Hot on the heels of the openSUSE milestone 8 release, the Ubuntu community has released the beta version of Ubuntu 9.10, aka Karmic Koala.

There are several new exciting features included in the latest beta version of Ubuntu which include:

Upstart – An event based replacement on how tasks and services are started during the boot process.

Boot Experience – Improvements on the overall look and feel of booting the system.

Software Center – Ubuntu 9.10 include the Ubuntu Software center, which replaces the Add/Remove in the applications menu.

GNOME – Ubuntu 9.10 includes GNOME 2.28 desktop environment which replaces Pigdin with Empathy as the default instant message client. In addition to that, the login manager has undergone a complete rewrite to permit a more integrated login experience.

More features include:

• Application development with Quickly
• Kubuntu 9.10 which is the first Kubuntu netbook release.
• Ubuntu Enterprise Cloud Images.
• Ubuntu One file sharing.
• Linux kernel 2.6.31
• hal deprecation.
• New Intel video driver architecture.
• ext4 by default.
• GRUB 2 by default.
• iSCSI installation
• AppArmor
• New Profiles
• Libvirt
• Uncomplicated Firewall

For the entire list of features read the Karmic Koala release page.

Ubuntu 9.10 Download Mirrors

• http://releases.ubuntu.com/releases/9.10/ (Ubuntu Desktop, Server, and Netbook Remix)
• http://uec-images.ubuntu.com/releases/9.10/ (Ubuntu Server for UEC and EC2)
• http://releases.ubuntu.com/kubuntu/9.10/ (Kubuntu Desktop and Netbook)
• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/9.10/beta/(Xubuntu)
• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntustudio/releases/9.10/beta/(UbuntuStudio)
• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/mythbuntu/releases/9.10/beta/(Mythbuntu)
• http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/releases/9.10/beta/ (Edubuntu)

Upgrading from Ubuntu 9.04

To upgrade from Ubuntu 9.04 on a desktop system, press Alt+F2 and type in “update-manager -d” (without the quotes) into the command box. Update Manager should open up and tell you: New distribution release ‘9.10′ is available. Click Upgrade and follow the on-screen instructions.

To upgrade from Ubuntu 9.04 on a server system: install theupdate-manager-core package if it is not already installed; edit/etc/update-manager/release-upgrades and setPrompt=normal; launch the upgrade tool with the commandsudo do-release-upgrade -d; and follow the on-screen instructions.