Jono Bacon, the Ubuntu community manager, announced today the name of the next release of Ubuntu Linux, version 8.04, codename Hardy Heron:

"I am delighted to have the pleasure of announcing the Hardy Heron (Ubuntu 8.04), the next version of Ubuntu that will succeed Gutsy Gibbon (Ubuntu 7.10, due for release in October 2007). Not only will the Ubuntu community continue to do what it does best, produce an easy-to-use, reliable, free software platform, but this release will proudly wear the badge of Long Term Support (LTS) and be supported with security updates for five years on the server and three years on the desktop..

Hardy Heron will be released in April 2008 and it will be an LTS (Long Term Support) release. The release schedule for Hardy Heron has not been made public until now. The development will start in 1 week after Gutsy Gibbon will be released on October 18th, 2007.

With this new version, the Ubuntu team in strong collaboration with the Ubuntu community, will try to create a much powerful and stable release of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, with more innovative and easy to use tools: "Each new release gives us all an opportunity to shine, irrespective of which bricks in the project we are laying, and this is at the heart of our belief - working together to produce an Operating System that will empower its users and shape the IT industry, putting free software at the corner-stone of our direction." - says Jono Bacon.

The Ubuntu team will meet in October 2007 for the Ubuntu Developer Summit, which will take place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. As usual, everyone is welcome to participate and get involved in this release: "Let's work together to shake things up, make things happen and make the most compelling Ubuntu release yet. Start your engines...".

You can read the full announcement here.

About Ubuntu:

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution for your desktop or server, with a fast and easy install, regular releases, a tight selection of excellent packages installed by default, every other package you can imagine available from the network and professional technical support from Canonical Ltd and hundreds of other companies around the world.

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