It was not just Microsoft that has released new operating system on Thursday (22). Canonical would not settle for less and took the time to also make the Release Candidate version 9.10 of Ubuntu, seen as the most popular and user-friendly Linux distribution too.

The next version codenamed Karmic Koala is now promoted from Beta to RC and the timetable for development should start in less than a week, on Thursday (October 29) and behind a number of improvements over the version 9.04, called Jaunty Jackalope.

The Karmic Koala promises to bring lower boot times, User interface and improved programming tools that facilitate software development, according to Canonical. The new Ubuntu is being offered with a variety of desktop environments that are part of everyday applications such as instant messaging software, browser, document viewer and media players. The options offered include the popular Gnome, KDE and XFCE.

The version 9.10 also includes a new “Ubuntu Software Center, through which users can easily add and remove programs. The system also fixes several bugs in previous versions of Ubuntu and brings more drivers to extend the hardware support.

Images of the Ubuntu 9.10 RC Karmic Koala can be downloaded to the download site and the Ubuntu versions available include specially tailored for desktop, notebook and server (the desktop version can also be installed on regular laptops).

Via: Ubuntu.