14 DAY TRIAL // After the new themes introduced yesterday, Canonical decided to update the boot splash screen (USplash) theme with a very nice one. As you can see in the image below, the logo is the same as it was in Ubuntu 8.10, but it's smaller and the loading bar was replaced with a thinner and nicer one (see the video below for more details). Softpedia is once again the first website to offer you a preview of the new artwork, which will probably be present in the final release of Ubuntu 9.04.
How it looks? Well, we've tested it on a 17" and 19" LCD, and it looks more professional than the previous one, and the new loading bar has a gradient effect. Kubuntu's USplash was also updated with the new theme! No word from Xubuntu, yet.
Later edit: Check out the new wallpapers in Ubuntu 9.04 right here!
For your viewing pleasure, we've also recorded a video of the new boot splash screen in action. Enjoy!
Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope) will be the last release of the Ubuntu operating system that will use the old USplash software. Starting with Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala), Canonical will replace it with Red Hat's Plymouth.
Among other new features in Ubuntu 9.04 is the famous GNOME 2.26 desktop environment, which brings lots and lots of improvements in many areas, such as Evolution, GNOME Control Center, GNOME Media, GNOME Power Manager, etc. Ubuntu 9.04's kernel will be based on the latest version of Linux kernel 2.6.28, which will offer support for many new devices (wireless, webcams, etc). Moreover, applications such as OpenOffice.org 3.0.1, The GIMP 2.6.6, Mozilla Firefox 3.0.7, Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0.0.21, Transmission 1.51 or Pidgin 2.5.5 will also be present in the final version of Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope), due for release on April 23rd.
Don't forget to visit our website next Friday for the Ubuntu 9.04 Beta Screenshot Tour, where we will unveil more of Jaunty's new features!