Third Ubuntu 11.10 alpha arrives

As expected, Canonical has released the third and final alpha version of Ubuntu 11.10, code-named "Oneiric Ocelot". According to the Oneiric Release Schedule, the third alpha will be followed by two betas in September, with the final release arriving on 13 October. Alpha 3 is also the first release with images for Lubuntu, the LXDE-desktop-based official version of Ubuntu, and for Ubuntu Core for ARM, the minimal rootfs version for embedded or specialist builds of Ubuntu.

Aimed at developers, testers and early adopters, Ubuntu 11.10 Alpha 3 includes the 3.0.0-7.9 Ubuntu kernel which is based on the latest stable Linux 3.0 release. It has a new experimental version of Compiz and Unity; Unity is now based on GTK3. GNOME has been updated to the latest unstable release of GNOME 3.2, version 3.1.4. Launcher and panel performance has been improved, and the ALT+TAB switcher has been revamped: the new version is currently considered to be experimental and is bound to CTRL+TAB during testing.

A new version of the Gwibber microblogging client offers an updated look and better performance, and the Thunderbird email client is now integrated with the launcher. The Ubuntu Software Center includes a new "top rated" view for the main categories and subcategory pages, and users can edit or delete their own reviews.

More information about the development snapshot can be found on the Technical Overview page. A list of features and changes planned for version 11.10 of Ubuntu is available on the Blueprints for Oneiric page. Ubuntu 11.10 Alpha 3 is available to download from the project's site. Users currently running Ubuntu 11.04 on a desktop system can install the alpha by pressing Alt+F2 and typing update-manager -d into the command box. Users testing the release are encouraged to provide feedback and report any bugs that they find.

The latest stable release is Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal", while the current Long Term Support (LTS) version is Ubuntu 10.04.3 LTS "Lucid Lynx". Ubuntu is sponsored by UK-based Canonical Ltd.

See also:

• Oneiric Ocelot Alpha 3 Released, Ubuntu mailing list announcement.
• Initial planning for Ubuntu 12.04, a report from The H.

(crve)