What's new in Ubuntu 17.10
Back to the Future

© Lead Image © sellingpix, 123RF.com
Ubuntu is back to the first letter of the alphabet – and back to the Gnome desktop. But you'll also find lots of new stuff in the latest release.
When Mark Shuttleworth announced Ubuntu in 2004, he was extremely passionate about it. Shuttleworth saw the possibility of a third operating system in the consumer space, and many things worked in his favor. Ubuntu managed to create one of the friendliest and most vibrant open source communities.
The success of Ubuntu on the desktop made Shuttleworth even more ambitious about the mobile space, and he thought he could crack the duopoly of iOS and Android with Ubuntu Mobile. He saw a growing trend of smart TVs, and he even felt Ubuntu could offer a platform to TV vendors.
In 2011, Canonical decided Gnome 3 didn't fit into the grand scheme of Ubuntu. The Ubuntu project dropped Gnome Shell (it still used the desktop stack, just not the shell) and created its own shell called Unity that was aligned with Canonical's plans for mobile, tablets, and TVs. At the 2012 Mobile World Congress, Canonical had one of the biggest stalls, where they showcased their technologies.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
System76 Releases COSMIC Alpha 7
With scores of bug fixes and a really cool workspaces feature, COSMIC is looking to soon migrate from alpha to beta.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.