Ubuntu recently announced the beta release of its latest operating system, Ubuntu 23.04 “Lunar Lobster”. The development of this release was marked by the freezing of the package base, following which the developers engaged in final testing and error correction. The official release is scheduled for April 27, and is considered an intermediate release with updates valid for the next nine months.
Ready-made test images have already been created for various Ubuntu editions, such as Ubuntu, Ubuntu Server, Lubuntu, Kubuntu, Ubuntu Mate, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu Studio, Xubuntu, UbuntuKylin, Ubuntu Unity, Edubuntu and Ubuntu Cinnamon.
In terms of updates and changes, the latest version of Ubuntu offers several new features. One significant announcement is the inclusion of Ubuntu Cinnamon as an official Ubuntu edition, offering users the Cinnamon desktop environment built on the classic GNOME 2 design. Edubuntu, an official Ubuntu assembly designed for education, also returns with a range of educational programs tailored towards different age groups.
Ubuntu 23.04 also features an updated desktop that utilizes GTK 4 and Libadwaita libraries. The file selection dialogue comes with a new mode that displays contents in the form of a mesh of icons, while changes have been made to the configurator. Additionally, the Bluetooth control section has been added to the quick change menu.
The Ubuntu Dock panel now provides a mark of the tags with a counter of unenvisable notifications generated by the application on the application icons. Another noteworthy addition is the new minimalist assembly of Netboot, which can be used for recording on CD/USB or dynamic download via UEFI HTTP. The assembly provides a text menu for selecting the Ubuntu editorial office, with the installation image being loaded into RAM upon selection.
The beta issue of Ubuntu 23.04 can be accessed through the official Ubuntu website. The release notes detailing all the changes and new features are also available on the website.