Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin) Released

Ubuntu 12.04 LTS, codenamed Precise Pangolin and released today, is a Long Term Support (LTS) version, scheduled to be supported for five years. The emphasis for an LTS release is normally on consolidation and stability, but there are several new features — notably the HUD (Head-Up Display).
 As with most Ubuntu releases, Precise Pangolin takes the opportunity to rev the Linux kernel version; the Unity interface also advances to version 5.10 and there are a number of cosmetic tweaks plus a new sound theme.


Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth's plan is to migrate Ubuntu from the 2D X Window System to Wayland, a 3D OpenGL-based display management system, with X applications supported via a compatibility mode. There was a rumour that a technical preview of Wayland might be released with Ubuntu version 12.04. While this does not seem to be the case, there is an Ubuntu Wiki for Wayland that explains future plans and lists a PPA for early testers.
Ubuntu 12.04 images can be downloaded from the Ubuntu web site. Starting with Precise Pangolin, the site promotes the 64-bit image over the 32-bit one. Contrary to some early rumours, the ISO images will still fit on a single CD.

The Linux 3.2 kernel
Precise Pangolin graduates from version 3.0 of the Linux kernel used in Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) to version 3.2. This sees a larger-than-usual number of improvements because it incorporates queued-up changes that failed to make it into the delayed previous release.
There are improvements in the Ext4 file system that should boost performance with large files, and changes for CIFS or Samba sharing that should significantly improve throughput for such shares. There are also numerous new and improved drivers for graphics and Wi-Fi hardware, which should please notebook users, plus improvements in memory management that should improve response to user input during high load times. According to Linus Torvalds, these changes in kernel 3.2 should be quite apparent to end users.
RC6, the Intel power-saving technology, is enabled by default for Sandy Bridge systems in the Ubuntu 12.04 kernel, and should help to deliver improved notebook battery life. Disabled in beta 1, AUFS (Another UnionFS, a stackable unification file system) has been re-enabled due to concerns over its possible replacement OverlayFS. Ubuntu's developers still plan to replace AUFS when a suitable solution emerges.

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