Introduction

The Ubuntu developers are moving very quickly to bring you the absolute latest and greatest software the Open Source Community has to offer. The Intrepid Ibex Alpha 2 is the second alpha release of Ubuntu 8.10, and with this new alpha release comes a whole host of excellent new features. The feature list for 8.10 has been slowly taking shape since Intrepid opened early last month. While much is yet to be decided for 8.10, here are some of the new things that have already arrived, as well as a good look at the approved specifications for Intrepid Ibex.

Note: This is still an alpha release. Do not install it on production machines. The final stable version will be released in October 2008.

In General

These features are showcased for your attention. Please test them and report any bugs you find. If you want to see what the developers have cooking for the next alpha release take a look through the intrepid blueprint page https://blueprints.launchpad.net/ubuntu/intrepid

Upgrading from Ubuntu 8.04

To upgrade from Ubuntu 8.04, run "update-manager -d" using the update-manager package from hardy.

Massive merge from Debian

As with the beginning of any development cycle, the Intrepid one has seen the merge floodgates open once again. This merge not only brings in lots of new version of various packages, but also a fair number of totally new applications.

Download Alpha 2

Get it while it's hot. ISOs and torrents are available at:

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/intrepid/alpha-2/ (Ubuntu) BR

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/releases/intrepid/alpha-2/ (Kubuntu) BR

• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/intrepid/alpha-2/ (Xubuntu) BR

Caveats

As is to be expected at this stage of the release process, there are several known bugs that users are likely to run into with Intrepid Alpha 2. We have documented them here for your convenience along with any known workarounds, so that you don't need to spend time reporting these bugs again:

• Alpha 2 does not include LiveCD images, only images with the Ubuntu alternate installer. Intrepid LiveCDs will be made available with Alpha 3.
• When using manual partitioning and configuring crypt+LVM, the partitioning will fail in certain configurations. As a workaround, you can use the "entire disk with encryption" install option.

• Desktop systems upgraded from Ubuntu 8.04 will have the xserver-xorg-driver-ati package installed by default, which will cause upgrade failures due to package conflicts. As a workaround you will need to remove xserver-xorg-driver-ati by hand to resolve this conflict. [https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/247681]

Reporting Bugs

It should come as no surprise that this alpha release of Intrepid Ibex contains other bugs. Your comments, bug reports, patches and suggestions will help fix bugs and improve future releases. Please report bugs through [https://bugs.launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+bugs the Ubuntu bugtracker]

If you want to help out with bugs, the [http://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad Bug Squad] is always looking for help.

Participate in Ubuntu

If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, take a look at the list of ways you can participate at

• http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/

More Information

You can find out more about Ubuntu on our [http://www.ubuntu.com website] and [http://wiki.ubuntu.com wiki].

To sign up for future Ubuntu development announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu's development announcement list at:

• http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-devel-announce

Credits

The Alpha 2 technical overview is brought to you by:

• Michael Vogt
• Michael Bienia
• Steve Langasek