Canonical has released the latest version of Ubuntu, version 23.10, also known as Mantic Minotaur. This release is not a Long-Term Support (LTS) release, but it still includes many new features and improvements. Here are some of the highlights:
- Installer Upgrades: The installer for Ubuntu 23.10 features experimental support for two major features. One is the TPM-backed full-disk encryption (FDE), which sees a completely revamped mechanism being implemented for encrypting disks. It works in tandem with the TPM chip on your motherboard.
- GNOME 45: Ubuntu 23.10 features the recently released GNOME 45 desktop environment that features a tweaked system settings app, updated core apps with the inclusion of two new apps called ‘Loupe’ and ‘Snapshot’. Even the new pill-shaped workspace indicator has made a debut with this release, though not everyone might be on board with that.
- New Wallpapers: Ubuntu 23.10 comes with a new set of wallpapers that are sure to please users who like to customize their desktops.
- Flutter-based App Store: Ubuntu 23.10 features a new app store that is built using Google’s Flutter framework. This new app store is designed to be faster and more responsive than the previous version.
- Tiling Assistant: Ubuntu 23.10 introduces a vastly improved tiling assistant that makes it easier to manage windows on your desktop.
Existing users can follow a handy guide to upgrade to the latest release. Ubuntu 23.10 can be downloaded from the official website or from Ubuntu’s image repository. Canonical recommends that users who want to stick with one version for a long time should use LTS releases such as Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 22.04.
