Ubuntu 12.04 "Precise Pangolin"

Ubuntu 12.04 aka Precise Pangolin a Long Term Support (LTS), released late April, is a Linux based operating system made by Canonical. It is a long term support (LTS) release with extended support for both desktop and server distributions for five years. Canonical as stepped up there game with this new release. It is even said that Ubuntu 12.04 will also be making its way on to the market in 2013 as it will be sold on computers.

Ubuntu 12.04 comes with some cool new utilities and some awesome tweaks.

The Linux 3.2 kernel

Coming from version 3.0 of the Linux kernel used in Ubuntu 11.10 (Oneiric Ocelot) to version 3.2.  A large number of improvements into this os making it far better than previous releases.

There have been some improvements in the Ext4 file system that should boost performance with large files. 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.

Unity 5.10

It may seem hard to believe, but Ubuntu's controversial Unity shell is already at version 5.10. The login screen has a new look with new buttons and animation (even though a shell other than Unity can be chosen at login, Ubuntu's developers call this the Unity Greeter):

The new-look Unity Greeter shell menu: here, the GNOME desktop has been added as a post-OS install choice

Unity 2D has been updated, and differences in appearance between it and Unity 3D are now quite subtle: for example, Launcher bar items only appear to stack in Unity 3D.

As anticipated, this release of Unity includes the Head-Up Display or HUD, a predictive command feature that's toggled on and off by tapping the left-hand Alt key. Commands can be selected by moving the highlight with the arrow keys and executed by pressing the Return key, or directly executed by mouse-clicking a choice. Sometimes the suggestions made by HUD can seem a little wild.

The new Head-Up Display (HUD) offers a list of suggestions based on user input

The stability and ease-of use of Unity's multi-monitor mode has been improved, and has been demonstrated running a system with six monitors. The System Settings / Displays panel now has a selection to display the Launcher bar either on all displays in a multi-monitor setup, or only on the primary display; there's also an on/off toggle for sticky edges.


If one wishes to read more about Ubuntu 12.04 and to download and install it go to any of the below links:


https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PrecisePangolin/TechnicalOverview/Beta1

http://www.howtoforge.com/the-perfect-desktop-ubuntu-12.04-lts-precise-pangolin