[ubuntu-za] Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron Beta released

[Hugh Jacobs]

Also for those not on the announcement list:

The Ubuntu team is pleased to announce the beta release of Ubuntu 8.04 LTS
(Long-Term Support) on desktop and server.  Codenamed "Hardy Heron", 8.04
LTS continues Ubuntu's proud tradition of integrating the latest and
greatest open source technologies into a high-quality, easy-to-use Linux
distribution.

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition features incremental improvements to
familiar applications, with an emphasis on stability for this second Ubuntu
long-term support release, and is easier than ever to try out with the new
Wubi installer.

Ubuntu 8.04 LTS server follows in the footsteps of Ubuntu 7.10 with even
more virtualization support and security enhancements - enabling AppArmor
for more applications by default, improving protection of kernel memory
against attacks, and supporting KVM and iSCSI technologies out of the box.

The Ubuntu 8.04 family of variants, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, UbuntuStudio, and
Mythbuntu, also reach beta status today.

Desktop features
----------------

Improved application selection: the GNOME desktop sports a number of
improvements to the default applications, including more feature-full
clients for BitTorrent and VNC, as well as an advanced UI for mastering CDs
and DVDs.

File browsing: an enhanced filesystem layer brings greater performance and
flexibility to Nautilus, the GNOME file browser.

Pluggable audio and video output: the PulseAudio sound server is integrated
in the GNOME desktop for more flexible sound output, and a new Screen
Resolution utility allows easier configuration of multiple video displays.

Wubi installer: a new Windows-based installer option makes it easier than
ever to try out Ubuntu, letting users install a full desktop on Windows
systems without needing to partition their hard drive.

Please see http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/hardy/beta for details.

Server features
---------------

AppArmor profiles: a greater number of server applications are now protected
by default with AppArmor, a kernel technology that limits the resources an
application is allowed to access, providing added protection against
undiscovered security vulnerabilities.

Memory protection: additional protection now prevents direct access to
system memory through /dev/mem and /dev/kmem, and the lower 64K of system
memory is no longer addressable by default, changes which help to defend
against malicious code.  Many applications are also now built as Position
Independent Executables, making it harder for application security
vulnerabilities to be exploited.

Virtualization and iSCSI: KVM is now part of the official Ubuntu Kernel,
which, combined with libvirt, allows for simple and efficient virtualization

on hardware that support virtualization extensions (AMD-V or Intel-VT).
Mounting iSCSI targets is now supported (including in the installer),
allowing Ubuntu to interoperate with this class of cost-efficient Storage
Area Network.

Ubuntu Education Edition
------------------------

Add-on configuration: Edubuntu is now provided as an add-on to Ubuntu
instead of as a separate stand-alone flavor, permitting even greater reuse
of Ubuntu technologies.

Kubuntu features
----------------

Kubuntu comes with the rock solid KDE 3 for those who want a commercially
supported desktop.

For those who want something more exciting, a KDE 4 Remix is available
bringing this cutting edge new version to you first.

Please see https://wiki.kubuntu.org/HardyHeron/Beta/Kubuntu for details.

Xubuntu features
----------------

Xubuntu comes with the light-weight Xfce 4.4.2 desktop environment for those
who want to a desktop that is easy to use, but places particular emphasis on
conserving system resources.

Please see https://wiki.ubuntu.com/HardyHeron/BetaAnnouncement/Xubuntu for
further details.

New additions to the family
---------------------------

Two new variants join us for this Ubuntu beta.  UbuntuStudio and Mythbuntu
have done releases separately in the past, and with Hardy Heron Beta we're
happy to be able to welcome these fine community projects into the main
Ubuntu release process.

Other
-----

* On the Desktop: KDE 3.5.9, GNOME 2.22, OpenOffice.org 2.4.0rc2, X.org 7.3

* On the Server: Apache 2.2, PostgreSQL 8.3, PHP 5.2.4, LTSP 5.0

* "Under the hood": GCC 4.2.3, glibc 2.7, Linux 2.6.24, Python 2.5

The full release notes can be found at
http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/hardy/beta
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