Ubuntu 23.04 ‘Lunar Lobster’: Best New Features

Ubuntu 23.04 “Lunar Lobster” is the latest version of the popular Linux operating system from Canonical. It brings many new features and improvements that make it a great choice for both personal and professional use. In this article, we will highlight some of the best new features of Ubuntu 23.04 that you should know.

New Flutter-based installer

Ubuntu 23.04 introduces a new installer that is built using Flutter, a cross-platform UI framework from Google. The new installer uses Subiquity, the command line installer for Ubuntu Server, and offers a modern and user-friendly interface that simplifies the installation process. You can choose between light and dark themes, customize your partitions, and enjoy a new slideshow during the installation.

GNOME 44

Ubuntu 23.04 comes with GNOME 44, the latest version of the popular desktop environment. GNOME 44 has many new features and enhancements that improve the usability and performance of the desktop. Some of the highlights include:

– A redesigned Quick Settings menu that shows more information and allows you to access sub-menus with split buttons or keyboard shortcuts.
– A new Bluetooth sub-menu that lets you quickly connect or disconnect to paired devices.
– A new Background Apps panel that lets you control which apps can run in the background and show notifications.
– A revamped Mouse & Touchpad panel that offers more options and animations to customize your input devices.
– A new QR code feature that lets you share your Wi-Fi network with other devices by scanning a code on your screen.

Snap over Flatpak:

Ubuntu 23.04 favors Snap packages over Flatpak packages for installing apps from third-party sources. Snap packages are self-contained and sandboxed applications that are easier to install and update than traditional packages. Ubuntu 23.04 comes with several Snap apps pre-installed, such as Firefox, Thunderbird, LibreOffice, and Spotify. You can also find more Snap apps in the Ubuntu Software Center or by using the snap command in the terminal.

New Kernel Version and Updated Apps

Ubuntu 23.04 ships with the Linux kernel 6.2, which brings many hardware, performance, and security improvements. Some of the notable features of the kernel 6.2 include support for Intel Arc Graphics, Intel’s On-Demand Drivers for 4th Gen Intel Xeon CPUs, AMD Zen 4 CPUs, AMD Van Gogh APUs, and more. Ubuntu 23.04 also updates many of its core apps to their latest versions, such as Firefox 97, Thunderbird 91, LibreOffice 7.3, GIMP 2.10.28, and more.

New Set of Wallpapers and Icons

Ubuntu 23.04 adds a new set of wallpapers and icons to give your desktop a fresh look. The wallpapers are inspired by the lunar theme of the release name and feature various images of the moon in different phases and colors. The icons are also updated to match the new theme and have a more consistent and modern design.

These are some of the best new features of Ubuntu 23.04 “Lunar Lobster” that you should know before upgrading or installing it on your device. Ubuntu 23.04 is an interim release that will be supported for nine months until January 2024. If you want a more stable and long-term support version of Ubuntu, you can stick with Ubuntu 22.04 “Kinetic Kudu”, which will be supported until April 2027.

Official Flavours of Ubuntu 23.04