quantal quetzal

By default, Ubuntu 12.10 comes with support for 4 workspaces, virtual desktops that allow the user to perform complex workflows, in the sense of being able to categorize the desktop in 4 (tweakable number) places, where different activity types can be located.

Editing text documents on the first workspace, watching one's social activity on the second workspace, renaming numerous files on the third workspace, downloading torrents on the fourth workspace, etc, are situations that may be utilized by users.

LibreOffice, Calibre, Blender, VLC, etc, are applications available in Ubuntu (as default or via Ubuntu Software Center), yet, as we can observe across the internets, there are millions and millions of users interested in gaming.

Consequently, months ago, the developers started a serious work on bringing games to Ubuntu, effort materialized in the exciting landing (can be redeemed via) of numerous Humble Indie Bundles into Ubuntu Software Center, games from the globally-known Electronic Arts, as well as various games.

Today, October 18th 2012, the developers released Ubuntu 12.10, codenamed Quantal Quetzal, taking the full-fledged open-source operating system to another level of polish, new features, improvements and enhancements.

Ubuntu 12.10 is the first version released after the latest LTS (Ubuntu 12.04 LTS), presenting itself as a "ground" receiving new bold features and UI changes.

What is new in Ubuntu 12.10?

Unity 6.x is the version implemented in Quantal, introducing long-awaited features and new exciting functionalities.

Weeks ago, Quantal Quetzal received a refreshed Messaging Menu, featuring specific names for contained entries (such as Gwibber, Thunderbird Mail, etc), as well as specific icons and redesigned Empathy status icons (emblems/status labels), bundle of changes taking the Messaging Menu a step further towards a more clean clear intuitive experience.

Launching applications, opening images, editing text files, playing music tracks, etc, are actions recorded and pushed into Unity (making them available as local search results), interface that, starting with Ubuntu 12.10, presents users the ability to search and access commercial online search results, process available due to the newly landed Unity Shopping lens.

Epiphany is a lightweight yet effective web-browser, allowing users to enjoy a modern web experience, while retaining simplicity and ease-of-use.

Months ago, GNOME developers started a serious work on refreshing Epiphany Web Browser (labeled now as both Web and Epiphany), in the sense of rewriting numerous "internal" components, as well as implementing numerous UI changes, changes essentially aimed at visually aligning Epiphany to GNOME design's current directions.

Ubuntu ships by default Yelp, a handy easily-graspable help utility, presenting the user Ubuntu's applications, tips, explanations, recommendations, etc, via a clickable web-browser like experience.

A new version of Yelp/Help has landed in Ubuntu 12.10, refreshing its informations with up-to-date details, details implemented for an accurate Quantal-specific overall how-why-where-what approach.

There are only days left until Ubuntu 12.10's release, consequently, along with various events and announcements, countdown timers have been created for Quantal Quetzal, banners daily updated with accurate days-left-until-the-release bits.

Adding a banner to a webpage is as simple as copying & pasting a code, code selected in accordance with user's preferences.

During the Quantal development cycle (in-progress at the moment), Unity has gone through numerous changes, enhancements, refinements, etc, bundle of actions targeted at delivering a more solid yet feature-full default desktop interface.

Unity has been updated to another exciting release, 6.8, presenting itself as both a completion (of previously landed features) and polishing, optimizing, etc, various components.

Ubuntu ships by default Ubuntu One, a powerful online service that allows the user to synchronize data (images, video clips, archives, etc) across multiple computers, as well as publishing (and thus sharing) items in a matter of seconds, action followed (when performed) by obtaining a public published file link; the mentioned link can be copied & pasted on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.

Weeks ago, Ubuntu One Control Panel (the desktop interface containing both configuration options and account details) received a handy highly-usable Share links addition.