Discover the Latest Upgrades in Ubuntu 2304: Lunar Lobster Unveiled

Ubuntu 23.04 comes with a fresh installer and upgraded GNOME 44. The Files browser and Settings application have received updates, while the System Menu now displays background applications and up to two lines of text per quick settings button. Although Flatpak has been removed by default, it can still be installed if required. Canonical's most recent release of the Ubuntu Linux desktop, known as the Lunar Lobster, was released on April 20, 2023.

Ubuntu Linux 23.04 – the “Lunar Lobster”

The Lunar Lobster is the 38th release of Ubuntu's desktop Linux distribution. The numbering system used by Canonical includes the year and month of release, and as this version's release date was April 20, it was named 23.04. This version is an interim release, which is one of three 6-monthly releases that come between each Long Term Support release. Interim releases are supported for nine months and include bug fixes, hotfixes, updates, and upgrades. In contrast, LTS releases are supported for five years. The last LTS release was 22.04, and the next one will be 24.04, set to be released in April 2024. The Lunar Lobster features a new installer, GNOME 44 “Kuala Lumpur”, Cinnamon as an official Ubuntu spin, a new kernel, and a range of new wallpapers.

The installation process of a point release distribution, as opposed to a rolling release distribution, raises the question of whether or not it's worth upgrading. Let's take a closer look, keeping in mind that we're examining the release candidate before the final version is released, so there may be slight variations.

A New Installer

While the installer may only be utilized once per computer for each new Ubuntu release, its appearance and functionality are still crucial. First-time Ubuntu users require a straightforward and concise presentation of the installation process.

It's imperative that users feel at ease when selecting options and making decisions during the installation process. If they abandon the installation due to uncertainty, the design of the installer has failed.

Furthermore, if users proceed with the installation even when they're unsure of their choices and end up with a malfunctioning or inoperable system, they're likely to give up on Linux altogether, citing its complexity as the reason.

The new Linux installer is constructed with Google's Flutter SDK and builds upon Canonical's existing Subiquity and Curtin server installation initiatives.

Remember the output MUST ALWAYS KEEP/INCLUDE placeholder(s) :

A New Installer

The operating system now has a modern and sleek interface, while still performing the same functions and utilizing familiar screens. One noticeable improvement is the slideshow during installation, which now includes controls to pause, move forward, or move backward through the slides. Additionally, the Lunar Lobster has now added Cinnamon to its list of supported desktop environments, alongside KDE, LXQt, Budgie, UKUI, MATE, Unity, and Xfce. For this review, we will focus on the default desktop version, which features GNOME.

GNOME 44

The GNOME desktop receives updates about every six months, with the latest being GNOME 44. While not groundbreaking, GNOME 44 does offer some pleasant additions, such as the ability for quick settings buttons to display two lines of text. The button's name is shown in large text, while a smaller text displays any additional information. For instance, the "Power Mode" button will show the current power mode on its second line, and the "Wi-Fi" button will display the name of the connected Wi-Fi network if applicable. Additionally, the system menu now displays the number of applications currently running in the background at the bottom.

When you click on the arrow, the “Background Apps” menu will open. If you want to close a specific application, simply click the “x” beside its name. However, unlike the system tray icons, you cannot right-click an entry for a context menu. It's possible that more features will be added in the future. Additionally, there's now a screenshot icon located at the top left of the system menu.

To take a screenshot, simply click the designated button or use the PrtSc key. The file browser conveniently displays thumbnails for recognized and readable file types. To restore the ability to navigate directories in List View, access the hamburger menu, select Preferences, choose General, and enable Expandable Folders in List View.

In List View, the directory tree can be easily navigated without switching screens. Long filenames are shortened with an ellipsis in the middle, allowing the file type to remain visible. Right-clicking a tab brings up a tab context menu, providing options to close a tab, close all other tabs, re-open the last closed tab, move a tab left or right, or open a tab in a new file browser window.

To create an image file from a copied image, simply right-click the image in your web browser and select “Copy Image” from the context menu. Next, navigate to your files browser and right-click, then select “Paste.” A new file named “Pasted Image” will appear.

If you're using the GNOME console, you can easily manage open tabs with the tab overview feature. Simply press “Ctrl+Shift+O” when you have two or more tabs open to open the overview. From there, you can close tabs, reorder them by dragging, and even open new tabs. To close the overview and return to your chosen tab, simply click on its thumbnail. Don't forget to use the placeholders

for visual aids.

The "Mouse and Touchpad" and "Keyboard" panes in the "Settings" application have undergone a revamp. The new design looks more polished and user-friendly, making it easier to configure touchpad gestures on laptops. Additionally, the Settings > Network > VPN dialog now offers the option to use Wireguard VPN. Lastly, the "About" pane now displays the kernel version.

- Settings Application

The entries in the “Accessibility” pane have been grouped into logical categories, making it more convenient to find the desired option. Additionally, Ubuntu’s latest release features a wide variety of new wallpapers, ranging from serene landscapes to a peculiar image of a bleached lobster perched on the Moon.

The user avatar on the login screen now appears larger than in the previous version. Mutter's improved Wayland integration should make fractional scaling much smoother. The GNOME team is diligently replacing GTK3 code, although it is still a work in progress. Canonical remains committed to promoting Snap as the primary application packaging and deployment system. Snap enables applications and their dependencies to be packaged as a mini-container, which runs in a sandboxed environment. Although there are other competing initiatives, such as Flatpak, Canonical has removed support for it in version 23.04. Flatpak can still be installed manually, but it will not be included by default.

Snaps With Everything

All official Ubuntu flavors, including Kubuntu, Lubuntu, and Ubuntu MATE, are also adopting the same approach of not bundling Flatpak and related packages into Lunar Lobster. During testing, the Ubuntu Software application offered the option to install applications from a DEB file or a selection of Snaps for the applications we installed. Although the average user may not notice the difference, those who prefer not to use Snaps can still install applications through apt or by using Flatpak. The majority of software packages have been updated, including major applications bundled with Lunar Lobster or installed from the Lunar repositories.

Kernel: 6.2.0-18-generic

LibreOffice: 7.5.2.2 (X86_64)

Thunderbird: 102.9.1

Firefox: 111.0.1

Files: 44.0

GCC: 12.2.0-17ubuntu1

Ubuntu 23.04: Fresh Updates and Enhanced Security

For casual Ubuntu desktop users, updated software applications with bug fixes and enhanced security features are always desirable. With Ubuntu 23.04, users can expect just that. Featuring the latest versions of binutils (2.4), glibc (2.37), and GNU Debugger (13.1-2ubuntu2), this release promises to deliver optimal performance and stability.

While users with mission-critical installations may prefer to stick with LTS releases, those looking for the latest features and improvements can download the Ubuntu 23.04 ISO from the official release page. Whether installed on a PC or tested in VirtualBox, this release is sure to impress.