14 DAY TRIAL // It would appear that Canonical has updated the release schedule of its recently released Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) operating system to inform users on the release date of the first point release.
The first point release for the Bionic Beaver series, which is a long-term supported Ubuntu release that will receive security and software updates for five years, until April 2023, will be Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS, expected to hit the streets this summer on July 26.
However, don't expect Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS to incorporate any major changes or new features because it's only a bugfix release shipping with updated components. Most probably, Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS will include all the updates that have been released through the main software repositories until July 26, 2018.
The Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS point release can also be dubbed as a refreshed installation medium for those who want to deploy the Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) operating system on new computers without having to download and install hundreds of updates after the installation.
Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS point release expected August 2 with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS features
On the other hand, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus) users would be pleased to learn that the fifth and last planned point release for their operating system series, Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS, could arrive this summer on August 2, 2018. However, at this moment, its release date it's not set in stone and may change over time.
The good news for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS users is that the Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS point release will include up-to-date kernel and graphics stacks borrowed from the Ubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) operating system, such as the Linux 4.15 kernel series and Mesa 18 open-source graphics stack.
After Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS users won't receive further point releases, though Canonical pledges to support this series with security and software updates until April 2021, so you'll get about three years of support if you don't plan on upgrading to the more advanced Ubuntu 18.04 LTS operating system.
Meanwhile Canonical is working on the next release of its Ubuntu Linux OS, Ubuntu 18.10 (Cosmic Cuttlefish), which is expected to land on October 18, 2018, but will only be supported for nine months, until summer 2019. Ubuntu 18.10 will have a wide range of new features including a new default theme and Android integration.