Introduction
The Kubuntu developers have been hard at work, bringing you the latest and greatest software the open source community has to offer. This is the Kubuntu 8.10 Release Candidate, which brings a host of excellent new features, and a whole new KDE4 desktop.
This Intrepid release lives up to its name by including many changes, but there are some features that are not yet available in KDE4. If you would rather stay with what you know, Kubuntu 8.04 is still fully supported, see Kubuntu/KDE3-KDE4Migration and Is KDE 4.1 for you? for more information on deciding. You can try it first with the Kubuntu Intrepid Live CD and see.
NOTE: This is a Release Candidate. Do not install it on production machines. The final stable version is scheduled to be released on October 30, 2008.
Upgrading from 8.04
To upgrade from Kubuntu 8.04, press Alt+F2 and type in kdesudo "adept_manager --dist-upgrade-devel" (including quotes) into the command box. Adept should open up and offer a Version Upgrade button. Click Version Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions.
See the full upgrade instructions.
Download the CD
Europe
http://nl.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/kubuntu/intrepid/ (Netherlands)
http://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/ubuntu.iso/kubuntu/intrepid/ (Germany)
http://ftp.cc.uoc.gr/mirrors/linux/ubuntu/releases/kubuntu/intrepid/ (Greece)
North America
http://ubuntu.cs.utah.edu/releases/kubuntu/intrepid/ (United States)
http://ubuntu-releases.cs.umn.edu/kubuntu/intrepid/ (United States)
http://ftp.ucsb.edu/pub/mirrors/linux/ubuntu/kubuntu/intrepid/ (United States)
http://mirror.cs.umn.edu/ubuntu-releases/kubuntu/intrepid/ (United States)
New Features since Kubuntu 8.04
KDE 4!
At last, fully supported, the reworked desktop, KDE 4.
Featuring Plasma, the desktop with slick widgets
Desktop effects by default via KWin compositing
Dedicated file manager
Adept 3.0
A new desktop needs a new package manager, Adept 3 fulfills that need.
Kubuntu Integration
All the essential Kubuntu tools have been given greater integration with KDE4 with ports to to PyKDE4:
- GDebiKDE, the Kubuntu .deb installation frontend.
- Jockey-KDE, the Kubuntu proprietary driver manager frontend
- Language Selector, the Kubuntu language selection and setup tool
- Software-properties-kde, the apt sources.list editor for Adept
- Printer Applet, shows what is currently printing
- system-config-printer-kde, the Kubuntu/KDE printer setup tool
- laptop volume key integration
- Guidance Power Manager
- Apport, crash manager now integrated by default
Known Issues
There are several known bugs that users may run into with Kubuntu 8.10 RC. We have documented them here for your convenience along with any known workarounds.
KNetworkManager does not recognize static IP connections at this time. This issue only occurs for some, and not all. https://launchpad.net/bugs/280762
KDE Language Packs from Launchpad are currently incomplete. Notably German does not work. Launchpad developers are working to ensure complete language packs for the final. https://launchpad.net/bugs/259180
External monitors on a laptop blink on and off. This issue only occurs for some, and not all. This blog post describes a workaround http://blog.nixternal.com/2008.10.22/kubuntu-intrepid-dual-monitor-blinking/ https://launchpad.net/bugs/278471
Bluetooth is currently broken for Kubuntu Intrepid due to a last minute upgrade of the bluez stack. We hope to have a fix for this but only as an update after release, 2008. https://launchpad.net/bugs/280997
OEM Installer currently breaks on the final stage. A fix will be in the final CD. https://launchpad.net/bugs/218144
Install only mode and Wubi final stage install is broken on system where kwin runs with compositing, a fix will be in the final CD, https://launchpad.net/bugs/285626
Can not log in after upgrade from 8.04 KDE 4 Remix, ensure you select "KDE" from the Session menu before log in, a fix will be in the final CD http://launchpad.net/bugs/287488
Feedback
Let us know what you think on the feedback page.
Participate in Kubuntu
If you would like to help shape Kubuntu, take a look at the list of ways you can participate at https://wiki.kubuntu.org/Kubuntu.
More Information
You can find out more about Kubuntu on our website and wiki.