Ubuntu 16.10 Provides Incremental Linux Desktop Improvements

Ubuntu 16.10 Provides Incremental Linux Desktop Improvements

Canonical is set to release the next version of Ubuntu Linux. Here’s what we can expect in the latest iteration of the open-source OS, named Yakkety Yak.

Ubuntu 16.10 Is Supported Until July 2017

As a standard release, Ubuntu 16.10 will be supported by Canonical for nine months, until July 2017. In contrast, the Ubuntu 16.04 release that debuted in April is a Long Term Support (LTS) release and will be supported until 2021.

Multiple Official Flavors Debut, Too

The default open-source desktop used in Ubuntu 16.10 is Unity 7, although now there are multiple additional desktops (or flavors) available, including KDE (Kubuntu), LXDE (Lubuntu) and Xubuntu (Xfce).

Unity 8 in Preview

Ubuntu 16.10 originally was expected to mark the official debut of the new Unity 8 desktop. Unity 8, however, is not yet stable or complete, and is provided in Ubuntu 16.10 only as a technology preview.

LibreOffice Updated to Version 5.2

For office suite functionality, Ubuntu 16.10 includes the LibreOffice 5.2 milestone, which includes new drawing tools integration with the Writer word processing application.

Firefox 48 Is the Default Web Browser

Once again, Ubuntu has decided to stick with Mozilla’s open-source Firefox web browser as the default choice.

More Snaps Land in Ubuntu Software

The Snappy transactional update package system benefits from an increasing number of applications now available in Ubuntu’s software repository. With Snappy, applications are packaged as “Snaps,” which can be updated quicker than a traditional Linux package format.

Ubuntu 16.10 Is Powered by a Linux 4.8 Kernel

At the core of Ubuntu 16.10 is a Linux 4.8 kernel. Linux creator Linus Torvalds first announced the release of Linux 4.8 on Oct. 2.