The first Alpha release of the upcoming Ubuntu 7.10 (codename Gutsy Gibbon) has just been made public 10 minutes ago. Highlights of this release include:

• GNOME 2.19.2;
• Linux kernel 2.6.22-6.13 (2.6.22-rc3-based);
• The kernel now features dynticks, which in laptops should mean more battery life and burnfree laps, and in desktops, media center PCs etc. a quieter, cooler environment;
• The KVM update brings many new features: faster performance due to initial paravirtualization support, live migration even between an AMD or Intel CPU, host suspend/resume support, CPU hotplug support and much more;


• Many device drivers have been added to the kernel allowing it to support a plethora of devices and accessories;
• Better failure modes and bug reporting;
• Massive merge from Debian;
• Improved automatic codec search;
• Latest X.org and new configuration tool;
• Cleaner bootup and login process.

"Ubuntu developers are moving very quickly to bring you the absolute latest and greatest software the Open Source Community has to offer. The Gutsy Gibbon Tribe 1 is the first alpha release of Ubuntu 7.10, and with this new alpha release comes a whole host of excellent new features. The feature list for 7.10 has been slowly growing more exact since Gutsy opened late last month. While looking forward nothing is completely certain, here are some of the new things that have already arrived, such as GNOME 2.19, a new 2.6.22-rc kernel, as well as a good look at the approved specifications for Gutsy."

Mark Shuttleworth promises us that Gutsy Gibbon will be even much simpler to install than its predecessors, faster than ever before and (maybe) composite will finally be setup as default. However, this version will not be an LTS (Long Term Support) release.

Ubuntu 7.10 release schedule:

• April 26th - Toolchain Uploaded
• May 10th - Development Summit
• May 31st - Specifications must be finalized
• June 7th - Tribe CD 1 (first alpha release)
• June 28st - Tribe CD 2 (second alpha release)
• July 26th - Tribe CD 3 (third alpha release)
• August 9th - Tribe CD 4 (fourth alpha release)
• August 23rd - Tribe CD 5 (fifth alpha release)
• September 6th - Tribe CD 6 (sixth alpha release)
• September 27th - Beta Release
• October 11th - Release Candidate
• October 18th - Final Release

You can download and test this first Alpha version of Ubuntu 7.10 right now from Softpedia.

You can download and test this first Alpha version of Kubuntu 7.10 right now from Softpedia.

You can download and test this first Alpha version of Xubuntu 7.10 right now from Softpedia.

You can download and test this first Alpha version of Edubuntu 7.10 right now from Softpedia.

Be aware that this is still an alpha release and it is not recommended to install it on production machines. The final stable version or Ubuntu 7.10 will be released in October 2007. Please report bugs through Malone.

At this point the system looks pretty much the same as the Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) release. Enjoy the first screenshots of this Alpha release: