A beta of Ubuntu 6.06 is now available:

The Ubuntu team is proud to announce the Beta Release of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS - codenamed "Dapper Drake". The Beta Release introduces the new Desktop CD, which can be used both to try Ubuntu "live" and to install the system.

Ubuntu is a Linux distribution for your desktop or server, with a fast and easy install, regular releases, a tight selection of excellent packages installed by default, every other package you can imagine available from the network, and professional technical support from Canonical Ltd and hundreds of other companies around the world.

Ubuntu 6.06 LTS (long-term support) will be the first Ubuntu release to be supported for three years on the desktop, and five years on the server.

To Get Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Beta
---------------------------

Download Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Beta here (choose the mirror closest to you):

United States:
http://us.releases.ubuntu.com/releases/6.06/

Europe:
http://se.releases.ubuntu.com/6.06/

United Kingdom:
http://releases.ubuntu.com/6.06/

Rest of the World:
http://releases.ubuntu.com/6.06/

Please download using Bittorrent if possible.

To upgrade from Ubuntu 5.10 to Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Beta, follow these instructions:

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DapperUpgrades

The final version of Ubuntu 6.06 LTS is expected to be released in June. At that time, we will mail pressed Desktop CDs free of charge.


About Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Beta
--------------------------

To see it all, you'll need to try the CD, but the highlights include:

On the Desktop

* A new graphical installer is available on the live CD, allowing Ubuntu to be installed quickly and easily to your hard disk

* Faster system startup and login

* Simplified menu organization

* Graphical shutdown process

* Easy access to power management settings with GNOME Power Manager

* Improved support for video playback

* Optional NetworkManager for convenient roaming between different
wireless and wired networks

* It is now possible to enable accessibility options from the very first boot screen of the live CD, and thereby use the accessibility features of Ubuntu during installation

* GNOME 2.14.1

* OpenOffice.org 2.0.2

* X.org 7.0


On the Server

* New kernels targeted at server platforms. The server kernels are tuned differently than the desktop kernels (providing better performance for server applications). The "server" kernel is generic, and should work on the same equipment that the desktop kernel does. The "bigiron" server kernel is geared towards systems with greater than 8 CPUs (ES7000/Summit/BIGSMP).

* Turn-key LAMP installation

* Improved support for clusters and SANs

* Numerous thin client enhancements, including faster client startup, graphical boot process, reduced memory requirements, and sound device support


Localization

* Automatic setup of non-Latin input methods

* Menu item translations can now be included in language packs, for faster integration of new and updated translations

Installation and Upgrades

* The text-mode installer now runs in a single stage, rebooting straight into the complete system. This makes it faster, simpler, and more reliable.

* Ubuntu can now be installed to USB devices, such as removable hard drives and flash memory, using the text-mode installer

* A new upgrade tool is available, for simple, clean and reliable upgrades from one Ubuntu release to the next, starting with Ubuntu 5.10


"Under the hood"

* GCC 4.0.3

* glibc 2.3.6

* Linux 2.6.15.6

* New live CD infrastructure for improved performance, usability and space-efficiency

* Greatly improved infrastructure for automatic hardware detection and
* activation

* The system PATH is now set in exactly one place, /etc/environment, for convenient administration

As always, Ubuntu includes the very best of the 100% Free / Libre application software world, and each new release incorporates countless new features and bugfixes from the global development community.


Feedback and Helping
--------------------

If you would like to help shape Ubuntu, take a look at the list of ways you can participate at

http://www.ubuntu.com/community/participate/

Your comments, bug reports, patches and suggestions will help turn this Beta into the best release of Ubuntu ever. Please report bugs through the Launchpad bug tracker:

http://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+bugs

If you have a question, or if you think you may have found a bug but aren't sure, first try asking on the #ubuntu IRC channel on FreeNode, on the Ubuntu Users mailing list, or on the Ubuntu forums:

http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-users
http://www.ubuntuforums.org/


More Information
----------------

You can find out more about Ubuntu and about this preview release on our website, IRC channel and wiki. If you're new to Ubuntu, please visit:

http://www.ubuntu.com/


To sign up for future Ubuntu announcements, please subscribe to Ubuntu's very low volume announcement list at:

http://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-announce