Issue538


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Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 538 for the week of July 22 - 28, 2018.

In this Issue

  • Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS released
  • Ubuntu Stats
  • Hot in Support
  • LoCo Events

  • Progress on Yaru as default for Cosmic (18.10)
  • This week in Mir (27th July, 2018)
  • Mir-kiosk: a project that uses Mir
  • Open The Cosmic Gate: A beautiful theme gets a beautiful name
  • Sam Hewitt: Joining the GNOME Foundation
  • MAAS 2.5.0 alpha 1 released!
  • Taking a new direction
  • Canonical News
  • In the Blogosphere
  • Featured Audio and Video
  • Meeting Reports
  • Upcoming Meetings and Events
  • Updates and Security for 14.04, 16.04, and 18.04
  • And much more!

General Community News

Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS released

Adam Conrad on behalf of the Ubuntu Release Team announces the release of Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS for Desktop, Server and Cloud products, as well as other flavors with long-term support. Greater details, the release notes links - including where to download - and advice for 16.04 LTS users wishing to upgrade are provided. All are advised to read the documentation.

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2018-July/000234.html

This release was widely covered, the following is a collection of articles selected by our editors:

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

  • Open: 136747 (+17)
  • Critical: 438 (0)
  • Unconfirmed: 66468 (-144)

As always, the Bug Squad needs more help. If you want to get started, please see: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/BugSquad

Translations

  • Ukrainian: 87.65% (30072/57)
  • Spanish: 84.91% (36746/1719)
  • Bosnian: 84.79% (37037/4)
  • German: 83.83% (39392/853)
  • French: 80.21% (48201/5801)

Hot in Support

Ask Ubuntu Top 5 Questions

Ask (and answer!) questions at: https://askubuntu.com/

Ubuntu Forums Top 5 Threads

Find more support at: https://ubuntuforums.org/

LoCo Events

The following LoCo team events are currently scheduled in the next two weeks:

Looking beyond the next two weeks? Visit the LoCo Team Portal to browse upcoming events around the world: http://loco.ubuntu.com/events/

The Hub

Progress on Yaru as default for Cosmic (18.10)

Didier Roche (didrocks) informs that Yaru is now available for the cosmic release. He details the install means and notes that pending is the Main Inclusion Request to land the new theme as default.

https://community.ubuntu.com/t/progress-on-yaru-as-default-for-cosmic-18-10/7238

This week in Mir (27th July, 2018)

Alan Griffiths (alan_g) gives the status and update this week. Works in progress from the various team members include frame work foundations, low level system integration, X11 development, builds for snaps moving and the availability within Wayland, documentation has been cleaned up, and several blogs have been created in respect to "Mir projects". Also provided is a link to UBports' history of Unity8 and finally an advisement that Mir is now available in Arch Linux.

https://community.ubuntu.com/t/this-week-in-mir-27th-july-2018/7271

Mir-kiosk: a project that uses Mir

Alan Griffiths (alan_g) introduces mir-kiosk, an app for those devices needing a fullscreen display for the user. The writer depicts several use cases including multiple usage demonstrations and links to usage and to the snap install.

https://community.ubuntu.com/t/mir-kiosk-a-project-that-uses-mir/7246

The Planet

Open The Cosmic Gate: A beautiful theme gets a beautiful name

Didier Roche writes that Communitheme is a community effort receiving loads of feedback, and consists of Sam Hewitt's Suru icons, new sounds and cursors, and an overall style refresh. Designing the theme has many considerations. The embellishments, while staying as close to upstream GNOME as possible, gives a new look and feel beyond just a theme prompting the community endorsed name, Yaru. A brief overview of the project, why it wasn't included in 18.04 is given, including decisions such as the use/don't-use flat-design, relates the challenges leading to the final theme. The article ends with how it will be included if you are using Cosmic (18.10) or Bionic (18.04 LTS).

https://didrocks.fr/2018/07/24/open-the-cosmic-gate-a-beautiful-theme-gets-a-beautiful-name/

Sam Hewitt: Joining the GNOME Foundation

Sam Hewitt informs us that he is now a member of the GNOME Foundation. Having been an on-off again design contributor, looking to increase involvement, Sam applied for membership and was accepted.

https://samuelhewitt.com/blog/2018-07-25-joining-the-gnome-foundation

MAAS 2.5.0 alpha 1 released!

Andres Rodriguez happily announces that MAAS development 2.5.0 alpha 1 is now officially available via PPA for early testers. Andres tells us what's new, providing a discourse link for the release notes, plus commands needed to test it.

http://www.roaksoax.com/2018/07/maas-2-5-0-alpha-1-released

Taking a new direction

Simon Quigley writes that with Lubuntu's change of direction in adopting LXQt there is a change in focus. In relating why 32 bit systems have lost focus he justifys dropping the 32 bit architechure. While still maintaining the distribution as lightweight and less resource intensive, Simon asvises " we will no longer primarily focus on older hardware". A list of core goals is provided to guide toward the new age of computing and comments and suggestions within the blog are welcome.

https://lubuntu.me/taking-a-new-direction/

Canonical News

In the Blogosphere

A Major GNOME Icon Redesign is Getting Underway

Scott Bouview advises us the GNOME devs are redesigning all GNOME core apps default icons as part of a GNOME design guidelines overhaul. The change includes depreciating the use of tiny icons in favor of symbolic scalable icons in order to ease the packagers job. New designs have less detail, replacing gradients and gloss with higher contrast and striking colors. The article contains many examples, including current & proposed icons. The GNOME human interface guidelines is also being revised.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/07/gnome-icon-redesign

KDE Plasma 5.14: Default Wallpaper Revealed

Joey Sneddon shows us the new "Cluster" wallpaper as created by Ken Vermette using Krita, and is now the default for KDE Plasma 5.14. Joey apprises though, the developing product in screen resolutions has a far more pleasing effect than the small images often seen online (due to losses with JPEG compression). Joey of course provides a link to see the original wallpaper, plus shows the last five Plasma wallpapers in comparison.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/07/kde-plasma-5-14-wallpaper-cluster

Canonical Fixes Boot Failures on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and 16.04 LTS, Update Now

Marius Nestor informs us that Canonical has released fixes to Ubuntu 18.04 kernel that addresses regressions. A link is provided to the security advisory if you need to read more. The patched kernel is also available to 16.04 LTS users using the HWE kernel. This update fixes the regression that caused certain machines to fail to boot that was introduced July 2. Of note is an apology in the security advisory. All users are advised to update as soon a possible and then reboot.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/canonical-fixes-boot-failures-on-ubuntu-18-04-lts-and-16-04-4-lts-update-now-522073.shtml

Ubuntu 18.10's New Community Theme Is Named Yaru, Here's What It Looks Like

Marius Nestor tells us about the upcoming New Community theme named Yaru, referencing Didier Roche's announcement. Reminding us that Ubuntu 18.10 will include the new theme & icon set by default (for new installs) that is now known as Yaru. The new Yaru theme looks great, is sharp, elegant and colorful according to Marius, and tends to be more discreet than the traditional intense orange, but still looks similar to Unity 7 & 8 designs. Yaru will land shortly in 18.10 daily builds, so more feedback is welcome.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/ubuntu-18-10-s-new-community-theme-is-named-yaru-here-s-what-it-looks-like-522085.shtml

LibreOffice 6.1 On Track for Mid-August Release as Second RC Is Out for Testing

Marius Nestor writes that the Document Foundation have announced the availability of the second release-candidate of LibreOffice 6.1. It's been two weeks since the first RC was released, but 84 bugs have been fixed and on track for a mid-August release, but more testing is appreciated.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/libreoffice-6-1-on-track-for-mid-august-release-as-second-rc2-is-out-for-testing-522090.shtml

Canonical Donates More Devices to UBports to Keep Ubuntu Touch Dream Alive

Marius Nestor reports on the UBports Foundation appreciation for Canonical's donations that continue support for Ubuntu Touch development in the Ubuntu Touch mobile operating system. UBports warns not to expect Ubuntu Touch for the Nexus 10; Dalton Durst reports they are difficult to develop for. A link is provided for those wishing to run Ubuntu Touch on mobile devices.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/canonical-donates-more-devices-to-ubports-to-keep-ubuntu-touch-dream-alive-522091.shtml

Dell XPS 13 Developer Edition Now Available with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Pre-Installed

Marius Nestor tells us we can buy a certified Developer Edition XPS 13 with Ubuntu 18.04 pre-installed. The premium laptop features the new InifinityEdge 13.3 inch near bezel-less display, plenty of muscle, good looks, and set up for a seamless out-of-the-box experience. Presently available, as a part of Dell's Project Sputnik initiative, in the United States; it will be coming to parts of Europe next month. US Prices and base specs, plus links are provided.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/dell-xps-13-developer-edition-now-available-with-ubuntu-18-04-lts-pre-installed-522137.shtml

5 Major Improvements Coming in Nautilus 3.30

Joey Sneddon informs us of some major improvements coming to Nautilus including a redesigned path bar, new toolbar options, improved support for low-res displays, dynamic resizing, fast file search and more. Joey links to Carlos Soriano's blog, and provides us with screen shots letting us glimpse some of the improvements. GNOME 3.30, which is expected to be released in September, is under discussion as to what parts will be included in Ubuntu 18.10, including whether Nautilus will remain at 3.26 like it is in Ubuntu 18.04.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/07/nautilus-3-30-improvements-new-path-bar

Future Lubuntu Releases Won't Focus on Old PCs, Will Offer a Modular Linux OS

Marius Nestor writes that Simon Quigley has exclusively told Softpedia, that Lubuntu will shift from supporting older PCs to a modern, functional and more modular distribution of GNU/Linux. It will remain bloat-free, and use the LXQt system but may not support 32-bit installs. He provides a link to the official announcement.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/future-lubuntu-releases-won-t-focus-on-old-pcs-will-offer-a-modular-linux-os-522141.shtml

Ubuntu Podcast: S11E20 – Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

“We get an Entroware laptop fixed. We discuss Ryan’s Linux journey, bring you some command line love and go over all your feedback.”

Featuring: Alan Pope, Mark Johnson, and Ryan.

http://ubuntupodcast.org/2018/07/26/s11e20-twenty-thousand-leagues-under-the-sea/

Meeting Reports

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  • Developer Membership Board: Mon, July 30, 3pm – 4pm
  • Security Team: Mon, July 30, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
  • Translations Team: Thu, August 2, 3pm – 4pm
  • Ubuntu Foundations: Thu, August 2, 3pm – 4pm
  • Community Council: Thu, August 2, 5pm – 7pm
  • Membership Board: Thu, August 2, 8pm – 9pm
  • Membership Board: Thu, August 2, 10pm – 11pm

For more details and farther dates please visit: http://fridge.ubuntu.com/calendars/

Updates and Security for 14.04, 16.04, and 18.04

Security Updates

Ubuntu 14.04 Updates

End of Life: April 2019

Ubuntu 16.04 Updates

End of Life: April 2021

Ubuntu 18.04 Updates

End of Life: April 2023

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Further News

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Conclusion

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UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue538 (last edited 2018-07-30 22:39:42 by bashing-om)