Ubuntu 11.10's New Features
Source: Jared Spurbeck
With over 10 million users worldwide, Ubuntu is the world's third most popular operating system for desktop and laptop computers. Based on open-source software, Ubuntu is free to download and use for any purpose, and comes complete with 5 GB of free storage on the Ubuntu One cloud music and file syncing service. Ubuntu One apps are available for iPhone and Android, as well as for Windows PCs (Ubuntu can be installed alongside Windows or Mac OS X).
Ubuntu is primarily financed by UK-based Canonical, Ltd., a startup which offers the proprietary Ubuntu One service, as well as support contracts to companies that use Ubuntu. New versions of Ubuntu are released every six months, and are a free upgrade. The latest version, Ubuntu 11.10 for October 2011, was given the code name of "Oneiric Ocelot," and added the following features:
Improved Software Center
Ubuntu has always offered an App Store-like ability to add and remove free, open-source programs. The new Software Center introduced in Ubuntu 11.10 has a more shopper-friendly design, with star reviews and a front page featuring top-rated apps.
Improved selection of games and apps
Included in Ubuntu's catalog are the free LibreOffice suite, comparable to Microsoft Office, as well as the Gimp and Inkscape graphics programs which are comparable to Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. And with the opening of the Ubuntu Developer program, indie game and app developers have been selling their wares through Ubuntu, including productivity apps like Wunderlist and Wiiware and XBox indie games like World of Goo and Braid. All of the apps in the Software Center are installed and updated automatically once selected, much like apps from the App Store or Android Market.
User interface tweaks and enhancements
While Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system uses enormous "ribbon" menus, Ubuntu's menus are merged with the taskbar at the top of the screen, Mac-style, and are hidden until you mouse over them. In the Oneiric Ocelot revamp, the window controls (close, minimize and maximize) are now hidden as well. Also, the Ubuntu logoed "Start Menu" button is now another icon on the Mac OS X-style launcher on the left side of the screen, to make it easier to pick out and click on.
New and improved "Dash" menu
The Dash, or Ubuntu's "Start Menu," now features a variety of lenses that let you search for files that you recently used, or songs that you have in your library. The music search even looks through the Ubuntu One music store, while the app search shows results from the Software Center, letting Ubuntu users complete their collections if needed.
Jared Spurbeck is an open-source software enthusiast, who uses an Android phone and an Ubuntu laptop PC. He has been writing about technology and electronics since 2008.
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