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http://lifehacker.com/5058730/fi ... -intrepid-ibex-beta
The next version of Ubuntu's free Linux operating system, dubbed "Intrepid Ibex," is due out Oct. 30, but the beta release is up for grabs.Although the desktop hasn't been reshaped, the features tweaked just alittle bit, and most of the work focused on compatibility and usability(not that those are bad things, by any means), there arestill some neat new tools and tweaks that are worth checking out. Readon for our picture-filled take on the new Ubuntu. Installation and boot-upThe basics of putting a live CD in your drive, trying the desktop or installing the system are basically the same as with Hardy Heron,with a few welcome differences. The most confusing/imposing part of theprocess, the partition editor, shows you a graphical view of whatyou're doing, thereby explaining what each option does a lot better.
Ibexalso supports importing browser data, backgrounds, music and picturesfrom Windows XP and, new to this version, Vista. Once you've installedthe system and booted up, you might notice a new setting in themulti-boot menu: "Last successful boot." That's an indication thatUbuntu keeps track of which Linux kernels actually work for yoursystem, and lets it delete old ones and prevent them from cluttering upthe boot menu.
Desktop changesThere's a chance, however small, that Ubuntu 8.10 might just get thegraphical overhaul that was promised for 8.04. Ibex uses a slightlyupdated version of the brown/orange-centered "Human" theme—status barsglow, a few icons were changed, and buttons have a warm glow. Otherthan that, the desktop is a pretty familiar affair:
What you will notice around your desktop are theimprovements to Nautilus, the baked-in file browser and desktopmanager. Tabbed browsing is the biggie, but there's also easy-ejecticons placed in the sidebar for hot-plugged drives and partitions, andthe built-in encrypted private directory.
A lot of tweaks have been made to Ubuntu's network manager, whichwas more than a little finicky with certain wireless cards andnon-standard set-ups. It now handles 3G and cellular connectionsbetter, doesn't freak out at having multiple connections (e.g. wirelessand wired), and contains many other fixes. I particularly like the "Auto Linksys" mode, which is great for traveling or setting up at less-tech-inclined spots. (Edit: Turns out 8.10's "Auto" mode can actually be set to any router SSID it finds; "Auto HomeRouter," for example.)
Externalmonitors and graphics in general have gotten a good bit of attention,and, at least in the case of my ThinkPad/LCD combo, I got akind-of-working setup right from boot-up. In general, Ubuntu has workedat killing off the need to ever have to manually hack around in thearchaic xorg.conf file—the entirety of my Ibex file is thumbnailed at right (Edit:Taken from the VirtualBox install I did for boot-up screenshots, butthe copy on my hard-installed Ibex is nearly identical). Havingsaid that, I still had to manually tweak the resolution on my LCDmonitor, and a logout/reboot messed my taskbars some, but I couldeasily drag and drop windows between screens. Unfortunately, that'sonly just below par for a modern OS, so let's hope a great settingstool gets written or revamped soon.
Finally, the administration window for enabling proprietarydevices—NVidia graphics cards, wireless chips without open-sourcedrivers and the like—has gotten a bit more explanatory as to what it'sdoing, and offers a choice of drivers for those experiencing bugs. Notsure if I enjoy seeing this much imposing text to just get 3D desktopeffects working.
Other good thingsHere's a few of Ubuntu 8.10's other highlights:
* "Guest" log-in: If a friend/significantother/shoulder-peeker wants to check their Facebook page, and you'reafraid of what curious hands can do to your system, you can log out,boot into "Guest," and the user can't change any settings oralter/access files. (So, why wasn't this here before?)
* Better SAMBA: With support for IPv6, clustered server support, and other wonky improvements.
* Persistent permissions: If you get asked for yourpassword by, say, Synaptic file manager, you can have your systemremember that you're the head honcho by checking a box. That way, itdoesn't ask again when you need to sudo something or make another change.
* Built-in BBC player: This is really cool but, unfortunately, busted in my beta build. Totem, the built-in media player that can already access YouTube videos natively, will get access to the BBC's free content.
Your take
If you've been using the 8.10 alphas all along, or were hoping formore, we'd like to hear your take. Tell us what's good and still notquite gravy in Intrepid Ibex in the comments. |
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