Ubuntu Karmic Koala 9.10 RC was released today. I know you were expecting lots of screen shots but there are no big improvements, just bug fixes mostly and minor improvements which include:

-Linux kernel 2.6.31.1
-Some minor tweaks to the login screen and boot splash
-Quickly, a new software which will help developers to build and share applications for Ubuntu.

Ubuntu Karmic Koala 9.10 Beta was released today and includes the previously mentioned:

-Updated Human GDM theme, Humanity icons and new log-out screen
-New wallpapers and GDM theme - The gdm 2.28 login manager is a complete rewrite compared to the version in earlier Ubuntu releases, permitting a more integrated login experience.
-The renamed Ubuntu Software Center (previously: Ubuntu Software Store).

Other than that, Ubuntu Karmic Koala beta comes with Gnome 2.28 (which includes a preview of Gnome Shell - but Karmic already had a preview in the repositories):

I did an upgrade on my Ubuntu Karmic Koala installation and Pidgin came up in the updates. Something must have happened with Empathy which should have been the defaul. Please note that I never installed pidgin-notify or Pidgin, and this is a fresh install so there would be no reason for Pidgin to be in the updates except if they decided to put it back as default.

Update:

It seems it could be a packaging bug, an Ubuntu developer says:

Pretty sure this is actually a packaging bug. libpurple0 (used in empathy) gained a Recommends for pidgin-libnotify which depends on pidgin. Since we install Recommends by default now...

And the second news: A new name for "Software Store" has been the most discussed 'idea' in Ubuntu Brainstorm, basically because "store" would mean to buy software, while using the "Software Store", you don't buy anything (at least for now, I've heard a few things about a real "Software Store" in the future). Well, Mark Shuttleworth finally accepted to rename the "Software Store" to "Software Center" ("Software Centre" in UK English). You can track the progress, HERE.

Like I told you in the Ubuntu Karmic Koala (Almost) Final Artwork post, there are still updates to come.

The last one: new default wallpaper and lots of new wallpapers (people were complaining about only one new wallpaper - the automatic changing Cosmos wallpaper - well, now they have lots of new wallpapers to choose from).

The default wallpaper:

Today is Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala artwork deadline which means all the artwork will remain unchanged from now on, until Karmic is released. There have been a lot of updates today, so let's take a look at how Ubuntu Kamic Koala will look like.

I'll begin with the end :) meaning the log-out screen which I saw as soon as I updated and wanted to restart Karmic Alpha 6:

Remember the Ubuntu Karmic Koala goal, to boot in 10 seconds? In an Arstechnica post, we are presented with a boot chart from Canonical external developer relations coordinator Jorge Castro which is simply astonishing: the computer start up in just 5 seconds, with Xorg coming up in just 2 seconds, while for normal computers, this is done in 20-25 seconds.

Even though this is done by using an SSD (solid state drive), it's nonetheless a great achievement. Read the whole ArsTechnica article, HERE.

You may also want to read about creating your own boot chart.

The Ubuntu devs have released the fifth alpha of Karmic Koala (9.10).

Ubuntu Karmic Alpha 5 includes the latest GNOME 2.27.91 development release. Alpha 5 includes the 2.6.31-9.29 kernel based on 2.6.31-rc8. The kernel ships with Kernel Mode Setting enabled for Intel graphics (see below). linux-restricted-modules is deprecated in favour of DKMS packages.

New iBus application

OpenOffice.org 3.1.1 is also present in this new alpha release, along with a new panel applet now that replaces both the Log Out/Shutdown options from the System menu and the User Switcher applet. Other than that, there is a new panel applet now that replaces both the Log Out/Shutdown options from the System menu and the User Switcher applet.



Karmic Alpha 5's underlying technology for power management, laptop hotkeys, and handling of storage devices and cameras maps has moved from "hal" (which is in the process of being deprecated) to "DeviceKit-power", "DeviceKit-disks" and "udev". When testing Alpha 5, please pay particular attention to regressions in those areas and report bugs.

Another change that comes with alpha 5 is the Computer Janitor, which has been redesigned:

Also included in Ubuntu 9.10 Alpha 5 is the Ubuntu One file-sharing client and Ubuntu UEC (Enterprise Cloud) images with support for the Amazon EC2 cloud computing service.

Full details of the changes and a list of known issues are available in the release notes.

Update -> screehshots with the installation process.

The Karmic Koala Release Schedule:

May 14th, 2009 - Alpha 1 release
June 11th, 2009 - Alpha 2 release
July 23rd, 2009 - Alpha 3 release
August 13th, 2009 - Alpha 4 release
September 3rd, 2009 - Alpha 5 release
September 17th, 2009 - Alpha 6 release
October 1st, 2009 - Beta release
October 22nd, 2009 - Release Candidate
October 29th, 2009 - Final release of Ubuntu 9.10

Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 5 Download links:

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/alpha-5/ (Ubuntu Desktop, Server, and Netbook Remix)
http://uec-images.ubuntu.com/releases/karmic/alpha-5/ (Ubuntu Server for UEC and EC2)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ports/releases/karmic/alpha-5/ (Ubuntu Desktop for ARM)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/releases/karmic/alpha-5/ (Kubuntu Desktop and Netbook)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/karmic/alpha-5/ (Xubuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/mythbuntu/releases/karmic/alpha-5/ (Mythbuntu)

Update: see also:

Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala Alpha 6 Released, Features The New Ubuntu Software Store [Screenshots]
Ubuntu Karmic Koala 9.10 Beta Released, Features Gnome 2.28