Canonical kernel engineer Juerg Haefliger has shared an update on Ubuntu support for the Lenovo ThinkPad X13s (Gen 1) laptop. The 13-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X13s is an ARM laptop powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8cx (gen3) processor with Adreno 690 GPU, 16 GB RAM, a 256 GB SSD, and claimed ~28 battery life. It comes preloaded with Windows 11 Pro for ARM by default. Last year a quasi-official (albeit experimental) Ubuntu 23.10 install image was released for this device, spearheaded by Juerg and the engineering effort he’d made to support it. The ISO was made available to download from the […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 Support WIP for Lenovo ThinkPad X13s Laptop, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Media Progress is a new GNOME Shell extension that adds a real-time progress bar to the MPRIS notification/sound control doohickey that shows in the notification area. This extension doesn’t do else bar (heh) that, but as simple enhancements go it’s a nifty one. More than a mere indicator, the progress bar the extension adds is interactive and seekable. Click anywhere in the progress bar to jump to that position (which is handy if listening to something long, like a podcast or audiobook). As of writing the Media Progress extension supports GNOME 46. To use it you will need to be […]

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Arriving alongside the main Ubuntu 24.04 LTS release are new versions of the official Ubuntu flavours, including Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Ubuntu Cinnamon. What follows is a concise, top-level overview of the key new features and changes in some of the most popular Ubuntu flavours, plus the relevant downloads links to snag an ISO need should be tempted into trying a few flavors first-hand. Unless otherwise noted, all flavours share the same foundational footprint as the main release, e.g., Linux kernel, graphics drivers, tooling, etc. But some fears, like the Flutter-based OS installer and the snap-centric App Center aren’t used in […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 Official Flavours Available to Download, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Among the many new features in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is the ability to access your Microsoft OneDrive files through the Nautilus file manager. No 3rd-party app downloads, no dodgy scripts to run, and no paid plans to cough up for because this nifty feature is part of GNOME 46 (and available in any Linux distribution using it, not just the latest Ubuntu LTS). OneDrive file access works the same way as the (long-standing and popular) Google Drive integration: a Gvfs backend authorised through GNOME Online Accounts (via the Settings app), and then surfaced as an entry in the Nautilus sidebar. […]

You're reading How to Enable OneDrive File Access in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

After 6 frenzied months of development the final stable Ubuntu 24.04 LTS release has arrived and is available for download. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (codenamed ‘Noble Numbat’) includes a rich array of new features ranging from an enhanced desktop installer and a the latest GNOME desktop to gaming improvements and a new Linux kernel. As a long-term support release Ubuntu 24.04 LTS gets 5 years of select apps updates, security fixes, kernel upgrades, and other buffs, and a further 5 years of extended security coverage via Ubuntu Pro. Plus, enterprise customers can buy an additional 2 years of coverage to make […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Available to Download, This is What’s New, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Anyone making the upgrade to Ubuntu 24.04 LTS from the previous LTS, Ubuntu 22.04, is in for a treat because the amount of improvements on offer is vast. In addition to the new features in Ubuntu 24.04 those upgrading from the previous LTS will also discover, experience and benefit from the myriad of features added in the Ubuntu 22.10, 23.04, and 23.10 releases. Those upgrading from the previous LTS will find 2 years worth of changes on offer in Ubuntu 24.04 — Which amounts to a LOT! In this post I run-through 20 of the biggest changes Ubuntu 24.04 LTS […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 LTS: 20 Major Changes to Look Out For, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Among the many new features in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS is out-of-the-box support for HEIF/HEIC images. Anyone using Ubuntu 24.04 won’t have to manually install any extra packages to be able to see HEIF/HEIC thumbnails previews in the Nautilus file manager or open HEIF/HEIC files in the default Eye of GNOME image viewer app. While HEIF (which stands for High Efficiency Image File Format) isn’t a super common web image format it is widely used on smartphones. Both Apple iPhone & newer Samsung devices save to the format for photos taken using the stock camera apps. Which makes this small change […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Supports HEIF/HEIC Images OOTB, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

The Ubuntu 24.04 beta is now available to download — one week later than originally planned! Ubuntu 24.04 will become the next long-term support release (LTS) and this beta will provide developers, testers, and enthusiasts time to try it out, track down bugs, and road test its new features. Beta releases are not intended for everyday use (i.e. you’re not supposed to install it as your main OS or on machines you rely on) but, that said, many folks do. The Noble development cycle hasn’t been without its dramas and hiccups. Devs undertook the largest library transition in Ubuntu’s history (to mitigate […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 Beta Released, This is What’s New, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

A new version of Power Profiles Daemon in Ubuntu 24.04 offers power efficiency improvements for laptop users, but those with modern AMD devices may see the biggest gains. Release notes for the power-profiles-daemon package uploaded to Ubuntu 24.04 this week state that it is now “battery-state aware” and that “some drivers use a more power efficient state when using the balanced profile on battery”. While the power profiles daemon is low-level it enables the Power Mode options shown in the Quick Settings menu: “balanced” (default), “power saver”, and on systems where it’s supported by drivers “performance” — this update tweaks […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 Improves Power Efficiency on Laptops, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

If you were hoping to help test the upcoming release of Ubuntu 24.04 by way of the official beta that was due for release this week, I’ve some bad news: it’s been delayed. However, I reckon you may have expected this. Ubuntu 24.04 beta was scheduled for release on April 4, giving developers, testers, and enthusiasts several weeks to test the new features, find and report issues, check compatibility with and performance on real-world hardware, and all of that hyper-useful stuff. But then a major security issue was announced: an (obfuscated) backdoor was discovered in recent versions of xz compression […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 Beta Delayed Due to Security Issue, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Ubuntu 24.04 is switching its default webcam app from Cheese to Snapshot, a modern GTK4/libadwaita camera tool that’s part of the GNOME Core Apps set. Cheese has been part of Ubuntu’s default software lineup since 2010, having first been added in the Ubuntu 9.10 Netbook Remix owing to the rise of diminutive, underpowered laptops that included dark, dire 0.3MP webcams (webcams weren’t super common in cheap laptops prior to this). Indeed, once upon a time people (hi 👋) made heavy use of Cheese for their instant messaging profile pics, and the app included integrated plugins to upload what we’d now […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 Swaps Cheese for GNOME Snapshot, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Gamers can look forward to more epic top-tier titles working out-of-the-box in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, which is due for release in late April. Following a user suggestion Ubuntu developers have massively increased the distro’s virtual memory mapping limit. This small change should have a big impact on gaming as titles previously reported to crash or exhibit performance issues on Ubuntu due to its vm_max_map_count value being too low will now work. Games like Hogwarts Legacy, Payday 2, Counter-Strike 2, DayZ, and Star Citizen are among those likely to benefit from the value bump as Ubuntu gamers have complained that several […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 Makes Tiny Tweak to Hugely Improve Gaming, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

App Center, Ubuntu’s Flutter-based replacement for the Ubuntu Software app, has picked up a redesigned app icon in the latest Ubuntu 24.04 daily builds. This isn’t the first icon change that the App Center has received in recent months. An updated build of the software installation frontend rolled out a few months back, and it unintentionally swapped the full-colour, 3D Yaru icon for a flat, 2D, solid orange icon with transparent elements. While a subsequent update fixed the issue some users say they still see the ‘wrong icon’. Now the App Center icon has changed again — though this time […]

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Esteemed adherents of the arts rejoice, as the official Ubuntu 24.04 wallpaper has finally been unveiled! As you no-doubt know, every new Ubuntu release comes with its own unique desktop background and the upcoming release of Ubuntu 24.04 LTS “Noble Numbat” doesn’t abdicate the responsibility. Indeed, the Ubuntu 24.04 default wallpaper tacks firmly traditional, heeding the formula established in 2017: rich purple gradient, elegant geometric/polygonal edge detailing, and the official mascot image royally positioned in the center: As well as the the “colour” default you see pictured above a darker variant is included for those who prefer nocturnal vibes (i.e., […]

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Ubuntu developers have decided to stop shipping games in future installs. Since Ubuntu 23.10 the distro defaults to a minimal install, which preinstall only core software essentials (like a terminal and web browser). But users can opt for a “full installation” that preinstalls extra software, including a small selection of simple games. In Ubuntu 23.10 and earlier the following 4 games come included: But in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS no games will be provided. As of the Noble Numbat, no games will be shipped in Ubuntu, in either the minimal or the full install option. The games also won’t be present […]

You're reading It’s Game Over for GNOME Games in Ubuntu 24.04, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

A new point release of Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is available to download. Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS is the fourth point release and results in a brand-new installation image (ISO) that integrates all of the security patches, bug fixes, and software updates released since last August’s Ubuntu 22.04.3 image. Additionally, Ubuntu 22.04.4 ships atop a new hardware enablement stack (HWE) composed of Linux kernel 6.5 (bringing support for newer hardware, file system tweaks, and security updates) and Mesa 23.2.1 (offering improved graphics support). Package updates include Thunderbird 115.6, and Mozilla Firefox 122 (which will auto-update to the most recent release at the […]

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As part of work on the upcoming Ubuntu 24.04 release Canonical’s engineers are working on improving the Ubuntu installer, with “provisioning” the key aim. “Provisioning?” Yes, now that the Ubuntu desktop installer uses the same backend tech as the one in Ubuntu Server, Canonical wants to bring features commonly used in server deployments to desktop. It says talking to OEMs made it realise its “focus was too much” on installing, so it will begin “evolving from installation to provisioning” in Ubuntu desktop. Doing so streamlines their development process and make life easier those who need to install Ubuntu in managed […]

You're reading Ubuntu 24.04 Desktop Installer Changes [First Look], a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Ubuntu is working on a new Desktop Security Center that aims to make it easier for users to access some of the distro’s underlying security features. An early version of the Flutter-based tool was made available to install from the Canonical Snap Store this week — but before anyone gets too excited I should stress it’s very much a WIP and not entirely functional (so set expectations accordingly)! Even so, there’s enough to pique interest. Read on for a more detail on what this tool is, the features Canonical plans to surface through, and how you can install the early […]

You're reading Ubuntu Building New Desktop Security App [First Look], a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.

Ubuntu Core Desktop will not be released alongside Ubuntu 24.04 LTS in April, as originally hoped. For those of you think thinking “wait, what?!” — last year Canonical announced it was developing an all-snap, immutable version of Ubuntu for home users called Ubuntu Core Desktop (the existing Ubuntu Core release is for IoT/embedded use). Further, engineers working at the company said the aim was to make the first version of Ubuntu Core Desktop available to download in April, released alongside Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. To be clear: Ubuntu Core Desktop wasn’t going to be a default, recommended download at first (lest […]

You're reading Ubuntu Core Desktop Debut No Longer Planned for April, a blog post from OMG! Ubuntu. Do not reproduce elsewhere without permission.