Ubuntu 11.10 Beta Released
Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 4:02 pm
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/94 ... 7-and-more
The new LightDM login screen looks quite sharp. Another note is that I cannot find Synaptic at all. Just the Ubuntu Software Center, which actually looks nice. Everything also works directly "out of the box" including MKV x264 video and Flash. I still wish they would drop Firefox and use Chromium instead. I don't see any major bugs with Unity at all. Works flawlessly on an IBM ThinkPad X60s from my work.The first beta version of Ubuntu 11.10 Oneiric Ocelot has landed right on time, and if everything goes to plan a second beta build will be released on September 22, and the final build will emerge on October 13. If you’re still a believer in version numbers, the most significant change is the inclusion of Linux kernel 3.0.3.
If you’re more interested in the actual changes, however, here’s a nice long list for your delectation: Firefox 7 beta is now the default browser, and Thunderbird 7 beta, having unseated Evolution, is the default email client (both will go stable on September 27, in time for the Ocelot’s final build); GNOME has been updated to the unstable version 3.1.5; Compiz and Canonical’s Unity 2D and 3D skins have been updated; “Places” has been renamed “Lenses,” to represent its new, broader scope (they can now use sources such as social networks or music collections); and the Software Centre has been updated a bit, too, gaining a new “Top Rated” view.
A bunch of new features have been added with Beta 1, as well: there’s a new Alt+Tab interface; Multiarch support has been added (you should be able to run 32-bit x86 programs on 64-bit AMD64 Ubuntu); Deja Dup is now the default backup tool — and finally, Ubuntu 11.10 has a beautiful, minimal login screen thanks to LightDM. For a complete list of changes and additions, and known issues, check the Oneiric Ocelot technical overview.
Finally, on a more logistical note, 11.10 Beta 1 also sees the introduction of smaller, sweeter Ubuntu Desktop DVD images that have been trimmed down from 4GB to a positively-svelte 1.5GB.
