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I’m totally psyched for Gutsy!

Friday, September 14th, 2007

Ubuntu 7.10 “Gutsy Gibbon” is due out next month and I’ve been reading the release notes for the alpha versions (called “Tribes” for this release) of Xubuntu, which is the flavor I use. I haven’t tested Gutsy for myself yet, but some of this stuff looks really, really cool!

Tribe 1

NTFS write support and improved Xubuntu documentation planned.
Latest KVM with improved features.
New “dynticks” feature reduces heat produced and power used by computer. Better wireless support for laptops. Better flash handling.
Updated kernel with more device drivers.
New Firefox and Thunderbird. Pidgin replaces Gaim.

Tribe 2

Gnash, an open source version of Flash 7, introduced.
xubuntu-restricted-extras meta-package added: installs MP3 support, Java 6, Adobe Flash, DVD playback, etc.
Nspluginwrapper allows users to install Netscape-compatible browser plugins that were built for other architectures (i.e., allows 64-bit users to install Flash, which has no 64-bit version).
Murrina theme engine included.
Iceape, the unbranded version of Mozilla Seamonkey, included.
Xfce 4.4.2 anticipated.

Tribe 3

Oggconvert package available: Converts non-free media into free formats (e.g., MP3 to Ogg Vorbis).
“Xfce goodies” package… included by default? updated? both? I’m not sure what the change is.
Xfce Volume Status Icon added: Removable media can now be ejected by systray icon.
Xfce CD Drive Plugin added: CD drives can now be opened/closed by panel button. (Hee hee, between this and the volume status icon, I’ll be able to turn desktop icons completely off!)
New kernel: 2.6.22.
Ebox added: Server configuration tool.

Tribe 4

AppArmor security framework installed by default.
Automatic printer detection added! Yay!
New artwork.
“Places” added to default panel setup, à la Gnome.

Tribe 5

Virtual “PDF printer” added: can now create PDFs from applications that normally would not be able to.
gnome-cups-manager replaced by system-config-printer.
“Ubufox” now has apt-enabled plugin finder and extension manager. Hooray!
More artwork updates.

Ooh, ooh, can’t you feel the excitement?