Ubuntu 12.04 Open Source OS LTS Offers More Features, Polish
We’ve now officially entered the season that comes only, er, twice a year: the countdown to the next iteration of Ubuntu. With beta 1 of Ubuntu 12.04 now available, it’s time to take a look at what’s new — and there’s a lot of it — in the latest and greatest version of what is (probably) the world’s most popular open source operating system.
Ubuntu 12.04, or “Precise Pangolin,” as geeks like to call it, is slated to officially debut in stable form April 26, 2012. And while Ubuntu’s biannual development schedule means that new versions of the operating system are pushed out with relative frequency, the upcoming version is particularly notable as a “longterm support” (LTS) release, which means Canonical will provide updates for Precise on both desktops and servers through April 2017 — substantially longer than it does for other releases. The last LTS was Ubuntu 10.04, which appeared two years ago.
Previewing Pangolin
In theory, Ubuntu 12.04’s LTS status means it’s more conservative from a development standpoint, since developers typically focus on fine-tuning and polishing LTS releases instead of adding new features and software. In fact, however, Precise packs a surprising number of changes, including:
- The Head-Up Display (HUD) interface, Canonical’s endeavor to redefine certain aspects of the decades-old paradigm in which users interact with their computers mainly via window menus. The idea behind the HUD is to allow users to invoke actions by typing in (and, in future Ubuntu releases, by speaking as well) human-recognizable descriptions of what they want to do.
- Improvements to Unity, the once seemingly ill-fated desktop interface that Ubuntu developers pressed upon users beginning in 2011. Now in version 5.4.0, Unity has done a lot of maturing since last April and will be more configurable and user-friendly in Ubuntu 12.04. (The dock now does a better job of auto-hiding itself, for example.) There are also some cool new features built into Unity, including a video lens for locating multimedia content on both the local computer and via Internet-based services. Maybe we’ll see Canonical try to develop this as a revenue stream down the road.
- An updated software stack, including a return to Rhythmbox as the default music player and more recent releases of the Transmission torrent client (now in version 2.5, and finally comparable to my old favorite, Deluge), the LibreOffice productivity suite (upgraded to version to 3.5) and an interface update for the Ubuntu One client. Additionally, the Linux kernel has been bumped up to version 3.2.
- Improvements to energy efficiency on desktops, the fruit of an ongoing effort to make Ubuntu less power-hungry.
- Last but not least, a new login sound, chosen in part by Ubuntu users.
All in all, this list of changes, which I’ve restricted to only the larger-ticket items, represents quite a bit of new features in Ubuntu 12.04. For an LTS release, Precise is really pushing the envelope.
For my money, though, that’s a good thing, since the updates bring some long-needed enhancements to the Ubuntu desktop experience — particularly when it comes to Unity. Better to incorporate these into the LTS than to wait for the next-next release of Ubuntu in October 2012.
One small correction: the dock doesn’t hide at all anymore by default. It used to “doge,” meaning it was visible until you put something on top of it, but it no longer does that at all. You still have the choice for traditional autohide, however.
Daeng Bo: thanks for the clarification.
Autohide is absolutely stupid, unintuitive, uncomfortable and useless. Removing the dodge is the one reason I consider to switch to Gnome Shell. If you need to trigger something (when no windows are maximized) with large, annoying and time-consuming gestures (it’ll be fun on laptop touchpads) to get the most basic overview of what you’re currently doing (dynamic progress bars, open instances of programs, launching a program or a quicklist, …), then Unity becomes as dumb as Gnome Shell. At least in GS, you can install extensions to make up for it, not in Unity, you’re just stuck with autohide and its semi-functional ergonomics and productivity. It’s like suddenly riding a unicycle, that’s frustrating if you want to get the same job done.
Never hide is not flawed per se but it definitely takes too much space with maximized windows. And it creates a terrible inconsistency in the theme, making it ugly.
Using Unity without dodge is thus not an option for the efficiency of my workflow. So, this’ll be either sticking with 11.10 or switching to GS (and then I can even consider another distro with better GS integration, and yet another 5 years old Ubuntu user potentially lost…)
Mez,
Autohide is not the default. The default is not to hide at all, so it won’t be confusing for anyone. If you hate autohide, don’t enable it. Dodge was the one that confused 90% of people the first time they used it, which is unacceptable. I think autohide is an acceptable option for the vast majority of people who want more screen. You can also just use super-# instead of the trackpad, which is what I do.
That said, I like GNOME 3, too, and would prefer it if it had better keyboard shortcuts. The window switching via mouse (trackpad!) is much better. Extensions solve most of the remaining glaring issues except shortcuts.
Daeng Bo,
I know Never hide will be the new default, but it wastes ways too much space and makes Radiance/Ambiance themes completely inconsistent, which will also be confusing for new users, and can repel them. Hence, it’s not an option either (for my workflow).
I don’t think dodge confused new users. You’re influenced by the pseudo-scientific test made by Canonical on very few newcomers. This test has no actual value.
Besides, a simple visual message/tip on first use would have solved this non issue in like 5 seconds.
Anyway, I don’t care which one is the default, I just want the option available along with never hide, and this would be a good move since autohide is useless for most people.
Mez,
I have been using Ubuntu 11.10/LDXE for about 6 months now. I use LDXE because I absolutely found Unity and the dodge aspect annoying.
Just because the Never-Hide is inconsistent in your personal view (and maybe others, I’m not one to say), it doesn’t mean it was felt to be that way by everyone.
There are several sites out that will assist/tutorial you through personalizing if you don’t know how.
BTW – The main reason why I switched from Windows is because it had failed me for the last time. It decided to error/crash my MBR. If there was more bridging/ability to use Windows-based programs (.NET framework anyone?) other than running a VM that requires you to install/have an ISO for Windows ANYWAY, I would NEVER have Windows on my computers.
PsiJet: As an Ubuntu adopter, do you expect to update every six months with each new Ubuntu release? The VAR Guy has one PC running Ubuntu… but it’s version 7.04. Never did get around to upgrading since then. Wondering what percentage of Ubuntu users actually embrace the upgrade every six months.
-TVG