UBUNTU VARIANT UPDATES

It’s not just the core Ubuntu distro that’s been updated to 22.10. Many of its close variants will also be updated at the same time, including Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Ubuntu Budgie, Ubuntu MATE, Ubuntu Studio, and Xubuntu.

These will all share the core Ubuntu updates but, of course, plough their own furrows when it comes to the desktop they ship. For example, Ubuntu Budgie is now powered by Budgie Desktop 10.6.4, and among its many tweaks and improvements, you’ll find support for RDP and VNC screensharing as well as a shift away from using default Gnome apps after Ubuntu 22.10’s shift to GTK4. Apps being replaced include Gnome System Monitor and Calculator, Evince document reader and Gnome Font Viewer. All will be replaced by native or

MATE alternatives.

Elsewhere, those who still mourn Ubuntu’s switch from the Unity desktop to Gnome will be pleased to learn that Ubuntu Unity was recently voted back into the fold as an officially recognised variant, a fact proudly displayed on its website (https://ubuntuunity.org). One key advantage of using Ubuntu Unity as opposed to running the Unity desktop within Ubuntu itself is that Ubuntu Unity 20.10 will run the recently released Unity 7.6 desktop, its first major update since it was decoupled from Ubuntu six years ago (see https://unity. ubuntuunity.org/blog/unity-7.6/). Ubuntu Unity 22.10’s other highlights include significantly reduced RAM usage, a switch from Gnome default apps to MATE alternatives and a menu shortcut to switch between dark and light themes, as well as accent colours.