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In quest of answers to the question What's New in Ubuntu 18.04? Should You Update? Dive into the details provided below by Mytour.
Exploring Ubuntu 18.04: What's Fresh? Is It Time to Update?
Introducing Ubuntu 18.04 LTS Update
Scheduled for release in April 2018, the Ubuntu 18.04 update, codenamed 'Bionic Beaver,' marks a significant milestone for the popular Linux operating system.
Ubuntu LTS versions are released every 2 years, with Ubuntu 18.04 being the first release since 2016. The Long Term Support release, supported by Ubuntu developers Canonical, extends support to users until 2023.
A brief note on naming conventions: Ubuntu 18.04 is named after its April 2018 release. We can anticipate no repetition in non-LTS updates released later this year, such as Ubuntu 18.10. Annually, every 6 months, Ubuntu updates are released in April and October.
Curious about Ubuntu 18.04's Latest Offerings? Should You Update?
Below are some compelling reasons to update to Ubuntu 18.04:
1. Enhanced Security Features
Firstly, Ubuntu updates include the latest bug fixes and security patches, covering operating system, driver, or even fundamental hardware vulnerabilities (such as the Meltdown and Spectre security flaws).
Updates here apply to all operating systems, be it Linux, Windows, or macOS. Regular updates are crucial to enhance device security. That's why Windows XP users are advised to upgrade to newer versions or switch to Linux.
However, there's a concern about potential security risks you should be aware of. With Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Canonical plans to collect data from users' computers. However, nothing can identify this personal data. Instead, users need to configure their computer hardware, the version of Ubuntu they're running, their location (based on user choice during Ubuntu setup), and some other options.
Importantly, users can choose to participate in data collection or not. If upgrading from a previous Ubuntu version, you can also choose to participate.
2. GNOME Addition in LTS Release
The most anticipated feature in the LTS release is arguably GNOME 3.28. Since replacing Unity in Ubuntu 17.10 (though Unity isn't entirely dead), GNOME has become the default desktop environment on Ubuntu.
Of course, it's not just GNOME. Other Ubuntu desktop environments are available, such as MATE.
GNOME on Ubuntu 18.04 LTS marks the first appearance of GNOME 3.0 customization on a long-term support release. And that's a compelling reason to upgrade to Ubuntu 18.04.
3. Fresh Icon Set
The open-source Suru icon project is integrated into Ubuntu 18.04. Initially, these icons were added to the abandoned Ubuntu Touch mobile operating system (now managed by UBPorts.com).
On the Suru page, application icons for the original mobile devices have been redirected to create a theme for GNOME. File and folder icons have been added, based on unreleased Suru icons. A complete icon set has been created, with many icons based on the original Suru system icons.
4. Colorful Emoticons
Black and white are the predominant colors for emoticons (emoji) on Ubuntu. And this is also a limitation of this distribution. However, starting from Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, new colorful emoticons have been added. So upgrade your computer to Ubuntu 18.04 LTS to experience the vibrant new emoticon set.
The emoticons you find in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS are open-source emoticons similar to the emoticons found on Android.
5. New Linux Kernel
The kernel is considered the core of Linux-based operating systems. Essentially, the kernel is a component of the operating system's hardware.
Initially, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS was expected to include Linux Kernel v4.14. However, it's highly likely that Ubuntu 18.04 LTS will also include Linux Kernel v4.15 instead of v4.14.
6. Community-Originated Features and Default Applications
In addition to the aforementioned features, Ubuntu 18.04 LTS also includes a collection of community-originated features and applications. Announced back in April 2017, following calls contributed to improving support for NVIDIA GPUs, touchpad gesture support, and BlueZ deployment to enhance Bluetooth functionality.
Moreover, applications are also suggested with some clear choices such as Mozilla Firefox and LibreOffice, Kdenlive and GNOME Calendar are also listed in the lineup.
However, these tools will not be available in the operating system by default. Instead, users will have the option to install these applications when they install Ubuntu.
7. Utilizing Xorg Display Server
Ubuntu has undergone a challenging period, with the withdrawal of mobile variants and the end of Unity. One of the most significant milestones of this operating system is the transition to the Wayland display server in Ubuntu 17.10.
While Wayland is intended to be the display server of the future, the lack of application support for Wayland has led users to revert to using Xorg.
As a result, Xorg has been reinstated in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS and is used as the default display server. However, if desired, users can switch back to Wayland display by using the cogwheel icon on the login screen.
If you're seeking answers about what's new in Ubuntu 18.04 and whether it's worth updating, look no further. Hopefully, after reading this article from Mytour, you'll find the answers you seek. If you're new to installing or using Ubuntu, you can install Ubuntu in VMWare and set up Ubuntu on a VMware virtual machine to experience this excellent operating system.
