Ubuntu 10.04
Ubuntu 10.04 is an LTS (Long Term Support). This means that its technical support and security updates are provided for a period of at least 3 years for Desktop Edition and at least 5 years for Server Edition.
Go directly to the official Ubuntu page to download different versions available to download:
- Desktop CD that also serves as Live-CD
- NetBook Remix Edition
- Server Install CD
- DVD version
If you want to upgrade your system from Ubuntu version 9.10, open a terminal and run the following command after backing up your data:
update – manager-c-d
Installation and First Startup
At the time of the installation of Ubuntu 10.04, one will not notice big difference. Only slide shows that move during the process of copying files appear to have been changed.
Firstly, there is integration of Plymouth, which is used in Fedora.
Concretely, it ends with a single screen at startup and a much faster boot time. Here is evidence:
| Description | Ubuntu 9.04 | Ubuntu 9.10 | Ubuntu 10.04 | XP SP3 |
| The grub up to the login screen | 39.2 s | 38.9 s | 19.6 s | 1 min 04 s |
| The connection to the desktop screen | 12.9 s | 11.6 s | 5.7 s | 6 s |
| System shutdown | 6.1 s | 6.3 s | 4.1 s | 6 s |
I get a total of 25.3 s startup time. And after a few system optimizations, I was able to win even a few seconds more. Doubt on newer configurations can get much better results.
The Artwork
For this new version, Canonical wished to create a new Visual identity. A new logo and new themes have been made (ambiance, darker one and radiance, a little more clear).
Personally, I do not like too much. The first is a little too dark and I wearied myself of the second at the end of a few days. Moreover, for I do not know which reason, the buttons of the windows are now on the left (there nevertheless exists an easy way to give them on the right).
News
Ubuntu Software Center
Ubuntu Software Center, software application, management has undergone some changes in its design. The search is always as fast. A new category of software has appeared. It is called “Featured Applications” and consists of all the recommended but non-integrated applications in the installation version.
UbuntuOne Music Store
Canonical always seems to find a profitable business model. With this in mind we can now buy music online, directly from the media player Rhythmbox. This offer of course complements the Ubuntu One online storage service.
Improvement of the Hibernation Mode
HAL component has been replaced by DeviceKit, including improvement in Ubuntu loading time and speed up entry and exit from hibernation.
The Notification Area
The notification area has increased its number of features and takes a social turn. For example, you can update your status on social networks and IM through the personal menu. With regard to the Messaging menu, it now has icons and more descriptions, making it much easier to use.
By Default Installed Applications
The list of default installed applications has changed somewhat. Fspot replaces Gimp, Simple Scan takes the place of Xsane. Micro-blogging side, is Gwibber which has been retained and Pitivi for what is the video editing.
These choices are of course questionable. But it is so simple to install software that we love through the Software Center, there is not really necessary to launch the debate.
Support iPhones and iPods Touch
Ubuntu 10.04 has the latest version of Gtkpod and its associated libraries. The iPod Touch and the iPhone support should therefore be improved. The Linuxiens can now upload their music playlists. For other features (to update the firmware, installing applications etc), it must always go through iTunes.
To install Gtkpod, you can use the following command in a terminal:
sudo apt – get install gtkpod
For my part, I tested with my iPhone and it has never been detected by the application.
Drivers for NVIDIA Graphics Card
The New video driver is now the default driver for NVIDIA graphics cards. It supports kernel mode setting (KMS) and provides better detection of screen resolution. Proprietary drivers are also available. There are three different versions: NVIDIA-current (195.36.15), NVIDIA-173 and NVIDIA-96. It is possible of all to install them at the same time, but only one among it can function at the same time.
Other Developments:
- Use the 2.6.32 Linux kernel
- OpenOffice.org passes to the 3.2 version
- Firefox 3.6
- GNOME 2.30
- KDE 4.4
Conclusion
There are not really many innovations with Ubuntu 10.04, contrary to the preceding version. Most focus on the support of social networks and a new Visual identity like Mac OS.
This is probably due to the fact whether it’s an LTS version whose purpose is to provide a more stable possible system. The developers thus limited the innovations and one remains a little on his hunger after a few days of use.
What format are music files to buy?
Hi, interesting article. I had remained at the 9.04 and I had no time to put me on it.
Short in any case, I will test this version with pleasure. Thanks for this article!
As regards the design, it is not so much appearance that offends me, but it made one copy of a competitor. Innovation takes a look. I think that Linux distributions must adopt their own styles, create new concepts, better than those that exist. It is also thanks to what people have wanted to change the system.
Hello, Very cool article.
I am linuxien for a little while now and I see the evolution of this distribution every 6 months. We are very far from a Mac OS X, but there are a lot of work on this release.