Pop!_OS, a custom version of Ubuntu developed by PC maker System 76 with Linux preinstalled, has made available beta images of the upcoming version 22.04 of the Linux distribution. However, it is only intended for users who are undeterred by the inevitable bugs.
What’s new in 22.04 LTS?
The developers have made beta images available on the Pop!_OS GitHub page, although they warn that this version is a beta and that users should therefore expect bugs. For impatient users who want to get a taste of the upcoming version, there are two versions, one with support for AMD and Intel graphics cards and another with proprietary NVIDIA drivers for System 76 PCs.
The developers made an official announcement on their Twitter feed:
The announcement comes after another Ubuntu flavor, Ubuntu MATE, announced its own beta version 22.04.
The biggest change from the last version is the presence of new user interface elements. The new version uses a customized version of GNOME 42, itself a new version. Under the hood, it also uses version 5.16 of the Linux kernel. This is a small increment higher than the mainline Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, which uses version 5.15. Since these two distributions are still in beta, the composition of the software may change in the final release.
System 76 heavily modified the GNOME desktop to appeal to creative professionals and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workers. Their changes have focused on automatically tiling windows to maximize screen real estate efficiency.
Since System 76 also makes its line of preinstalled Linux machines, the device drivers have also been tailored for the company’s machines. The company emphasizes that Pop!_OS runs on any PC, not just your own.
At first glance, the user interface does not seem to have changed significantly compared to the previous versions, despite the newer software.
The “LTS” part of the name means that users can get support with this version for up to five years from the release date, as opposed to standard versions that only offer six months of support. This makes the former better suited for enterprise users and those concerned about stability.
When will users see the Pop!_OS 22.04 release?
When regular users download the latest Pop! _OS version will probably depend on when the major release of Ubuntu is ready. Release naming conventions follow the naming of the year and month of the Ubuntu parent release.
The regular Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is expected to launch in April 2022, and System 76 will take some time to improve its release based on what ends up in the Ubuntu upstream release.
An alternative to stock Ubuntu
Despite being a relative newcomer, Pop!_OS has gained a following in the Linux world due to its ease of use. When the final 22.04 LTS version finally comes out, it looks like it should bring as much joy to the Linux distribution’s user base as the previous versions.
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