14 DAY TRIAL // Canonical has just released the stable version of Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, also known as Focal Fossa, and users can download it for free on their devices to benefit from a massive list of improvements.
First and foremost, it’s important to know that Ubuntu 20.04 ships with Linux kernel 5.4, so it includes notable refinements, like better hardware support and enhanced security.
There are major changes in terms of UI as well, and the first things you’ll notice are the updated login and lock screens. But of course, a highlight in this regard is the highly-polished dark mode, which you can enable from the Appearance page of the Settings app where it’s listed alongside the standard and the light themes.
The new Ubuntu version includes a new set of default wallpapers and comes with GNOME 3.36, with a new color scheme and new icon set enabled by default on the system.
The Ubuntu installer has also been updated, so you’ll notice a series of changes as you advance through the setup screen, including an automatic disk scanner that helps find potential issues before the actual installation process starts.
Removed features
In addition to all the new cool features that are bundled with the updated Ubuntu release, version 20.04 also removes two key components.
The first of them is Python 2 support, which means that upgrading to Python 3 is the only way to go moving forward in Ubuntu. This is a decision that makes sense given Python 2 reached the end of life earlier this year, so supporting it doesn’t make any sense right now.
And then, it’s the 32-bit version that is being dropped once and for all. While Canonical no longer shipped 32-bit versions of Ubuntu, devices already running it could still update to newer releases. This all changes with the arrival of Ubuntu 20.04, as 32-bit is officially dropped.
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS will be supported until 2025 and the first point release is projected to go live in July this year.