announced by Mark Shuttleworth on 2 April 2010, along with the release's goals of improving the netbook experience and a server focus on hybrid cloud computing. Ubuntu 10.10 was released on 10 October 2010 (10.10.10) at around 10:10 UTC.
This is a departure from the traditional schedule of releasing at the end of October to get "the perfect 10", and a playful reference to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, since, in binary, 101010 is equal to the number 42, the "Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe and Everything" within the series. It is Canonical's 13th release of Ubuntu. New features included the new Unity interface for the Netbook Edition, a new default photo manager, Shotwell, replacing F-Spot, the ability to purchase applications in the Software Center, and an official Ubuntu font used by default.
Maverick Meerkat 10.10 will be supported until April 2012.
Ubuntu 11.04 (Natty Narwhal)
Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal was released on 28 April 2011. It is Canonical's 14th release of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu 11.04 used the Unity user interface instead of GNOME Shell as default. The move to Unity was controversial as some GNOME developers feared it would fracture the community and marginalize GNOME Shell.
The GNOME desktop environment is still available in Ubuntu 11.04 under the title Ubuntu Classic as a fallback to Unity.
Ubuntu 11.04 employed Banshee as the default music player, replacing Rhythmbox. Other new applications included Mozilla Firefox 4 and LibreOffice, which replaced OpenOffice.org. The OpenStack cloud computing platform was added in this release.
Starting with Ubuntu 11.04, the Ubuntu Netbook Edition was merged into the desktop edition.
Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot)
The naming of Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) was announced on 7 March 2011 by Mark Shuttleworth. He explained that Oneiric means "dreamy".
Ubuntu 11.10 was released on schedule on 13 October 2011 and is Canonical's 15th release of Ubuntu.
In April 2011 Shuttleworth announced that Ubuntu 11.10 would not include the classic GNOME desktop as a fall back to Unity, unlike Ubuntu 11.04 Natty Narwhal. Instead, 11.10 will include a 2D version of Unity as a fallback for computers that lack the hardware resources for the Compiz-based 3D version. However, the classic GNOME desktop remains available as a fallback in Ubuntu 11.10 through a package in the Ubuntu repositories.
Shuttleworth also confirmed that Unity in Ubuntu 11.10 will run as a shell for GNOME 3 on top of GNOME 3 libraries, unlike in Ubuntu 11.04 where it ran as a shell for GNOME 2. Moreover, users will also be able to install the entire GNOME 3 stack along with GNOME Shell directly from the Ubuntu repositories, to be presented with a "GNOME 3 desktop" choice at login.
During the development cycle, there also have been many changes to Unity, including the placement of the Ubuntu button on the Launcher instead of on the Panel, the autohiding of the window controls (and the global menu) of maximized windows, the introduction of more transparency into the Dash (and the Panel if the Dash is opened), and the introduction of window controls for the Dash.
In May 2011 it was announced that PiTiVi would be no longer part of the Ubuntu ISO, starting with Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot. The reasons given for removing it included poor user reception, lack of fit with the default user-case for Ubuntu, lack of polish and the application's lack of development maturity. PiTiVi will not be replaced on the ISO with another video editor.
Other changes include removing Computer Janitor, as it caused broken systems for users, and the removal of the Synaptic package manager, which can optionally be installed via the Ubuntu Software Center. Déjà Dup has been added as Ubuntu's backup program.
Mozilla Thunderbird has replaced the Evolution email client. All removed applications will remain available to users for installation from the Ubuntu Software Center and Repositories.
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin)
Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) is the latest release after 11.10 and will be a Long Term Support (LTS) release.
Unlike previous LTS releases that have been supported for three years for the desktop version and five years for the server version, this release will be supported for five years on both.
Following the Ubuntu Developer Summit in early November 2011 Canonical announced that the default download for 12.04 will be 64-bit, with 32-bit still available as a user choice. Also the ISO size will increase to 750 MB, meaning that it will no longer fit on a CD, but will require a DVD or USB drive to install.
Other planned changes for this release include a much faster start up time for the Ubuntu Software Center and refinements to Unity. This release will replace the Banshee media player with Rhythmbox and drop the Tomboy note-taking application and the supporting Mono framework as well.
Linuxfx Computing are currently running this release with no issues. It is faster than previous releases and seems very solid and stable even at the pre-release stage.
Unity can be manipulated to your own specifications, size, transparency etc. Of course there is always Gnome Shell or Fallback Gnome if preferred.
A preview can be seen Here
