The highly anticipated Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS (Long-Term Support) code name Noble Numbat version has finally been released, marking a significant milestone in the world of Linux distributions. With its commitment to stability, security, and user-friendly features, Ubuntu continues to be a top choice for both personal and professional use. This latest release promises a host of enhancements and updates, making it an exciting prospect for both seasoned users and those new to the Ubuntu ecosystem.
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS brings together the latest advancements from the Linux ecosystem into a release that is built to empower open source developers and deliver innovation for the next 12 years.
Senior Product Manager for Ubuntu at Canonical Oliver Smith wrote in Ubuntu blogs about new Release of Ubuntu:
The road to Noble Numbat has proven to be an exciting journey through successively ambitious interim releases, experimenting with new approaches to security (and tackling last minute CVEs), evolving our core desktop apps, and continuing our commitment to performance and compatibility across a wide array of hardware supported by the brand new Linux 6.8 kernel.
Oliver Smith Senior Product Manager for Ubuntu at Canonical
Key new Features in Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
- Unified Installation Experience: Ubuntu is prioritizing simplifying the process of getting Ubuntu onto machines, with efforts to align the desktop installer with the server installer for consistency and easier maintenance.
- Enhanced Encryption Options: The re-inclusion of ZFS guided install and support for ZFS encryption, along with improved guidance for dual-boot setups and experimental hardware-backed full disk encryption, provides users with more secure installation options.
- Integrated Autoinstall: The graphical installer now supports autoinstall, allowing for customized, repeatable, and automated installation flows via a local or remote autoinstall.yaml file.
- New App Center: The revamped App Center offers a modern and efficient way to discover and manage applications, including a new ratings service for app quality feedback.
- GNOME 46 Integration: Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS ships with GNOME version 46, featuring performance and usability improvements, along with additional extensions like a color picker and tiling assistant for enhanced customization and workspace management.
- Consistent Networking with Netplan: Netplan 1.0 ensures consistent networking configuration across desktop, server, and cloud environments, with features like wireless compatibility and bidirectional integration with NetworkManager.
- Comprehensive GPO Support with Active Directory: Ubuntu Desktop now offers extensive Group Policy Object (GPO) support for integration with Active Directory, facilitating compliance configuration and management of mixed Ubuntu and Windows environments.
- Secure Software Management: Security improvements include changes to how Personal Package Archives (PPAs) are managed, stronger requirements for repository signing, and restrictions on unprivileged user namespaces to enhance system security.
- Improved Proposed Pocket: Updates in the proposed pocket are now more granular, allowing users to select specific packages for testing prior to wider release, thereby increasing confidence in testing new features. (The proposed pocket is used as a staging area for software updates prior to their release to the wider Ubuntu user base).
Further reading:
– OMG Ubuntu Article Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Available to Download, This is What’s New
– Ubuntu Blog on What’s new in security for Ubuntu 24.04 LTS?
– Ubuntu Blog on Ubuntu Desktop 24.04 LTS: Noble Numbat deep dive
Download Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
You can download Ubuntu 24.04 LTS from the official Ubuntu website or using an official mirror site (once they’ve had time to sync). Torrent files are also available should you prefer those. For all available download option visit Release page here.