Issue539


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Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 539 for the week of July 29 - August 4, 2018.

In this Issue

  • Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS released
  • Ubuntu Stats
  • Hot in Support
  • LoCo Events

  • Ubuntu Server development summary – 31 July 2018
  • Xubuntu Development Update August 2018
  • Ubuntu Studio 18.10 Wallpaper Contest
  • In the Blogosphere
  • In Other News
  • 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 16.04.5 LTS released

Lukasz Zemczak of the Ubuntu Release Team announces the release of Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS for the desktop, server and cloud. The hardware enablement stack is installed in new installs by default on all architectures except for 32-bit powerpc and server. Ubuntu flavors have also updated to 16.04.5, with users encouraged to read the release notes, with many links provided.

https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-announce/2018-August/000235.html

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

  • Open: 136824 (+77)
  • Critical: 434 (-4)
  • Unconfirmed: 66299 (-169)

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

Translations

  • Ukrainian: 88.16% (28841/57)
  • Spanish: 84.94% (36692/1721)
  • Bosnian: 84.78% (37064/4)
  • German: 84.17% (38550/187)
  • French: 80.20% (48225/5602)

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 Planet

Ubuntu Server development summary – 31 July 2018

Joshua Powers provides us with a status update from the Ubuntu Server Team. We are told of the new 18.04.1 ISO which includes an updated installer. A link is provided for more details. Fixes have been made to cloud-init, and curtin, with stats on bug & triage work done. Links to updated packages, including debian to ubuntu merges, are provided in the call to help testing proposed changes.

https://blog.ubuntu.com/2018/08/01/ubuntu-server-development-summary-31-july-2018

Xubuntu Development Update August 2018

Sean Davis updates us on the Xubuntu Team’s accomplishments for July 2018. Sean starts with the Xubuntu 16.04.5 release noting it has no major changes, then moves on to the work directed at the 18.04.1 release. The updates and changes include: Exo 0.12.2, Xfce Settings 4.12.4, fixes to Thunar - in relation to USB devices, and with more improvements to come including Catfish 1.4.6 and Xfce terminal 0.8.7.4. Special attention is given to Catfish 1.4.6, as it's the first release under the Xfce banner, and Xfce4 Panel Profile 1.0.8 which was previously known as Xfpanel Switch. The project notes seven releases this month, provides a list of updates for Cosmic, and finally a list of what to expect in August from the Xubuntu Team.

https://bluesabre.org/2018/08/01/xubuntu-development-update-august-2018/

Ubuntu Studio 18.10 Wallpaper Contest

Ubuntu Studio announces a wallpaper contest for the next release, 18.10. Criteria for the submissions are given as well as where to submit your images and the selection process for those that the community will vote on.

http://ubuntustudio.org/2018/08/ubuntu-studio-18-10-wallpaper-contest/

In the Blogosphere

UK's National Cyber Security Centre Give Advice on Securing Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

Marius Nestor reports of the latest NCSC - defined within the article - publication that gives advice on best practices for maximum security to meet the twelve End User Device (EUD) principles. Even as Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Desktop is already a secure operating system, instruction is provided for strengthening security in a number of areas. A link is provided to Canonical's Will Cooke's endorsing announcement of the publication.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/uk-s-national-cyber-security-centre-give-advice-on-securing-ubuntu-18-04-lts-522176.shtml

KDE Plasma 5.13.4 Desktop Environment Released with More Than 45 Improvements

Marius Nestor relates the updates and bug fixes of the fourth maintenance update. Marius Highlights significant updates and gives us the roadmap to the forthcoming KDE Plasma 5.14 release.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/kde-plasma-5-13-4-desktop-environment-released-with-more-than-20-bugfixes-522160.shtml

Here's the New Login Screen of Ubuntu 18.10 (Cosmic Cuttlefish) with Yaru Theme

Marius Nestor details in screenshots the new Yaru theme that will bring a new look and feel to the upcoming release of Ubuntu 18.10 (Cosmic Cuttlefish). He advises that this new theme is also available for 18.04 through a snap install, providing install directions.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/here-s-the-new-login-screen-of-ubuntu-18-10-cosmic-cuttlefish-using-yaru-theme-522179.shtml

The Current Happenings Within LXQt As Of Summer 2018

Michael Larabel tells us what's occurring on the road from LXDE to LXQt. Referencing Hong Jen Yee's recent presentation at DebConf 18, Michael talks about the challenging task in the collaboration between the LXDE and Razor-qt efforts. The merging of KDE, LXQt, and GTK+ provides for re-using programs of the GTK+ (LXDE) code in the move to Qt5. Currently the team is focused only on X11, with Wayland a future goal. A video of Hong Jen Yee's youtube presentation is provided.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=LXDE-LXQt-DebConf18

LibreOffice 6.0.6 Office Suite Released with 55 Bug Fixes, Download Now

Marius Nestor reports on The Document Foundation's release and general availability of the sixth point release encompassing the bug fixes and issues as reported by users. The last point release is expected at October's end with end of life for the 6.0 series on November 26, 2018. Download links to the update are provided.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/libreoffice-6-0-6-office-suite-released-with-55-bug-fixes-download-now-522212.shtml

Opera Web Browser Is Now Available as a Snap on Ubuntu, Other Linux Distros

Marius Nestor tells us of the Opera Browser being available as a snap for all supported Ubuntu releases, plus other distributions that have snap enabled. Instructions for installing both stable and 'edge' release snaps are provided.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/opera-web-browser-is-now-available-as-a-snap-on-ubuntu-other-linux-distros-522215.shtml

Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS Released, Available to Download Now

Joey Sneddon alerts us to the release of Ubuntu 16.04.5 being available, which includes all official flavors. Joey notes that there may not be a lot of 'new', but there is "plenty of newness to feel" as this release includes prior patches and the final HWE kernel for Ubuntu 16.04. If you aren't running the HWE kernel, Joey provides the command needed to install it, plus links for full details, and to download Ubuntu 16.04.5.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/08/ubuntu-16-04-5-release-download

Lubuntu 16.04.5 has been released!

Simon Quigley starts by thanking all contributors to the Lubuntu project, then announces the release of Lubuntu 16.04.5. Providing a brief explanation of the project, where Lubuntu can be downloaded, plus key differences between 16.04.5 and the prior 16.04.4. Simon also points you to where you can get support, and where and how you can help the team. Finally Simon alerts us to a known issue, pointing to the bug reports for more detail, and of course the work-around.

https://lubuntu.me/xenial-5-released/

GNOME 3.30 Desktop Environment Enters Beta, Final Release Arrives September 5

Marius Nestor writes on the GNOME 3.30 desktop environment entering beta as announced in Javier Jardón's release notice. The beta is released as GNOME 3.29.90, meaning 3.30 is in feature, UI and API freeze allowing only bug and stability fixes to occur. More information on new features can be found via links, including the changelog. Marius notes the 2nd beta is expected to land on August 15th, the final RC (3.29.92) on August 29th, and 3.30 on September 5th.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/gnome-3-30-desktop-environment-enters-beta-final-release-arrive-september-5-522221.shtml

In Other News

Mark Shuttleworth’s next mission: making private clouds affordable

Martin Veitch relates his interview with Mark Shuttleworth giving a brief biography and a history of Mark's rise as CEO of Canonical. In the phone conversation the point of reference is the analysis by 451 Research, that leads to utilize cloud assets in a private cloud sector for IoT. The result is a plan for Canonical to manage the infrastructure of private clouds, but the execution is done in the private domain (ie. your own servers). As Canonical surpasses competition in IoT, Martin speculates that there may be an IPO as soon as next year. If private cloud is successful, Marin remarks another "change in the way the world makes IT work".

https://www.idgconnect.com/abstract/31089/mark-shuttleworth-mission-private-clouds-affordable

How to upgrade from Ubuntu Linux 16.04 to 18.04

Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols writes that since Ubuntu 18.04.1 has been released; it is now easier to upgrade from 16.04 LTS to 18.04 LTS, but Steven asks the reader if they are really ready for this jump, noting the significant change to GNOME from Unity. If you wish to proceed, Steven goes through the steps required to upgrade your 16.04 LTS box.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-to-upgrade-from-ubuntu-linux-16-04-to-18-04/

Ubuntu Podcast: S11E21 – The Twenty-One Balloons

“So Mark and Alan bring you news, community info and events in this week's show”

Featuring: Alan Pope, Mark Johnson.

http://ubuntupodcast.org/2018/08/02/s11e21-the-twenty-one-balloons/

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  • Security Team: Mon, August 6, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
  • Desktop Team: Tue, August 7, 3:30pm – 4:30pm
  • Kernel Team: Tue, August 7, 5pm – 6pm
  • Documentation Team: Tue, August 7, 6pm – 7pm
  • Ubuntu Foundations: Thu, August 9, 3pm – 4pm

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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Archive

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Further News

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Conclusion

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See you next week!

Credits

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Glossary of Terms

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UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue539 (last edited 2018-08-06 02:05:27 by guiverc)