Xubuntu 15.04 Vivid Vervet
The Xubuntu team is pleased to announce the immediate release of Xubuntu 15.04!
The release is available for download by torrents and direct downloads from http://xubuntu.org/getxubuntu/.
As the main server will be very busy in the first days after the release, we recommend using the Torrents wherever possible.
For support with the release, navigate to Help & Support for a complete list of methods to get help.
Highlights and Known Issues
Highlights
Xubuntu now uses Xfce 4.12, which was released on February 28. The new release has brought both some new features and many bug fixes over the old 4.10/4.11 components. For a complete changelog for Xfce 4.12, see the 4.12 changelog on Xfce.org.
In addition to the new Xfce release, the 15.04 release has the following highlights:
- New/Updated Xubuntu Light/Dark colorschemes in Mousepad, Terminal
- Mousepad colorscheme set to Xubuntu Light by default
- Better appearance for QT applications out of the box (default to GTK theme)
- Redundant File Manager (Settings) menu entry removed
Known Issues
When upgrading, the notes plugin is removed from the panel (Bug 1446598) To work around this, simply add the notes plugin back to the panel. Your data is kept intact.
For a complete changelog between Xubuntu 14.10 and 15.04, including a list of new package versions, please refer to the Release Notes.
The Xubuntu team is pleased to announce the immediate release of Xubuntu 15.04 Beta 2. This is the final beta towards the release of 15.04 in April.
Please note the important install known issue at Bug 1436715: “Vivid DVD fails to reboot or shutdown w/o hard reset”
If you are at all unsure about a hard reset, the options are
- Install Beta 1 and dist-upgrade
- Wait for the bug to fix and install from a daily
- Wait for Release Candidate
The Beta 2 release is available for download by torrents and direct downloads fromhttp://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/vivid/beta-2/
Highlights and known issues
New features and enhancements
Between Beta 1 and now, the final release of Xfce 4.12 has been packaged and uploaded to 15.04.
Known Issues
The detailed release note including other less critical known issues can be found here.
New application versions in the Xubuntu packageset
- Thunar (1.6.6)
- tumbler (0.1.31)
- Xfwm4 (4.12.1)
- xfce4-panel (4.12.0)
- xfconf (4.12.0)
- xfdesktop4 (4.12.0)
- xfce4-panel (4.12.0)
- xfce4-settings (4.12.0)
- xfce4-session (4.12.0)
- xfce4-power-manager (1.4.3)
- libxfce4ui (4.12.1)
- libxfce4util (4.12.1)
- garcon (0.4.0)
- Parole (0.8)
- Mousepad (0.4)
The Xubuntu team is pleased to announce the immediate release of Xubuntu 15.04 Beta 1. This is the first beta towards the final release in April.
The first beta release also marks the end of the period to land new features in the form of Ubuntu Feature Freeze. This means any new updates to packages should be bug fixes only, the Xubuntu team is committed to fixing as many of the bugs as possible before the final release.
Please note the important install known issue below and at Bug 1425690: “New windows are created offscreen”
The Beta 1 release is available for download by torrents and direct downloads fromhttp://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/vivid/beta-1/
Highlights and known issues
New features and enhancements
- LightDM GTK Greeter Settings tool added
- development wallpaper introduced
- xfce4-power-manager now handles light-locker’s settings in its “Security” tab
- xfce4-panel now has an intelligent hiding mode
- xfwm4 has window previews, better support for CSD and corner-tiling
- the display dialog now has improved support for multiple monitors
- the appearance dialog shows previews of themes’ palettes and icon-themes
- Thunar now has improved keyboard navigation
Known Issues
Currently installing is only functioning correctly from the livesession install icon.
- From either the boot screen OR the try/install dialogue - directly installing has windows created offscreen, this can be either the first install option screen, or where that works - the final Installation Complete dialogue goes offscreen. (1425690)
- It is possible to move the offscreen windows, ensure that ubiqity is focused (alt+tab) then with alt+space+m and then Move the offscreen dialogues can be moved so they are visible.
- If you boot to Try from the boot screen or from the Try/Install dialogue - tests have shown that these options function correctly.
Other Known Issues
- wrapper bug on clean installs (1425401)
- Mugshot camera does not initialize (1414443)
New application versions in the Xubuntu packageset
- Thunar 1.6.5
- Catfish 1.2.2.1
- Xfwm4 4.11.3
- xfce4-panel (4.11.2)
- lightdm-gtk-greeter (2.0.0)
- xfce4-settings (4.11.4)
- xfce4-power-manager (1.4.2)
- xfce4-whiskermenu-plugin (1.4.3)
- Menulibre (2.0.6-1ubuntu1)
- Mugshot (0.2.5.1)
Other changes
- Albatross, Bluebird, and Orion are no longer installed by default
The Xubuntu team hears stories about how it is used in organizations all over the world. In this “Xubuntu at..” series of interviews, we seek to interview organizations who wish to share their stories. If your organization is using Xubuntu and you want to share what you’re doing with us please contact Elizabeth K. Joseph at lyz@ubuntu.com to discuss details about your organization.
Late last year we heard from developer Greg Blumenthal when he told us that he’d been deploying Xubuntu to customers who were “extremely happy” with their new systems. This month we took some time to ask him some questions about his work and the deployments.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and the organizations you work with?
I am a freelance LAMP developer. Most of my clients are Mexican debt collection agencies, although I also work with food processing companies, telemarketers, and B2B VoIP companies.
What influenced your decision to use Free/Open Source Software for your customers?
Stability, ease of installation, ease of management, timely security updates. Interestingly, cost is NOT an issue here, as pirate copies of Windows are readily available.
What made you select Xubuntu specifically?
Low memory footprint, ease of installation on older systems, and ease of configuration to appear as familiar as possible to the end-users.
Can you tell us a bit about your Xubuntu setup?
I remove games, xchat, and other work distractions, and add openssh-server (allowing remote management), ntp, samba, and a SIP client (usually Zoiper or SFLphone). Everything is configures for Spanish with either Spanish or Latin American keyboards. I even install it in Spanish, even though English is my first language.
Is there anything else you wish to share with us about your work or how you use Xubuntu?
The biggest challenge is always sound. Whether it is ALSA or PulseAudio, I spend more time and effort managing sound issues for my clients than all other issues combined.
Huge thanks to Greg for taking the time to talk to us, and best of luck in his continued work with Xubuntu!
Xubuntu 14.04 Trusty Tahr
The Xubuntu team is pleased to announce the immediate release of Xubuntu 14.04.2 Xubuntu 14.04 is an LTS (Long-Term Support) release and will be supported for 3 years. This is the second Point Release of it’s cycle.
The final release images are available as Torrents and direct downloads at http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/xubuntu/releases/14.04.2/release/
As the main server will be very busy in the first days after the release, we recommend using the Torrents wherever possible.
For support with the release, navigate to Help & Support for a complete list of methods to get help.
Bug fixes for the second point release
- Black screen after wakeup from suspending by closing the laptop lid. (1303736)
- Setting Manager items not searchable in Whisker Menu (1310264)
- Weather plugin updated. (1377612)
- Both XChat and Pidgin have had security updates
- Updated versions of Firefox and Thunderbird
Highlights, changes and known issues
The highlights of this release include:
- Light Locker replaces xscreensaver for screen locking, a setting editing GUI is included
- The panel layout is updated, and now uses Whiskermenu as the default menu
- Mugshot is included to allow you to easily edit your personal preferences
- MenuLibre for menu editing, with full Xfce support, replaces Alacarte
- A community wallpapers package, which includes work from the five winners of the wallpaper contest
- GTK Theme Config to customize your desktop theme colors
- Updated artwork, including various enhancements to themes as well as a new default wallpaper
Some of the known issues include:
- Window manager shortcut keys don’t work after reboot (1292290)
- Sorting by date or name not working correctly in Ristretto (1270894)
- Due to the switch from xscreensaver to light-locker, some users might have issues with timing of locking; removing xscreensaver from the system should fix these problems
To see the complete list of new features, improvements and known and fixed bugs, read the release notes.
