The first beta version of Ubuntu 12.10 has been released

The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the first beta release of Ubuntu
12.10 Desktop, Server, Cloud, and Core products.

Codenamed "Quantal Quetzal", 12.10 continues Ubuntu's proud tradition
of integrating the latest and greatest open source technologies into a
high-quality, easy-to-use Linux distribution. The team has been hard
at work through this cycle, introducing new features and fixing bugs.

For the client, this release now has a consolidated Ubuntu image. There
is no longer a traditional CD sized image, DVD or alternate image, but
rather a single 800MB Ubuntu image that can be used from USB or DVD.
This change does not affect Ubuntu Server, which remains a traditional CD
sized image.

With Ubuntu 12.10, Kubuntu, Edubuntu, Lubuntu, and Ubuntu Studio
also reached Beta 1 status today. These images, along with Xubuntu will
continue to have daily updates for the remainder of the release.


Ubuntu Changes
--------------

Some of the new features now available are:

* The consolidated client images now support the logical volume
manager (LVM) as well as full disk encryption.

* Update Manager has been renamed Software Updater and now checks for
updates when launched.

* A new X.org stack has been introduced which includes xserver
1.13 candidate versions, mesa 9.0, and updated X libs and drivers.

* Unity has been updated to version 6.4 including support for dash
previews and coverflow view. Now that compiz with GLES support has
landed, unity-3d works again on the pandaboard.

* The Ubuntu desktop has begun migrating from Python 2 to Python 3.
Most Python applications included in the desktop is now using Python 3,
and most Python modules that are included by default are available for
both Python 2 and Python 3.

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


Ubuntu Server and Cloud Images
------------------------------

Some of the new features in the 12.10 beta images are:

* ARM hard float (armhf) cloud images are now available.

* OpenStack folsom testing packages are available.
Openstack instance architecture testing support has been
added, as has a heterogenous scheduler for ARM.

* Apache Tomcat 7 is now the default supported version.

* Ceph has updated to 0.48.1 (upstream argonaut stable release),
and includes RADOS Gateway (S3 and Swift Compatible), as well
as performance improvements.

* Floodlight (Openflow Network Controller) and
mininet (Network Simulation) packages are now available.


Kubuntu
-------

Kubuntu 12.10 now comes on a 1GB image for a USB drive or DVD.
In addition other significant changes include:

* KDE's plasma and applications have been updated to version 4.9.
* Telepathy-KDE is now the default chat program offering easier
setup for modern networks like Facebook and GTalk.

* Calligra is now the default office and graphics suite adding top
class painting and database applications.

* The release of Rekonq 1 gives Kubuntu the stable web browser it
deserves.

* New login manager LightDM adds a guest session feature for
letting your friends use your computer quickly.

* Digikam 2.8 adds better photo handling.

* OwnCloud 4 gives many web applications in your own remote or
local cloud

Please see https://wiki.kubuntu.org/QuantalQuetzal/Beta1/Kubuntu for details.


Edubuntu
--------

In Edubuntu 12.10, a new package called 'edubuntu-netboot' is introduced. This
package now provides the functionality previously provided by ltsp-live and
will also be used for casper-netboot.

In addition, Tomboy has been re-introduced and Gnote removed.

For more details on what has changed in Edubuntu 12.10, please refer to
http://www.edubuntu.org .


Lubuntu
-------

Lubuntu 12.10 has had a significant update of the visual identity, including
new icon themes, wallpaper, and better integration with the applications.
Other notable highlights include:

* A new version of the session manager is available for testing.

* A new version of pcmanfm (file manager), including at lot of bug fixes,
external thumbnailer support, multiple screen support.

* catfish, a searching utility, have been added to the default installation.

For more information about the changes in Lubuntu 12.10,
please go to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Lubuntu .


Ubuntu Studio
-------------

Ubuntu Studio 12.10 Beta 1 ships with:

* A new MIDI router and MIDI tools menu have been added.

* Task Manager has been switched to System Monitor for better memory use display.

* Nautilus is now the default file manager.


Please see http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/quantal/beta1 for more details
on the above products.


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

Ubuntu is a full-featured Linux distribution for clients, servers and
clouds, with a fast and easy installation 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 .

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 really help us to
improve this and future releases of Ubuntu. Instructions can be
found at: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/ReportingBugs .


To Get Ubuntu 12.10 Beta 1
--------------------------

To upgrade to Ubuntu 12.10 Beta 1 from Ubuntu 12.04, follow
these instructions:

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

Or, download Ubuntu 12.10 Beta 1 images from a location near you:

http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/download (Ubuntu and Ubuntu Server) .

In addition they can be found at the following links:

http://releases.ubuntu.com/12.10/ (Ubuntu, Ubuntu Server)
http://cloud-images.ubuntu.com/releases/12.10/beta-1/
(Ubuntu Cloud Images)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/12.10/beta-1/
(Ubuntu ARM and amd64+mac images, source)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-core/releases/12.10/beta-1/
(Ubuntu Core)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/netboot/12.10/ (Ubuntu Netboot)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/releases/12.10/beta-1/
(Kubuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/releases/12.10/beta-1/
(Edubuntu)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntustudio/releases/12.10/beta-1/
(Ubuntu Studio)
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/lubuntu/releases/12.10/beta-1/
(Lubuntu)


The final version of Ubuntu 12.10 is expected to be released
on October 18, 2012.

  Ubuntu 12.10 (Quantal Quetzal) Beta 1 released