Ubuntu 12.10 released - what's new?

Ubuntu 12.10, the seventeenth release of Canonical sponsored Ubuntu operating system has been released today. This release includes a number of controversial changes, most notable of which is the dropping of the 2D version of Unity desktop environment. The controversial inclusion of Amazon search results in the dash and an Amazon webapp in the launcher has created much discontent among early testers leading to widespread complaints. Since then, a privacy setting to turn off Amazon search results have been included in the settings menu.

Starting from Ubuntu 12.10, the Ubuntu Live CD is officially dead. The present ISO size is 763 MB, which by no means will fit into a CD, leaving only a possible Live DVD/USB option open. Other features of what’s new in the latest iteration of Ubuntu, this article will cover in a pictorial representation. Scroll down to view.

The default Ubuntu 12.10 desktop with default wallpaper

Excellent new community wallpapers included

New Social Lens shortcut on Ubuntu menu right click and a new social lens in the dash

Lenses with Amazon search result integration

Legal Notice information at the bottom right for Amazon search results

Right click previews for applications with launch and install features directly from dash with animations

Easier removal of drives from launcher by unlocking

Movable Workspace Switcher

The horrible green LibreOffice splash screen

LibreOffice 3.6 with global menu by defualt

Ubuntu Software Centre now includes turn on/off option for adding application icons in the launcher during installation

Updated Rhythmbox Music Player with Ubuntu One Integration

Firefox Web Browser 16 with Amazon and Ubuntu One Webstore webapps

Webapps for various sites such as Gmail, Twitter, Facebook, etc. can be created easily.

Docking to the launcher and searching for webapps from the dash is also supported.

Close open windows in overlay mode using the new Unity Spread feature

Thunderbird Mail 16 with cloud storage and chat integration

The system settings menu with online accounts, search privacy settings and new additional drivers menu

Online accounts include Twitter, Google, Hotmail, Windows Live, Yahoo and Facebook

Fully featured Nautilus 3.4 instead of a stripped down Nautilus 3.6

New option to view folders with disk analyser

Updated Ambiance and Radiance themes

Video/Audio Calls – Skype, Empathy, Google Talk

The new features for Empathy now enables video calling to and from Android phones (tested on ICS) with Gmail accounts flawlessly. Video and audio calls from Skype and Empathy activates the mic slider under the sound icon in the panel which is not visible otherwise. The mic is no longer muted by default.