Buzz
In addition to the default KDE Plasma 5.12.4 LTS desktop environment, including KDE applications 17.12.3 and KDE Frameworks 5.44.0, Kubuntu 18.04 LTS (Bionic Beaver) also introduces Linux kernel 4.15, with support extended until April 2021, receiving security and software updates for 3 years.
Kubuntu 18.04 LTS is available for download.
According to the release notes: 'Plasma 5.12 LTS, the latest KDE version, has been developed to run smoother while retaining familiar settings. Plasma Vault, for creating and managing encrypted folders seamlessly within Plasma, has also been added to the Ubuntu repository with this release.'
What's New in Kubuntu 18.04 LTS?
Key highlights in the Kubuntu 18.04 LTS release include the default Breeze KDE Plasma dark theme, although all desktop applications still utilize the light Breeze theme. Double-click functionality is used by default to open files, Baloo search integration, and file indexing has been changed to basic indexing.
Similar to Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, Kubuntu 18.04 LTS also includes a minimal install option in the graphical installer for those who prefer a lightweight system. Removed features include the LibreOffice office suite, KDE PIM applications, Cantata music player, MPD, and various Internet and multimedia applications.
With the minimal install option, the full KDE desktop is still installed including basic applications and utilities, Mozilla Firefox browser, with VLC Media Player becoming the default multimedia player, replacing KDE's Dragon Player on Kubuntu 18.04 LTS.
A standard installation of Kubuntu 18.04 LTS includes numerous applications, notably LibreOffice 6.0, Firefox 59, KTorrent 5.1, KDEConnect 1.3.0, Falkon 3.0.0, Krita 4.0.1, Amarok 2.90, latte-dock 0.7.4, and Kstars 2.9.4. The Muon package manager replaces Plasma Discover's graphical package manager.
Plasma Wayland, Google Drive Support, and Snap Integration
Among other notable changes in Kubuntu 18.04 LTS, support for accessing and editing Google Drive files via the kio-gdrive plugin in the Dolphin file manager, as well as support for enabling Snap integration in Plasma Discover by installing the plasma-discover-snap-backend package if Snap usage is desired.
Users wanting to experience the next-generation Wayland display server can activate the Wayland Plasma session in Kubuntu 18.04 LTS. To do this, users need to install the plasma-workspace-wayland package and select the Plasma Wayland session at login. However, Kubuntu 18.04 LTS does not support Plasma Wayland.
Finally, the instant messaging application Telepathy has been removed from Kubuntu 18.04 LTS due to lack of maintenance and causing numerous issues.
Download Kubuntu 18.04 LTS here: Download Kubuntu 18.04 LTS
If you're using Apple's iDevices and Windows 10 computers, you no longer need to download the iTunes installer directly from Apple's website. iTunes for Windows 10 is now available on the Microsoft Store, allowing you to download directly with a better optimized version.
