Issue543


Contents

  1. In this Issue
  2. Ubuntu Stats
    1. Bug Stats
    2. Translations
  3. Hot in Support
    1. Ask Ubuntu Top 5 Questions
    2. Ubuntu Forums Top 5 Threads
  4. LoCo Events
  5. The Hub
    1. Mir News: 31th August 2018
    2. Display Configuration for mir-kiosk
    3. Google Code-In 2018
  6. The Planet
    1. Lubuntu Development Newsletter #10
  7. Canonical News
  8. In the Press
    1. Minimal Ubuntu for the cloud delivers some maximum benefits
    2. How Canonical Is Improving Ubuntu Linux Security
  9. In the Blogosphere
    1. KDE Picks Up New Screen Layout Switcher Plasmoid, Other Enhancements
    2. UBports Releases Ubuntu Touch OTA-4 for Ubuntu Phones, Based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
    3. Linus Torvalds kicks Off Development of Linux Kernel 4.19, First RC Is Out Now
    4. NVIDIA 390.87 Linux Driver Backports That Important Performance Fix
    5. Ubuntu 18.10 Will (Once Again) Ship with an Older Version of Nautilus
    6. Canonical Outs Intel Microcode Security Update for All Supported Ubuntu Releases
  10. Featured Audio and Video
    1. Ubuntu Podcast: S11E25 – The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five
    2. Ubuntu Security Podcast: Episode 2
  11. Meeting Reports
  12. Upcoming Meetings and Events
  13. Updates and Security for 14.04, 16.04, and 18.04
    1. Security Updates
    2. Ubuntu 14.04 Updates
    3. Ubuntu 16.04 Updates
    4. Ubuntu 18.04 Updates
  14. Subscribe
  15. Archive
  16. Further News
  17. Conclusion
  18. Credits
  19. Glossary of Terms
  20. Get Involved
  21. Feedback

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Welcome to the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, Issue 543 for the week of August 27 - September 2, 2018.

In this Issue

  • Ubuntu Stats
  • Hot in Support

  • LoCo Events

  • Mir News: 31th August 2018
  • Display Configuration for mir-kiosk
  • Google Code-In 2018
  • Lubuntu Development Newsletter #10
  • Canonical News
  • In the Press
  • 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!

Ubuntu Stats

Bug Stats

  • Open: 136284 (-594)
  • Critical: 439 (+3)
  • Unconfirmed: 65884 (-107)

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

Translations

  • Ukrainian: 90.31% (23682/2)
  • Spanish: 84.77% (37221/1737)
  • Bosnian: 84.29% (38391/4)
  • German: 84.11% (38825/328)
  • French: 80.16% (48477/5583)

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

Mir News: 31th August 2018

Chris Halse Rogers (raof) gives the report this week. He gives a status on the static display configuration file format, infrastructure improvements, documentation efforts, UBports works to get Unity8 on the phone, the work that continues on the logind integration and also the eglstream-kms platform for the NVIDIA binary drivers.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/mir-news-31th-august-2018/7804

Display Configuration for mir-kiosk

Alan Griffiths (alan_g) gives a brief tutorial on display configuration that is available via the “edge” channel. Work is in progress to provide the file “/var/snap/mir-kiosk/common/miral-kiosk.display” at startup, in the meantime a workaround is provided to create the file.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/display-configuration-for-mir-kiosk/7815

Google Code-In 2018

Alan Pope (popey) makes us aware of the project for youths to make contributions to open-source projects. He provides the timeline and criteria and makes a call to the community for submissions of tasks for the students to complete.

https://discourse.ubuntu.com/t/google-code-in-2018/7817

The Planet

Lubuntu Development Newsletter #10

Simon Quigley's lengthy weekly update contains more than "A lot of the polish changes". He goes into the changes in the Desktop Experience, what's been happening in Calamares, and Infrastructure and Project Changes. He cites the flavor's presence in the social media, with a request for user support and help in administration, and that the support and off-topic Telegram channels are now open to the public. Simon again addresses questions in respect to Wayland and in the Roadmap provides links to all relevant info.

https://lubuntu.me/lubuntu-development-newsletter-10

Canonical News

In the Press

Minimal Ubuntu for the cloud delivers some maximum benefits

In a glowing review of the Ubuntu ecosystem, Twain Taylor debuts Minimal Ubuntu. The new variant is designed for automated deployment at scale that is available across a wide range of cloud substrates. Twain goes into detail of the difference and proponents of this minimal install and notes that it contains all the tools of the standard Ubuntu and remains fully compatible with the Ubuntu archive. He points out the huge cloud market and remarks that Ubuntu Minimal, for many seeking a fast lightweight alternative, will hit that sweet spot.

http://techgenix.com/minimal-ubuntu-for-cloud/

How Canonical Is Improving Ubuntu Linux Security

Sean Michael Kerner tells us of his interview with Mark Shuttleworth on the subject of security issues where the focus is on the Snaps cryptocurrency mining incursion and recent Meltdown/Spectre CPU security vulnerabilities. We are assured the technologies in place mitigate the risks. A short primer is given of the measures employed.

http://www.eweek.com/security/how-canonical-is-improving-ubuntu-linux-security

In the Blogosphere

KDE Picks Up New Screen Layout Switcher Plasmoid, Other Enhancements

Michael Larabel relates the contents of Nate Graham's weekly update, featuring various usability and productivity enhancements. Michael links to the blog post for more details. These updates will land in Plasma 5.14 or Frameworks 5.50.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=KDE-Plasmoid-Screen-Switcher

UBports Releases Ubuntu Touch OTA-4 for Ubuntu Phones, Based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

Marius Nestor reports on the release of Ubuntu Touch OTA-4 by the UBports team. Now based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and Qt 5.9 LTS, the update is a big step forward. It includes up-to-date firmware, new power saving features, a new upgrade wizard and more. Marius provides a list of supported devices and instructions on how to download and install the update.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/ubuntu-touch-ota-4-released-for-ubuntu-phones-finally-based-on-ubuntu-16-04-lts-522382.shtml

Linus Torvalds kicks Off Development of Linux Kernel 4.19, First RC Is Out Now

Marius Nestor lets us know that the first release candidate for testing the Linux kernel 4.19 is out. The version will ship with Terminal Fault (L1TF aka Foreshadow) fixes, as well as the usual updated drivers for graphics, networking and other improvements. Linux 4.19 is expected to arrive mid-October 2018, with links provided to download.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/linus-torvalds-kicks-off-development-of-linux-4-19-kernel-with-first-rc-522383.shtml

NVIDIA 390.87 Linux Driver Backports That Important Performance Fix

Michael Larabel reports that the performance fix implemented in the 396.54 version driver is now available for those using the 390 version. A link is provided to download the updated driver.

https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=NVIDIA-390.87-Released

Ubuntu 18.10 Will (Once Again) Ship with an Older Version of Nautilus

Joey Sneddon, in giving a bit of background, reports that Ubuntu will continue with version 3.26 of the file manager in GNOME 3.30's desktop because 3.26 still supports desktop icons. Though 18.10 will ship without the enhanced Nautilus 3.30, Joey tells of a possible Flatpak alternative.

https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2018/08/ubuntu-18-10-use-nautilus-3-26

Canonical Outs Intel Microcode Security Update for All Supported Ubuntu Releases

Marius Nestor informs us that Canonical has published a security advisory letting us know of an Intel microcode update that helps mitigate the L1 Terminal Fault vulnerability (L1TF, CVE-2018-3646). The update also fixes Spectre Variant 4 (CVE-2018-3639) and Rogue System Register Read (RSRE, CVE-2018-3640). If you are using Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, 16.04 LTS, or 18.04 LTS you are advised to update, with links to announcements.

https://news.softpedia.com/news/canonical-outs-intel-microcode-security-update-for-all-supported-ubuntu-releases-522419.shtml

Ubuntu Podcast: S11E25 – The Wrong Side of Twenty-Five

“This week we’ve been upgrading a Steam box. We discuss Steam Play beta and Proton, Google’s salty disclosure of security issue in the Android installer for Fortnite, and Windows 95 being available for all the things. We also round up the community news.”

Featuring: Alan Pope, Mark Johnson, and Martin Wimpress.

http://ubuntupodcast.org/2018/08/30/s11e25-the-wrong-side-of-twenty-five/

Ubuntu Security Podcast: Episode 2

Alex Murray, Ubuntu Security Tech Lead at Canonical, tells us about this week's security updates and fixes, which include 83 unique CVEs addressed, plus other updates across all supported Ubuntu releases.

https://ubuntusecuritypodcast.org/episode-2/

Meeting Reports

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  • Desktop Team: Tue, September 4, 3:30pm – 4:30pm
  • Kernel Team: Tue, September 4, 5pm – 6pm
  • Documentation Team: Tue, September 4, 6pm – 7pm
  • Ubuntu Translations: Thu, September 6, 3pm – 4pm
  • Ubuntu Foundations: Thu, September 6, 3pm – 4pm
  • Community Council: Thu, September 6, 5pm – 7pm

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

Subscribe

Get your copy of the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter delivered each week to you via email at: https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-news

Or follow us via our various social media presences:

Archive

You can always find older Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter issues at: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Archive

Further News

As always you can find more Ubuntu news and announcements at:

Conclusion

Thank you for reading the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter.

See you next week!

Credits

The Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter is brought to you by:

  • Krytarik Raido
  • Wild Man
  • Bashing-om
  • Chris Guiver
  • And many others

Glossary of Terms

Other acronyms can be found at: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/glossary

Get Involved

The Ubuntu community consists of individuals and teams, working on different aspects of the distribution, giving advice and technical support, and helping to promote Ubuntu to a wider audience. No contribution is too small, and anyone can help. It's your chance to get in on all the community fun associated with developing and promoting Ubuntu. More on this at: https://community.ubuntu.com/contribute/

Or get involved with the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter team! We always need summary writers and editors, if you're interested, learn more at: https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Join

Feedback

This document is maintained by the Ubuntu Weekly News Team. If you have a story idea or suggestions for the Weekly Newsletter, join the Ubuntu News Team mailing list at https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/Ubuntu-news-team and submit it. Ideas can also be added to the wiki at https://wiki.ubuntu.com/UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Ideas. If you'd like to contribute to a future issue of the Ubuntu Weekly Newsletter, please feel free to edit the appropriate wiki page. If you have any technical support questions, please check https://community.ubuntu.com/help-information/ for more information on where to get help.

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UbuntuWeeklyNewsletter/Issue543 (last edited 2018-09-03 00:52:08 by bashing-om)