Canonical has officially released Ubuntu 24.10 (Oracular Oriole), the latest interim Ubuntu release on October 10, 2024. Powered by the Linux 6.11 kernel, this release brings a lot of exciting new features and improvements, including support for a broad range of hardware.

Let’s dive into the key features and updates of this version and what makes it a significant release in the Ubuntu family.

Key Highlights of Ubuntu 24.10

GNOME 47 Desktop Environment

Ubuntu 24.10 includes the latest GNOME 47 desktop environment, specifically optimized for the Ubuntu Desktop flavor. This version comes with additional patches to enhance Mutter and GNOME Shell for greater stability and performance. Users will enjoy a more polished interface, faster responsiveness, and improved multitasking abilities.

Security Center and Permissions Management

This release introduces a Security Center app designed to provide users with a more intuitive way to manage system security. This app includes a new feature that allows users to easily enable or disable the experimental permissions prompting for Home directory permissions. This added functionality makes it easier for users to control file access and privacy, an essential feature for both casual users and IT professionals concerned with system security.

Power Profiles Manager for Newer Hardware

In a nod to evolving hardware needs, Ubuntu 24.10 brings improvements to the Power Profiles Manager. Optimized to work better with newer hardware, particularly systems powered by AMD processors, this tool helps users fine-tune power consumption and system performance for a variety of tasks.

Wayland Default for NVIDIA Users

Another significant change is the decision to default to Wayland for systems with NVIDIA GPUs. Traditionally, NVIDIA users had been defaulted to Xorg due to compatibility issues, but with ongoing improvements in Wayland and NVIDIA driver support, Canonical has decided to take the leap. This switch provides a more modern display server experience, offering smoother graphics rendering and better overall performance for NVIDIA users.

Enhanced App Center and Fingerprint Device Support

The App Center has received several upgrades in Ubuntu 24.10, including enhancements to the Manage page. Users can expect improved support for third-party DEB packages, making it easier to install a wider range of software. Additionally, support for fingerprint devices has been further expanded, allowing users to secure their systems with biometric authentication more efficiently.

Updated Toolchain

Ubuntu 24.10 ships with an upgraded toolchain, catering to developers and power users who require the latest software versions. Some key updates include:

• GCC 14.2
• GNU Binutils 2.43.1
• GNU C Library 2.40
• LLVM 19
• Rust 1.80
• Go 1.23
• OpenSSL 3.3
• Systemd 256.5
• Netplan 1.1
• .NET 8

These updates ensure that Oracular Oriole can handle modern application development and run the latest open-source software with enhanced security and performance.

Enhanced Installer Experience

For system administrators and enterprise users, the Ubuntu Desktop installer now supports local file paths for autoinstall imports, simplifying the deployment process. This feature adds more flexibility for users needing to automate large-scale installations, making it an attractive option for businesses and IT teams.

Conclusion

It’s important to note that as an Ubuntu interim release, Ubuntu 24.10 will only be supported for nine months, until July 2025. For users and organizations that require long-term support, Canonical recommends sticking with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat), which offers official support until 2029.

To ensure your Ubuntu system stays secure without downtime, consider utilizing TuxCare’s KernelCare Enterprise, an automated live kernel patching solution. It supports all popular enterprise Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, Debian, RHEL, CentOS, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, Oracle Linux, and more. KernelCare delivers critical security patches in real-time, eliminating the need for reboots and minimizing disruption.

Additionally, for organizations still running end-of-life Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 18.04 releases, TuxCare offers Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS), providing essential security updates to keep your systems protected long after official support has ended.

Learn more about live patching and the dangers of running end-of-life Linux.

The sources for this article include a story from 9to5Linux.

The post Ubuntu 24.10 “Oracular Oriole” Released: Find What’s New appeared first on TuxCare.

*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from TuxCare authored by Rohan Timalsina. Read the original post at: https://tuxcare.com/blog/ubuntu-24-10-oracular-oriole-released-find-whats-new/