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Ubuntu's Karmic Koala

So begins the battle between the Operating Systems again. And this time a much fierce battle I guess. With Microsoft Windows 7 and Apple’s OS X Snow Leopard 10. 6 already rumbling in the arena, there enters Ubuntu 9.10 codenamed Karmic Koala.

[caption id=”attachment_222” align=”alignleft” width=”300” caption=”Karmic Koala”]Karmic Koala[/caption]Ubuntu’s 9.10 promises to be faster and friendly to use (no more scarry text scrolls) and also is introducing newest version of

    Linux kernel - Version 2.6.31 GNOME - Version 2.28 Firefox - Version 3.5.3 Software Center - graphical utility for package management GRUB2 as the new default bootloader Ext 4 filesystem default

But, the best part of Karmic Koala is Ubuntu One, a new web sync feature that gives you 2 GB of free online disk space and also allows you to syndicate and synchronize contacts, notes and share files between several computers. Yes! I know! I can already see people ruminating from Windows. Wait! There’s still more to come.

You can chat to your friends and your office colleagues through Empathy which integrates: Yahoo, Gmail, MSN, AOL, Jabber and many more. There is F-Spot for you through which you can manage and upload your photos to photo-sharing sites like flickr, facebook, picasa and what not!

Create your presentations, documents with Open Office v 3.0 which is quite compatible with all other available office applications including the most famous Microsoft Office. Access Last.fm, Internet Radio portal directly using Rythmbox.

Cannonical COO Jane Silber quotes “Ubuntu 9.10 gives users more reasons than ever to seriously consider Linux at a time when many are thinking again about their operating system options. We are delivering a platform for users interested in an easy-to-use, great-looking, web-friendly operating system”.

The average boot time is about 26 seconds with the Xorg showing up around 15th second. The eventual goal is to deliver a 10 second startup. Probably, we can find one such thing happening in 10.04. Software Center has an excellent selection of software, revamped audio framework improves sound control across multiple applications and many new and improved features.

At the core of the Ubuntu philosophy is the belief that computing is for everyone and whatever your circumstances.

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