Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Beta released

The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the beta release of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
(Long-Term Support) on desktop and server.  Codenamed "Hardy Heron", 8.04
LTS continues Ubuntu's proud tradition of integrating the latest and
greatest open source technologies into a high-quality, easy-to-use Linux
distribution.

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition features incremental improvements to
familiar applications, with an emphasis on stability for this second Ubuntu
long-term support release, and is easier than ever to try out with the new
Wubi installer.

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS server follows in the footsteps of Ubuntu 7.10 with even  
more virtualization support and security enhancements - enabling AppArmor 
for more applications by default, improving protection of kernel memory   
against attacks, and supporting KVM and iSCSI technologies out of the box.

The Ubuntu 8.04 family of variants, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, UbuntuStudio, and
Mythbuntu, also reach beta status today.

Desktop features
----------------

Improved application selection: the GNOME desktop sports a number of
improvements to the default applications, including more feature-full
clients for BitTorrent and VNC, as well as an advanced UI for mastering CDs
and DVDs.

File browsing: an enhanced filesystem layer brings greater performance and
flexibility to Nautilus, the GNOME file browser.

Pluggable audio and video output: the PulseAudio sound server is integrated
in the GNOME desktop for more flexible sound output, and a new Screen
Resolution utility allows easier configuration of multiple video displays.

Wubi installer: a new Windows-based installer option makes it easier than
ever to try out Ubuntu, letting users install a full desktop on Windows
systems without needing to partition their hard drive.

Please see http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/hardy/beta for details.

Server features
---------------

AppArmor profiles: a greater number of server applications are now protected
by default with AppArmor, a kernel technology that limits the resources an  
application is allowed to access, providing added protection against
undiscovered security vulnerabilities.

Memory protection: additional protection now prevents direct access to
system memory through /dev/mem and /dev/kmem, and the lower 64K of system
memory is no longer addressable by default, changes which help to defend
against malicious code.  Many applications are also now built as Position
Independent Executables, making it harder for application security
vulnerabilities to be exploited.

Virtualization and iSCSI: KVM is now part of the official Ubuntu Kernel, 
which, combined with libvirt, allows for simple and efficient virtualization 
on hardware that support virtualization extensions (AMD-V or Intel-VT). 
Mounting iSCSI targets is now supported (including in the installer),
allowing Ubuntu to interoperate with this class of cost-efficient Storage
Area Network.

Ubuntu Education Edition
------------------------

Add-on configuration: Edubuntu is now provided as an add-on to Ubuntu
instead of as a separate stand-alone flavor, permitting even greater reuse
of Ubuntu technologies.

Kubuntu features
----------------

Kubuntu comes with the rock solid KDE 3 for those who want a commercially
supported desktop.

For those who want something more exciting, a KDE 4 Remix is available
bringing this cutting edge new version to you first.

Please see https://wiki.kubuntu.org/HardyHeron/Beta/Kubuntu for details.

Xubuntu features
----------------

Xubuntu comes with the light-weight Xfce 4.4.2 desktop environment for those
who want to a desktop that is easy to use, but places particular emphasis on
conserving system resources.  

Please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardyHeron/BetaAnnouncement/Xubuntu for
further details.

New additions to the family
---------------------------

Two new variants join us for this Ubuntu beta.  UbuntuStudio and Mythbuntu
have done releases separately in the past, and with Hardy Heron Beta we're
happy to be able to welcome these fine community projects into the main
Ubuntu release process.

Other
-----

* On the Desktop: KDE 3.5.9, GNOME 2.22, OpenOffice.org 2.4.0rc2, X.org 7.3

* On the Server: Apache 2.2, PostgreSQL 8.3, PHP 5.2.4, LTSP 5.0

* "Under the hood": GCC 4.2.3, glibc 2.7, Linux 2.6.24, Python 2.5

The full release notes can be found at
http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/hardy/beta

About Ubuntu
------------

Ubuntu is a full-featured Linux distribution for desktops, laptops, and
servers, with a fast and easy install and regular releases.  A
tightly-integrated selection of excellent applications is included, and
an incredible variety of add-on software is just a few clicks away.

Professional technical support is available from Canonical Limited and
hundreds of other companies around the world.  For more information about
support, visit http://www.ubuntu.com/support

To Get Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Beta
---------------------------

Download Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Beta here (choose the mirror closest to you):

  Europe:

    http://gb.releases.ubuntu.com/8.04 (Great Britain)
    http://ubuntu.elasztik.hu/ubuntu.bitmind.hu/8.04 (Hungary)
    http://it.releases.ubuntu.com/8.04 (Italy)
    http://nl.releases.ubuntu.com/8.04 (The Netherlands)
    http://mirror.muntinternet.net/pub/ubuntu/releases/8.04 (The Netherlands)
    ftp://ftp.uninett.no/linux/ubuntu-iso/8.04 (Norway)
    http://ftp.vectranet.pl/ubuntu-releases/8.04/ (Poland)
    http://ubuntu.ynet.sk/release/8.04/ (Slovakia)
    http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/8.04 (Sweden)

  Asia:

    http://tw.releases.ubuntu.com/8.04 (Taiwan)

  North America:

    http://ubuntu.osuosl.org/releases/8.04/ (United States)
    http://ftp.ussg.iu.edu/linux/ubuntu-releases/8.04/ (United States)

  Rest of the world:

    http://releases.ubuntu.com/8.04 (Great Britain)

Please download using Bittorrent if possible.

To upgrade to Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Beta from Ubuntu 7.10,
follow these instructions:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HardyUpgrades

The final version of Ubuntu 8.04 is expected to be released in April 2008.

Feedback and Helping
--------------------

If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, take a look at the list of ways you
can participate at

  http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/

Your comments, bug reports, patches and suggestions will help turn this Beta
into the best release of Ubuntu ever.  Please report bugs through the
Launchpad bug tracker:

  https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+bugs

If you have a question, or if you think you may have found a bug but are not
sure, first try asking on the #ubuntu IRC channel on FreeNode, on the Ubuntu
Users mailing list, or on the Ubuntu forums:

  http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
  http://www.ubuntuforums.org/

More Information
----------------

You can find out more about Ubuntu and about this preview release on our
website, IRC channel and wiki. If you are new to Ubuntu, please visit:  

  http://www.ubuntu.com/

To sign up for future Ubuntu announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu's
very low volume announcement list at:

  http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-announce

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I suppose this means it's too late to name it Hirsute Hippo.  Sigh. 

"Jiving for Jaguar"

Sounds like a good way to get sued by Apple.

What I'd like to know is, what happens if Ubuntu gets to "lion" before Apple does?  Can Apple
claim a trademark on felines?

Perhaps that's when OS XI comes in, with a different branding (including naming scheme)?

Judging from Leopard, it looks like they're headed into space. That purple default background
-- ugh. You can change your desktop background, but the default one is used whenever system
updates are installed that requires restarting (the OS restarts, installs the updates very
early during the boot process, and then resumes normal boot)