A few minutes ago, the Ubuntu development team unleashed the fifth alpha version of the upcoming Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) operating system, due for release in late October this year. As usual, we've downloaded a copy of it in order to keep you up-to-date with the latest changes in the Ubuntu 9.10 development.

What's new in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5? Well... first of all we should let you know that the new Ubuntu installer slideshow, that we've presented a couple of weeks ago, has become a reality. Below are a few screenshots of it...




As you can see from the title, the popular OpenOffice.org office suite 3.1.1 is present and it starts faster than before. The desktop environment in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 is now powered by GNOME 2.28 Beta 2 (2.27.91) and the kernel packages are now at version 2.6.31-9.29, based on Linux kernel 2.6.31 RC8. The X-based boot screen that appears right after the old boot splash and before the desktop environment is also present (see the screenshot below).

The new X-based boot splash screen in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

Other than that, there is a new panel applet now that replaces both the Log Out/Shutdown options from the System menu and the User Switcher applet. It is called indicator-applet-session and it's developed by Canonical.

The new Indicator Applet Session in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

The network applet has a new icon (see the screenshots below), the Disk Utility tool has been moved to System -> Administration menu, the Computer Janitor window has been redesigned and there is a new tool called iBus. And, of course, there are lots and lots of bug fixes!

The redesigned window of Computer Janitor in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

The new iBus tool in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

What's new in Kubuntu and Xubuntu 9.10 Alpha 4? Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 contains the newly released KDE 4.3.1 desktop environment and the following applications and features:

· Konqueror Web Browser (replaces Arora);
· Amarok 2.1.1;
· KPackageKit 0.4.2;
· K3b 1.66.0 (alpha 2);
· QtCurve 0.67.5;
· kcm-gtk 0.5.2;
· KDE microblogging Plasma widget;
· Message Indicator.

Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 with KDE 4.3.1

On the other hand, Xubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 is built on top of the lightweight XFCE 4.6.1 desktop environment and includes a few updated applications and many bugfixes.

Xubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5

On October 29th, Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) will become the eleventh release of the Ubuntu operating system. However, until then, we have another version that should catch our attention and invade our computers, Ubuntu 9.04 (Jaunty Jackalope). See you again in two weeks (September 17th), for the last Alpha release of the upcoming Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala).

The Karmic Koala Release Schedule:

May 14th, 2009 - Alpha 1 release
June 11th, 2009 - Alpha 2 release
July 23rd, 2009 - Alpha 3 release
August 13th, 2009 - Alpha 4 release
September 3rd, 2009 - Alpha 5 release
September 17th, 2009 - Alpha 6 release
October 1st, 2009 - Beta release
October 22nd, 2009 - Release Candidate
October 29th, 2009 - Final release of Ubuntu 9.10

Download Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Ubuntu Server 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Kubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Kubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Xubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) right now from Softpedia.

Download Mythbuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 (Karmic Koala) 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.