Ubuntu 10.04 released

Ubuntu 10.04 LTS includes three years of support through free security and maintenance updates. It features extensive design work, faster boot speed, social network integration and online services.

New in 10.04 LTS:

Boot speed: Noticeably quicker on almost any machine and super-fast on SSD-based machines such as netbooks, which means users can speed straight to the browser for fast web access.

Social from the start: The new ‘Me Menu’ in Ubuntu 10.04 LTS consolidates the process of accessing and updating social networks including Facebook, Digg, Twitter and Identi.ca. The Me Menu also integrates chat channels so users can talk on Google Talk, MSN, IRC and nearly every network.

Ubuntu One: Enhanced desktop integration for the online service means files and folders can be shared and saved on the cloud more easily. Bookmark and contacts sharing has been added, speeding the move from personal computer to personal computing.

Ubuntu Software Centre 2.0: An easy way to find new software, and keep track of it once it’s installed in a new interface. Users can also single out software provided by Ubuntu, by developers who use Canonical’s Launchpad Personal Package Archive (PPA) hosting service.

Ubuntu 10.04 Netbook Edition (UNE): As well as benefiting from the improvements in the Desktop Edition, netbook users will see even faster boot speeds on SSD-based devices, faster suspend/resume that will extend battery life.