Kubuntu

Introduction

Jaunty Jackalope, the next version of Kubuntu, is due to be released on April 23, 2009.

9.04 continues the Kubuntu community's work on bringing you the best KDE4 experience around.

Built with KDE 4.2 and using the world-renowned Ubuntu as it's base, Jaunty Jackalope brings new and updated applications as well as new desktop concepts that make a rock solid, functional and beautiful computing experience.

NOTE: This is a (pre-) release. Pre-release versions of Jaunty are NOT encouraged for anyone needing a stable system or for anyone not comfortable running into occasional, even frequent, breakage. Pre-release versions of Jaunty ARE recommended for Kubuntu developers and those who want to help in testing, reporting, and fixing bugs. Please do not use this in a production environment with data or workflows that you cannot do without.

Installing 9.04 Release Candidates

To upgrade from 8.10 follow these upgrade instructions, you can also upgrade from 8.04.

The RC release can also be downloaded from the following mirrors (some mirrors may still be updating):

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America

Oceania/Australia

South America

Rest of the world

Please download using Bittorrent if possible.

What's New?

Jaunty Jackalope includes a brand new desktop containing many bug fixes, new configuration options, as well as many new and updated applications. Below are some highlights:

KDE 4.2.2

http://kde.org/announcements/4.2/screenshots/desktop_thumb.png

9.04 RC includes KDE 4.2.2, a bugfix and maintenance release of the latest stable version of their amazing desktop environment. On top of the many bug fixes included, this version also contains many improvements and new functionalities, including:

  • Significant refinements of Plasma and KWin, the KDE workspace
  • Many new and updated plasma widgets
  • New and improved desktop effects (enabled by default)
  • The return of the optional "Classic Desktop" motif
  • More desktop configuration options
  • and more...

For complete details 0n KDE 4.2.2, please consult http://kde.org/announcements/announce-4.2.2.php .

Qt 4.5

Jaunty Jackalope ships with latest Qt, version 4.5, which brings a faster desktop experience as well as new features. More information can be found here.

KPackageKit 0.4

kpackagekit-main.png

Kubuntu Jaunty now includes a new software manager: KPackageKit, the KDE front-end to packagekit.

Quassel 0.4.1

quassel40.png

Quassel is a new IRC client that is now the default for Kubuntu Jaunty. A new setup wizard makes setting it up a breeze.

Amarok 2.0.2

Jaunty Jackalope now comes with the recently-released Amarok 2.0.2, the second bugfix/enhancement release in the Amarok2 series including integration of online services such as Last.fm, LibriVox, Jamendo, Magnatune and more. Amarok gives you a new way to listen to your music, and we highly recommend that you check it out.

amarok202.png

New KDE 4 Network-Manager Plasma Widget

plasmoid-network-manager2.jpg

The new plasma-widget-network-manager replaces the old KNetworkManager applet.

NOTE : Upgraders may have to add the Network Management plasma widget to their taskbar or desktop manually

plasma-1.png

plasma-2.png

plasma-3.png

Click the Plama icon in the bottom right.

Click Add Widget.

Double click on Network Management.

KTorrent 3.2

ktorrent-widget.png

KTorrent has been updated to version 3.2. This version brings new features, a heaping of bugfixes and fixes for memory leaks. It also brings a new KTorrent plasmoid to grace your desktop. (Installable as the plasma-widget-ktorrent package, not installed by default)

Kdebluetooth 0.3

Kdebluetooth has been updated and is back in action, fixing the major bluetooth issues that plagued Kubuntu 8.10.

Digikam 0.10.0

digikam-0-10-0.jpg

Digikam has been updated to first KDE 4 release: 0.10.0. This version is not a pure port to KDE 4 technologies (Solid, Phonon...), but it includes major functionality improvements:

  • Support on multiple root album paths (including basic support for albums on network)
  • Geolocation with Marble widget
  • XMP support
  • New Camera UI with capture support
  • Major improvements of Search interface
  • Improved image editor with integrated tools

Together with new Digikam, there is also first KDE4 release of KIPI Plugins 0.2.0. It provides new import/export plugins for SmugMug, Facebook and 23 web photo services. Digikam is not installed by default, but can be installed later on at your choice.

Known Issues

  • Kmail sieve functionality is buggy and causes CPU hang. You shouldn't use it at the moment.

Feedback

We want to hear what you think about the beta release of Kubuntu 9.04, the Jaunty Jackalope. We want to know if it Rocks, if it is just OK, or if it is flat out wrong. No matter the feedback, as long as it is in line with the Ubuntu Code of Conduct, we would like to hear it.

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to the Feedback Page and let us know!

JauntyJackalope/RC/Kubuntu (last edited 2009-04-21 14:33:12 by adsl-ull-91-86)