Ubuntu 9.10 ‘Karmic Koala’ Final and Released
Today is a very special event for Linux fans: Canonical and Ubuntu developers, have released the final version of Ubuntu 9.10, named “Karmic Koala”. With the latest release of Ubuntu. Developers has taken its already user-friendly Linux distribution and made a concerted effort to gain ground with the business/enterprise community.
If you're a regurlar here you know we're big fans of Firefox, Ubuntu includes Mozilla Firefox 3.5 for faster and safer browsing. For a choice of other open-source web browsers visit the Software Centre and take your pick.
Ubuntu 9.10 is the best desktop Linux yet, it pays attention to real computer users doing real everyday work which is a rarity in the IT world. Best part is it’s free. Some of the new features are a more presentable and faster graphical boot sequence that’s just a little over 10 seconds. They also added a revamped audio framework that improves sound control across multiple applications, and a new Software Center that visually simplifies the Add/Remove Applications tool.
Email and chat through Empathy which integrates: Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, Jabber, AOL, QQ and many more. Evolution gives you email, an address book and a calendar and works well with colleagues and friends using MS Outlook.
The Software Center is the big one. Ubuntu has moved away from the old Add/Remove Software tool in favor of the Software Center. This tool is still as user-friendly as the old one, along with the new visual improvements they added a new feature, commercial software. I know it hard to believe but the developers did it. Ubuntu is now going to include commercial software in its software installation tool. Therefore, Ubuntu fans can now install commercial software and the usual smorgasbord offering of open source software from the Software Center. This is good news for the business community.
Instant access to thousands of free and open-source applications via the Software Center. Categories include: Education, Games, Sound and Video, Graphics, Programming and Office. Just choose the apps you want to use and the Software Center will add them to your computer. No CDs, no licenses, no hassle.
Ubuntu One, the Cloud backup and sharing system has also been added which installs CouchDB in the background to synchronise local data with a server on the network. They also replaced Pidgin with Empathy as the default instant messaging client which integrates: Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, Jabber, AOL, QQ and many others. Evolution gives you email, an address book and a calendar and works well with colleagues and friends using MS Outlook.
There are 400 free cool games you can install. There are some serious games here. Solitaire is not the only game in town. All you have to do is click the Software Centre to browse, select and install games.
By default, Koala uses the Ext4 file system, the GNOME 2.28 desktop environment and the GRUB 2 boot manager. Kernel version 2.6.31 offers kernel-based mode setting, which allows the use of recent Intel graphics drivers. DeviceKit and udev have replaced HAL as the system’s hardware interface. Some subsystems are being moved away from HAL, such as suspend/hibernate which in the past has been an issue.
You can create professional documents, spreadsheets and presentations with OpenOffice 3.0. It's compatible with all office applications including Microsoft Office. The big difference is that OpenOffice is totally free and promises never to introduce that ignoring Mr Clippy
The Ubuntu Server Edition is built on the solid foundation of Debian which is known for its robust server installations, and has a strong heritage for reliable performance and predictable evolution.
It’s available in desktop/Laptop, server edition, and netbook editions are available to download. For those that prefer the KDE desktop there is Kubuntu 9.10.
