14 DAY TRIAL // While everybody is enjoying Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex), the new release of the Ubuntu operating system, somewhere deep in the Ubuntu headquarters, the developers are working hard to bring us all the new stuff that happens in the Linux world today.
Two days late, but it's here – the first alpha version of Ubuntu 9.04 (codename Jaunty Jackalope), which is scheduled for release in late April next year, was uploaded a couple of hours ago on the official mirrors. As usual, we've downloaded a copy of it, and we intend to keep you up-to-date with the latest changes in the Ubuntu 9.04 development.
As the development team did not prepare a Live CD for this first alpha version of Ubuntu 9.04, we had to install the Alternate edition. As you can see from the below screenshots, there's nothing new on the surface... the same wallpaper, same GNOME version as in Ubuntu 8.10. Under the hood, some of the packages were updated, while others are the same builds as the ones in Intrepid. Oh, and no, there's still no OpenOffice.org 3.0 (it will be available in the next releases).
The system is fast as usual, with no major problems at the moment, except for the Ekiga software, which crashed the first time we started it. Anyway, the truth is that no one expects something exciting from the first, or even the second, alpha of a new Ubuntu release... Probably starting with the third or fourth alpha, which will be available next year, we will see some big changes, like that professional theme everyone is waiting for.
Ubuntu 9.04 or, should I say, "The Jackalope," will be the tenth release of the Ubuntu operating system. However, until then, we have another version that should attract our attention and invade our computers, Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex). Here's the release schedule for Jaunty Jackalope:
November 22th, 2008 - Alpha 1 release
December 18th, 2008 - Alpha 2 release
January 15th, 2009 - Alpha 3 release
February 5th, 2009 - Alpha 4 release
February 26th, 2009 - Alpha 5 release
March 12th, 2009 - Alpha 6 release
March 26th, 2009 - Beta release
April 16th, 2009 - Release Candidate
April 23rd, 2009 - Final release of Ubuntu 9.04
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.
Download Ubuntu 9.04 Alpha 1 (Jaunty Jackalope) right now from Softpedia.
Download Kubuntu 9.04 Alpha 1 (Jaunty Jackalope) right now from Softpedia.
Download Ubuntu Studio 9.04 Alpha 1 (Jaunty Jackalope) right now from Softpedia.
Download Xubuntu 9.04 Alpha 1 (Jaunty Jackalope) right now from Softpedia.
Remember that this is an alpha release and it should NOT be installed on production machines. It is intended to be used for testing purposes only. Please report bugs to the Ubuntu Bug Tracker.
