Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope Alpha is now available

Filed under: OS Updates, Linux, Canonical

Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope Alpha is now available

by Brad Linder Nov 23rd 2008

Ubuntu 8.10 Inteprid Ibex is still warm, but the folks at Canonical are already hard at work on the next generation of the popular Linux distribution. The first Alpha version of Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty Jackalope was released today.

As a first Alpha, this release is not recommended for users in search of a stable desktop environment. And there's really not much benefit to downloading it unless you plan to help test and develop Ubuntu 9.04. For the most part Jaunty Jackalope looks a lot like Ubuntu 8.10. The desktop theme and other graphics haven't been altered at all, and for the most part, the operating system comes with the same set of applications as Intrepid Ibex.

So what's different? The developers have been busy re-merging of changes from Debian, the Linux distribution that Ubuntu is based on. Canonical is also working on porting the operating system to run on machines with ARM processors which could lead to Ubuntu showing up on more Mobile Internet Devices and netbooks next year.

There's currently no LiveCD version of Jaunty Jackalope, so if you do decide to download the Alpha, you'll have to grab the alternate or server installation CDs. The full version of Ubuntu 9.04 is scheduled for release on April 23, 2009.

Tags: alpha, jaunty-jackalope, ubuntu, ubuntu-9.04

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

infernoz said 3:17PM on 11-23-2008

Can't these ADHD twitterers fix the current version? These version changes are plain laziness to work the bug list, because it is less fun than rewriting the OS.

In 8.04 the damned module repository vanished, so I couldn't even upgrade insecure applications, WTF are these people thinking! If we must do an Ubuntu upgrade, it should at least be as easy as selecting the OS as a module to install, from an older version repository, then have it install all the updated settings and applications for you.

Windows can do automated upgrades of applications and the OS, why can't Linux?

I'll stick with Windows until Ubuntu make OS upgrades relatively easy, and stop needlessly abandoning users of older recent versions.

Ayle said 5:20PM on 11-23-2008

What?

whiskey said 4:21PM on 11-24-2008

Sheesh, Windows doesn't automatically update all software I install on my Windows box... So don't say that again, ok?

Ubuntu Hardy Heron 8.04 is an LTS (Long Term Support) Edition that aims to provide more stability (this is needed in, as an example, businesses, where they usually don't need the latest bells and whistles but do need a strong OS that has, errr... Long Term Support).

What this all means is that this Edition is made so it upgrades by default only when a newer LTS Edition is out rather than upgrading every time a new version comes up (making you feel more secure by using the same stuff for i think it's 18 months or so, or by the robustness gained when the same code can be looked upon and corrected, also providing means so you don't have to spend a ton of cash every time you need to train your personel, and so and so). This also means that you don't have to struggle to keep upgrading your Ubuntu every 6 months which, believe me, can cost a great deal of money in IT people hours.

There's plenty of helpful hints on how to upgrade from Hardy Heron 8.04 to Intrepid Ibex 8.10 that mostly will help or confuse you with, uuuuuuh spooky, terminal commands. But if you don't want to copy/paste the instructions then look for ones that tell you how to do so from Synaptic.

Ubuntu does upgrade EVERY module, the kernel and the OS via it's own updates manager (cleverly named, err.., update-manager) WHEN it doesn't mean that you will have a conflict with the other software you installed from other non Canonical repositories. It will notify you of such needs on the system tray, and with just some clicks (as in mouse, not 'Nam) and some time, you will be upgraded to the newest version, keeping your older settings, documents and such.

It will, however, change some stuff that you might have customized (say, you substituted some icons on the gnome icon theme folder, rather than creating a new theme).

It could be, thought, that there are some applications that: a) You upgraded yourself by using other repositories or compiled from source, b) You installed from somewhere else and needed you to upgrade or downgrade other modules for them to work as you want; though i think that this might not be your case though, because i somehow think that you might not be that well versed to know how to do such things or know what you are doing.

AFAIK there's no disappearance of module repositories... You must be definitively be doing something very very wrong if that's your case.

If you calm down, stop bashing the Distro (when as far as we can see it's probably your fault) and show some manners I would gladly help you to know how to solve this issue (or point you in the right direction to get help).

jnak said 8:30AM on 12-11-2008

goddamn that was a fucking stupid comment

you make me sick

d00msay3r3 said 6:04PM on 11-23-2008

My question is, when are they going to make the wireless network setup simpler? The hard wired always seems to work right after install with little to no problem. I find every time I try to install Ubuntu on a machine where I really want the wireless to work (I.E. a laptop, or a remote machine) the damn wireless setup is like trying to have a baby. It never works out of the shoot, then it's a LONG and painful delivery with complications after the birth!!
Please O' pleassssse fix the wireless Canonical!!

JB said 9:12AM on 11-24-2008

A better question would be when are the wireless chip manufactures going to pony up some drivers for Linux or at least their source code.

rendezvous65 said 10:16PM on 11-23-2008

Also you can download it by pressing Alt+F2 and then typing update-manager -d. That shows a prompt that a new distro is available. Maybe the 64 bit version will have a 64 bit flash in the repo. I like that Adobe is releasing a 64 bit flash player for Linux before Windows and OSX. However this 64 bit version of flash is an Alpha. Maybe 9.04 amd64 will have a 64 bit version of Flash 11. Thats if Flash 11 will come out by then.

Dave said 8:25PM on 11-24-2008

well said JB! come on hardware manufacturers give us your source code!

JT said 12:33PM on 11-28-2008

My wireless card worked as soon as I booted up the live CD. On 8.10. It even detected my graphics card and installed the drivers, although it asked me before installing it.

website design said 9:12AM on 12-06-2008

Woa, off to get the latest Ubuntu right now! What might be the new features?

n2it said 9:07AM on 12-14-2008

I started using Ubuntu over a year ago after many problems with Vista. I'm using 8.10 now and I love it. My wireless works fine and now so does my intel 965 graphics card. Compiz fusion rocks! I look forward to the new release this coming Spring.

Guy said 7:39AM on 2-04-2009

From Australia...I have attempted to install both the the Huawei 619 and ZTE MF626 NextG USB wireless devices on Intrepid. The Huawei (Optus) is seen, but I cant make it work, and the ZTE (Telstra) is not seen at all...

Will these deviced be operable in Jaunty?

Clearly the manufacturers of these devices have a case to answer...They provide support for Win and Mac...But not Lin. I smell conspiracy.

Regards Guy

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