October 12 was the day on which it arrived Ubuntu 23.10 Mantic Minotaur. Although the main version with GNOME desktop is known as "Ubuntu", it is actually the base operating system for all official flavors. In other words, they are all Ubuntu, but with their own interface and customization. Therefore there are many components shared between all editions, such as the kernel or the time during which they will be supported.
Mantic Minotaur arrives with Linux 6.5 with already some maintenance updates, and all will be supported for 9 months, until July 2024. The support time is only different in LTS releases, since the main edition (GNOME) is supported for 5 years, but flavors may be 5 or only 3. With this explained, let's first go with the news shared by all the official flavors, which we remember now amount to 11.
What's new in Ubuntu 23.10
General
Generally we have software such as:
- New wallpapers, in some cases generated by AI.
- LibreOffice 7.6.2
- Thunderbird 115.2.3
- Firefox 117-118.
- Table 23.2.
- GCC 13.2.0
- binutils 2.41
- glibc 2.38
- GNU Debugger 14.0.50.
- Python 3.11.6
Main edition, GNOME 45 and ZFS support
Ubuntu 23.10 usa GNOME 45 as the most notable novelty. Related to the desktop or parts of it, there is now a setting for the backlight that appears on laptops and only if they have it. More about the desktop or interface, now includes a extension that allows you to manage window stacking.
Firefox is in its Wayland version by default, which can even improve the quality of what it displays. In the installer, the minimum option is selected by default, so be very careful for those who prefer the complete one with software such as LibreOffice, Thunderbird or the calendar. In the same installer the option to use ZFS and experimental TPM has returned.
Like new apps, the app center, also known as App Center, is now available, including support for Debian packages. The thing is that they still have to translate some parts into Spanish. And there is also one to update the firmware. Both are based on Flutter and in snap format.
Finally, the wallpaper is dynamic and it will change from the usual purple to one like the one in the header screenshot if we use dark mode. If you want it the way it has always been, you can do what is explained in this short tutorial.
Kubuntu stays on Plasma 5.27 because there is nothing newer
Kubuntu 23.10 stays on plasma 5.27, the version released in February 2023, but KDE has not released any new version. It is the last of the 5 series, and the next largest will be Plasma 6. But it is not the same Plasma that they launched then, since what Mantic Minotaur includes is specifically Plasma 5.27.8, and with eight maintenance versions that is already a lot more stable. And more than it will be.
Among the rest of the new features, it uses KDE Frameworks 110, KDE Gear 23.08.1 and Qt 5.15.10.
Lubuntu upgrades to LXQt 1.3.0
Lubuntu 23.10 has uploaded the desktop to LXQt 1.3.0, Available since April, but did not arrive in time for 23.04. The Qt version used this time is 5.15.10, and among its updated packages we find Featherpad 1.3.5.
Xubuntu improves hardware support and stability in Xfce itself
Xubuntu 23.10 has focused on stability, memory management and hardware support. Uses Xfce 4.18 and components from GNOME 45 and MATE 1.26. In this version, the integration and stability with the screen protector has been greatly improved.
Ubuntu Budgie improves the image for the Raspberry Pi
Ubuntu Budgie 23.10 has uploaded its desktop version to 10.8 that came out during this August. Apart from that, they have improved image for Raspberry Pi and the themes have been updated to the latest versions. All of them are also available in 23.04 and some have reached 22.04.
On the welcome screen, Welcome has been moved to core22, adjustments have been made to the size of the Dropbox screenshot and the message when installing Flatpaks, the installation of Nemo Dropbox has been adjusted to be more fluid and the new Fluent makeover is available.
Ubuntu MATE has new background generated by AI
Ubuntu MATE 23.10 usa MATE 1.26.2. It is the project led by Martin Wimpress who is in charge of this desktop that aims to be the old GNOME 2 adapted to new times, so, although it seems that it only has one new feature, in reality there are many that they have designed for themselves, and also for those who want to install them in their distribution.
Another novelty is that they have done again what they did in 23.04 and there is another wallpaper generated by AI.
Ubuntu Unity stays at 7.7, but leaves an interesting promise
Ubuntu Unity 23.10 looks like a transition version. They have focused on preparing for a future in which they will make the jump to UnityX and start using Wayland, and also on implementing support for CUPS 2.0.
But if there is something that really catches your attention about this Ubuntu Unity 23.10, it is something that they have not yet released, but is on the way: an ISO with Lomiri desktop, which is the one used by Ubuntu Touch. They haven't released it yet because there are bugs that need to be fixed, but we will be able to test it in a few days.
Ubuntu Cinnamon already uses the same desktop as Linux Mint
Ubuntu Cinnamon 23.10 uses Cinnamon 5.8.4, which is what What's available since June, but with already 4 maintenance updates. Apart from that, it can be noted that it now supports gestures with touchegg.
Ubuntu Studio updates its software for content creators
Ubuntu Studio 23.10 uses the same Plasma 5.27.8, KDE Frameworks 5.110, KDE Gear 23.08.1 and Qt 5.15.10 as Kubuntu 23.10, but its distinguishing point is multimedia applications. This Mantic Minotaur includes:
- Audio:
- PipeWire becomes the default audio server.
- Carl 2.5.7.
- lsp-plugins1.2.11.
- Audacity 3.3.3.
- Ardor 7.5.0
- Patchance 1.1.0
- Graphics:
- digiKam 8.1.0.
- Dark table 4.4.2.
- Crita 5.1.5.
- GIMP 2.10.34.
- Videographer:
- OBS Studio 29.1.3.1.
- Blender 3.6.2.
- Kden live 23.08.1.
- Freeshow 0.9.7.
- Q Light Controller Plus 4.12.7.
- Other software includes Scribus 1.5.8, Inkscake 1.1.2, and MyPaint 2.0.1.
Edubuntu adds new applications to its educational system
Edubuntu 23.10 is built on Ubuntu 23.10 and uses GNOME 45 with all its new features. Additionally, in this version they have added the applications Startup Disk Creator, GNOME Videos, GNOME Music, Backups, Basic256, Extension Manager, OpenBoard, Mnemosyne and Convertall.
Ubuntu Kylin is renewed inside
Ubuntu Kylin 23.10 is a low-key release that has focused primarily on updating internal components and stability. Use UKUI 3.1 desktop.
There is something to choose from. Which one do you prefer?