10 + 2 things you’ll get with Ubuntu 8.10 “Intrepid Ibex”
Jul 19, 2008
A quick resume of what the most important (IMHO) things users will get with the next Ubuntu release: Intrepid Ibex. If you want to check the whole list please visit Intrepid’s blueprints.
1. faster login
The time that ubuntu takes to go from the gdm login prompt to an usuable desktop is too long, it will be faster.
2. better Flash experience
Intrepid will ship improved plugin finder wizard experience, better experience for sites that use the flash detection kit and improved user-experience for selection of available alternatives.
Probably we’ll also have the final Flash 10 shipped with Intrepid.
3. 3G networking
Title says it all, Intrepid will have built-in support for 3G networking with the new NetworkManager.
4. guest account
It is very common to lend someone else a laptop for a quick email check, or having one’s computer play music and be a surf station on a party.
Instead of requiring people to create guest accounts with widely known or empty passwords, Ubuntu will set up a locked down guest account with a temporary home directory by default, where an existing user must authenticate the start of a guest session. This avoids passwordless accounts, which are a security threat.
5. Clean up cruft from system, especially after upgrades
When systems are upgraded from release to release to release, and especially if they are upgraded frequently during development of next release, they gather a lot of cruft: unused packages, old kernels, etc. Intrepid will have a tool to remove cruft, based on what update-manager already does, and extending that.
6. Automatic download of printer drivers through the internet
The printer setup tool of Ubuntu 8.10 and later will automatically download LSB-packaged printer drivers from the OpenPrinting database. This way there will be no need to ship all drivers on the CDs, Intrepid will be prepared for printers being launched after our release or being supported only by closed-source drivers which we are not allowed to distribute or driver updates.
7. font selector
Fontconfig offers a variety of font related settings, which can currently only be modified by hacking a XML file together. Intrepid will have a GUI for this task, taking common settings like font ordering, antialiasing, hinting and embedded bitmaps into account, as those settings vary greatly depending on different users’ preferences.
8. faster installation from desktop DVD
Modifications to ubiquity and apt as well as triggerisation of packages in order to minimize the extra time needed by the installer when dealing with the larger set of packages found on the desktop DVD image.
9. installation from USB stick
An application will be developed to convert and write Ubuntu CD images to USB disks. In addition, Ubuntu’s existing tools will be modified to better handle installing from a removable disk.
10. new graphic for the installer
The visual design of Ubuntu’s installer has remained largely unchanged since its creation, however there are a number of areas where graphical aids will be beneficial.
and maybe (low priority):
- 10 + 1. Identity management and network authentication
- 10 + 2. PackageKit
What about the new graphic theme?
Intrepid alpha releases come with a new graphic theme for the GNOME environment but I couldn’t find a blueprint about that thus it’s not in the list.
UPDATE 1: I’d like to add a task to the wishlist: SOUND!!! In hardy sound it’s a big mess because some softwares (Flash) do not integrate with PulseAudio (this workaround does seem to be stable to me) and I constantly have to close applications to make sound work again :-(
UPDATE 2: A user told me that I forgot to write an important new feature: support for dmraid from the livecd, he’s completely right, I thought it was not so important to average users but probably I was wrong.
lefty.crupps on Jul 19, 2008 | Reply
I am sad to know that when you say Intrepid Ibex will have these features, you only mean that GNOME will have them, and of course KDE will be left behind.
Fabrizio Balliano on Jul 19, 2008 | Reply
@lefty.crupps: don’t worry, most of the things will be available on Kubuntu too: better Flash, 3G, guest account, clean up, font selector, faster installation, installation from USB stick, new graphic for the installer, network authentication and packagekit.
So the only 2 GNOME centric features are: faster logins and the automatic printer driver download which are involving the desktop environment too but… thinking about it for more than a second… well I believe Kubuntu team will work with the Ubuntu team to get those 2 points done with not so much work because both login and cups also have system components that are equal on Ubuntu and Kubuntu.
Hope i wrote understandable sentences, I’m a bit in a hurry right now
bye!! :-)))
ubuntu user on Jul 19, 2008 | Reply
At the moment, what with KDE4 still needing some time to become complete, I’m not so bent out of shape that Kubuntu always trails Ubuntu in features.
But seriously, Canonical, and Ubuntu devs. You guys should spend some effort making sure that Kubuntu gains release-to-release feature parity with Ubuntu soon.
If KDE4 matures into a perfectly viable production environment before Kubuntu achieves equality with Ubuntu, I may be looking for a new distro, and I don’t think I’m the only one that feels that way.
Fabrizio Balliano on Jul 19, 2008 | Reply
@ubuntu user: I’m not using Kubuntu thus I don’t actually know if Kubuntu is really behind Ubuntu but anyway I agree with you.
Just to state it out, I’m not an Ubuntu dev :-)
Derek Buranen on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Does the title say it all? Is it going to work with ALL phones? Windows Mobile? Blackberry? Symbian? What about the varying hardware?
To say that you’re going to have 3g is wishful thinking which is the nature of blueprints.
Fabrizio Balliano on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
@Derek Buranen: 3G it’s an high priority blueprint thus we can think that it will be as complete as possible but I never used 3G networking thus I can’t judge
kerunt on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Until I can run both my monitors and TV connected to the computer at the same time, I won’t be touching Ubuntu again… This is the single biggest deal breaker for me…
beq on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Just hoping to stop the annoying random freeze :(
LightningCrash on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
I could seriously do without the Network-Manager software. I wish they would disable it right out of the box and give you a prompt to install it if you have wireless equipment.
alex on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
I have been able to use my monitor and the tv for years (well 2 at least) using NVidia drivers! But ATI needs silly config, and its not easy… I too believe that OOTB multiple monitor support, support for projectors and TV’s is really important! I can plug my ibook G4 running Tiger into my tv with its mini-vga to s-video adapter and it blinks, and then there’s a scaled image on the TV. For Linux, if I already have a xorg.conf (not a simple task) ready for the tv-out, then I must change the xorg.conf over, then restart X (closing all open applications in the process) its a bit of a pain in the arse, but doable… So how about Jocular Jaguar has built in automagic xorg multi head, tv-out and projector support eh?
Insider on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
@kerunt: how long has it been since you tried? I have no trouble with multiple monitors in hardy heron. Make sure you have the “xinerama” packages installed.
Daeng Bo on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
These all sound good, but in my experience, only about 50% of the high priority blueprints actually get implemented in Ubuntu.
I think the guest account is a hot idea, but I worry about security.
Rick on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Odd I run 2 monitors and a TV in Ubuntu just fine kerunt.
Jesse on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Man, I hope that activation of Bluetooth headsets and properly routing all audio into and out of it. Right now it’s a mess to get it working right, you can’t use the BT prefs panel to connect audio devices. Moreover, you need to install PulseAudio and libflashsupport if you want Flash to send audio through the BT headphones, if you manage to connect them.
I’m just saying, this is a high priority for me and I would hate it if I have to wait for more than one release to finally get this.
As always though, excited for the next release!
qbix on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
You forgot DmRaid support from the Live disc. Many of us will finally be able to install the damn OS on our systems.
manny on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
@kerunt
works for me
i just have an nvidia card
so i installed “nvidia-settings”
Fabrizio Balliano on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
@qbix: you’re right, I thought that maybe it wouldn’t be too much relevant to average users but probably I was wrong
@Jesse: yeah I need to update the post adding “I hope sound will be working” because it really needs to!! thank you for making me remember!!
Eats Wombats on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the update. No need to apologize for the English.
However, I wince a little when I find myself reading stuff that I know would be somewhat impenetrable to the interested man in the street. To constantly use terms like apt and ubiquity and OOTB (in the comments) without links, tiresome though linking may be, is to perpetuate the impression that Linux, and in this case Ubuntu, is for other people. This comment isn’t specifically about this post. If there’s an improvement I’d like to see in Ubuntu it would be a concerted afford to cut out the gibberish and to say “the next release” instead of “jocular jaguar” which isn’t very jocular at all, in fact. This would make it a bit more accessible to many.
One of the chief virtues of the Macintosh and everything to do with it, for ordinary people, was simplicity and intelligibility.
mikel on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
yeah, sound. that’s pretty crucial. and it’s probably the only reason i don’t use ubuntu on a regular basis. (in fact i never use it now.) no matter what workaround/fixes i try, i can’t get sound to work. that’s nearly as bad as no networking or no video.
dogfire51 on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
If dual monitor is a deal breaker for Ubuntu, then what do you use, because I have a similar issue and had decided to just use 1 monitor when I’m not in Leopard, since I don’t game in Ubuntu, dual monitor is not such a big deal. But I’d like to some day convert to a mostly Ubuntu and only boot into mac for iphone stuff (if VMware gets released to run mac, I’ll be convert 100%). Let me know what distro you use that supports dual monitor properly, caused I’d like to try it.
Vadim P. on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
I’d be cautious at advertising blueprints like this. There is no guarantee we’ll get all of that - something might not be worked out in time (there are more factors to something other than just implementing it), and some other things might come up.
That said, ‘https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DesktopTeam/Specs/InrepidDesktopEffects’ us the most fun for me. I really want the new stackswitch plugin to be default alt+tab :)
Tiago on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
I would love to aggregate your weblog on ubuntuweblogs.org. Let me know if you’re interested.
Fabrizio Balliano on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
@Tiago: yeah it would be great!! I’m going to write you by mail anyway
LostOverThere on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Don’t forget Ubuntu will also get a brand new look this time too!
Fabrizio Balliano on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
@LostOverThere: I wrote it in the “What about the new graphic theme?” section :-) strangely I can’t see no blueprint about that, maybe it’s still to be confirmed?
dep on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
How about “Easier WiFi Setup” ?? This is the worst part of setting up/installing Ubuntu IMHO.. Setting up Wireless Networking.
Derek on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
I’m currently using my LG Shine as a 3G modem, which requires a little, but not much, work. I think that the 3g networking feature in Intrepid will remove the need to treat the 3g device as a modem, but that’s just a guess on my part.
Ubuntu Rock on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Hi,
GO GO Ubuntu is the best. A good way to see how Ubuntu rock the competition is to look at a comparison between Ubuntu and the looser vista at http://itcomparison.com/OS/vistavsubuntu/vistavsubuntu.htm
Again I hope Ubuntu become the replacement for Windows Yuck.
Rob Parker on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
When it comes to your first update, concerning PulseAudio, I’d personally like if they’d implement something along the lines of parts A and C at http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=789578 . Also part B shows that it’s definatley worth including Flash 10. Also perhaps something can be done to make sure when users install Skype, it selects the settings shown on aforementioned HowTo.
After following the HowTo (other than pat D), I ended up with a pretty much flawless experience, including perfectly stable Flash, and no-latency or distortion in Skype.
Luke on Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
After installing Ubuntu and restarting the PC, I would love to see a tutorial pop up, showing users how to use the basic programs ubuntu comes with. It would greatly increase the likelihood of people having a favorable experience with linux coming from windows. I know its been commented before, but it really would help the less techy people merge over to a distro like Ubuntu.
wariola on Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
sounds cool.. I’m on fedora now, but if Intrepid is as good as all the wishlist, i might migrate back soon..
Felix on Jul 21, 2008 | Reply
Hi… I want to talk with you about your permission to use this article in a periodic. Please, contact-me.
Thank’s
Alexsandro Felix
Ps.: Great job man
Saeid on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
Thanks
Jack on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
I know someone at Canonical and they’ve said that the graphical theme is going to be darker, along the lines of Ubuntu Studio for Ibex. Also, some thing are harder to do than just “Ubuntu needs this…” One example is suspend and hibernate. It’s a frequently requested feature, but every laptop does it a little bit differently.
Jason Brower on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
The new face browser is here…
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DesktopTeam/Specs/GdmFaceBrowser
It looks nice, but I think we need to take our time with it… I am happy to have it come eventually none the less.
We are working on a memaker part of it all. :)
Jason Brower on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
And after reading these comments… especially these wifi ones I am shocked. I have never had a better time setting up my wireless. I have 8 or 9 locations I connect to and it all works perfectly.
Have you ever had to setup wireless in XP or vista?! Talk about hard! That’s confusing to me. Oh, and hardware support? We vista doesn’t my father-in-laws wireless cards, he has to buy new ones. He is going to give them to because he thinks they are worthless. Thanks vista! I will give these cards to linux users. They should do great.
i386 on Jul 26, 2008 | Reply
@ubuntu user: perhaps you should stop bitching and help out?
BUGabundo on Jul 29, 2008 | Reply
I’ve been using Intrepid since alpha 1 and the speed is just the same as Hardy or gutsy. no improvements there.
Also audio is the same mess.
Only after i turn of ESD i got alsa to work, and even that way Totem wont play audio!
Sense Hofstede on Aug 4, 2008 | Reply
I think I can answer the question about the theme you raised in the end. There is an idea at Brainstorm[0] was to start a competition at DeviantArt like inkscape did once. The idea is marked as in development and has a blueprint[1], although the developer response says that it’s not sure whether the plan is possible. We’ll have to wait. I’m quite curious.
[0]http://brainstorm.ubuntu.com/idea/384/
[1]https://blueprints.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+spec/deviantart-theme-competition
bwana on Aug 15, 2008 | Reply
Just hoping to stop the annoying random freeze :(
.. me too.. >(
oliver on Sep 20, 2008 | Reply
Do you know how to start the “font selector” you mentioned? I couldn’t find anything on the wiki page, and there’s no obvious package available.